Conor Oberst (album) explained

Conor Oberst
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Conor Oberst
Cover:	Conor Oberst cover.jpg
Released:	August 4, 2008
Recorded:	January – February 2008 at Valle Mistico
Genre:	Folk rock, indie folk, country rock
Length:	42:00
Label:	Merge Records
Producer:	Conor Oberst
Prev Title:	The Soundtrack to My Movie
Prev Year:	1996
Next Title:	Gentleman's Pact
Next Year:	2008

Conor Oberst is the fourth solo studio album by Conor Oberst, of the band Bright Eyes, which was released on August 4, 2008 by Merge Records.^[1] The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at #37 ^[2] and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200. It sold 98,000 copies in the US as of August 2009.^[3]

Production

The album was recorded in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico between January and February 2008. A temporary studio was created in a mountain villa called Valle Místico at the outskirts of town. Conor Oberst was produced by Conor Oberst and engineered by long-time associate Andy LeMaster. A new band was assembled for the recording, which came to be known as The Mystic Valley Band. The result is Oberst's fourth solo album, and his first in twelve years, following Water (1993), Here's to Special Treatment (1994) and The Soundtrack to My Movie (1996). In that time he has recorded and performed in many bands and musical projects including Commander Venus, Park Ave., Desaparecidos, and most notably Bright Eyes. The song "Moab" was number 31 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.

Track listing

All songs by Conor Oberst, except where noted.

1. "Cape Canaveral"  - 4:04
2. "Sausalito"  - 3:10
3. "Get-Well-Cards"  - 3:33
4. "Lenders in the Temple"  - 4:35
5. "Danny Callahan"  - 3:58
6. "I Don’t Want to Die (In the Hospital)"  - 3:32
7. "Eagle on a Pole"  - 4:42
8. "NYC - Gone, Gone"  - 1:11
9. "Moab"  - 3:36
10. "Valle Místico (Ruben’s Song)" (Ruben Mendez Hernandez)  - 0:49
11. "Souled Out!!!" (Oberst, Jason Boesel)  - 3:32
12. "Milk Thistle"  - 5:21

Critical reception

Entertainment Weekly said that on the album, "Conor sounds like Bright Eyes, only heightened--brighter, if you will: He's emo balladeer, country rocker, and ferocious folkie rolled into one."^[4]

Track information

• The seventh track, "Eagle on a Pole", was inspired by a comment made by Sean Foley who said, "I saw an eagle on a pole. I think it was an eagle." Simon Joyner, friend and mentor of Oberst, said that line would be great for a song, which planted the seed for others in the band to write a song from the line. Oberst's version is on this record. Jason Boesel's version is on the second album released by the Mystic Valley Band, Outer South.

Personnel

• Conor Oberst  - guitar, vocals, electric guitar (5), 12-string guitar (9), stomp (8)
• Nate Walcott  - organ (3, 4), piano (5, 6), electric piano (7, 8, 9)
• Nik Freitas  - electric guitar (2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11), vocals (3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
• Macey Taylor  - bass (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11), vocals (2), stomp (8)
• Taylor Hollingsworth  - guitar (3), electric guitar (6), vocals (8), stomp (8)
• Jason Boesel  - drums (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11), percussion (2, 9), vocals (3, 7, 8, 9, 11), stomp (8)
• Andy LeMaster  - tape echo (11), vocals (3, 4, 8)
• Phil Schaffart  - vocals (8), stomp (8)
• Janet Weiss  - vocals (6)
• Corina Figueroa-Escamilla  - vocals (11)
• Ruben Mendez Hernandez  - conch (10)

Notes and References

1. News: Bright Eyes man reveals solo album details . 22 April 2008 . . 2008-05-29.
2. The Official UK Albums Chart for the week ending 16 August 2008 . . 364 . 5–8 . IQ Ware Ltd . Milton Keynes.
3. Web site: Billboard. 2009-08-29.
4. Tucker, Ken (August 8, 2008), "Conor Oberst". Entertainment Weekly. (1005)
5. 207.