On The Download: Andrew Bird's 'Noble Beast'

By David Greenwald

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Andrew Bird has worn many hats over the years - professional whistler, '20s jazz aficionado, New York Times guest-blogger - but the one that fits best is solo artist. Since abandoning his band, Bowl of Fire, and going solo with 2003's "& The Mysterious Production of Eggs," the Chicago-based troubadour has built an impressive catalog, from "Eggs" to his latest release, "Noble Beast."

A gifted multi-instrumentalist and genre dabbler, Bird is as comfortable on the classical violin as he as playing rock guitar. On his previous release, 2007's "Armchair Apocrypha," he added the percussive assault of experimental drummer Martin Dosh to great effect on tracks such as "Simple X," but let too many of the songs drift into sleepy balladry.

"Noble Beast" is a more balanced effort, an album that shows off all of his musical sides as well as his magnificent wordplay. Opening track "Oh No" begins with the pastoral sweep of his violins and a folksy whistle, with the song turning enjoyably silly when it adds handclaps and a sputtering electric guitar. Bird's songs have always walked the line between free-spirited fun and somber craftsmanship, and the new material is as effective at this as ever, sounding both carefully arranged and exuberantly performed.

The album's best songs are the ones that find the folkie stretching into new territory. "Not a Robot, But a Ghost" is a sort of counterpoint to Kayne West's futuristic "808s & Heartbreak" - the song coasts on crinkling beats even as it finds solace in very human emotions after a break-up. If Bird were a painter, his lyrics would be more impressionistic than photo-real - his lines focus on sound as much as storytelling.

"Anonanimal" begins with syllables spilling out of his crooner's tenor: "I see a sea anemone / see an enemy... that'll be the end of me," he utters in one breath. Like many of the songs on "Beast," the track is an adventure, dropping into a hip-hop-inspired groove briefly mid-song before building to a guitar-led climax.

With peers such as Sufjan Stevens and Rufus Wainwright lying low lately, Bird continues to push his music forward. The energy of the album ebbs and flows throughout, much like Bird's classic, "Eggs" - and like that release before it, "Beast" has as much bite as it does bark.

The Year's Biggest Celebrity Meltdowns

2008: Britney got better, Paris outwitted John McCain and Lindsay became involved in a stable relationship. With all eyes on the economy and the election, it was a quieter year for Tinseltown's stalwart cast of troublemakers and their followers.

The business of celebrity gossip is still going strong, but happy endings are now the fashion. As doom is foreshadowed on the news, the public wants to see brighter things from the tabloids, and it may be in the best interests of the stars and their publicists to indulge the fans.



"I think that celebrities realize that it's more in vogue to have your life together," says Lori Levine, chief executive of talent brokering firm Flying Television. She feels stars may be more aware that if they act inappropriately in their private lives, they "actually won't be able to make money and in this economy, that bottom line is very, very seductive."

That doesn't mean everyone's cleaned up his or her act. Take Kanye West, the musician who made headlines this year for two scuffles with paparazzi photographers. West cleverly tried to take control of the spin by posting about the incidents on his blog, protesting the invasive danger that photographers pose.



Another celebrity who took the headlines into her own hands was Bai Ling, who was arrested last February in the Los Angeles International airport for stealing magazines and batteries. She claimed the incident was the result of a bad breakup and plead guilty to disturbing the peace but not before posting on her blog, "Life happens to you, either you liked it or not; sometimes I feel you have to be so brave to stand in front of the world and just hope that people will have a tender heart toward you," which some saw as a veiled response to the incident.

First person recounting of the ups and downs of fame seems to be one more tactic that stars have used recently to connect emotionally to their fans. The candidness becomes even more effective when stars show a desire to turn their lives around.

"We love second acts," says Howard Bragman, chairman of Fifteen Minutes, a strategic media and public relations agency. "We're willing to forgive bad behavior."

That's certainly the case with Josh Brolin. In July, while filming the Oliver Stone biopic "W," Brolin was arrested for getting into a bar fight in Shreveport, La. Charged with a misdemeanorfor interfering with police, he's scheduled to appear in court Dec. 2. While his mug shot was plastered across celebrity media pages, the incident hasn't slowed his streak of roles in critically acclaimed films. Up next in limited release: "Milk."

Amy Winehouse is banking on fans' hope for a second act after repeated rounds of drug abuse, violence and divorce rumors marred the musician's reputation. Authorities held her this past year for allegedly slapping a man and for suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. While neither incidents ended in formal charges, her husband Blake Fielder-Civil was sent to jail for assaulting and attempting to bribe a barman in 2007 and was recently released for rehabilitation.

While the "Dark Knight" buzz was still building, star Christian Bale was arrested in London after allegedly assaulting his mother and sister. The charges were subsequently dropped and any public memory was likely shadowed by the pic's industry-saving box office pull.

Levine says some Hollywood stars have hit a period of reputation rebuilding. Fame in America often means a progression of rising fast, falling fast and then an inspirational climb back to renewed fame and success. "We're tired of the bad news," says Levine. After watching the press highlight panty-less nightly escapades and DUI charges, the public wants some positive news. "We're tired of the roller coaster."

But, as the paparazzo isn't backing down, it's up to the stars to keep their illicit deeds out of the tabloid papers and blogs. "The only way you can control the press is to control your behavior," says Bragman.

Kanye West says he's 'voice of this generation'

LONDON - Kanye West is to music what Michael Jordan was to basketball at least that's what West thinks, in his humble estimation.

"I realize that my place and position in history is that I will go down as the voice of this generation, of this decade, I will be the loudest voice," he said in an interview on Wednesday. "It's me settling into that position of just really accepting that it's one thing to say you want to do it and it's another thing to really end up being like Michael Jordan."

The Grammy-winning rapper-producer said Justin Timberlake had a chance to be music's MVP, but hasn't put out enough material. (Timberlake's last album was in 2006, while West released a CD last year and is releasing his latest "808s and Heartbreak" on Nov. 24.)

"There were people who had the potential to do it but they went on vacation, so when Justin went on vacation I made albums," he said. "And it just came out to be that."

West, 31, said life has been difficult since his mother's death. Donda West died last November after having plastic surgery.

"I'm just going through balancing that. And I always used to have that support system, you know. My mom would be there; no matter what, she was there before everything," he said. "We were together for like 30 years. And you know now when I'm on that stage and I look out and I say, 'What am I going to do with the rest of my life?' Like when does a real life start?' Because I have sacrificed real life to be a celebrity and to give this art to people, which is great. It is great that I was able to do that, I'm not trying to shun that in any way, but it's definitely a Catch-22 and it's bittersweet."

Madonna, Oprah, other celebs react to Obama's win

NEW YORK – Madonna doesn't do anything small.

The Material Girl celebrated Barack Obama's victory Tuesday night with a glittering rally of her own, leading thousands of fans at her concert in San Diego with a rousing introduction to her song "Express Yourself."

In a video posted on YouTube, Madonna claps her hands and declares, "This is a historical evening! ... We are lucky to be sharing it with each other!"

Other celebrity supporters of Obama echo Madonna's good cheer.

Oprah Winfrey, who cried during the celebration in Chicago's Grant Park, told the TV show "The Insider": "I was so, so, so excited and then just sort of a calm came over me. It feels like it actually is kind of real, so it feels great."

Asked what this means for the country, she said, "It means democracy at its finest. It's just the best. We did this. America did this."

George Clooney said in a statement: "I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces."

Actress Scarlett Johansson, who stumped for Obama throughout his campaign, said the "overwhelming hope that Obama inspires is infectious."

"I've always maintained a strong faith in the power of Obama's positive campaign and am so proud of every citizen who took a stand, participated in the political process and insisted their voices be heard," Johansson said in a statement.

Singer John Mellencamp reflected on the election on his Web site, saying he never thought he'd see the day when "a man of color could be president of the United States. But today I am so proud of America."

Singer Colbie Caillat, who cried when Obama won, said she thinks "our country is in safe hands."

Stars including Lindsay Lohan, Michael Moore and Kanye West posted messages online.

Reacting on her Myspace page, Lohan gushed, "OBAMA IS OUR PRESIDENT!" and said that everyone who voted, "no matter their choice ... should be proud for voting in the first place."

West, whose mother Donda died last November, posted a portrait of the president elect on his blog with the message: "HI MOM, OBAMA WON!"

Meanwhile, director-provocateur Moore responded on his Web site, saying, "Who among us is not at a loss for words? Tears pour out. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. A stunning, whopping landslide of hope in a time of deep despair."

Even more stunning: a concession from John McCain supporter Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who said Wednesday on TV's "The View" that she'll follow Obama's lead.

"I will jump in that line and support our president because that is what as an American I believe we should do," said Hasselbeck, who received a fist bump from co-host Whoopi Goldberg.



See: Barack Obama Pic