I Am a Bird Now

ouff c'est vraiment mélancholique on dirait. Et c'est vrai. Beaucoup de vibrato... 2.5

Schöne Melodie, aber die Stimme geht gar nicht.

I feel conflicted with this album. Their voice sometimes was not great but I enjoyed the lyrics and background music. There was one song where the lead singer (different singer) sounded just like The Strokes which made me want to give this album a 10/10. Too bad that singer only sang one song because it was overall a 7/10.

The vocalist recorded this album while sitting atop a running washing machine. Whatever singing style this is bothers me. The piano was fantastic along with the ambient music. But that vocal vibration noise is atrocious. Almost like they are being electrocuted. Based on my listening history I tend to like melancholic music. But not this. That singing killed it. “What Can I Do?” Was fine because I think the Johnsons took over for that one. Aaaand spooky ghost 👻 voice is back…. 2/10

ugh. I don't hate this music here and can even appreciate that it's pretty difficult to consistently do that quiver in his voice the entire album. But the sound itself just isn't for me man, there was maybe one or two songs I enjoyed near the end of the album but as a whole the project was a swing and a miss. I appreciate the swing attempt though. 4/10

Some needs to stop shaking this man so he can sing. Music to get depressed to the album. I can’t decide if I like his voice or if it bothers me. The songs are nice, slow, and emotional but a bit repetitive and kind of overstay their welcome. There are parts that I really really liked but then there were parts that I could have gone without.

Baroque alterna-pop is my guess. Maybe I was right? I don’t remember. He has such an unusual and interesting style but I don’t recall loving it. Maybe worth revisiting but I think the timbre is not my jam.

good songs, but I can't get past the voice

Surprisingly nice to listen to - amazing piano and string arrangements

Well I learned one thing from reading all the other reviews: apparently I’ve been in a giant vibrato bubble all my life! Because the vibrato didn’t even register for me as abnormal. If anything, it was somewhat typical of this style, I’ve heard it before with singers in this lane. I’ve gotta be honest, “Hope There’s Someone” blew me away, I was swept off my feet at the artistic maturity on display. I just loved the direction the melody went. And… loved the performance too gotta say! The first 3 tracks genuinely shone bright, were so, so precious, revealing, and so sad. Then we got an unexpected Rufus Wainwright cameo for just under two minutes, and… that’s when I realized that it would have been nice if Rufus just closed out the album for us. I realized that listening to the lead singer takes a lot of work. It’s lots of emotion, but it asks a lot of the listener to pay attention, and furrow their brow in commensurate degrease in sync with the singer’s pain. It’s stunning at first, but then becomes draining. I also just don’t like the feeling that we’re flying just a bit too close to the pop ballad sun. I don’t like the songs where the lines are just a little too pat, the chords and resolutions a little too predictable. And I really don’t like singers who I can tell are showing off. There is… a little bit of that going on here. So that’s where I have to leave things. I probably would have gone crazy over this when I was younger, but now it’s just… a lot. I wanted more variation and less predictable-ness. I listened to the first track and thought, if the whole album is like this it’s gonna be amazing! But I gradually realized that, no, that’s not what albums are about at all. It’s a play, and there are five acts. 3/5. Conflicted, but it must be said that those first few songs are just brilliant.

An absolute chore of an album. I'm not a singer nor professional but I feel like you shouldn't be in vibrato 99% of the time you sing. So incredibly distracting. 2/10.

A soothing listen on an overnight flight

The Johnsons provide some absolutely beautiful melodies and gorgeous arrangements, too often marred by the singer's warbling. Decent bird impersonation, but the voice doesn't hold up during the crescendos, which is unfortunate, because they're great crescendos. Next time try a different type of bird, a sparrow maybe. 🐓🐓🐓

Every track is more and more wailing over a piano with occasional sparse accompaniment. Boring at best, unpleasant at worst. Did not finish.

I'm sure there were some good lyrics in here, but I just couldn't get past the unusual kermit-y tone of the vocalist. Sorry Kermit!

I liked this album! Felt very emotional and vulnerable. Maybe a few misses for me (Bird Guhl) among them. I had not heard of this artist before, I liked her performance although maybe a little too much focus on vibrato for my taste. Hope There's Someone and Fistful of Love were favourite songs.

Was not a fan of the vocals. A little two oversang and the vibrato honestly bugged me. I was getting tiptoe through the tulips vibes. Lol

Love the singer's tone. Edith Piaf vibrato took some acclimation. Lots of ooh's. 1. Surprising piano wildness in 2nd half. 2. My Lady's Tory. 3. For Today I am a Boy 4. Beautiful string arrangement. 5. You Are My Sister. Great duet with Boy George. 6. What Can I Do? Beautiful 7/8 piano ballad with Rufus Wainwright. Too short for my money. 7. Lou Reed! Axis of awesome chords. Overdriven guitar low in the mix echoes the intense, but controlled emotional tenor of the track. That's all I managed.

I have had a couple of goes at listening to this and not managed it. But I figured I need to stop listening to only the albums on this list I already like, so here we go. My problem with it is the same problem I have with most music I dislike immediately: I don't like the sound of the singer's voice. ANOHNI has a strange honking / quavering sound which reminds me of some of the worst excesses of Marc Bolan or Devandra Barnhart and I do not like it. But, having got through the first half of the first song on the album, I found there is a bit in the second half where the piano is playing these rising chords and the voices seemed to be singing without to much warbling and I thought "this is alright. It could be from the soundtrack to an arthouse movie or something..." so I am persevering. It's not really my cup of tea but I do love the sound of the piano, the lush strings and the musicianship. Track 5 - Is that Boy George? It is! See, I find his a much more pleasant voice to listen to in this setting. And checking this on Wikipedia has revealed a whole lot of guest appearances... "The album features guest appearances by Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, Joan Wasser, and by lead singer Anohni's childhood heroes Boy George and Lou Reed.[4]" Track 6 - Rufus Wainwright has a great voice for this. How funny to see Barnhart is also on this thing. I'm not looking forward to that - Double warbling!!! Track 7 - Lou Reed on this one? I think he just does the intro. This has got a nice bar room blues shuffle feel to it. This is my favourite so far. Track 8 - Oh no. Here he is. Barnhart. Like Marc Bolan singing on a vibration plate in an earthquake. It's a warble-off. Oh, he's just doing the intro too. This is easily my least favourite song so far. Track 9 - We're nearly through this thing. It's only a short album at 35 minutes. Who's doing the intro on this one? It sound like the guy off of Dark Side of the Moon "There is no dark side of the moon, really. As a matter of fact, it's all dark!" Track 10 - It's the end! You know, I'm glad I've listened to it. There's a lot of good here. It feels very sultry and moody. It has the feeling, if not the sound, of a Tom Waits album or something. Totally different voices, but drama and smoke, stage and theatre, hard times and sadness... I don't know if that makes any sense or if I am just doing word association. I'm never going to really love this voice, and the number of guest appearances might indicate an attempt to water it down a bit, to give the listener the time to acquire the taste for it? But I can't see and hear why it was considered such a big / important / award-winning album. There is something very moving and touching and open about it. I'm glad I persevered with it. But I'm not sure I will return to it.

Like waiting for a bus in the rain

2/10, 20%

I can't deal with the tremulous voice.

As other reviewers have noted, the level of vibrato here can be a bit tough going. But its not excessive on all songs, and the music is otherwise very good. A solid three.

Tiny Tim?

I thought one song was good. The rest … nope. The vibrato on the voice was annoying. The songs were weird. Not my jam.

On the way to work

Unique and lovely voice. Not my type of music but enjoyed it. 3/5

This album almost physically hurt to listen to. The fact that it has earned 5 star reviews here and “perfect scores” from critics just boggles my mind. I suppose that is why “art and music” is considered so subjective.

At first I thought it was strange, sad and mopey. Indicative of boring mid-2000’s music. As the album continued however I was taken aback by the talent and craftsmanship of Anohni and the Johnsons and quickly changed my mind. Though I probably won’t be running back quickly to listen to this album, it does show me that there are people out there determined to make great music whatever the results.

3 average per track. Interesting album.

Interesting album. The first song really grabbed me, it was really good. And what a voice he has, wow! I think it became a bit too much of the same thing by the end though, that was the biggest drawback. I still think this deserves a 4; it still felt fresh and new even though it is from 2005. He must've been quite ahead of his time!

This was quite an experience. I'd only heard the opening track before which is a great track. The whole album feels very personal in a way that makes you experience it more than just nice music. I really enjoyed "For today I Am A Boy" also. It reminds me in its honestness to Daniel Jonhston's "True love Will Find you in the End" but with more production. It's hard to put a number to this album as it really depends on your mood but for today, when I felt like this type of music, it gets a weak 4.

Cool cool cool

Very pretty and emotional. Unlike anything I’ve heard. I liked it. Definitely not something I’d passively listen to.

Beautiful, but doesn't really feel like music - feels more like a painting or an extremely delicate sculpture. Haunting vocals, engaging lyrics, but so sparse musically that I struggled to get a good hold on it. Certainly intriguing and worth a listen though - and a worthy inclusion on the list

Poignant lyrics, but just not doing it for me

I gave this a good go but it didn’t get any better for me although the second listen was slightly more palatable. Only 2*

I thought this was fantastic and it really burrowed its way into my head. Great, rainy day music.

Just didn’t connect with this. Never a moment I said wow or even okay

I was unfamiliar with this artist/album, so I read through some of the comments before listening. Just about every one mentioned the vocalist’s vibrato…. And/or their “annoying voice”. And now I get it. Not my thing. I’ll call it a constant, distinct warble, excessive vibrato. The album’s sound is lush and clean, very good sound. Piano and strings dominate. That said, the songs are quite “down”; dirge like. Certainly maudlin. My favorite part of this album is the cover photo of Candy Darling, but even that sets the tone, as it is “on her deathbed”. Overall, this is a real downer of an album. I can respect it without liking it. 2/5

Still a beautiful album

Wanted to like it. One song at a time is. ok, but after 3 songs I just want to listen to something else.

Good music, just not my style.

Fav songs - My lady story - You are my sister - What can I do? - Fistful of Love - Spiralling -

Interesting and original. Haunting songs. The vocal style might be Marmite - but there’s a whole mood on this album and it works. …Although I might not listen to it all the time, it has a certain something. Good songwriting.

This rules, I’ve been listening to quite a bit of Sufjan Stevens lately and this has a similar emotional heft and haunting sound to it that I really love.

Svo óskaplega falleg plata. Elska hana <3

Um álbum ok, mas muito aquém de outros que estou acostumado.

Gear: Moondrop Variations (Azla SednaEarfit Xelastec) Mische: minimalistisch auf den Punkt, Crescendo könnte noch mehr Impact haben, Bläser 1A, Vocals sind der Star Musik: 💔 Rating: 3/5

ok

Als muzikaal behang beluisterd, dus wilde dit eigenlijk keihard neersabelen, maar las jullie reacties en moet schoorvoetend op mijn eerdere oordeel terugkomen; het is inderdaad prachtig!

Prachtig album. Kippenvel!

Mooi mooi mooi mooi! Wel 3x geluisterd

Ik begrijp heel goed dat mensen hier zenuwachtig van worden. Ik vind het daarentegen prachtig!

Gorgeous voice and pretty melodies

Another one I haven’t heard of. 2005 album described as alternative - artist is a “California misfit who relocated to NYC to become the drag queen of her dreams”. First song has relaxed, if a little somber, vibes. Her voice is satisfying - Apple Music describing the “androgyny” coming through and can see what that means. I think I’m gonna go with 4/5 on this - maybe on the lower end but I like the vibe and the vocals are satisfying. Still quite somber but not a reason to discount.

Very emotional and solid album. Fistful of love is fuckin rad.

Musicality: 4 - decent songs, different Production & Sound: 4 - very clean sounding Artistic Expression: 4 - creative, emotional Performance: 4 - unique vocals Engagement & Enjoyment: 3 - not really my style, some parts caught my attention but overall a bit average Decent for what it is, unique as well

Gorgeously produced and played and lyrically moving but goddamn it I hate voice vibrato.

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.

The guest parts were the best i.e. Lou Reed and Devendra Banhart

As an avid fan of avant-garde, classical, and any music that takes a chance to be 'out there', this was not a pleasant listening experience. I mean that in the sonic sense, as a tragic and relevant story holds the album together. I found the constant overexaggerated vibrato vocal-style grating, despite the obvious skill and soulful performance.

Some interesting stuff here but maybe not for me. First track stands out. Would give it another spin.

I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. 2.5/5

I didn't like this, but I can see the artistic value here.

I'm going to assume that this album is viewed as hugely, culturally important in art and the LGBTQ+ movement. I'm not going to confirm that assumption though because I honestly couldn't care less. Her voice sounds abysmal for most of this album. Traditionally bad singing voices are not a disqualifier for me obviously, but they are a mutually exclusive concept with any kind of chamber music. I'm glad Anohni was able to find the peace she very clearly longs for in this album, but the album itself is bad. Real bad. Very, very difficult listen.

I get the appeal, this is music I could listen to but the vocals were so annoying! The vibrato was at an 11 and I would be looking for something in the 0-3 range. The guest vocals only magnified this point of view and had me thinking that this would be a nice album if only it were sung by a different artist or artists.

Meh.

frankly boring

Wow!

didn't like the beginning, enjoyed the middle a bit but the end was painful like the beginning.

No a fan of this guys voice at all

Haunting, personal, beautiful, depressing. This is a great artful album especially after listening to four days of Britpop. I totally understand why this is on the list. It's impactful and is different from anything else I've listened to before.

That voice is just annoying.

Not rly my jam but prettyyyy cool Fav: You Are My Sister

Not my taste

Wow, just wow!

Holy vibrato, Batman. Bordering on Tiny Tim levels of ridiculousness. There are some beautiful piano and string arrangements, but the vocals really detract from the experience for me. It's a bummer, because a lot of the accompaniment are a ton of fun, particularly on "Fistful of Love". I really wanted to enjoy this more, but I think it's just not for me.

Such haunting beauty.

Very good 4.5+/5

Very original; poignant and immediate; feels like you're in the room where they recorded. but I would likely tire of it

A beautiful voice, recalling the talent of Nina Simone, and a lyrical story rarely heard in popular music. ANOHNI is a very rare talent. It was a nice surprise to hear Lou Reed on this album. Fistful of Love is definitely a highlight.

Vibrato, melodic songs with a underlying message. Found the vocalist a little grating, not something I would return to

Didn’t listen to this because of the review s

Nice listening

Never heard of this particular musical group, or this album. I did notice right away that it wasn't included in the edition of the 1001 I'm working from. Either it was added later, or it was added then removed, or something, but without getting too pejorative, in general, if that is the scenario, it's usually the case that it was something that seemed pretty good at the time, but later didn't seem to add much. I thought the vocal delivery was too affected. I didn't think the record was bad, but it was very much not my cup of tea.

There's some talent and creativity here, but I can't get over the tone quality and vibrato.

🩷

I really liked this album except for one weird track so I deducted one star, best American chamber pop musical collective album I’ve listened to this year.

Amazing voice, but the songs did not really capture me.

There are some beautiful songs in this collection, but as an album it’s so slow that I found myself getting restless very early on.

Not for me. I don't really like Antony's voice and the music isn't my style. I felt the same way when this came out and was making all the critics lists.

El vibrato era un poco molesto al comienzo, pero la música termina por convencerme. Creo que seguiré escuchando este disco.

Wtf? 5 stars

This album was unexpectedly intimate. It feels like stepping into the musings of someone else's life or a ghost caught in reflection before moving forward. It may not be for everyone, but it's worth listening to. “There’s a surprising level of vulnerability here. It’s almost like stepping into someone else’s story—quietly powerful, though maybe not universally relatable.”

Beautiful album. I'm not wild about Anohni's vibrato, and I even find it distracting at times. But the melodies are lovely here, and lyrically, it is powerful in the truths it lays bare. Although she was known by the name Antony at the time this album released, I was surprised at how transparent she was on this album regarding her identity and the ways it was being stifled. I'm glad she can be herself now, but am also glad to learn she's been speaking her truth for decades now.

Pretty good, i did not expect to like it from the initial song. It got pretty good, though.

6/10. When I saw that this album won the mercury prize and had guest appearances from artists with multiple albums on this list, I was ready for this to be absolute garbage... So, I was pleasantly surprised by a well written album exploring a consistent, heartfelt theme. I didn't love the sound of it all the time, but it had the right mood to it, and it didn't ramble on or overstay its welcome. I'd like to revisit this sometime when I have more freedom to listen closely.

Really cool to hear an album by a trans artist. Overall, the genre isn’t my favorite but the lyrics and emotion were quite strong. 7/10

Beautiful and unique. And sad.

I respect its uniqueness, but that wasn't really my kind.

This album has a really unique feel into it, but I unfortunately can't dive in that kind of stuff.

I'm not keen on vibrato voices but otherwise I really enjoyed the album, particularly You are my Sister and Fistful of Love. Great emotion and beautiful music, especially those horns!

Familiarity bias here. So I feel like the melodies are catchy and simple and effective, but I've listened to this album loads in the past so 🤷 the vibrato should annoy me, I don't know why it doesn't. But I think that still makes it a 4 rather than 5.

Beautiful bunches of ballads. ANOHNI has such a unique voice that it immediately sets them apart from other artists, which is a big asset. The production and instrumentation is perfect and the arrangements and lyrics are wonderfully original. There’s a good amount of range on this thing too, which is impressive because I’ve not listened to much of their music before so their ability to set each song apart is truly admirable. I only wish there was some more exciting tracks to remember off this, although, I enjoyed every minute of it. 4/5

Enjoyable

Did a bit of reading, now called Anhoni (?) and a really interesting back story. Quite an amazing voice but the music isn't quite what I'm into. Appreciate the beauty and effort though.

Vocals are clearly the highlight here, which the music only serves as a vehicle for. Although I can appreciate the vocal talent, this just didn't do much for me. "Fistful of Love" was good. 2.5/5 Wouldn't listen again

AWFUL! This is the type of music to commit suicide to. Run a warm bath, light a candle, get a razor blade out, put this on and let go.

I really love chamber pop. This album is gorgeous from start to finish. Musically, there isn’t much going on that’s groundbreaking, but in terms of sheer lyricism and vulnerability, this album takes the cake. It’s commentary on gender and the evolution of a person is not only well done, but tenderly done. Anohni’s voice oscillates from low and high almost to signal the transformation that she was realizing lyrically. Overall, just a phenomenal album.

Sounds like depression So sad… sad face emoji :(

Immediate 5 star album. The best.

This album suuucked!

Interesting album, full of slow ballads and somber singing. Not something I’d listen to again, but didn’t have anything against it.

No this isn’t very good 1/5

Back when this album came out, I was fascinated by it. True, it wasn't my kind of music, but the voice and the originality were forces to be reckoned with (especially at a time when so much music did its best to sound exactly like Coldplay). It was therefore interesting to revisit this album I haven't listened to for a while. And I have to say, the voice is still a factor, but the music did not have as much effect on me as it once did. I guess I grew older with added layers of cynicism.

What in the fluttery fluff

I liked What Can I Do?, it sounded like Radiohead. That’s about it tho. The music was nice I just think the vocals weren’t it.

3.75

I don't know how to score things like this. Chamber music, very odd vocals, felt out of its time. Wouldn't listen again.

Didn't finish it. I do like the trills of the singer's voice but this generally didn't sink its claws into me.

Didn't stick but I will return for a second listen, no songs I immediately liked but think a couple were interesting enough for a second listen.

I didn't get into ANOHNI the first time around and it might be my mood that this album slots so neatly into, but I really liked this and the 35 minutes floated by.

This came out when I was in college and made some waves among the choir kids. Some of the songs are hauntingly beautiful, but they are just singing outside of their range.

I Am a Bird Now... Please go fly away then.

Hoo boy. That was not my cup of tea. The trilling baritone and the dirge-like pace of the music just grated on me. I couldn’t wait for this to be over.

Not for me. The singer has a unique voice and i never got used to it.

No. Just no. That warbling voice is so annoying that I couldn’t get past it to try to listen to the lyrics and see if they’re interesting or not.

Such simple but extraordinary concepts expressed so beautifully with such an arresting voice. This album hit me emotionally harder than any before. Anohni is truly amazing.

Having never listened to this before, lead singer Anohni's voice was a bit of a shock at first. I wasn't sure I was going to take it. Soon I began to embrace the uniqueness of it as it was sung over such beautiful music and expressing such feelings. And what a collection of interesting guest voices to add to the mix! I don't imagine that I'll listen to this all of the time, but listening to it was indeed quite a special experience.

As I settled into my seat in the bus for a 6-hour ride, I started this album. By about 5 tracks in, I was bored and ready for the album to be over. Then over the next few tracks the beauty of this album reached in and started squeezing my heart to the point that I was (unsuccessfully) fighting back the tears. I couldn’t wait for it to end…so that I could start it over! Maybe it was bus magic, but I fell in love with this one!

I had high hopes for this one after reading the description. I appreciate the artist's p.o.v. and I enjoyed the vocals by the guest artists but ultimately this record just isn't for me.

This was an interesting listen. I started off a little put off by the vocal delivery and was bracing for a long listen. Somewhere in the middle though it picked up for me and there were several songs I really liked like Fistful of Love. Kind of a 3.5 but rounding up to 4.

I'd never heard the music of Anohni and the Johnsons before, but it took approximately 30 seconds to be completely spellbound by this album. Anohni's voice is perhaps the most emotionally affecting I've ever heard. Every second is beautiful and somehow makes you feel feelings. The opening and closing tracks, 'Hope There's Someone' and 'Bird Guhl' (and the opening and closing lines within them) bookend the album perfectly, acting as the start and conclusion of an intensely personal story. In between, 'For Today I Am A Boy' spells out the theme of the album and 'You Are My Sister' had me welling up. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Fistful Of Love Date listened: 11/08/23

I honestly tried

A really fascinating and interesting album. An amazing voice, which doesn't mean its a great one, and at times hard to listen to, but theres also some cracking moments on here.

Dear lord. This couldn't end fast enough. Not my bag for sure. It's like if Grace Slick and Joni Mitchel had a baby that liked to sing letters people wrote to their dead pets. The songs are written well enough, so it gets a star for that.

Je reste persuadé que ce petit gars mi-homme mi-vibrato aurait dû chialer un bon coup sur les quatre minutes du morceau d'introduction pour repartir sur de meilleures bases. Celui-ci a finalement choisi d'étaler sa chialade sur tout le projet. Reviens-nous en forme toto.

Complétement sous le charme de ce festival du vibrato, organisé en toute intimité par l'excellent Antony et sa troup de Johnsons. On en redemande.

Winge whine

Giving this a three for now as I’m not sure. Definitely a difficult album to get into but I’m really curious how I will feel after another couple of listens. Unfortunately Inlistenedbin the car and didn’t really give it full attention. My three could easily move to a two or four.

Sweet choir boy voice reminiscent of Buckley. Beautiful, but a teeny bit boring after a while, but did I just hear Rufus Wainwright on one of the songs?

Pop barroco. Me flipa la voz. Vinilo.

I remember this winning the Mercury prize but never listened to it at the time, in those pre-Spotify years. It sounds fairly unique even now though; I can understand the hype. The unmistakable, arresting vocals are the clear standout, and I think the first three tracks are great - almost transcendent. After that, for me, the album never quite reaches those heights again. I’ve just given the debut album a listen too and I reckon I might prefer that, pound for pound. Anyway, this one gets a 3.5 from me.

This blew me away. Anohni’s deeply soulful musings on her sexuality is insanely impactful to hear and I am grateful of this website for giving me the opportunity to hear it.

I can see the artistic appeal, but Antony's vibratto is too much for me. This isn't an album I would consider returning to.

IT's a very cool album albeit from what's, for me, a take it or leave it genre.

I was looking forward to this because I liked the moody release he did as Ahohni ("Hopelessness") a few years after this. And I also like his work as the lead vocalist for Hercules and Love Affair. This is a bit more ballad-driven than I was expecting and ballad albums are challenging to stay with. I like the first track and "Fistful of Love" but it becomes tiring quick, especially the voice.

Antony/ Anohni’s vibrato voice isn’t for everyone, but it sure is distinctive. This music is very heartfelt and very intimate. Antony has also pulled in a very strong group of musicians behind him such as Julia Kent, Devendra Banhart, Boy George, Rufus Wainwright and Lou Reed.

I first heard this a year or so ago when listening to previous Mercury Prize winners and thought it was absolutely gorgeous. Relistening has made me appreciate it even more - it’s just such a tender and affecting record

Fantastic, beautiful, loved it

I just... wow. This is heartbreakingly beautiful, with elegant, minimalist arrangements and striking vocals. The lyrics are some of the most vulnerable and honest that I can ever recall hearing. Fave Songs: Fistful of Love, Bird Gerhl, My Lady Story, Spiralling, You Are My Sister, For Today I Am a Boy

This album is made up of different parts that individually I don't normally care for and yet somehow they come together to create something that I found hauntingly beautiful front to back. I really liked this

This may not be for everyone, but the earnestness of this album rings powerfully. It is personal in ways most of the albums simply aren't.

Not for me!

I’m not a big fan, but I love unique creative expressions, and this was that.

Their voice is lovely, and the music is so unique. But it's all too much all at once.

The music sounded quite nice, but good grief, the vocals were awful. Warbling and affected, like someone doing deliberately bad singing for a comedy recording, it killed the entire album for me. Even the presence of Lou Reed wasn't enough to save this from the weird warbling noises that just vibrated up and down constantly, ruining everything. I always like to complete albums, even stinkers like this one, but it took me multiple sittings to endure the awful caterwauling noise coming out of the singer. Sorry, but this really isn't for me, just plain torture from start to finish. Like someone gargling their own snot, not a single phrase made without some vibrato added where it totally wasn't required.

Dit is niet echt gejengel waar ik van hou. Moet ook bekennen dat ik hem niet helemaal afgeluisterd heb, misschien nog eens proberen ooit.

Música de cámara.

som melodramático, pra quem curte se afundar

Great singer, especially the vibrato, very operatic, especially with the baroque-style strings and woodwinds. Hearing some Thom Yorke in there. Also hearing some motown influence in tracks like "Fistful of Love." But I don't care so much for an album of piano ballads with boring, slow, simple melodies. Favorites: Hope There's Someone, My Lady Story, Fistful of Love

Pretty

God this is boring. So dreary and inmemorable.

Står oppført som kammermusikk på wikipedia lol. Veeeeldig masse vibrato. Men syns da va bra

Seems technically skilled, but not my taste with rounds and shit.

some interesting 3*

Tiene algún temita, pero bastante aburrido y no es la gran cosa.

I actually liked this once upon a time. I was a sensitive youth once...

The songs are lovely, but I can't handle the throaty vibrato inflicted on every single lyric that hangs for more than a moment.

Finally! The 1001 guy chose an album I'd not heard that's actually good.

Appalling

I did a Google after listening to this album, as I noticed a lot of lyrics relating to gender identity. I found that the band have since changed their name to Anohni and the Johnsons as the singer came out as trans, so that’s how I’ll be referring to her for this review. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: For Today I Am A Boy, Bird Guhl I went quite up and down with my opinion on this album. The music is lovely, sedate yet interesting, and the lyrics are profound throughout. My only gripe was Anohni’s voice - the vibrato was more extreme than any singer I’ve heard before. She often sounded like she was sat on a washing machine while singing. However, I did find as the album went on that her singing did grow on me and seemed to become less of an issue. This grew on me the more I listened, and by the end of the album I quite liked her voice. I recommend this, but am very aware that the singing is a little odd.

HL: "You Are My Sister", "Fistful of Love", "Hope There's Someone", "Spiralling" Took a couple songs to get accustomed to Anohni's voice, but it's a pretty strong set of piano ballads with an emotional core nonetheless. Also led me on a Wiki rabbit hole about the woman on the cover. I should really focus on my assignment June 8, 2023

Not sure how this made it into the 1001. 👎

Quite absurd, like why is there flying burgers, but I love it

At first I thought it would be the "whining" album, but actually it opens up, especially at the crescendo parts of the songs.

It's odd, when Anohni sang on Want Two, which was where I first heard of her, I didn't mind her voice, but I find it bothering me here. It's not bad or anything, but I find myself wishing her voice was a bit higher in this album, because I think it would fit the music better. Just a little nitpick of mine, I guess. The guest vocalists helped with this though, and I found it bothering me less as the album went on. A lot of this album was a bit too mellow for me. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood or something. I was hoping to like the album a bit more. I do like the themes and the instrumentation in this album and, again, the guest musicians helped, but I can't give it a higher rating. I think my likes and dislikes balance this album at a three. My favourite song was What Can I Do? I think that Rufus and Anohni's voices compliment each other well.

Anohni is a talented vocalist and composer, but you can’t help but get through this album with the impression that they have exactly one gear: melodramatic chamber pop.

I dont know what i just listened to.

I came to this fully expecting to dislike it, but after a couple of tracks I settled down and really enjoyed it. At the heart is some very solid songwriting, and his voice is pretty amazing. If I have a quibble, not one I thought I would, is that the Johnsons are time are a bit predictable and limited in their arrangements. But a very solid 3.5. One of the more surprising listens so far. Going to invest in a 4 on the basis I'll listen again.

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.

As one music critic wrote, within a second or two of the album starting, you're grabbed by Antony's voice. Strong and emotive. This is very good.

Surprisingly good! 8 out of 10

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

what an excellent album, a beautiful expression of gender identity from an album in the mid 2000s is a very big shock to see, and to have it executed so well was even surprising to me even more. the themes portrayed so well and straight from the heart to the beautiful instrumentals that back them all was just so pleasant to hear all come together and make for a very great listen.

Antony, now ANOHNI, gives an emotional performance. As short as the album was, I found myself wishing for a smaller dose. It was too much all at once. Best track: For Today I Am a Boy

Did not enjoy

This album is absolutely BEAUTIFULLY done, but it's also unremittingly sorrowful. Just devastating. I have so much respect for the talent and power here, but it's not one I'm going to return to often because it is so painful to get through. And I love depressing music! But this is extra. Although it's definitely a work of art, I'm giving it a 4/5 because the listenability is not there.

I've never heard of Antony and the Johnsons before, but this was a really beautiful album. The vocals and instrumentation went together beautifully, and the lyrics were incredibly deep and poignant. This isn't the sort of thing that I'd seek out again, but I still think that it was beautiful music.

whenever there's an album by an artist completely unknown to me, i do get nervous! i shouldn't have worried. anohni created a rather emotional album. it's honest and from the heart. the listener is taken on a journey to understand anohni's inner thoughts. like others, her vibrato sometimes bothered me, but the lyrics could be so beautiful that i didn't mind. the album has such purpose and anohni had such focus creating an impactful piece of art. some of this album contains rather famous musicians guesting. it almost seems weird that lou reed, a punk pioneer, would make an appearance, or some of the other musicians, but their presence fits well. and i always enjoy musicians stepping outside their comfort zones. lou reed's baritone voice opening "fistful of love" is perfect. i was reminded a lot of evanescence as i listened to i am a bird now. they are obviously more rock, but i was reminded of them in regards to the emotional level. sometimes, i was reminded of fifties pop. but mostly, antony and the johnsons created a unique sound found in i am a bird now.

This was an interesting album for me. I should start by saying that for the most part, the album wasn't really my thing. I didn't really find enjoyment in listening to it, and I just don't think I'd return to it in the future. All that said and taken into consideration, I was still very moved by the beautiful and haunting music, and the equally haunting, deeply sad, very intimate lyrics. This album feels like an incredibly personal window into the complex soul of Anohni. She absolutely bears all here and conveys so much emotion in such a short amount of time. This album also features several other superstars who are part of the art pop orbit; no doubt these legends were moved by the work of Anohni, too.

Omg, I'm in American Idol hopeful hell with these vocals. The lyrics are disturbingly dark but the gentle treatment they've been given doesn't help to serve their purpose. It’s boring and reeks of disingenuous posturing.

I Am a Bird Now is the second album by the American pop band Antony and the Johnsons. This soulful art pop album won the UK Mercury Prize in the second half of 2005, causing the album to jump in popularity. This popularity led the album to be certified gold in the UK. I was surprised by how good this album was. I went into it knowing nothing - only thinking it might be another pop album - and it was beautiful. The music is timeless and Antony's (now known as Anohni) singing is absolutely breathtaking. This is a good album for someone that appreciates awesome singing, and anyone that likes soulful, timeless feeling music.

singer super distracting, to the point I can't even listen. Wanted to give a higher score as obviously emotional personal music, however rating on how much I enjoy listening and that's not at all

It's at the low end of ok.

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

Mostly sounded the same but nice enough

Highlights: "What Can I Do," "Hope There's Someone," "Fistful of Love" Anywhere you look, this album hangs on subjective evaluations of Anohni's voice. I agree the vibrato is laid too thick, and we can argue that the rest is moot over that, but more conspicuous to me when it came out was that I had nothing to compare it to (Nina Simone being a clear reference looking back). The way the voice languishes over these lovely, tender piano harmonies convinces me of an entirely knowing, telling arrangement. Unlike many cases of awkward singers with good music, this is an album preoccupied with self-frustration, and the pain of being held to standards you can never meet, even in your own heart. One of the figures of the Weimar's SocDem Prussia that Nazi Germany sought to erase was Magnus Hirschfeld, who leveraged his authority as a physician to advocate, among other causes, for people he dubbed transvestites. He claimed that a common characteristic among the trans women he sheltered and studied was a form of masochism, whether this was a shaping force of their identity or an assimilation of the lifelong social rebuke they experienced. We live in a different time, where trans people at least have the internet to host arguments about dysphoria as a qualifier ("transmedicalism" or "truscum",) but even ten years ago dysphoria would have been seen as a spearhead for trans visibility and public acceptance. The subject could never date the album as it comes from that experience not for some platform but for an incredibly vulnerable catharsis, to save herself. This album is a very clear touchstone for its period, alternating between solidarity anthems and laments of dysphoria that struck a chord with a much broader audience.

Nope

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

This was just absolutely not for me. I can’t say it’s bad, but I’ll be happy to never listen to it again.

GORGEOUS.

Pop barroco. Me flipa la voz. Vinilo.

The production, features, songwriting, incredible vocals, all of it comes together to form a perfect little window of intimacy into someone's personal struggles.

Surprisingly strong music in a very similar vein to Rufus Wainwright (yes I know he is included), but it is missing something that grabs me all the way.

Uncontrolled warbling is my least favourite style of singing - it's like having a goat in my headphones. At least this album is short. Pretty songs, shame about the voice.

I Am a Bird Now isn't for me, it's interesting with subtle arrangements and a rare voice but not actually good. A bit dull once the curiosity fades. 2.

Too much vibrato for me, Clive... Her voice is really unusual, haunting even, and it works really well with the stripped back music, but not in a way that I find particularly pleasant for more than a track or two at once. What Can I Do? with Rufus Wainwright doesn't help - it's a stark reminder that this kind of voice can do a lot more when it's a bit more versatile than hitting the vibrato with almost every note. 3/5, just. Probably would've been a 2 if not for the guest vocalists.

Simply one of the most beautiful albums ever.

Beautiful album, a little to low energy for my liking although if the mood strikes I'd reach for it again.

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

Would need to be in a very particular mood to listen to this again. Very melancholic "baroque pop." Singer tells tale of journey relating to gender?

Well, it grew on me a bit as I listened. But dude's singing style is... well, it's really challenging. The constant vibrato and the weird affected timbre are really hard to get past. If you can, there's some great songwriting and music underneath. Unfortunately, the vocals are really hot in the mix so the most unpleasant part of the album is right in your face at all times. Shame. There's something here, to be sure. But I don't understand the ecstatic gushing this received from the critics. It's just not that great. It's not even all that close to great. It's only good if you manage to ignore the vocals. But the vocals are the thing in the spotlight so they're really hard to ignore. Again: it's a shame.

Yes a bit. Got bored with it.

Hate his voice

Muzyka nawet ładna, ale głos niestety mocno irytujący.

Pretty tremendous

This was beautiful. How can you people hate on this but keep upvoting that Waits dude lol I really liked it. The music is excellent and the interpretation soulful af.

Listened before: no Added to library: yes (4/10) Really gorgeous, really heavy.

Just not for me, very slow and quiet and not much happening.

Meh

Emotionally evocative lyrics, killer vibrato on the vocals, beautiful minimalist arrangements. Really not my type of music, but good stuff. High 3.

Dude sounded like a dying cat.

2/3

Where the hell was I when this was originally released?

This is music as therapy that explores the big themes (identity, dignity, love) poignantly. The instrumentation is excellent throughout - it's simple but rich, creating the perfect canvas for Antony, whose voice I found unique and haunting, to croon and then explode over. Lyrically it's simple on the surface, although that disguises how big some of the examined themes are. The features come in at the right times and add extra colour, keeping things varied. It's a very rich canvas we get as a result. A really interesting and deep album that gets a very strong four from me. I'll be checking out their other stuff. 4.5

What in the world why

Haunting; full of pain, pleasure, and beauty. I think Anhoni may have been my first exposure to a trans person. I discovered this album shortly after it came out and was completely captivated by it. Still love it today. I think it has aged very well!

Beautiful melodies Overarching theme of melancholy Lullaby feel at times very easy listening

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Hope there’s someone, Man is the baby, Fistful of love

What a strange and beautiful album. Very unique. Not sure yet whether I love it or just like it, but I will definitely be giving it another listen. 3 stars.

Sanat ihanat ja tunnelma kaunis ja rauhoittava, mutta laulajan määkimistä en sietänyt silloin, kun tää oli tosi suosittu, enkä näköjään siedä vieläkään.

Hieno ääni ja tosi otteessaan pitävä tunnelma! Hyvä!

My Lady Story ja Fistful of Love on ihan tajuttoman kovia biisejä. Tosi rauhoittava ja hieno levy muutenkin.

Olipa kaunis levy! Solistilla upea ääni ja sovitukset onnistuu tavoittamaan jonkin paikan syvällä sisimmässä. Helppo 4/5.

Luke a male Adele, but I don't like Adele.

Fair fucking play, Antony & the Johnsons really bringing home the bacon. I was expecting mediocrity after the first, then as if by magic, I was immersed. Initially I struggled to tell if this was a man or a woman singing and it turns out I was kinda right with whatever answer I chose. Given this new found knowledge about the band members the lyrics become all the more poignant. Shout out to Gianna Infantino for the brilliant song writing on song three. Up the Johnsons.

Remember this winning the Mercury Prize in 2005 as it was a bit of a shock win. Enjoyed it, but their bleating lamb voice gets a bit much as the album progresses

Miserable. Annoying voice. Just listen to Scott walker. Sot What can I do 1/5

Been a while since I wanted an album to get to the end this badly.

Not my style of music.

What a beautiful album. Such strong opening track too. You can feel the rawness and emotions in most of these. I found “For Today I Am A Boy” very powerful, especially after reading up a bit about the band. Saved songs: Hope There’s Someone, For Today I Am A Boy, Spiralling

Veel emotie in muziek en tekst

Beautiful but too tragic for me

Beautiful voice. Passionate.

This album was very interesting, I'm still not exactly sure where I stand on it. However, it felt good to sit through as it comes from the perspective of someone who paints a grief filled picture of what it's like to be transgender. And I think it's a very necessary one to listen to in the current climate. It makes me realize that 2005 wasn't very long ago and we still very much are dealing with the same mindset about some things. You can very clearly hear the pain in Anohi's voice and while it might not be technically perfect, she still gets the point through. I've never heard an album that so blatantly talks about being trans, especially not one from 18 years ago. As sad as it starts, and the heavy topics it deals with, the album does end on a happy note. As our protagonist is no longer dealing with the things tying her down, whether that be the body she was born in or an abusive relationship. It serves as a reminder that there is a proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

Really don't like this voice.

this is just not for me. the voice gets really grading over time and the whole project feels really pretentious. that being said, the production on this thing is beautiful and makes it worth a casual listen.

paras transu konsepti album tähän mennessä. miellekästä musiikkia, pianon pimputus (heh) on tunnokasta... vokaalit vähän vituttaa (indie-esque) pioneeriesque laulu tyyli hope there's someone

Great voice. Boring.

Never heard of this band or album. Blown away. Great listen that I will return to. Chamber pop.

Moderne singer/sognwriter, følsomt pop, akustisk klaver og tonsvis af vibrato

Really struggled to get past the annoying voice on what could otherwise have likely been a decent album :(

i went into this thinking it would be a boring indie rock album based exclusively on the cover and i am very glad that i was wrong. i'm definitely happy i checked this out and i'm very interested in checking out anohni's solo work.

You can hear the emotion

Oh boy. This was something. The music itself is not bad at all. The vocals are love em' or hate em' and I definitely hate em' I get it. I mean I'm a Tom Waits guy and I listen to a lot of punk and metal. Listening to "bad vocals" is nothing new to me. I just can't endure this .If the lyrics weren't so beautiful I'd probably laugh out loud at the vocals. I'm sorry. I can see why someone would absolutely love this, but I'm just not on board. I hope Anhony (as I believe they now go by) is living a wonderful life.

Very distinctive voice, reminicent of the Neville Brothers, but it's a double edged sword - the vocal is so distinctive that it overpowers the melody. So if you don't like the voice, the beauty of the song can't rescue it. Sadly, I don't care for the voice and had enough after 4 tracks. I couldn't listen to any more. I know lots will love it - clearly there's serious talent there, and it deserves at least 3 stars, but it's marmite music and I don't want to hear any more.

Got the feels.

morose and whiny themes of identity and sexuality within a truly off-putting combination of Tracy Chapman and Tiny Tim. Glad I listened to this but it didn't resonate for me.

This one didn't leave me with much of an impression - solid instrumentals and decent vocals, but not enough melodic impact for me to return to.

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.

It is a masterpiece.

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.

Not really for me.

Where was I in 2005 that I didn't know about this album or this band? For today, I think this is a little bit exaggerated on the sad environment, but it looks perfect for the 15 years old me.

Really lovely album, there is a melancholy to her singing that evokes feelings of heartbreak but also hopefulness. Spiraling and Bird Girl are standouts.

The music is beautiful and the message is important given how the singer is trans... but fuck the voice is just so grating. My least favourite works on here are albums with vocals I can't stand and unfortunately that is the case here. I cannot stand the vocals.

Pop sosegado y melancólico. Voz tristona. Sin estridencias y poco instrumental

Occasionally dull but always original, this album at its peak is beautiful and haunting

Not bad, but not for me.

Apparemment cet album n'est plus dans les dernières éditions du livre, et c'est bien dommage

merci et merci pour the dull flame of desire 💝

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"

Listening to this album means nihilistically pained lyrics about the leader singer’s gender transition story. The combination of vibrato vocals, dramatic piano instrumentals, and guest appearances from the legends like Lou Reed lends this album serious credit.

Beautiful album when listened to on a cold dark night. Had it been on a sunny beach it may have lost a point.

nearly flying free

The voice as an instrument, then this album is worth more than my rating of 3 stars. However, I don’t think I heard anything that will be bringing me back to listening to this album, but this record nonetheless seems a deep and powerfully emotional vocal expression.

Didn't like it. Didn't like it at all.

Awful

No thank you

Not really my kind of music, a bit dreary but it was nice overall

wow this is really amazing. Didn't really like it that much but yeah it was good

Did not enjoy this. Vocals is just whining or boring

Decent pop of the era, but I find Ahoni's voice a bit annoying, too much narrow fast vibrato in general. Some nice moments that feel genuine and vulnerable, but mostly middle of the road.

pretty boring, and I don't love her voice, but I appreciate the music

This album pretty beautiful. Very well composed.

It's a deep and moving album. Tough to get all the way through for me, however.

Wow. Definitely a captivating voice and the first half of Hope There's Someone is breathtaking. Though the album is a bit more hit and miss from there, the passion and story making this a engaging and enjoyable album.

The vibrato thing really ruined so much of this.

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

I liked this well enough, the instrumentals were all very good, and some of the songs were genuinely touching on something very beautiful and honest. Good for her.

A heartbreakingly beautiful album that I'm rounding down to a 4 because it is literally SO. INSANELY. DEPRESSING. Not in the fun way either. I'm pretty goth and all, but this is too much. 110% deserving of being on the 1001, but I can probably go another 10 to 15 years before I'll feel like listening to it again. Peace and love to the trans comrades, stay strong.

This album grew on me as I listened to it, but I’m unlikely to listen to it again. My favorite song “Fistful of Love” was different from the rest and most of the time I was distracted by the singer’s vibrato. Still a very technically impressive performance

The music sounds good, especially the piano which is a standout, though overall it is somewhat simple and repetitive. The lyrics are personal, as ripped from a diary, but it is too personal, at least to me. The thing that brings it down for me is his voice. It feels as though he is trying too hard. The comparisons to Nina Simone have some ground, but he is far from her level.

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

A pretty odd album lyrically but it sounded okay. I didn’t find the music that interesting. The singer had a good voice though and it seemed similar to the antlers. Don’t think I’d revisit this one. 3.8/10

Dismal' horrible vocals, whiney, found it difficult to listen to the whole album

Stimme ist anstrengend. Generell ist das alles sehr theatralisch und irgendwann schwer zu ertragen.

Liked the instrumentals and the lyricism; not the vocals.