Posted 03/28/07

Four Winds
Bright Eyes

Annie Gleba l contributing writer
agleba@smcvt.edu

Critical detachment be damned. Bright Eyes might be infallible.

Its latest release, Four Winds is a wonderful six-song EP, but it’s different than previous Bright Eyes records. If you’re a fan of the sad little boy alone in his basement with a four-track studio, you might not like the new sound. Even so, I suggest that you close your eyes and forget about that boy, listen to the music, and it’s still a flawlessly good album. It’s just that front-man Conor Oberst has turned into a hippie.

I know, I know, this is a difficult transition for most Bright Eyes fans, but given the fact that everyone grows up and Oberst is not Peter Pan, we had to expect this. With his political ideals such as they are, and the world such as it is, of course Oberst might stop singing about girls and start singing about the fact that this world needs changing. Start a revolution, man.

Four Winds has a folksy-country sort of vibe and the lyrics are more mature than what critics used to berate Oberst for. The title track is overtly political and has the feel of a 60s folk song. It is followed by a song called “Reinvent the Wheel,” rumored to be about the late Elliott Smith, which is an upbeat song with lyrics that form a tribute of sorts.

There were many talents you possessed that I wished myself to have
But the way your eyes would gloss over, well I never envied that
And I doubt you'll ever come back now from wherever it is you are
'Cause you never understood what we loved you for

“Hmmm…those sound like old Bright Eyes lyrics,” you might say. But no, you can dance to this song. And there’s a harmonica. Sorry, no dice.

The third track, “Smoke Without Fire,” is a beautiful acoustic song, reminiscent of something you might hear in an old western film. “Stray Dog Freedom” is a song whose title and concept are based on a phrase Oberst has been fond of on previous albums.

Although these songs are strong, the pearl of this album is the fifth track, “Cartoon Blues.” This is a seriously western-sounding song that comes so close to being country that it hurts, but it's oh so good. The song explores Oberst’s life since becoming indie rock’s newest wunderkind and also references his own past work.

I listen to a lecture of nonsense till dawn
By a plagiary poet with dark glasses on
He said, “How did you ever dream up that song?
The one where the baby dies?”

“Cartoon Blues” also has this wonderfully creepy voice join Oberst’s at the end, and I would hazard a guess that the voices are supposed to sound like cartoons, just maybe. It’s one of those songs that holds surprises in places where you didn’t expect them, and that’s what makes it so amazing to listen to.

The album closes with a nice quiet song about time making changes and all that — you know, some more hippie stuff. But the point is: it’s still good. I have absolutely nothing against hippies; in fact, I love hippies. Did anyone look at Conor Oberst in 2002 during the release of Lifted; Or the Story is in the Soil, one of the greatest indie/emo albums of all time, and say to themselves, “I think Bright Eyes will soon become a politically and socially-driven band of the future that writes folk songs in order to try to create change?”

The answer should be no one. I mean, there are some hints of country and folk influences in their past work, but that wasn’t the direction I saw them going in. Strangely enough, I don’t mind. Oberst still has the ability to write some of the most melodically different and morose songs that pull at your heart strings in all the right ways, even if there are people whistling like cowboys in the background of the last track. There’s really nothing wrong with it; his voice is still that distinguishably odd-sounding voice, only it has matured as well.

I don’t want to like this album. I don’t want to give up my Lifted days. But, no matter what I do, I can’t stop listening to Four Winds. Basically, if you’re a Bright Eyes fan, you probably won't be disappointed. And you know what? Even if you aren’t a Bright Eyes fan, you might not be disappointed either.

Their next full-length album is expected to come out in early April, and I have absolutely no idea what to expect from Oberst and Co. next. But I guess that’s part of the charm of Bright Eyes. You can always expect it to be good.