With countless albums under multiple monikers, not to mention the supergroups, Conor Oberst’s back-catalogue may seem a tad daunting for the uninitiated. But with the right guidance and a little patience, you just might discover your new favourite singer-songwriter.

Oberst’s music traverses just about every genre you can think of, and blends his harsh, unique vocals with intimate and poignant lyrics.

When the Nebraskan native was only 12 years old, he wrote enough material for an entire set in just two weeks. He started recording these songs onto his father’s four track cassette with just an acoustic guitar, and has been releasing a diverse range of material ever since.

Perhaps best known for his work under the name Bright Eyes, Oberst also has multiple solo albums and collaborations that display a different side to the young prodigy.

If you were wondering where to start with Conor Oberst before his visit to Australian shores in a few months, here’s a few handy tips.

I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning – Bright Eyes


2005, Saddle Creek
For many, this is the best spot to jump into Oberst’s illustrious discography. It’s the album where everything is stripped away to allow the songwriter’s lyrics and subtle instrumentation to shine, and it’s probably the most accessible thing he’s ever written.

Released in 2005, the album is filled with jaunty country folk, and its tone is set from the opening piece of spoken word, where a group of passengers joyfully sing as their plane crashes into the sea.

While most of Oberst’s writing is complex and open to interpretation, ‘First Day Of My Life’ is probably the simplest love song he’s ever written. With lines like “This is the first day of my life / Glad I didn’t die before I met you / Now I don’t care, I could go anywhere with you / And I’d probably be happy” over the top of delicately strummed acoustic guitar, it’s the perfect place to dive in to Oberst’s music.

‘Landlocked Blues’ typifies Oberst’s ability to develop a sprawling, powerful narrative focusing on the meaning of life of all things, across only five or so minutes. ‘Another Travellin’ Song’ is straight-up jaunty folk, while album-closer ‘Road To Joy’ reinterprets ‘Ode To Joy’ into an angry, passionate protest song. I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning is perhaps the most complete and near-flawless album that Oberst has ever released, and provides the most accessible opening to introduce yourself to his music.

Fevers and Mirrors – Bright Eyes


2000, Saddle Creek
Bright Eyes’ third album best encapsulates the painful angst that pervades Oberst’s early work, with the singer alternating between hushed, quiet vocals, and brash screams. But behind the wall of teen distress is an expertly crafted album that includes some of his best work.

‘Something Vague’ shows just why Oberst is so highly regarded as a lyricist. It deals with complex and difficult issues, of growing up and depression, but does so in an entirely relatable way. He often manages to put into words the emotions and struggles that virtually everyone has been through at some point in their lives. Following from this, the break up song ‘Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh’ is perhaps the best song to come out of Oberst’s early, angsty material.

Outer South – Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band


2009, Merge
Released in 2009, Oberst’s first album officially with the Mystic Valley Band follows in a similar vein to I’m Wide Awake….

At its core it’s a country-folk album, but with an array of other instruments and new sounds, as well as new songwriters that complement Oberst’s work. ‘Roosevelt Room’ is one of the fiercest protest songs Oberst has ever written, and sees the singer passionately lament the current state of the government and police. In contrast to the anger and angst that encompass Oberst’s earlier work, this anger is firmly targeted at society in general, rather than more introspective issues.

Songs like ‘All The Lights In The Windows’ display a coherent maturity of his songwriting from the Bright Eyes era, and handing the reins over to his band for a handful of songs gives the album a sense of diversity and collaboration that isn’t present on most of his work.

Monsters Of Folk – Monsters Of Folk


2009, Shangri-La Music, Rough Trade
While much of Oberst’s work is written in solitude, he’s also known to collaborate with other prolific American musicians. Monsters Of Folk is a supergroup of sorts that consists of Oberst, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, half of She & Him M Ward, and Mike Mogis, also of Bright Eyes fame.

Although the four-piece began to work together in 2004, they didn’t release their first album until 2009 due to all of their conflicting commitments. The album that they eventually produced is expertly crafted and at times surprising, managing to mould together the best elements of each songwriter’s talents.

It’s the harmonies between each singer that shine through, something that isn’t seen on their respective solo works, and songs written by Oberst, such as ‘Map Of The World’, are just as good as anything he released as Bright Eyes.

Digital Ash In A Digital Urn – Bright Eyes


2005, Saddle Creek
Released simultaneously with I’m Wide Awake…, Digital Ash ventures into territory hardly anyone thought Oberst would: electronica.

It’s certainly the most experimental thing that he’s ever released, and at times, it works surprising well. ‘Arc Of Time’ and ‘Take It Easy (Love Nothing)’ are classic Bright Eyes song with added electronic elements.

The album parallels strangely with it’s sibling, delving into similar themes, but tackling them entirely differently in a musical sense. While it may be a bit of a shock for those expecting another acoustic folk album, Digital Ash has a lot to offer on repeated listens, and demonstrates that Oberst can successfully tackle just about any genre you can think of.

Read Music / Speak Spanish – Desaparecidos


2002, Saddle Creek
While most of Oberst’s work is typified by its sparseness and hushed vocals, this side project displays a completely different side to his songwriting. Desaparecidos is heavier, more punk-orientated rock, with more expansive lyrics.

Oberst’s trademark vocals, which sometimes sound like they’re being sung underwater, are replaced by his powerful, growling voice filled with anger. The band formed in 2001, and just as they were gaining an increasing prolific following, broke up the year after, with Oberst choosing to focus on his work with Bright Eyes.

The band reunited in 2012, and have since released four songs that are fairly similar to their debut. While it’s probably not for everyone, and even the most ardent Bright Eyes fan may not connect with it, Desaparecidos can provide an intriguing and addictive cherry on the top of the Conor Oberst discography cake.

Upside Down Mountain – Conor Oberst


2014, Nonesuch
Conor Oberst’s latest solo effort is self-assured and by far his most mature to date. He isn’t angry anymore, and this allows the poetic lyrics and songwriting to shine through. It also marks a return to the more introspective lyrics of Oberst’s earlier Bright Eyes material, but these issues are tackled from a very different, more mature point of view.

The instrumentation is roots-infused, and features a new backing of musicians. The beautifully sentimental ‘You Are Your Mother’s Child’ is a simple love song akin to ‘First Day Of My Life’, while ‘Common Knowledge’ showcases everything that is brilliant about Conor Oberst.

Conor Oberst’s career has been quite the journey, and he’s still only 34 years old. Starting from garbled, angry bedroom recordings of a preteen, venturing into the soulful folk of much of Bright Eyes, to the full band recordings of The Mystic Valley Band, then back to the more acoustic, rootsy solo work. Despite the genre-bending adventure, Oberst’s poetic, haunting and beautiful lyrics and songwriting remain constant. His back-catalogue is impressive and maybe a little daunting, but with a little effort it displays the work of one the best songwriters of our generation.

Conor Oberst 2015 Australian Tour Dates

Thursday 25 February – The Triffid – Brisbane QLD
Tickets via http://tickets.thetriffid.com.au/

Thursday 26 February – Corner Hotel – Melbourne VIC
Tickets via http://cornerhotel.com/

Saturday 28 February – Melbourne Zoo – Melbourne VIC
Tickets via www.zoo.org.au/melbourne

Wednesday 4 March – Metro Theatre – Sydney NSW
Tickets via http://www.metrotheatre.com.au

Thursday 5 March – Anitas – Thirroul NSW
Tickets via http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/Anitas-Theatre-tickets-Thirroul/venue/157663

Friday 6 March – Taronga Zoo – Sydney NSW
Tickets via http://twilightattaronga.org.au/

Sunday 8 March – Golden Plains Festival – Meredith VIC
More info. http://2015.goldenplains.com.au/

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