Upside Down Mountain

Last updated
Upside Down Mountain
Upside Down Mountain album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Conor Oberst
ReleasedMay 19, 2014 (2014-05-19)
Genre Americana, folk rock, indie rock
Length54:17
Label Nonesuch
Producer Jonathan Wilson and Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst chronology
Outer South
(2009)		Upside Down Mountain
(2014)		 Ruminations
(2016)

Upside Down Mountain is the sixth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on May 19, 2014, through Nonesuch Records. [1]

Contents

The record, according to Oberst, is a return to an earlier style of his songwriting. He explains that the album is about language:

“It’s more intimate or personal, if you will. Even if all my songs come from the same place, you make different aesthetic decisions along the way. For me, language is a huge part of why I make music. I’m not the greatest guitar player or piano player—I’m not the greatest singer, either—but I feel if I can come up with melodies I like that are fused with poetry I’m proud of, then that’s what I bring to the table. That’s why I’m able to do this.” [2]

Recording

Oberst and Jonathan Wilson began recording exploratory demos at Wilson's Fivestar Studios in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Oberst continued recording in his native Omaha, Nebraska with Andy LeMaster at ARC Studios in late 2013. Oberst then rejoined with Wilson to continue recording at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

Promotion

In support of the album, Oberst toured with Dawes in the spring and summer of 2014. Dawes was also the band backing Oberst during his performances on the tour. [2] [3]

On May 19, 2014, Oberst performed "Zigzagging Toward the Light" with Dawes on The Tonight Show. [4]

Release

Upside Down Mountain was released on May 19, 2014, through Nonesuch Records and is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download. [1]

On May 11, 2014, the entire album was made available to stream online through NPR's First Listen website. [5]

Packaging

The cover art is a painting by Oberst's friend Ian Felice entitled The Creation of the Bulls. [2]

Reception

Critical

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 75/100 [6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk 95% [7]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Consequence of Sound B [3]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Upside Down Mountain received largely positive reviews from music critics upon its release. At Metacritic, they assign a "weighted average" rating out of 100 to selected independent ratings and reviews from mainstream critics, and the album has received an Metascore of a 75, based on 31 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [6]

David Fricke of Rolling Stone rated the album four out of five stars, dubbing it "a sumptuous immersion in Seventies California folk pop...the most immediately charming album he has ever made." [9] At The New York Times , Jon Pareles gave a positive review of the album, stating that Oberst's "new songs are focused and aphoristic, earnestly reflecting on life without getting too precious." [10] In addition, Pareles writes that Oberst's "empathy, his unassumingly natural melodies, the quavery sincerity in his voice, the plain-spoken but telling lyrics that he’s now careful to deliver clearly." [10] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic rated the album four out of five stars, calling it "a conscious step toward maturation, both in its studio sculpture - Oberst has never spent so much time laboring over arrangements as he does here - and compositional construction." [8]

Commercial performance

Upside Down Mountain debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 11,000 copies in its first week. It also debuted at No. 6 on the Top Rock Albums chart and No. 1 on the Folk Albums chart. It marks Oberst's first No. 1 on the Folk Albums chart. [11] The album has sold 39,000 copies in the United States as of September 2016. [12]

Track listing

All songs written by Conor Oberst [13]

No.TitleLength
1."Time Forgot"4:34
2."Zigzagging Toward the Light"4:03
3."Hundreds of Ways"4:28
4."Artifact #1"4:23
5."Lonely at the Top"3:45
6."Enola Gay"2:22
7."Double Life"3:56
8."Kick"3:39
9."Night at Lake Unknown"4:15
10."You Are Your Mother's Child"3:49
11."Governor's Ball"4:18
12."Desert Island Questionnaire"5:41
13."Common Knowledge"4:59
Total length:54:17

Charts

ChartPeak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [14] 39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [15] 54
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [16] 154
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [17] 88
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [18] 54
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [19] 64
UK Albums (OCC) [20] 55
US Billboard 200 [21] 19
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [22] 6
US Digital Albums (Billboard) [23] 13
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [24] 6
US Folk Albums (Billboard) [25] 1

Personnel

Credits adapted from Nonesuch Records: [13]

Related Research Articles

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

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>A Ghost Is Born</i> 2004 studio album by Wilco

A Ghost Is Born is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Wilco. Released on June 22, 2004, it features singer Jeff Tweedy on lead guitar more than any previous Wilco album. The band streamed the album online free, and offered a five-song EP to purchasers.

<i>Spirit</i> (Jewel album) 1998 studio album by Jewel

Spirit is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on November 17, 1998, by Atlantic Records. Singles include "Hands", "Down So Long", and a newly recorded version of "Jupiter", followed by a remix of "What's Simple Is True" to promote Jewel's debut film Ride with the Devil. In addition, a one-track CD containing a live version of "Life Uncommon" was released to music stores in hopes to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity.

<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">Jason Boesel</span> American musician based in Los Angeles

Jason Lyon Boesel is an American musician, songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles. He was the drummer for Rilo Kiley and has also played with The Elected and Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band.

<i>The Information</i> (Beck album) 2006 studio album by Beck

The Information is the tenth studio album by American musician Beck, released on October 3, 2006 by Interscope Records. It was produced and mixed by Nigel Godrich, with whom Beck recorded Mutations (1998) and Sea Change (2002). Recording took place from 2003 to 2006, with Beck concurrently working on 2005's Guero with the Dust Brothers. The album received positive reviews from critics and made several publications' year-end lists.

<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, a community of mediums and followers of spiritualism. Z Berg of the Like, Sherri DuPree and Stacy King of Eisley as well as solo artist Rachael Yamagata all appear on this album. The first single, "Four Winds" was released on March 6, 2007, from the Four Winds EP with five B-sides not on Cassadaga.

<i>Sky Blue Sky</i> 2007 studio album by Wilco

Sky Blue Sky is the sixth studio album by American rock band Wilco, released on May 15, 2007 by Nonesuch Records. Originally announced on January 17, 2007 at a show in Nashville, Tennessee, it was the band's first studio album with guitarist Nels Cline and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. Before its release, the band streamed the entire album on its official website and offered a free download of "What Light".

<i>Conor Oberst</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Conor Oberst

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. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at #37 and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200. It sold 98,000 copies in the US as of August 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Mills</span> American musician

Blake Mills is an American songwriter, guitarist, producer, and composer based in California.

<i>Corazón</i> (Santana album) 2014 studio album by Santana

Corazón is the twenty-third studio album by Santana, released on May 6, 2014.

<i>Ruminations</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Conor Oberst

Ruminations is the seventh solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on October 14, 2016 on Nonesuch Records. An expanded edition of the album featuring five bonus tracks was released on July 23, 2021.

<i>Salutations</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Conor Oberst

Salutations is the eighth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on March 17, 2017 on Nonesuch Records. Ten of the tracks originally appeared on Ruminations in acoustic form.

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

Better Oblivion Community Center is the debut 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>Dropout Boogie</i> 2022 studio album by the Black Keys

Dropout Boogie is the eleventh studio album by American rock duo the Black Keys. It was released on May 13, 2022, by Easy Eye Sound and Nonesuch Records. The album was preceded by the release of two singles: the lead single "Wild Child", which was released on March 10, 2022, in conjunction with the album announcement, and "It Ain't Over", which was released on April 27, 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "Amazon.com - Upside Down Mountain - Music".
  2. 1 2 3 "Conor Oberst's New Album, "Upside Down Mountain," Due May 19, Available to Pre-Order; Download Two Tracks Now". Nonesuch Records. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  3. 1 2 Cosores, Philip (May 19, 2014). "Album Review- Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Watch: Conor Oberst Performs "Zigzagging Toward the Light" on "The Tonight Show," Gives Last.fm Session". Nonesuch Records. 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2014-05-22.
  5. ↑ Tom Moon (2014-05-11). "First Listen: Conor Oberst, 'Upside Down Mountain'". NPR . Retrieved 2014-05-19.
  6. 1 2 Metacritic. "Critic Reviews for Upside Down Mountain". CBS Interactive . Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ Doherty, Kelly (May 18, 2014). "Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain - Album Review". Absolute Punk . Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Upside Down Mountain - Conor Oberst". AllMusic . Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Fricke, David. "Conor Oberst 'Upside Down Mountain' Album Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. June 5, 2014 (1210): 70. ISSN   0035-791X . Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (May 19, 2014). "New Releases From Conor Oberst and Brantley Gilbert". The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ White, Emily (May 29, 2014). "Coldplay Collects Third No. 1 On Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Upside Down Mountain - Nonesuch Records". Nonesuch Records . Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  14. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Conor Oberst – Upside Down Mountain" (in German). Hung Medien.
  15. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Conor Oberst – Upside Down Mountain" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  16. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Conor Oberst – Upside Down Mountain" (in French). Hung Medien.
  17. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Conor Oberst – Upside Down Mountain" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  18. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  19. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Conor Oberst – Upside Down Mountain". Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ "Conor Oberst | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  21. ↑ "Conor Oberst Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "Conor Oberst Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard.
  23. ↑ "Conor Oberst Chart History (Digital Albums)". Billboard.
  24. ↑ "Conor Oberst Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  25. ↑ "Conor Oberst Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.