Break It Yourself Explained

Break It Yourself is the sixth solo studio album by the American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird, released on March 5, 2012, through Mom+Pop records in the US and Bella Union in the UK.^[1] The track "Lusitania" features a duet with St. Vincent.^[2]

Critical reception

The album was well received by critics: according to Metacritic, the album has received an average review score of 80/100, based on 33 reviews.

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 10, which is Bird's first top 10 entry in the chart, selling 30,000 copies in the first week.^[3]

Other appearances

• Instrumental versions of "Danse Caribe" and "Eyeoneye" appear on Fingerlings 4. They are titled "Danse Carribe" and "Oh Baltimore" respectively
• A slower version of "Orpheo Looks Back" (called "Orpheo") appears on Hands of Glory

Personnel

Band

• Andrew Bird – violin, guitar, vocals, whistling
• Martin Dosh – drums
• Jeremy Ylvisaker – guitar, keyboards, background vocals
• Mike Lewis – bass, tenor saxophone, background vocals

Additional musicians

• J. T. Bates – drums on "Danse Caribe"
• Annie Clark (St. Vincent) – vocals on "Lusitania", courtesy of 4AD
• Nora O'Connor - vocal harmonies on "Give It Away", "Lazy Projector", "Near Death Experience Experience", "Fatal Shore"
• Simone White – vocal harmony on "Desperation Breeds"
• Wendy Lewis – cooking, moral support

Notes and References

1. Web site: Andrew Bird | Bella Union.
2. Web site: Andrew Bird: Break It Yourself. Pitchfork.
3. Web site: Week Ending March 11, 2012. Albums: Bruce And Elvis . Chart Watch . Paul . Grein. March 14, 2012 . Yahoo!.