Andrew Bird: melodic genius

I was reading through my email, and came across this fascinating bit of trivia in my Andrew Bird newsletter (originally via this feature):

"Compositionally, Bird takes simple melodies and gradually extends them into complex arrangements. These melodies pop into his head unannounced. The way it usually works, he will suddenly find himself whistling a new one -- Bird is constantly whistling -- or even chewing his food to it. He never records melodies or even writes them down. He assumes that if they're worth remembering, he'll remember them."

now, I always knew Mr. Bird was a genius. I finally have proof! well, I always did, seeing as how all I ever had to do was to play some of his music and I would instantly transform an innocent onlooker to his fan base.

Andrew writes pretty regularly for a blog for the NY Times. it's called Measure for Measure. head on over!

I was listening to Armchair Apocrypha this morning as I did some recovery yoga (nice long trail run yesterday), a break from my faithfulness to his latest, Noble Beast.

expect a review for that (and the new Animal Collective) within the next couple of days.

Plasticities has been stuck in my head all day! now everyone knows the best way to get a song out of your head is to play it on repeat. haha ok, fine, I just like this song. sue me. no, actually, download it below and go to one of his shows! tour dates below (although I have no idea if tix are still available, I snagged mine as soon as I found out they were onsale)

Andrew Bird - Plasticities [mp3]

(off of the BRILLIANT "Armchair Apocrypha", Mr. Bird's 4th album, released in 2007)

I'd just like to say that I love Bird's wordplay, his music is so intelligent, it's so refreshing. half the beauty of enjoying his music is reading the liner notes you listen.

I grinned widely when I saw that the first and last tracks off of "Noble Beast"were titled "oh no" and "on ho!", respectively. I love me a good palindrome (and Andrew probably does too, as he has a song called "Fake Palindromes"
ah! I want to pounce him.

TOUR DATES:

Jan 19 2009 7:00P
Black Cat - The Big Shoulders Ball Washington, Washington DC
Jan 25 2009 8:00P
Theater of the Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jan 28 2009 8:00P
Carnegie Hall New York, New York
Jan 30 2009 8:00P
Orpheum Theatre Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 3 2009 8:00P
Nightclub 9:30 Washington, District of Columbia
Feb 4 2009 8:30P
Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia
Feb 6 2009 8:30P
The Plaza Theatre Orlando, Florida
Feb 7 2009 8:00P
House of Blues New Orleans, Louisiana
Feb 12 2009 8:00P
The Paramount Theatre Austin, Texas
Feb 13 2009 8:30P
The El Rey Theater Albuquerque, New Mexico
Feb 14 2009 8:00P
The Rialto Theatre Tucson, Arizona
Feb 15 2009 8:00P
SOMA San Diego, California
Feb 18 2009 8:00P
The Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles, California
Feb 19 2009 8:00P
The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Feb 20 2009 9:00P
The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Feb 21 2009 9:00P
Roseland Theater Portland, Oregon
Feb 23 2009 8:00P
The Moore Theatre Seattle, Washington
Feb 24 2009 8:00P
Knitting Factory Boise, Idaho
Feb 25 2009 8:00P
The Murray Theater Murray, Utah
Feb 26 2009 8:00P
The Ogden Theater Denver, Colorado
Feb 27 2009 9:00P
Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska
Feb 28 2009 8:00P
Hoyt Sherman Place Des Moines, Iowa
Mar 15 2009 8:00P
The Pageant St. Louis, Missouri
Mar 16 2009 8:00P
Liberty Hall Lawrence, Kansas
Mar 17 2009 8:00P
Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mar 21 2009 9:00P
House of Blues Houston, Texas
Mar 22 2009 8:00P
Granada Theater Dallas, Texas
Mar 23 2009 8:00P
The Lyric Oxford Oxford, Mississippi
Apr 3 2009 7:30P
Queen Elizabeth Theatre Toronto, Ontario
Apr 4 2009 8:30P
Le National Montreal, Quebec
Apr 5 2009 7:30P
Higher Ground South Burlington, Vermont
Apr 7 2009 8:00P
Carnegie Music Hall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Apr 10 2009 8:00P
Civic Opera House Chicago, Illinois
Apr 11 2009 8:00P
The State Theater Minneapolis, Minnesota

I CANNOT wait to chat him up on February 19th. this man, is like, my muse.

the lucky bastards in Philly get RA RA RIOT as an opening act! I am extremely jealous of the people attending that show (25th January)...it'll blow their minds for sure.