Customer Reviews

Weather Systems

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I like to listen to this album when I'm washing the dishes. This is good music to have around when sitting on the back porch. Sometimes, I'll play it when I'm boiling eggs for salad or when I'm lying in the front hall after a long day at work.

I'm a huge fan of Bird and his Bowl of Fire. Loved the first two records. The third one, "The Swimming Hour," felt like a shift away from the old fiddle-and-dagger-and-dancehall stuff, a necessary experiment -- and I did dig bits and pieces but most of it shook me off.

"Weather Systems" isn't a return to the old style, and he's put away the Bowl, but it's a firm step in another interesting direction; a better direction, I think. But it still has the same excellent strings, same incredible harmonies, and more chipper, twisted lyrics. It's more contemplative and sometimes I wish Bird would jump back up on the table and dance, but he's still given me a soundtrack for the next couple of months.

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.

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.

I didn't know quite what to expect when I bought this CD. After the sudden drift toward rock in The Swimming Hour, I expected Bird to continue in that direction. He didn't, and really I think that's a good thing. This album is much moodier than any of his previous works. Some tracks might almost be described as ambient, but not like ambient techno. Every song feels relaxed and natural. Tracks that stand out are "I," "Lull," and the title track "Weather Systems." "I" for its more disjointed feel and slightly less comfortable key, "Lull" for its loose stylistic ties to a few tracks on "The Swimming Hour" with a slightly more conventional but still relaxed feel, and "Weather Systems" for it cinematic feel with layered violin tracks. Overall this is a great album and I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the moodier, less rockish tracks on "The Swimming Hour."

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.

(DISCLAIMER: I have a serious soft spot for the male voice, for male singer/songwriters who tap their soul in their words and notes.) In the swoon of an Andrew Bird interview on NPR this spring (2005), I helplessly followed my fingers to the keyboard to order "Weather Systems" and "Mysterious Appearance of Eggs". Then to my doorstep came -- omygod -- lyrics so word-drunk, smart and mysterious, crooned & whispered & belted out in a voice soooooo alluring, accompanied by completely out-of-the-box musical arrangements involving whistling and electric violin... The artwork on the liner notes, particularly in the case of Mysterious Appearance of Eggs, ratchets the irresistability of this singer's work up another couple of notches right off the scale.

My first experience with Andrew Bird was Spring 2000 in London. I was stoked to go see Buddy Guy perform and knew nothing of the opening band. That band was Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire and I was totally transfixed the instant they started to play. I was amazed that three guys (one of the band was out sick) could play so many instruments and do so much musically. As soon as I got back to the States I purchased their first album.

When Andrew Bird went solo I was worried that the music would suffer and I was disappointed in Weather Systems the first time I heard it. It was actually a let-down after The Swimming Hour, which grabbed me the first time I heard it. This album is much more subdued than his prior works so it takes a clear mind to really hear it. After listening to Weather Systems more I am in love with it. It is not so somber as it first seems, and the simple beauty of Don't Be Scared lifts my spirit every time I hear it. This, along with all of his prior albums, is one to own.

I love stumbling upon artists who cannot be pigeon-holed into one genre. The songs on this album are crafted. Layers of simple melodies, plucked violin, and whistling. This is a gem of an album.

I first listened to this cd as i was heading up the Grapevine in southern California and from the moment when that whistling came through, i was captivated until the moment when the cd was over. it was impossible to describe- somewhere between Drone and Sacred Music. Based around the violin- absolutely stunning.

This cd still makes me feel like i'm in church. My referrence point to Mr. Bird was "Thrills," which is really fun but nowhere nearly as deeply touching as this album. The accompanying video is so amazing, seeing him record this album in a Barn Silo.

I found it a year after it's release, but i consider it one of my favorites of 2004. I can't wait to meet him someday.

As this is the first Andrew Bird album I've ever bought, I can't speak to its place in his oeuvre. But I can say that this is a startlingly beautiful album that's hard to put down. The First song, aptly titled First Song, is an adaptation of a poem by Galway Kinnell, also, shockingly, entitled First Song. This is hands down my favorite--the melody perfectly suits the soaringly joyous poem, a paean to paeans. Highlights from the rest of the album include: Skin, a fantastic foot-tapping instrumental; Lull, a catchy ode to introversion; and Action/Adventure, a hauntingly melodic tell-off. There are only nine songs, and two of those are instrumentals. Admittedly the album is too short, but I gather that's to make room for the movie. It's a fine movie, and interesting to see Bird relaxed and talking about his work, but I'd prefer more of his music. But auspicious omens abound that many more albums are on their way. I, for one, can't wait.