Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do you like American music?, November 9, 2002
1991's Why Do Birds Sing?, the Violent Femmes' fifth album, has never received the acclaim it deserves. Only the trio's first album is more consistently enjoyable. This album does not have the raw passion of the Femmes' earliest music, but it showcases the kind of quirky, unique sound that defines this eccentric band. American Music really should have been a hit, featuring the kind of pop sound that should appeal to a mainstream audience that, to a significant degree, doesn't even know this group exists. Out the Window, Look Like That, Used to Be, and Girl Trouble are toe-tappers easy and fun to sing along with. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me is a classic; don't worry about this being a Culture Club cover because its delivery is so uniquely Femmes that it took me a while to even realize the original source of the song. Hey Nonny Nonny and Flamingo Baby are just fun, somewhat nonsensical tracks. Life is a Scream is, ahem, a real scream, providing the listener with a great outlet for releasing any pent-up frustrations of his/her own. The whole album is rather cathartic, with the final track, I'm Free, basically summing up the effect of this music on the listener. More Money Tonight is a little celebration of revenge, as lead singer Gordon Gano taunts all the people who laughed at him in the past, proclaiming he can make more money tonight than they can even dream of. One of my favorite VF songs of all time is He Likes Me. Don't get the wrong idea about this one-the "he" Gano is talking about is "her" new man. Anyone who has been forced to be nice to the guy dating the girl you are crazy about will have no trouble relating to these lyrics. This is probably the Violent Femmes' most mainstream album; there is definitely a pop sound to most of the music. This is in no way a sellout, however--the sound may not be as dark and moody as usual, but this is still vintage VF. Even on his happiest day, Gano has pent-up feelings that just have to come out in his music. If you want to introduce a friend to the incredible music of this quirky trio, this is probably the best album to point them to. The original album is better, of course, but Why Do Birds Sing? provides a great avenue for the uninitiated to discover the passion and unique musical genius of this group.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the perfect Femmes album, July 17, 1998
For those not familiar with the band, but would like to check them out, this is the best CD to begin with. Gordon Gano's voice is well suited to belt out lyrics laced with humor, sarcasm, vengefulness, and romanticism. As far as the music is concerned...well, let me put it this way, if the Ramones unplugged their intstruments and had a baby with the Stray Cats, it would come pretty close to this.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exotically Formal Femmes, December 26, 2003
What a great album. Opens with the notorious "American Music", ends with the country inspired gem "I'm Free", and in between exhibits a vibrant variety of music, using elements of Pop, Folk, Country, Rock and Punk to generate a sort of "undressed new wave sound" that only the Violent Femmes could have the ingenuity to create. As with every Femmes album, "Why Do Birds Sing?" puts an interesting spin on the established Femmes sound. Keyboards and Organs play a previously nonresident role, and many instruments are introduced into the Femmes' musical vocabulary. Ukeleles, Conga Drums, Tambourines, Jaw Harps, Mellotrons, and drummer Victor Delorenzo's own invention, the "Tranceaphone" are among the interesting tools used to create the album. Though do not be fooled by the seemingly odd choice of instrumentation, the Violent Femmes are anything but some obscure emotionless act. Their unique sonances blend with accustomed Rock melodies to develop a very natural and pure sound, creating songs of exclusive charm.Gordon Gano, Singer/Guitarist, presents beautifully ambigious songwriting in a class of its own. The reason Femmes songs are loved so dearly by so many different types of people, is that they represent that which we can all relate to; the inevitable clash of venerating, joyous innocence, with dark, dolorous truths which will always haunt our psyche. Harsh realities affect our emotions in a way that nothing else can, and Gordon uses humour to deliver recollections of these disturbingly honest moments we all share. Using humour to describe sorrow, two emotions in such contrast to one another, harnesses a wide range of emotions, all meeting together at one moment; the end result being unsure of whether you should laugh, be confused, angry, or simply break down and cry. These moments of such emotionally plenary uncertainty strike us all in the same way, in the sense that we are all struck in different ways. So quite naturally, it is of impeccable appropriateness that "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" is covered on this album, a song dealing with these exact issues, seemingly written for Gordon's writing style. While I favor some songs over others, all are interesting in their own way. "Used To Be", perhaps my favorite track on the album, is sad to the point where hopelessness becomes beautiful. I love how well Victor's double snare fits the song, and the tone is Gordon's voice is in magical correspondance to the lyrics. The first 2 tracks, "American Music" and "Out The Window", both found on the "Add it Up" album, are classics. As the chorus of "American Music" sings, "Every time I look at that ugly lake it reminds of me." Brilliant line. Looking at a lake will show you your reflection, and if the lake is ugly and it reminds him of him, well, you get the idea. Gordon always amazes me with using such unique ways to bring up common ideas we all share. We can all relate to "Look Like That", or "Girl Trouble". The witty "Lack Of Knowledge" is a Punk Rock inspired tune about intelligence and confusion. It's impossible to not enjoy Gordon's clever anthem of revenge "More Money Tonight". Femmes fans who don't already own "Why Do Birds Sing?" must buy this majestic masterpiece for their own sake, as the benefits of this purchase extend far beyond the material world. As good as this album is, it is not the ideal place to start for listeners who haven't heard, or are new to the Violent Femmes. Acquire "Violent Femmes - Deluxe Edition", the highly distinguished self-titled album, first. I definitely recommend the Deluxe Edition as it contains a bonus disc that will reveal to you a whole nother aspect of their genius - the live act. Though the album "Viva Wiconsin" is definitely the ultimate document of the Femmes live, the bonus live disc is an interesting chronicle that you will thank yourself for later.
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album Why Do Birds Sing? 
