Wednesday, May 13

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band - Outer South

2x 180-gram LPs
Gatefold packaging
Free digital download included


Audio Quality: 3.5/5
Song Quality: 4/5
Packaging: 4.5/5


Maybe Conor Oberst was getting tired of everyone calling him a boy genius, a modern-day Dylan, and/or the new voice of a generation. That's the only explanation I can come up with for the recent switch Mr. Oberst made from recording under the name Bright Eyes to releasing records using his birth name. The songs on this record and his previous "solo" release, simply titled Conor Oberst, are so vastly different from any previous Bright Eyes release (with the only possible exception being 2007's Cassadaga) that it simply can't be coincidence. Something is fundamentally different here, and it's not just the absence of long-time producer Mike Mogis. Conor has temporarily (I hope) put his angst aside and made a record that, for lack of a better term, is pretty straightforward fun. It's Oberst's earnest and mostly successful attempt to channel the fun and American spirit of Tom Petty. And it's good, but there's a but. I can greatly enjoy it for what it is, but I'd be way disappointed if it was anything more than an extension of the undeniably superior Bright Eyes. To draw a parallel, it's the exact same way I feel about the simultaneous existence of The Raconteurs and The White Stripes. Very enjoyable, but only when considered an offshoot of something greater.

Though this album has some great songs, it's not quite as consistent as his previous solo album. That's not very surprising, considering that it's a few tracks longer and that Oberst had other band members write and sing some of the songs. Having said that , I must give credit here, because the songs that were written by Nik Freitas, Taylor Hollingsworth, and Jason Boesel are actually quite good. At the very least, they fit the vibe of the album perfectly, and you don't feel like Oberst was just doing them a favor by putting their tracks on the record... like what Rivers Cuomo did with the last Weezer album. In fact, Taylor Hollingsworth's contributions, "Air Mattress" and "Snake Hill" are both legit album highlights. Well done, Taylor. Yes, the weakest tracks on this record definitely belong to Oberst, with "Cabbage Town" and "White Shoes" coming off a bit cliche and insincere. Unusual and unsettling to hear this from him, to say the least. However, in Conors defense, he also wrote some monster songs for this album, with "Slowly (Oh So Slowly)," "Nikorette," "Spoiled," and "Roosevelt Room" all deserving of the highest marks. Overall, it's a fun album that I would recommend to existing fans of Conor Oberst and his Bright Eyes catalog. However, if you've never heard any of that stuff before, my GOD please go out and pick up Lifted or I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. Those albums justify all the hype around this guy, while this album lets us hear that genius let loose and have a moment of fun in his seemingly otherwise tortured existence.

Usually Mr. Oberst's output sounds excellent on vinyl. I regret to inform you that this record sounds decent at best. It's a clean pressing and there's nothing especially offensive about any of the mixes, but they just don't have the sonic separation that I need to hear in a great record. The mix is pretty consistently cluttered and lacking in sonic depth and width. Naturally, some of the songs with more sparce arrangements sound better than the heavier tracks. It sounds to me that it just wasn't given the time and attention necessary for a proper vinyl mix and master. It also definitely sounds like it wasn't recorded, mixed, or mastered analog. Though I can't say this is a bad vinyl, I'm gonna only recommend it for big fans of vinyl and/or Conor. The rest of you can take a pass on this and just grab the CD or a download.

Package is pretty nice. Gatefold package, and you get two 180-gram LPs that are held in clear, thick plastic sleeves. You get a single paper insert that gives you all the lyrics and album credits. You also get a little piece of paper that gives you a free digital download of the entire album, so that's a big win right there. The free download makes the moderately high price tag of approx. $25 a bit easier to stomach, but as I said previously, this definitely is a purchase for the more serious fans out there.


As a side project, this is a fun deviation from what we've come to expect from Bright Eyes. And as long as it exists as a side project, fans of Conor Oberst's songwriting can find some real pleasure in hearing this eternally angry young man finally letting loose and enjoying himself. It's a fun change of pace. But this time next year, we better have a new Bright Eyes record. Otherwise this "fun" shit could start getting old.

Buy the LP from Amazon.com
Buy the LP from InSound.com

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Posted by matthew: at 6:00 AM
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8 comments:

  1. I don't know. I was a huge Bright Eyes fan and was definitely resistant at first with the new sound on the self-titled album, but over the past few months, I've come to appreciate it a lot more. No, the lyrics aren't always as cynical as Bright Eyes, but don't you think after 10 years or so of writing negative songs that he deserves more than a year of writing "fun" songs?

    "Otherwise this 'fun' shit could start getting old." To be honest, one of the major reasons I got more into the newer style was because I wanted Conor to experience some fun. The depressing songs get a little old themselves over the years, no matter how talented Conor is a wording things. And he is extremely talented.

    Speaking of such, the only songs written by Oberst on Outer South that sound "fun" are Cabbage Town and White Shoes. Allow me to explain, from a songwriter's perspective, why the rest don't sound very fun to me.

    Slowly (Oh So Slowly):
    I doubt it was fun to write about having so much potential, yet finding yourself with very little motivation. Things are ending and friends are leaving, but all you're left with are the memories.

    To All The Lights In The Windows:
    This one is a toss-up. I enjoy picking on evangelicals, but at the same time I wish they wouldn’t be so closed mined. I’m not sure exactly what the song is about when it mixes in the female in the choruses. The only thing I can think of is that she believes in Christianity and Conor is saying that he doesn’t and all he can do is make a plea to the natural things around him for her sake. But he admits that he would like her gone from his memory. That doesn’t sound very happy to me.

    Ten Women:
    Going through ten new relationships, but still being hung up on someone else the entire time doesn’t seem to be a happy song to me. And I know Conor isn’t cynical in his previous love songs. I’ve seen him cry while playing Breezy on stage, which is from the Gentlemen’s Pact EP written during his time with the Mystic Valley Band.

    Nikorette:
    Writing about people not being able to enjoy what they have in life instead of always wanting more, always living in tomorrow instead of today would make me depressed. How it can all be gone in a split second, but no one seems to care because they’re too busy planning for the future.

    Spoiled:
    This one is similar to Nikorette, but the person here actually has all they could want, but they still want more. That’s even more depressing.

    Roosevelt Room:
    This is a song that reminds me a lot of Bright Eyes, if not in style, then at least in lyrics. I don’t know why you didn’t give it special mention. It definitely got my attention when I first heard the album. I don’t know any reason why it would be considered a happy song.

    I Got The Reason #2:
    This is one of the best songs on the album in my opinion. It’s the most heartfelt and introspective song at least. Driving on a Sunday morning and hearing the church bells ringing wishing you belonged to something instead of being persecuted by those who claim they’re the ones being persecuted. Trying to forge your own way and reason for living instead of listening to the huddled masses. The music to this is very simplistic, yes, but still amazing.

    And that’s what Conor set out to do. In interviews, he said he’d much rather write simple stuff. That’s the difference between when he’s with Mike (Bright Eyes) or solo (Conor Oberst). And as much as I love Bright Eyes musically and lyrically, I wouldn’t be disappointed in the least bit if the Mystic Valley Band were permanent. But Conor also said he’s not done with Bright Eyes. Both bands seem to be on par with each other musically and lyrically. It’s just that there are different agendas for each. Conor admitted in an interview that his songs weren’t going to be as straightforward lyrically anymore since no matter how straightforward he was, people would still misunderstand what he was trying to say. So a lot of his lyrics have taken on more subterfuge than before.

    I just got my vinyl yesterday though. I can’t really comment much on it since I’ve not listened to it completely yet.
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  2. Wow. Quite a comment here... thanks for such a thoughtful response.

    To be fair, I didn't examine his lyrical content extensively when I called the album "fun." I meant that it strikes me as having a more free and fun musical vibe from start to finish. The collaborative effort especially adds to this feel. I'm all for him making fun music, and my final comment about this "fun shit getting old" was mostly sarcastic. I thoroughly enjoy all the new stuff, but to me, it's no Bright Eyes. That's all I'm saying.

    The mistake I made was not specifying the difference between him being fun MUSICALLY vs. him being fun LYRICALLY. You are correct that his lyrics at times are still pretty dreary. I mostly miss the musical diversity that we used to get from one Bright Eyes record to another. From Fevers & Mirrors to Lifted to I'm Wide Awake to Digital Ash... these were all incredibly different listening experiences, and I loved the evolution in his production. This music is fun and spirited (musically, remember), but I'm just missing that diversity and originality that I got used to hearing from one Bright Eyes record to another.

    And lastly, I DID give a special mention to Roosevelt Room. Great song.

    Thanks again for such a great response.
    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll agree with that. I always loved listening to the differing styles from record to record. I figured that's the kind of fun you meant and from watching the One of My Kind documentary, he does seem to be having a lot of fun in the Mystic Valley Band.

    I think for myself, I can get into all the different types of styles he plays, but at the end of the day, I really just enjoy the lyrics and simple guitar; that is, the basic core of the song before it becomes a band experience.

    I didn't notice the mentioning of Roosevelt Room, but then again, I did just get off of work and was looking forward to bed. I was actually trying to tab out some of the songs on Outer South when I ran across your blog. :) Oh, and I guess the reason Roosevelt Room sounds more like Bright Eyes is because it was actually written and played as a Bright Eyes song in 2007.

    And I might have had a one-up on you with the lyrics since I got a hold of the mp3s around April 15th and have been listening to them since then. And I'm a very analytical person as well when it comes to lyrics and figuring out what they’re trying to say. For me, they make or break the song and I love every little turn of phrase.

    But it’s nice to meet another Oberst fan who also enjoys vinyl. I get to go see him in Louisville on the 30th of June. Hopefully I can pick up whatever ep is there since Gentleman’s Pact slipped right through my hands in Chicago. Had I known that it was the Mystic Valley Band, I would have snatched it up instantly. Now I’m just stuck with the mp3s.
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  4. Oh, and regarding the vinyl, what do you think of the thicker ones? I'm really new to the whole record thing, but on my record player, the thicker ones seem to play better with less squeaking. I bought a new copy of Abbey Road and it's thinner than my Bright Eyes records (although, it does fit on one vinyl instead of two), but it squeaks on the beginning tracks when I the needle is further out to the edge. I figured it was because the needle was waying it down too much when it was out that far since it doesn't do that on my Bright Eyes/Mystic Valley Band vinyls.
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  5. I'll be seeing Conor this summer in NYC on the 4th of July. Free show at Battery Park... cannot wait.

    And yes, as a general rule, the heavier the record, the cleaner and quieter the pressing. The record should also last longer and not degrade as quickly. Many modern pressings / reissues are on 180-gram vinyl, which is probably the weight of your heavier albums. Earlier records were typically 120-gram, and that's probably what your Abbey Road is.

    I'll be reviewing some Bright Eyes vinyl here very soon. Be sure to check back!!!
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  6. You picked nikorette and slowly as the standouts on this album? I suggest you give it a few more listens, I think you'll actually find that the songs you neglected to mention at all are the real treasures from this record. "difference is time" and the new "eagle on a pole" were great additions by the drummer. "I got a reason 2" and "white shoes" are both epic. Also, you can't hate on Oberst for not writing the same old 'fevers and mirrors' motifs that the scene high school crowd relates to. Listening to his old stuff reminds me of sophomoric angst I felt as a teenager, but I've grown up and listening to the same dreary "movement of a hand-esque' tracks lose their flare after a couple years of listening. Conor has grown up and isn't going to write anymore generic philosophy 101 songs like "the arc of time" or "waste of paint." He is in a rock band now, and is playing music that is fun to play and catchy (and still well written and structured). I think people are too worried about his return to bright eyes. They were a good band, but Conor is done wearing eyeliner and acting akward for the sake of being an artist. No big deal, I just think the MVB are a huge step forward for him as an artist.
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  7. outer south is amazing and i'll be seeing conor 3 times this July.
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  8. Breezy is my song -- Gentleman's Pact EP?
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