[2]Fiona Apple was his first choice to appear on the single "Left Handed Kisses", and he contacted her through mutual friends.

[1] The music video for the single "Left Handed Kisses", directed by Phil Andelman, was released on March 14, 2016, and features Bird and Apple sitting by a window and singing to each other.

[6] NPR's Bob Boilen described Are You Serious as Bird's most personal album to date, writing that "Andrew Bird's lyrics are often a kind of cryptic code, wordplay about the human condition, but on Are You Serious he reveals more about his own life including a blossoming relationship between two relative introverts and the birth of their son.

"[2] NPR's Stephen Thompson wrote that, with this album, Bird's songwriting "keeps sounding warmer, sweeter, more thoughtful and approachable, while continuing to land lines that stick with you for days.

Club, gave the album a lukewarm review, describing it as a slight effort on which Bird "takes no musical risks.