What is the best Bright Eyes Album?

United States
January 20, 2008 1:21pm CST
While I love the lyrics and ambition of "Four Winds", I think the best by Bright Eyes is "Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground". I think that album is a musical epic, that resonates deeply with its poignant lyrics. Which album do you think is Bright Eyes best?
1 person likes this
5 responses
• Sweden
30 Jan 08
Conor Oberst is so prolific, I find it hard to keep up with him! For a while, I didn't like Bright Eyes because of his somewhat contrived singing voice and as a result I still have problems with 'lifted'. I'm very fond of 'Digital Ash in a Digital Urn' and its sister album 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning', but really I'd have to go with 'Cassadega' as my favourite because I'm a sucker for the orchestral arrangements on Make a Plan to Love Me.
• United States
3 Feb 08
I find it difficult to choose a clear favorite. I think the wonderful thing about his albums is that each one is distincly different. Each one highlights a different style and focus, but all are delivered with equal brilliance.
• United States
11 Jan 10
Selecting a "best" Bright Eyes album is not an easy decision because each album is different and represents a different period of the band's development. I believe there are two albums that could be considered Bright Eyes "best." "Fevers and Mirrors" was Bright Eyes' first major breakthrough. Using non-traditional instruments, folk-style song composition, and poignant lyrics; Bright Eyes touched many listeners for the first time by making sadness sound pretty and comforting. The only reason I would not declare this as the all out best is because Conor's lyrics and singing pitch can scare listeners who do not like to hear verses of self-doubt and depression mixed with shreiks and shrills. Therefore, the more digestable Bright Eyes album is "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning". I feel this album is a classic album from the United States with a happy country feel. The use of instruments such as the mandolin and steel pedal serve as a great introduction to listeners who do not usually listen to country music. Oberst's lyrics and songwriting ability have progressed to extreme expert at this time in his career. Some of the songs are classic tunes of the independent music scene and the album is listed on many best of the decade lists.
13 Jan 12
It is definitely hard to choose but I would probably say I'm wide a wake it's morning is my personal favorite, with Cassadaga as a close second. Every record he has made has been great. Conor Oberst was also in a band called desmaparecidos which made good music a weil though it took an entirely different direction, being an emo rock band.
• United States
3 Feb 08
I'd have to say I'm Wide Awake It's Morning. But it really is so hard to choose.
• United States
3 Feb 08
I gotta agree, it is very difficult to choose. His lyrics are just amazingly consistant thru out his whole discography.
@kel1483 (986)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I think LIFTED is my favorite. It's so raw and you can just feel what he's singing. Some of my favorite Bright Eyes songs are on that album. I also love 'I'm Wide Awake...' and 'Digital Ash...'. I haven't gotten the newest album yet, though, so maybe that one is even better =)
@empracht (45)
• United States
31 Oct 08
Fevers and Mirrors has so much great energy, Lifted is filled with brilliance, Cassadega as sweet sounding, though there are some songs I skip because they annoy me. I can tell you my least favorite is Digital Ash, Digital Urn. I like a song or two on it but I never really got into it. And it came out the same time as I'm Wide Awake and I fell for that one instantly.