Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)

Subject: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 May 05 - 11:12 PM

Last week I heard a young singer on Jay Leno's Tonight Show and since I haven't been able to get him out of my mind, I'll see if anyone else has heard him.

Oberst is a 24 year old singer/songwriter who, although I had never heard of him, has evidently already made his mark, judging by the some of the names he has already performed with: Springsteen, Emmylou, John Fogerty and Michael Stipe. (At Vote for Change, a political rally)

Anyway, before he came on at the Tonight Show, Leno promised the audience that whether they agreed with him or not, they would remember him. And so I have found it.

"The song he sang/talked (although it was NOT rap) was, (quoting from the article): "Particularly searing was "When the President Talks to God," a vicious stab at Bush's rule by divine right." enquote

"If you judged Conor Oberst by the company he keeps, you might think the Bright Eyes singer was a bigger star than even his rising reputation supports. At last fall's Vote for Change shows, he rubbed shoulders with rock royalty, sharing a microphone with the imposing likes of Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty, and Michael Stipe as they took turns singing "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." And on "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" -- one of two upcoming Bright Eyes albums -- Oberst's harmony partner on several songs is none other than Emmylou Harris.

"Oberst's songwriting has little, if anything, in common with any of these acts. What they probably see in him is a little bit of themselves when they were younger, angrier and more idealistic. The veteran artist Oberst resembles the most is actually Bob Dylan, but unlike the dozens of songwriters compared to Dylan over the years, Oberst actually earns the distinction, if only because he's one of the few artists at his or any other age writing outright protest songs. At those same Vote for Change shows, Oberst was often the first to call out the President by name.

"Not surprisingly, those fiery political responses to current events highlighted Bright Eyes' sold-out performance last night (Jan. 17) at Chicago's Riviera. But unlike Dylan, Oberst's fans don't seem to be looking toward the 24-year-old for guidance, or even as a cryptic riddle daring to be deciphered. Rather, Bright Eyes fans remain so blindly rapt that it's no wonder Oberst looked somewhat bored throughout much of the set, much of it drawn from "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning." After all, where do you go next as an artist when your fans are shouting out "you're a genius!" between every song? No wonder Dylan snapped.

"Perhaps that explains why Bright Eyes only came alive when Oberst addressed the world around him, a subject larger than even his earnest sense of self-importance. Particularly searing was "When the President Talks to God," a vicious stab at Bush's rule by divine right.

Oberst also must realize that the hypnotically beautiful "Land Locked Blues" (formerly titled "One Step in Front of the Other") could be the best thing he's ever written. He's recorded it twice, and the song is strong enough to work as both a show opener and a set closer (it performed the latter duty this night). "

Has Anyone Else Heard This Young Man?

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: GUEST,Visitor
Date: 06 May 05 - 06:47 AM

Saw Bright Eyes supporting REM a couple of weeks ago in Perth Australia. Also supporting was a young 'up and coming' Austraila ensemble, Little Birdie. REM certainly chose well, if indeed they choose their support arstist, because the concert had me rivetted from beginning to end.
I'm 61 and not too easy to please. Some four weeks later I can still feel the hangover from the elation of the concert.
Not to detract from the fellow band members, but the Stipe, Oberst, and the young lady at the front of Little Birdie (Sorry, don't know her name yet- but we all will and soon) were awesome.

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 06 May 05 - 08:28 AM

Some good stuff, to be recommended:
1. At The Bottom Of Everything (feat. Jim James)
2. We Are Nowhere And It's Now (feat. Emmylou Harris)
3. Old Soul Song (For The New World Order) (feat .Emmylou Harris)
4. Lua
5. Train Under Water
6. First Day of My Life
7. Another Travelin' Song
8. Landlocked Blues (feat. Emmylou Harris)
9. Poison Oak
10. Road To Joy

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 06 May 05 - 08:54 AM

The influence of Dylan is obvious on "First Day of My Life" - chord progression pinched unashamedly from "Don't Think Twice" - but then Dylan never worried about nicking other folks' stuff did he?

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: GUEST,Alec
Date: 11 May 05 - 07:09 PM

Definitely going to have to agree about the crowd at most Bright Eyes shows, music is incredible, but everyone needs to stop staring at Conor and get into the music. I love that he had the cojones to play "President" on Leno, maybe if he shouts loud enough people will start listening. We can only hope.

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 May 05 - 10:06 PM

Exactly, Alec. They say that our current youngsters tend to be very conservative (read bush supporters). If some of their peers can make them start to think, we can turn this country around.

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: GUEST,allison
Date: 28 May 05 - 06:18 PM

I was just at a bright eyes show the 26th. Thursday. I was right up front, and let me tell you, the show was intense. I swear to you that I came away from it as a completely different person. At one point he got up on the keyboard! I was scared he might fall. It was an awesome show. I know this sounds really teenage-girl-like, but when he looked at me, a hunger inside me was filled that I didn't even know was there. It is so different to actually be there and see him singing...I was singing along with the words of the songs I knew. Sometimes I had to close my eyes and feel the music, b/c it was just that intense, man. The guitarist from the YeahYeahYeahs was there. He took a picture of me and the people to my left just before the encore, before conor was back onstage. I probably looked really stupid, b/c I didn't even smile, I just looked at the camera with my mouth open. In my mind, it was like: oh, look, a camera, how bout that. then he took the picture and i was like: crap.
    Yeah, so that's my story, if anyone cares. If you dont you should've just skipped my entry.
   Why am i even posting this anyway?

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 May 05 - 08:31 PM

Interesting, Allison.

Subject: RE: Review: Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst)
From: Matt_R
Date: 29 May 05 - 04:33 AM

Lame emo shit. I hope he cries so much he dies.