Connor Oberst - s/t (August 4)

[Rob]

From Pitchfork:

For those who recall scouring eBay for $100+ copies of that holy trinity of early Conor Oberst cassettes (not me, I swear)-- 1993's Water, 1994's Here's to Special Treatment, and 1995's The Soundtrack to My Movie-- August 4, 2008 will mark a particularly special occasion. For it is on that special day that the Bright Eye'd troubadour will release a very special album, his first solo offering in some 13 years. That's like half an Oberst lifetime!

The self-titled affair contains a dozen tracks and comes at us courtesy of-- no, not Saddle Creek...nope, not Team Love either...and heavens no, not a major-- but rather Merge Records, home to longtime Oberst buddy M. Ward and something I keep hearing about called the Arcade Fire, whatever that is.

Oberst laid Conor Oberst to tape in Mexico earlier this year with help from his pal Andy LeMaster (Now It's Overhead) and a "special band" known as the Mystic Valley Band. If that sounds familiar, perhaps you noticed Conor and the Mystic Valley Band among the Austin City Limits elite or caught them live at the tail end of 2007. The new crew has also announced a couple more festival appearances in the months to come, with the promise of a tour "throughout the summer."

[Kevin McF]

interesting that he has ditched the bright eyes title for this disc

[Rob]

And record label. I take it this will be a different backing band?

[Libertine4Life]

really looking forward for this

[Sydneyfan]

I'll be getting this.

[ewok.online]

I might do it, yes.

[Faded Rose]

For the wish list.

[Rob]

I was a big fan of Cassadaga. I hope he stays with that style.

[lukin]

This guy could make me a shit sandwich and I'd eat it. I'll definitely be getting this. I'm sure it will be much better than a shit sandwich though.

[Rob]

I can't find the old thread.

It's streaming here:

http://www.conoroberst.com/album/

Produced by Conor Oberst with the help of engineer … [read more]and longtime associate Andy LeMaster, the album was recorded in Tepoztlán, Morales, Mexico. Creating a temporary studio in a mountain villa for a one-month period this winter, Conor and a tight-knit group of fellow musicians, who aptly call themselves The Mystic Valley Band, crafted a lush and beautiful record that evokes the deep sense of harmony in which they lived and worked during that month.

In stores this August on Merge Records in the US & Wichita in the UK.

[Faded Rose]

I'm looking forward to this but not sure if I want to listen pre-release.

[sipowicz]

I'm looking forward to this but not sure if I want to listen pre-release.

I agree... I actually pre-ordered it already, so I may just wait.

[hildegoat]

I listened to part of it this morning -- it's pretty good.

[SkortBrun]

I agree... I actually pre-ordered it already, so I may just wait.

I just pre-ordered it so I'm waiting as well.

[Rob]

Come on...everyone's doing it.

[Faded Rose]

I don't want to spoil it for myself.

[Corporal Brown]

This is good. Thanks for posting the link. I get to see him in a couple of weeks - yippie!

[thunderoad]

I have been looking forward to this since its first mention, Aug 4th cannot get here soon enough! Unfortunately for me I wasn't too crazy for Cassadaga just like I wasn't crazy over Easy Tiger, but I have faith in Oberst, and this sounds like perhaps something fresh and a different approach, so good things are hopefully coming this way.

[thunderoad]

going to target tomorrow morning so i can listen to it on my way to work!

[Sydneyfan]

going to target tomorrow morning so i can listen to it on my way to work!

Let us know what you think.....:upyours

[Sydneyfan]

Conor Oberst has attracted an equal measure of champions and dissenters in his rise from indie wunderkind to mainstream chart botherer with his Bright Eyes project.

His prolific output, lyrical verbosity and skinny, dishevelled good looks have helped establish him as the poster boy of American indie rock, but also attracted the ire of many who, quite frankly, want to knock his lights out. Active as a recording artist since his early teens, the general consensus as Oberst nears his 30s is that, far from being the new Bob Dylan, he has yet to produce his defining statement.

For the follow-up to 2007's Bright Eyes album Cassadaga, Oberst has opted to use his birth name for the first time since the 1996 cassette The Soundtrack To My Movie. The fact that he has also titled his new album Conor Oberst indicates a grand coming-of-age statement. In actual fact, this low-key recording is Oberst's most charming and down-to-earth release to date, eschewing the political leanings of the I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning/Digital Ash In A Digital Urn double whammy and the lush production values of Cassadaga.

Oberst makes his first appearance on one of his album sleeves, pictured asleep in a hammock while in the background a scantily clad woman sits in front of a roaring fire. The image reflects the laidback recording sessions that gave birth to the album. The temporary absence of multi-instrumentalist and Bright Eyes mainstay Mike Mogis prompted Oberst to travel to Tepoztlçn, Mexico to record with a raggle taggle group of musicians dubbed the Mystic Valley Band, featuring Jason Boessel (drums/vocals), Macey Taylor (bass), Nik Freitas (guitar) and Taylor Hollingsworth (guitar), alongside Bright Eyes regular Nate Walcott (keyboards).

One of the more obvious crossovers from Cassadaga is Oberst's fascination with travelling. The boy from Middle America (Omaha, Nebraska, to be precise) moves from Florida (Cape Canaveral) to California (Sausalito) on the opening two tracks, before passing through New York City (NYC - Gone, Gone) and Utah (Moab) on his way to Mexico (Valle Maestico (Ruben's Song)). The wanderlust spirit is reflected in the melodic country rock that is the album's defining sound, with the Mystic Valley Band providing relaxed musical backing. The ghost of Hank Williams haunts the stomping I Don't Want To Die (In The Hospital) and the brief NYC - Gone, Gone, while the easy-going Americana of Cape Canaveral would not be out of place on a Ryan Adams album.

The latter track opens the album with a typical Oberst torrent of words, but the hints of a personal crisis ("Apart, I just came apart") are tempered throughout the following eleven tracks by frequent references to finding salvation by getting out of town and starting anew. "There's nothing that the road cannot heal," Oberst repeats throughout Moab, although on the closing Milk Thistle his attempt to pass as a 21st century Robert Johnson rings hollow ("I keep death at my heels like a basset hound").

So, the jury is still out on Conor Oberst. His loyal fans will be slightly puzzled by the easy going roll of the music but rewarded by several choice lyrical nuggets, while his critics will point out that Dylan had already released Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde On Blonde before recording John Wesley Harding. Yet again, Oberst's next move is eagerly awaited.
- Nic Oliver



http://www.musicomh.com/albums/conor-oberst_0708.htm



And Rolling Stone gave it four and a half stars. Not that that counts for much these days.

[Libertine4Life]

ive heard its very good, hope it has the vibe of Im Wike Awake Its Morning

[roxy031]

I just got it last night - I'm going to listen at work today :)

[Faded Rose]

I'm waiting for the postman...but my expected despatch date is not until tomorrow. :boohoo

[hildegoat]

And Rolling Stone gave it four and a half stars. Not that that counts for much these days.

Anything other than 3 and a half stars is really a change of pace for them.

[brkndwnbus]

I like this album much better than Cassadaga. I can't even listen to that album - for whatever reasons I just can't stand it. However, this album has remindedme again why I enjoy listening to his music.

[Sydneyfan]

Looks like I really need to buy this.

[lukin]

Will be getting this tomorrow. I was in a record store yesterday and they were playing it (it had just arrived) - it was the first track and it sounded pretty good, I'd say closest to Wide Awake stuff, but that's only going off one song. My friend works in another record store so he can get me staff discount but theirs hadn't arrived yet so I have to wait. I'm sure I'll like it though.

[SkortBrun]

I'm liking this more and more every time I play it. I've had "Souled Out!!!" and "Cape Canaveral" stuck in my head all day.

[roxy031]

i really like it too! i'll have to think about what song is my favorite, there are many good ones.

[Libertine4Life]

1st listen today, i think its good, but not amazing. glad its mostly acoustic based

[Faded Rose]

Mine's in the post...:(

[Rob]

Video for Souled Out!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYewptydkvE

[Wayfaringmind]

Does the whole album have this feel?? I like this song alot. Reminds me sorta of Jason Schwartzmans Coconut Records album.

[BigNosedDago]

Get Well Cards is fantastic

as is Milk Thistle

[Faded Rose]

I love this - can't wait for my CD to come.

[paulawhite]

Get Well Cards is fantastic

as is Milk Thistle

yeah, my two favourites. :upyours
Get Well Cards is amazing live.

[Faded Rose]

Amazon tell me my delivery date is 14 August. :(

[Libertine4Life]

thats crap. you should have used play.com, free delivery with them too.

might as well listen on his website, thats all i did

[Faded Rose]

The child told me about play.com the other day cos he wanted a DVD from there. It was cheaper too as well as free delivery. Amazon is only free over 15 pounds. I'd already pre-ordered Connor Oberst though. I like to have a CD. I don't listen to much music on my computer or my iPod for that matter except for dog walking. :lol

[thunderoad]

the album has been a crucial part of my driving since Tuesday, and boy it gets better with each listen. i think at first there were some lyrics that for some reason i wasnt too impressed with .. "peacock people left their plumes in a pile'', "parrott blues, little voices mimic you" etc..they kind of bugged me. but already i find the album much stronger than Cassadaga, it certainly has a more organic sound and feel all around. and the lyrics, which there are plenty, are strong and very colorful in descriptions and metaphors. currently my top favorite songs are: cape carnevale, danny callahan, milk thistle, i dont want to die, & eagle on a pole . i have been looking forward to this album for some time and i am very pleased with everything about it, it;s quite refreshing, and while it toils in Oberst's comfort sound of alt-country it managed to take step forward into slightly new territory of both sound and lyrics.

[lukin]

Having had this for a couple of weeks now, just thought I'd say - how good is this album? I'm loving it so much.

[Corporal Brown]

I love it too. I just keep listening to it. Lots of songs about sickness though.

[Faded Rose]

Having had this for a couple of weeks now, just thought I'd say - how good is this album? I'm loving it so much.

Agree - but not as good as Cassadega.

[Libertine4Life]

Agree - but not as good as Cassadega.

how does Cassadega compare with I'm Wide Awake...musically?
always been debating weather to get it or not

[roxy031]

I have a stack of magazines sitting here from this summer that I haven't had time to read. A few issues of Paste - the first one I read had this interesting interview with Conor Oberst about this CD and some other stuff (I like what he had to say about religion), so I thought I'd find it online in case you guys were interested in reading it:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/08/conor-obersts-mexican-adventure.html