I somehow just spotted and misread the Eyes word and got excited that it was a thread for Eels.
Anyhow, I used to be a big Bright Eyes fan up until (and including) Lifted, but then just lost interest. Iāve given them a 4 for those first few albums anyhow as they got a lot of listens from me back then.
My all time number one musical artist*
Every single song contains at least one line that makes me pause. I canāt think of any other artist who so consistently captures such stunning imagery or meaningful ideas, and ties it to such powerful music.
I first heard of Bright Eyes at uni when a girl gave me a mix CD with At the Bottom of Everything on It with a note next to the track that said āNew Dylan potential?ā Unfortunately for her I didnāt like Dylan much, so this wasnāt a massive recommendation, but the song still grabbed me and I was hooked from there on. Their music has been a constant in my life for more than a decade now and I canāt see that changing. I understand some people wonāt like his voice, and I can see why some people will (wrongly) dismiss them as emo sad boys, but thatās fine, I think Bright Eyes is meant to feel like something singular that only you understand and appreciate. Itās not for everyone, itās for me.
*Conflating Bright Eyes and Oberst more broadly here
Personally think the best album heās ever released is Read Music/Speak Spanish and that the best (and most important and prescient) track of his is MariKKKopa - extraordinary that that was released in 2012 when there are still so few artists engaging with the same issues even today.
Almost word for word my thoughts. By the time they came along I was way past that stage of having music that spoke exclusively to me and understood my tortured self (which is not to denigrate anyone who found this in Bright Eyes - I certainly did have it myself, only with older bands a decade or so earlier), I tried again with them last year off the back of Better Oblivion, and it was okay but by no means revelatory.
Oooh yeah, I did absolutely cane that one for a good while. Another argument for Bright Eyes coming along at the wrong time for me - in the early 2000s I was properly into banging and shouting, and couldnāt be doing with considered acoustic songwriting.
I recognise and mourn this. That kind of connection to an artist is a special thing but it becomes less and less attainable as you get older.
Came along in my āfallowā indie period and never really got into them.
This is a banger though
Saw him around the time of Lifted, Orā¦ With a few friends from uni who were fans but he was upstaged by the support (Rilo Kiley and another band off Saddle Creek). They all did the encore together of I recall correctly, which was nice. Donāt particularly like his voice or style, though he seems to have an impressive work rate and ethos.
Have listened to everything up to that point, the only thing thatās stuck is Lover I Donāt Have to Love. Tried occasionally to listen to either of the simultaneous albums after that but donāt remember finishing either one. Iām.sure heās released a lot since but canāt imagine it would change my take on him if wasnāt on board from the early works.
5/5
three new hit songs from bright eyes 7" is the pinnacle of music
peopleās key is underrated
Bought lifted off the back of a glowing pitchfork review, back when they were relevant. Took a long time to click but when it did, it really did, and, for me, those are the bandās that have stuck with me most. The bands I got into in an immediate sense tend to be the ones where my interest wanes.
Lifted and fevers and mirrors are top tier. He buffed off the rough edges a bit for Iām wide awake and itās still a very good album but itās not one I really return to. Varying quality since then and nothing as vital as the top tier stuff but heās still someone Iāll check out when a new release comes out.
Totally understand that theyāre not for everyone and that his voice is a sticking point. Desaperacidos are great too.
thinking about buying the vinyl box, wonder how many bones it would set me back
Love slapping the Christmas record on in December, full of hits
I think Triple Spiral is one of songs that pops up in my head the most
donāt think i could really say iā've properly listened to collection of songs or letting off the happiness beyond a cursory listen. just canāt for some reason.
165 on Norman records. Was tempted but a bit too rich for my blood. Also doesnāt have letting off the happiness which is slightly annoying
Letting Off the Happiness isnāt that far off Fevers in terms of quality, itās a bit rougher and the strength of songs isnāt there, but itās identifiably Bright Eyes, and thereās some good stuff - Pull My Hair would probably be in my best of.
Collection of Songs is a whole different kettle of fish, itās a fascinating curiosity but I never just put it on to listen to it.
This has reminded me that Noise Floor, the b-sides and rarities album, is so much better than most bands main albums. Blue Angels Air Show!
Was v close to putting bad blood in the shared playlist. Lost of v good stuff on there
fuck it, iām doing it. think i only ever had wide awake o vinyl and sold it for some stupid reason.
yeah noise floor is great! obv couple of tunes on letting off the happiness but donāt think i would ever put it on just because. i got into him around lifted and remember even going back to fevers being a bit woah there production-wise.
also, thereās no beginning to the story and every day and every night is the best bright eyes mini album that never was. some amazing songs on those.
The split with Neva Dinova is really good too. Guy made a hell of a lot of good music between 2000 and 2005ish despite being a complete wreck