Conor Oberst, Eat Your Heart Out: Song of the Day
Song(s) of the Day: Patrick Wolf "The Libertine" and "Teignmouth" from Wind in the Wires (Tomlab)
In the not too distant past, it wouldn't have taken much to hear my opinion of Conor Oberst. You really didn't need to know me very well. I tended to slip it into conversations as often as possible.
"Hello Christopher, it's really nice to meet you."
"I can't fucking stand that dickwad, Conor Oberst."
"That's one way to start off a job interview, now what can you bring to our company?"
Okay, so it's not that ridiculous. I mean, c'mon, I haven't had a job interview in like forever. But my history of seething hatred for indie rock's poster boy is well chronicled. If someone had told me that if I acted sad all the time, wrote rock songs and put my bangs in my eyes that I could be making out with Winona Ryder, I'd be... wait, a minute. I do act like that. What fucking gives?
Believe it or not, my stance is actually softening for "The Next Bob Dylan". His two new records are quite good. However, my search has gotten more rigorous. The search for a rival prodigy. It's sort of like that episode of the Simpsons, when Homer finds out Bart is part of the Big Brother adoption program, so Homer adopts Pepe (and calls Pepsi in one instance). Because everyone loves Conor, I have to find my own boy wonder to praise.
Enter Patrick Wolf, a strapping 6' 4", 21 year old Brit, full of youthful exuberance and fully developed artistic pretention. He's been writing music since age 11, joined an art collective at 14, and released his first full length record by 18 (Lycanthropy), while at the same age I was learning that drinking a pitcher of Icehouse and trying to walk on ice is not a good idea.
The opening track on his sophomore release Wind in the Wires, "The Libertine" features one of the two sides of the Wolf coin. The dancy "The Libertine" lives up to its title. It's naughty, dirty and insanely European. However, under the glitchy horse clog, disco drum beat and flourishing violins, Wolf makes a stinging commentary on today's music world. In it he sings, "And in this drought of truth and invention/Whoever shouts the loudest gets the most attention".
Track two is "Teignmouth" which blends so well with the opener, it had to be included. Dark and brooding, Wolf somehow finds an acceptable niche between Evanscence and Enya. I know, I know, I didn't think it was there either. In his wall of minor chord sounds, Wolf lays down a faint laptop beat and proceeds to use his best instrument, his booming voice. There is definitely a hint of ol' Moz in Wolf's howl but there is more urgency and authority, and way less whiny bitchiness.
This brings me back to Mr. Oberst. Hope you continue making fabulous music. I just wanted to say with my wisening with old age, I've become more accepting of your emo-tastic ways. With this newfound inner peace, my conversations can go more like this:
"Hey Chris, your haircut is soooo cute."
"I love Patrick Wolf."
"Okayyyyyyyy, well, that's the end of this date."
Patrick Wolf: http://www.tomlab.de
Conor Oberst: http://www.theonion.com/nib/index.php?issue=4113&nib=5
In the not too distant past, it wouldn't have taken much to hear my opinion of Conor Oberst. You really didn't need to know me very well. I tended to slip it into conversations as often as possible.
"Hello Christopher, it's really nice to meet you."
"I can't fucking stand that dickwad, Conor Oberst."
"That's one way to start off a job interview, now what can you bring to our company?"
Okay, so it's not that ridiculous. I mean, c'mon, I haven't had a job interview in like forever. But my history of seething hatred for indie rock's poster boy is well chronicled. If someone had told me that if I acted sad all the time, wrote rock songs and put my bangs in my eyes that I could be making out with Winona Ryder, I'd be... wait, a minute. I do act like that. What fucking gives?
Believe it or not, my stance is actually softening for "The Next Bob Dylan". His two new records are quite good. However, my search has gotten more rigorous. The search for a rival prodigy. It's sort of like that episode of the Simpsons, when Homer finds out Bart is part of the Big Brother adoption program, so Homer adopts Pepe (and calls Pepsi in one instance). Because everyone loves Conor, I have to find my own boy wonder to praise.
Enter Patrick Wolf, a strapping 6' 4", 21 year old Brit, full of youthful exuberance and fully developed artistic pretention. He's been writing music since age 11, joined an art collective at 14, and released his first full length record by 18 (Lycanthropy), while at the same age I was learning that drinking a pitcher of Icehouse and trying to walk on ice is not a good idea.
The opening track on his sophomore release Wind in the Wires, "The Libertine" features one of the two sides of the Wolf coin. The dancy "The Libertine" lives up to its title. It's naughty, dirty and insanely European. However, under the glitchy horse clog, disco drum beat and flourishing violins, Wolf makes a stinging commentary on today's music world. In it he sings, "And in this drought of truth and invention/Whoever shouts the loudest gets the most attention".
Track two is "Teignmouth" which blends so well with the opener, it had to be included. Dark and brooding, Wolf somehow finds an acceptable niche between Evanscence and Enya. I know, I know, I didn't think it was there either. In his wall of minor chord sounds, Wolf lays down a faint laptop beat and proceeds to use his best instrument, his booming voice. There is definitely a hint of ol' Moz in Wolf's howl but there is more urgency and authority, and way less whiny bitchiness.
This brings me back to Mr. Oberst. Hope you continue making fabulous music. I just wanted to say with my wisening with old age, I've become more accepting of your emo-tastic ways. With this newfound inner peace, my conversations can go more like this:
"Hey Chris, your haircut is soooo cute."
"I love Patrick Wolf."
"Okayyyyyyyy, well, that's the end of this date."
Patrick Wolf: http://www.tomlab.de
Conor Oberst: http://www.theonion.com/nib/index.php?issue=4113&nib=5
2 Comments:
conor oberst.
genius.
descriptive.
over analyzing.
expressive.
different.
you.
bitter.
sarcastic.
respect other's thoughts, and attributes. dont critisize. If you don't like what he's saying, then grab a guitar and put your own imput in. But don't call him whiny when he's showing emotion.
Don't say you are mature and label him 'emo'.
He is what he is.
He sings what he sings.
He doesn't care what you think.
And that's Conor Oberst for you.
And that is why he bothers you.
Because he's fearless.
wr
I can criticize because that's what I do here on this blog. I don't dislike him because he is emotional. otis redding is emotional. I love otis redding. I just don't think his songs are that GREAT.
I just never thought he was as good as everyone made him out to be. but I do like the two new records. and personally he seems to be a nice, well-informed individual.
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