Most people consider Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst to be an indie wunderkind but perhaps, the title of prophet should also be inked on to his resume. On his latest disc, a collection of rarities that span the final years of the 90s and the first half of our present decade, the young (even younger than he is now) singer/songwriter spouts lyrics like “This is not who I’ve become / But what you made me into”. Whether or not he had the help of a crystal ball to get a heads up on the mania that would come to surround him, Noise Floor is still a better than average portrait of a young musician in the process of exploding on to the scene.
The album, spanning 16 tracks, is a mixed bag of covers, UK singles and shelved a cappellas, but you won’t regret taking the time to sort through it all. “Drunk Kid Catholic” is a piano song that was released in the UK only. It’s definitely one of those album extras, but any song with lyrics like “the drunk kids, the Catholics / they’re all about the same” deserves to have a home on an album. Then there are curiosities like “Trees Get Wheeled Away”. I say curiosity only in the respect that this song is so great, that I’m knocked out on the floor amazed, that it hasn’t shown up on a Bright Eyes album until now.
For some of the intense Oberst fans (you know you are), the thought of their beloved artist taking time away from his own masterpieces to do a cover song is almost a crime, but after taking a listen to the ones on this album, they might want to reconsider. The Bright Eyes take on Daniel Johnston’s “Devil Town” is revelation. Oberst says in his liner notes that the song “felt wonderful to sing” and his pleasure at turning this one into a foot stompin’ rocker shows. His take on M. Ward’s “Seashell Tale” is a little more subdued, but it still makes for a great listen.
If you already love Bright Eyes, you’ll probably heart him more after a listen to this one. If you love him less, this one might at least help you understand where he’s coming from. |