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He has less reason than most to seek temporary refuge behind his own name. For all intents and purposes, and certainly in the wider public perception, Conor Oberst is Bright Eyes incarnate. But he's nothing if not prolific and without long term collaborator Mike Mogis on board he's free to pursue some brand recognition of his own--something his managers must have been craving since 'the new Dylan' choruses started ringing out and he began dating Hollywood A-listers. On this eponymous solo debut he certainly plays up to those expectations, peddling stripped-back, lyric-loaded country traditionalism, barely troubled by amplification. It's a shame then that it can't quite rival the emotive maturity reached on the last similarly no-frills full band record, Cassadaga. He still has a fine way with words, able to mine a deep well of imagination, stringing together frequent memorable couplets, sometimes twee ("The kind of love that makes my back hurt / wearin' nothing but a T-shirt"), sometimes nonsensically transcendental ("thought the kettle was a train / thought that Monday was a doorframe"). But though he kicks things up a little on the jaunty blues riot of "I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital)" and stomping White Stripes-esque square-dance "Moab", it's to no further extent than he has done before, suggesting the days of veering off into artistic catharsis may be behind him. None of which should denigrate the album's quaint value, just acknowledge the high standard he's set himself and which he finds hard to pass here. --James Berry
Review
More famously known as the wayward lead singer/writer for Nebraska's Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst is undeniably a genius. The trouble may be that he, himself, knows this too.
On this fourth solo album (so-called because one member of the aforementioned band is missing), recorded on location in Mexico with the 'Mystic Valley Band', he delivers a playful set of lo-fi alt country tinged with distinctly Anglophile touches. There's still the distinct whiff of a young Dylan here, especially on the lone acoustic Cape Canaveral and Milk Thistle.
However humour is never far from the agenda. While Danny Callahan is a moving true tale of death and loss, I Don't Want To Die (In A Hospital) looks at the same subject from the other angle: turning the whole experience into a jaunty piano blues knees-up. This schizophrenia makes the whole album both intense and offhand, often in the space of the same song. There's also still the strange fascination with what might be termed 'new age' issues that appeared in Bright Eyes' last album, Cassadaga. Milk Thistle is about the titular herbal remedy, and indeed works like some kind of balm for the ears.
Ultimately Oberst still longs to mythologise the road and its philosophical implications for the soul. This is why the album's crowning moment is Moab: the kind of hymn to wide open spaces that he's now so good at.
This album never scales the same tuneful heights of the full Bright Eyes line-up (lacking producer, Mike Mogis). Yet it's perversity that makes Oberst a true maverick. A little like another alt country bad boy, Ryan Adams, he is, in turns, frustrating and utterly fascinating. For this reason alone he'll always be worth watching. --Chris Jones
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Conor Oberst is the frontman, songwriter, guitarist, lyricist, mastermind, and pretty much everything else behind the alt country masterpiece of a band known as Bright Eyes. This is unlikely to be news to anyone. However, this is Conor Oberst's fourth solo album to be released, and I'll be honest with you I didn't even know he had any previous solo work - such is the rarity of the older work. They were never released on CD, but on cassettes in limited stock.
I'm a huge fan of Bright Eyes; from the country stuff to the more indie mainstream stuff, I love the lot. However, I found myself writhing a bit with their last release Cassadaga. It wasn't that the music was bad, it was the level of production that had seemingly made it's way onto the album. I've always loved the raw folky sound, and the whiney vocals accompanying to dramatic affect. With this release you see Conor Oberst doing a more stripped down show yet again, very reminiscent of 'I'm Wide Awake it's Morning'. The album contains his more countryish, acoustic pieces accompanied by his beautiful, knowledgable lyrics. Opening song 'Cape Carnaveral' is simply stunning.
If you're a Bright Eyes fan, then this review will have made no difference to you whatsoever, I'm sure you'll just get it. If you're new to the world of Conor Oberst, then you really can't go wrong with this album. Think Ryan Adams crossed with Elliott Smith, and you'll understand what you're getting. Honest lyrics, soaring acoustic guitar chords, and in depth stories creating a superb return to the solo stand.
I'm a huge fan of Bright Eyes; from the country stuff to the more indie mainstream stuff, I love the lot. However, I found myself writhing a bit with their last release Cassadaga. It wasn't that the music was bad, it was the level of production that had seemingly made it's way onto the album. I've always loved the raw folky sound, and the whiney vocals accompanying to dramatic affect. With this release you see Conor Oberst doing a more stripped down show yet again, very reminiscent of 'I'm Wide Awake it's Morning'. The album contains his more countryish, acoustic pieces accompanied by his beautiful, knowledgable lyrics. Opening song 'Cape Carnaveral' is simply stunning.
If you're a Bright Eyes fan, then this review will have made no difference to you whatsoever, I'm sure you'll just get it. If you're new to the world of Conor Oberst, then you really can't go wrong with this album. Think Ryan Adams crossed with Elliott Smith, and you'll understand what you're getting. Honest lyrics, soaring acoustic guitar chords, and in depth stories creating a superb return to the solo stand.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I enjoy this album a lot, mostly because i really enjoy Conor Oberst's songwriting. However I would recommend this album to listeners who are not entirely familiar with Conor Oberst's songwriting, as it is simple display of Conor's songwriting talents without attempting to push any boundaries, or over-simplifying the music.
I would say this album provides a typical mix of his songs written in his typical pop/country manner, combined with full on country numbers like "I Don't Wanna Die (In The Hospital)" and folk/acoustic tracks like "Milk Thistle". If you have listened to say, Radiohead, Oasis and Bob Dylan, and could imagine a cross between all three, then this is your thing.
Oberst's lyrics can be natural and confessional like on Moab ("You can't break out of a circle you never knew you were in"..."There's nothing that the road cannot heal") and Milk Thistle ("If I go to Heaven I'll be bored as Hell, like a crying baby at the bottom of a well"). But he shows a more ambiguous, analgous and story-teller side too, on tracks like Danny Callahan ("Western medicine couldn't save Danny Callahan etc"). In my opinion this versatility provides old and new Oberst fans something, and I would definitely recommend it.
I would say this album provides a typical mix of his songs written in his typical pop/country manner, combined with full on country numbers like "I Don't Wanna Die (In The Hospital)" and folk/acoustic tracks like "Milk Thistle". If you have listened to say, Radiohead, Oasis and Bob Dylan, and could imagine a cross between all three, then this is your thing.
Oberst's lyrics can be natural and confessional like on Moab ("You can't break out of a circle you never knew you were in"..."There's nothing that the road cannot heal") and Milk Thistle ("If I go to Heaven I'll be bored as Hell, like a crying baby at the bottom of a well"). But he shows a more ambiguous, analgous and story-teller side too, on tracks like Danny Callahan ("Western medicine couldn't save Danny Callahan etc"). In my opinion this versatility provides old and new Oberst fans something, and I would definitely recommend it.
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'd disagree with the previous reviewer that this is "a more stripped down show yet again, very reminiscent of 'I'm Wide Awake it's Morning'." There are less of what I'd call simple yet profound songs, and more in your face, country music that almost makes you want to stand up and dance around in a big white tent. There's three of the former, at most.
I do agree with this fact though... 'Cape Canaveral' is simply stunning, and could literally make me cry. The last song too (Milk Thistle) is beautiful, and again really renders me speechless... And as Oberst blurts out "Up and Down" almost out of nowhere it's almost as if he's summing up the whole record. To me this is bitter sweet country folk encased either side with two simply sad songs. They alone are worth the price.
All in all if you're looking for a song like "First Day of my Life" there are three here at most, and they are all beautiful. The rest are more akin to something like "Another Travelling Song" off I'm Wide Awake...
It is for the most part fast and jaunty, and reminds me of some old American film with people dancing around in a bar or around a maypole... but it can't be faulted. I don't know what Connor meant it to be, but it feels like a manic trip. It feels so sad, yet by track 7 you want to just jump around... by track 12 you'll want to cry again. Then some more when it's over.
I do agree with this fact though... 'Cape Canaveral' is simply stunning, and could literally make me cry. The last song too (Milk Thistle) is beautiful, and again really renders me speechless... And as Oberst blurts out "Up and Down" almost out of nowhere it's almost as if he's summing up the whole record. To me this is bitter sweet country folk encased either side with two simply sad songs. They alone are worth the price.
All in all if you're looking for a song like "First Day of my Life" there are three here at most, and they are all beautiful. The rest are more akin to something like "Another Travelling Song" off I'm Wide Awake...
It is for the most part fast and jaunty, and reminds me of some old American film with people dancing around in a bar or around a maypole... but it can't be faulted. I don't know what Connor meant it to be, but it feels like a manic trip. It feels so sad, yet by track 7 you want to just jump around... by track 12 you'll want to cry again. Then some more when it's over.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Promising at best
I was browsing through the Bright Eyes section in my local FOPP when the helpful young lady suggested this might be more to my taste as it had "less of the whiny teenage bedroom... Read more
Published on 31 May 2010 by Gizmophobic
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another solid, enjoyable album from Conor
Recorded on a mountain in Mexico with the Mystic Valley Band at the start of 2008, Conor Oberst's self-titled album is a pretty fine effort, almost up there with his last couple of... Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2008 by A. Sweeney
4.0 out of 5 stars
The man who could do no wrong
This is a Bright Eyes album in all but name, which basically means it is brilliant. As my title says, Conor Oberst can do no wrong, whether it's under the guise of Bright Eyes or... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2008 by Mr. T. Ford
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