So who is this "voice of his generation"? This "next Dylan"? This "Indie heart-throb"? This Conor Oberst?
OK, so the first time I really started paying much attention to Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes' was last fall when he was out on the Vote For Change tour.
Last month, I caught Bright Eyes on Austin City Limits with Wilco and was intrigued enough to dig a little deeper.
So I learned the standard biography background stuff like Conor Oberst refuses to record for major labels, shuns corporate radio and won't play venues owned by Clear Channel Communications. OK, so cool.
And he's got a couple of new CDs out — I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn.
Then I heard the NPR Live Web-Cast of the Bright Eyes concert at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club. One song in particular struck me which sounded like the ranting of an angry - yet wise - young man. A song written specifically for our hometown's most famous resident.
So who is this "voice of his generation" who's been writing and recording introspective tunes since he was 14?
As Caryn writes on Jukebox Graduate the "obligatory bright eyes posting" of the new Conor Oberst song "When The President Talks To God" lyrics:
"It's a great, biting, eloquent talking blues, in the spirit of Woody and Arlo and Steve Earle. Writing a song like this is tough to do, it's not just the lyrics that are important, it's the tune and the performance and the delivery, and it's freaking masterful."
And the indie press has been all over him and bloggers are ga-ga.
Rather than the usual Bob Dylan comparison, recently we got a comparison to Eminem in Technician Online?! Grayson Currin writes on Conor Oberst, the "precocious poet laureate of the indie world":
"Eminem is restating both his popularity and his ability to hold a large part of the American youth in rapture, hanging on his every flip and slam. Marshall Mathers — a 32-year-old rapper from Detroit — commands an obedient, trusting audience, and he knows it.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - janet
For folks to say Conor is the next Dylan is like so much a curse! No one can live up to that hype.
I just wish all you reviewer critics would let an artist be themself and not compare everything to everything!
criticz? who needs em?
2 - Thrasher
Janet - sorry about the Dylan reference. Only reflecting a widespread analogy. Afterall, not a bad thing necessarily be used in the sentence with Dylan.
Of course, ther will never be another Bob Dylan. But I think when you look at today's music bench of who will making a long lasting impression, there are not a whole lot of even wannbe contenders.
How about Jeff Tweedy of Wilco as a heir apparent to the Dylan crown? Maybe that'll setoff the Wilco fans?!
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i would say Eminem is as close to "the new dylan" as anyone. Folks are always looking for "new" versions that are just like the old ones. Eminem performs a genre of music seen as "the peoples music", "the music of the streets" etc etc, the most political genre there is right now. He's constantly yacking on about his girlfriends / ex-girlfriends etc in his lyrics (is Kim his Idiot Wind?). He's obsessed with the character he has created. He can be distastefully chauvinistic. I think the blonde motherfucker has the edge.
And i liked the article, man. I tihnk this fella is somethin terrific, is what.
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
then again, maybe the new dylan is the old dylan.
5 - Thrasher
Duke - I agree that Eminem as "the new Dylan" is a more interesting discussion. I guess folks make the comparison with Conor because they're work is more comparable stylistically speaking.
Thrasher
6 - Conor Basher
Im sick of this introvert garbage ... he has a horrible voice, he claims to be depressed about something .. maybe his middle class parents not giving him enough pocket money.
Ive heard alot through my brother .. its uninspired drivel ripping off those with no aim in life but to cry themselves to sleep.
7 - thrasher
Hey Conor Basher - Gee, doesn't that description fit a great many artists? Isn't that what makes them create?
I mean what would Kurt Cobain's music been like if he had a happy childhood and been popular in High School?
Show me someone who had a perfect childhood and captain of the school team and I'll show you someone is creatively impoverished.
Thrasher
8 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Conor Basher, i think somewhere in there you ahve valid points, but i think under closer scrutiny maybe they flounder a tad. I the fuck E, you say about Middle Class parents etc, but i think the idea that someone's emotions are somehow irrelevant if they have money behind them is a bit, well, stupid. For sure, maybe he doesn't have financial worries, but guess what man, money ain't gonna solve a damn thing. Speaking as someone who has fuck all to rub together, i find the notion that money would straighten out whatever i have to worry about a bit, well, insulting.
Also, the "uninspired" thing. I think Lifted is an astonishing album, bouncing from style to style with aplomb, an album that makes the "invisible" ,ie, the recording process, part of the listening experience. I think Digital Ash is one of the most astonishing records i have heard in years on a purely musical level.
And i think he's a lot more witty than folks give him credit for. From "False Advertising";
"Onto a stage i was pushed, with my sorrow well-rehearsed,
So give me all your pity,
And your money,
All of it"
9 - Jade
Hey Guy Who Was Flipping on Conor....BAD VOICE??? your retarded...conor has the most amazing, brilliant voice I've ever heard...and Eminem???? yah hes cool, a 35 year old white guy rapping...nice. YOUR WHITE! ACT LIKE IT! Conor is my inspiration, maybe you should listen to his songs to find out what hes depressed about...i can honestly say I hate you...whoever wrote those mean things. Conor deserves everyones respect and than some.
10 - Bryan Somebody
Conor is from Omaha.
I am from Omaha.
Conor is 24.
I am 24.
His parents live in the 'burbs.
My parents live in the 'burbs.
He's angry and sad about something.
I'm not.
I'm sticking to Dylan. Conor has great music, but it's um... boring to be so sad and angry all the time.
Besides Bob Dylan was born on May 24th.
I was born on May 24th.
('tis true: I am 24, from Omaha, dob = May 24, just a load of coincidences...)
11 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
jade, how should white folks act? also, is there a way black folks should be acting? can asians rap?
12 - Sydney
I think the conner debate is getting a little crazy. Lets just face it. He's one of the best out there right now. He may not be bob dylan, but who cares I wouldn't want a second bob dylan anyway.
Remeber that all great singer songwriters faced feirce debate in their early days. This could be a sign of Conner's future.
what really gets me is that allmusic guide review. Its totally over the top. The reviewer has somthing stuck up his ass I think.... take a look see if ya get a chance.
13 - Zack
I know this is starting to sound repetitive, but comparing Conor to Eminem? It's ovious that Conor is a much versatile and more creative artist than Eminem. Oh and Mr. Conor basher, i just thought i'd let you know that you make me sick.
14 - Chingus
next time this punk comes back to dallas, he'll find a beer bottle between his teeth if he comes up with anymore of his immature texas bashing. yeah conor, we allz in texas iz allways be ropin cattle and rapin injuns.
and what makes him even more of an ass, this kid is from freakin omaha nebraska.
a redder state there never was. a more backwards and hillbilly population of republican cattle there never was. i know. i spent all of 2004 in omaha. the place is a wasteland. no wonder this puke is pissed off.
15 - random
i think this is really getting out of hand. we are not here to insult each other unnecessarily and to discriminate. spouting vicious almost-stereotypes which are almost definitely untrue is just as bad as conor-bashing without real reason. everyone has different tastes and different opinions. you should just be here to state yours and to argue for your view, coherently and reasonably. petty, vicious disputes that don't further the topic or even make proper sense is just basically spam.
16 - Heather
Don't compare Conor to anyone. Yes he may have similarities to other audiences in the amount of talent he has, or the power he has over his listeners. However, let Conor be Conor. He is talented. And what makes music good music anyway? If you listen, not all of his music is sad and depressing. He is an amazingly creative musician, even at the young age of 24. He's more creative than most bands and singers out there right now. So give the man some respect.
17 - Ray
Conor Basher, don't look for wisdom in the lyrics of a 24-year-old singer. Just sit back and enjoy... the music is pretty good.
To everyone else jumping on Conor Basher, I think it's fair to say he doesn't have a good voice by traditional measures. Personally, I like it because it is strange and unique. (Well, maybe not THAT unique - ever heard Echo and the Bunnymen?)
18 - Cookie
Asians can rap, what about that guy Jin?
Yes, Conor may not have the traditional smooth crooner voice, but really I wouldn't want it an other way, When he sings you can hear all of the emotion and you know it's real.
19 - callMEfocker
THIS IS TO EVERYONE WHO'S SAYING THAT the incredibly gifted artist (i.e. musician, poet, vocalist) that is CONNER OBERST IS ONLY WRITING boring, cliched SONGS ABOUT BEING DEPRESSED: a point for you guys because YES!, MANY of his songs are obviously inspired by depression... BUT, ... he's far too talented to write only about depression. in today's music world, it's NOT AT ALL POSSIBLE for somebody to earn the critical acclaim that conner oberst has by writing ONLY DEPRESSING, mediocre, generic, PLAYED OUT, NOT-WORTH-A-SHIT lyrics! every songwriter in history has used depression as the inspiration behind their lyrics. and why not? emotion is the driving force behind almost everything we do... HOWEVER that makes it the EASIEST source to tap for inspiration. conner's ability to write INSPIRED AND MEANINGFUL songs about such a WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS is EXACTLY what makes him better than the rest. song topics range from problematic politics ("when the president talks to god") to the enjoyment of having empathy for others ("bowl of oranges")... from his appreciation for life ("grateful") to the beauty of casual sex ("lover i don't have to love")... the meaning of life, the birth of his nephew ("no lies, just love")... i could go on and on, but i've made my point. all of you who said his music is only depressing, boring crap should check out some of the songs i've mentioned. you may still not like him... he's not anything like anything you've ever heard before... but conner oberst is the most talented songwriter of this generation, and he at least deserves your respect
20 - QueenGonzo
all i can say, is that Conor Oberst is damn talented. His music is not just depressing, it varies and he is a lot better than those unbearable bands out there right now. i.e. good charlotte and simple plan. now that's what pitiful, self absorbed music is. Not Conor's.
21 - onehotminute.
ahahaha Chingus, do you think your cool or something saying that your going to throw a beer bottle at conor oberst? like i sincerely hope your kidding because thats the lamest thing ive ever read.
so what if hes from nebraska, its not like you choose where you're born.
hell im just happy im from canada and dont have to put up with you dallas fuckers.
22 - Allie
Conner Oberst is the most beautiful creature I have ever had the pleasure of listeing to. The people who bash him are just th stupid fucks who don't know anything about art. I grew up in an upper class family, and I have just as much right to be hurt as anyone else. I have just as much ability to feel things. Just because somebody has money doesn't mean they have happiness.
23 - Rachel
I don't care how much money Conor has; I don't care how sad he is. He has no basis for ripping on Texas like that. 'Don't Mess with Texas' is not just a slogan. And no, he's not brilliant, dear. But, then again, neither are you, so it's ok.
24 - chloe
ok first off conner oberst is the most amazing perfect greatest thing that ever happend to music his voice is so magnificent he is a human being second of all for all you dumb shit for brains money is not at all happiness ever and quite frankly if u think that maybe you should die because u dont no anything especialy ART.OK SO GO BACK TO LISTENING TO GAY ASS 50 CENT ACCIDENTLY FALL OUT A WINDOW AND SAVE US ALL FROM YOUR STUPIDITY.
25 - Russ
Conor's mood during the Oct. 22 opening show of the new Bright Eyes tour this past weekend mirrored the weather in Santa Barbara - cloudy, cold and gloomy. Too bad for him, too bad for us fans. He seemed drunk. (Which was fine with me, I was drunk too. It was definite drinking weather.) The first thing he said to the crowd was, "I wish I was warm." Mid-show he shared his worries about the lack of sunshine and warmth. So, being the brilliant, moody musician that he is, he then let his mood affect his performance by acting careless with regard to normal professional demeanor on stage - walking away from the microphone mid-sentence, removing his guitar before the last chord faded on a number of songs, even changing his mind and switching guitars (from acoustic to electric) after strumming a few chords to "Lua." He only played for about 75-80 minutes, announced his last song as "this is our last song" (?) and then proceeded to mess up the last few chords of "Let's Not Shit Ourselves" after jumping off one of his drummers bass drum. (The other drummer knew it, and tossed his sticks in different directions in frustration at the end of the song.) He also seemed too much like a conductor during this show, as if he now knows he is the center of attention on stage and therefore must be more animated and playing the part of rock-n-roll star. In past concerts he acted more like just a member of the band. Despite all this, I'll remain a hardcore fan of the guy and his music. He's just going to have to get used to fame, and occasional bad weather. There were bright spots in the show, such as the long Conor-only intro to "You Will You Will You Will," and a good diverse selection of songs from "Fever & Mirrors" and "Lifted." Surprisingly absent from the set list were some of the unbelievable songs from "I'm Wide Awake" and "Digital Ash." He pretty much left those albums untouched. (I was really looking forward to "Ship in a Bottle" - no dice.) So let's help the SUN comes out for the rest of the Bright Eyes tour. The President may not talk to God, but a lot of Conor Oberst's fans are certainly praying for the clouds to part for him. He deserves a spotlight of pure sunshine. FRW