Cougar Microbes

Conor Oberst oversaw the evolution of Bright Eyes over the past 10 years offering a series of constantly changing albums which displayed the frontman’s outstanding ability to write a pop song in his many evolving guises.

Hardcore fans may have been left disheartened by the apparent refusal to return to what brought Bright Eyes to the limelight in the first place. Perhaps with ‘The People’s Key”s  sciencefiction themes Oberst has travelled back in time for a little bit.

Cougar writer Jazmin commented “As someone who gave up on Bright Eyes a long time ago, ‘The People’s Key’ was an unexpected surprise in 2011. Harking back to the elements that made Conor Oberst lovable in the first place- strong vocals and acoustic guitars- this album seems like the natural follow up to 2002’s ‘Lifted’, not an album that comes almost 10 years later.

The People’s Key seems a genuine, emotional record, a far cry from Bright Eyes’ over produced outings such as ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning’, that often lacked the sincerity of his earlier records. So, if Conor Oberst has finally reconnected with what made his music so impressive in the first place, I hope there are many more albums like ‘The People’s Key’ to come‘.

TRACKS:  Bright Eyes – Haile Selassie (Live, 08-30-2011, Providence, RI)

As has become customary here is the annual Valentine’s Day post featuring some of my favourite love themed songs. Whether you have been in a relationship for a long time or have just found a special someone stick these on for 15 minutes or so today.

Bright Eyes’ ‘The First Day Of Our Life‘

Conor Oberst delivers near enough the perfect love song managing to be heartfelt and honest without sounding contrived. My friend described it as ‘one of those songs that if you’d want in the soundtrack to your life if there was one‘. I couldnt put it better myself.

Band Of Horses – ‘No One’s Gonna Love You‘

Back in the summer Cee Lo Green‘s delivered his imperious take of ‘No One’s Gonna Love You‘ but for Valentine’s Day I feel the original is perhaps more appropriate for this day. Band Of Horses‘ wide-eyed declaration of affection shoots unashamedly for the heart and should warm even the biggest cynic.

Beck – ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometimes‘

Having featured not one but two Michel Gondry helmed videos this weekend it is quite fitting that the final selection is a track taken from the soundtrack of his ‘Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind‘ masterpiece. The truth is I have been planning to use this song for a while; Beck‘s splendid interpretation of The Korgis ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometimes‘ is guaranteed to give you goosebumps.

At the end of August Eurostar and We Are Social sent me over to Paris to review Rock En Seine. Now they are offering a pair of tickets to Paris, Brussels or Lille to one lucky Cougar Microbes reader as part of their Little Break Big Difference campaign.

All you have to do is submit a review of your favourite band, album or concert experience, through the comments section of this post, using no more than 150 words.

Deadline for submission is the 10th of October, the best entries will be featured on the main site and the top one will win a pair of tickets.

The final selection is picked independently so though I will happily accept bribes they won’t help you.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

A collaboration between Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and M. Ward (erm, M.Ward and She & Him) was, at the very least, going to be interesting. Their reputations alone pretty much justify the moniker Monster Of Folk. Add the fact that they are already being reffered to as a “Supergroup” and expectations are naturally very high.

On the basis of new single ‘Say Please‘ there is a lot to look forward to when they release their self titled full length in September. Download it for free from their website (providing you are very polite)

TRACKS:

Say Please by Monsters Of Folk