My Finest Work Yet
My Finest Work Yet is the twelfth solo studio album by Andrew Bird, released on March 22, 2019. It is notable for being Andrew Bird's first overtly political album,[3] covering topics such as divisive political atmosphere, climate change, and apathy.[4]
| My Finest Work Yet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 22, 2019 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock,[1] indie folk[1] | |||
| Length | 42:31 | |||
| Label | Loma Vista | |||
| Producer | Paul Butler | |||
| Andrew Bird chronology | ||||
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| Singles from My Finest Work Yet | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Pitchfork | 7.6/10[2] |
Background
"Bloodless," which was released as the first single, was written between the 2016 election and Charlottesville. "I was trying to figure out a way to step back and look at everything that’s going on," Bird said, "and look at how we're caught in this sort of death spiral.”[5] The album title, similar to previous album Are You Serious, was originally a working title and an inside joke. When asked if it truly was his "finest work yet," Bird responded, "At some point, all of them are."[5]
The album cover was photographed by creative director Amanda Demme.[6] It is a recreation of the 1793 painting The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David, which depicts Jean-Paul Marat, a journalist and revolutionary who was assassinated during the height of the French Revolution. The painting was originally chosen so that its dramatic nature ("the suffering poet on his deathbed penning his last words with his dying breath") would enhance the humorous tongue-in-cheek title of the album. Upon further research, however, Bird found that the painting's historical significance lined up with the political tone of the album.[7]
Production
The album was recorded with the full band playing together in the studio, allowing the sound of instruments to 'bleed' together on different channels, "against the trend of the last 30 to 40 years, which is to isolate every sound and manipulate it [later] in the mix.”[4]
Personnel
- Producers: Paul Butler, Andrew Bird
- Written by: Andrew Bird
- Vocals: Andrew Bird, Madison Cunningham, Alan Hampton, Paul Butler, Abe Rounds
- Violins: Andrew Bird
- Guitars: Andrew, Blake Mills, Mike Viola
- Bass: Alan Hampton, Tyler Chester
- Piano & Organ: Tyler Chester
- Drums & Percussion: Ted Poor, Abe Rounds
- Recording studios: Barefoot Studios, Sound City Studios, Dreamland Recording, One Story Castle
- Recording Engineers: David Boucher, Paul Butler
- Mixing Engineers: Eric Boulanger
- A & R: Ryan Whalley & Matt Marshall
- Creative Direction: Matthew Daniel Siskin
- Photography: Amanda Demme
- Design & Layout: Sage LaMonica
- Styling: Katherine Tsina
- Costume Assistant: Leah Redmond, Simone White
- Prop Styling: Jessica Tonder
- Makeup: Rebecca Abraham
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sisyphus" | 4:07 |
| 2. | "Bloodless" | 6:29 |
| 3. | "Olympians" | 3:58 |
| 4. | "Cracking Codes" | 3:12 |
| 5. | "Fallorun" | 4:25 |
| 6. | "Archipelago" | 4:38 |
| 7. | "Proxy War" | 4:05 |
| 8. | "Manifest" | 5:17 |
| 9. | "Don The Struggle" | 4:31 |
| 10. | "Bellevue Bridge Club" | 4:26 |
| Total length: | 42:31 | |
References
- "My Finest Work Yet - Andrew Bird - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- Pelly, Jenn (April 16, 2020). "Andrew Bird: My Finest Work Yet Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- Chavez, Danette. "More empathetic than incendiary, this is still Andrew Bird's Finest Work Yet". Music.
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-andrew-bird-finest-work-yet-20190321-story.html
- "Musician Andrew Bird on why 'My Finest Work Yet' is his first overtly political album". KCRW.
- "Andrew Bird talks about his 'Finest Work Yet' and the time he did a skywriting campaign in Milwaukee". 88Nine Radio Milwaukee.
- "How Andrew Bird Assembled 'My Finest Work Yet'". The Bluegrass Situation. 12 April 2019.