Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

by

Bright Eyes

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Upon reading many of the reviews of "Lifted," I felt obligated to scribble a review of my own. Disenchantment of this record appears to be widespread. Many resort to personal attacks, while others' attempts at actual criticism falls short of substandard. Now, I'll step off my soapbox and allow Oberst to step up.

Most complaints about Oberst arise from his quavering vocals and self-indulgent writing style. I'll be the first to admit that this sort of music is an acquired taste. The first time I listened to Oberst would also be the last time I listened to him for over a year. I was sitting in my room with a group of people, and one of my friends put on Fevers and Mirrors. One caveat, you can never appreciate Bright Eyes in a crowd. This is a very solitary listening experience. But, back to the vocals and style...

From a subjective standpoint, most are put off by his general intensity. They'll term this intensity, "pretension." Yet, I must say, it's because people aren't quite sure what to make of the subject matter. His "pretension" is in actuality an attempt at pure and unadulterated writing. In trying to compare Oberst to other musicians, it's a feat short of impossible, as Oberst isn't comparable to other musicians. He's comparable only to other writers. That, I argue, is why people dislike him.

Yes, listening to Bright Eyes is a sometimes an arduous task. However, from a psychological standpoint, his lyrics operate on the reward system. Dopamine and Serotonin are the chemicals in your brain responsible for happiness and your sense of well-being. As you come to understand the lyrics, you are rewarded for putting forth a cognitive effort and therefore feel a sense of accomplishment for your hard work.

Oberst's vocals couldn't be refined. Tell me this: in modern times, what artist who is famous doesn't have a distinctive voice? Those who blend with the choir never make it. Also, due to the subject matter, these kinds of vocals are best equipped to carry the baggage.

In sum, Oberst is a lyricist first, a writer. If you don't invest the time to decode the message, you won't be rewarded, and you won't enjoy the music. Superficially, some of the songs may be enjoyed by melody alone, but that's not the author's intentions.

With "Lifted," Oberst has redefined music. He has turned a stone, so to speak, and now, we see that music can be much more than punchy lines and melodic strings. Oberst can distill life in one breath better than most writers can in an entire novel.

I believe his lyrics not to be self-indulgent but honest. He doesn't hide behind the shield of abstraction like most acclaimed musicians. Rather, Oberst lays it all out on the line so that it's undeniable as to what was spoken. In essence, he's says, "This is what I believe is truth. If you don't like it, that's fine, but there will be no question as to what I've said."

So, buy "Lifted" if you enjoy using your mind, if not then buy anything else. To the argument that his songs are depressing, I say, "Pish-posh." If you think his lyrics are depressing you're not listening, as all but save a couple songs end with some element of hope and resolution. Obviously, I have a very biased opinion about the band, but hear this... I have invested the time to enjoy it, and I'm still not enjoying it to the fullest because each time I listen I hear something new and exciting, something to which I can relate.

I discovered Bright Eyes from a mix tape my friend made for me of all his older recordings. Honestly, it took me about five times (play times per song) to adapt. Conor Oberst sings with a lot of stripped raw emotion. Unfortunately, you have to get past the singing flat part.

He is definitely an acquired taste, and the very musical Lifted (which in comparison to other artists isn't that musical) is no exception.

If you know Bright Eyes, then this CD carries content that you will be used to (moaning about love and death and sadness and getting drunk and stuff) but this time enhanced by some interesting orchestral intervals. If you are new to him and his work, try Fever and Mirrors first, it's a better representation of his work, and it's much more accessible.