Bright Eyes

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For other uses, see Bright Eyes (disambiguation).

Bright Eyes
Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes
Background information
Origin	Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Genre(s)	Indie rock Folk rock
Years active	1995–present
Label(s)	Saddle Creek
Website	Official website
Members
Conor Oberst Daniel McCarthy Mike Mogis Anton Patzner Maria Taylor Nate Walcott
Former members
See below

Bright Eyes is an indie rock band consisting of singer-songwriter/guitarist Conor Oberst, multi-instrumentalist/producer Mike Mogis, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene.^[1] As the band first met with success, Oberst was frequently compared to a young Bob Dylan, due in parts to his age and penchant for social commentary and philosophy.

While Bright Eyes remains signed to the independent label Saddle Creek Records, the band enjoys mainstream popularity that rivals that of their major label contemporaries: in 2004, the singles "Lua" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" took the top two spots of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales chart within two weeks of their simultaneous release.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early years 1.2 Recent years 1.3 Future plans 2 Band 2.1 Current members 2.2 Past members and contributors 3 Discography 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Early years

Bright Eyes started as a side project of Conor Oberst's while he was the frontman for the indie rock outfit Commander Venus, which featured Tim Kasher who later went on to form the band Cursive. Though the band remained his primary focus between the years 1995 and 1997 , Oberst continued to write and record acoustic solo material onto his father's four-track reel-to-reel in his parents' basement. Of the 70 songs reportedly recorded, two found their way onto the first official Bright Eyes release, an untitled 7" split with the band Squad Car 96.

By the time Commander Venus disbanded in 1997, Bright Eyes had become Oberst's main focus. In 1998, he released another 20 of the songs he had been stockpiling as the first official Bright Eyes album, A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997.^[2] The album saw Oberst beginning to experiment with drum machines, keyboards and other instruments. The sound of the album ranges from bleating vocals, which at the beginning were criticized as sounding like an inauthentic David Dondero,^{[citation needed]} to acoustic guitar songs and techno-style synthesizer instrumentals. Critical reaction was mixed, with All Music Guide saying that many of "the songs disintegrate as his vocals are reduced to the unintelligible babbling of a child. Any balance the music maintained up to that point, however fragile, is lost and so, more than likely, is the listener."^[3]

Saddle Creek put forth Letting Off the Happiness on November 2, 1998, an eleven track piece that boasted a much more focused and clear sound than the previous album. According to the Saddle Creek press release, it features members of Lullaby for the Working Class, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Of Montreal. Park Ave. bandmate Neely Jenkins contributed some vocals as well. It was predominantly recorded in the Oberst family basement in Omaha by Mike Mogis on an analog eight track reel to reel; some work also done at keyboardist Andy Lemaster's Athens, Georgia studio.^[4] Although almost all of the tracks feature a full band, "June on the West Coast" is performed with only acoustic guitar and vocals. "Padraic My Prince" gives a dramatic (but later revealed to be fictional) account of Conor's younger brother drowning in the bath.

In 2000, Bright Eyes released Fevers and Mirrors, a demonstration of the immense improvement in production quality and musical vision of the band. New instruments such as flute, piano, and accordion were introduced into the song arrangements. After "An Attempt to Tip the Scales", a mock radio interview takes place in which Oberst intentionally presents a strange, contradictory explanation of his attitude towards his music. The interview acknowledges criticisms of his lyrics as overblown and insincere, which had begun to appear as the popularity of the band increased, but responds by stating that the lyrics are meant for personal interpretation. There are reports that it is not Oberst at all in the interview, but Todd Fink of The Faint doing an impression of Oberst, and that Oberst himself can be heard in the background, swearing and commenting on the interview taking place.

In 2002 came Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground. The difference was immediate. Bright Eyes became one of the year's most celebrated "new" artists - despite having been recording under that moniker for a few years. They received national attention, including in several notable pieces in the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, Blender and Spin, many of which proclaimed Conor Oberst to be a significant new artist. The album sold over 100,000 copies in the first six months after its release,^{[citation needed]} a breakthrough for the label and for all of the band's peers at that time.

[edit] Recent years

During the 2004 election season, Bright Eyes toured with Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M. on the MoveOn.org "Vote for Change" tour, further pushing Bright Eyes into the public eye. Oberst sang numerous duets with the likes of Springsteen and Neil Young.

In early November 2004, two Bright Eyes singles, "Lua" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)", reached the two top spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales, a remarkable feat for a musician on an independent label. This was the first time this had happened on the list in seven years.

January 25, 2005 saw the release of two distinctly different Bright Eyes albums: the folky, analog sounding I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and the electronic/computer sounding Digital Ash in a Digital Urn. Both albums were met with success and generally good reviews, and an extensive world tour followed. Later in the year, a live album, Motion Sickness followed, documenting the I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning tour.

On May 6, 2005 Bright Eyes appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed the protest song "When the President Talks to God", a scathing rebuke of the Bush administration. A 7" vinyl single of the song was soon after sold at concerts and it was (and still is) available for download free of charge on the US iTunes Music Store.

Bright Eyes has actively protested against the Clear Channel media company. Oberst has vocally advocated the boycotting of all Clear Channel events, venues, and radio stations, perhaps most publicly at the Shortlist Awards show at Los Angeles's Wiltern Theatre on October 5, 2003.^[5] On November 9, 2005, Bright Eyes cancelled their November 12 show in St. Louis upon discovering that the venue was associated with Clear Channel.^[6]

Bright Eyes won Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for "When the President Talks to God" at the PLUG Independent Music Awards^[7] and a Special Recognition Award for the video for "First Day of My Life" at the 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards^[8]. Additionally, Time Magazine listed I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning as one of the top ten albums of 2005, alongside Gimme Fiction, a release by fellow indie sensation, Spoon^[9].

Bright Eyes received a pop-culture honor on May 20, 2006 in being mentioned in an episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Kevin Spacey. The show was making fun of Neil Young's not-so-subtle dislike of George W. Bush, specifically on his album Living With War. Young was joined by Dixie Chicks and "indie sensation Bright Eyes," both of whom have been very public in their criticism of Bush. Conor Oberst was played by Andy Samberg and Neil Young was played by Spacey.

[edit] Future plans

After releasing three albums in 2005, Oberst has stated that he does not want to release an album in 2006^[10]; however, Bright Eyes plans to release a new studio album on Saddle Creek in April 2007, with an EP entitled "Four Winds" on March 6th, 2007. About 25-30 tracks have been recorded in Portland, Oregon and New York City, with another session planned in Omaha, Nebraska. Contributors include Gillian Welch, Janet Weiss and M. Ward.^[11] A few of these new songs have found their way into the set lists of recent live performances. Among them are "Four Winds", "Soul Singer In A Session Band", "No One Would Riot For Less", and "I Must Belong Somewhere." Other tracks slated to appear on the new album include "Lime Tree", "Cartoon Blues", and likely first single, "Classic Cars."

On October 24, 2006, Bright Eyes released a compilation of rare tracks called Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005).

[edit] Band

[edit] Current members

Band members as of June 18, 2006.

• Daniel McCarthy - bass
• Mike Mogis - banjo, mandolin, pedal steel guitar, electric guitar
• Conor Oberst - vocals, guitar, keyboards,
• Anton Patzner - violin
• Maria Taylor - drums
• Nate Walcott - organ, trumpet, accordion

[edit] Past members and contributors

Shane Aspegren, Clark Baechle, Todd Baechle-Fink, Jeremy Barnes, Kevin Barnes, Rob Bass, Karen Becker, Jake Bellows, Eric Bemberger, Jason Boesel, Chris Brooks, Donna Carnes, Tim Casher,Paul Chambers, Gretta Cohn, Sean Cole, Britt Daniel, Stefanie Drootin, Sabrina Duim, Julee Dunekacke, Aaron Druery, Jim Eno, Orenda Fink, Margret Fish, Jason Flatowicz, Matt Focht, Emmylou Harris, Jesse Harris, Kyle Hugo, Jim James, Neely Jenkins, Simon Joyner, Pete Prohaska, Tim Kasher, Thomas Kluge, Joe Knapp, Tiffany Kowalski, Jiha Lee, Andy LeMaster, Andy Leverett, Clay Leverett, Jenny Lewis, Roger Lewis, Tim Luntzel, Matt Maginn, Daniel McCarthy, Alex McManus, A.J. Mogis, Stella Mogis, Katie Muth, Robb Nansel, Matt Oberst, Anton Patzner, Steve Pedersen, Gruff Rhys, Kimberly Salistean, Clint Schnase, Casey Scott, Blake Sennett, Ted Stevens, Mike Sweeney, Jeff Tafolla, Jimmy Tamborello, Maria Taylor, M. Ward, Janet Weiss, Gillian Welch, Nick White, Nick Zinner

[edit] Discography

Main article: Bright Eyes discography

A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997 January, 1998	Letting Off the Happiness November 2, 1998	Fevers and Mirrors May 29, 2000	Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground August 13, 2002
A Christmas Album 2002	I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning January 25, 2005	Digital Ash in a Digital Urn January 25, 2005	Motion Sickness: Live Recordings December 1, 2005
Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005) October 24, 2006

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Conor Oberst
• Desaparecidos
• Saddle Creek
• Team Love
• Lindsay Flor

[edit] External links

• Bright Eyes official website maintained by Saddle Creek.
• The Story Is In The Soil, a fansite linked to the official website.
• ContrastandCompare, a fansite offering tabs and discussion.
• Live concert January 29, 2005 on NPR's All Songs Considered, also two songs and interview. (RealPlayer, Windows Media Player)
• Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
• Bright Eyes on MySpace.com
• An extremely critical review of "Digital Ash in a Digital Urn" By Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Saddle Creek Records
Artists
Azure Ray | Beep Beep | Bright Eyes | Broken Spindles | Criteria | Cursive | Desaparecidos | Eric Bachmann | The Faint | The Good Life Ladyfinger (ne) | Maria Taylor | Mayday | Neva Dinova | Now It's Overhead | Orenda Fink | Son, Ambulance | Sorry About Dresden | Two Gallants
Related artists
The '89 Cubs | The Bruces | Commander Venus | Consafos | Gabardine | Head of Femur | Little Brazil | Lullaby for the Working Class | Park Ave. Polecat | Rilo Kiley | Slowdown Virginia | Smashmouth | Tilly and the Wall | We'd Rather Be Flying | The White Octave |
Related topics
The Cog Factory | Conor Oberst | Lagniappe | Mike Mogis | Music of Nebraska | Presto! Recording Studios | Robb Nansel | Saddle Creek 50 Simon Joyner | Sokol Auditorium | Spend an Evening with Saddle Creek | Team Love Records | Tim Kasher