Andrew Bird's second album
Oh! The Grandeur reunites him with his
Bowl of Fire counterparts, as well as some special collaborators like the
Squirrel Nut Zippers' James Mathus. Recorded in New Orleans, the album builds on the hot jazz/
Brecht vibe that
Bowl of Fire pioneered on their first album
Thrills, but focuses more on
Bird's witty lyrics and deadpan delivery, as tracks like "Tea & Thorazine" and "The Idiot's Genius" display. Musically,
Oh! The Grandeur keeps the live, one-take feeling of its predecessor, and
Bird's fiddle playing is as expressive as ever. ~ Heather Phares