While waiting for his new release next week, Check out these high notes from Connor Oberst’s past works

By Emma Graening

Conor Oberst, a native of Omaha, is not new to the music scene . He released his first cassette tape when he was just 13 years old. Named The Best Songwriter of 2008 by The Rolling Stones, it’s no surprise that so many people relate and connect with his lyrics. Since Oberst has been involved in the music industry for so long, he’s been a part of numerous bands, his most famous act, Bright Eyes.

“Fevers and Mirrors,” one of Bright Eyes’ older albums, used many different unique instruments such as the organ and a toy piano. This album was more on the emo and indie rock side of things. A few of my favorite tracks that give you an idea of what the album sounds like are “A Scale, a Mirror, and Those Indifferent Clocks,” “The Movement of a Hand” and “The Calender Hung Itself…”

On “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning,” Bright Eyes’ hit album made No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 2 on the Billboard independent albums chart. “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning” has been described as “an album with the simmering glow of a masterpiece.” This album definitely focuses on the folk genre, inspired by one of Oberst’s influences, Emmylou Harris. In fact, Harris is featured on some vocals of this album. If you wanted to start listening to Bright Eyes, this is the album I recommend starting off with. “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now,” “First Day of my Life” and Train “Underwater” are some great songs to explore.

In 2005, Bright Eyes released one of my favorite albums, “Digital Ash in a Digital Urn.” This album is definitely more electronic than what Bright Eyes fans were used to, and in my opinion it worked. This to me is an album of acquired taste. “I Believe in Symmetry,” “Hit the Switch” and “Take it Easy (Love Nothing)” are songs that would give you a good idea of this album.

Ultimately, Bright Eyes released their last album in 2011, and Oberst decided to make a solo act. Oberst just released his new album, “Ruminations,” to NPR’s First Listen series two weeks early. The official release date is Oct. 14. On “Ruminations,” you can definitely tell that Oberst is going back to his folk style music, including the harmonica, acoustic guitar and piano. He recorded this album back in his hometown of Omaha.

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