Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Instant classic, May 5, 2009
There is abundant evidence on all Bright Eyes album that Conor Oberst is one of the grand songwriters of our days. Outer South contains some of his finest songs and, surprisingly, pearls sung by various Mystic Valley Band members that are virtually at par with his.
My favorite song on the album is I Got The Reason #2, a song that has been a widely acclaimed fan favorite during his recent tour to promote his eponymous last album. The studio version is very well done. It starts very slow, gains momentum, and finally features a wonderful guitar riff, that makes one wish that a guitar hero like Jack White would play a 10-minute version, a kind of I Got The Reason #3. It surely was the right decision not to put #1, sung by Jason Boesel, on the album. Including "In the pages of the Rolling Stone" in his lyrics may be Conor's way of expressing his gratitude for the best songwriter award of 2008 that the magazine bestowed on him.
Ten Women is a masterpiece as well. Conor sings about the thrill and shame of short-lived relations and "that he is biding his time like a seller of wine" while his band excels as background vocalists. In To All The Lights In The Window Conor speaks to both leaders and followers and accurately describes "that's the thing about charisma, it makes everyone believe that there is nothing impossible..."
Slowly and Spoiled are great songs whose studio version have long been awaited by the many fans who have seen him on his world tour. That Conor can master slow and heavy songs equally well is exemplified by White Shoes and Roosevelt Room.
What is truly amazing is that the songs that are not performed by Conor himself are equally well done. Nik Freitas does not only sing a brief part of Conor's Nikorette, but also Big Black Nothing and Bloodline. His voice is plainly wonderful and his lyrics funny ("It feels scary to be ordinary").
Guitarist Taylor Hollingsworth, bassist Macey Taylor, drummer Jason Boesel, and keyboarder Nathaniel Walcott impress as well, both with their instrumental and vocal performances. They enrich Conor's oeuvre with songs that sound more like the Red Hot Chili Peppers (Difference Is Time) and the Ramones (Air Mattress) than Bright Eyes.
One reason why Beatles records were never boring was that there were four voices singing lead. The Mystic Valley Band clearly proves that they deserve to play with Conor Oberst. Let us all hope that this album is just the first of many future collaborative efforts.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The first conor oberst release that doesnt demand repeated listens, May 12, 2009
After deciding to digest this somewhat critically panned album for a week prior to formally judging it myself I feel that I can offer an honest review on Conor Oberst (and his recent band's most recent work).
Outer south is easy enough on the ears (save Air Mattress) but is simply an average alt-rock record that would not get any attention if not for its namesake's prior credit. I'm a big fan of Oberst, but feel the last great album he made was I'm Wide Awake Its Morning. Digital Ash being better than Cassadaga in my opionion and Cassadaga being much better than Outer South. His self titled release has a few gems but also sounds a bit distant from Oberst's most potent honesty.
To me, Oberst sounds bored but having fun. No chances being taken, very little at stake (its not a "Bright Eyes" album...which i think he's saving his better songs for), and rather tired song writing. Some of Oberst's songs do well with repeated listens: White Shoes; Ten Women; All The Lights In The Windows; I Got a Reason #2; and maybe Roosevelt Room. I actually think Nik Freitas's contributions are some of the stronger songs on the album. "Eagle on a Pole" and "Difference is Time" are listenable too (but sound oddly likely what Evan Dando would be doing with a proper recording budget). Taylor Hollingsworth's contributions just don't do anything for me. My main issue is with Oberst's contributions. I hate hearing him of all people go through the motions.
I look forward to a new Bright Eyes album with Mike Mogis. I bet Conor does too.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Much better than these reviews suggest, May 22, 2009
Wow, usually albums are completely over-rated by users on Amazon, but the opposite is true in this case. This is a great album, to me maybe Oberst's best (or at least my favorite). Apparently this album is not for huge fans of his previous work, with the consensus being that the charm of Bright Eyes is gone on this new record. Not being a big fan of Bright Eyes, I really like this record and much prefer this sound and loose album feel over his earlier records. I have a feeling that C. Oberst is enjoying not making an overly emotional, overly serious album and is really enjoying making the music on this record. I think Dylan comparisons are off, but you may consider this a "Basement Tapes"-type of album.
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