Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

Amazon.com
Having established himself as a folk singer-songwriter of considerable weight with 2002's--take a deep breath--Lifted, or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, Conor Oberst takes the opportunity to experiment here. Released simultaneously with the more conventional follow-up disc, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn sees the Omaha-based leader of Bright Eyes teaming up with a diverse set of musicians that includes Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner for a collection of songs that aim to recreate the alien landscapes of Radiohead but more often come off sounding like midperiod Depeche Mode. --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description
Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst continues to earn his reputation as our most respected young troubadour with almost frightening ease. He's been recording since the age of 13, and for the past few years he's been tagged "rock's boy genius" by the music press. Now, with the release of these two albums, we have unequivocal proof that the 24 year-old Oberst belongs amid our lineage of great American songwriters. These albums are a soundly articulated slice of modern life rolled into two very different records, both bursting with all of the heartfelt poetry for which Bright Eyes' records have earned their acclaim.Of course, the rough edges haven't gone away - the palpitation of a splintering note, the crack of a voice as it overextends, the clumsy thump of a misplaced thumb. It's all still there. But there's a glorious new level of depth and a maturation of texture, writing and delivery.

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn,Bright Eyes,Saddle Creek,Indie Electronic,Indie Pop,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

Average customer rating: Conor discovers Kraftwerk! Wow, and Wow Beautiful. Eery briliance digital ash...amazing

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn Bright Eyes Manufacturer: Saddle Creek ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Plans The Crane Wife Z Set Yourself on Fire XO ASIN: B00070FWUG Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

1. Time Code
2. Gold Mine Gutted
3. Arc Of Time (Time Code)
4. Down In A Rabbit Hole - (with Nick Zinner)
5. Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
6. Hit The Switch
7. I Believe In Symmetry - (with Nick Zinner)
8. Devil In The Details - (with Nick Zinner)
9. Ship In A Bottle
10. Light Pollution
11. Theme From Pinata
12. Easy/Lucky/Free - (with Nick Zinner)

Amazon.com

Having established himself as a folk singer-songwriter of considerable weight with 2002's--take a deep breath--Lifted, or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, Conor Oberst takes the opportunity to experiment here. Released simultaneously with the more conventional follow-up disc, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn sees the Omaha-based leader of Bright Eyes teaming up with a diverse set of musicians that includes Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner for a collection of songs that aim to recreate the alien landscapes of Radiohead but more often come off sounding like midperiod Depeche Mode. --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst continues to earn his reputation as our most respected young troubadour with almost frightening ease. He's been recording since the age of 13, and for the past few years he's been tagged "rock's boy genius" by the music press. Now, with the release of these two albums, we have unequivocal proof that the 24 year-old Oberst belongs amid our lineage of great American songwriters. These albums are a soundly articulated slice of modern life rolled into two very different records, both bursting with all of the heartfelt poetry for which Bright Eyes' records have earned their acclaim.Of course, the rough edges haven't gone away - the palpitation of a splintering note, the crack of a voice as it overextends, the clumsy thump of a misplaced thumb. It's all still there. But there's a glorious new level of depth and a maturation of texture, writing and delivery.

Customer Reviews:

Conor discovers Kraftwerk!.......2007-01-30

Have you ever read those stories wherein an artist gets into a battle with their record company because the label hates the record, it doesn't sound like the artist and they can't hear a hit? Ever wonder what those records sounded like? Well, welcome to "Digital Ash In a Digital Urn." After several albums of really fine folk music with incredible lyrics, the ever-ambitious Conor Oberst decided he'd release two albums at once. The first, the five-star worthy "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" is everything you'd expect. Insightful lyrics, beautiful melodies and even EmmyLou Harris. "Digital Ash In A Digital Urn" is the sound of an artist stepping outside his range to really bad results.

Conor discovered the synth and decided to write about machine music. And unfortunately, that means every cruddy lyrical cliche about programming, man-machines, time codes, circuit boards, life and death in the digital age. Frankly, every thing you've heard done a million times better by the likes of Kraftwerk, New Order or even The Buggles. There's hardly a memorable melody or even an interesting song to be found here.

Really, if this had been on a major, someone with a lick of sense might have been able to talk him into working a bit more on the better of these songs ("Take It Easy" maybe) and re-cutting them later. But since Bright Eyes is essentially Saddle Creek's bread and butter, no-one was going to tell the kid the "Digital Ash" was a digital dog. Be honest here; if this wasn't Bright Eyes, it would be laughed off as amateurish electronica. I give it 2 1/2 stars because the best two songs here are really great, but the context is ill-suited. Get "I'm Wide Awake..." if you really want to hear why fans and critics are nuts about this guy.

Wow, and Wow.......2007-01-15

I really was suprised by the massive amount of negative buzz surounding an album. But, after reviewing Conor Oberst's track record, I knew I had to give this album a chance. And I did buy it, and I don't regret doing so.

Released as the companion piece to the bright, acoustic I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, it shows off not just the plugged in/unplugged style of Conor, but instead the total opposites that exist inside his mind. Morning allows for bright, almost cheerful acoustic songs, while Digital Ash showcases intense melancholy. And, honestly, I couldn't be happier.

When the drumming, strings, and female vocals connect on "Down in a Rabbit Hole", you feel that Conor is up to something amazing. His more conventional fans hated this, but i was a great chance for conor to experiment, and it paid off well. Best Songs include Time Code, Light Pollution, and Down in a Rabbit Hole.

Beautiful........2006-11-18

It was a track on this album that first got me addicted to Bright Eyes. I was going to purchase it, but somehow the multiple negative reviews turned me away from it for awhile. When I finally did, I realized how wrong they all were.

Seriously... WHY do people hate this album so much?

Sure, it's synth-poppy here and there and sounds different from their usual releases, but remember that Bright Eyes is a band that likes to experiment. Styles and techniques are always changing, and personally I think it's an excellent release(though I've always enjoyed electronic music to begin with). The tracks on this album are simply uplifting and great to listen to(especially "Gold Mine Gutted", "Arc of Time" and "Easy/Lucky/Free"). Seems like no matter what Oberst does, whether he's writing depressive or happy music, the public just aren't satisfied and feel they have to pick away at it. Oh well, it's their loss.

Eery briliance.......2006-07-02

Not unlike all of Bright Eyes's albums, listening to this album is somewhat alluring and results in an inevitable pondering in a deep-delving, intense trance. Conor Oberst's unique style certainly would not appeal to many who don't have the time or desire to embellish their lives with this magnificent trance, however Conor's skill with words should be appreciated (yes, the parachute line is fetching and is used skilfully as a softer note to the more intellectual statements), and the alternate beats, instruments and digital enhancements combine to produce intricately carved, intruiging songs.

digital ash...amazing .......2006-06-13

i have listened to bright eyes for awhile now, and digital ash was an amazing road conor oberst chose to go down. this is by far my most favorite cd of bright eyes. there are the obvious great tracks like "take it easy," "gold mine gutted," and "easy/lucky/free." but, if you hang in there on "i believe in symmetry" the song wraps around towards the end w/an killer break in the rhythm and a more profound ear of the violin. also, another great song i love on this cd is "light pollution," where at first i really disliked this song, but the more i listened to it the more i love it. i kind of has a pop beat in the beginning but smooths itself out. all and all, i have never been disappointed in a bright eyes cd and some fans like this cd the least, but it is my favorite. enjoy!

Average customer rating: Digitally

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn Bright Eyes Manufacturer: Saddle Creek ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Electronic Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00069W4K4

Tracks:

1. Time Code
2. Gold Mine Gutted
3. Arc of Time
4. Down in a Rabbit Hole
5. Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
6. Hit the Switch
7. I Believe in Symmetry
8. Devil in the Details
9. Ship in a Bottle
10. Light Pollution
11. Theme from Pinata
12. Easy/Lucky/Free

Customer Reviews:

Digitally.......2005-01-31

"Digital Ash in a Digital Urn" seems like an appropriate name for this album, one of two Bright Eyes has released in early 2005. It's about time and death, and it's swamped in digital music. Indie-rock's golden boy Conor Oberst lets out his inner Thom Yorke in this experimental album, which retains a dark, rough edge but doesn't quite measure up to Oberst's other work.

This time around, Oberst's mournful songs are dressed up in artful synth. Think of this as Bright Eyes' "Kid A" -- an experimental album that may herald a whole new direction for Bright Eyes, or may just be Oberst diddling around in the studio. "Digital Ash" takes some time to get moving, but is breathtaking when it finally does.

While "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" has a stripped-down, warmer sound, "Digital Ash" is darker and colder -- part gritty rock, part new wave. Its heart is "I Believe in Symmetry," a jagged rock song with a transcendent climax. It's accompanied by the symphonic prettiness of "Gold Mine Gutted," and the cacophonic pop of "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)."

Oberst often overdoes it with all the synth and swelling soundscapes, with some very choppy beats put in. Regular instruments like a snare drum, acoustic guitar and strings keep it grounded. But despite the acoustic instruments, the dense electronic blips take this far away from country and indie rock.

His songwriting gets lost in the mix in songs like the vaguely loungey "Devil in the Details." His vocals also get messed with in a few songs, which just gives the feeling that parts of "Digital Ash" is overproduced. Most of the time his slightly trembly vocals are left alone, rising triumphantly over the multilayered music.

Conor Oberst is often maligned as pretentious, for songs that would be considered genius in an older musician. But his latest two albums establish Oberst as two things -- a talented prodigy, and one willing to take musican risks. Bright Eyes' "Digital Ash in A Digital Urn" is not the strongest work he has done, but it is definitely the bravest.

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