Andrew Bird has made it clear he is a talented musician. Unfortunately, Hands of Glory does not prove he is a talented songwriter; five of the eight songs are covers.

The album contains entrancing vocals and instrumentals. Unfortunately, only two songs, both covers, transcend beauty.

“When That Helicopter Comes” and “Railroad Bill” are extraordinary. The tracks merge Andrew Bird’s enthralling vocals with folk instrumentals. It is unfortunate that the two most memorable songs are covers; displaying Bird is at a loss for original songwriting.

While the other six tracks do contain Bird’s alluring vocals and unique utilization of string instruments, they contain nothing else. The songs tend to drag on. As background music, they truly are beautiful. However, attempting to actively listen to these songs is difficult, as they tend to drag on.

Although Andrew Bird’s signature strings and vocals can be found on Hands of Glory, the album lacks catchy melodies and standout lyrics.