The Jam: Conor Oberst, self-titled
Measure expectations into a large bowl. Strain old pretenses. Add maturity and mix well. Stir in some mysticism and Mexico. Sprinkle in new faces. Store for a month in the winter. Add mellifluousness and congruity. Check for consistency and texture among the batches. Pour into clean, simple jars with clean, simple labels.
Tastes a lot like: Peachberry Jam- It’s your classic berry jam you’ve loved all growing up but with a refreshing, tasteful twist.
After shacking up with The Mystic Valley Band in Tepoztlán, Morales, Mexico, Conor Oberst has released his first album since ninety-six out from under the perennially productive Bright Eyes banner. This past winter, Conor and fellow musicians Jason Boesel, Taylor Hollingsworth, Nate Walcott, Nik Freitas and Macey Taylor locked themselves into a make-shift studio in a villa in Mexico for a month. The outcome is a harmonious and toe-tapping collection of Neil Young-esque tracks.
Touching on the sheer fact the album was recorded about two thousand miles away from the epicenter of the Conor Oberst franchise, this album has a refreshing, nomadic, free-spirited quality. From Sausalito‘s Californian surf style easy living to the obvious good ole’ country tunes like I Don’t Want to Die. Hell, NYC- Gone, Gone is all about drifting all over the place. You get the sense of a man who wants to experience the world and walks of life- a happy ending for the sad little boy who used to indulge us with displays of depression and cynicism. Yep, it’s good to know Conor has grown up. He sounds like a man with an unwavering sense of confidence and wisdom who has finally come into his own in the world, making the most of it all and enjoying it.
And enjoying it with others. There is a euphonic feeling that hangs in the air with this album which I attribute to the Mystic Valley Band and the close quarters. Looking at Conor’s discography, “harmonious” is a word that could be used very sparingly outside of describing the actual arrangement of music. The general feeling tended to weigh heavy on your heart whereas this album is one you could throw on during a road trip without killing the whole vibe and someone starting to weep from behind their drug store Ray-Ban knock offs.
Look, it’s no Wide Awake, I ain’t gonna lie. But it is consistant with the more recent folk-county releases. It’s not even fair to be comparing this album to Bright Eyes… well, sort of. But hey, I’m willing to give Conor a clean slate, especially when he gives us quality jams.
Conor and the Mystic Valley Band are touring as we speak !!!
