Andrew Bird's first band recordings were not with the Bowl of Fire, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, or Kevin O'Donnell's Quality Six. Bird started out in Chicago with Charlie Nobody playing a strange and embarrassing blend of American ska and alternative rock.I enjoy ska and I love Andrew Bird (and O'Donnell, the Bowl of Fire's terrific drummer, even plays on this recording), but "Soup" happens to be a painful listen. The songs are typical of no-name, artless, novelty-leaning "3rd wave" ska bands of the nineties, and Mr. Bird's violin skill unfortunately does not help this predicament at all. In fact, it's an awkward fit that only worsens the appeal of the album.There certainly aren't any standout tracks, although it is interesting to hear an earlier version of Bird's Nuthinduan Waltz and one or two others he later refined.Even the most devoted Andrew Bird fans needn't drop a dime (literally, if you look at the used prices) on this one.