Music for Dead Birds formed in
Galway city in 2007.[5] In April, 2009, they released their debut album "
And then it rained for seven days" on the Irish independent record label
Rusted Rail.[6] The album was self produced by the band and was mainly recorded using a
4-track tape deck. Foxy Digitalis commented "The additional album info describes the recording as taking place in "various sheds, attics & bedrooms in Galway and Mayo." The end result represents clear intentions and highly creative song writing and recording techniques."[7] However, it was also criticised for its
lo-fi quality.[8] The song Four Years From Now went on to feature on the soundtrack of the German art project
Centerland, which was released by Jellyfant Records in 2013.[9]
In October 2011, the group released their second album "The Pope's Sister".[10]AU Magazine said : "Over ten short tracks – each one as good as the next – Jimmy Monaghan and co meld Beta Band-esque charm with boldly erratic time signatures and disaffected fuzz."[11]Terrascope also praised the album stating: "By the time you get to “Release the Dogs” you find you are fully immersed in the album, the twisted guitar lines hooking you in with relentless ease."[12] It was listed by Irish radio DJ
Dan Hegarty as one of the top 50 Irish albums of 2011.[13]
The group's third album "Vitamins" was released on 17 April 2014, by the band's own Ghost Home Recordings label, as both a
Pay what you want digital download and a limited edition CD run of 100 copies.[14] The album was recorded in one weekend at Data Studios,
County Kerry, with recording engineer Tadgh Healy.[15] Critical reception of the album was mixed, with Irish website
GoldenPlec referring to it as a "flawed project",[16] while in a more positive review
Ptolemaic Terrascope opined: "The sudden stop/starts, so beloved of Seattle residents, do sometimes get a little wearing, but it's never less than intriguing listening, and the good songs have their own
chutzpah."[17] Lead track The Farmer's Corn was broadcast by
2fm in Ireland[18] and
2SER in Australia.[19] A music video was produced for the track Magic Witch which received some media attention for its dark content.[20]