Ignored, Maligned, and Forgotten Music

Facebook
Subscribe via RSS

Oh No - Andrew Bird

-
Unknown

Sometimes my impression of an artist colors my perception of his music. In this case, indie darling Andrew Bird struck me as someone well aware of his own cleverness not necessarily through his lyrics or the music he and his band play but via the CD insert.

Now, I wouldn’t use words like pretentious, smug, or self-satisfied to describe Andrew Bird because those are all overstatements. But it struck me that taking space to specify who handmade the “Victrola-like speakers” and the “custom-made pickups” on the incredibly limited liner notes was too cute by half.

Of course it could be that they gave him a discount or free products in exchange for the advertisement. There’s no way to tell. It was the phrasing more than the information, really. But after reading it I found some of the music a wee bit…excessive, particularly because I’m picturing those gramophone speakers.

None of that means that I don’t enjoy some of Andrew Bird’s music. In general it’s three steps too mellow for me but there are songs, like Fitz and the Dizzyspells and Oh No and the second half of The Privateers, that I quite like. And so I thought I’d share one of them as an apology to him for my uncharitable thoughts.

2 Responses so far.

  1. Kim says:

    Actually, I'm just envying your writing style and wishing I could write like you when I grow up. Except I should have done that years ago. Also began wondering why this song reminded me of Scythian Empire, and lo and behold...

  2. Unknown says:

    Thanks for the compliment. They definitely do some great work in a distinctive way.

My Latest Music Page Updates