Andrew Bird’s recent cover of Kermit the Frog’s “Bein’ Green” isn’t the only new recording he has on the way. In fact, an original film score by Bird — that was first reported back in ‘09 — will finally see the light of day this fall, as well as his follow-up to Noble Beast soon after.
As for the film project, Bird has composed his first-ever instrumental score along with a soundtrack of new and previously released songs for the film Norman, a coming-of-age story starring Dan Byrd, Adam Goldberg, and Richard Jenkins. The OST will arrive on October 11 (just before the film hits theaters on 10/21) with contributions from Wolf Parade, Chad VanGaalen, and The Blow featuring Richard Swift. Bird once said that he penned the score while watching the movie on a monitor in the studio. “It’s a lot of work,” he added. “I don’t know if I ever want to do it again.”
Meanwhile, we had a feeling a new LP was in the works, given new material he’s been previewing live over the past year, but now comes news that the album is nearly complete: “It’s almost in the can and ready to go,” he told Denver’s Backbeat. “It’ll be out early next year.” You can hear some of the film’s music in the trailer and get a taste of one potential cut via his June live take on new song “Give It Away” below:
Norman Trailer