BuzzSugar

Music Video: Andrew Bird, "Fitz and Dizzyspells"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:42:34 -0800

Of all the songs on Andrew Bird's latest album, Noble Beast, "Fitz and Dizzyspells" was the one I most wanted to see get the music video treatment. The song's upbeat and undeniably catchy, and I envisioned something with a lot of marching to mirror the refrain to "soldier on."

But I couldn't have expected the sweet little video Bird's released for the song, which is filmed at several locations in Chicago (including live music venue The Hideout) and includes the visual and musical stylings of Mucca Pazza, a quirky local marching band. In addition, there's a man in a banana costume, another man in flippers, a flaming arrow, and plenty of shots of Bird's feet clad in argyle socks. The video uses a live version of the song, and while it's a little less glossy and produced than the album version, it also apparently inspires a parade, and it's hard to argue with that. So, to check it out, just read more.

Andrew Bird with Mucca Pazza - "Fitz & The Dizzyspells”

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:36:15 -0800

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

Collective good: The new Animal Collective album is getting a lot of praise and buzz already. In fact, one reviewer even declared, "The first great album of 2009 has arrived." I am already really enjoying tracks including "My Girls" and "Brother Sport." Take a listen for yourself and let me know if you think this is the best 2009 has to offer so far!

Breakout time? I've noted before that Andrew Bird's record label hopes this album makes him a breakout star, and there are certainly songs on here that are catchy enough to make their way to the mainstream. Check out tracks like "Fitz and the Dizzyspells" and "Not a Robot But a Ghost" for a taste of those breakout elements folks are talking about and "Anonanimal" for classic Bird wordplay.

One more still to come, so read more.

A new pretty and quirky pop voice: I'd never heard of Anya Marina, whose new album is out today, until I gave her songs a whirl just now, but they're all super cute. Her voice is delicate and youthful, and her pop hooks have just enough quirk to make them distinctive. I couldn't resist sharing my discovery! Check out "All the Same to Me" and "Cowboy" for a taste of what I'm loving about this artist.

First Listen: Andrew Bird's Noble Beast

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:30:21 -0800

I believe a new Andrew Bird album is always something to celebrate - I even made his upcoming Noble Beast one of my entertainment must haves for the month. So when I heard that NPR was offering a free early listen to the new album, I could scarcely click in fast enough.

Noble Beast is an interesting album for Bird; his record label thinks it's the one that could make him a breakout star. I don't disagree with that; there are a few songs on here that I could even hear on the radio. But if you're a longtime Bird fan that shouldn't make you wary; the catchier songs here are among his best. My one reservation at first listen is that the album doesn't really build from his 2007 release, Armchair Apocrypha, which had a lot of tracks that just seemed to soar. Noble Beast is more restrained, maybe, but I can still see it becoming a staple in my collection, especially with some time to let the lyrics sink in. To see my first impressions of each track, just read more.

"Oh No" - A track we've heard in progress and a great way to start the album, with Bird's signature whistling and looping and a toe-tapping, catchy rhythm. I love the layering of sounds, from the vocal tones to the hand claps that kick in partway through.
"Masterswarm" - Starts out in a minor key, slow and brooding, but after about 90 seconds, this track picks up a syncopated, almost Brazilian beat and lyrics delivered in a style reminiscent of spoken word. At more than six minutes, it's maybe a touch too long, but really picks up again toward the end.
"Fitz and the Dizzyspells" - This track sounds like it could be a pop hit, very bright and cheery right from the start. But it's very much an Andrew Bird pop song, with string-plucking, a whistling bridge, and an exhortation to "soldier on."
"Effigy" - Concerned the album might be too pop after "Fitz"? Not so much with this track, which starts out with almost a full minute of layered strings. Bird's voice takes center stage on this one and sounds richer and more immediate than typical. Love the backing vocals and the waltz-like rhythm.
"Tenuousness" - A very cool rhythm drives this track, constantly changing just enough to keep it engrossing. Very wordy, too - someday I'll go decipher all of the lyrics. One of my early favorites.
"Nomenclature" - Not such a big fan of this one on first listen. By Bird's standards, it's almost spartan until about the halfway point, when it suddenly gets very noisy. A little too repetitive for my tastes.
"Ouo" - This 20-second "track" seems like a transition between two parts of the album, no more and no less.
"Not a Robot But a Ghost" - Rhythmic, catchy, and yet somehow still not terribly memorable on first listen - but I imagine this one will creep back into my head later on, especially once I've had a chance to process the breakup-song lyrics.
"Unfolding Fans" - Another brief interlude, just a minute of violin.
"Anonanimal" - Wow, so much classic Bird wordplay in this one; my tongue feels twisty just thinking about it. Nice, big build in the middle. I'll definitely be listening to this track again.
"Natural Disaster" - Really slows it down here. This song's maybe as close to a straight-up ballad as I've heard from Bird. Very pretty; not too thrilling.
"Privateers" - This is another slow track, but with more of a backing beat; I found myself tapping my toes about halfway through it. It's not as soaring as some of the songs earlier on the album, but it's another one I'll revisit for sure.
"Souverian" - More than seven minutes long, "Souverian" seems like a couple of different but related songs. I found myself a little bored by the first half, but the second half is steady and haunting.
"On Ho" - Very, very pretty violin, but not the engaging song I'd hoped for to close the album. (No matter; I'll just listen to "Oh No" or "Tenuousness" again instead.)

Link Time! 11/20

BuzzSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:30:16 -0800

Dear Gossip Girl: Please get rid of Aaron Rose. XOXO. - Buddy TV
Ben Lyons sucks some information from Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. - E!'s Lyons Den
Should Disney make the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie in 3-D? - Cinematical
Check out James van der Beek on One Tree Hill. - Give Me My Remote
Bryan Singer opens up about Valkyrie and we get a new photo from the film. - MTV Movies Blog
It's a new Andrew Bird song! Happy day. - You Ain't No Picasso
Hot dogs and ostrich eggs? Go talk Top Chef! - YumSugar
Aw, check out these underappreciated Muppets. - Pop Candy
See? We're not the only ones feeling desperately protective of Privileged! - Popwatch

Photo courtesy of The CW

Song of the Day: Andrew Bird, "Oh No"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:31:14 -0700

Way back in April we got a taste of "Oh No," one of the tracks that will be included on Andrew Bird's next album, Noble Beast, from a video of Bird playing the song live. Now that it's all produced and polished, I'm love-love-loving it. It is signature Andrew Bird - whistling, strings, dark lyrics accompanying a buoyant tune - but this one's got a fun little drumbeat and hand claps and I think some tambourine. It cheered up my Monday afternoon big time, so to see if it'll do the same for you read more.

Oh No - Andrew Bird

Source

Link Time! 9/9

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:32:56 -0700

Apple has upgraded its iPod Nano, iPod Touch, and iTunes application. - geeksugar
Five reasons to look forward to ABC's The Unusuals - already! - TV Squad
On a scale of 1 to 10: What's the likelihood you'll see the just-announced Jessica Alba movie, An Invisible Sign of My Own? - Popwatch
The CW should take the diversity of America's Next Top Model and spread it to some other primetime shows. - Jezebel
Four - count 'em, four! - new Andrew Bird songs. - You Ain't No Picasso
JJ Abrams explains why there will be no William Shatner cameo in the new Star Trek movie. - Cinematical
A new Bob Dylan music video? Yup. - Stereogum

A Musical Interlude: Animated Video for Andrew Bird's "Lull"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:30:06 -0700

Wow, I just totally zoned out to this video for Andrew Bird's aptly titled "Lull," and now, I gotta admit, I'm feeling pretty calm and peaceful. The combination of Bird's soothing voice and the animated maritime narrative that accompanies the song has a, well, lulling effect. According to Stereogum, this version of "Lull" has been reworked by Chicago-based band Dianogah, and the animation was done by Lisa Barcy.

The story being told in the video is at times bizarre and full of melancholy, but watching it is like a meditative exercise. It might be a welcome treat for anybody singing the still-in-the-office-on-the-first-official-day-of-Summer blues (or anyone else). To check it out, read more.

Thanks to Pitchfork for premiering the video:

New Andrew Bird Song (In Progress): "Oh No"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:30:36 -0700

We rarely get to peek behind-the-scenes at a musician's songwriting process. Singers and bands put out their albums, go on tour playing those songs, then return to the studio to write and record some more - and we don't hear much about it till the next album arrives, fully formed.

Andrew Bird is doing things a bit differently: Recently, he blogged for the New York Times about the process of putting together his next album. In his essay, Bird described himself as different from the singer-songwriter who comes up with lyrics and then searches for the right tune:

Since I can remember, I’ve had melodies in my head. I chew my food to them. . . . What is becoming more challenging of late is dealing with so many fully formed melodies that are unwilling to change their shape for any word. So writing lyrics becomes like running multiple code-breaking programs in your head until just the right word with just the right number of syllables, tone of vowel and finally some semblance of meaning all snap into place.

He explained how that affected his writing of one new song, "Oh No," and You Ain't No Picasso just alerted me to a live video of Bird performing the song. On top of appealing to the nerd in me who wants to know how lyrics and melodies come together, it's also just great to hear something new from Bird. To check out the video (don't worry, the camera calms down after about 15 seconds), just read more.

Source

Link Time! 4/8

BuzzSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:30:17 -0700

Kanye West, Jim Henson, and Where the Wild Things Are? Thank you, Vulture.
Cinematical discusses the problem of renting DVDs with your significant other.
Popwatch takes sides in this week's stupid feud: Snoop Dogg vs. Barack Obama.
Give Me My Remote analyzes The Office-centric cover of TV Guide.
The MTV Movies Blog has a clip from the upcoming Uma Thurman-Evan Rachel Wood movie The Life Before Her Eyes (which also happens to be this month's Buzz Book Club selection!).
If you can't wait for Idol Gives Back, TV Squad has a report from the Kodak Theater taping.
Rolling Stone's Rock & Roll Daily explains the keys to a proper viewing of Celebrity Fit Club.
Andrew Bird is magnificent live and YouAintNoPicasso has evidence with an MP3 of Bird performing "Scythian Empire."
In case my Rachel Dratch casting challenge isn't enough, the TV Addict has some other actors who desperately need jobs - including most of the stars of The West Wing.

Source

Link Time! 3/27

BuzzSugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:30:30 -0700

Filmonic has a pretty awesome rundown of which actors would play the Simpsons characters in a live-action Simpsons movie. My favorites are Allison Janney as Mrs. Krabappel and Kevin Smith as Comic Book Guy.
The Ausiello Report has the strangest news that a Prison Break character we thought was dead is alive after all. Huh?
Cinematical claims the movie 21 proves that sometimes a film can be reviewed entirely from its trailer.
Popwatch has a helpful - and very funny - video that will catch you up on Dancing With the Stars, just in case you didn't catch all 3.5 hours of it this week.
TV Filter wonders why John Adams is the most boring character in HBO's John Adams.
According to Stereogum, even Juliana Hatfield is addicted to watching The Hills (though she simultaneously hates it).
Give Me My Remote is glad that a Battlestar Galactica alum is giving Joss Whedon's Dollhouse some sci fi cred.
Thanks to You Ain't No Picasso for showing me that Andrew Bird has blogged for the New York Times!