Rating: NN
Taking a tip from Madonna, Andrew Bird has apparently concluded that it’s better for your career longevity to follow trends than to lead them. So in keeping with the indie rock movement toward a softer and gentler approach, Bird has gone all precious and folky for Noble Beast, with daintily picked ditties that Sufjan Stevens might call quaint.
There are some sweet la-la-la bits and a bit of cheery whistling, but nothing jarring or abrasive which might prevent listeners from lapsing into a deep sleep by the sixth track. Operators of heavy machinery take note.
Top track: Not a Robot, But A Ghost