Break It Yourself

Andrew Bird | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: MOM & POP MUSIC
• ASIN: B006WWTJJ8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,025 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Desperation Breeds

2. Polynation

3. Danse Caribe

4. Give It Away

5. Eyeoneye

6. Lazy Projector

7. Near Death Experience Experience

8. Behind the Barn

9. Lusitania

10. Orpheo Looks Back

11. Sifters

12. Fatal Shore

13. Hole In The Ocean

14. Belles

Editorial Reviews

2012 release, the sixth album from the Chicago-based singer/songwriter. Break It Yourself is the follow-up to his critically successful albums Noble Beast and Armchair Apocrypha. Features the single 'Eyeoneye'.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Atmospheric and Textured March 6, 2012

By Madeline

Format:MP3 Music

My friends had been telling me for a while that I needed to get into Andrew Bird--and I'm glad I made the plunge with this album. To be honest, I was expecting something more along the lines of Bon Iver or like Mumford & Sons but this album was a pleasant surprise. It's much more varied and nuanced than a lot of popular bands in the folk/indie/pop category---no doubt thanks in large part to how talented Bird is and how long he's been doing this.

Bird doesn't make the mistake of having a pretty but one note album. "Eyeoneye" could have been a lost R.E.M. track while "Hole In the Ocean Floor" would fit beautifully as a movie score. Overall though, whether he's focusing more on the instrumentals or singing--there's still a general vibe of relaxed calmness. The music simply makes me chill and happy.

What I really appreciate about the music is how organic it feels--it doesn't sound as much as musicians playing from sheet music as a bunch of wildly talented musicians having a jam session which gives it a unique sound.

Obviously as this is my first foray into Bird's music, I can't tell how this compares to his past work--but I know that for me, this album definitely works and I would be very surprised if long time Bird fans were disappointed.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the music speak for itself March 6, 2012

By J. Hubner

Format:Audio CD

Andrew Bird is a fussy one. He makes music that sounds like it was painstakingly composed, recorded and mixed. Notes are meticulously plucked upon his violin. Every whistle is precisely blown through perfectly puckered lips. Every beat, nuance and mood has it's place. Every song is fussed over till it's just right. This has been Andrew Bird's modus operandi ever since the first Bowl of Fire release Thrills, in 1998. With his newest effort, the breezy and beautiful Break It Yourself, Mr. Bird has left fussy outside the barn door and let the songs take us where they may.

`Desperation Breeds' starts the album off with reverbed harmonies, as if ghosts from the past are beckoning us to enter. Then plucked acoustics and Bird's nuanced croon takes us by the hand and into this new world he's created. After the short but sweet instrumental `Polynation', Andrew Bird takes us into the beautiful world of `Danse Caribe'. Easily one of Andrew Bird's best tracks to date. The loose, free and collaborative vibe Bird was going for on this new album does this track justice. `Danse Caribe' floats in our ear and takes us to a sandy, warm place. With it's caribbean vibe and floating rhythm, "You go mistaking clouds for mountains", says the whistling man with the violin. Indeed. 'Give It Away' is reminiscent of something off of his 2001 effort Swimming Hour. A mid song rhythm shift gives this track a nice change of scenery. `Eyeoneye' is like The Walkman's `The Rat' recorded by the Punch Brothers, at first. With heavily-reverbed electric guitar and an almost angsty tone to Bird's voice(well, as angsty as Andrew Bird can get), this is the most straightforward rock song on the album, possibly of his career to date. A great slab of indie rock goodness.... Fear not, halfway through we get some patented Andrew Bird whistling and glockenspiel. "Lazy Projector" sounds like the Cowboy Junkies covering the Pixies. Great song with beautiful backing vocals by the always lovely Nora O'Connor. `Lusitania' is a dusty little number with big drums, strummed acoustics and guest vocals by St. Vincent. A truly beautiful track and reason enough for a St. Vincent/Andrew Bird collaborative record. Buried towards the end of this album is an 8 minute beauty called `Hole In The Ocean'. This song combines all of the elements that make Andrew Bird's music so special: songwriting prowess, compositional muscle and cinematic storytelling through sound and fury. Musically, it's very reminiscent of Noble Beast's instrumental companion album Useless Creatures. Andrew Bird recently wrote and performed the soundtrack to the film Norman. This song is the perfect example of why he's made for scoring film.

At times, I find myself pining for that fussy songsmith that gave us such gems as `Plasticities', `Heretics' and `Fitz and Dizzyspells'. Hugely ornamented, overly anxious and catchy songs that fill every nook and cranny in your cranium. But I'm starting to like this new, laid back Andrew Bird. Break It Yourself is a folksy, breezy and loose collection of songs. Not overly done. Not too sparse. This time around Mr. Bird lets the songs go in what direction they may. And we're all the better for it. Read more ›

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Andrew Bird returns, relaxed, loose, and ready to play April 17, 2012

By Storylover TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bird constantly impresses with his genius imagination, his incorporation of his influences into a synthesis that is something new. Jangly guitars, Brian Wilson like choral touches, that wonderful whistling, and his heart on his sleeve lyrics are all here, and it feels a little more personal this time. Not so much like he is confessing to you, but it feels very intimate, like he is playing for a few friends. For me, there are not any weak tracks on this album, which is a hard feat to pull off; standouts include "Eyeoneye", which sounds like an REM and Roy Orbison collaboration, in a really good way; also "Danse Caribe" and "Belles", but frankly, the entire affair is exactly what I had hoped from Bird. His creative genius, set down for us on record, tuneful and intelligent, well played, friendly, a little sad at times, and balanced with more than a little cheer. Great job and a great record.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime. June 23, 2012

By Erin W

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I discovered Andrew Bird a few years ago after seeing a stream of a live performance. I was kind of hooked, and ever since then, I've gotten my hands on almost anything that I can find.

Of course, when I heard he had a new album, I ordered it. I was a little bit concerned before I got it, because a few critics had warned that it took a few listens to really start to enjoy it. However, the first time that I listened to it, I loved it.

Favorites:
Lazy Projector
Near Death Experience Experience
Sifters
Hole in the Ocean Floor

...And of course, the short interludes that have made their appearance between songs are simply beautiful. My boyfriend and I also saw Mr. Bird and his band perform some of these songs live, and I promise that they're even more powerful in person.

I am madly in love with this album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars staying power April 10, 2012

By jenovafinal

Format:Vinyl

If you are a fan of AB, but was a bit let down by his last effort, rejoice, for you now have the divine chance to once again bask in true AB glory. At first listen I wasn't completely sold, but a few tracks (mostly "give it away) kept bringing me back. And slowly, like a flower blossoming the entire album draws you in, and before you know it you have listened to it front to back 10 times over. Buy the album, support good music.