I Am a Bird Now

Seriously I don't even understand what this list is anymore, if I did in the first place. Why is this album there, what is it about this that I need to listen to. In terms of music, we'll if you like a bloke gargling white spirit whilst singing about his flip flops being made from paste this is for you. One piano note rolls out every 4 bars to be dramatic, I guess. This album is like being made to cut the lawn with a pair of blunt scissors whilst birds peck at you and the cat can't even be bothered to piss on you, she has such contempt in her eyes.

1001 vibratos to listen to before you die. The vibrato was so distracting I didn't get much else out of this album. The background music was nice but overpowered by VIBRATOOOOOOOOO.

he's got such an annoying voice. i didn't get it the first time round and i still don't get it now. nice music but gets ruined by him warbling over the top.

I hate the vibrato. I'm sorry, but the vocal performance here is just not for me, to an extent that it renders most of the album a chore, if not a pain, to listen to. Another example of where instrumentals only would be preferable. It's also a bit too bleak in terms of lyricism for me, but definitely not bad. Some cool guest features I'll concede. 05/04/23

I was NOT expecting this. This music felt so personal, like reading someone's diary. They have a unique viewpoint of a trans life. His voice and style remind me of a mix between Nina Simone and Devendra Banhart. The instrumentals felt expansive and had a live-sounding quality. Beautiful. Unique.

I don't think you're supposed to call him Antony anymore. Who knew that 'I am a bird now' would take on such significance?

For the record, nothing about this looked appealing to me ahead of time. Couldn’t have been more surprised to hear the beauty woven throughout the album. Anohni’s hauntingly powerful vibrato vocals shine as the music seems to dynamically flow from her singing. Loved nearly every song and noticed how the compositional style remains simple and elegant yet has surprising and unexpected turns whenever you think you have it figured out. Lou Reed sits in as a bonus.

Well I had to listen on headphones because everytime I had this album on a barrage of cartoon woodland creatures would fly to my arm.

You don't sound like a bird, you sound like a frigging kettle.

Depressing album, but in a good way, we need albums with real emotion. Great vocals, especially the vibrato, the difference between the upper and lower register singing sounded like two different singers. Really interesting.

It’s been removed from subsequent editions of the book, so I’m not feeling too bad about bailing on this record early. It’s a lot. The voice, the melodrama, the threadbare arrangements…It’s a lot to take in, but it’s certainly original and I can’t fault it for that.

It has some interesting moments here and there. The last minute of Hope There's Someone and the cameos from Lou Reed and Boy George for instance. Despite the songs being pretty straight forward with little variation musically, it has beautiful piano and strings throughout. It's also has some meaningful lyrics regarding ANHONI's life and transition, plus longing for someone. I can truely understand why this is on the list and how it has touched many hearts, but I just cannot stand the vocals and that alone was too distracting to enjoy this. Mad respect for her creating meaningful art that has touched many, but it's simply not my cup of tea.

Wow that warbling (not the bird) was just grating. Too bad there isn’t a zero star option.

The kind of self indulgent warbling that apparently qualifies as music. I initially thought his voice was interesting but by the third track it just grated on me. And the songwriting is really dull. Boring and annoying is not a good combination. At 35 minutes it was 25 minutes too long.

Well, wasn't expecting that. Very sparse but with big performances, especially vocally. I don't think you can miss what the subject matter is, and I think vocally Anohni just nails the right mix of vulerable and strong. It may have not been created for me (as a straight cis guy), but I'm very happy it's here. Favorite tracks: "Bird Gehrl", "You Are My Sister", "Fistful of Love"

Beautiful pain.

Brutal

Wow! First album in here, that I didn't know at all, and then got transfixed by! I am (almost) speechless. This album is labelled as baroque/art pop. Well, if this genre is supposed to sound like this, then sign me in! Songs on this album have two layers. The first one, is a usually slow and rather melancholic, but beautiful melody, played on piano with plenty of string instruments. The second one is an incredibly rare and forceful voive of singer, Anhoni. And the song that shows that combinations better than anything else, is 'Hope there's someone'. If the only goal of listening to 1001 albums would be to hear this song for the first time, it is well worth it. Whole album is a very beautiful journey, that has been plaing in the background for the last day, and will be played for a long time since. Bravo!

16 years later and this album still leaves me speechless. I have no speech. I am without speech.

lush - dreamy, yearning, songs of transition

Such a beautifully haunting album.

I Am A Bird Now I think he is a bird now? I remember all the hype around this when it won the Mercury Prize, and I remember buying it but never really getting into it apart from liking For Today I Am A Boy. Interesting listening again, there are some lovely passages, some moments when the piano, melody and vibrato all come together to create something pretty magical, but it too often seems to pass me by, and I find myself struggling to stay engaged. However it, or at least parts of it, did grow with repeat listens, particularly in the second half. Hope There’s Someone’s crescendoing intimacy is rather lovely, the strings and flute on My Lady’s Story are great. For Today I Am a Boy I still really like, You Are My Sister’s insistent, winning rhythmic momentum revealed itself and I didn’t for one actually mind Rufus Wainwright on What Can I Do. Fistful of Love’s guitar horns and guitar (and Lou Reed) provide a very welcome contrast to the piano and strings elsewhere and is a great track. Despite finding much more in its little corners and moments than I have done previously I’m still not entirely sure about it. While I really like his emotional openness and perspective on his identity, his aspirations and that he has crafted a singular, unique album, I still find myself zoning out, struggling to really connect musically with some of it, it feeling longer than it’s relatively brief 35 minutes. Maybe I need more time with it, but for today a high 3 feels fair, with room to come back and try again. 🕊️🕊️🕊️ Playlist submission: Fistful of Love

I really can't stand this person's voice. The songs are pretty and tender, but the voice ruins it for me.

Absolutely hate the continually forced vibrato vocals which makes the whole thing a chore to listen to. Musically it's very one dimensional too.

Listening to this was almost as bad as nails on a chalkboard.

With album art that features a dying transgender actress, “I Am A Bird Now” addresses the cultural complexities of the concept of gender. The lyrics chronicle a complicated period of personal trouble and struggle in the artist’s life, a time of transition and change, a time when Anhoni felt like an individual denied of her appropriate identity. Throughout all of the pieces, Anhoni couples her ever-expressive and effective voice with evocative musical flourishes. She conveys the appropriate emotional mood on each track primarily through the use of pretty pianos and tragic cellos, and in all songs, the music has been meticulously arranged with great taste and intention.

Predivan album

Great Misconduct At Home, Just Wrote Saf7a Bark Men 3l Bouheli Mte3 Dostoevsky 3al Album He4a

Very sombre. Incredibly unique voice. A lot of lyrics about gender identity. Beautiful and aching. Melancholy and a bit weird, but also very tender and beautiful.

Deep melancholy and beautifully expressive vocals. Definitely bedroom music. Bird Guhl is a strong closer. This is worth a revisit.

As you begin to notice how lovely and moving the piano is you can't help but notice it has no effect on you simply because some guy had to do a falsetto for the entire run of the album.

It seems the artist tried to make some ~deep~ songs, but they turned out really boring.

This was depressing in many ways. The one good thing is I'll never have to listen to it again. I couldn't stand the voice. 1.5/5

Really annoying voice with way too much vibrato. The only song I really enjoyed featured a guest artist. Some of the backing stuff is interesting, but I can’t get past the vocals.

If you like warbling this will be right up your alley. I don't.... it's irritating and awful !!

would give it a 0

This album is absolutely incredible. The opener is possible the most beautiful/haunting song I've ever heard, but the vocals have a timbre that I don't think I've ever heard and just grabs a hold of me every time. The rest of the record can be seen as journey through finding one's identity and continues in this understated and gorgeous tone. Truly a unique and amazing album. 10/10

01) Hope There's Someone - 10,0 02) My Lady Story - 9,0 03) For Today I Am a Boy - 9,0 04) Man Is the Baby - 9,0 05) You Are My Sister - 10,0 06) What Can I Do? - 9,0 07) Fistful of Love - 9,5 08) Spiralling - 9,0 09) Free at Last - 8,0 10) Bird Gerhl - 9,5 TOTAL: 9,20 (92/100) Current ranking: 27/422 Even though I knew roughly what to expect, I was still very pleasantly surprised. Anohni's beautiful voice and the raw emotion that comes out of it simply takes your breath away. You stop, listen and surrender to the feelings and to the music. Guest vocals by Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright or Boy George only complement this wonderful album.

I never knew where to exactly start with Anohni / Antony and the Johnsons. The only record from her I bought was her synth-oriented solo effort *Hopelessness*, which harbors pretty good tunes and tones. But I had an inkling it wasn't the full picture to really grasp why Anohni is considered as an iconic artist. The thing is, everytime I browsed through her other albums, whether the solo ones or the ones with her original band, I didn't fully get it. Maybe it's her distinctive use of vibrato, admittedly an acquired taste for people quickly fed up with "drama" and "mannerism" (as can be witnessed in this review section). Yet I've become a fan of certain "dramatic" performers such as Nina Simone over the years... So it was a bit weird that I still didn't get it for Anohni. Until today, with this suggestion. "Hope There's Someone" is a stellar opener, and I wonder why it went over my head all these years. The final climax of this song, mixing mystical vocals with that unhinged, seemingly improvised piano performance is a thing of wonder -- probably one of the most beautiful and moving moments of 2005 in retrospect. And what directly follows (the trans ode "My Lady Story", the touching "For Today I Am A Boy") is equally striking. A bit later, "You Are My Sister" (featuring Boy George), and most specifically, the livelier, brass-laden "Fistful Of Love" (with Lou Reed!) open up new avenues. As soon as I listened to this latter song (foretelling the soul-inspired vintage tones I could spot in the recent *My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross*), I was fully sold. I still need to find my footing in the last quarter of the LP, but it matters not. I'm pretty confident I will soon enjoy *I Am A Bird Now* from beginning to end. Thank you, Mr. Dimery (and kudos for the maker of this app!). For once, it seems that a Mercury Prize has not "doomed" one of its recipients into a career filled with partial letdowns for artists' target audiences. Because Anohni, with or without the Johnsons, has actually managed to create a dedicated fandom around her. Yet I think it's with *this* record that I might become a fan myself, two decades after the fact. And that sort of late recognition doesn't always happen for me. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 452 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 271 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 326

The first time I watched Midsommar, I for some reason decided to do it after taking an edible. I realized I needed to stop and put myself to bed around the (spoilers for a 2019 movie) scene where the elderly citizens were being killed, because I realized that I was sitting up against the headboard with my knees to my chest, drooling ever so slightly onto my chin because my jaw had fallen open minutes ago and I had just been watching, unblinking, mesmerized and stunned by what was unfolding before me. I'm not saying this was *exactly* like that, but I put it on while I was sitting with a bunch of candles burning, one of which was making my nose get stuffy so I was breathing deeply and heavily, and I worked my way through a backlog of emails. Past worlds unfurled before me - appointment reminders for my now-deceased cat, scheduling volunteer meetings and attached documents, car and plane tickets for a funeral trip, countless confirmations of N95 mask orders, notifications that benefits and programs were being rolled back and canceled, receipts for abortion fund donations. "For Today I Am A Boy" and "You Are My Sister" crescendoed and other tracks rolled along. Everything felt a little fuzzy around the edges. Maybe most of this feeling isn't about the album, but I think a lot of it is.

not to be that friend thats too woke, but reading the reviews misgendering her kind of hurts me consider that this album is so obviously heavily centered around trans identity. the singings fine, yall overreacting like crazy. pretty good songwriter too however the production to be a bit underwhelming. still pretty good tho

whiny yet soulful yet whiny

quite sad vibes but very interesting

If this guy was in the piano lounge I would definitely wait until the set was finished

So emotional & melancholy. I like the genre description Baroque Pop.

Not my type.

Not my jam. I liked the music during Fistful of Love, but overall the vibrato/warbliness did not do it for me.

saw the album cover and my first impression was “this is gonna be good” BUT NO. i guess it’s not bad… but it’s just damn… i pressed on the first track and immediately got jumped by that voice. like hello??? you’re not louis armstrong so it is NOT “it ok tho❤️”. the album is pretty boring but it could be worse. and i’m like, why is this album 3 hours long? every song sounds pretty much the same. but hey, at least i kinda do fw “what can i do?” despite the singer sounding like thom yorke initially

A lot of the other reviews have said it as well, but the vibrato was just too much. I like the idea of it in a way, it's at least unique in an age when most pop singers sound identical, but the end result came across as too dramatic and full of itself. 2/5.

The melodies are nice, but this singing voice is driving me a little crazy. Can vibrato drive a person crazy? I think it can. Three songs in now and damn, seriously, leEeEeEet UuUuUup on the vibratoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo. So then I thought "Well maybe if I see the guy singing, maybe that will help. It'll put the voice in context and it'll make sense to me." NOPE When Wainwright shows up later on, everything feels right. I can't do this much vibrato, I'm sorry. Vibra-no.

I tried, I really did. Everyone raves about the voice. It's more grating than interesting.

One's enjoyment of this i think will live or die based on what they think of the vocals. Musically i really enjoyed what was going on here but that vibrato reaches levels of comical where i had to stop listening cause i couldn't take it seriously. Most notably on the tracks where they layer the vocals so you have double the vibrato making an almost white noise of incomprehensible warbling. That said, the tracks where the vibrato is toned down and especially the ones with guest vocalists are exceptionally pretty and are the only reason i am giving this a 2 instead of a 1.

# 401 : Can't Listen, don't like it, I'm not sure it inspired anyone, but if the music isn't good, I'm not sure I need to hear it before I die. I can't imagine getting hit by a bus and my last thought being, "But I never got to that album about being "A Bird Now"!".

What the actual hell is this...

I couldn’t

What a crock of shit- in the first 10 seconds you can tell that’s no woman singing.

The music is alright but the singing is just dreadful. The songs could be alright with a new singer.

Very powerful vocal range. Love the voice, very strong. Lyrics and instrumentation is beautiful and somber. Won me over immediately especially with For Today I am a Boy. Not a skippable track on here. As much as themes of family and freedom can prove to evoke depressing emotions, the sincerity in the lyrics and the choice of melodies and piano chords makes the whole affair so calming to me. I kind of loved this. I did love this.

Wow this album was really good, I especially liked the guest vocalists and her unique singing voice. "Bird Guhl" was especially moving and I recommended this to my kid already for her to listen to. Really a great album for me today.

## In-Depth Review of *I Am a Bird Now* by Antony and the Johnsons Released in 2005, *I Am a Bird Now* is the second studio album by Antony and the Johnsons (now known as Anohni and the Johnsons). A deeply emotional and transformative work, it won the Mercury Prize and achieved critical acclaim for its exploration of identity, transformation, and vulnerability. Below is a detailed analysis of its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, as well as an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics in *I Am a Bird Now* are raw, poetic, and deeply personal. They explore themes of gender identity, transformation, love, loss, and existential longing. Tracks like "For Today I Am a Boy" poignantly narrate the yearning for gender transition: *"One day I'll grow up, I'll be a beautiful woman."* This song encapsulates the struggle for self-acceptance and societal recognition faced by transgender individuals[6]. "Hope There's Someone," the album's opening track, conveys existential dread and a longing for solace in death: *"Hope there's someone who'll take care of me when I die."* The lyrics are haunting yet universal in their vulnerability[3][6]. Other tracks like "Fistful of Love" tackle physical abuse and complex relationships with startling honesty. Overall, the lyrical content is confessional yet transcendent, making deeply personal experiences accessible to listeners. --- ### **Music** Musically, *I Am a Bird Now* blends chamber pop with elements of soul and blues. The arrangements are lush yet restrained, featuring piano, strings (cello and violin), flutes, and subtle percussion. Anohni’s voice—often compared to Nina Simone or Jimmy Scott—is the centerpiece. Her multi-octave vibrato conveys an emotional intensity that few artists can match[3][5]. The guest artists—Lou Reed on "Fistful of Love," Boy George on "You Are My Sister," Rufus Wainwright, and Devendra Banhart—add depth without overshadowing Anohni’s presence. For example, Boy George’s duet on "You Are My Sister" complements Anohni’s voice beautifully while reinforcing themes of solidarity and acceptance[6]. The instrumentation creates an atmosphere that alternates between melancholy introspection ("Hope There's Someone") and moments of cathartic release ("Bird Gerhl"). The simplicity of the arrangements allows the emotional weight of each song to shine through without unnecessary embellishments[7]. --- ### **Production** Anohni herself produced the album with assistance from Maxim Moston and Julia Kent on arrangements. The production is intimate yet polished. Each instrument is carefully placed in the mix to support Anohni’s voice without overpowering it. The sound is warm but retains a raw edge that enhances the emotional authenticity of the songs[5]. Doug Henderson’s mixing ensures clarity while maintaining a sense of intimacy. The production choices—such as sparse instrumentation on tracks like "Hope There's Someone"—amplify the vulnerability inherent in the lyrics. The decision to keep some imperfections in Anohni’s vocal delivery adds to the album’s humanizing quality[2][5]. --- ### **Themes** The central themes of *I Am a Bird Now* revolve around transformation, identity, mortality, and love: - **Gender Identity**: Tracks like "For Today I Am a Boy" and "My Lady Story" delve into Anohni's experiences with gender dysphoria and her journey toward self-acceptance. - **Mortality**: "Hope There's Someone" contemplates death with both fear and hope for peace. - **Transformation**: The album title itself symbolizes rebirth and freedom. The closing track "Bird Gerhl" serves as an anthem for liberation: *"I am a bird now / With my feathers growing."* - **Love and Pain**: Songs like "Fistful of Love" explore complex relationships marked by both tenderness and violence. These themes resonate universally while also providing insight into Anohni's unique perspective as a transgender artist navigating societal norms[3][6]. --- ### **Influence** *I Am a Bird Now* had a profound impact on indie music and LGBTQ+ representation in art. Its Mercury Prize win brought attention to issues of gender identity at a time when such topics were less visible in mainstream culture[5]. The album inspired many artists by demonstrating how deeply personal narratives could achieve universal appeal. Anohni’s vocal style influenced subsequent generations of singers who sought to blend vulnerability with technical prowess. Additionally, her unapologetic exploration of queer identity paved the way for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ voices in music[2][6]. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Emotional Depth**: The album's confessional lyrics and emotive delivery create an unparalleled connection with listeners. 2. **Anohni’s Voice**: Her unique vibrato and multi-octave range are mesmerizing. 3. **Lush Arrangements**: The orchestral instrumentation complements the themes without overshadowing them. 4. **Guest Contributions**: Collaborations with Lou Reed, Boy George, Rufus Wainwright, and others enhance the album without detracting from its cohesion. 5. **Thematic Cohesion**: Each track contributes to an overarching narrative of transformation and self-discovery. 6. **Cultural Impact**: It brought attention to transgender issues in mainstream music. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Short Length**: At just over 35 minutes, some listeners may find the album too brief[1]. 2. **Limited Sonic Variety**: While cohesive, some critics argue that the album lacks significant musical diversity across its tracks[7]. 3. **Overwhelming Vulnerability**: For some listeners, the unrelenting emotional intensity may feel overwhelming or inaccessible. 4. **Dependent on Vocal Preference**: Anohni’s distinctive voice may not appeal to everyone. --- ### Conclusion *I Am a Bird Now* is an extraordinary work that combines poetic lyricism, hauntingly beautiful music, and profound themes into a cohesive artistic statement. While its brevity and emotional intensity may not suit all listeners, its impact on indie music and LGBTQ+ representation cannot be overstated. This is an album that transcends its era to remain timelessly relevant—a masterpiece that continues to inspire both artists and audiences alike.

A real surprise fiver here. I remember this from when it came out but hadn’t listened more or less since then. Would have guessed a high 3, low 4. But dang this thing is beautiful. Great arrangements, one-of-one voice (I can’t help myself, I read the other reviews. If you’re one of the many who is like “Ugh, this vibrato…”: You’re a loser and you probably listen to Sammy Hagar on your free time). 2005 was a different time, and it went right over my head how trans-coded this album is. I’m happy that Anohni lives in a time that she was able to grow up into the woman she wanted to be. I was hovering at 4.5 at the halfway mark, unsure where I would round it. Then Fistful of Love came on. The mega-distorted guitar mixed 40% quieter than you’d expect, plus the horn arrangement, really did it for me. Anyway, what a record.

Anohni spare me i am already sobbing

Wow!

A masterpiece. Lush, layered, complex, introspective, and raw. Is she a skilled vocalist? No, but if Leonard Cohen can growl and call it singing, she can warble. It’s what’s underneath - the full tapestry - that matters, and it’s incredible. This album is a terrific litmus test. If you can’t enjoy this, maybe you just don’t like music. It makes being in this website a bit curious, but live the life you choose, I suppose.

So ethereal is Antony's voice it is difficult to believe a person could produce such perfection. And then there's the piano ... I absolutely adore this album - as I'm sure Sam and Joe remember, I player it LOADS (sorry!). From the first moment I saw this guy perform I was transfixed. Like an angel. Or an alien. Astounding, quite honestly.

This still sounds extraordinary. Within the first 60 seconds it's clear this is something unique and beautiful. That voice, his words and music, the performances and arrangements really are like nothing else. It's incredible throughout but three songs in succession, all collaborations, are as good as anything you'll hear. 'You are My Sister' with Boy George. 'What Can I Do?' where he gives the lead vocal to Rufus Wainwright and switches to backing vocals (who does that? The generosity! And just because it works). Then 'Fistful of Love' with Lou Reed which I don't fully understand, it's difficult to listen to those words, so full of emotion and misplaced devotion. His piano playing is wonderful, the music throughout is so good this would even work as an instrumental album. The final track is stunning. Pure art.

Gorgeous

Oh, this is beautiful. I've known of Anohni, but this is the first album of hers I've listened to all the way through. It's so emotional, it lifts my heart and also makes it ache. Our empathy is cultivated through the stories we hear, if we choose to hear them. I will never truly know how it feels to be trans, but art like this helps me understand. I will surely be doing a deep dive into Anohni's other work now.

There's a lot of pathos in this album. It's really hits me today. I may even come back to this one. I hope she's okay.

I had to listen to this album at least four times to fully appreciate all of the depth and nuiance. What a haunting and beautiful album. Anohni has such a unique voice, and she really structured the album well. Great experience and will listen again and to more of her works. 5/5

The beautiful simplicity of the vocals and arrangement veil the complexity and stark realism of the lyrics. The vibrato is a bit much on the opening tracks but it doesn’t bother me that much.

This is honestly breathtaking as a complete piece, there's a purity in trans gospel music I've rarely heard anywhere else and this piano work just kills me (and if you enjoyed that, I implore you to go listen to Transangelic Exodus)

I N T R I G U I N G I new of Anohni beforehand but never really sat down and listened to an album. This hit like a truck, and when it was finished I listened to it again. And again. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what is so captivating about it, but I Am a Bird Now just sounds like a record living in some alternative, beautiful reality.

Anohni is blessed with the voice of a literal angel, and if you don’t get moved by I Am A Bird Now, you probably don’t deserve to.

Always loved this, but fantastic to hear how well it holds up 20 years later. Vibrato is so often used by inane singers as a substitute for real feeling, but here it's a strange and ethereal component of it. Thoroughly beautiful album.

5/5. Such a beautiful album, hard to deny the expert vocals and with the simple instrumentation, it knows what to highlight. The lyrics are clear and direct but contain sadness in each one. There is most likely an underlying meaning as well. Then during the songs that slowly raise in sound, it adds more instrumentation and feels more like an anthem with such soulful vocals. This is hard to not like, so freakin good. Can't believe I've missed out on this, a repeat listen for sure. Best Song: Hope There's Someone, Fistful of Love, You Are My Sister

9/10. Fantastic all the way through. Great shift of pace as well. Added about half the album to the playlist.

elated to have been forced by this project to give Anohni another shot...cuz this is instantly one of my favorite albums ever hufhufduh...somehow despite my usual aversion to singer-songwriter/soul-adjacent music this makes me want to know everything about that world, some of the most achingly beautiful and affirming music ahhh 10/10

*should be listed as Anohni and the Johnsons Anohni has one of the most beautiful voices ever recorded.

Absolutely incredible

5☆/5 07.17.2024

Hope There's Someone is perfect. I remember when it won the Mercury Prize in 2005, and everybody (including the right) all thought "Oh that's nice, a trans person* has written a beautiful album of ballads about not feeling like he belongs, that seems like the sort of thing that can and should win this prize". If it happened today they'd all lose their minds and scream woke. It's all manufactured outrage and is silly and hurtful as fuck. Very annoying and sad. *Okay... They wouldn't have said trans person. I wouldn't have said trans. It was 2005 and I wasn't educated enough+. But you know what I mean. +Which ironically is the source of the word 'woke'. I think it came from the Nation of Islam - IE they would ask if a young black man was 'woke', meaning 'are you aware and educated about the structures white men have put in place to hold you back from realising your potential.

I was not expecting to like this at all - when it started I instantly thought it would be extremely indulgent and pretentious for no reason and I was more than ready to give it up after the first minute. But I quickly realised that there was a story behind it all, a message of uncertainty and transition that I found extremely moving.

amazing

There's something about this album that is touching and truly moving. ANOHNI's voice is such a rare and precious thing - and hearing this album for the first time back in 2006, I was enraptured. I find some of the album to be a little strange and fractured, but the whole creates a sense of yearning that I feel is both masterful and necessary. This is the definition of essential listening to me. To top it off, "Hope There's Someone" has stuck with me for almost two decades as one of the most powerful and touching songs I've heard. The fear of being alone, dying alone and unloved, creates such fertile soil for this album to blossom in. It makes putting a score on this album easy - it's a masterpiece.

Nice to have at least one truly great album from the 00s.

Absolutely beautiful. What a find

A beautiful bummer. The kind of raw honesty and emotion that makes you go “I hope things worked out for this person”. Loved it

An unbelievably beautiful album. I've never heard anything like it, and most likely never will again. One of the most enchanting sounds I've heard.

loved this

With sheer elegance and never-ending beauty, I Am a Bird Now is the detailing of the former Antony (with the Johnsons) unfurling to become what she was meant to be. Having faced with death (the ailing Candy Darling posing with grace on the hospital bed), we become accustomed to what was seemingly a fleeting series of songs that become tethered upon further listening and a home stretch that knocks everything out of the park towards the end. For those who come across it for the first time, they might not know what will come to them but eventually they'll see that this is a kind of musical experience that doesn't come every now and then; a effortless fusion of soul, classical, folk and anything in between. It will serenade the listener towards submission.

This stunning piece of art came to me upon its release in 2005. Antony’s voice is both delicate and powerful. “Fistful of Love” is easily one of my all time favorite songs. Antony’s wild emotion in the last minute of the song always wrecks me. The emotional “Spiralling” follows and the tears flow hard. The message behind this album is captured powerfully in its cover: Candy Darling, legendary Andy Warhol actress, on her death bed in 1974 from cancer caused by experimental hormone shots to transition physically from male to female. She lived her truth out loud, to death, with grace, dignity and strength. Candy had more courage in her pinky fingernail than most people can muster up over lifetimes. She may have died young, but she won the test of life in every way possible. Every song on this perfect record is about the joys and heartbreak of the queer experience and rising high within that glorious colorful light. It brings tears to my eyes every single time. Easy 5+ stars and definitive top 3 albums of the 2000’s, and top 10 albums of all time for me.

When this won the Mercury I was horrified. Since then I've grown to realise I was wrong. This is a work of fragile beauty in a brutal uncaring universe.

Fantastic voice! Sounds like if Tiny Tim and Sampha had a love child. Incredible. Did not know what to expect but someone said it sounds like you’re reading someone’s diary and that fits it perfectly. Cover for the album is so sick too (no pun intended).

Awesome album . No skips . I loved it so much . Especially how the songs just start of nice with an underlying piano instrumental and some vocals and gradually increase the energy and the instrumentalism . Probably one of my favorite records so far from this list

fuck isch da schön hahahaha hope there's someone würdi am liebste brüelle oke klavier nochli am gäse geh alsooo wie gseit huere schön aber wenns so wiitergaht find ichs vlt iwenn chli langwilig :( OHH UND ES CHÖMMED STRIICHER es isch so fucking schön chans gar nöd handle hahahah au you are my sister isch viiill zu schön omg ich bin doch nöd im mentale zuestand zum das chönne handle fuck it da isch e füfi weiss nöd wenn ichs letscht mal vo musig usserhalb vo mim normale musiggschmack so berüehrt worde bin

This is what I want from this project. Something I never would have listened to otherwise, but was still beautiful in many ways.

I had the most intense experience listening to this album that an album has put me through in a long time. At the beginning I was struggling to find something to latch on to, but by the time it ended I was so into it I immediately played it again, like the kid who survives the roller coaster and after disembarking sprints to get in line to ride again. However, as amazing as it was, I have a funny feeling I may never listen to this album again.

I definitely wasn’t sure I’d come across an album I truly fell in love with on this list but wow. This is totally my taste in music, added to my playlists. The lyrics, the timbre of her voice, the instrumentals. The amazing features. Love

Mágico, el piano envuelve todas las melodías y la voz es magnífica. Romántico en el más amplio sentido de la palabra. Imprescindible. Belleza y paz serían buenas palabra para definirlo.