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Track Listings
| 1. Hope There’s Someone |
| 2. My Lady Story |
| 3. For Today I Am A Boy |
| 4. Man Is The Baby |
| 5. You Are My Sister |
| 6. What Can I Do? |
| 7. Fistful Of Love |
| 8. Spiralling |
| 9. Free At Last |
| 10. Bird Gerhl |
Product Description
Product Description
Antony and the Johnsons' second full-length recording, the haunting and affecting I Am a Bird Now, is a far more intimate affair than their debut. Antony's bluesy parlour room cadence is more upfront here, resulting in a listening experience that's both exhilarating and disquieting. "Hope There's Someone" is a sombre opener, and its plea for companionship, augmented by a sparse piano/vocal arrangement that rises into the air by song's end in a swirl of multi-tracked harmonies, is ultimately uplifting. This formula is applied to too much of the record and never ceases to elicit honest emotion from either Antony or his numerous guests. Rufus Wainwright takes the lead on "What Can I Do?," a languid meditation on death that conjures up images of rainy streets, lonely lampposts, and cigar smoke--it's brief (under two minutes) but alluring like the cover of a Raymond Chandler novel. Boy George joins Antony for a duet on the soulful and empowering "You Are My Sister," Devendra Banhart lends his warbly tenor to the lush "Spiraling," and Lou Reed plays noodly guitar and recites an anonymous poem on the mischievous "Fistful of Love." It's a testament to Antony's skill as a writer and arranger that these guest appearances are completely devoid of pretence, and while each artist is reverent to the source material, it's still Antony's show, as the most powerful moments on I Am a Bird Now are his. --James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide
Product Description
MERCURY MUSIC PRIZE WINNING ALBUM Antony & The Johnsons' award winning album from 2005, with guest vocals from Boy George and Lou Reed, amongst others
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's not often that new music in 2005 can stop you in your tracks, but it was only those made of granite that weren't hushed into an awed silence the first time they heard Antony sing. "Hope there's someone who'll take care of me when I die", the opening words to the best album of the year.
From the Peter Hujar photo, Candy Darling On Her Deathbead, that adorns the sleeve, to some of the subject matter - breast amputation (My Lady Story), domestic violence (Fistful Of Love) and gender confusion (For Today I Am A Boy) - it might appear to be a hard shell to crack, but what makes I Am A Bird Now all the more compelling is that Antony is able to take what are profoundly personal words and transform them into something highly ambiguous and hugely accessible.
Nonetheless, it is Antony's voice that, for many, is the main draw. Equal parts Nina Simone, Labi Siffre, Billie Holiday and Jimmy Scott, Antony sings with such sadness, such belief, such frailty and such authority that he could be singing about anything and it wouldn't matter. Even better then, that the lyrics should be so affecting and challenging.
It's somewhat fitting an album which, more than anything, draws on feelings of isolation and loneliness should have such a stellar cast of supporting players. Long-time Antony champion, Lou Reed, adds an unpretentious and almost terse spoken word intro to Fistful Of Love, before Antony delivers a heartbreaking account of domestic abuse ("I feel your fist and I know it's out of love"). Immediately afterwards, Devendra Banhart adds some disturbing incantations to the beginning of the staggering Spiralling.
Just preceding those two songs is What Can I Do? Here, Antony relinquishes the lead vocal role and allows Rufus Wainwright to take centre stage.
... Read more ›11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. P. Guppy
Format:Audio CD
If you can coax empathy from the average stranger by singing about the pains of being a 6ft 5 plus transvestite, you must have a way about you. If you can do it while wrapping your vocals in a quivering mixture of Brian Ferry and Nina Simone, delivering delicate torch paeans to confusion, fear and eventual release then you're a rare talent.
This is simply the finest album of the year. It's just devastating, to be honest it's sometimes a little too much to take...the way he sings 'I tell you I love you, and I always will...I know you can't tell me' during 'Fistful Of Love' kills me everytime I hear it...easily one of the finest soul songs of the last ten years, you can just feel the fragile desperation and need seep from every word. It's heartbreaking.
Like I said, it's not easy to place someone in your position and make them feel your particular pain through a collection of four minute songs, but this album has the honesty and beauty to do just that...it aches for your attention.
This is simply the finest album of the year. It's just devastating, to be honest it's sometimes a little too much to take...the way he sings 'I tell you I love you, and I always will...I know you can't tell me' during 'Fistful Of Love' kills me everytime I hear it...easily one of the finest soul songs of the last ten years, you can just feel the fragile desperation and need seep from every word. It's heartbreaking.
Like I said, it's not easy to place someone in your position and make them feel your particular pain through a collection of four minute songs, but this album has the honesty and beauty to do just that...it aches for your attention.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
WOW, listening to this for the first time was the audio equivalent of driving past a traffic accident, I didn't think I wanted to listen but couldn't stop myself. I can't think of anything to compare this to. I'm not especially fond of piano ballads, certainly have nothing in common with an emotionally tortured 7 foot tall transvestite and can't say that I related to any of the lyrics at all. So when I say that this album is a masterpiece and is one of the most original albums I have ever heard, you may get an idea of just what genius this is.
If you are looking for something mainstream, or think you're musically cultured because you like Coldplay, this album may go right over your head or even upset you.
Just to give perspective on my review I am 38 years old have broad taste and have been a professional nightclub DJ for 20 years (catch me at Risa in Birmingham at the weekends;)
If you want something different this is it!
If you are looking for something mainstream, or think you're musically cultured because you like Coldplay, this album may go right over your head or even upset you.
Just to give perspective on my review I am 38 years old have broad taste and have been a professional nightclub DJ for 20 years (catch me at Risa in Birmingham at the weekends;)
If you want something different this is it!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Tom Hunt
Format:Audio CD
It's been said before, but Antony has the most amazing voice. Completely original which is why it is such a love/hate sound. To be honest on my first listen i thought the voice ruined it, but then the more i listened to it the more i loved it. The subject matter of the album is particularly moving as it comes across as completely heartfelt and sincere, each song filled with a mixture of pain and hope as Antony struggles to come to terms with what he is and what he wants to become.
The instrumental backing throughout the album is sparse and simplistic, mainly centred around piano and strings. This type of instrumentation compliments Antonys style of singing perfectly as it does not draw attention away from his voice.
Overall I'd definately reccommend this album, although it will have to 'grow' on some people.
The instrumental backing throughout the album is sparse and simplistic, mainly centred around piano and strings. This type of instrumentation compliments Antonys style of singing perfectly as it does not draw attention away from his voice.
Overall I'd definately reccommend this album, although it will have to 'grow' on some people.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Denis
Format:Audio CD
I saw Anthony and the Johnsons perform on a T.V. chat show- only one song but they sounded interesting. I am 56 and have what you would call mainstream tastes but I just can't stop playing this album. It's the combination of his voice and the quality of the songs- only one dud in my opinion ( Free at Last). It's just brilliant- buy it , play it and , for all the right reasons, you won't be able to get it out of your head. Anthony sounds a tortured soul but artists often produce their best material when they're unhappy- Van Morrison for example
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3.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a sound!
I expected this album to be one I would listen to often, and I am delighted that this has proved to be the case. It is wonderful.
Published 3 months ago by rose
4.0 out of 5 stars
"I Am A Bird Now" is simply a very beautiful creation
After a 5 year long wait, Antony And The Johnsons second album "I Am A Bird Now" is proof that when artists take their time with their projects rather than rush to churn out album... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Amillionmiles
1.0 out of 5 stars
COFFEE TABLE ALBUM
This album is AWFUL.I suspect the people who lke this record use words like "eclectic","post modernist" smoke marlboro lights and wear berets,sarongs,man bags carrying i pods and... Read more
Published on 7 May 2011 by mister joe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Takes a few listens to get into-but worth it!
I ordered this after reading a review of one of Antony's concerts, in the Evening Standard as apart from anything else - I was intrigued. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2011 by Dee B
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Am A Bird Now
`I Am A Bird Now' is one of those albums you will be delighted to have found. It is moving, eloquent, beautiful, soulful and most important of all, unique. Read more
Published on 12 Feb 2010 by Spider Monkey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Out of this World
Anthony and the Johnsons is really nothing like what I've heard before. It's just out of this world! It brings you in other spheres you've ever been before!
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by W. L. J. Laar
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wierd and wonderful
An interesting voice to listen to if you like this kind of music otherwise it maybe seemed as a little melancholy to the virgin ear.
Published on 20 Jun 2009 by Lindessa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
This album is simply brilliant. The entire thing from start to finish. My favorite song is Man is a Baby but most people seem to like Bird Gurl and You are My Sister. Read more
Published on 16 April 2009 by Anne L. Hardy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Antony and the Johnsons.
This Album is great, and with the addition off other artists, it becomes even greater.
Published on 19 Mar 2009 by Malcolm Thomson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Free at last
Powerful moving somber and uplifting are words that describe, but do not fully enscapsulate the experience of listing to this music. It's music that you feel inside you. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2009 by Dennis
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