Released: 11/12/13
6/7 Stars
My history with Andrew Bird’s music is a short but passionate relationship. It began when I stumbled across a review for 2012’s Break It Yourself. I quickly searched him on YouTube and found a live performance of “Danse Caribe” on KEXP, thus setting the tone for what has been almost two years of my infatuation with Chicago’s Andrew Bird and his violin.
On his newly released EP I Want To See Pulaski At Night, Bird embraces stunning instrumentation, but sacrifices vocals, with his ethereal voice appearing solely on “Pulaski at Night.” With that in mind, the song proves to be central to the themes of the EP. Bird croons about his longing for what appears to be a long lost lover, impressing with lyrics such as “Come back to Chicago/The city of light.” However, the song could be interpreted as being about a distant friendship, romantic relationship or otherwise. The beauty is in how Bird leaves his minimal lyrics up to the interpretation of the listener.
This EP is largely focused on the track “Pulaski at Night,” which was released earlier this year, and the other songs serve as a prelude and epilogue to the track. With so many of his classic instruments weaving into one and other, the EP runs together fluidly and almost as if it were the score to a film. The elegance and strength in Bird’s music allows the listener to picture whatever storyline they want with the EP. There is nothing set in stone with these well-orchestrated songs; much like reading a book and envisioning characters a certain way, Bird’s newest release gives the audience permission to build their own story behind the music.
While his vocals and spellbinding lyrics are undoubtedly missed on the EP, I Want To See Pulaski At Night still proves to be another solid addition to Andrew Bird’s discography.
-Annie Skertic
Reach Annie Skertic at mskertic@umail.iu.edu
