Sunday, May 6, 2007
SideA/SideB
Cassadaga | Bright Eyes
Saddle Creek | April 10th
Reviews by Tom Fairman & Jigantor
Website
Saddle Creek Records
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In this regular feature, two of our writers review the same album, providing two perspectives on the same record. After all, when it comes to music, beauty really is in the ear of the beholder.
Review by Tom Fairman
Sounds like … the love child of Neil Young and Bob Dylan with a dash of M Ward.
Conor Oberst, the mind behind Bright Eyes, is not the new Bob Dylan. Oberst has been plagued by this comparison ever since his brand of semi-political folk-rock was brought to a wider audience with 2002’s Lifted. He is, however, an extremely prolific and dedicated songwriter. And Cassadaga is another chapter in his saga following 2004’s double heavyweight I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn.
Of the divergent musical paths forged in the wake of his previous albums, Oberst seems to have pursued the Western-essence found on I’m Wide Awake. Opening ominously, Cassadaga crystallises the ills of modern society in a single sentence – “Corporate or colonial/the movement is unstoppable/like the body of the centrefold/it spreads." Four Winds follows, complete with a violin riff bizarrely reminiscent of Santa Clause is Coming to Town, which works surprisingly well.
The highlight of the album comes midway through, on Middleman - a potential rock song that has been oppressed and distilled into a suspiciously gentle acoustic piece, which works exceptionally well for Oberst. The song simmers, threatening to burst its mere musical constraints, listeners eagerly anticipating a slash of distorted guitar – or something loud - to break the tension. But this never comes, and by the conclusion, it’s not a track of wasted potential - rather, a cause to marvel at Oberst’s fine grasp of restraint and ability to weave boundless energy within every guitar chord and soft string pluck.
Oberst doesn’t always nail it - Make a Plan To Love Me takes the tempo of 2004’s single Lua, but holds none of its strength, beauty or potency. This sentiment pervades the album. Yet the mastery of Oberst’s work is that which initially appears to be mostly repetitious country ballads, with dedication, reveals a taciturn glow that refuses to be extinguised and compels you to return.
7 out of 10
Review by Jigantor
Sounds like … Paul Kelly plus Matchbox Twenty with a dash of country, minus inspiration.
I'm sorry, Reader. I really am. I tried so hard to like this album. I should have liked this album. An acoustic record with a hint of country is right up my alley. But this album did not evoke images of love, loss, heartbreak or open roads. It made me think of tax returns, essays, and whether or not I should cut my hair. That's right kids, this album is boring. Sure, all the elements are there. Count 'em. There's the swelling orchestra ('Make A Plan To Love Me'). There's the Biblical references ('Four Winds'). There's the dramatic pause before the singalong chorus ('Hot Knives'). But look – there's me falling asleep.
You see, I have a rather strange notion of what makes good music. In a nutshell, the best records have heart. Now, I'm not picky. All sorts of records have heart, from Frenzal Rhomb to Sarah McLachlan. But here, there is nothing. Just the unedifying sound of Conor Oberst trying oh so hard to be emotional. He's clearly been practising his 'vulnerable' voice, wavering and cracking throughout the album, desperately flailing, trying to catch hold of a heartstring. Keep trying son, you're miles away. And you're getting irritating.
I wrote the first draft of this review with hatred in my heart. I had nothing but scorn for Bright Eyes and anyone who liked this album. Then I discovered that Mr Music, a friend whose opinion I value highly, thought the album was 'brilliant'. So, dear Reader, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you will buy this album and not take it out of your CD player for a month. Maybe you will laugh and cry and change your life. But personally, I can't wait to finish this review so I never have to hear it again. Oh look. I just did.
3 out of 10
