Letting Off the Happiness

Bright Eyes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 2, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Saddle Creek
• ASIN: B00000HXU7
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,931 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #27 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Singer Songwriters

Track Listings

1. If Winter Ends

2. Padraic my Prince

3. Contrast and Compare

4. The City has Sex

5. The Difference in the Shades

6. Touch

7. June on the West Coast

8. Pull My Hair

9. A Poetic Retelling of an Unfortunate Seduction

10. Tereza and Tomas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I don't know if music gets more emotional than this, September 14, 2002

By 

Stephen (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letting Off the Happiness (Audio CD)

The album starts off with noise that leaves you wondering what to expect, then all of the sudden, a tenderly strummed acoustic guitar comes into the sonic realm and your worries are relieved. "If Winter Ends" isn't a song to listen to while driving..."Padraic my Prince", melodically, is one of the best songs on here. Lyrically, it tells the tale of untimely death and a suicide pact to make up for it...it's not a happy album, folks. The female backing vocals give "Contrast and Compare" an interesting sound. The songs full of great lines people sometimes quote: 'I can't breathe with these words in my mouth'. "The City has Sex" is a faster paced song about the city and the people in it. One reviewer called "Touch" 'bedroom techno', and I can't think of a better way to describe it. It starts off semi-industrial but then morphs into something that sounds like an oldies station with manic depression. "June on the West Coast" is basically a country song without the typical redneck style vocals. The simple melody and Dylan-ish vocal delivery have been stuck in my head on many, many days. "A Poetic Retelling of an Unfortunte Seduction" is haunting to say the least. The album closes with "Tereza and Tomas" (a reference to Milan Kundera's excellent book The Unbearable Lightness of Being). The song is aching in its beauty. Its about love and escape, two of the things that often keep us going. If you listen to this with your eyes closed, it takes you away to another place. This album is underproduced, some might say, but a lo-fi fan might say that's exactly what makes it great. I don't know. The lack of production makes it seem very earnest, very genuine, and very very real. Unlike a lot of the fake and contrived "emo" out there today, this album is truly an emotional experience. I don't know if that requires it be labeled emo, but if it does, it certainly lives up to the title. Conor writes with such genuine honesty that you can't help but listen to and remember every word he sings. And the singing, oh my...he sings like he cries and it doesn't sound lame. If that's not an accomplishment, I don't know what is.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a new discovery, April 22, 2003

By 

James Stanton (New Orleans, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letting Off the Happiness (Audio CD)

i've recently become a bright eyes fan in the past few months. since then i've managed to snag lifted, fever and mirrors, and lettings off the happiness. it took a bit to grow on me, but, they are all flawless. conor has the ability to speak to many in a manner that few others do; its almost disconcerting. the songs are painstakingly beautiful, yet honest. last saturday i got to see bright eyes play at the howlin' wolf in new orleans, and it was amazing! pick up one of these albums or stop by a show, it will be worth the time and money invested.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars mind blowing, November 19, 2005

By 

rockismylife - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letting Off the Happiness (Audio CD)

I am a huge Bright Eyes fan, and even though I don't think this is Oberst's best album, it is the most admirable. He was 17 and 18 when it was being recorded. I am the same age and all this makes me think is, "What am i doing with my life?" That and Conor Oberst is amazing. The ups and downs on this album are great and, as always, the lyrics are both everything you had always thought and things you had never thought of before. Definetly a good buy.