Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst, 2008, :42

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

A very, very strong singer-songwriter album from the Bright Eyes guy.  The album opener, "Cape Canaveal," is a veritable cascade of words, images and assonance flowing fast.  I love that kind of thing.  I like the Dylan-esque yelp on ""Get Well Cards:" "right there, that's the post man sleepin' in the saaand!"  The whole album is about escapes: escapes from New York, from the hospital to die at home, from the surly bonds of Earth, from life.  "Homesick as an astronaut / Just keep drifting, but still can't explain" comes from a song about a child dying of cancer.  Oberst's voice is full of emotion throughout the album, taught with pessimism and urgency to be moving on.  Favorite tracks: "Cape Canaveral," "Sausalito," "Moab," "Souled Out!!!"

Real Animal, Alejandro Escovedo

Real Animal, Alejandro Escovedo, 2008, :50

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

I know almost nothing about this rocker, what his story is, what genre he adheres most to, etc.  I came to this album a blank slate and came away thinking, "It's a banger of an opener followed by some filler."  After another listen, though, I realized that dismissal was harsh and unfair.  There are definitely some other strong spots on the album, and it's solid musically.  I don't have much to say about it.  It's a rock album, performed by a guy who does rock music.  I vacillated between giving it three or four stars and settled on three; the high points don't fully justify the fifty minute length.  Favorite tracks: "Always a Friend," "Sister Lost Soul," "Chip 'N' Tony."

We Brave Bee Stings And All, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down

Currently doing one album for each year, 1960-2020. Today: 2008. 

We Brave Bee Stings And All, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, 2008, :32

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Alternative folk-rock with horns. Catchy and pleasant, with an undercurrent. Jangling banjo, fast-paced riffs, lyrics that are about about doing cannonballs and a mother who works hard for her kids and lost love, and yet somehow dark and distressing. "Love large enough to want to shrink / Been done enough to start to think / I might cut right back on the heart attacks." And: "As sharp as I sing / It still soothes you / Doesn't it? / Like a lick of ice cream." It's quite good, but I guess sometimes I like it a little sharper and less sweet. My favorite tracks are three excellent standouts: "Swimming Pool," "Bag of Hammers," "Travel."