I Am a Bird Now

Infobox Album
Name=I Am a Bird Now
Type=studio
Artist=Antony and the Johnsons


Released=Start date|2005|2|1
Recorded=
Genre=Indie pop, baroque pop
Length=35:29
Label=Secretly Canadian
Producer=Antony Hegarty
Reviews=
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8eaxqj6eojka link]
*"The Guardian" Rating|4|5 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,,1434539,00.html 2005]
*"The Observer" Rating|5|5 [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,12102,1416665,00.html 2005]
*Pitchfork Media (8.6/10) [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15216-i-am-a-bird-now 2005]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/6886681/antonyandthejohnsons?rssfeed=cdreviews&rnd=1107844591690&has-player=unknown 2005]
*Robert Christgau (B-) [http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=antony+and+the+johnsons link]
*Stylus Magazine (A-) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2623 link]
*"Q" Rating|4|5 April 2005
*"Drowned In Sound" rating-10|10 [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/12344.html 2005]
*"Tiny Mix Tapes" Rating|5|5 [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/a/antony_and_the_johnsons.htm 2005]
Last album="I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy"
(2001)
This album="I Am a Bird Now"
(2005)
Next album="The Crying Light"
(2008)

"I Am a Bird Now" is the critically-acclaimed second album by New York City band Antony and the Johnsons. It was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize on July 19 2005 and was announced as the eventual winner on September 6 2005. After winning the prize, the album shot up the UK albums chart from #135 to #16 in one week, the biggest jump in the history of the Mercury Music Prize. It originally peaked at #78.

The album features guest appearances by Rufus Wainwright ("What Can I Do?") and Devendra Banhart, and by lead singer Antony Hegarty's childhood heroes Boy George and Lou Reed. The cover is a photograph by Peter Hujar of Warhol Superstar Candy Darling on her deathbed (aptly titled "Candy Darling on Her Deathbed").

Track listing

All tracks were written and produced by Antony Hegarty.
#"Hope There's Someone" – 4:21
#"My Lady Story" – 3:33
#"For Today I Am a Boy" – 2:36
#"Man Is the Baby" – 4:09
#"You Are My Sister" – 3:59
#"What Can I Do?" – 1:40
#"Fistful of Love" – 5:52
#"Spiralling" – 4:25
#"Free at Last" – 1:36
#"Bird Gerhl" – 3:14

Personnel

*Devendra Banhart – guitar (Track 5), vocals (Track 8)
*Steve Bernstein – horn
*Boy George – vocals (Track 5)
*Todd Cohen – drums
*Jason Hart – piano (Track 6)
*Antony Hegarty – organ, piano, vocals
*Julia Kent – cello
*Jeff Longston – bass
*Maxim Moston – violin
*Lou Reed – guitar and vocals (Track 7)
*Paul Shapiro – horn
*Doug Wieselman – saxophone
*Rufus Wainwright – vocals (Track 6)
*Joan Wasser – viola

External links

* [http://www.secretlycanadian.com/onesheet.php?cat=SC105 Secretly Canadian press release]