Don't Believe the Hype

There are a number of really good indie rock artists that have released good albums over the years...Bright Eyes is not one of them (sorry Brandon.)



I've listened to a good bit of music from this revolving group of musicians centered around singer-songwriter Conor Oberst, and I have yet to hear anything worthy of all the praise I've read. Genius? I'm not so sure.



It seems to me that Oberst's music is whinny and under-produced in a way that is not appealing at all. To quote a close friend who said this in reference to Squirrel Nut Zippers, "It sounds like it was recorded on an answering machine in some guy's basement." I don't need high profile studio tinkering and production in the music I listen to, but everything I've heard by Bright Eyes just sounds bad.



If you want to hear great music performed by an artist who writes powerful lyrics over beautiful melodies, lacking both the best singing voice and production value, listen to Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." This album proves that a beautiful voice and a ton of studio gimmickry are unnecessary in order to make a fantastic album. Neutral Milk's Jeff Mangum perfected seven years ago what Oberst is trying to pass off today. Mangum's lyrics are honest, filled with beautiful and painful imagery, and delivered with a raw energy rarely heard in music.



In summary, I think Oberst's lyrics are o.k. (though they just cannot compare to Mangum's) but the delivery falls short of greatness. In the extended absence of Jeff Mangum and Neutral Milk Hotel, Bright Eyes albums may be a mediocre fill, but never a replacement.