Yeah I saw that performance. It's mainly the way he sang that drove me batty. I recognize that it takes talent to sing that way but good lord....

I think he still hasn't delivered a studio record that achieves the "wow" factor of his live show. This is his best studio effort by far, though.

Well, you're going to make Davey's day.

I keep getting comps, that are sent from kindly internet blokes I know, with songs from this album and haven't really connected with any of them. That is until I heard "Fake Palindromes" which is very good. Maybe I need to hear the whole album to gain an appreciation for this guy.

Fake Palindromes is the only song on the album that I like.

this is probably going to be our album of the year.

I haven't heard this yet, but I'm just shocked — SHOCKED! — this thread wasn't about Shrimp Boat.

Upon first listen, this album has a strong Beck/"Mutations" feeling to me, which is good.

i'm still kicking myself for not going to see him in september of '04, in a warehouse in cedar rapids of all places.

fake palindromes is my favorite song from this year.

Hey, I hadn't seen this thread before! Yeah, easily my favorite of the year. Just gets better and better with each listen, just like Todd says. Sure to be remembered as a new millenium classic in my distorted world. The stories he tells about tipping beers with Howe Gelb down at his place in Tuscon "under the mister" and with a passing mention of 16 tons of HAZMAT providing the inspiration for "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left". Or the long drive by himself between tour stops, playing with the idea of making a song that kind of sounded like it was made up of palindromes, but not. And the result was "Fake Palindromes". The whole album is just one cool idea after another, especially in the epic "Tables and Chairs" that comes near the end, with the possibility of redemption from the apocalyptic tale he's woven through most of the album to this point, and in the final lyrics when he proclaims, "There will be snacks, there will, there will be snacks!" Perfectly whimsical pop perfection

My number 2 album of 2005, it was in a battle for 1 but lost this week.

This was going to be my 'Year In Review' album tonight, ironically, but will put it off since this thread was here tonight.

That would be whistling.

There's a limited market for expert whistlers, but he does it well, for whatever reason he's decided to perfect the art form.

Probably will be in my Top 5 as well.

Saw him live opening up for the Squirrel Nut Zippers about 8 years ago and was blown away. One of my friends bought Oh the Grandeur at the time and the only thing I really liked was Nuthinduin Waltz, so I kind of wrote him off. Now I've come back around to being amazed by him. I think the album drags a little when you listen to it the whole way through, but every song has it's merits and my favorites keep changing the more I listen to it.

he was on npr's 'talk of the nation' and was asked about the whistling thing.....if i remember right he said it was a unique way to get the audience's attention....

the album is so subtle and such a grower that if you give it a chance it will seep into your subconscious and will be a favorite without you ever knowing, untill one day you will be spouting off at a party and assailing some college girl because she has never heard it. you will then go home and burn her a copy of the album in hopes that everytime she hears it she will think of you.....you are such a pervert....

I downloaded this album back when it first came out. Someone on this board mentioned it. So I played it one night and "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left" caught my attention. So I saw it at Tower records one day, and I bought it on that one song alone. It's definately a "grower," because I love it from start to finish now.

As close to perfection as any album this year. Pure, honest music with excellent lyrics and brilliant instrumentation. Subdues yet mighty...I absolutely love it.

Haven't heard a single note.

it is a toss-up for me. I think that weather systems, the swimming hour, and The Mysterious Production of Eggs are all almost equal in quality. I couldn't win a debate with myself abuot which is my favorite. So, typically when having the urge for Andrew Bird I end up listening to all three albums mentioned above before any other bands make it into my player.

HOWEVER, Oh the Grandeur is one of the worst albums I have heard. Not just by him, but altogether.

And the one before it...I don't know what it is called. It's interesting at times but it was like he was stuck in remember the times with the squirrel nut zippers and it took him a couple albums to actually start writing his music.

I just listened to Production of Eggs today. Fake Palindromes and Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left are by far my favorites. I had hoped, though, that he would have done a bit more with the violin in this like in the swimming hour. I think it is lacking in that area. Like the third track on The Swimming Hour(can't remember the name) but it starts out like a blues song or something and the violin with effects doing what you would typically hear on a guitar as a solo. Just great stuff. A horrible description I know, but it's all I got.

This will probably be the album I purchase with the Best Buy gift card I got for Christmas. This one or The Magic Numbers.

Bet you have














http://forums.audioreview.com/showpost. ... stcount=27
http://members.mailaka.net/davey/comps.htm#Light_So_Dim

I just saw last night that he's playing here on February 15th. I'm there.

Thanks, all. Based on the raves here, I picked it up at the local used CD emporium.

I can't believe they had it! 8)

fp

Fake Palindromes should be 10 minutes long.

No shit! Hey, lookitthat, I've heard Flaming Stars, too...