Bright Eyes!

Anyone else appreciate Conor Oberst and his mad genius like I do? I know alot of people are turned off by his voice and the fact that alot of his music is pseudo-emo, but man he really knows how to write music that is brilliant and powerful. He conveys so much meaning into his melodies, I am constantly in awe of his craftsmanship... You can really tell he was born for song-writing!

On a side-note, I always wondered why I felt so connected to him and the songs he sings, then I found out his birthday is February 15th, two days before mine. I'm an astrology geek, so I did his natal chart and it turns out like 4 of his planets are in the same signs as mine.. no wonder I appreciate his music so much!

 

The first song I ever heard by Bright Eyes was "At the Bottom of Everything," and I almost wrecked my car.


I hadn't been that moved by a song (I'm a lyric person, but the music is beautiful as well) since my early days of discovering Dylan. And I think that's a pretty good comparison: Oberst has a lot in common with the young Dylan. I just hope he doesn't burn out too soon.

 

Conor Oberst sounds nothing like Emo...

 

pseudo-emo...hrmm ok.
The first song I heard was lover I don't have to love. I'm not really into him, but some of his stuff is cool.

 

He's not Psuedo-Emo.

 

Hmm, I didn't think so either but that's what I've heard many people say about his music.

 

Definitely Emo. Doesn't the kid cry on stage?

 

Which has nothing to do with Emo.

 

Can someone define "emo?" It's become a monster no one can seem to tame. Rolling Stone uses it to describe a band, then when I mention it to someone they tell me "that's not emo, that's power pop."

My confused reply: Well, call it what you want, it still sucks.

Maybe I'm getting old ...

 

Emo is a form of melodic hardcore, with bands like Rites Of Spring and Saetia to Circle Takes The Square and The 1000 Travels Of Jawaharlal.

 

I was kinda worried about that too, but have you heard his latest album, "Cassadega"? He's somewhat cleaned up his act, and his music just keeps getting better and better.. I saw Bright Eyes live last year and it was a top notch show, nothing like some of the past drunk/incoherent shows I've seen on YouTube. I think he had to go through a period of massive drug use and suffering for the music to become what it is today, like many artists..

 

True all dat. I heard he went through some sort of "cleansing" ritual (literally flushing himself out, like with enemas and everything). There's a song on Cassadega about it (Cleanse Song?). Also kicked drugs (for now).

There's only one part where I disagree (and only slightly), and it's really a horrible thing to say: A lot of these artists do their best work in the darker times. When they clean up, they often get too happy (or at least too normal) and the music loses its edge. I don't want them to suffer, but damn, a soul in pain makes for some great art, doesn't it?

 

'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning' is my favorite Bright Eyes album. I've heard some people say he is borderline emo, but his lyrics are amazing. My band devoted an entire show once to covering Bright Eyes and we got tons of good feedback.

 

And in this proper labeling of emo (emocore!), Bright Eyes certainly doesn't fit in. If it were to be "emotional" music, though, Conor definitely would be worked in; you can't say his music isn't emotional, and it's not like that's a bad thing anyway. He's a fucking brilliant lyricist, I admire that of him; I used to think he sounded like G-love haha, but his vocals have grown on me positively. I hear a lot about him being a jackass in person, I don't know about that, I don't know if it'd phase me anyway.

Fav song, I'd have to go with 'A Perfect Sonnet'

 

It's an acoustic folk album, emo? It's also his blandest to date.

 

I love Conor. He is a brilliant lyricist with a raw passionate unmanufactured voice . I saw him a couple times last year and my only complaint is that he is tooo fucked up on stage. Rarely is he ever seen clean whether it's in an interview or a show. His beautiful spirit is drowned behind all the alcohol.

 

I'm wide awake it's morning, is also my favorite. The storytelling & instrumentation is amazing. I dig his voice, alot. I can see why some don't like it though. He can sound like a goat. =]

 

i'm a fan of his music. he writes outstanding lyrics. alot of his songs are too depressing tho. i used to listen to alot of his music but lately i haven't really because it was getting me bummed out.

 

i'm a huge fan of the music... and i'm all about lyrics, and his are totally amazing, as many of you have already said.

 

^^ agreed, great lyrics, good band..not emo.