The Mysterious Production of Eggs

Andrew Bird’s music is a lot easier to listen to than to describe. His songs sound deceptively simple but when unraveled reveal a careful melding of hushed folk, swaying country-rock, Eastern-tinged psychedelia, and a liberal dose of '30s-era gypsy jazz. (Good luck finding that category at Virgin.) But rather than wear these influences on his sleeve, Bird weaves them into songs that feel completely his own. Bird’s warm voice makes the gentle folk-pop of “Sovay” and “Masterfade” sound tragic, though we haven’t a clue what they’re actually about. Lyrics like “Whiskey-plied voices cried fratricide!” are cryptic but sound incredibly cool tumbling from his mouth. Bird’s also a virtuoso violinist who understands that virtuoso doesn’t mean slathering as many notes over his tunes as possible. The strings don’t take over; they complement the guitars, piano, and creative percussion, helping make sure The Mysterious Production doesn't lay an egg.