Archive for the ‘Bright Eyes’ Category
Conor Oberst – Self Titled – Review
It’s been twelve years since Conor Oberst has done a solo project. I personally know him as the guy from the Bright Eyes that I know off by heart. No offense to the other members of the Bright Eyes but Oberst is definitely the star of the show. Showing up on album covers…it’s weird to see him branching away from the Bright Eyes moniker and I’m just going to categorize this under the Bright Eyes because for a website perspective it’s ineffective having a category for different projects.
Anyway, the approach I took with Oberst is that I’d take my experience with the Bright Eyes. I wouldn’t say I’m a big Bright Eyes fan but enough of one to easily like Oberst. I love his singing and songwriting… (what a crappy statement) but as a singer-song writer he does an amazing job. His singing not everyone likes but it’s an acquired tasted. His song writing is unparalleled by most and is usually held in high regard by fans. Dropping comparisons such as referring to him as the modern day Dylan. I don’t know enough to make such a statement.
Nonetheless, Oberst is playing with a backing band referred to as the Mystic Valley Band. Is it just Conor Oberst now or will it forever be referred to Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley band. I think I’m used to my reaction to any Bright Eyes record. It always takes me a while to enjoy any record to get accustomed to his new “style”. In this case Oberst leans toward the more country side of things though he has never been very far from it in the first place.
The first song I dug off this record is the quick one and off song, NYC-Gone, Gone. It’s not a great song at all, it’s a poppy 1 minute track. I’m a sucker but before long it abruptly ends. It’s a good filler song that I wished I had more of but it isn’t indicative of Oberst’s style so I just move on. The first track on the album Cape Canaveral is well, great. You get Oberst’s style singing and lyrics mixed in with some great soft background music. At times they pull out the mandolin which could steal the song. (I may be wrong on my instruments here but I think it’s a mandolin)
Sausalto the 2nd track kicks in to a more, country style intro. It’s an alright track, nothing great in my opinion. Before long this song is forgotten. Get-Well Cards takes up a step at least but I’m still having trouble how to interpret each song. Danny Callahan is a more explicit sadness expressed by Conor that I’ve been accustomed to. He basically gives away his message near the end of the song. It’s a little odd to hear Oberst not in a sad like voice. This song could have me fooled. I Don’t Want To Die In A Hospital is a simple fun song with an upbeat piano which some help on backing vocals. It’s almost related and again ironic that the song is an upbeat manner where the title shows the upcoming death…there’s a lack of fear.
After a few listens, this ends up being exactly what you expect out of Bright Eyes album. It isn’t to the point where there’s the emotion of sadness expressed like in other songs but Oberst brings more to the table musically. He remains a lyric master and still has me scratching my head on the meaning of some of these songs.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Cape Canaveral by Conor Oberst
NYC-Gone, Gone by Conor Oberst
Buy this album from: CD Universe ** Insound ** Amazon
Playlist for Valentines Day
Valentines Day is great some people as it’s supposed to be a day of love but it can be a reminder on just how much it sucks to be lonely and single. Some might say it’s just a corporate ploy just for people to buy lavish gifts on some arbitrary day that I have no idea where it originated from (don’t feel like wiki-ing this one). For me personally Valentines Day, comes and go. I’m really indifferent about the day, it’s nice to see the love in the air but I can see how one can despise it as it’s really great to be with someone. I’ll do a list of some good love songs or ones that are of the “love sucks” variety.
1. No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses
Such a misleading title but have you ever felt the need to say to your lover “no one is ever gonna love you like I do” because that perfectly describes how head over heels you are?
2. I Don’t Love Anyone by Belle & Sebastian
One of my favorite songs and one that makes me feel good about being alone and single.
3. Lover I Don’t Have To Love by The Bright Eyes
This song is dedicated to those who aren’t looking for a relationship but are just looking for flings and not being emotionally tied to someone.
4. First Day of My Life by The Bright Eyes
Arguably one of the best love songs out there.
5. Crown of Love by The Arcade Fire
One of my favorite Arcade Fire tracks. Mainly about the inability to love just one person and usually involving moving on to the next person and the next.
6. Everyday I Love You Less and Less by The Kaiser Chiefs
Sometimes love does wave and this song perfectly describes it an upbeat manner.
7. Song For A Sleeping Girl by the Devics
This song describe the feeling of sleeping next to someone and really the sheer enjoyment of watching someone sleep. It’s one of my favorite love songs.
8. Modern Girls & Old Fashioned Men by The Strokes and Regina Spektor
Needed an excuse to include this awesome song, it’s about love so it fits.
9. What I’m Trying To Say by Stars
Saving you love someone is harder then it looks (when you whole-heartedly mean it).
10. Girl Inform Me by The Shins
This one goes for us guys who don’t really “understand” women and just sometimes need to be told!
11. I’m Leaving You Because I Don’t Love You by Jens Lekman
Pretty self-explanatory.
12. You Were Meant For Me by Jewel
I love this song, not ashamed heh.
13. Strange Powers by The Magnetic Fields
Some people just hypnotize you.
14. Love Astronaut by Murder Mystery
I like the line “I go looking for love but is it looking for me?”.
Allan’s Top Songs of 07 #50-26
I actually quite enjoyed picking out the top songs of 2007. There were many tracks from albums I loved and other singles that stood out in a lackluster album. Most of these tracks I have posted before (I’ll link to the post if you wish to dig hard enough to download them) and are mainly bands I am familiar with. Generally, I blogged about the band if they appeared in the top 50. There are some tracks I haven’t posted yet so you’ll be able to download them here (I think it looks bad if I have every mp3 listed available for download). I linked to the post where the other mp3s are available.
I did hate uploading tracks though and the linking stuff (takes forever). I also had to re-upload some tracks after annoying my friend Jack with bandwidth usage. Look out for the rest tomorrow.
50. A Girl in Port by Okkervil River
49. Shirin by Jens Lekman (link)
48. I Know I’ll See You by A Place To Bury Strangers (link)
47. For Science Fiction by Maritime (link)
46. Freak Out by Liars (link)
45. Phantom by Justice (link)
44. Sleep Deprivation by Simian Mobile Disco
43. Take Me To the Ballroom by the Moonbabies
42. Tthhee Ppaarrttyy by Justice (link)
41. Myriad Harbour by The New Pornographers (link)
40. Objects of My Affection by Peter, Bjorn and John
39. Blue Headlights by The Shout Out Louds (link)
38. No I in Threesome by Interpol
37. My Moon, My Man by Feist
36. Kookaburra by John Vanderslice
35. Paper Birds by Siberian (link)
34. Make A Plan To Love Me by the Bright Eyes
33. Philadelphia Grand Jury by the Fiery Furnaces
32. I Believe by Simian Mobile Disco
31. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb by Spoon
30. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You by the Black Kids
29. You Can’t Hold the Hand of the Rock and Roll Man by Okkervil River
28. Airship by Siberian (link)
27. Turn On Me by The Shins (link)
26. White Winter Hymnal by the Fleet Foxes (link)
Grey Cup – Indie Music Mix
The Grey Cup is on today. For you Americans who probably have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s basically the CFL’s superbowl. If you have never seen Canadian football I’d strongly recommend it as it’s a fun game to watch with much better rules (though it is 3-down football). Today’s game is between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Anyway to honor a Canadian tradition, here’s are some songs dedicated to tonight’s game from my play list. Enjoy!
1. Champagne From A Paper Cup by Death Cab For Cutie.
2. A Sunday Smile by Beirut
3. Green Gloves by the National
4. Rough Hands by Alexisonfire
5. Bunny Ain’t No Kind of Rider by Of Montreal(3 songs for the Riders, their colors are green fyi)
6. Bomb Inside the Bomb by We Are Scientists
7. True Blue by the Bright Eyes
8. Gold Mine Gutted by the Bright eyes (for the Blue & Gold – Blue Bombers)
9. Bundle Up by Arrah & The Ferns (though it’s indoors this year, the Grey Cup is always played in the cold!)
Bright Eyes: Cassadaga Review
I have slowly become a Bright Eyes fan after downloading many of their songs online. They released Cassadaga in April 10th and while I did download sometime in May. Sometimes albums are difficult to listen to and I never get to it. I found Cassadaga very hard to listen to at first as it was more country.
I have been listening to it more recently and admittedly it has grown on me a little. I still find hard to listen to but at least there are some tracks that I really like right now. It’s just too different stylistically to like too much.
My favorite track (download/stream below) is called “Make a Plan To Love Me” which features band members of Eisley on backup vocals. They really add something special to this song and I doubt this album would get as a high of rating without this song. This album gets a 3.5 out of 5 from me.
