BRIGHT EYES BIOGRAPHY

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Bright Eyes Biography
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In the past few years since the release of Bright Eyes’ fourth full-length album, Lifted or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground, the Bright Eyes tale has taken many unexpected twists and turns. Conor Oberst and his ever-changing line up of musical comrades appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn,” and were a prominent addition to the MTV2-televised 2003 Shortlist Awards. In October of 2004 he was invited to join Bruce Springsteen and REM on an arena tour of swing states in advance of the presidential election. His performance at those shows sealed his reputation as a creative force, able to command the attention of thousands of rock fans with, at times, just his voice and an acoustic guitar.

Over the past two years the young musician has found himself hurled from his indie rock enclave onto the world’s stage. While reaching new heights of commercial success, he was hailed by fans as the finest songwriter of his generation. But he remained, and remains, an artist unwilling to leave his hometown label for any major label’s promises.

All the while, critical acclaim has spread far and wide with Bright Eyes selling out several hugely lauded tours and finding an ever swelling and ravenous audience throughout the world. Since Lifted, Oberst has released an almost constant stream of new material for collaborative EPs, tribute albums, and charity records. He ventured into the studio with Nebraska folk-pop outfit Tilly And The Wall, co-producing their debut album Wild Like Children and then releasing it on his newly established record label, Team Love. And yet, despite all of this recording and performing, it is his songwriting that has taken unmitigated precedence.

Conor’s new songs are undeniably his finest to date. These new compositions have been rolled into two separate, cohesive records: I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, which will simultaneously be released on January 24th. While a plethora of this new material was born from an early 2003 relocation to Manhattan, 2004 saw Conor’s return to Presto! Studios in Lincoln to record with long time collaborator and producer Mike Mogis.

Recording since the age of 13 and tagged “rock’s boy genius” by the music press for the past few years, these two albums provide unequivocal proof that the now 24 year-old Oberst belongs to the lineage of great American songwriters. These albums are a soundly articulated slice of modern American life rolled into two very different records. The new songs are bursting with all of the heartfelt poetry for which Bright Eyes records have earned their acclaim. The rough edges are still there — the splintering of a note held too long, the crack of the voice as it reaches slightly too far, the inadvertent thump of a thumb against a fret — but there is a glorious new level of depth and texture to the writing and delivery. Recorded back-to-back and scheduled to be released simultaneously, more out of necessity than any grand art plan, the two albums work in tandem to elucidate both sides of Conor’s recent creative output.

The first (as in, the first to be laid down on tape) is titled I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning; a country-tinged mélange of Conor’s finest acoustic songs, featuring guest vocal appearances from Emmylou Harris and Jim James (My Morning Jacket).

The second album Oberst recorded, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, is a more produced, band-centric album featuring cameo appearances by Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

As has become expected of Bright Eyes recordings, the albums feature an array of talented comrades: Jesse Harris, Jason Boesel of Rilo Kiley, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, Nick White of Tilly And The Wall, Matt Maginn of Cursive, Clay Leverett and Andy LeMaster of Now It’s Overhead, former The Good Life member Jiha Lee, Maria Taylor of Azure Ray, Clark Beachle of The Faint, Alex McMannus of The Bruces, Jake Bellows of Neva Dinova and Jimmy Tamborello of The Postal Service.

On October 24th, Saddle Creek will release Noise Floor, a collection of Bright Eyes singles, one-offs, unreleased tracks, collaborations and covers recorded between 1998 and 2005. Variously recorded to cassette four-track, minidisc, reel-to-reel tape machine, ADAT and computer, these songs trace Bright Eyes' evolution from basement project to band of international repute. Many of these gems previously lost to out-of-print obscurity are hereby resurrected.

News of this release should thrill fans eagerly awaiting the follow up to 2005’s breakthrough albums: I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning & Digital Ash In A Digital Urn. 2006 has been a comparatively quiet year for Conor Oberst + co. There were no US or European tours, although the Canadians were treated to a lengthy tour in the early part of the summer, and the band made a couple of blistering festival appearances - Bonnaroo and their own free concert at Memorial Park in Omaha on June 17th. The comparative inactivity has allowed Conor and producer Mike Mogis to spend much of the year in the studio, recording in such exotic locales as New York City, Portland, Oregon and Lincoln, Nebraska. The Bright Eyes line-up for the new record includes full-timers Conor, Mike and Nate Walcott, as well as guest appearances from Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney and the wonderful Gillian Welch. Fans will have to wait until Spring of 2007 for the next proper full-length.

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Thanks to Ernest Klepeis ; Normalizzle@aim.com for submitting the biography.

Would you please submit the latest Bright Eyes biography to me? Thank You.

Review about Bright Eyes

*sigh of relief* | Reviewer: kate | 1/7/2008

Non-pretentious, breathtakingly honest, conor's music gives us hope that not all the music of our generation is flat and inevitably forgetable. I suppose all I can say is he who has found bright eyes has found a treasure.

. | Reviewer: jason | 1/3/2008

coner has probably been one of the most important bands i have ever discoverd. his lyrics are constatly condridicting with its ironys and oxymorons which make you acutually listen to whats being said instead of just listening to the melody. his music is very easy to relate to with his songs covering the entire spectrum of life to hanging in the gallows of alchoholic depression to the absolute endearment of love and romance. his music is raw and pashionate something that is shunned by modern "pop-music". this makes for a band that that many feel special to have in thier repetoire. although it has to be said that as you go into the back catalouge of is albums it can take a while to adjust to but but when you do it feels as if you've discovered gem and you will always hold close to you. in short bright eyes is one of the bands that you will always hold dear to you.

Unbelievable | Reviewer: Lexa | 11/16/2007

I started off listening to classic rock when I was young but in the thousands of bands I have listened to no one has ever made me feel and relate to music like Conor Oberst has. His music has the ability to make me laugh and cry on command. If I ever write a piece of poetry as beautiful or as powerful as his I will truly have accomplished something. Music is just as much lyrics as it is sounds. Bright Eyes is amazing.

Incredible. | Reviewer: A New Day | 10/28/2007

It's amazing how conor can project his emotions verbally. Not just screaming into the microphone.
He's imagination is at an immeasurable level and he's intelligent enough to make sense of it.
It's the tune, the lyrics, the unqiue voice and the man behind the micorphone that creates each song with meaning.
By far one of the best bands in the world.

Bright Eyes | Reviewer: Rae | 10/20/2007

Bright Eyes is one of the most influencial bands I've ever listened to. Conor is a huge inspiration to myself and many other aspiring songwriters/musicians all over the world.
I haven't been disappointed by one of Oberst's albums yet. And each upcoming album is a joy to wait for because you know it won't disappoint you.
But if you're an upcoming Bright Eyes fan, I suggest you start from his very first album/demo and make your way up. It's been extremely fun to watch Conor Oberst mature and grow with his music.

Good music is a rarity these days. | Reviewer: Leslie | 10/13/2007

Bright eyes has been a wonderful companion of mine for a couple of years now and I am so thankful that such a gift has been shared with the world. What ability to be able to convert emotion into words. Conor Oberst is a genius.

Visionary, prophetic. and evolving !!! | Reviewer: Brett Summey | 10/2/2007

Conner Oberst, teamed w mogis and nate walcott , are a rarity that comes along every 40 years. (Dylan) For those that don't get it, good, one less waisted tickets. For the others that are deeply touched and awed by his heart felt lyrics i relate. For years i never thoguht someone as relevant and thought provoking would enter into my life. I just back from seeing a few shows in Europe and had the pleasure to meet Conner and Mike. Two of the most kind and gentle guys you could meet. There warmth radiated ! I'm from nc, but flew out this weekend to see the L. A. show. Completley mind blowing !!! I want try and describe it because i can't, but for the people who truely appreciate his art and evolution as an artist, i have an amazing tape of the show. And i love the fact Conner doesn't care, or i wouldn't tape. (have somebody tape) I could write and write lyrics that are special to me and compleltey touch my heart but haven't got the time. I will say this, the song he encored in L.A. june, 29, at the Hollywood bowl is musically mind blowing and lrically astounding. He comes out swinging about poverty, katrina, and war , but most people just hear a loud song with a ripping solo by Mogis. Check song out on utube or i'll have it posted on my apple.com page soon ! love and mercies to all ! Brett

oh my god! | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/2/2007

bright eyes is the most amazing band EVER! i dont know how i ever lived without conor oberst's beautiful songs! i just started listening to bright eyes like 3 months ago, but i have totally fallen in love. i didnt know that music could mean so much to me. conor is such a beautiful songwriter, and bright eyes music is very close to my heart:)

and i dont even have all of their cds yet! im getting lifted tomorrow, cannot wait!!!!

Let's Not Shit Ourselves!!! | Reviewer: Jo$hy | 9/23/2007

Without a doubt,There's no one,and I mean,no one who can even come close to the genious musial virtuoso Oberst,I mean,Has anyone lived at all?
Most of the verses people don't quite understand is simply because they haven't gone through a couple of life's events,but when they come,They will realize how Oberst Premeditaded Their entire reaction before it even happened.
I would like to leave them with a quote,

" Now a mother takes loans out, sends her kids off to colleges.
Her family's reduced to names on a shopping list.
While, a coroner kneels beneath a great, wooden crucifix.
He knows there's worse things than being alone.
And so I've learned to retreat at the first sign of danger.
I mean, why wait around, if it's just to surrender?
An ambition, I've found, can lead only to failure.
I do not read the reviews.
No, I am not singing for you."

Take That,Anomymous!

Conor the next elliott smith? | Reviewer: nick | 9/22/2007

I think this writer is incredible, I just got into him now and he reminds me a lot of elliott smith, my favorite artist. Its amazing how the best writers can entertain so many with just there voice and guitar. Do you guys think conor is the next elliott smith?

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