Conor Oberst (album)

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 4, 2008
RecordedJanuary – February 2008 at Valle Mistico
Genre Folk rock, indie folk, country rock
Length42:00
Label Merge Records
Producer Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst chronology
The Soundtrack to My Movie
(1996)
Conor Oberst
(2008)
Gentleman's Pact
(2008)

Conor Oberst is the fourth solo studio album by Conor Oberst, of the band Bright Eyes, which was released on August 4, 2008 by Merge Records. [1] The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at #37 [2] and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200. It sold 98,000 copies in the US as of August 2009. [3]

Contents

Production

The album was recorded in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico between January and February 2008. A temporary studio was created in a mountain villa called Valle Místico at the outskirts of town. Conor Oberst was produced by Conor Oberst and engineered by long-time associate Andy LeMaster. A new band was assembled for the recording, which came to be known as The Mystic Valley Band. The result is Oberst's fourth solo album, and his first in twelve years, following Water (1993), Here's to Special Treatment (1994) and The Soundtrack to My Movie (1996). In that time he has recorded and performed in many bands and musical projects including Commander Venus, Park Ave., Desaparecidos, and most notably Bright Eyes. The song "Moab" was number 31 on Rolling Stone 's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. [4]

Track listing

All songs by Conor Oberst, except where noted.

  1. "Cape Canaveral" 4:04
  2. "Sausalito" 3:10
  3. "Get-Well-Cards" 3:33
  4. "Lenders in the Temple" 4:35
  5. "Danny Callahan" 3:58
  6. "I Don’t Want to Die (In the Hospital)" 3:32
  7. "Eagle on a Pole" 4:42
  8. "NYC - Gone, Gone" 1:11
  9. "Moab" 3:36
  10. "Valle Místico (Ruben’s Song)" (Ruben Mendez Hernandez) 0:49
  11. "Souled Out!!!" (Oberst, Jason Boesel) 3:32
  12. "Milk Thistle" 5:21

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Billboard (not rated) [6]
Crawdaddy! (favorable) [7]
Drowned in Sound 8/10 [8]
Paste 80/100 [9]
Pitchfork Media 7.3/10 [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Time A− [14]

Entertainment Weekly said that on the album, "Conor sounds like Bright Eyes, only heightened--brighter, if you will: He's emo balladeer, country rocker, and ferocious folkie rolled into one." [15]

Track information

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2008)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [16] 63
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [17] 52
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [18] 35
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [19] 73
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [20] 37
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [21] 26
Scottish Albums (OCC) [22] 39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [23] 40
UK Albums (OCC) [24] 37
US Billboard 200 [25] 15
US Digital Albums (Billboard) [26] 3
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [27] 3
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [28] 3
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [29] 1

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bright Eyes (band)</span> American indie rock band

Bright Eyes is an American indie rock band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, arranger, composer and trumpet and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating line-up of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene.

<i>Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground</i> 2002 studio album by Bright Eyes

Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is the fourth studio album by Bright Eyes and the 46th release of Saddle Creek Records. The band made its national television debut in support of the album, performing "The Trees Get Wheeled Away" on the Late Show with David Letterman.

<i>Fevers and Mirrors</i> 2000 studio album by Bright Eyes

Fevers and Mirrors is the third studio album by American indie band Bright Eyes, recorded in 1999 and released on May 29, 2000. It was the 32nd release of the Omaha, Nebraska-based record label Saddle Creek Records. The album was released later in 2000 in the United Kingdom as the inaugural release from Wichita Recordings.

<i>Letting Off the Happiness</i> 1998 studio album by Bright Eyes

Letting Off the Happiness is the second studio album released by the indie rock band Bright Eyes. The album was released on November 2, 1998. It was the first release by Bright Eyes to feature and be produced by Mike Mogis, now a permanent member of the band. A vinyl re-release of the album was included in the Bright Eyes Vinyl Box Set in 2012. Guest musicians include members of Cursive, Tilly and the Wall, and Elephant 6 collective's Neutral Milk Hotel and of Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Oberst</span> American musician (born 1980)

Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint, Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Monsters of Folk, and Better Oblivion Community Center. Oberst was named the Best Songwriter of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.

<i>Digital Ash in a Digital Urn</i> 2005 studio album by Bright Eyes

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is the seventh studio album by American band Bright Eyes, released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records, the same day as their sixth album I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. It peaked at number 15 in the US and 43 in the UK. In US it has sold 268,000 units. In 2007 it was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association, which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe. In contrast to the acoustic nature of I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is more electronic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lua (song)</span> 2004 single by Bright Eyes

"Lua" is a single by Bright Eyes released in October 2004. Appearing on the album, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, the song deals with two people as they struggle through depression, addiction, and an interminable night. Conor Oberst appears alone on the track, on vocals and acoustic guitar.

<i>Four Winds</i> (EP) 2007 EP by Bright Eyes

Four Winds is an EP by the indie rock band Bright Eyes, that was released on March 6, 2007. The title track is the first single from their album Cassadaga. The other 5 tracks are exclusive b-sides from the 2006 recording sessions. It is marketed as being "quietly enchanting" and including "a wandering country charm and all of the story-telling seductiveness of earlier work. The song "Four Winds" was ranked #5 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.

<i>Cassadaga</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Bright Eyes

Cassadaga is the eighth studio album by Bright Eyes, released in the UK on April 9, 2007, and in the US on April 10. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list. The album is named after the town of Cassadaga, Florida. Z Berg of the Like, Sherri DuPree and Stacy King of Eisley, and singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata all appear on this album. The first single, "Four Winds", was released on March 6, 2007, taken from the Four Winds EP, which contains five B-sides not on Cassadaga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band</span> American band

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band is an American band consisting of Conor Oberst and his backing band. The band is composed of Nik Freitas (guitar), Taylor Hollingsworth (guitar), Macey Taylor (bass), Nate Walcott (keyboards/organ) and Jason Boesel (drums). The band was formed to back Oberst on his 2008 solo album but soon evolved into a band of its own with all members singing and providing songs for 2009's Outer South.

<i>Outer South</i> 2009 studio album by Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Outer South is the fifth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst and the second to be credited to Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. It is Oberst's first solo album to include songs written and sung by his bandmates. Nik Freitas, Taylor Hollingsworth and Jason Boesel each contributed two songs apiece, and bassist Macey Taylor sings a song written for him by Oberst. The album was released through Merge Records on May 5, 2009.

<i>Monsters of Folk</i> (album) 2009 album by Monsters of Folk

Monsters of Folk is the self-titled first and only studio album by American indie rock band Monsters of Folk, a group that consists of the artists Jim James, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, and Mike Mogis. Originally slated for release in 2010, the album was released through Shangri-La Music and Rough Trade on September 22, 2009. "Dear God " samples Trevor Dandy's 1970 gospel song "Is There Any Love."

<i>The Peoples Key</i> 2011 studio album by Bright Eyes

The People's Key is the ninth studio album by American band Bright Eyes. The album was recorded in Omaha, Nebraska at ARC Studios, produced by Mike Mogis, and engineered by Mogis and Andy LeMaster. The album was released on February 15, 2011, lead singer Conor Oberst's 31st birthday, by Saddle Creek Records. Prior to its official release, the album was available to stream online in its entirety, as part of NPR's "First Listen" series.

<i>Im Wide Awake, Its Morning</i> 2005 studio album by Bright Eyes

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is the sixth studio album by American band Bright Eyes, released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records.

<i>The Lions Roar</i> (album) 2012 studio album by First Aid Kit

The Lion's Roar is the second studio album by Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit. It was produced by Mike Mogis and features contributions from Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Nate Walcott, and The Felice Brothers. The album was released on 18 January 2012.

<i>Upside Down Mountain</i> 2014 studio album by Conor Oberst

Upside Down Mountain is the sixth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on May 19, 2014, through Nonesuch Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better Oblivion Community Center</span> American indie rock duo

Better Oblivion Community Center was an American indie rock superduo consisting of musicians Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers. They released their self-titled debut album on January 24, 2019, through Dead Oceans.

<i>Better Oblivion Community Center</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Better Oblivion Community Center

Better Oblivion Community Center is the only studio album by American indie rock duo Better Oblivion Community Center, composed of Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers. The album was released on January 24, 2019, through Dead Oceans.

<i>Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was</i> 2020 studio album by Bright Eyes

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was is the tenth studio album by American band Bright Eyes. The album marked the band's first release in nearly a decade, following The People's Key in 2011. It was released by Dead Oceans on August 21, 2020, and it was their first album not released by Saddle Creek Records. The album was recorded at Electro-Vox and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska.

<i>Five Dice, All Threes</i> 2024 studio album by Bright Eyes

Five Dice, All Threes is the eleventh studio album by American band Bright Eyes, released by Dead Oceans on September 20, 2024. The album features collaborations with Cat Power and Matt Berninger. It was supported by two singles: "Bells and Whistles" and "Rainbow Overpass".

References

  1. "Bright Eyes man reveals solo album details". NME . 22 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  2. "The Official UK Albums Chart for the week ending 16 August 2008". ChartsPlus (364). Milton Keynes: IQ Ware Ltd: 5–8.
  3. "Billboard". 2009-08-29.
  4. "The 100 Best Songs of 2008". Rolling Stone (December 25, 2008). Retrieved 2008-12-25
  5. "Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst | Album". AllMusic . Retrieved Aug 5, 2024.
  6. "Conor Oberst". Billboard . Archived from the original on 2009-05-13. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  7. "Conor Oberst, Bright Eyes, Self-Titled, Review: Conor Oberst - Reviews - Crawdaddy!". Crawdaddy.wolfgangsvault.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  8. "Album Review: Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst". Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
  9. "Conor Oberst: Conor Oberst". Pastemagazine.com. 4 August 2008.
  10. "Conor Oberst: Conor Oberst". Pitchfork .
  11. "Conor Oberst : Conor Oberst : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Jul 31, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved Aug 5, 2024.
  12. Modell, Josh (August 2008). "Hi, My Name Is..." SPIN. p. 114. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. Harris, Sophie (2 August 2008). "Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst; Rock". The Times. p. 22.
  14. "The Short List of Things to Do: Conor Oberst". Time .
  15. Tucker, Ken (August 8, 2008), "Conor Oberst". Entertainment Weekly. (1005)
  16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 207.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst" (in German). Hung Medien.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  19. "Dutchcharts.nl – Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  21. "Norwegiancharts.com – Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst". Hung Medien.
  22. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  23. "Swedishcharts.com – Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst". Hung Medien.
  24. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  25. "Conor Oberst Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  26. "Conor Oberst Chart History (Digital Albums)".[ dead link ] Billboard.
  27. "Conor Oberst Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard.
  28. "Conor Oberst Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  29. "Conor Oberst Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.