Bright Eyes - Old Soul Song (for the new world order)

Dammit Bright Eyes, why do you have to be so prolific? Most artists are lucky if they can eek out one album a year. Hell, one every two years. Did that stop Bright Eyes? HELL NAW! Conor Oberst has gone to the trouble to create not one, but TWO new albums as Bright Eyes, and the results are very, very different. Two almost completely different new records have emerged with two separate yet equally fascinating song mixtures. I previewed Digital Ash In A Digital Urn in this blogspace well over a month ago for our lucky listeners. That preview can be found here if you haven't checked it out. On that recording, he explores new textures through electronic experimentation. I'm a big fan of his new directions, but on this release, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning, he heads into alt-country territory with no map, no directions, and a badge of honor to prove he is willing to embrace his innumerable comparisons to Bob Dylan without any fear whatsoever. In a time where we need heroes in music, there's no reason we shouldn't give Conor Oberst some blue tights and a convenient phone booth. This album lives up to all my expectations, and I can't stop listening.

BONUS TRACK:
We Are Nowhere And It's Now (Featuring Emmylou Harris)