Andrew Bird was born a musician.

Of course, with a last name like Bird, he was destined to become a part of the musical world. Even from a very young age, Bird exercised his musical inclinations by taking violin lessons. From that moment on, the young Bird embraced the music world with wings wide open.

Soon after graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in violin performance, Bird became part of the swing revival genre, combining his well-honed violin skills with a jazz and blues sensibility. By 2003, however, Bird had abandoned this swing style in favor of the subdued indie/folk sound found on that year's Weather Systems and 2005's follow-up album The Mysterious Production of Eggs, both on Ani DiFranco's label Righteous Babe Records.

Now, with a slightly different musical approach, Andrew Bird has released Armchair Apocrypha on the blues label Fat Possum Records. Although his label primarily represents modern blues artists like the Black Keys, Bird's newest album couldn't be further from the heavy guitar work and simplistic instrumentation associated with the blues genre. Instead, Armchair Apocrypha combines ambient vocalization, complicated instrumentation, lyrical mastery and, yes, even a little whistling.

Although the guitar is present on his past albums, Bird includes more guitar work on Armchair Apocrypha, making for a more complicated, measured style. "Fiery Crash" opens the album with a gentle, synthesized guitar line. As this track progresses, the guitars play a background role as the driving undercurrent beneath Bird's expert violin skills. The oriental-influenced "Heretics" also features a number of guitar riffs interspersed amid the symphonic violins and the popping, bubbling sound of a Rhodes piano.

On the up-tempo track "Plasticities," Bird uses more forceful guitar work to create a monumental chorus. As Bird defiantly sings, "We'll fight, we'll fight/ we'll fight for your music halls," the guitar line follows his bouncing, crescendoing vocal melody. The song's introduction and verses, however, feature more delicate instrumentation, with plucky violin work and a steady, delicately rumbling percussion line. Beneath both the thunder of the powerful chorus and the gentle verses lies Bird's lilting, characteristic whistling.

It's fitting that an artist by the last name of Bird can entertain fans immensely with just a little whistling, and accordingly, Bird does just this on nearly every one of Armchair Apocrypha's tracks. The previously recorded Martin Dosh track "Simple X" features just a snippet of Bird's ever-so-sweet whistling abilities over the enjoyable mess of guitars and synthesization. "Spare-Ohs," the album's only bird reference, includes a very somber, almost country-western intro. Although the overall song lacks appeal, this appropriate introduction manages to showcase the artist's avian whistling abilities.

Not only does Bird whistle like a bird, he can also sing like one of our feathered friends. The multifaceted track "Armchair" explores the extent of Bird's vocal range, as the song takes his vocals from subdued, husky, Beck-like lows to wonderfully sweet, soulful highs. Bird also demonstrates his masterful vocal ability on "Dark Matter," where, stretching and harmonizing his vocals with another vocal track, Bird creates a beautiful and powerful song.

But the album's most powerful track is Bird's political commentary "Scythian Empires." Combining ascending piano riffs with nimble fingerstyle guitar and marching drumbeats, the instrumental arrangement drives the song forward without overpowering Bird's beautifully lilting baritone. In addition to instrumental and vocal mastery, "Scythian Empires" also reveals Bird's ability to craft words into a powerful message. With a reference to "Halliburton attaché cases," Bird compares the historical footnote of the Scythian Empire's conquest of Russia and surrounding areas to the United States' current occupation of Iraq. The artist's combined instrumental and lyrical abilities make "Scythian Empires" the album's standout track.

It really does seem apparent that the indie folkster was born to become a musician. With outstanding vocal and instrumental capabilities, Andrew Bird knows just how to harness his musical talents to make Armchair Apocrypha a great album. This album makes it obvious that Bird is more than a musician; he is a true songbird.