I Am A Bird Now
by Antony and the Johnsons
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 271 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 229 out of 271
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 271
  3. Negative: 30 out of 271

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  1. JasonV
    Sep 24, 2005
    9
    An album full of sadness, regret, hopelessness and hope. Its a bright light in a world full of imposters, posers and the insincere. Never once does the music sound mawkish nor does it asscend into mopey, emo style 'torturous' voals. The pain is real, the confusion obvious. And yet amidst all this is all sounds transcendant and beautiful, flying high above the mediocrity in the An album full of sadness, regret, hopelessness and hope. Its a bright light in a world full of imposters, posers and the insincere. Never once does the music sound mawkish nor does it asscend into mopey, emo style 'torturous' voals. The pain is real, the confusion obvious. And yet amidst all this is all sounds transcendant and beautiful, flying high above the mediocrity in the music world and soaring to new levels of grace. Loads of superlatives i know but its just that kinda reoord and nothing i write here will do it justice. LISTEN NOW!… Expand
  2. AaronE
    Oct 17, 2005
    9
    Beautiful and haunting, i've never heard a voice like this before. If you enjoy the warbling vibrato of Devendra Banhart, listen to Antony, the true master. HIs beautiful floating voice is complimented by the piano dancing languidly under his fingertips.
  3. louisp
    Dec 1, 2005
    9
    I have just recently bought this album based on the numerous recommendations following the mercury prize awards. I can honestly say without any doubt that I have not heard anything this year or even this decade, as emotionally charged and with such a subtle undertone of chilling beauty, it defies any understanding as to what really moves and stirs the matters of the heart. This comforts I have just recently bought this album based on the numerous recommendations following the mercury prize awards. I can honestly say without any doubt that I have not heard anything this year or even this decade, as emotionally charged and with such a subtle undertone of chilling beauty, it defies any understanding as to what really moves and stirs the matters of the heart. This comforts the unrequitted love in all of us. amazing!!!… Expand
  4. RaulJulia
    Dec 26, 2005
    9
    awesome. this cd has called out the homophobes. scatter you cockroaches.
  5. JasonF
    Mar 8, 2005
    9
    His voice and music has an aching and melancholic beauty. Best album so far this year. I know it is a differnt kind of music, but this makes Bright Eye's lastest album(s), though very good, seem sophmoric.
  6. Dean
    Apr 11, 2005
    9
    I'm not really into my tenors, but this album really is very very good. Can't say it'll start off a whole movement, but it certainly makes a nice change.
  7. mark
    Apr 29, 2005
    9
    i had never heard of antony and the johnsons until yesterday on radio 1. he made me stop what i was doing and listen, that hasn't happened for a long time. what a voice
  8. GlenP
    Apr 8, 2005
    9
    emotive, uncertain, souless. he needs faith.
  9. PaulB
    Jun 18, 2005
    9
    Stunning; hard to imagine that anyone wouldn't be moved by this.
  10. LucyS
    Jun 23, 2005
    9
    beautiful
  11. robinf
    Oct 16, 2006
    9
    A miracle !
  12. AdolfoG
    Mar 21, 2006
    9
    Original, profundamente bello Una instrumentacion delicada que ensambla magistralmente con unas voces increibles
  13. anthonyb
    Mar 22, 2006
    9
    this album is amazing! there is no other artist like this. antony coveys all of his omtions through song, it is entrancing and beautiful....this album is a must have!
  14. seamusm
    Mar 28, 2006
    9
    Singular voice that arcs high like a nightingale in flight. A lovely record. Check it out.
  15. BronW
    May 28, 2006
    9
    Challenging, haunting and beautiful, it sends tingles down my spine every time. Ignore the killjoys, not all music is supposed to be easy. This is gorgeous stuff.
  16. Lola
    Nov 2, 2005
    9
    I woke up to my radio alarm with Antony singing on NPR. I burst into tears. It's so beautiful. And I'm a jaded old broad. Passed him around and everybody loves him. My friend played him to her mother on her deathbed and then she died, hearing Antony as her last sounds on earth. That seems right to me.
  17. RickyS
    Nov 4, 2005
    9
    If you are one of the people who don't like this album. Let it be known that I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE this album. You know why? Antony has to be one of the most talented songwriters and/or musicians I've heard ever, really ever. What holds the album back is his voice. Although some love it and some hate it, it is definitley divisive. It took six or seven listens to the whole album If you are one of the people who don't like this album. Let it be known that I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE this album. You know why? Antony has to be one of the most talented songwriters and/or musicians I've heard ever, really ever. What holds the album back is his voice. Although some love it and some hate it, it is definitley divisive. It took six or seven listens to the whole album until I got used to it, now I love it. It was worth the work to like it because the music happens to be amazing. Back to my point before, when I say I loathe the album, I mean that I hate how this album could be one of the best ever made if it was easier to listen too. Disregard what anyone else says are the best tracks, after MULTIPLE listens, these are the best...they are all great though 1. What Can I Do (With Rufus Wainwright) ~Short but beautiful, when I first heard this, I listened to it 16 times that day. 2. Man is the Baby ~Just plain out beautiful 3. Bird Gerhl ~The reason why I believe Antony could successfully write Broadway music 4. Spiralling (With Devendra Banhart) ~This song is just GORGEOUS. Unfortunatley, the first 30 seconds or so are excrutiating. Mrs. Banhart obviously cannot sing at all. I think the best lyrics belong to For Today I Am A Boy. They are wrenching, especially when you try to appreciate what he must be going through. Plus its a good song. Enjoy the album, but PLEASE give it a chance. I have found that I can love a group even if the singers voice annoys me at first. The perfect example of that is Wolf Parade. Best Albums of the Year so far: This one, Mezmerize by System of a Down for a change of pace, Illinois by Sufjan Stevens probably my favorite artist, The Mysterious Production of Eggs by Andrew Bird who you also may need to give a chance to, and The Magic Numbers by the Magic Numbers. On Mezmerize, listen to Question! On Illinois listen to Casimir Pulaski Day and John Wayne Gacy Jr. On The Mysterious... listen to Tables and Chairs and MX Missles On the Magic Numbers listen to This Love and Mornings Eleven Enjoy, I hope Ive been useful… Expand
  18. yorid
    Oct 21, 2005
    9
    ayone that doesnt like this album should just shut their mouths and head over to walmart where they can purchase ashleigh simpson's album and stay in their microscopic universe of music.have a great day.....lol
  19. Arethusa
    Mar 22, 2005
    9
    I absolutely adore this album. The lyrics and the music would sound saccharine and overly dramatic with anyone else except Antony, whose voice really is the leading instrument in this band. I've just discovered them with this album and I can't get enough. I think it's one of those polarising records that you'll either love or won't.
  20. PaulS
    Apr 23, 2005
    9
    Very Good but not Excellent as first album )
  21. BrendanN
    Jun 11, 2006
    9
    Challenging, emotional, beautiful, haunting, and just th slightest bit disturbing, I Am A Bird Now will make you shed a tear, quiver in fear, and ultimately cheer.
  22. SimonB
    Dec 27, 2005
    9
    The most remarkable album I've heard since (the very different) Grace, by Jeff Buckley...and time will prove this to be every bit as much a classic as that one is now seen to be. Haunting and hurt, but ultimately uplifting.
  23. MeyaC.
    Dec 31, 2005
    9
    I've only heard a few songs on this album, but his voice is so haunting. It's beautiful, exquisite and entirely different. Everything else, like the lyrics and the arrangements just make this record so much better. Though I'm usually a more hard rock person, Antony and the Johnsons just converted me.
  24. Vampire25
    Feb 20, 2013
    9
    This record completely hit me by surprise. Prior to listening to it, I actually had never heard even a single track from this band. So right off the bat, the opener "Hope There's Someone" showed me exactly what I was getting myself into. Antony has one of the most beautiful and passionate voices I've probably ever heard. It's truly unlike any voice I've ever had the pleasure to soak in andThis record completely hit me by surprise. Prior to listening to it, I actually had never heard even a single track from this band. So right off the bat, the opener "Hope There's Someone" showed me exactly what I was getting myself into. Antony has one of the most beautiful and passionate voices I've probably ever heard. It's truly unlike any voice I've ever had the pleasure to soak in and enjoy. The lyrics carry a dark and ominous sadness to them, and to an extent I could relate to them. This man has something to say, and he says it in the most artful and beautiful way he can say it. All In All, I Am A Bird Now is a sublime record, from the production to the lyrics, to Antony's voice. Almost pitch-perfect. A-… Expand
  25. [Anonymous]
    Apr 1, 2005
    8
    Upon hearing a couple of clips, I hated this at first. But after listening to the full album, Antony won me over. His voice takes some getting used to, but the glam influences and strong melodies make this sucker hold up. If you don't mind hyper-dramatic pop music, give it a shot.
  26. EdB
    Sep 8, 2005
    8
    Very good album, as much despite of as because of yr man Anthony's voice. He can sing when he wants to, but often he puts a rather melodramatic vibrato on which begins to grate after the third listen. Also, four of the tracks have an utterly superfluous guest star, which seems like a rather cynical attempt to boost sales. 'Hey, if you like Lou Reed, you'll like what Lou Very good album, as much despite of as because of yr man Anthony's voice. He can sing when he wants to, but often he puts a rather melodramatic vibrato on which begins to grate after the third listen. Also, four of the tracks have an utterly superfluous guest star, which seems like a rather cynical attempt to boost sales. 'Hey, if you like Lou Reed, you'll like what Lou Reed likes!!!'. Still, the actual music is pretty damn good, and the album is definitely worth a listen. I'm glad this pipped The Kaiser Chiefs to the prize, because whilst this album is a little overrated, their album is ridiculously overrated.… Expand
  27. andred
    Oct 17, 2005
    8
    Hoping beyond hope that this album wasn't WEIRD or BIZARRE or HERMAPHRODITIC or AN INSULT TO THE KAISER CHIEFS (because what, after all, could possibly be worse than that) I engaged an open mind and found an original, moving new sound. You can do it too maybe, unless your box of convention interferes with your ability to hear and feel.
  28. Johno
    Mar 7, 2005
    8
    Impressive stuff. Great songs. Great set of mates too. Shame his voice is so annoying after a while.
  29. MichaelB
    Dec 2, 2005
    8
    I can't help but think that the majority of the negative reviews are overtly trans-phobic ("if he wants the damn transexual (spelled incorrectly I might add) operation then he should just get it instead of crying to listeners about it!" Reeks of bigotry to me.)....and all of the people who disparage Antony's voice should resume listening to their insipid Bright Eyes albums in I can't help but think that the majority of the negative reviews are overtly trans-phobic ("if he wants the damn transexual (spelled incorrectly I might add) operation then he should just get it instead of crying to listeners about it!" Reeks of bigotry to me.)....and all of the people who disparage Antony's voice should resume listening to their insipid Bright Eyes albums in their parent's house while lamenting the fact that the derivative sonic fecal matter that passes as musical innovation (i.e. Kaiser Chiefs) is critically reviled for its mediocrity and poised to fade into the obscurity from whence it came.....This album is poignant and compelling but not necessarily consistent, it does require tolerance and patience (like an unruly child) so if you consider yourself to be a top 40 mainstream sycophant then perhaps you should just invest your money on more faux vintage clothing, and the new Coheed and Cambria album....(Claudio has an unconventional voice too, but at least he's a heteronormative misogynist with MTV promoting his pretentious prog-emo atrocities). Fistful of Love, My Lady Story, Hope There's Someone and Bird Guhl (or girl) are brilliant....but the duet with Boy George is overly sentimental and dull. Spiralling is ruined by Devendra Banhart's affected vocals, which sound nothing like he would usually, and the Rufus Wainwright song is only good if you perceive Wainwright as "the gay messiah" (I emphatically do not!!!) So borrow this CD from the library, sample sound clips at amazon, use soulseek, purchase the album if it appeals, but by all means do not post inarticulate diatribes about how Antony does not sound like Julian Casablancas (whose voice isn't that good either, but he's dirty-trendy, hip, and hetero and ripping off Gang of Four....) Because contemporary music is a grave robbing multi-million dollar industry that appropriates indie and marginal talent, bringing their music to any idiot with an eighth grade vocabulary and a keyboard.… Expand
  30. jyotirmayad
    Jul 22, 2005
    8
    Beautiful writing; the voice takes getting used to; boring in some areas; beautiful melodies; I dislike about 2 or 3 of these songs, but I have to agree with the praises -- a unique artist at the top of his gay.
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best Album of 2005
14
#14 Most Discussed Album of 2005
36
#36 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Haunting and affecting.
    Read full review
  2. cokemachineglow
    74
    For what it lacks in consistency, I Am A Bird Now gains in being, even at its most tedious of moments, an interesting and thematically compelling listen.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    It could have been mawkish, but the sentiments--and Antony's trembling falsetto--are so honest, you love it despite your jaded self. [4 Feb 2005, p.133]
See all critic reviews »