Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

[chelseaxsmilexD]

Bright Eyes-I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Record Label: Saddle Creek Records
Release Date: January 25, 2005

Conor Oberst's band Bright Eyes has always had a knack for being truthful, heartfelt, and meaningful while retaining their raw and stripped-down nature. Well, the indie folk rock band is back and better than ever in this crowning achievement. Clearly ominous, the album creeps under your skin in a good, calm way, and to some, seems jocular. The whole album is simple and endearing in so many striking ways. Songs like "First Day Of My Life" are simple and catchy while keeping a message that's easy to relate to. Songs like these seem to have the potential to be cheesy and whiny, but Bright Eyes seem to fall on the other side of the fence. With sudden screams counterbalancing honey-sweet staccato vocals, this ranks well-above many other bands of the genre.

Many of the songs' lyrics chronicle Oberst's memories of New York City, and the music perfectly reflects this part of him in the way that it sounds like a folksy soundtrack suited for traveling throughout New York City late at night. Other lyrics shout out his extremely left-wing political views in a sometimes inarticulate manner that only heighten the dark, emotional atmosphere. The opening track, "At The Bottom Of Everything," is a perfect example of this, starting (just like the band's two previous albums) with a spoken word intro. The introduction entails the moments before a plane dives into the ocean when a man begins to sing the three-chord folk song displaying his sarcastic trademark views that are so obviously left-wing, they'd make Pelosi blush.

While Oberst is original in the way his music is constructed, a lot of folk music has been done before. While the album brings in some indie-pop and even some metal flavor, it doesn't scream originality the way Fear Before the March of Flames, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, or even The Blood Brothers do/did. However, this is easily overlooked (until "Road To Joy" is played) and (besides the aforementioned) is by no means a major downfall. It retains enough originality to really hold your interest for a bunch of spins.

In short, Bright Eyes has made a trademark album that will hold it's place permanently on the folk-alternative scene's CD shelf right beside Broken Social Scene. If you liked anything else this band has put out, or even if you haven't, this album is for fans of all music -- fans who appreciate simplistic and dark music.

Indie-pop-metal-rock-folk-emo amalgamations; Bright Eyes' older work; to sit down and listen to an album in it's entirety more than once instead of throwing it in the trash can after the first listen.

At The Bottom Of Everything, The First Day Of My Life, Lua, Road To Joy, Poison Oak, Old Soul Song

1. "At the Bottom of Everything" (4:34)
2. "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" (4:12)
3. "Old Soul Song (For the New World Order)" (4:29)
4. "Lua" (4:31)
5. "Train Under Water" (6:05)
6. "First Day Of My Life" (3:08)
7. "Another Travelin' Song" (4:16)
8. "Landlocked Blues" (5:47)
9. "Poison Oak" (4:39)
10. "Road To Joy" (3:54)

[nickthehick2]

I still have yet to listen to Bright Eyes, I'll have to look into this.

[The Summer Ends]

fuck you this is one of the best albums of the decade

[Uwe Blab]

I don't know how the lyrics or lasting value got less than an 8.

[Dymytry Vance]

What a fucking retard. You have bad taste in music if your enjoy generic scenecore more than this phenomenal album.
You're referencing the author? It says five comments but I only see four, so Idk whether one got deleted or not.

[yayitsjoe]

the fuckkkkkkk? how is this album not above an 85? i don't even like Bright Eyes that much, and i know this is one of the greatest albums of the past ten years. the lyrics being below an 8.5 is just a crime.

[BalancingacT]

I have to say that's the first time I've heard Bright Eyes labeled as metal. And I guarantee the last.

[yayitsjoe]

okay. my first comment, i just looked at the ratings. but the second time, i actually read the review. and you have no fucking idea what you're talking about. comparing Bright Eyes to Number Twelve Looks Like You or the Blood Brothers is absolutely ludicrous, and i still have yet to see any political lyrics in "At the Bottom of Everything" let alone lyrics that "are so left wing, they'd make Pelosi blush."

my advice? keep on reviewing your metalcore bands and stay out of the indie folk.

[Dymytry Vance]

most def
He tried so hard to make this sound like See You Next Tuesday didn't he? I hear his account was banned for like a week and now he's back. Why?!?!?!?!?!?! I live in the same town as that pretentious douche... he attempted to key my car for saying BMTH licked goat ass a while back. Fortunately I caught him before he could touch his keys to my car.

[Dymytry Vance]

okay. my first comment, i just looked at the ratings. but the second time, i actually read the review. and you have no fucking idea what you're talking about. comparing Bright Eyes to Number Twelve Looks Like You or the Blood Brothers is absolutely ludicrous, and i still have yet to see any political lyrics in "At the Bottom of Everything" let alone lyrics that "are so left wing, they'd make Pelosi blush."

my advice? keep on reviewing your metalcore bands and stay out of the indie folk.
If you read carfully, he's contrasting the three... so... that kinda discredited your post. And when I'm a neautral party for this assface, it means something's not right....HOLY SHIT I MUST HAVE BEEN CASTRATED!!!

[Dymytry Vance]

Jeremy!!! Did youaccept this? Either that or Blake because he's jsut cynical enough to know this would get shit on for it's (yes, it is) blasphemy but not too cynical to accept something like "WOOO!!! Attack Attacxxxkxxkxkx rulexxzzzxzxzxzxzxzxzxz meehehehehehhhhh beyyttchesss... They'zeee beezinnggg sohohohohohoooox xorigiNALx withhhzzzssh the wayZ ThEY COmbinE screamoozozzozozozoz and TEKKKNOXXXZZZ TOGEther To MAKe ShitTY musiczzxzzxzxz"

[brenByah]

While the album brings in some indie-pop and even some metal flavor, it doesn't scream originality the way Fear Before the March of Flames, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, or even The Blood Brothers do/did

Bright Eyes doesn't bring any metal flavor. Also,

Bright Eyes >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Number Twelve, Blood Brothers, and Fear Before (BE is not only better musically but far more original and creative).

Conor's easily one of the best lyricists in music, this album's one of his strongest lyrically, I'd probably have scored it a 9.

[Piss]

What a fucking retard.

why are you in the author's friend list?

[Wutz]

"...his extremely left-wing political views ..."

I wouldn't call his views necessarily extreme left-wing ... maybe just "humanist."

Extreme views, I'll send you some Jello Biafra or some Propaghandi.

[Dymytry Vance]

what a turd burglar. You should have beat his ass. I don't care how much you dislike somebody who don't key peoples cars. It's just so damn low
Unfortuantely he's the fastest shit ever. I tried getting him in trouble for it, but I couldn't because he didn't actually do anything. He claims that he was jsut gonna taunt me, but considering that he hangs out with (look up Dot Dot Curve on the interent, and then add 3 scene points and he's the finished product) every "BadAsszzz" scene kid ever who thinks calling people who hate ADTR posers, I highly doubt he was telling the truth. People like him sicken me to no end.

[Dymytry Vance]

"...his extremely left-wing political views ..."

I wouldn't call his views necessarily extreme left-wing ... maybe just "humanist."

Extreme views, I'll send you some Jello Biafra or some Propaghandi.
1, 2... 666....

[Dymytry Vance]

I nominate this as being the worst review of all time with Aiden's Conviction taking second.... everyone agree?

[handlikesecret]

apparently this album has nothing on ADTR's new album (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1226062).

and it's only better than Conviction by 2%. who knew?

[Dymytry Vance]

apparently this album has nothing on ADTR's new album (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1226062).

and it's only better than Conviction by 2%. who knew?
I know wtf?

[brenByah]

Bright Eyes is one of the best acts in music. Conor's never released the same record twice. He's tackled electronica, folk, rock, punk, etc. (still don't see any metal influence like the review states, especially not on this record). "Road to Joy" features some of my favorite Bright Eyes lyrics. "I could have been a famous singer, if I had someone else's voice, but failure's always sounded better, let's fuck it up boys, make some noise."

[Dymytry Vance]

Bright Eyes is one of the best acts in music. Conor's never released the same record twice. He's tackled electronica, folk, rock, punk, etc. (still don't see any metal influence like the review states, especially not on this record). "Road to Joy" features some of my favorite Bright Eyes lyrics. "I could have been a famous singer, if I had someone else's voice, but failure's always sounded better, let's fuck it up boys, make some noise."
Honestly, even though I love this band, I thnk that the lyrics are the low point of all their albums. :shrug: Just saying, I just like a different style of lyrics, and even though I understand the message behind them, I think that it would be perfect if Conor had changed them and made them a little different. But that's just my opinion, and you have a right to yours.

[Dymytry Vance]

I love how he tears Road To Joy apart and then puts it under choice cuts... :-| Did anybody else notice this?

[Dymytry Vance]

I don't know how the lyrics or lasting value got less than an 8.
I'd rate this album on this scale:
Vocals: 9.5
Musicianship: 9.25
Lyrics: 7 (I just like a different writing style)
Production: 9.5
Creativity: 8
Lasting Value: 9.25
Reveiwer Tilt: 9.75

[brenByah]

I honestly would never give Conor less than an 8 on lyrics on any of BE's records.

[Dymytry Vance]

Yes. Its also funny how he listed six songs under choice cuts considering the album is only ten songs
I know what the fuck was that about? It was needless typing.

[adbiufbwqf]

i lol'd so hard at this review. no offense but you're the worst reviewer on this site. sorry.

[brenByah]

I'll be honest about this though, my comments are horribly biased. I worship Conor Oberst. I think everything he touches is gold.

[boxingwithstars]

oh god, i'm laughing so hard at the RIYL.

[salmarnirecho]

lol.

[introduction]

firstly, conor's vocals, 8.5 is too much. i love how emotional his voice is, but he can't sing. also, lyrics 7.75?!?!?! conor is without a doubt, one of the most, if not the most talented lyricists out there. actually, there are almost no aspects of your review i agree with. why throw in a bunch of metal bands to compare to bright eyes?!?!?! this is the worst review on this site, and considering some of the atrocities out there, that's saying something.

[Matt Chylak]

i still have yet to see any political lyrics in "At the Bottom of Everything" let alone lyrics that "are so left wing, they'd make Pelosi blush."


are you retarded? the entire song is political

[Dymytry Vance]

oh god, i'm laughing so hard at the RIYL.
DewDD wH0 r u K1dding, Bright eyes iS EMO

[yayitsjoe]

are you retarded? the entire song is political

if you insist.

[Dymytry Vance]

if you insist.
It is.
We win, you fail.

[yayitsjoe]

It is.
We win, you fail.


alright, congratulations. throw a party.

[Dymytry Vance]

alright, congratulations. throw a party.
us=
:party:

you=
:hung:

[Matt Chylak]

if you insist.

here are some lines from the song that aren't even metaphors:

Into the face of every criminal strapped firmly to a chair
We must stare, we must stare, we must stare


We must blend into the choir, sing as static with the whole
We must memorize nine numbers and deny we have a soul
Into this endless race for property and privilege to be won
We must run


still can't see any politics in this song?
(by the way, "nine numbers" is a subtle way of saying your social security number, in case you don't get it and say a phone number only has eight digits...just trying to think ahead of you here)

[yayitsjoe]

here are some lines from the song that aren't even metaphors:




still can't see any politics in this song?
(by the way, "nine numbers" is a subtle way of saying your social security number, in case you don't get it and say a phone number only has eight digits...just trying to think ahead of you here)


alright, i take it back. i'm glad you went to such lengths to just prove me wrong.

[Matt Chylak]

alright, i take it back. i'm glad you went to such lengths to just prove me wrong.

anytime. took about four seconds.

[introduction]

god. i just read this review again, god knows why. how did vocals get higher than lyrics?!?! why does this album have such a low score? i have half a mind to review it myself.

[stereokiller]

I usually hate cursing people without a good reason, but I give you a big fuck you just because you scored it that low.

[Tead42]

here are some lines from the song that aren't even metaphors:




still can't see any politics in this song?
(by the way, "nine numbers" is a subtle way of saying your social security number, in case you don't get it and say a phone number only has eight digits...just trying to think ahead of you here)
Not sure if you remember, but Social Security was created by none other than FDR, one of the most liberal presidents. Also, how is the first one liberal at all?

[Matt Chylak]

Not sure if you remember, but Social Security was created by none other than FDR, one of the most liberal presidents. Also, how is the first one liberal at all?
not sure if you read correctly, i was responding to someone who said:

i still have yet to see any political lyrics in "At the Bottom of Everything"
so that's not really negotiable.
as far as the slant of his politics...anti-capital punishment people usually lean left

[AirTraffic]

Why does everybody like this crap so much? The guy can't even sing. He can strum a few chords on a guitar and write decent lyrics about not being able to stop drinking. What is so amazing about that? Somebody please fill me in on this.

[Joeypeapot777]

Can somebody else do an official review on this? This one is a joke.

[stereokiller]

Why does everybody like this crap so much? The guy can't even sing. He can strum a few chords on a guitar and write decent lyrics about not being able to stop drinking. What is so amazing about that? Somebody please fill me in on this.
Oh My God.

You just can't tell anybody they can't sing. Seriously though, if you don't dig Conor then there are tons of other bands for you out there. Just saying.

[CircaSin]

Not my favorite Bright Eyes album but still a really good album. This is a pretty terrible review. Why metal was even included into this review is mind-boggling. Connor has publicly said he aligns himself as a humanist. Apparently this really bothered you. Keep your scenecore bands to yourself.

[LetterBomb31]

Metal? What the fuck are you talking about?

[Moostachemusic]

Not sure if I agree with the rating. This is probably my favorite Bright Eyes album.