One of the smartest, most talented and prolific songwriters in the business is still cranking it out. A few years ago, I heard Are You Serious and was totally taken aback by Track 2. “Roma Fade” has a faster, more intense tempo than what we’re typically used to with Andrew Bird. The pairing of ingenious songwriting creativity and go-to Bird instrumentation like strings and whistling is ridiculously infectious. But it gets even better live. I’ve had the opportunity to hear Bird perform “Roma Fade” twice, and can say that the live elements are even more impressive than the studio recording.

“And if she sees you, it changes you. Rearranges your molecules. And if you see her, it changes her. She’ll be seeing you after school. Here’s where gentlemen avert their eyes. Maybe she’s a gentlemen in disguise.”