Andrew Bird and frequent collaborator Madison Cunningham have announced a new album. Cunningham Bird finds the musicians covering Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks’ landmark 1973 album in its entirety. Buckingham Knicks. Check out Bird and Cunningham’s new versions of “Crying in the Night” and “Crystal” below.
Cunningham Bird Released on October 18. Mike Viola produced the album, along with Wurlitzer, bass and drums; Griffin Goldsmith also played drums and percussion on the new album.
“It’s hard to listen to Buckingham Nicks’ 1973 debut album without trying to imagine it as a prequel to the legend of Fleetwood Mac,” said Andrew Byrd in a statement. “It’s hard to listen to this period of the album because it’s out of print and not available on any streaming services. Still, it’s that youthful ambition and over-the-top arrogance that makes it so appealing. The best reason to cover for someone is that little part of you that thinks you can do it better. This album embodies excess and confidence, and it only makes sense to embody that spirit ourselves. Confidence, that is, to be confused with an iconic, if understated, gem. Madison is the most talented musician I have ever met. He has a restless ear, always looking for a new sound or harmonic twist. Her voice is stunning, nimble and emotional on any volume. I just had to find the right project for us to dive into, and this is it.”
Madison Cunningham added: “Since knowing and playing with Andrew, I’ve wanted to join forces with him regardless of our projects. He’s one of my favorite artists alive and one of the deepest musical partners I’ve ever been lucky enough to have. This buried record by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham found us in a place where we were trying to figure out what we could do together. Unfamiliar with it, but excited by its scarcity on streaming platforms, we decided to take it from front to back, our way. It was no surprise to me how it turned out to be one of the most creatively satisfying recording experiences I’ve had, but an unintended bonus was how relevant some of those lyrics would be to my life at the time of making it. It was a lifeline for me and I hope we did it justice.”
Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham have worked together on several projects, including Bird’s albums My best work yet and: Internal problemsas well as his He! EP. Cunningham released his latest studio album, Revealerin September 2022, and it earned him a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
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