Andrew Bird, a sometime session player with Squirrel Nut Zippers, prides himself on never taking music matters too seriously. With his eclectic mix of bandmates, Bowl of Fire, the classically trained violinist and lead vocalist works as many different genres-Tin Pan Alley, Latin, pop, rock ‘n’ roll-into songs with titles like “Tea and Thorazine” and “Feetlips.” On the new Oh! The Grandeur, the follow-up to the band’s 1998 debut, Thrills, Bird & Co.-who reportedly do their studio work around a single live microphone-have a cheeky blast head-bopping through 15 fun, intentionally dusty tracks. Whether the guys are rocking the “Candy Shop” with the help of their leader’s caterwauling violin or conjuring a sexy Brazilian stomp on “Coney Island Shuffle,” Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire is relentless in inventing twisted musical hybrids and hurling out lyrical gibberish.
Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire: Oh! The Grandeur
JazzTimes may earn a small commission if you buy something using one of the retail links in our articles. JazzTimes does not accept money for any editorial recommendations. Read more about our policy here. Thanks for supporting JazzTimes.
