LOMA VISTA There’s a tongue-in-cheek sensibility to the title of Andrew Bird’s latest, My Finest Work Yet . The prolific musician, whose last album came out in the fall of 2017, has certainly honed his craft over the years and proved himself especially deft with a lyrical turn of phrase. The album opens with “Sisyphus,” a charming indie-pop number that examines the titular myth, offering a new outcome to the ancient Greek tale. That literary reference sets the stage for Bird’s other efforts, each of which take on poetic tones as he invokes the Rosetta Stone on “Cracking Codes” and paraphrases a psalm in “Bloodless.” The 10-song LP feels contained and concise, with each inclusion carefully and thoughtfully crafted, which makes it all the more impressive that My Finest Work Yet was recorded live to tape at Barefoot Recordings in Los Angeles. Partnering with producer Paul Butler, Bird and his band unveiled each track in the moment in a way that feels truly well-practiced. On “Olympians” the musicians bring an upbeat, almost theatrical vibe to the table, while “Manifest” has a lo-fi acoustic tone, played slowly and delicately. Although the sound is often nostalgic, with moments of folk and jazz seeping through, and some of the references similarly recall another time, Bird is still focused on our world today, offering a welcome perspective in each song. Is it his finest work? That’s for the fans to judge.