Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bright Eyes, 23 Jun 2008
Cassadaga took me by surprise upon first listening. The once raw stripped down, almost "unplugged" sound of previous Bright Eyes releases was taken away and replaced with a much cleaner, more produced sound. That's not to say that Conor Oberst has given in to acclaimed mainstream stardom, his style remains, and his ingenious poetry still manages to captivate and touch in ways only previously accomplished by Bob Dylan. A tough analogy indeed, but such is the quality of Bright Eyes lyrics, and a comparison made so quaint and often in todays society where each Bright Eyes album has brought the "wunderkid" more and more critical acclaim upon each release.
The album opens as expected with any Bright Eyes album, a slow building attack on mainstream music - usually including atmospheric noises and speach, as a way of telling everyone that this is something you have not heard before, and you would not expect it on anybody else's CD. The song eventually evolves into a beautiful acoustic Indie Folk track, very similar to work from his previous album "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning".
"Four Winds" is the first single to be released, which showcases Oberst's new polished sound coupled with a "firefly soundtrack"-sounding string quartet so aptly used through the whole album. Soaring acoustic guitars and powerful strung chords coupled with fragile honest lyrics shows one of Oberst's best songs to date. Obviously a God-fearing man, but knowledgable of the increasing problems in todays society, his broad vocabulary tells the lot in an trully extraordinary track.
"If The Brakeman Turns My Way" is another different sounding Bright Eyes track, led by simple piano chords. His strong intuition on using chord progression is brought across wonderfully, and he manages to captivate emotion and setting to perfection on this sombre tune.
"Hot Knives" sounds similar to some of the tracks from 2002 outing "Lifted..." - with a fuzzy effect surrounding the guitar work. Again, Conor Oberst's emotive lyrics and fragile, often narcissistic voice bring out the true beauty of the song, and his poetic writing ceases to astound time and time again. The song eventually fades into the beautiful, soulful "Make a Plan to Love Me", where the full orchestra backs the folk singer to create an atmospheric slice on the album.
"Soul Singer In a Session Band" and "Classic Cars" sound like some of Ryan Adams work (not a bad thing at all) - and give the album a sort of Rock 'n' Roll, Bluesy feel, adding another twist to the ever changing Bright Eyes sound. "Middleman" showcases, in my oppinion, one of Oberst's best songs to date. The string quartet slouching along with the finger picking guitar and jungle beat drums adds another turn in the sound of the album, and creates a very quaint, warm feeling to the album.
The sound quickly changes, however, to the melancholy "No One Would Riot For Less" - another politically charged song, deep in emotion and musical depth - not that you would expect anything less from a songwriting genious such as Conor Oberst. "Coat Check Dream Song" sound like some of Bright Eyes more upbeat, electronic stuff, reminiscent of previous album "Digital Ash in a Digital Urn" - with heavier, dominating drum beats and more frontal lyrics, rather than his subdued style often portrayed on this outing.
The closing songs "I Must Belong Somewhere" and "Lime Tree" close the album wonderfully, switching back to the acoustic, folkey sound - again very similar to some of Ryan Adams work, and possess powerful, honest lyrics about life, and lonliness and compassion. The album surely closes, and leaves a fulfilled feel in your stomach.
All in all, an absolutely fantastic release in which everybody will gain something from. Oberst's vast knowledge on many a subject; always an oppinion to share, and always a song to sing. His obsessive compulsion to create masterpieces is becoming a formality, and one that his listeners are welcoming with open arms.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Impressive, 26 April 2007
I had never heard anything by Bright Eyes until over easter, when they did an interview on radio one at something like midnight. They played a stripped down version of 'middleman', and i knew i was hearing something special. the album is no different. Current favourites are 'if the breakman turns my way' and 'hot knives', but each song is a gem. Might need a couple of listens if you are new to them, but their style is something you'll come to know and love. Lyrics are inspired as well, although not as politically driven perhaps as other albums, although there are several strong ideas.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album of the year contender, 10 April 2007
The last time Conor Oberst released an album he released, well, two. It was ironic, of a fashion, that it was the "less experimental" one, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning that actually garnered most attention. That's not to say that Digital Ash In A Digital Urn was a bad album but it was one that didn't really play to Oberst's strengths.
It is perhaps telling then that Cassadaga is more "Wide Awake" than "Digital Ash". And it no less the thrilling for that.
Sure there is nothing here that will convert the doubters, of which there are more than a few it has to be said, but neither is there anything that will put any doubts into the minds of those that believe in him.
Indeed, songs like Four Winds and If The Breakman Turns My Way are up there with the best things he's ever put on record. Make A Plan To Love Me maybe even better. It's Oberst at his most simple, its an unabashed and straightforward love song, but quickly transplants itself onto a higher plain with the minimum of fuss.
I've never quite got my head around the "new Bob Dylan" proclamations, although at his best Oberst can channel that communal spirit that serves Dylan so well, but there's little doubt in my mind that this is a fantastic album and better than Dylan's recent efforts by quite some way.
It's definitely up there in terms of albums of the year so far.
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