79 replies to this topic

[Charles]

Conor Oberst recorded a solo record last spring apparently. It's unlike Bright Eyes because it does not contain Mike Mogis, he's publishing it under a different name, and it's on Merge, not Saddle Creek. As you can glean from Pitchfork Media or the Merge website or conoroberst.com, they recorded it over a few weeks in Mexico in some random villa or some such. ANYWAY, the songs There are two songs streaming on conoroberst.com, and what does everyone think? Compared to Cassadaga? Compared to other music out right now? I like it, myself. It's rootsy sort of Americana, and Oberst has truly grown into himself as a songwriter as well as a lyricist, not that these things didn't happen on I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, but in a lot of ways, Cassadaga seemed like a middling set of songs comparatively--just pretty good. In a way, it's almost a bar band, if you ask me, and I think the fact that they recorded the record so fast made it more immediate, unlike Cassadaga, which I think had the penchant to become overwrought and a little too clean-cut. Either way, have at it!

[Simakos]

[Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ҈҉Ѡ]

I noticed that you consider the songs a "rootsy sort of Americana, and Oberst has truly grown into himself as a songwriter as well as a lyricist, not that these things didn't happen on I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, but in a lot of ways, Cassadaga seemed like a middling set of songs comparatively--just pretty good. In a way, it's almost a bar band, if you ask me, and I think the fact that they recorded the record so fast made it more immediate, unlike Cassadaga, which I think had the penchant to become overwrought and a little too clean-cut." I disagree.

[Chronodiggity]

lol!

[idolatry]

It's unlike Bright Eyes because it does not contain Mike Mogis, he's publishing it under a different name, and it's on Merge, not Saddle Creek.

Highlarious.

[RadioHitchcock]

nevermind the knuckleheads, i'm looking forward to hearing these songs. and i agree with what that dude disagrees with.

[Charles]

I noticed that you consider the songs a "rootsy sort of Americana, and Oberst has truly grown into himself as a songwriter as well as a lyricist, not that these things didn't happen on I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, but in a lot of ways, Cassadaga seemed like a middling set of songs comparatively--just pretty good. In a way, it's almost a bar band, if you ask me, and I think the fact that they recorded the record so fast made it more immediate, unlike Cassadaga, which I think had the penchant to become overwrought and a little too clean-cut." I disagree.

I mean, all that said, I'm an Oberst fan. I think Lifted and Wide Awake are great, Digital Ash is pretty good, and I guiltily enjoy Fevers and Mirrors when I've been drinking. Wide Awake got rid of a lot of his annoying tics: the adolescent indulgence, a lot of the vocal quavers folks find annoying (he's still not a good singer though), and the overt/overwrought angst. Wide Awake painted a fine and modest picture of a midwesterner who drinks too much transplanted to a big city with lucid and well-crafted folkie tunes. Lifted really sounds the way it feels to be 20 years old, depressed, (semi)understanding the flood of the world's politics for the first time, and trying to make sense of it all (but probably failing miserably in the process).

Then again, I'm not here to defend Oberst as an artist.

That's fine that you disagree...but why? Throw me a bone here! :-B

[Easily Fooled]

I can understand how annoying Oberst can be to people, but I've never been part of the haters. Maybe it's just a guilty pleasure I never grew out of, but I'm digging these songs. Definitely not list material, but good summer music for the patio I guess.

[Simakos]

...and i agree with what that dude disagrees with.

are you people speaking in code or something?

wtf is going on in this thread?

[solace]

I'm digging these songs.

ditto

[Alright Still]

[Stop Breathin']

I read the thread subtitle as "Now steaming tracks!" Probably more accurate. But hey, I haven't listened so back off.

[the dude]

i wish he'd make another desaparacidos record. that was what got me into conor's songwriting in the first place.

[Shacho]

Ditto on Desaparacedos.

And dude who started the thread? You still sound like a PR ploy.

There are quite a few english lit PhDs who post here, but even they don't sound so farking ridiculous.

i wish he'd make another desaparacidos record. that was what got me into conor's songwriting in the first place.

[killertomatoes]

Ditto on Desaparacedos.

And dude who started the thread? You still sound like a PR ploy.

There are quite a few english lit PhDs who post here, but even they don't sound so farking ridiculous.

i wish he'd make another desaparacidos record. that was what got me into conor's songwriting in the first place.

i agree. what a great album.

[BRANDON BOYD FROM INCUBUS]

and everybody say
i remember way back when

[Duff.]

Heh heh.

[djohnthethird]

Is there a leak yet? There are two torrent, but they're zips so I have a hunch they're bad.

[franty]

i'm going to see him play this sunday... since i've read that he's playing mostly new songs... i'm not so excited. but it was a cheap ticket.

[Music Saves]

Not my link, but...
Conor Oberst