Strange Bird
Encyclopedia
Strange Bird is the second studio album
by the Australian indie rock band Augie March
. It was first released on 14 October 2002 in Australia by BMG
and was re-released in the United States on 14 September 2004 by spinART.
Strange Bird followed from the success of the band's moderately successful first album, Sunset Studies
, which was voted as one of the best albums of 2000 by listeners of national Australian radio network Triple J
. Strange Bird was quite a departure for the band, replacing the often mellow melodies of the first album with a more expansive, direct sound.
students formed a band led by English student Glenn Richards
. They released two EPs; Thanks for the Memes and Waltz
. Waltz received some industry recognition through nominations at the 2000 ARIA Music Awards
, but neither EP was a mainstream success. Nonetheless Augie March were offered a contract with BMG
. In 2000, Rob Dawson joined the band as a pianist, and the band recorded their debut album, Sunset Studies
. The album was lauded by critics and ARIA
but not by the general public. In January 2001, as the band were looking to work on a follow up, Dawson was killed in car crash. Keyboardist Kiernan Box was brought in to replace him.
, a suburb of Melbourne. Unlike Sunset Studies, which was produced by Paul McKercher and Richard Pleasance
, Augie March chose to produce Strange Bird independently; drummer Dave Williams explained to Beat that the band was so comfortable working together in the studio that they felt confident producing the album themselves. Recording sessions took place at Melbourne
's Sing Sing Studios and Sydney
's Megaphon and Big Jesusburger studios. Two tracks—"O Mi Sol Li Lon" and "Sunstroke House"—appeared on the album in their demo
form.
's Joe Tangari suggested the listener place the lines "Onward and on to the ends of love/ Pricked vanity, habit and ruse/ Onward and on to a premature silence/ Where death finds too much use" from "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers" in the context of Dawson's recent death to obtain a greater understanding of their meaning.
"The Vineyard", the first single from Strange Bird, was released on 16 September 2002. The song features Box' piano throughout and was described by BMG Australia as a "slice of delicious pop". The song received a common response to Augie March songs, with Impresss Jayson Argall writing that if he "was at pains to try and define the song or decipher its meaning, then maybe [his] attention would be better directed elsewhere". Guitarist Adam Donovan felt similarly, but with the consolation that "I've got a long time to live with it... I'm going to let it unravel as I listen to it more and more".
The titular "Strange Bird" is mentioned directly in both "the Keepa" and "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers", and many other songs feature bird imagery in their lyrics.
listeners voted "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers" to number #66 in the 2002 Triple J Hottest 100
poll.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the Australian indie rock band Augie March
Augie March
Augie March are an Australian indie/pop rock band. Formed in 1996 in Shepparton, Victoria, the band currently consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Glenn Richards, lead guitarist Adam Donovan, bassist Edmondo Ammendola, drummer David Williams, and keyboardist Kiernan Box...
. It was first released on 14 October 2002 in Australia by BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
and was re-released in the United States on 14 September 2004 by spinART.
Strange Bird followed from the success of the band's moderately successful first album, Sunset Studies
Sunset Studies
Sunset Studies is the first studio album by the Australian indie rock band Augie March. It was released in 2000 in Australia by BMG.-Track listing:# "The Hole In Your Roof" – 7:12# "Maroondah Reservoir" – 5:05# "There Is No Such Place" – 3:17...
, which was voted as one of the best albums of 2000 by listeners of national Australian radio network Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. Strange Bird was quite a departure for the band, replacing the often mellow melodies of the first album with a more expansive, direct sound.
Background
Augie March formed in 1996, when four TAFE and universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
students formed a band led by English student Glenn Richards
Glenn Richards
Glenn Anthony Richards is the mainstay guitarist singer-songwriter for the Australian rock band Augie March.-Early years:Richards was born in Shepparton, Victoria...
. They released two EPs; Thanks for the Memes and Waltz
Waltz (EP)
Waltz is an EP released by the Australian indie rock band Augie March. It was first released in 1999. It includes the first appearance of the band's early hit "Asleep In Perfection". A music video was also issued for the closing track, "The Moth Ball"....
. Waltz received some industry recognition through nominations at the 2000 ARIA Music Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
, but neither EP was a mainstream success. Nonetheless Augie March were offered a contract with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
. In 2000, Rob Dawson joined the band as a pianist, and the band recorded their debut album, Sunset Studies
Sunset Studies
Sunset Studies is the first studio album by the Australian indie rock band Augie March. It was released in 2000 in Australia by BMG.-Track listing:# "The Hole In Your Roof" – 7:12# "Maroondah Reservoir" – 5:05# "There Is No Such Place" – 3:17...
. The album was lauded by critics and ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
but not by the general public. In January 2001, as the band were looking to work on a follow up, Dawson was killed in car crash. Keyboardist Kiernan Box was brought in to replace him.
Recording and production
Strange Bird was written in an abandoned telephone company building in PrestonPreston, Victoria
Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
, a suburb of Melbourne. Unlike Sunset Studies, which was produced by Paul McKercher and Richard Pleasance
Richard Pleasance
Richard Arnold Pleasance is an Australian rock musician and producer. He was a founding member of Boom Crash Opera on guitar, bass guitar, vocals and as a songwriter in 1985; they released three albums before Pleasance left in 1992...
, Augie March chose to produce Strange Bird independently; drummer Dave Williams explained to Beat that the band was so comfortable working together in the studio that they felt confident producing the album themselves. Recording sessions took place at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's Sing Sing Studios and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's Megaphon and Big Jesusburger studios. Two tracks—"O Mi Sol Li Lon" and "Sunstroke House"—appeared on the album in their demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
form.
Music and lyrics
Richards began writing songs for Strange Bird shortly after Dawson's death, and the event was heavy on his mind throughout the writing process. Richards argued the album was optimistic despite being often described as miserable, pointing to the humorous treatment of the subject of death in numerous songs on the album. Pitchfork MediaPitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's Joe Tangari suggested the listener place the lines "Onward and on to the ends of love/ Pricked vanity, habit and ruse/ Onward and on to a premature silence/ Where death finds too much use" from "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers" in the context of Dawson's recent death to obtain a greater understanding of their meaning.
"The Vineyard", the first single from Strange Bird, was released on 16 September 2002. The song features Box' piano throughout and was described by BMG Australia as a "slice of delicious pop". The song received a common response to Augie March songs, with Impresss Jayson Argall writing that if he "was at pains to try and define the song or decipher its meaning, then maybe [his] attention would be better directed elsewhere". Guitarist Adam Donovan felt similarly, but with the consolation that "I've got a long time to live with it... I'm going to let it unravel as I listen to it more and more".
The titular "Strange Bird" is mentioned directly in both "the Keepa" and "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers", and many other songs feature bird imagery in their lyrics.
Reception
The album was acclaimed upon release by critics. Triple JTriple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
listeners voted "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers" to number #66 in the 2002 Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
poll.
Track listing
All tracks written by Augie March unless otherwise indicated.- "The Vineyard" – 5:01
- "This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers" – 4:30
- "Little Wonder" – 4:03
- "The Night Is a Blackbird" – 5:22
- "O Mi Sol Li Lon" – 1:21
- "Song in the Key of Chance" – 4:53
- "Up the Hill and Down" – 0:22
- "There's Something at the Bottom of the Black Pool" – 4:19
- "Addle Brains" – 5:29
- "The Keepa" – 5:40
- "The Drowning Dream" – 4:37
- "Sunstroke House" – 5:17
- "Brundisium" – 6:48
- "O Song" – 4:26