Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire
Oh! The Grandeur
Rykodisc
Decadent and snotty, the new release from Squirrel Nut Zippers violin-man Andrew Bird recalls the Hot Club of France, with 15 slyly twisted tunes. Bird’s vocals mesh with the guitar of Colin Bunn perfectly, creating an aura of sophistication and glamour, all while singing about such things as “Feetlips” and “Tea and Thorazine.” Make no mistake, this is no Docker-wearing goof music – this is subtly strange low-key swing music that harkens back to the days of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. This disc puts the listener into a cafe with a glass of wine (or 12…), squinting through cigarette smoke at the impossibly beautiful woman across the table, who speaks only French. No matter. The night is young, the wine strong, and you are full of life, yes?
Rykodisc, Shetland Park, 27 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970; http://www.rykodisc.com
