76. Bright Eyes - 'Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was'

In my eyes, Conner Oberst is an underrated genius. As Bright Eyes, he re-invented American Folk for the twenty-first century. He took the coarseness of country and coupled it with the anthemic beauty of pop. Over twelve years and eight albums (I am not counting the Christmas one, neither should you as it’s shit) he cast a wonderful spell over modern music, creating soul searching and highlypersonal indie-folk. In 2011 he retired the Bright Eyes moniker and went off to do things under his real name.

Never more have we needed songs that speak to our inadequacies and insecurities than in 2020 and miraculously Bright Eyes have returned. It has halfway through second track ‘Dance and Sing’ that I realised how much I had missed them. Conner’s delivery is in equal measures laid back and heart wrenching. You feel he is speaking to you, letting you alone into the secrets of his dysfunctional life.

Overall “Down In the weeds, Where the World Once Was” has a real warmth to it. It might be sprinkled with stark beauty but what remains with you as final track ‘Comet Song’. plays out, is a feeling of hope. It is like the whole album is simply Conner putting an arm around us all and saying, “It’s going to be Ok”.