Conor Oberst
Artist: Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
Label: Merge
Time: 12 Tracks 42:03

Long the brainchild behind the very popular folk/rock/country band Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst has taken his first trip officially into the solo artist field of operations. The album is largely the result of songs Oberst wrote while on a sabbatical in Mexico, which may make one think they would feature a drop off in quality, but much to the contrary this album is probably Oberst finest since Bright Eyes’ early 2005 release I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning.” 

The album opens with “Cape Canaveral” which is a great foot tapping acoustic guitar riddled song that features one of Oberst’s best one liners in quite some time: “Victory is sweet/Even deep in the cheap seats.” As a big sports fan myself who often sits in the cheaper seats, I echo his sentiment right here!

“Souled Out” is a great one of Oberst play on words as he writes a song about not being able to get into heaven because it’s ‘all souled out.’ While the song is definitely a fun rollicking rocker I can’t help but believe Oberst was almost writing this as a reflection of the Jehovah’s Witness misinterpretation of Revelation 14:3 causing them to claim that only 144,000 people will be redeemed and allowed into heaven. 

“I Don’t Want To Die In This Hospital” is another funny highlight as Oberst writes a song from the perspective of a terminally ill patient who doesn’t want to die in a hospital. While the song is once again humorous I can’t help but see an underlying serious message here. After all who really wants to die alone in a hospital bed. 

“Sausalito” features some great slide guitar and a catchy peppy drum beat that talks about moving away and starting fresh in a new place, while “Get-Well Cards” calls to mind some of the great Dylan songs from the mid-70’s with lines like:

I want to be your bootlegger,
Want to mix you up something strange,
Braid your hair like a sister,
Maybe like a hurricane

What? Exactly my reaction! Somehow it sounds cool though!

“Lenders In The Temple” and “Milk Thistle” are the true acoustic ballads of this album, and they feature more of Oberst fine poetry that leaves you tossing lines around in your head trying to figure out what he is saying. 

For fans of lyrics that leave you pondering what the songwriter was trying to communicate, you won’t go wrong here. Oberst, as always doesn’t disappoint! 

James Morovich
12/16/08