If there's one word to describe Andrew Bird's Noble Beast, it's "unmistakable." Out of the smoldering flame of excitement generated by Armchair Apocrypha, Andrew Bird returns here in full force, often even more thoughtful musically that his previous masterful effort. What's most fascinating about this album is observing exactly where Bird's sensibility has shifted. From Mysterious Production's guitar heavy indie anthems to Armchair's beautifully varied textures, Andrew Bird goes a step further in Noble Beast, taking the best of Armchair while continuing to develop a distinctive sound. The heavy guitar riffs are almost all gone; instead we have a vast array of polyphony, with multiple violins played in many ways and extremely melodic guitar lines. All the while the entire album is unmistakable. This album features a number of his best songs to date. "Anonanimal" is quite possibly his most sophisticated song to date, flowing and morphing all too appropriately with more textures than we may have even thought Bird could effectively employ. Songs like "Effigy" still pull us back in the best way to Bird's songwriter, folk, sentimentality. "Not a Robot, But a Ghost" too introduces a variety of textures, vast percussion the likes of which he's rarely displayed, and overall a refreshing momentary departure from his predominantly organic sound. All the while, the versatility and ingenuity of Bird shines brilliantly forth through Noble Beast.

That's not to say the album doesn't have its weak points. Songs like "Nomenclature" and "Natural Disaster" feel slightly lackluster, or rather perhaps simply stale given the ambition of the rest of the album. But moments of weakness are only brief and intermittent, always flowing gorgeously into some marvelous. And where Armchair runs out of steam over its last half, Noble Beast stays totally fresh over the whole album.

What's struck me about criticism of this album is how misplaced they seem to be. I've read things like "the pizzicato violin is missing," which first of all is false, and second completely refuses to acknowledge the breadth of phenomenal texture and polyrhythm Bird explores here. On the whole, all this album has to offer is a wondrous experience in the present and a faith that no matter what, Andrew Bird will always have something new to offer us, and it will always sound good.… Collapse

An absolutely brilliant album. It is lush, intricate, and detailed to the extreme. However, it presents itself as a laid back Bon Ivor/Iron and Wine/Decemberists record...but, it is much more. musically, I would say that this album would more likelt appeal to David Sylvian fans, late-era Talk Talk, or even prefab Sprout fans simply due to it's attention to detail. I love this record and think it's by far Bird's best. I've seen a few "it didn't hit me immediatly" or "it's boring" comments...noting that I'm a long time Sylvian fan...you must have patience and give this a few listens before it becomes part of your life.… Expand

Deaf reviewers. This is tear-inducingly good in the right mood, and simply great in any mood.

Think of this listening experience sort of like picking up a National Geographic and looking at the photographs of strange life forms and unique looking individuals, and then realizing that if you read the articles deep thoughts become much clearer.

As good as a the previous album although some songs should have been left out... Outstanding album!

A great record. I'm confused by how mixed the reviews seem to be. Rock journalists have failed us again.

Sounds right, Feels right. Bird's latest is his greatest. I am not a musician, but in this layman's opinion, Beast's music is appetizingly complex.

Andrew Bird continues to impress me. His production is beautiful and lyricism is highly creative. With this album, he was able to take many of the great moments from both Mysterious Production of Eggs and Armchair Apocrypha and combine them into something really special. Best album of the year so far (yes, even better than Merriweather Post Pavilion).

Some of the people who reviewed this must be deaf or just incredibly pretentious. whether or not this album is well suited to them or not i think it can, Andrew Bird in general for that matter, can be quite easily defined as one of the most explicit examples of raw talent out there. "Not a Robot, But a Ghost" is an incredable song. Andrew Bird always manages to put out something diffrent than he did before, that kind of originality should be celebrated.… Expand