Big Orange Crayonmusical thingsBrigt Eyes Fevers and Mirrors Saddle Creek Records [First, a note. This is a while after I wrote this review and you know what? The part I wrote about the interview is stupid. Not only was I misinterpreting the purpose for putting it on the record, but that isn't even Conor talking. Besides, it's only a few minutes long and it's from one of my favorite records to come out that year. So I just pick up the needle and drop it at the end of the interview. Big deal.] I love this record. I also hate this record. I'll start with the reasons why I love it. First of all, the lyrics are incredible. They're heartfelt, honest, beautiful and touching. They make you wish that you were as depressed as Conor Oberst, just so you could sing along as passionately. He is really one of the most passionate singers I've ever heard. He's constantly in a just-above-tears warble and his screaming is just wonderful. The songs live up to the vocals, too. I wouldn't call it emo, but it evokes a lot of the same feelings while being subtly orchestrated and very low on fuzzy guitars and much more acoustic. The music is sparse, but only in the sense that it gives the focus to the singing. I think that the first five songs on the second side are one of the finest strings of songs ever recorded, and "A scale, A Mirror and tose Indifferent Clocks" and "Something Vague" are absolutely wondeful as well. Why, then, would I also hate this record? Between the last two songs on the record, "An Attempt to Tip the Scales" and "A Song to Pass the Time", there is this fake interview with front man Conor Oberst. It's long and contrived and I really don't see why it's there. Conor takes the time to Total score: 211 out of 315 [Another note: screw that, 314 out of 315] |