Ok, so I'm the guy who based his only opinion of the band Bright Eyes on an appearance that I saw on Austin City Limits. When I saw the show, I considered the lyrics and style of Conor Oberst to be a little too melodramatic and heavy for my taste. So I wrote the band off far too quickly. Here I am now, after listening to their music posted on their Myspace officially eating my words.The sound of the four songs available to sample on their Myspace is nothing less than beautifully refreshing. This is nothing compared to the small bare taste that I got from the ACL show. Although the melody and rhythm is joyous and light in songs like Four Winds and I Will Be Grateful, the lyrics blur lines between love lost and new found love. I am beginning to understand the melancholy and how it pertains to the songs.
My inspiration for taking a new fresh look on Bright Eyes came from the ride home from work last night. As usual, traveling down Broadway and venturing onto the 101 south, I was listening to All Things Considered on NPR and was able to hear a review of Conor Oberst's album When Love Turns Sour. This review on the ride home, and the samples of the amazing new music from Conor forced me to re-evaluate my look on the band. The sound and style of his music is more than what I had so easily dismissed before. I've been playing what I can find from him and the band at work today and it has been great.
After the bitter taste of eating my own words wears off, I may just find myself buying Conor Oberst's new album along with music created with the band. It's great. I Don't Want to Die (In the Hospital) is nothing less than the true definition of Rock and Roll while the other music you find encompasses so many styles.
