I recently received Bright Eyes' Vinyl Box Set as a gift. Released on September 9th, 2003, it contains the first 5 Bright Eyes albums on 7 LPs. Those are, in chronological order, A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997, Letting Off the Happiness, Every Day and Every Night EP, Fevers and Mirrors and Don't Be Frightened of Turning the Page (which is Bright Eyes' songs from Oh Holy Fools - The Music of Son, Ambulance and Bright Eyes). I'll soak it into my bones in three parts. Part I is A Collection of Songs.
A much younger and rougher Conor Oberst quietly mutters, "I've never felt so separate...” and then explodes into "It's hopeless and I know this, and that's why I can't dream." This is exactly what I need: self-pitying, lo-fi, raw emo music at low volume in my empty, dark house. Who says this music isn't important? I relate to this simple poetry and these basic chords that are delivered so intimately. These ideas may be naive and fleeting, but they are here and they are real. Bright Eyes manages to speak for millions when they play their songs, and if that doesn't make the music socially significant, I don't know what can.
The passion that bursts out of a record such as this may be self-involved and somewhat exaggerated, but that's what these songs are for. Writing and performing them is cathartic.
But A Collection of Songs, like all of Bright Eyes, isn't just simple emo songs. These lyrics possess a depth beyond the status quo. They capture the essence of youth that some have left behind but all remember. A Collection of Songs is the recording of the time we grow into ourselves and become who we are. Besides, not every song can be characterized as emo. "How Many Lights Do You See?” though youthful, speaks volumes of Conor's knack for writing big songs: "How many lights do you see? How many lights do you see? There's one to say that night has come. And there's one that guards this jagged shore. And there's one to call the children home. And there's one to light the path they take." It isn't extraordinary, but that's why we like it. You can't help but smile, and the feeling only intensifies throughout the song.
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments
1 - Aaman
How interesting that someone is still releasing vinyl box sets - how is the quality and which player do you listen to them on?
2 - Jackson
Lots of people are suprised that vinyl is still being produced, but it is, and often too. I inherited my turntable from somebody else... it's nothing special and I'm not sure who its made by. It works though. The quality is obviously not as good as a CD or mp3 file, but I sometimes prefer the raw quality of vinyl. There are pops and fuzzy noises, but the sound also seems warmer and more personal on vinyl. In fact, the entire experience of pulling the record out of the sleeve and setting the needle down on the grooves, and then just sitting back to listen to an entire album rather than just skipping to certain songs... its great.
3 - Tan The Man
The quality is ALWAYS better on vinyl than anything else. The only problem is that vinyl is very easily scratched...
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
argh!! Jackson, i envy you no end! what a fella would give for that box. well, i wouldn't give the asking price, and therein lies the trouble. maybe one day...
but yes, a collection of songs is a beautiful, fragile thing, Saturday As Usual is one of my favourite Bright Eyes songs, as is How Many Lights...
here's a question, do you count this, or Letting Off The Happiness, as the first bright eyes album proper? i know of some snubbing goin on that counts Letting Off... as the first.
5 - Jackson
As far as I can tell, A Collection of Songs is his first album. It was written and released earlier than Letting Off the Happiness. Doesn't matter too much, though, which one is considered his first album. Both are good.
6 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
i agree, on both counts. Collection Of Songs... is OBVIOUSLY the first record. thoughts seem to be that it isn't, however, a proper album, and is , in fact, what it says on the tin. a sorta demo collection. all very bizarre. who the hell cares, listen to that scream in Saturday As Usual; "so LITTTTTLLLLLE to MEEEEEE!" brilliant.