Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Lo primero que destaca de este álbum es el vibrato súper intenso de Anohni. Aunque pueda resultar pesado, el álbum es bastante corto, así que acaba siendo soportable. Lo segundo que destaca son las letras, muy únicas y extremadamente íntimas. Los temas tratan de un periodo de confusión y de transición en la vida de la artista, y son, por lo general, bastante oscuros y tristes. La música es la parte que menos resalta, siendo típico pop de cámara, por llamarlo de alguna manera, en el que la voz toma el protagonismo y es respaldada por piano y violines, todo muy pasional. Una especie de Adele transexual depresiva. Un álbum interesante, pero nada del otro mundo más allá del contexto personal de la artista, muy bien plasmado en las letras.
Listened to this twice. I was skeptical but warmed up to it some on a second pass. I also appreciated some of the later songs on the album more than the first few. A bit too many vocal runs but moving at times.
I thought this was fine. I don't think I'll listen to it again though. It felt more like something I listen to as part of a paper I'm writing in college than something that felt really personal to me or moved me much.
I rolled my eyes as soon as I recognised the opening of the first track Hope There's Someone, a mawkish and sentimental dirge which has been far too overexposed, although that's hardly the fault of the artist. Overall I found the string instumentation and warbling singing unengaging, but not actually bad. Also, at a merciful 35 minutes, this did not outstay its welcome.
Not great. Don’t care for that vocal style at all. Didn’t hurt me to listen to it. But don’t care to ever hear again.
Not a fan of that voice but the chill music is kind of nice
Eigenwilliges Album, eher schlecht als recht.
Good voice over dramatic at times
I'm not going to lie, this would get a whole star higher if it weren't for the tremelo singing.
I wish I was a bird so I could fly away from this
It''s music, at least. It's just not good. Vocals on a different melody than the instruments makes it uneven and difficult to listen to. Singer's voice is uncomfortable to listen to. Not horrible, just not good.
Poignant distinctive not an easy listen
Not for me
Very melancholic and atmospheric
This was just too awful to get through half a song and not worth making Spotify think this the kind of dredge I want shuffled to me.
Wow! I wasn't sure about this one but it really blew me away. Beautiful piano, eerie vocals, Lou, Rufus and Boy George all included.
Oh so very earnest
I really liked the music and the vocals and the concept but holy fuck there's so much vibrato that my chair started vibrating
First track is God awful. It does improve after that but still nothing remarkable.
warbly.
Eine recht dramatische Art zu singen
Hozier if they were, like, 15% less annoying
À la fois dense et à fleur de peau: structuré et riche, mais empreint de vulnérabilité, un pacte d’honnêteté. Le calibre des artistes invité•es est très impressionnant
I'm committed to listening to every album on here at least twice, but this one is a test from the lord himself. Melodramatic, humorless, uncreative. I cannot fathom how this album can be on any best-albums list that isn't merely the personal fascinations of the most boring creative arts graduate you know. It's a slap in the face to every great dreary album that has taken seriously its obligation to not be boring in its pursuit of capturing crushing sadness, and I take this 1001 Albums list less seriously having listened to this.
At first I was struck by the gentleness of the music, but then the vibrato. That godawful vibrato. Some people dig it. I do not. Which is a real shame because musically I find myself enjoying a lot of peaceful sounds Anohni explores on this record. I especially enjoyed the contrasting of the lead vocals against Lou Reed’s grizzled tones. But that’s about all of interest here - I don’t feel compelled to come back for more. Two stars for me ⭐️⭐️
this is so languid and dour in tone that it was hard to get through. i had trouble with the excessive vocal vibrato, and none of the music really moved me or captured my attention. this kind of over-polished vocal driven piano music always kinda feels to me like it was manufactured in a lab to make me feel things, and i always end up rejecting it. so maybe it's good, but i hate this kind of thing.
Not my thing.
That's a little bit too much for me. Lots of piano, lots of that voice I don't really like. Surely high quality songwriting and production, still it bites me and doesn't resonate.
Una voce meravigliosa e suggestiva
One of those things that’s fascinating and haunting for a song but too much when repeated over an album It’s not bad at all but equally I can’t say I’m going to seek it out again Call it a generous 3
i hate this kind of singing. i’m sorry but i couldn’t get passed the first two tracks.
Proof that you can be talented AND uninteresting.
Good, just not my vibe
A good album but a bit too arty for my liking.
Though this album has emotional and haunting moments, I never felt a connection to the music. Generally for me, if I don't like the vocalist, I find the vocal style to be on the edge of annoying, it's hard for me to listen past it and tolerate the rest. Overly dramatic, that really lessened my enjoyment factor. Would have scored higher if was an all instrumental record.
I really can't get past the fact that I do not like his voice at all. I understand it's probably doing talented things but I do not like it at all. If we're going to have to have a whiny boy vibrato voice on the list then I think James Blake is a better candidate. He's probably British too, so that would track with the rest of the list. Fistful of Love is a good song but then it fell off again for me on the next song and didn't pick up after spiralling. Extra star for the one song I liked
☀︎je me sens mal de pas aimer ça, vu que c’est clairement un album plus personnel pour anohni ☀︎c’est tellement dépressif. et comme beaucoup de gens l’ont dit, je trouve qu’il y a beaucoup trop de vibrato ☀︎c’est pas pour moi. au moins c’est pas raciste. c’est le seul point qui sauve cet album d’être 1☆
His voice is interessting. The songs and production are excellent.
I don't think I understand this. I didn't like her voice, and there was nothing on here that made me want to listen again.
-I first became aware of Anohni through her collaborations with Björk, and I really like a few albums from her album Hopelessness. her voice is… definitely an acquired taste honestly, especially on this album -despite her unique voice I found the whole thing to be a bit samey and inoffensive. still far from bad though, it is very beautiful and had some great songs -Favorites are You Are My Sister and Fistful Of Love
Dreary...yikes
Interesting, beautiful and unique voice with tight vibrato. But this soul album is just... thin? In a way that Moses Sumney, e.g., doesn't. Is it the mix? The instrumentation? "Fistful of Love" is a bit fuller. Anyway, it's cultural significance is unquestionable, and the moments of raw emotion in "What Can I Do?" did get to me, as did "Lady Story" etc. But ultimately it feels more poetry than music, and that doesn't do it for me.
There are some incredibly stunning songs on this album. I don't think it is super consistent from front to back which holds it back, and I prefer the later album "Hopelessness" overall, but this definitely is an essential listen despite its inconsistency.
This album is as dumb as the singer's fake female alto. It's like an overlong experimental art piece that forgot to include the "music" part. The songs dragged, the pacing was all over the place, and the whole thing felt like it was trying way too hard to be profound. The lone bright spots? “What Can I Do?” and “Spiralling” — and let’s be honest, that’s entirely thanks to Rufus Wainwright and Devendra Banhart showing up to briefly salvage the mess.
pretty good 3.5
2 Takte gehört - Stop! Bis hierher und nicht weiter! Letzte Platte! Hier kommt nichts mehr! Bye, bye!
Yet another I just couldn't get into.
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.
Increasingly moving. Poetic. Unique and meaningful.
I find her voice is annoying and it puts me off what would otherwise be a very beautiful album; the best tracks are those where there's a guest vocalist, and my favourite track is "Fistful of Love".
So fucking bad
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.
The singer's rapid-fire vibrato is off-putting. Otherwise, this is a pretty good collection of stripped-down arrangements of darkly dramatic songs. 3 stars.
Die Musik an sich is ja ganz nett, aber I can't mit dem vocal style
discovered anohni in 2023 with her latest LP, and immigrated fall in love.
Didn't care for dude's voice and the pace of the songs.
3/5
The vibrato really ruined lots of this for me. Very personal songwriting that would have more of an impact if the singing style wasn't so jarring. 2/5
## 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.
this comes in hot with a voice tailor made for me to hate, but the history it's drawing on, the whole aura around it, the arrangments and music, it all builds up together until i realize the voice is not really bothering me at all
Really loved their album from 2023 but never was able to get into this one quite as much
Not my bag.
I don't think I'd quite have got what this album was about in 2005. Slow learner. Going in I expected it to be ok but the big vibrato & pop leanings to not be for me. Was expecting my review to be "music for people who like pop a lot but are still pretty cool". Think the vocals are working better here than in some scattered other songs I've heard. Really good when the harmonies are there. Lots of simple songs with a ton contained in them. It makes sense that Lou Reed was big on Anonhi's talent. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
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.
Its something
The music is good but overall it's too emotional. I can't enjoy this. Holy shit... have a glass of water and go for a walk. Maybe you'll feel better if you quit moping.
Liked it but certainly not blown away. Don't have a problem with the vibrato as many people do (though let's be honest, there's some amount of transphobia in a lot of those complaints) but it just didn't overly connect with me. Very beautiful arrangements!
Another new album for me - it is absolutely beautiful 4/5
I like this less than I did when it came out.
I liked it. Kind of artsy fartsy but well composed in my opinion and I think the vocal performance is great.
It's hard to get over Anohni's tortured voice in this; I feel like that is going to be the divisive factor in this album. I think it's a bit overwrought but it is extremely unique in the same realm as Jonna Newsome. Some people love it, some people hate it. I think the songs on here are well written and well performed even, but you have to like the vibrato in her voice (and the double or triple tracked vibrato even like in "For Today I m a Boy") to deal with it. It's not something that you can ignore. It’s not for me. It’s just too much. I can respect it, but I can’t listen to this and say I enjoyed it. I’d give it a 3 but I don’t really want to listen to it again. It’s like a museum piece I don’t particularly want to see again but mostly understood.
Album 717 of 1001 Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now (2005) Rating : 2 / 5 Pop? Not sure. It is certainly different. While praised for its emotional depth, unique vocal delivery, and exploration of themes like identity and transformation, I just find it ok.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I was going to. I remember this album coming out and not really being taken with it, but I was a teenager back then so that's probably not too surprising. I totally understand why some people hate this. It's a polarising kind of sound, that's for sure. It's not something I'll be listening to regularly, but I enjoyed my time with it. Very personal, very open, and laced with morose introspection.
I'm totally not in the mood for this so I did not enjoy it. I need to re-listen to this again on a cold winter morning suffering from seasonal depression and drinking a hot coffee, then maybe my thoughts on it will change. Current rating: 2/5
Przesłuchałem pierwszy raz - nie spodobało mi się, mega mnie irytował ten album. Przed napisaniem recenzji poczytałem trochę o albumie na Wikipedii i podobno został bardzo pozytywnie przyjęty przez krytykę, potem dostał prestiżową nagrodę i to doprowadziło go do sukcesu komercyjnego. Postanowiłem więc dać mu drugą szansę. Po drugim przesłuchaniu - wciąż mi się nie podoba i irytuje mnie. Nie znoszę nadużywania vibrato, jest jakaś grupa ludzi, którzy jak nauczą się to robić, to potem już wszystkie nuty śpiewają tylko w ten sposób, niezależnie od tego, czy to ma sens, czy nie. Taka tania popisówa jak dla mnie. Aranżacje można by nazwać oszczędnymi i post-modernistycznymi, ale dla mnie są po prostu ubogie i nudne. W zasadzie absolutnie nic nie podobało mi się w tym albumie. Przesłuchałem dwa razy i więcej mi się to już raczej nie zdarzy.
I have no problem with music that is whiny and pretending to be emotional. I can bite that but if you mumble through 80% of songs you get shitty album. Mr Anthony just go home and sober up one song that I could understand was somewhat decent.
Co, to, kurwa, było.
It was very ethereal and artsy.
I have tried to listen to this album a few times, but never got through it. Finally did this time, and it was pretty much as I remember. Not my style at all. 1.5/5
Rating: 4/10 Nah.
Your enjoyment of this depends on if you like the singers high warbley vibrato. The songs are heartfelt and fine. It's different in a good way.
7/10. A bit weird - but I have to say I think I quite liked it. To be honest I think the album would've scored a bit lower had it not been for the first time which absolutely blew me away. Some of the later song are a bit slower and I felt that the weird vocal style fell more flat when placed upon a blander instrumental background. That being said I always enjoy hearing something new and the fact that this sort of worked allows me to give it a very decent score.
Had to listen again this morning because I’d totally forgotten it. Not sure why, it’s pleasant enough.
I don't mind it and what a voice. I think there's a lot of nuance that one listen won't give you. Still, high 2s.
Anohni spare me i am already sobbing
A really solid singer songwriter album. Antony has a cool voice. Very dramatic. The songs are very emotive. Rufus wainwright on a track too?? nice.
this was pretty
Wow!
Wow this first song really caught me off guard and went places I really didn't expect. I struggle with the vibrato in the vocals a little bit but it is interesting so I don't hate it. One thing I love about this album is how powerful and emotional it often sounds. I don't think I'll ever go out of my way to listen to this again but I really appreciated listening to it. It felt like reading someone's journal about transitioning from a man to a woman and it was very powerful.
I had never listened to Anohni before. This record was brilliant. It was all the feels. While I'll never understand what it's like to be transgender, I feel like this record really captured all the feels. It was sad, lonely, joyous, hopeful, doomy. It was kind of the full spectrum of what someone could experience. Musically, I really liked the ballads and rock songs. This was really cool and enjoyable.
not opera, but too close for me
In a nutshell: emotive, smoky, overworked. As a sound, A&TJ is blue-eyed soul meets jazz meets chamber pop. It's a mix that can work. Anohni’s voice is reminiscent of Nina Simone and Boy George - two of Anohni's music heroes. I agree with many users on here - Anhoni's vibrato, although impressive, overpowered everything. The songs need room to breathe. The lyrics range from schmalzy (You Are My Sister) to introspective and anthemic (For Today I Am A Boy). It's lacking something to make this memorable. Overall: 3/10
Today I learned about the chamber pop subgenre. I'm not sure that it's ever going to be one of my favorites, but I like the level of care that goes into the works of this genre, and this album is no exception. The music is beautiful the whole way through, and produced with a lot of attention to detail. Not one I'm probably going to come back to, but still very much worth listening to 4/5
Albumi #164, 03.03.2025 Aika tunteikasta tekemistä. Taitavaa, kuin mikä mutta joku koukku tästä jäi puuttumaan.
This is too slow for me. Not my thing.
This needs a second listen I genuinely can't tell if I love it or hate it...
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.
weird avant guarde music song by a warbling dude. This is really bad
3.5/5
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
Okay album 3/5
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.
So excited to see them at Glastonbury! Big props have to go to Mum for already etching many of these tracks into my long-term memory. Fistful of Love, especially, is a truly magnificent and emotional ballad that shows the incredible range of Antony’s voice, the power of his words, and the strength of the backing band. Thanks Mum for introducing this one many years ago, and thank you to AatJ for sticking around until I was old enough to fully appreciate the work!
One of them where it’s not my usual thing but I can tell it’s really good and deserves praise. Very talented singer with a unique voice, and the musical arrangements are done very well. Emotive. I was already familiar with this album as it was played a lot by mum & dad when I was younger. Was a nice surprise when I pressed play and recognised it immediately!
lyssnade väldigt mycket på antony and the johnsons när jag gick i gymnasiet men har nog inte lyssnat sedan dess. det är ju bra alltså. spiralling är utan tvekan den bästa.
No idea what to expect here. Well the music and vibe of it was great. I couldn’t take the voice. Excessive vibrato and it was like watching what’s that it’s Pat. Too distracting. Still a three.
A bit dull at times but for a certain sad boy-day, this would be absolutely perfect. I did miss some guitar but then the solo on «Fistfull of Love» made me regret my wishes.
Gorgeous
I liked this album. It’s amazing for a trans artist to get this level of attention and songs like For Today I Am A Boy and Bird Guhl are amazing. Personally I thought her signature vibrato can be amazing, but it can also be a little much at times. Wainwright’s song was also one of my favorites. Overall a strong album!
Had previously high-graded this album, so good to get to know the rest.
Really kinda weird, I don’t know how into that one I am.
I had previously avoided taking the time to listen to Antony and the Johnsons because the singing voice put me off. But this was kind of a pleasant surprise, and even the voice kind of grew on me as the album went on. Not likely something that will make it into my regular rotation, but glad I finally gave it the time.
This was a pretty emotional ride. That voice was just captivating. The music wasn’t bad either, but the vocals definitely steal the show. There were a couple points where I started to get a bit bored, but overall this is a high 3 that I’ll round up to 4. Fistful of Love was an excellent tune.
A little odd at times lyrically. Decent vocals but got boring
no :(
I was prepared to write this album off but then I got hit with a Fistful of Love. ❤️
Decent
Musically interesting. Mostly torch-songs. Worth another listen.
Not my type.
it's exactly the amount of pathos and soul i can't stand
Pretentious and boring. Although I love that Devendra Banhart makes an appearance
слушала его (другой альбом) год-два назад, не осознала что он такой козёл. причём музыка-то вроде красивая, но слушать такое я не могу
whiny yet soulful yet whiny
I know what "vibrato" means now, so I guess I learned something from this
Beautiful vocals.
I can see the merit in this being on the list, but honestly I didn't like it for the most part. At times it was beautiful, but unfortunately I really didn't like the singers voice, and it was very overwrought at times. Musically this was pretty good, however. Really hated the first song "Hope There's Someone" and kind of liked "Fistful Of Love" but the rest was very hit or miss, and unfortunately mostly miss. Again, I see why this is on the list, and there are good points to the album, but overall I just wasn't a fan.
So poetic, if a book could sing, this is album comes across that way.
Enjoyable
Kind of pretentious and hard to listen to. The vibrato quickly becomes a bit much.
This album was absolutely not love at first sight for me. When I first listened to it in 2006 (after this album ended in the top of nearly all the end-of-year lists) I put it down after the first two minutes. Too vibrato, too eccentric, and not enough musical power that I was expecting due to some comparisons with Jeff Buckley. But how wrong was I in the end.
Not my jam. I liked the music during Fistful of Love, but overall the vibrato/warbliness did not do it for me.
Respectable considering how much I dislike pano ballads in general. Very tender & emotional lyricism. Don’t love the vibratto in the vocals. Standout track is: “My Lady Story”
Wow that warbling (not the bird) was just grating. Too bad there isn’t a zero star option.
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.
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.
# 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"!".
Special voice, some beautiful songs! Liked it against expectatipns!
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
good music, it’s just that there’s too much vibrato on his voice. nonetheless well written, personal, deep, and emotional. cheers x
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.
Always enjoy some Anohni
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
Fluttery voice.
Pretty good, not fantastic, some good songs, some meh songs
Just no. Sub pedestrian piano and warbling.
Really enticing, I acc liked it it took a second to get used to his voice but very gorgeous stuff
It’s nice! It’s fantastic! Pretty voice, not overly exciting though.
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.
One of the more interesting and unique albums so far. Deep vocals and piano, mostly. Veers into theater feel at times.
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
Absolutely cannot stand Antony’s voice, it’s so grating and annoying that it ruins the entire album. Frustratingly, some of the songs are quite pretty when you try and isolate the music from the voice. Unfortunately this is not enough to save it, I hate this overall.
Sian : I disliked this album when I first heard it and continue to do so Deb : "please turn it off and put something else on now"
In the 65 albums Ive rated so far, I can only consider one or two of them as memorable. Vast numbers of derivative tracks, little originality, loads of pretension. There must be some iconic albums somewhere on the list, surely? But this is not one of them.
Anohni turns into Nina Simone before our ears. Such a powerful album.
This was beautiful. I'm just under a 4 I think, but im going 4 to balance out the haters. You people probably want more mediocre shit from the 60's. Give it a rest
acabou com a minha vibe de ano novo, mas não é ruim não
ERRATA DA ULTIMA REVIEW: 2025* e repeti que pedrada duas vezes, tava empolgado. ainda bem que nao ouvi esse no ano novo, ia ficar daquele naipão. mas é um bom album, fistful of love é absurda. só vozerão, letra bonita e arranjos bacanas.
Kinda boring. 2.5, round down. I dont get why this was on this list.
A bit avant garde for me but she has a crazy vibrato.
This is interesting music, not my favourite but she's talented.
Some pretty cool stuff on here. I really liked What Can I Do
I did not like the singing at all.
Acoustic folk/jazz(?) cabaret - interesting. Mood music
Dislike strongly 1/5
Anohni's lower register is much more pleasant (and, dare I say it, bearable) than her upper register. The vibrato is so rapid that it becomes distractingly omnipresent, but it's less noticeable with lower notes. With the alto range, it sounds like Anohni is constantly shivering while attempting to sing, and the result is goofy and hard to really take seriously. Clumsy lyricism. Generally good piano, though its ballad-like emotiveness gets a little repetitive. I enjoy the strings, which are arranged skilfully. What Can I Do? is a short laid-back jazz track, and I dig it. Definitely underappreciated, judging by Spotify numbers. Fistful Of Love is also worth a shoutout for its soul-esque horn section, which really separates the track's sound from the ballad-heavy remainder of the album. Most of the remaining tracks, though, are pretty forgettable, sharing a common element of having a poor vocalist. 2/5 Key tracks: Hope There's Someone, What Can I Do?, Fistful Of Love
The sound was good but didn’t land with me
This was a very enjoyable and entrancing new discovery for me. I was roped in by the obscurely ethereal first song, Hope There's Someone, and I remained at this level of curiosity and engagement throughout the album.
Eh. I had a hard time getting past the singers voice.
Kan man låta gnälligare? Förlåt men jag har gränser och det här var gränsen. Detta var inte bra.
Är rätt svag för denna typ av musik. Nu var det några sisådär låtar på denna skiva. Men tex fistful of love är sjukt bra.
Nej, det här ynkliga ylandet var inte för mig.
Now this was a strange listen. I was doing a lot of driving so I ended up hearing it four times. The second I started the first listen I was like "Okay what's going on here" but the more I gave it a chance the more genuine and heartfelt this seemed. It's not easy listening and isn't the most accessible but it feels honest and like the project had a purpose. I was more won over than I thought. I think it makes sense to have things like this on the list but if the entire list was like this I'd never last 1,001 listens.
Starts off pretty good. There is some decent vocal range. Sonically it's a pleasant listen, although a little repetitive for a 35 minute album. Some real emotion gets across It's nice music and I'd probably give it a 2.5. The variation tho subtle at times on first listen just doesn't give me a full album feel. It feels a bit like I got the same item in a couple of different colours.
Very pleasant to listen to. Standout tracks: Hope There's Someone, Fistfull of Love
Nope. I forced myself to listen more than the 1st song but couldn't finish the 2nd song either.
2 out of 5. Not minding the singing unlike some others here, but this isn't my speed either. Fistful of Love was the standout of I had to pick a song.
It was surprisingly decent. Good instrumentals and calm lyrics
lush - dreamy, yearning, songs of transition
4- Stars (10/15)
1/5
Early 2000s chamber pop is an interesting and very forgettable era. Pretty decent though.
Had a very vivid dream once where I was on X-factor but had the singing voice of Anohni - fucking blew Simon Cowell away. Hope There's Someone is great track - rest of album fades a bit. I like Anohni's vocals and really like some of the dance tracks she put out post AJ.
Fair enough, but probably never listening to this again.
Wow. I really like this. I've seen some people on this website complain about this album. Admittedly, this kind of album isn't for everyone. However, it is absolutely an album for me. Anohni's singing is probably the most divisive aspect of this album. It kind of had to grow on me a bit, but I like it. It feels very genuine, which makes sense given the personal nature of these lyrics. This is probably the trans-est album I've gotten (and probably will get) for the project thus far. Songs like "For Today I Am A Boy" exemplify this quite well. Of course, not every song is about gender identity. Songs like "Hope There's Someone" and "Fistful of Love" are much more relatable to a general audience with themes of fear and love. Either way, I like these songs and their writing. The instrumental sound is nice too. It fits the vibe very well. There's some very interesting features here, including artists I've already discussed like Lou Reed, Rufus Wainwright, and Boy George. These features all work well. Overall, this is an excellently emotional album that really appeals to me. I love it. High 4/5.
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.
There is a poignant, desperate quality to this outstanding album... https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-i-am-a-bird-now-by-antony?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
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.
Lunastaa kyllä kantensa tunnelman sataprosenttisesti. Pelkkiä balladeja? Mutta pidän niistä. Anohnin ääni on hieno, vähän kasari mutta tuoreen kuuloinen (miten tää levy onkin ilmestynyt jo 2005).
En rakasta huumorittomia tunteenpurkauksia, mutta pidän tai ainakin kiinnostun artistin äänestä sen väreilevyydestä huolimatta. Biisit kuuntelee mielellään kertaalleen.
Anohni has a beautiful and distinctive voice, and the music back her is perfectly matched. I only listened to this album a couple of times before, but “Fistful of Love” was always a favorite song of mine. The entire album is really beautiful and a distinctive mood.
I mean, you have to admit it sounds exactly like the kind of music you would expect by taking a look at the artist. I enjoyed it well enough but don't care to hear it again. I became more accustomed to the vocals than I thought I would. Some tender emotion and some escapist fantasy
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'm sure there's some real artistic merit here, but I do not enjoy listening to this at all. The weird falsetto is distracting enough on its own.
Slow, emotional, don't like
Just a little unengaging. I suppose it may be very interesting to some--just not to me.
When this came out, first the single and then the album, I had an absolute visceral hatred of it. I just think maybe the voice was too much for me to take. But I could not stand it. A friend of mine tried to convince me that it was a fantastic album and I should give it a chance. He even bought me the album as a birthday present to try and force me to like it. I listened to it once and hated it still. It basically got put on a shelf and I thought I would never have to listen to it again. Until now. I was kinda loathe to hear it again, but I tried. And didn’t hate it. The 20 years interim must have changed my receptors. I began to appreciate it a lot more and even her voice didn’t upset me anymore. I’m not sure how much I’ll revisit it. But I did hear some beautiful qualities. Quite profound at times.
This was equally haunting, beautiful, strange, bombastic, and way over the top. How to rate such a beast? It's an easy 4 from the perspective of the artist achieving an emotionally charged and singular set of songs. But when will I ever be in the emotional place where this is the music I'd choose to listen to? For me, I don't know that place exists. So... a 3 for my connection to the music. But this was pretty intense.
It's funny Rufus was on here because this guy struck me as a similar artist. His voice is a lot, and your mileage will vary depending on how much you can take. There were a couple of songs on here that were pretty solid. They'd make for a great soundtrack to a movie or TV show. But boy, a whole album of that voice was too much for me. I'm not really sure how to rate this. I can't see returning to this, though I didn't hate it. Guess it's right down the middle.
I tried real hard to like this but was unsuccessful.
So much emotion poured into this album. Musically beautiful and moving. Quite lovely.
Type of album i came here to find. Beautiful voice. Best track - lady story
Songs are a mixed bag but there is definitely some storytelling I missed on the first listen. Favorite Song: Fistful of love Least Favorite song: Hopes theres someone
Langweilige Chamber Pop Musik
Another one that I had never heard of before. I was intrigued by the cover and went in hopeful. I really, really can't stand the singers voice, it's just horrid. I would rather be waterboarded than have to listen to those torturous warblings again. That said I appreciate the emotion, the interesting subject matter, and musically it's not bad.
What the actual hell is this...
Interesting. Gentile
Never heard this album before. The album is a little inconsistent, but the highlights are great. In particular, "For Today I Am a Boy", "Fistful of Love" and "You Are My Sister". Lead singer Anohni has a unique voice that lifts these songs. Glad to have been introduced to this unique artist.
I'm not a fan. I just couldn't really hang onto anything.
Intimate, maudlin, piano bar or cabaret type music. Anohni seems to be emotive and putting a lot of passion into the delivery. I can see why this album was included in the list, but I personally didn't connect. Fistful of Love was the highlight.
Never heard this before. Interesting, and it grew on me over time. Very unique vocal style. Good for this list.
Not a fan. Didn't like her voice at all.
I couldn’t
yea, no. it's fine. but moving on.
This is #day100 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge and... (yikes!) those vocals... I was going to give this a 2 out of 5 solely because of the artwork, which I liked, but I changed my mind when the album was finally over. It should never have made it to the list. Looking forward to #day101.
The arrangements are beautiful, and so are the vocals, but it's not really for me. A bit to "heavy" for casual listening.
Unique voice. Good songs. New artist for me.
Not bad.
About as emotionally open as you can get. Some great songs that really reward repeated listens. Fistful of Love is the triumphant centerpiece, but You Are My Sister, My Lady Story, and What Can I Do? are all excellent. The veiled cameos of Boy George, Rufus Wainwright, and Lou Reed give this album the bonafides it deserves, bridging queer icons from three decades into this album that takes the message to the next generation. If everyone could appreciate and empathize with this album, we might not have such a divisive and ignorant world.
🎧Giving this album a 3 largely on the strength of Fistful of Love, a song I am obsessed with. Put it in the 1001 Songs YMHBYD.
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
Fav song: For Today I Am A Boy I am a bit bias cos I listened to a ton of this band in highschool, but I really do think it’s a great album. A very honest depiction of pain and longing with great instrumentation (for the most part) and a really unique sounding singing voice - not to mention surprising cameos. I was pleasantly surprised when Rufus Wainwright suddenly appeared!
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
A very beautiful album, a lovely voice, very personal and brave.
This was quite haunting There were some really beautiful songs on here, but also a lot that just sounded like filler. So overall it was just too much and too long Also the voice is... unique to say the least 3 ⭐️
The vocals dominate the sound with scant piano, flute, and strings there to accompany and not much more. This album has a gentle sound. I saw one reviewer describe it as fragile and I thought that was quite a good explanation. Not being a huge fan of vibrato and finding the vocal range not to my taste, she's not an artist I will find myself running to. But, I'm glad it's out there.
This was a poetic expression of metamorphosis and a, painfully sad farewell... I won't listen to this again, but it's one of the few albums on this list that'll stick with me.
Deeply emotional, deeply personal. There is some lovely music and songwriting behind it, but I just couldn’t quite get into Anohni’s voice. It seems an acquired taste that takes time to get used to, and I’m still getting there. Sometimes it is rich and textured and enveloping, but too often (especially on the first track) the vibrato and warbling are overused.
Oh my god - that warble. How does a voice like this get a recording contract?
I can see how Anohni's voice would be jarring. It was for me upon initial listening. But as I sunk in, it was reminiscent of Jeff Buckley where the voice becomes perhaps the featured instrument. I find her voice to be ethereal and emotional (the lyrics and subject matter couldn't be more personal) and worthy of a re-listen.
WaaaAAaaaAaaAAAaaay to much vocal vibrato.
Kinda made me feel like I’m In a movie
8/10 - I loved their voice, the backing tracks were sick. The first and last songs were both fantastic. Plus them being the first openly trans performer to be nominated for the academy award is super cool.
Just not good unfortunately
There’s really not much going on with the instrumentals here - one song almost tricked me in to thinking it could be soul, so this album kind of lives or dies on how I feel about the vocals… Which I fucking hate. ⭐️
ghastly opera vibes. love anohni.
Sure I mean this is fine. Not really my thing overall, but I didn't hate it. Perfect length. This album could have easily been 70 minutes and I likely would have shot myself.
Ive never been more unsure how to rate an album. I don't generally like this style of music or singing. But it made me feel unbelievably melancholy while driving home after a nice evening out and then ... as Spiraling was on, drove by a deer that had been hit by a car and its breath was illuminated by the headlight, and I'm now *wrecked* on my couch ... this album was lovely but I never want to hear it again
i don't think i get it
I was not a fan! The songs made me want to fall asleep. Also, ew a Boy George feature?! I just don't know what was so special about this album that it needed to be featured on this list.
For Today I Am A Boy was crushing to listen to, but hell yeah for first album by a trans woman, I think?
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.
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.
Jazz, relaxing, coffee shop vibe music.
I get why people are turned off by this, but her vocal style is genuinely novel and her range is so impressive that I found this album to be quite good. Also transphobes can kindly stfu :)
It wasn’t bad but it really wasn’t for me.
This ain't it, chief. Fat tiny Tim. 1.5/5
Sounds like Sam Smith and James Blake’s love child freestyling over orchestra practice. Best song: Fistful of Love
Crazy reviews on this one, I found it to be really beautiful throughout. First song especially knocked me off my feet.
Incredibly irritating vibrato. Won’t be listening to this one again.
Weird and creepy. The dude wants to be a little girl. Tiny Tim fluttering vocals is horrendous. Just gross all around. Glad it was short.
Evocative and winsome for what probably could (and should) have been. I liked the appearance of Boy George (but didn’t recognise his voice). The real prize here is Anohni’s voice. An important album. I can see why it’s included.
Really enjoyed this.
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
Not exactly for me, but sounds like they're putting it all out there.
As performance art, it’s pretty good…as music it’s not good.
I Am a Bird Now is a lyrically beautiful exploration of self-identity, gender dysphoria, and personal transformation. Their haunting voice captures the emotional depth of these themes, with tracks like “Hope There’s Someone” offering raw vulnerability. However, musically, the album feels repetitive and overly somber. The sparse arrangements and melancholic tone can make it difficult to revisit, lacking the energy or variation needed for repeated listens. While emotionally resonant, its heavy atmosphere doesn’t make an album you’d reach out for again, due to being a beautiful but burdensome work of art.
quite sad vibes but very interesting
Vibe killer!! Probably just caught me at a bad time
Not sure how I would describe the music. It wasn't great but it wasn't terrible
Very interesting
2.5 rounded up, saved fistful of love
I liked it after 2 listens. It grew on me. Nice voice. Sweet sound.
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 have always struggled a bit with Anohni's falsetto, but clearly I just needed to listen to a full album. This is some powerful stuff.
I remember listening to this near the time it first came out, and really not rating it - the voice, the maudlin music, the tone, what have you. Having just listened to it again, I can definitively say that past me was dead wrong. I will be the first to say this won't be everyone's cup of tea - Ahnoni's voice tends towards the warbly, and her songs lean artistic and away from any sense of radio-friendliness. However, for me this was fantastic, and the sheer level of FEELINGS through the whole album was intense and vulnerable in a way I honestly wasn't expecting. I actually had to sit and process a bit afterwards, it affected me that much! Ahnoni's vocals and the stripped-down music to accompany them work brilliantly together, and the guest parts still allow the album to feel very intimate and personal - definitely going to have to listen again in the near future. Faves: Fistful of Love, You Are My Sister
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.
2 - really not my thing did not like, but great composition and production so not a 1
Hyvää laulantaa, mutta ei tee mieli kuunnella toistamiseen. Ei minua varten nämä Slovakia.
They lyrics were good but his voice was not something I could get behind. Kinda Ray Romanoish.
This was a super unique and interesting album. I enjoyed it all the way through, but don't know if I will ever want to revisit it. Anohni is an interesting character.
Står oppført som kammermusikk på wikipedia lol. Veeeeldig masse vibrato. Men syns da va bra
Tidvis bra, tidvis ganske mid
The vocals were just a biiiiit much. 2.5 stars
I also hope there will be someone to take care of me when I die
Beautiful and annoying at the same time..beautifully crafted songs ruined by awful singing and awful harmonies. Bleh
I think calling this pop music is insulting to the level of artistry contained within this album. ANOHNI really shares their story and ropes you in with emotion and tone, leaving nothing imagined. An amazing transformation of a human being
Not to bad although not my style. Nice ideas but can't get over the feeling of restaurant music.
Deep melancholy and beautifully expressive vocals. Definitely bedroom music. Bird Guhl is a strong closer. This is worth a revisit.
Meh it was okay.
Did absolutely nothing for me, but at least I have a name to go with that voice now.
This was....trash. I don't know who told this person they could sing but they need a few more lessons. Warbling all over the place doesn't make you a singer.
Decaffeinated album. It tries to be emotional but doesn't quite get there for me. Seems almost like a 35min song because it is so monotonous. The voice of the guy is pretentious as hell. Not a single word without vibrato. Poor effort though.
Not something that I would want to listen to regularly but it had some interesting parts to it.
I don't love the vocals. The vibrato is just too much. But... dang it all, this is a really fun album. Fistful of Love is a phenomenal track. Maybe not a 5 star album, but an enjoyable listen for sure.
Mixed feelings. I find it pleasant and engaging but also a little bit boring and dragged out. I enjoyed it overall but probably will not revisit. 3/3.5
Hyviä biisei ja sit ei niin hyvii
This album was a hard listen, not that its bad, its beautiful, and haunting. The lead singer, ANOHNI, being a transwoman, clearly wrote this album about her life and her struggles knowing from a young age that she was not the boy everyone wanted her to be. The album is a tragic, sad, but triumphant listen, its not an album that i would listen to again, and thats okay, i dont think that its meant for me, but its hard to deny the beauty of these songs, the album itself feels like concept album from start of life to now, and its perfect like that. I wanna take this time to talk about the final song of the album, Bird Guhl. This song may be a masterpiece from an objective standpoint, it is the magnum opus of this story, using the symbolism of becoming a bird, "growing" my wings, an allegory for finally being able to transition into what truly makes her happy, its beautiful, and in 2005 no less, this song alone is a 10/10 and makes the whole album for me. Fav Song: Bird Guhl 4
Pretty good. Not my thing, but I found myself think some of this wasn't too bad. But we're in a stretch of some terrible albums so I'm wondering of my mind hasn't been fucked by all the shit I've listen too lately. Probably. Or maybe it's because I heard my man, Lou! Whatever the reason, I did listen to this a few times and I enjoyed. Fistful of Love is best song but who didn't think of their sister(s) when you heard You Are My Sister? Beautiful song. I hope all their dreams come true. Shout out to Boy George too. He's got some good music out there, if you allow yourself to admit it. 3
2 I feel like this woman walked so Hozier could run. Anyway, much like Hozier’s music, this didn’t really speak to me at all. I suppose Anohni is a good singer and musician from an objective point of view, but her performance just feels soooooo overdramatic and saccharine to me. I get the impression that she’s probably the kind of person that takes herself and her art way too seriously, and that translates to me in the music, to the point where I’m kind of just annoyed listening to it. The best parts of this album are far and away the guest features - Boy George, Rufus Wainwright (who I initially thought was Thom Yorke), and the man himself, Lou Reed. Each absolutely kills it on their respective song, but I gotta say, Lou Reed’s feature felt incredibly wasted. It’s a six-minute track and Lou was only given the first verse to sing? Who decided that? Not going to lie, it kind of killed the rest of the song for me. Anyway, I definitely wouldn’t call this album bad, but it’s really not my kind of thing.
Possibly the most irritating voice I've ever heard. Like a more irritating Sam Smith. The music in the background is pretty straightforward, though a bit dull. The VOICE though. The NOISE. It's like he heard someone doing vibrato and tried to copy it instead of training to do it.
Some weird ass shit
3.5 rounded down almost impossible for me to rate; the lyricism and themes of this album are undeniably beautiful and illuminating, but the sonic elements were seriously lacking for me. i’m really glad this was put on this list (even though it was nixed from later editions). this album will certainly stick with me for a long time highlights: hope there’s someone, for today i am a boy, fistful of love (apr 22 2026)
Not my favorite vibe or subject matter, but there are a couple songs that were okay.
Amusing to get this the day after Dolly Parton. It's vibrato week! Also, a week that started with Kid Rock has since that low point been exclusively queer icons. Been aware of their work obvs since this won the Mercury but never really listened to it. Someone included the first track in their playlist in our playlist group a few months back and I really enjoyed it, particularly how it went slightly batshit on the piano midway through. Goes into the 'yeah very nice, not hugely my thing but definitely enjoyable' camp I think. Also, if you're being crass, some enjoyment can be found in the album title and the fact that Anohni is a bird now.
Not my cup of tea, but a solid album.
Okay.. well
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.
tragic in every way