The Record Machine

The Pitch magazine gave State Bird some local lovin.

But what makes State Bird unique are the lively snippets of instrumentation and vocals that weave in and out of every track, transporting the listener to a ’60s love-in, a Southern tent revival or a backwoods carnival — in some cases, all in the same song.

full review: here

Cleveland Free Times: Ten Bands to Watch in 2008

The album’s the second batch of eclectic folk-inspired gems in as many years, and it’s crammed thick with haunting evocations, tribal incantations and soul-stirring melodies that sound years beyond their still-budding spheres of reference.

full review: here

30 Music

Afterwards the campfire ashes are infused into a few songs, continuations of State Bird’s folkie sounds but a little darker than on the first half of the album. This is at its best on “The Golden Glowing Mask”, a haunted vision of dancing around the fire with a jazz mariachi player blowing on a melted trumpet.

full review: here

I Rock Cleveland

State Bird’s “The Golden Glowing Mask” certainly has that impromptu jam session feel to it, and the accompanying band photo featuring young, bare chested men in war paint screams “Freak folk.” Yet, it takes a decidedly pop turn at the midway point and is wrapped up tidily in just over three-and-a-half minutes, making it one of the more economical excursions to the outer limits of the mind you’re likely to encounter. How 21st Century of them! With the specter of global warming all around us, and stressed natural resources pushing gas prices higher and higher, everyone has to do their part, and these freaky folk are more than happy to cut back on extraneous solos for the good of future generations.

full review: here