Conor Oberst is one the most prolific singer-songwriters of his generation. This musician loves collaboration and his joint efforts allow him to spread his creative talents across the musical spectrum. On his latest self-titled solo album, Oberst uses that experience to amass a taut collection of songs. He and his cohorts (this time calling themselves ‘The Mystic Valley Band’) converged in Mexico to conjure the insightful tracks, bridging genres of alt-rock, country, and folk. The opening track “Cape Canaveral” is an acoustic delight, as Conor sings, “Victory’s sweet even deep in the cheap seats.” “Get Well Cards and Eagle on a Pole” channels Bob Dylan’s unadulterated lyrical honesty, and Oberst’s quivery vocals make the Dylan comparisons almost impossible to avoid. This is an incredibly mature album, and it feels as though Oberst has surpassed his need for sonic experimentations in favor of capable and worthy expressions. “Lenders in the Temple” is a shining example of this, as he unapologetically sings about commerce and faith inhabiting the same space: “Erase yourself…and you’ll be free.”

Label: Merge Records
Release Date: 8-05-08