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Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Bright EyesAudio CD
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (225 customer reviews)

Price: $8.70 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Formats

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MP3 Music, 13 Songs, 2002 $9.99  
Audio CD, 2002 $8.70  
Vinyl, Original recording reissued, 2002 $25.89  

Amazon's Bright Eyes Store

Music

Image of album by Bright Eyes

Photos

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Videos

Bright Eyes - Hot Knives

Biography

Since 2006 the once revolving cast of Bright Eyes players has settled around permanent members Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott, with additional musicians joining them in the studio and on tour. Fully realized and bursting with charisma, The People’s Key is an assured and accomplished album, artfully arranged and filled with the engaging and mesmeric songwriting for which ... Read more in Amazon's Bright Eyes Store

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Frequently Bought Together

Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground + I'M WIDE AWAKE, IT'S MORNING [Vinyl] + Cassadaga
Price for all three: $43.55

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Product Details

  • Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Saddle Creek
  • ASIN: B00006FRN7
  • Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (225 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,895 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

1. The Big Picture
2. Method Acting
3. False Advertising
4. You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will
5. Lover I Don't Have to Love
6. Bowl of Oranges
7. Don't Know When But a Day is Gonna Come
8. Nothing Gets Crossed Out
9. Make War
10. Waste of Paint
11. From a Balance Beam
12. Laura Laurent
13. Let's Not Shit Ourselves (to Love and Be Loved)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Nebraskan wunderkind Conor Oberst writes songs so naked and heartfelt they make you feel like a voyeur just listening to them. This precocious singer-songwriter croons with the astonished intensity of a homeless Robert Smith singing for his supper. And his band's fourth album is every bit as lyrical, sprawling, and pretentious as its title. The production is notably brighter and crisper than previous efforts, with some songs, notably "Nothing Gets Crossed Out," lushly swathed in sweet-sounding strings. When Lifted is great, as on the slow-churning anthem "From a Balance Beam," it's superb, visionary pop music, on par with Jeff Mangum, Phil Elvrum, and Daniel Johnston--and on occasion, Dylan. Unfortunately, half the songs sprawl on too long or revisit the same themes too frequently. Still, anyone who can operate a fast-forward button will find much to enjoy on this vital, messy masterpiece. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Thick booklet has 'pinch' marks and slip cover box has light wear. Back art insert is wavey. Scuff on outside edge of disc will not affect play.

Customer Reviews

Buy this album and your Mind, Heart, and Soul will thank you for it, and remember really listen! Adan S. Alvarado  |  47 reviewers made a similar statement
There is simply too much on it that's just god-awful. E. Wood  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Upon reading many of the reviews of "Lifted," I felt obligated to scribble a review of my own. Disenchantment of this record appears to be widespread. Many resort to personal attacks, while others' attempts at actual criticism falls short of substandard. Now, I'll step off my soapbox and allow Oberst to step up.

Most complaints about Oberst arise from his quavering vocals and self-indulgent writing style. I'll be the first to admit that this sort of music is an acquired taste. The first time I listened to Oberst would also be the last time I listened to him for over a year. I was sitting in my room with a group of people, and one of my friends put on Fevers and Mirrors. One caveat, you can never appreciate Bright Eyes in a crowd. This is a very solitary listening experience. But, back to the vocals and style...

From a subjective standpoint, most are put off by his general intensity. They'll term this intensity, "pretension." Yet, I must say, it's because people aren't quite sure what to make of the subject matter. His "pretension" is in actuality an attempt at pure and unadulterated writing. In trying to compare Oberst to other musicians, it's a feat short of impossible, as Oberst isn't comparable to other musicians. He's comparable only to other writers. That, I argue, is why people dislike him.

Yes, listening to Bright Eyes is a sometimes an arduous task. However, from a psychological standpoint, his lyrics operate on the reward system. Dopamine and Serotonin are the chemicals in your brain responsible for happiness and your sense of well-being. As you come to understand the lyrics, you are rewarded for putting forth a cognitive effort and therefore feel a sense of accomplishment for your hard work.

Oberst's vocals couldn't be refined. Tell me this: in modern times, what artist who is famous doesn't have a distinctive voice? Those who blend with the choir never make it. Also, due to the subject matter, these kinds of vocals are best equipped to carry the baggage.

In sum, Oberst is a lyricist first, a writer. If you don't invest the time to decode the message, you won't be rewarded, and you won't enjoy the music. Superficially, some of the songs may be enjoyed by melody alone, but that's not the author's intentions.

With "Lifted," Oberst has redefined music. He has turned a stone, so to speak, and now, we see that music can be much more than punchy lines and melodic strings. Oberst can distill life in one breath better than most writers can in an entire novel.

I believe his lyrics not to be self-indulgent but honest. He doesn't hide behind the shield of abstraction like most acclaimed musicians. Rather, Oberst lays it all out on the line so that it's undeniable as to what was spoken. In essence, he's says, "This is what I believe is truth. If you don't like it, that's fine, but there will be no question as to what I've said."

So, buy "Lifted" if you enjoy using your mind, if not then buy anything else. To the argument that his songs are depressing, I say, "Pish-posh." If you think his lyrics are depressing you're not listening, as all but save a couple songs end with some element of hope and resolution. Obviously, I have a very biased opinion about the band, but hear this... I have invested the time to enjoy it, and I'm still not enjoying it to the fullest because each time I listen I hear something new and exciting, something to which I can relate.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Conor Oberst is a poet. That's all there is to it. I'd say 90% of this album is the lyrics. The emotions that Conor manages to caupture so well in a song, the way you can hear them in his voice really make this album.

I had to write a review on this just because everyone was so harsh on their reviews, and I strongly disagree. But I think what the problem really is, they didn't really know what they were listening to. So, let me tell you what this album is NOT:

-Dashboard Confessional, & the like - You get real insight on Lifted..., not pusedo-intellectual, cheesy crap. Unlike Carraba, Oberst writes as an artform rather than to get girls.

-Pantera, etc. - If you're looking for amazing guitar solos or lyrics that can lift your great, great grandma from her grave, then you've also got the wrong album. Oberst writes music with a usually mellow beat, once again focusing on the content rather than the mosh-ability.

-Blink 182, etc. - This CD isn't going to make you jump up and down or rhyme every other line. Sorry.

If any of those is what you were looking for in this album, then I can understand you disappointment. This album is different than anything you've ever heard. (Not that people haven't tried, and failed, to replicate it) This is for fans of poetry, art, and who don't mind an album that does not have more than 300 beats per minute. Put the caffeine down, people, listen to the lyrics and feel the emotions in this album. Hell, preview the free tracks before you buy it. Disappointment will not follow.
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28 of 34 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I think it's safe to call this a masterpiece November 1, 2002
Format:Audio CD
I may not be the most qualified person to praise the new Bright Eyes album- it is the only one I own, after all. Lifted is amazing, at any rate. You might think that his emotionally overwhelemed voice would become old quick, but it really doesn't- especially when he's backed by a massive orchestra and some incredible songs. Perhaps that's the best thing about the album- its perfect balance. If you just want to hear Connor singing while he strums his guitar, listen to Waste of Paint, or You Will. If you want a big symphonic anthem, there's False Advertising or Method Acting. And if you want to hear one of his most radio-ready tracks yet, there's the stunning Lover I Don't Have to Love. There's even a few great country tracks thrown in!

I've heard people dismiss Bright Eyes as "too emo." I suppose this could describe some of his songs, but there is a lot more to Connor's music. Though he sings about pain and sadness, there's also a lot of hope and empathy for others. And even if Waste of Paint makes me cry every time I hear it, what's wrong with that??

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Yeyus
Very happy with the purchase. Connor Oberst is one of my favorites, and hope he continues to be. If you like anything Bob Dylan or Modest Mouse, give it a listen.
Published 29 days ago by Dalton Dowdy
5.0 out of 5 stars Conor Oberst changed my life!
I grew up with a passion for music, I feel like it runs through my veins. When I discovered Conor Oberst, I believed I had found what I was always searching for. Read more
Published 2 months ago by GO
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
first purchased this on cd about 5 years ago and by far it's one of the best albums I've ever purchased. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Melloncollieandtheinfinitesad
5.0 out of 5 stars Great record.
I'm not a huge Bright Eyes fan, but this is a really good album. It's one of the few CDs I don't skip any tracks.
Published 4 months ago by Chastity
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
This was the first album I ever listened to from Bright Eyes. I was browsing a record store one day in 2003 when the name of the band caught by eye and I decided to give them a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Clementine
5.0 out of 5 stars a classic.
This album is brilliant and worth the emotional/intellectual investment. I can't believe it is almost 10 years old now. I still listen to it all the time. Read more
Published on February 14, 2011 by Gayle Grossi
5.0 out of 5 stars Indie Concept Albums
So Bright Eyes has been a predominant figure in indie rock for years, but a lot of it was due to this album.
Lifted starts and ends with a simple point: Hope and Defeat. Read more
Published on May 28, 2008 by William Hoffknecht
5.0 out of 5 stars just wow.
I bought Lifted on vinyl recently and I have to say it must be one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Every song just pours warbly emotion and honest yearnings. Read more
Published on May 30, 2007 by Christina
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Give this one a few listens and it will stay in the rotation forever...having come late to the Bright Eyes party (after seeing him post-Wilco on Austin City Limits a few months... Read more
Published on March 21, 2007 by ms_dilworth
5.0 out of 5 stars Lifted, or the Story Was Daniel Johnston's
Lyrically this album is near unparallelled in its blunt honesty. You've got to have a taste for the type of vocalization of Oberst's, a warbly jitter, or you'll instantly dislike... Read more
Published on January 2, 2007 by Nicholas Inglis
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