Centred around the prolific songwriting of Conor Oberst and backed up by
multi-instrumentalists Mike Mogis, Nate Walcott and a revolving cast of
musicians and friends, Bright Eyes was seen ostensibly as a solo project
following in a long tradition of American folk singer-songwriters. A child
protégé who first came to attention as a 14-year-old in the emo band Commander
Venus, Oberst released a leftover batch of his songs on his own Saddle Creek
label after the Commander's demise and, forming Bright Eyes, was quickly dubbed
“the new Bob Dylan.” Staunchly political, the band gained...