One of my great musical heroes, Andrew Bird, returns with a new studio album, Noble Beast, on January 27, out on Fat Possum. And you can now hear the album's first song, "Oh No," thanks to the good people at Pitchfork/Stereogum.

The tracklisting:

01 Oh No
02 Masterswarm
03 Fitz and the Dizzyspells
04 Effigy
05 Tenuousness
06 Nomenclature
07 Not a Robot, But a Ghost
08 Anonanimal
09 Natural Disaster
10 Confess
11 Souverian
12 On Ho!

Bird chats with Stereogum about the new album-- which, apparently, will be a little bit country.

Cover art for both the standard and deluxe editions of the album.

I think I like the standard one better.

As evidenced by my new avatar, I've heard this album, and I like it a lot. I'm still digesting it so I won't say much, except: If you've ever wanted to hear Andrew Bird write a country song, a dance-pop song, or a simple little folk song, this record is for YOU!!

In celebration of/build-up to the new album, I've posted a quick primer on Bird's previous records.

The New York Times: Andrew Bird Discovers His Inner Operatic Folkie

Of course, all I really care about it...

CAN BIRD BEAT ANIMAL COLLECTIVE?

If not, I don't think I'll bother.

Of course Bird can't beat the collective. Everybody knows it's the PIGS who run Animal Farm.

The zoological shenanigans have just begun. We have yet to hear the new albums from Grizzly Bear, The High Llamas, Deertick, Deerhoof, Wolfmother, The Eagles of Death Metal, Republic Tigers, Doleful Lion, Pedro the Lion, Dr. Dog, Snoop Dogg, Cat Power, Mountain Goats, Caribou, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Foal, The Wrens, Simian Mobile Disco, Gorillaz, The Jayhawks, The Black Crow(e)s, Birdmonster, Danger Mouse, Modest Mouse, Mastodon, Jesus Lizard, Lambchop, and the sheeplike Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes). We have a long way to go yet to determine the wildest of the musical wild kingdom.

IMO, SF band Or, the Whale has released the best zoologically-themed album thus far in 2009, and Eleni Mandell, human, has released the best album thus far.

And yet, U2 tells us that there's no lion on the horizon.

Have I mentioned that this Andrew Bird album is really, really good?

I've been told Ezra Furman & the Harpoons were looking for Noah & the Whale.

Stream it!

Wow.



My vote for Bird's best album, easily.

It's the Andrew Bird album for Andrew Bird to beat!

Okay, forgive me. Couldn't help it.

Thanks for the link, Josh! I'm listening right now, and I can feel Bird lifting my spirits on those magical strings of his. And after a long day like today, I needed that.