Bright Eyes

[photogallerylink id=62747 align=left] [lastfm]Bright Eyes[/lastfm]‘ new album, The People’s Key, hit store shelves this morning and this album reaches further than any that came before. Today is also [lastfm]Conor Oberst’s[/lastfm] 31st birthday, but the singer-songwriter’s main musical outlet began over a decade earlier. Sometimes referred to as the “New [lastfm]Dylan[/lastfm], this indie hero weaves his rootsy folk pop with spacey electronic synths and even spoken word into this very diverse and dynamic release.

Conor Oberst (Photo: Graham Denholm / Getty Images)

[pullquote quote="I'd like to clean it up, lock the door, say goodbye." credit="Conor Oberst (Rolling Stone Interview)"]In an interview with Rolling Stone in ’09, Oberst stated, “It does feel like it needs to stop at some point. I’d like to clean it up, lock the door, say goodbye.” It’s been a few years since [lastfm]Bright Eyes[/lastfm] had a proper release, but Oberst has been keeping busy on the road with his [lastfm]Mystic Valley Band[/lastfm] as well as part of the indie-folk supergroup [lastfm]Monsters of Folk[/lastfm]. MOF is comprised of My Morning Jacket‘ Jim James (or Yim James, whichever you prefer) , Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes and M. Ward. You can watch the full hour-long performance originally aired as part of Austin City Limits on PBS [RIGHT HERE].

[pullquote quote="I liked the idea of having a record that's reggae-influenced but not musically." credit="Conor Oberst "]Now Bright Eyes is back, but with the pressure off, giving Oberst the freedom to go in directions he would never have tread on earlier records. This disc might not resonate from start to finish with longtime fans of the band, but I think Oberst’s semi-experimental direction is definitely a breath of fresh air.

In anticipation of today’s release, Oberst had decided to give away the first couple singles for free! Download “Haile Selassie” and “Shell Games” two of my favorite cuts off The People’s Key:

“Shell Games” incorporates a piano and synths broken up by a few fuzzy guitar riffs and crisp drumbeats. This first look at the album showed us that Bright Eyes was stepping in a fresh, more refined direction on this album.

“Haile Selassie,” is heavy in Rastafarian influence, taking its name from long-time Ethiopian Emperor who is perceived as a messianic figure in Jamaica’s Rastafari movement. “Haile Selassie” is most reminiscent of ’07′s Cassadaga.

Stream The Album (This Week Only)

Track List
1. Firewall
2. Shell Games
3. Jejune Stars
4. Approximated Sunlight
5. Haile Selassie
6. A Machine Spiritual (In the People’s Key)
7. Triple Spiral
8. Beginner’s Mind
9. Ladder Song
10. One for You, One for Me

Key Tracks: “Shell Games” “Haile Selassie” “Triple Spiral” “Jejune Stars” (features some sweet double bass)

Catch Bright Eyes On Tour
3/2 Miami, FL Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater
3/3 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues
3/4 Atlanta, GA The Tabernacle
3/5 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
3/6 Richmond, VA The National
3/8 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall
3/9 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall SOLD OUT
3/10 Boston, MA House Of Blues SOLD OUT
3/11 Portland, ME State Theatre
3/13 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
3/14 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre SOLD OUT
3/15 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre SOLD OUT
3/16 Champaign, IL Foellinger Auditorium
3/17 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
3/19 Austin, TX SXSW Ground Control Touring Showcase Auditorium Shores
4/2 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theatre
4/3 Milwaukee, WI The Riverside Theater
4/3 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
4/5 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
4/8 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballro0m
4/9 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
4/10 Arcata, CA Arcata Community Center
4/12 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
4/13 Pomona, CA Fox Theater SOLD OUT
4/16 Indio, CA Coachella Festival SOLD OUT
4/28 George, WA Sasquatch Music Festival
6/1 Boise, ID Knitting Factory Concert House
6/3 Denver, CO Filmore Theatre
6/4 Council Bluffs, IA WestFair Amphitheater
6/6 St. Louis The Pageant

New Batch Of $5 Albums Available From Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, The Black Keys, The Smiths & More