My Finest Work Yet


My Finest Work Yet is the twelfth solo studio album by Andrew Bird, released on March 22, 2019. It is notable for being Andrew Bird's first overtly political album, covering topics such as divisive political atmosphere, climate change, and apathy.

Background

"Bloodless," which was released as the first single, was written between the 2016 election and Charlottesville, Andrew Bird stated "I was trying to figure out a way to step back and look at everything that’s going on, and look at how we're caught in this sort of death spiral.”
The album title, similar to previous album Are You Serious, was originally a working title and an inside joke. When asked if it truly was his "finest work yet," Bird responded "at some point, all of them are."
The album cover was photographed by creative director Amanda Demme. It is a recreation of the 1793 painting The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David, which depicts Jean-Paul Marat, a journalist and revolutionary who was assassinated during the height of the French Revolution. The painting was originally chosen so that its dramatic nature would enhance the humorous tongue-in-cheek title of the album. Upon further research, however, Bird found that the painting's historical significance lined up with the political tone of the album.

Production

The album was recorded with the full band playing together in the studio, allowing the sound of instruments to 'bleed' together on different channels, "against the trend of the last 30 to 40 years, which is to isolate every sound and manipulate it in the mix.”

Personnel