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Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
- Recording since age 13 and being regarded by numerous members of the media as “rock’s boy genius,” Conor Oberst has finally produced the album to help him make the transition from poetic indie rocker to the benchmark for his genre. “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” seems to provide more validation to the notion that he is among the elite songwriters of our time. The stripped down, raw approach utilized on the album helps to accentuate Oberst’s profound lyrics and remarkable guitar melodies. The album offers heartfelt poetry to more than compensate for Oberst's self admitted vocal shortcomings. Slight imperfections like reaching too high for a note or thumbing a fret occur intermittently and some may criticize, but these flaws seem to complement the unrefined feel of Oberst’s voice. Many compare Bright Eyes to the iconic Bob Dylan, but I feel Oberst still has much to prove before that connection is justifiable. This album is slightly evocative of Ray LaMontagne, but even more so Ryan Adams, especially with the accompaniment of Emmylou Harris, who also contributed to some of Adams’ tracks. Bright Eyes' “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” shows no signs of overproduction, giving it a very real feel reminiscent of some traditional folk singers. Offering the originality, depth, and vision others simply lack, this album is among the year’s best.
Reviewer: Trevor Dye
new
Reviewer's Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 8.50
Reader's Votes: 2
Added: 28-Mar-2006
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