Rare Bird Alert

Overview

From the earliest days of his comedy career, Steve Martin has incorporated the banjo into various aspects of his act, and fellow banjo players have spoken with reverence of his skills for decades. But in recent years he has put a renewed focus on the instrument, and he won a Grammy for his album The Crow in 2010. Rare Bird Alert came along a year later, and it's a full-fledged country/bluegrass album consisting entirely of Martin originals and recorded in collaboration with the Steep Canyon Rangers. Some of the songs are comedic: the hilarious faux-gospel harmony number "Atheists Don't Have No Songs" is an album highlight despite its lack of an interesting melody, and "Women Like to Slow Dance" is both a wry reflection on gender differences and a straight-up bluegrass barnburner. "Jubilation Day" is one of the funnier kiss-off songs ever recorded ("Let's always remember the good times/Like when you were out of town"), and there's even a surprisingly straight version of Martin's breakout novelty hit from the 1970s, "King Tut." But other tracks are sweet and tender, such as the wonderful "You" (written for Martin's wife) and the elegantly lovely "The Great Remember." And there are several songs on which elegance, energy, and boundary-pushing creativity coexist joyfully -- notably the gorgeous "More Bad Weather on the Way" (on which Martin plays very expert clawhammer banjo) and the brilliant instrumental "Northern Island," which features a startlingly complex chord progression for a bluegrass number. Whether your primary interest is in the comedy or the music, this is a solidly enjoyable album.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/15/2011
Label:	UMGD/ROUNDER
UPC:	0011661066021
Rank:	3746

Tracks

1. Rare Bird Alert
2. Yellow-Backed Fly
3. Best Love
4. Northern Island
5. Go Away, Stop, Turn Around, Come Back
6. Jubilation Day
7. More Bad Weather on the Way
8. You
9. The Great Remember (For Nancy)
10. Women Like to Slow Dance
11. Hide Behind a Rock
12. Atheists Don't Have No Songs
13. King Tut

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Steve Martin   Primary Artist
Steep Canyon Rangers   Primary Artist
Ron Clearfield   Cello

Technical Credits

Steve Martin   Composer,Lyricist
The Chicks   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
David Hough   Engineer
Doug Sax   Mastering
Tony Trischka   Producer
Philip Barker   Composer,Lyricist
Sandee Oliver   Photography
Jon Ashley   Engineer,Recording Assistant
Steep Canyon Rangers   Composer,Featured Artist
Paul McCartney   Guest Artist,Featured Artist
Phillip Barker   Composer
Jim Ratts   Design Assistant
Nicky Sanders   Composer
Sangwook "Sunny" Nam   Mastering
Sharon Cullen   Engineer
Steve Jones   Engineer,Engineer
Cynthia Daniels   Recording Assistant
Gary Paczosa   Mixing,Engineer
Julian Dreyer   Recording Assistant
Vanessa Parr   Recording Assistant
Graham Sharp   Composer
Michael Traister   Photography
Brandon Bell   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Salli Ratts   Design
Charles Humphrey III   Composer,Lyricist
Woody Platt   Composer
Mark Seliger   Photography
John Frazier   Composer
Max Vadukal   Photography