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‘.
Conor Oberst returns to the familiar surroundings of Bright Eyes with the release of ‘The People’s Key‘ in what, if the frontman is to be believed ,may well be the band’s final chapter. having expressed his Americana compulsion first with the 2007 album ‘Cassadega‘ and subsequently with the likes of the Mystic Valley Band and Monsters Of Folk a change in direction was in the air.
As such this new album blend the distinct electro-pop and folk feeling that the twin 2005 releases ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning‘ and ‘Digital Ash in a Digital Urn‘ offered to produce what is, potentially, the bands most accessible release to date.
In the past it felt like certain tracks were deliberately twisted to hide their underlying pop appeal from immediate view whereas this time round ideas see their full potential explored and given time under the spotlight. It is quite a departure from the band’s earlier efforts and offers a more concise outcome framing the vague lyrical content with a necessary song structure.
I get the feeling that a young Conor Oberst from the early 00′s may have stuck up his nose at the direction his music has taken for this latest release. Truth be told we all mature, we all grow old, and we all develop a taste for the finer things in life.
Without taking anything away from past Bright Eyes work ‘The People’s Key‘ is a fine release
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.
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)
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