Andrew Bird has had quite the busy year with a sonic art exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; loads of touring; the release his sixth studio full-length, Break It Yourself, and the companion EP, Hands of Glory; and the revival of his stripped-down “Gezelligheid” (the Dutch word meaning homey, inviting or quaint) concert series in Chicago and New York churches. Hands of Glory switches gears, leaving behind the quirky indie folk-pop found on Break It Yourself for a more authentic, acoustic, minimalistic style. A brief walk-through of the album includes the eerie ode “Three White Horses”, the country/folk/gospel Carter Family-inspired “Railroad Bill”, a soulful cover of Handsome Family’s “When That Helicopter Comes”, a Laurel Canyon-esque cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “If I Needed You”, “Orpheo” which is a gentle reworking of Break it Yourself’s “Orpheo Looks Back,” and the expansive ten-minute closing track “Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses.” Hands of Glory is a nice companion piece to Break It Yourself and a strong addition to Andrew Bird’s catalog. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Bowerbirds, Daniel Martin Moore, Ben Sollee, Sufjan Stevens, The M. Ward, Abigail Washburn