Comments on: Conor Oberst May Be Cracking A Smile

By: revmatty

revmatty — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:59:27 +0000

I’ve a number of friends who consider him to be the greatest singer/songwriter of the last 50 years. I don’t get the appeal, myself.

By: Tauwan

Tauwan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:54:30 +0000

@Bob Loblaw:

My point exactly.

But seriously, there's a good song underneath it all. You just got to sit through two minutes of "musical rubble" to get to it. It's sort of like that whole cacophony of sound thing people talked about over on that Grizzly Bear/Knife post.

By: Bob Loblaw

Bob Loblaw — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:36:38 +0000

@Tauwan: You mean there's an actual song hidden within "Kill or Be Killed?" I've never made it that far.

By: Tauwan

Tauwan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:04:13 +0000

@Bob Loblaw:

If the Brakeman turns my way. Damn man. Whenever I return to Cassadaga, I press play on this track first. So good man. So good.

The 1,2,3 punch of Kill or Be Killed, Four Winds, and then this song must be highlighted as well. Though the first minute or so of Kill or Be Killed may be too Bright Eyes/"pretentious" for some people. [Hell the title alone may be too much for some people.]

By: Bob Loblaw

Bob Loblaw — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:13:48 +0000

@Bazooka Tooth: I'd give Cassadaga another go, if I were you. "Brakeman" has slowly become one of my favorite songs of his, right up there with "At the Bottom of Everything."

Also: YOU ARE AQUEMINI! Don't change a good / cranky thing!

By: Bazooka Tooth

Bazooka Tooth — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:00:49 +0000

@RaptorAvatar: I am so with you. 'Fevers and Mirrors' and 'Lifted' and the Desperaciados albums are some of my favorites of all time. 'Cassadaga' and this one? Not so much-- BORING.

By: RaptorAvatar

RaptorAvatar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:10:51 +0000

This one has me conflicted. It seems like the older I get the less he has to say to me. Him at 18-22 had a lot to say to me at 17-18. Now, not so much.

By: Tauwan

Tauwan — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:01:20 +0000

Also, someone you should count how many times the phrase “new Dylan” pops up when reading an article on/review of this album. I hadn’t seen this term in a minute and next thing you know BAM can’t escape it. Surprised I didn’t see it here. Ryan Adams must be pissed.

By: Tauwan

Tauwan — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:56:05 +0000

This album is lovely.