Bright Eyes Album: “Don't Be Frightened of Turning the Page”

Forget for a minute that four of the songs on this disc have already appeared on the OH HOLY FOOLS split CD, interspersed with four tracks from Son, Ambulance. Their assemblage here, with the addition of two extra tracks, represents a quantum leap for Bright Eyes as a band, and perhaps the most coherent song cycle they've released yet. To be sure, the lyrics and voice of Nebraskan wunderkind Connor Oberst dominate the scene, but the tasteful inclusion of flute, horns, back-up vocals, and electronics lend this record the feel of a true "band" recording. The formula hasn't changed a great deal from last year's FEVERS AND MIRRORS, but Oberst and company meld better than ever, and the lyrics and vocals seem to be growing in leaps and bounds with each new song they record. A must.

Before Conor Oberst was writing his more popular folk influenced songs, made popular by "Lifted" and "I'm Wide Awake...", his music was was catergorized by the music on this album: more rock influenced, acoustic guitar lead indie music.

While I wont say these six songs are his best, they are certainly good, especially if you consider yourself a big Bright Eyes fan. The lyrics are still really good and introspective, and are overall pretty upbeat. I definatly recommend this, or if you want a little bit of a variety get the four songs on the split with Son Ambulance. I bought this for trhe additional two songs.

If you're checking out this disc, chances are you're already a big fan of Bright Eyes, and if you are a big fan, you might have their other disc Noise Floors.

This CD is most comparable to the sounds you find on Noise Floors, as they are not as western sounding as Cassadaga, but they have an older, rougher sound than others like Lifted or Digital Ash. Songs like No Lies, Just Love or Oh, you are the roots are some of the band's more powerful songs that shouldn't be ignored by any Bright Eyes fan.

The $30+ price tag is a bit steep, but I've gotta encourage buying the songs individually or finding them elsewhere.

Being a Bright Eyes fan, I hardly feel bad putting down Oberst's not-so-amazing work. This CD, frankly, is hardly worth it, that is if you are an owner of the Bright Eyes and Son, Ambulance split "Oh Holy Fools" (which by the way, is better than this).

The four songs from "Oh Holy Fools" are very good ones, by far the best on this CD. "I Won't Ever Be Happy Again", one of the two other songs, is worth a listen, a decent tune, nothing amazing. The final track, entitled "Mirrors And Fevers" is more of a poem than a song; it features Oberst slurring his usual emo lyrics over what sounds like muffled voices at a restaurant. I hardly consider it music.

Here's some advice: get Oh Holy Fools before you get this, because you will definitely like it more. Son,Ambulance, another Saddle Creek band, provides some good songs on that album as well as Bright Eyes.