Andrew Bird’s career has been characterized by its prolific nature. Though it’s been four years since the songwriter released a full-length of original material, it’s not like he’s been dormant since. He released and toured behind a covers album of songs by The Handsome Family, began an instrumental series by recording in Utah canyons, and settled into his new Los Angeles locale by becoming a fixture of Largo At The Coronet, a venue known for regular appearances by the likes of Jon Brion, Aimee Mann, John C. Reilly, and Fiona Apple.
Beyond becoming part of a community, Bird is now a family man, married with a son, in a life that the singer admits is making his music more personal than ever. The resulting album, Are You Serious, has Bird frightened to share his new music, possibly explaining why he’s been so eager to sink his teeth into anything but his own lyrical compositions over the last few years.
Having a lot to say is a good thing for Bird. “Valley Of The Young” confronts fatherhood straight on, noting “our hearts are constantly breaking” before asking if it is “selfish or is it brave?” Absent is the science and technology jargon that’s usually a tentpole of his musical discussions. It’s refreshing not only that Bird express himself directly, but also that he has something profound to share. When, on “The New St. Jude,” he announces “a mighty revelation,” claiming “everyone’s a disappointment and everyone’s a failure,” it’s an observation that manages to live up to its own hype.