When
Bright Eyes
brainchild
Conor Oberst
issued
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
in August 2002, he was 22 years old. Critics were already calling him the "
indie
Bob Dylan
," but the new millennium had seen a lot of those introverted, intelligent types (
Ryan Adams
,
Beck
).
, though, delivered a solid, intricately produced album without the majors' monotony. Immediately, one can sense
Oberst
's literate approach. His vocal curdle is abrasive yet warm. It's similar to the cooing of
Robert Smith
, but lush in heartache like
Paul Westerberg
, leaving the storybook of
Lifted or The Story
to earn massive praise.
"Waste of Paint"
is rough-cut with edgy acoustics, while
"From a Balance Beam"
glows with
pop
-like optimism. Chimes and simple drumming keep the story of personal insecurity and the fear of the unknown coming alive in a dreamy sort of way. Even when he's aching his way through the
rumble of
"Method Acting,"
convincingly lures one into his eclectic musical world.
obviously has the talent to support the hype.
"Lover I Don't Have to Love"
is a dark number with its
Radiohead
-like doom and gloom; however, the piano swirl of
"A Bowl of Oranges"
offers a brighter reflection. On
has mixed badness with beauty for a sonic storybook that relates to everyone. It's slightly overwhelming at first, but one must allow a grace period to fully absorb the abstract desire behind this album. ~ MacKenzie Wilson