The Sweetness Of A Honeycomb Tree

Anderson Paak “The Bird”

“The Bird” has a relaxed feel, but it’s not exactly chill. At ease, maybe, but not chill. This is way too focused to be chill, and a bit too earnest in its desire to introduce the singer and an album full of songs. Anderson Paak is laying out the details of his past like an origin story – interesting stuff, for sure, but not the meat of the plot. Outside of the album context, “The Bird” is a confident expression of “this is who I am.” The music sounds as lived-in as the details of Paak’s lyrics – the melodies are outstanding, but played with the laid back grace of a band that’s smart enough to give the song some space to move, but bold enough that the piano, guitar, and trumpet players all get their moments in the spotlight. I love the piano solo in particular: It’s an ideal complement to the low key charms of Paak’s voice.

Buy it from Amazon.