Conor Oberst (album)
Encyclopedia
Conor Oberst is a solo-album by Conor Oberst
, of the band Bright Eyes, which was released on August 5, 2008 by Merge Records
. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart
at #37
and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200.
, Morelos
, Mexico
between January and February of 2008. A temporary studio was created in a mountain villa called Valle Místico at the outskirts of town. Conor Oberst was produced by Conor Oberst and engineered by long-time associate Andy LeMaster
. A new band was assembled for the recording, which came to be known as The Mystic Valley Band
. The result is Oberst's fourth solo album, and his first in twelve years, following Water
(1993), Here's to Special Treatment
(1994) and The Soundtrack to My Movie
(1996). In that time he has recorded and performed in many bands and musical projects including Commander Venus
, Park Ave.
, Desaparecidos
, and most notably Bright Eyes. The song "Moab" was number 31 on Rolling Stone
, except where noted.
Conor Oberst
Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
, of the band Bright Eyes, which was released on August 5, 2008 by Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
at #37
and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200.
Production
The album was recorded in TepoztlánTepoztlán
Tepoztlán is a town in the Mexican state of Morelos. It is located at in the heart of the Tepoztlán Valley. The town serves as the seat of government for the municipality of the same name. The town had a population of 14,130 inhabitants, while the municipality reported 41,629 inhabitants in the...
, Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
between January and February of 2008. A temporary studio was created in a mountain villa called Valle Místico at the outskirts of town. Conor Oberst was produced by Conor Oberst and engineered by long-time associate Andy LeMaster
Andy LeMaster
Andy LeMaster is an American singer-songwriter and producer/engineer from Athens, Georgia. His primary band is Now It's Overhead. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed in many of the releases on the Saddle Creek label, including records by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray,...
. A new band was assembled for the recording, which came to be known as The Mystic Valley Band
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band is the name taken by Conor Oberst and his backing band, which is composed of Nik Freitas , Taylor Hollingsworth , Macey Taylor , Nate Walcott and Jason Boesel .-History:...
. The result is Oberst's fourth solo album, and his first in twelve years, following Water
Water (Conor Oberst album)
Water is the debut album of Conor Oberst and the first release on Lumberjack Records, the label that would become Saddle Creek. It was released as a cassette tape, and came in 300 copies only, in five different colors on the covers .-Track listing:All songs by Conor Oberst.#"You Should Be in...
(1993), Here's to Special Treatment
Here's to Special Treatment
Here's to Special Treatment is the second album of Conor Oberst.-Track listing:All songs by Conor Oberst.#"Sledge Winston and the Element of Surprise"#"Things You Know"#"Tar"#"Space Invaders"#"Lava Monster"#"Puddle Stomper"...
(1994) and The Soundtrack to My Movie
The Soundtrack to My Movie
The Soundtrack to My Movie is the third album by American singer-songwriter Conor Oberst. It was a cassette only release on Omaha, Nebraska indie label Sing, Eunuchs!. The songs were recorded to four-track in Oberst's basement during the same sessions that produced the first Bright Eyes album, A...
(1996). In that time he has recorded and performed in many bands and musical projects including Commander Venus
Commander Venus
Commander Venus was an American emo band from Omaha, Nebraska. Fronted by Conor Oberst and Tim Kasher, the band also included Todd Fink and Matt Bowen of The Faint, Ben Armstrong of Head of Femur and Robb Nansel, executive producer of the indie label Saddle Creek...
, Park Ave.
Park Ave.
Park Ave. was an indie pop band which started in January 1996 in Omaha, Nebraska.The band lasted only two and a half years, but still retains a substantial fanbase. During their short time together, Park Ave. received rave reviews for their brand of indie pop music...
, Desaparecidos
Desaparecidos (band)
Desaparecidos was a short-lived American emo/post-hardcore band. It was a side project headed by singer/guitarist Conor Oberst, the frontman of the indie folk band Bright Eyes....
, and most notably Bright Eyes. The song "Moab" was number 31 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Track listing
All songs by Conor OberstConor Oberst
Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer , Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.-Musical career:Oberst began...
, except where noted.
- "Cape Canaveral" – 4:04
- "Sausalito" – 3:10
- "Get-Well-Cards" – 3:33
- "Lenders in the Temple" – 4:35
- "Danny Callahan" – 3:58
- "I Don’t Want to Die (In the Hospital)" – 3:32
- "Eagle on a Pole" – 4:42
- "NYC - Gone, Gone" – 1:11
- "Moab" – 3:36
- "Valle Místico (Ruben’s Song)" (Ruben Mendez Hernandez) – 0:49
- "Souled Out!!!" (Oberst, Jason BoeselJason BoeselJason Boesel was the drummer for Rilo Kiley and has also played with The Elected. He also drummed in the Bright Eyes touring band during their 2005 tour, and went on to write the liner notes for the consequent Bright Eyes live album, Motion Sickness and contributing to Bright Eyes' 2007 record,...
) – 3:32 - "Milk Thistle" – 5:21
Critical reception
Entertainment Weely said that on the album, "Conor sounds like Bright Eyes, only heightened--brighter, if you will: He's emo balladeer, country rocker, and ferocious folkie rolled into one."Track information
- The seventh track, "Eagle on a Pole", was inspired by a comment made by Sean Foley who said, "I saw an eagle on a pole. I think it was an eagle." Simon JoynerSimon JoynerSimon Joyner is a singer-songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Considered by some to be the forefather of the burgeoning Omaha music scene , he has profoundly influenced the music of Bright Eyes. Joyner also collaborated with John Darnielle, of The Mountain Goats, and Beck listed Joyner...
, friend and mentor of Oberst, said that line would be great for a song, which planted the seed for others in the band to write a song from the line. Oberst's version is on this record. Jason BoeselJason BoeselJason Boesel was the drummer for Rilo Kiley and has also played with The Elected. He also drummed in the Bright Eyes touring band during their 2005 tour, and went on to write the liner notes for the consequent Bright Eyes live album, Motion Sickness and contributing to Bright Eyes' 2007 record,...
's version is on the second album released by the Mystic Valley Band, Outer SouthOuter SouthOuter South is the fifth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst and the second to be credited to Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band. It is Oberst's first solo album to include songs written and sung by his bandmates. Nik Freitas, Taylor Hollingsworth and Jason Boesel each...
.
Personnel
- Conor Oberst – guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals, stomp
- Nate WalcottNate WalcottNate Walcott is a trumpet, flugelhorn and keyboard player who has appeared on several of Saddle Creek Records artists' albums. He is one of three permanent members of Bright Eyes, along with Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, and has toured with Bright Eyes....
– organ, piano, electric piano - Nik FreitasNik FreitasNik Freitas is a singer-songwriter from Visalia, California and currently residing in Los Angeles. Freitas began his career as a staff photographer for Thrasher Magazine where he traveled the world taking skate photos until turning his attention to music full-time in 2001...
– electric guitar, vocals - Macey Taylor – bass, vocals, stomp
- Taylor HollingsworthTaylor HollingsworthTaylor "Paper" Hollingsworth ia a singer/songwriter and guitarist from Birmingham, Alabama. He first picked up the guitar at age 14 and has gone on to front his own bands as well as play guitar for others, notably Maria Taylor....
– guitar, stomp - Jason BoeselJason BoeselJason Boesel was the drummer for Rilo Kiley and has also played with The Elected. He also drummed in the Bright Eyes touring band during their 2005 tour, and went on to write the liner notes for the consequent Bright Eyes live album, Motion Sickness and contributing to Bright Eyes' 2007 record,...
– drums, percussion, vocals, stomp - Andy LeMasterAndy LeMasterAndy LeMaster is an American singer-songwriter and producer/engineer from Athens, Georgia. His primary band is Now It's Overhead. LeMaster has engineered, produced, and performed in many of the releases on the Saddle Creek label, including records by Bright Eyes, Now It's Overhead, Azure Ray,...
– tape echo, vocals, stomp - Phil Schaffart – vocals, stomp
- Janet WeissJanet WeissJanet Lee Weiss was the drummer of now defunct Sleater-Kinney and is currently a member of Quasi and Wild Flag. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, leaving after the album Mirror Traffic.-Early life:...
– vocals - Corina Figueroa-Escamilla – vocals
- Ruben Mendez Hernandez – conch