Ryan's Top 10: Number 7

#7 Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

I can’t really add too much more to what Bryan already mentioned in his excellent post concerning this album in his Top Ten. For me, it isn’t #1, but I can totally understand why someone would consider it as such. My opinions have basically remained unchained on Armchair Apocrypha since I first posted a few songs in my One Man Band webcast a couple months ago. It’s a nicely done, mellow sounding, intelligent record. One thing I would like to add to Bryan’s post is the fact that Andrew Bird, at one point, was a member of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. It’s not really a good thing or a bad thing, its just kinda is….know what I mean? Anyhoo, my faves from the album are posted below. Enjoy, and if you haven’t already picked up this album, it’s available over at Emusic, as is a few of Bird’s older albums, which they’ve recently been adding.

Andrew Bird - Heretics

Andrew Bird - Plasticities

RR

More Daytrotter Goodness....

ME: Uhm, Wayne? What do you do if every time you see this one incredible website, you think you're going to hurl?

WAYNE: I say hurl. If you blow chunks and she comes back, she's yours. But if you spew and she bolts, then it was never meant to be.



This is the way I feel everytime I go to the Daytrotter website. Daytrotter is my Garth's Dreamwoman. Well, now they are back with more goodness. This time its Andrew Bird playing with a band called Dianogah. I'll put two songs below, but remember there's always four, so go to the website and get the other two. They're always great. Actually, if you haven't signed up for the Daytrotter email list, you should do so. I didn't realize they had one until like 5 minutes ago, so I'm hoping they'll send me some regular updates on upcoming bands, etc. I think you'll like the two I've posted here, especially the version of Fiery Crash. Its one of my favorite off the last album.

Now, I'm relatively new to the Andrew Bird scene. So, for those a little more well-versed in Andrew Bird-dom what album to you recommend I check out next. I know he's got a couple. I love Armchair Apocrypha, like possibly Top Ten of 2007 love. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

Anyhoo, here's the trackolas:

Andrew Bird (Daytrotter Session) - Fiery Crash
Andrew Bird (Daytrotter Session) - Plasticities

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Ryan's Webcast 3 - Third time's a charm???

In this fantastic installment of my webcast series, I've decided to take a look at some singer-songwriter's I've been paying attention to recently. But while we're partaking of this musical adventure together, I'd like us to ponder our own personal definition of the phrase "singer-songwriter". I guess, technically, all one has to do is write the music they sing. But if this is the case, then why isn't everyone this side of Eddie Vedder considered a singer-songwriter. As is turns out, in the past, I had typically considered a singer-songwriter to have a particular sound about them (i.e. they wrote, sang, and played their own music on an acoustic guitar). And I don't think I'm the only one that's ever felt like this. However, the technology associated with today's recording industry has rendered this definition essentially useless. Now, if a person was so inclined, they could play a number of instruments for one song and have these recorded over each other to produce the finished product, becoming a virtual one-man band. So, now an artist can played a myriad of instruments over the course of an album, and thus still be considered a singer-songwriter.

Not the kind of one-man band I'm talking about

I'm always fascinated when reading an album booklet and I see a particular artist played all the instruments. So, here is my tribute to the ever-changing definition of singer-songwriter. I hope you enjoy......

Also, a big shout out to whichever of my comrades discovered this wonderful StreamPad. Now, you KGB listeners can listen to the webcasts and single mp3 posts while browsing and reading the articles, without opening a new window. Anyways, onto the webcast:

Ryan KGB Webcast 3 - The Art of the One Man Band

1. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
2. Nick Drake - Place to Be
3. Alexi Murdoch - Wait
4. Alexi Murdoch - Breathe
5. Vandaveer - Marianne, You've Done it Now....
6. Vandaveer - However Many Takes it Takes
7. Andrew Bird - Heretics
8. Andrew Bird - Cataracts
9. Ola Podrida - The New Science
10. Ola Podrida - Day at the Beach
11. Damien Rice - Cannonball
12. Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter
13. Jack Johnson - Better Together

RR