Andrew Bird...Hands of Glory (EP)

    Not a stranger to this blog, Andrew Bird brings us a new EP titled Hands of Glory (released on Mom + Pop Records on October 30, 2012--maybe just a bit late for 'Just in...' status). One of the foremost indie rock artists of our day, having put out six full albums previous to this, Andrew Bird is a multi-instrumentalist melodist capable of crafting unique compositions that stand the test of time and fulfill the desires of eager fans for new material.  
    Hands of Glory (EP) does not disappoint, though it contains a marked folk (even bluegrass or southern rock) influence beyond many of his previous albums. His use of violin and whistling (the latter of which is strangely absent) in such a manner is not necessarily unfamiliar, but the acoustic presence is much greater, with the use of banjos, ukelele and fiddle. He even refers to 38 Special in the track "Railroad Bill", referring to not only a gun, but a southern rock band. To me, "Railroad Bill" and a lot of other parts of songs sound like something from a Garisson Keillor show. His fiddle playing, however, could probably be scrutinized and/or criticized by traditionalists and purists alike, because it borders at times on a harder rock influence and lacks some focus and/or style. Especially intermingled with his typical pizzicato techniques--it almost sounds a bit forced. Even so, Andrew Bird's intentional use of the fiddle genre to beef up the sound of Hands of Glory (EP) is definitely something he could potentially build on in the future. I just think, as with a lot of other styles/genres that other artists toy with, they would benefit from some real hands on experience. I mean, in this case, going to the back hills and learning by rote from someone who has learned from someone else--all part of a rich history of passing down tunes and style. Can I say whether he has or hasn't done this, no; but, if not my point stands.
    I think the real gem of of the nine-track Hands of Glory (EP) is the last track, "Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses", which starts with the aforementioned pizzicato, to lovely effect. The violin also soars with Andrew Bird's more usual [than the rest of the album] slides and gracefulness. Midway through, the song morphs into this beautiful free flowing violin section, quickly changing into an electronic echo, so to speak. It's full of slow heavy waves or pulsations of vibrato, while the violin haunts the listener as it floats over top. The whole thing melts into nothing, until the pizzicato peeks back to complete the fade out.
    "Beyond the Valley of the White Horses" is hands down the best song on the album, and you can listen to it over under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Or check it out, along with the rest of the full album stream at Andrew Bird's SoundCloud, here. Enjoy!