Bright Eyes (merged)

Zooropa · 12-11-2002, 03:10 PM

There is a new best lyricist in rock (sorry Adam Duritz, your time is up) and his name is Conor Oberst. Conor is the man behind Bright Eyes, and is basically a one man band (a la Trent Reznor). Bright Eyes is folk-rock music that combines with the clever wit and charm of Oberst's lyrics to form some pretty inaccessible music. If you like Bob Dylan (who you can easily hear as a big influence in Bright Eyes' music), I suggest checking Bright Eyes out. Their album Lifted: or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is perhaps the best album of 2002. It will take some time to grow into since the songs are focused on the lyrics, but your patience will pay off.

outloud · 12-14-2002, 02:52 PM

I can't believe no one's responded to this! Bright Eyes is great. I keep a website with all his lyrics in my favorites folder, because I find myself wanting to read them again and again. Fevers and Mirrors is one of my favorite albums of his. I still have to pick up the newest one (though it's not so new anymore). Check him out, really. I think he's one of the most interesting acts out there.

Zooropa · 12-14-2002, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by outloud
I keep a website with all his lyrics in my favorites folder, because I find myself wanting to read them again and again.

I know! Reading his lyrics is just as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable than listening to the music. They're so entertaining and so interesting that I can't get enough of them.

Zooropa · 01-14-2003, 11:10 PM

VictoryRose, I would like your input on Bright Eyes please. On second thought, I think it's a bit bold and hasty to just out and claim Conor as the best lyricist out there. But he's certainly one of my favorites. What do you think?

VictoryRose · 01-14-2003, 11:23 PM

I am a sucker for the whole Saddlecreek family (see Saddlecreek thread, and post if you can). I can't say anything to discredit Conor. Commander Venus isn't very good, but he was fourteen when they got signed. His lyrics are good across the board. Some are not good at all actually, but some a great. Desaparacidos are also great. My only problem with Bright Eyes, is that sometimes the sadness seems a little force. I think Lifted is their best album by far. And the situation with Conor is pretty different than Trent. It's more like Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel, or Rivers Cuomo and Weezer (with more line up changes). Everyone should post on the Saddlecreek thread.

Zooropa · 02-21-2003, 08:40 AM

I bumped this thread up to encourage all of you people in Austin to go to the upcoming Bright Eyes show. You need to go, really. This is one tour I have to miss because Athens, GA is pretty far away from me. Benj, I think you would especially like Bright Eyes in case you don't know Conor's work. Check out the album Lifted or: the story is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground. Here are the tour dates from pitchforkmedia.com:

02-27 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
04-01 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
04-04 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom *
04-05 Seattle, WA - Showbox *
04-06 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
04-08 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore *
04-09 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *
04-10 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre ^
04-11 Pomona, CA - Glass House ^
04-12 San Diego, CA - The Scene ^
04-13 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre ^
04-16 Dallas, TX - Trees ^
04-17 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa #
04-18 Houston, TX - Engine Room #
04-19 New Orleans, LA - TBA *
04-21 Tampa, FL - TBA *
04-23 Miami, FL - The Manuel Artime Theatren %
04-24 Orlando, FL - The Club @ Firestone %
04-25 Athens, GA - 40 Watt %
04-26 Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle %
04-27 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *
04-28 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero *
04-29 Boston, MA - Roxy *
04-30 New York, NY - Irving Plaza *
05-01 New York, NY - Town Hall *
05-02 Northampton, MA - Calvin Theatre *
05-03 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground *
05-04 Montreal, ONT - TBA *
05-05 Toronto, ONT - TBA *
05-06 Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom $
05-07 Detroit, MI - St. Andrews $
05-08 Chicago, IL - Metro $
05-09 Madison, WI - TBA $
05-10 Minneapolis, MN - TBA $
05-11 Omaha, NE - TBA $

* Arab Strap only
^ with Arab Strap and Simon Joyner
# with Arab Strap and Her Space Holiday
% with Arab Strap and Sorry About Dresden
$ with Arab Strap and Head of Femur

zoe r · 02-21-2003, 09:17 AM

i just stumbled upon them a few days ago, and i like him/them a lot. I think Oberst is pretty talented, but it comes in spurts, like some is ehhhh and then some is super-good. Anywayskies, they have my support.

And I'll probably see them at the Metro when they come.

VictoryRose · 02-23-2003, 07:08 PM

I missed them last time. I'm gonna see them this time. I'm a fan of the opening bands too. Should be really good.

VictoryRose · 02-23-2003, 07:21 PM

If anyone knows any of the opening bands make a thread. I want to talk about them, but usually no one knows what I'm talking about.

benj · 02-24-2003, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zooropa
I bumped this thread up to encourage all of you people in Austin to go to the upcoming Bright Eyes show. You need to go, really. This is one tour I have to miss because Athens, GA is pretty far away from me. Benj, I think you would especially like Bright Eyes in case you don't know Conor's work. Check out the album Lifted or: the story is in the soil, keep your ear to the ground. Here are the tour dates from pitchforkmedia.com:

The Dallas show is actually closer to me, Andy. Trees is about 10-15 minutes from me. I might just check it out. That is the Sunday before my Spring Break, I think. I know a couple of kids in my church's youth group are fans or at least they have mentioned his work before.

benj · 04-15-2003, 08:41 PM

Well, I just recently got lifted. I haven't been able to listen to it in any extended fashion, but having gone through a few casual times, I must say, I really like it. It is depressing, but fascinating, all rolled into one. The lyrics really are good, too.

Knowourvelocity · 04-15-2003, 11:20 PM

While I'm definitely going for Bright Eyes I hear that the openers, Her Space Holiday and Arab Strap are pretty good. Arab Strap is from Scotland and some people compare them to Mogwai--I'm not really sure. Her Space Holiday I hear is good too. They're on the same record label as The Album Leaf, for any of you who saw Sigur Ros. I think they're both real calm and laid-back. I think it's going of be a great show. I'm a big fan of Bright Eyes, whose been getting a lot of press recently. I saw an article on them in I think it was Time Magazine and then the next week in the New York Times magazine. I hope it's good show because the tickets in Austin were $18.50 (yikes), but I expect it will be.