Search - Andrew Bird :: Weather Systems

Simply Captivating

elvisfan1956 | Sedalia, MO USA | 03/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A while back I was attending a show in Columbia, Missouri, to see Vic Chesnutt and Andrew Bird was the opener. I had never heard anything like the music that Andrew offered the audience that night. In fact, I was so blown away by Andrew's performance, that I hardly paid attention to Vic! I purchased the Weather Systems CD from Andrew that evening and have been in love with it ever since. There is an ethereal quality to the music on this CD that has to be heard to be appreciated, any words that I would use here to describe it would not do it any justice at all. A stand out, for me, is the third track, "Lull." The lyrics combined with the completely enchanting music speak to the soul. I highly recommend this CD, you will not be disappointed in the quality of Andrew Bird's amazing talent."

And he goes in even another direction

Stephen Haske | Savannah, GA | 06/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If The Swimming Hour threw you for a loop, get ready for another. If you have been listening closely, although, this shouldn't surprise too much. It continues with Bird's move away from recreating bygone musical styles into more and more modern (or post-modern) leanings. I think he is reaching out to find his own voice, and succeeding. I had trouble comparing this new album to other artists in any quick, obvious way. Weather Systems is very much a mood piece, so don't expect to dance or even bop your head to the music. Listen to this through your earphones, lie down and close your eyes.

Bird rocks less but whistles more, experiments more (distorted violin), and is more contemplative. Thankfully, Nora's beautiful voice (and guitar) is even more present than previously. She adds an ethereal quality to every song she supports. Kevin O'Donnell is still drumming away, this time with delicacy. "Don't Be Scared" (Handsome Family) is his most beautiful and uplift song thus far, appropriately situated at the end of the album. It left me wanting more. It also left me wanting to listen to Oh! The Grandeur again. The short movie for the computer is probably only interesting for super fans."

A real discovery

alexliamw | Oxford | 04/09/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Americana isn't always tremedously imaginative, but this is one hell of a groundbreaker in the genre. Andrew Bird is not a singer-guitarist, but a singer-violinist, and he uses violin, played both classically and plucked like a guitar, through this quirky album of beautiful songs. Opener 'First Song' is more traditional alt-country balladeering, but tracks like 'I' display a quirky charm and a flair for offbeat rhythm and instrumental sounds. Meanwhile the title track is the album's centrepiece, a gorgeous epic awash in classical string playing, almost a sonata in its own right. At this stage its tempting to call him a composer, but there's a pop sensibility to these songs and a sort of back-country, American twang to them that places it firmly in an area of its own. With beautiful, swaying vocals, this could beat more conventional singer-songwriters any day, and is really worth investigation."