Andrew Bird performs a quirky mix of Gypsy ballads, jazz, folk and art-rock, with frequently whistled melodies. A sound that leaves critics swooning and fans giddy with the kind of devotion normally reserved for pop idols. At a recent performance in Chicago, a crush of more than 15,000 Bird fans filled Millennium Park to hear the gangly singer, complete with young women in the audience screaming, "I love you!"

On Jan. 20, 2009, Bird will stoke the fires of fandom with his fifth full-length studio album, titled Noble Beast. A deluxe version of the album will also be available, packaged with a second disc of instrumental works, featuring collaborations with Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche and jazz bassist Todd Sickafoose.

In the meantime, Fat Possum Records and Andrew Bird are offering an exclusive preview of the entire Noble Beast release on the NPR Music site. Click here to listen to the entire new album by Andrew Bird. An exclusive first listen from WXPN and NPR.org/music.