victory is sweet, even deep in the cheap seats

i don’t typically do this but given the way my life seems to be headed it seems an appropriate thing to do. 

so i wanna chat about conor oberst’s solo effort conor oberst (merge 2008). i love this album. i really do. there are homage’s and little moments of loving dedication to the pioneers of americana like tom petty and bruce springsteen. 

i’m not one to really notice production but the difference between the mike mogis produced bright eyes albums and the andy lemaster/oberst production. this time around the production is cleaner, richer and the focus seems to be on the songs and their construction as opposed to capturing weird little sounds to make the songs seem like they’re trapped in an oven or wherever…  on conor oberst we hear pianos and mandolins and guitars. welcome additions. this is country music. rich and lovely. 

oberst and i come from very similar backgrounds: middle-class catholic children of the early 80s growing up in cities with money (from oil and/or farming) and from the songs on this record it appears we’re both ready for a change. we’re both hoping the road will keep all of its promises. we’re both hopeful. this album couldn’t have come at a better time for me. there really seems to be nothing the road, or a great country record, cannot heal.