Saddle Creek also released Letting Off the Happiness in November 1998, a ten-track record that boasted a much more focused and clear sound than the previous album. According to the Saddle Creek press release, it features members of Lullaby for the Working Class, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Of Montreal. It was predominantly recorded in the Oberst family basement in Omaha on an analog eight track reel to reel; with some work also done at keyboardist Andy Lemaster's Athens, GA studio. Although almost all of the tracks feature a full band, June on the West Coast is performed with only acoustic guitar and vocals. Padraic My Prince gives a dramatic fictional account of the death of Oberst's imagined baby brother.
In 2000 Bright Eyes released Fevers and Mirrors, a demonstration of the immense improvement in production quality and musical vision of the band. New instruments such as flute, piano, and accordion were introduced into the song arrangements. After An Attempt to Tip the Scales, a mock radio interview takes place. The mock radio interview features Todd Fink of The Faint doing an impression of Conor Oberst while reading a script that Oberst wrote. The man interviewing is Matt Silcock, a former member of Lullaby for the Working Class. In this interview, the fake Oberst intentionally presents a strange, contradictory explanation of his attitude towards his music. The interview acknowledges criticisms of his lyrics as overblown and insincere, which had begun to appear as the popularity of the band increased, but responds by stating that the lyrics are meant for personal interpretation. In a 'real' interview with KittyMagik.com, Oberst stated about the mock one: "It was a way to make fun of ourselves because the record is such a downer. I mean, that's one part of who I am, but I also like laughing and fucking around."
2002 saw the release of Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground, and since then Oberst has released an almost constant stream of new material on collaborative EPs, split singles, tribute albums, and charity records. He ventured into the studio with Nebraska folk-pop outfit Tilly And The Wall, co-producing their debut album Wild Like Children and released it on his newly established record label, Team Love.
January 2005 saw the release of two albums: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, which is a country-tinged mélange of Conor’s finest acoustic songs, featuring guest vocal appearances from Emmylou Harris and Jim James of My Morning Jacket; and Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, which is a more produced, electronic album featuring cameo appearances by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
One single from each album, Take It Easy (Love Nothing) from Digital Ash and Lua from I'm Wide Awake took the top two slots on Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, the first time for any artist since 1997.
As had become expected of Bright Eyes recordings, the albums feature an array of talented comrades including members of Rilo Kiley, Tilly And The Wall, Cursive, Now Its Overhead, The Good Life, Azure Ray, The Faint, The Bruces, Neva Dinova, The Postal Service and Audrye Sessions.
In October 2006, Bright Eyes released a compilation of rare tracks called Noise Floor: Rarities 1998-2005.
Bright Eyes released their sixth studio album called Cassadaga on April 9, 2007, preceded by an EP entitled Four Winds on March 6, 2007.
A further 25-30 tracks have been recorded in Portland, Oregon and New York City, with another session planned in Omaha, Nebraska. Some of these tracks had already been performed at live shows.
On February 15, 2011, the band released their seventh studio album, The People's Key.
On June 22, 2020, they released Down In The Weeds Where The World Once Was, their first album on Dead Oceans after a long history with Saddle Creek.
Approximate Sunlight
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now it's been said we're post-everything
As a child, imagining
Neckties and coastlines
I've seen the show, man, what a sight
Drenched us in approximated sunlight
The crowd was small and mostly blind, but kind
You're too kind
Now you are how you were when you were real
Now you are how you were when you were real
There you go again, on that circular trip
Lick the solar plexus of some L.A. shaman
I'm out of breath, I'd better sit
Been living hard, living
All I do is follow, just follow this hollow you around
I wouldn't waste another thought
On what is fair and what is not
The Quinceanera dress she bought
Was unstitched with bullets
All the guests in the garden screamed
Women and tires squealing
Such opulence, such misery
Unwinding, unwinding
All I do is follow, just follow, just follow this hollow you around
Now you are how you were when you were real
The lyrics of Bright Eyes's song "Approximate Sunlight" are complex and require a closer analysis. The song appears to be about the notion of time and how it affects individuals. The opening lines, "Used to dream of time machines / Now it's been said we're post-everything," convey the idea that the present age has moved beyond dreaming about time travel into a future where everything is uncertain.
As a child, the singer was fascinated with the idea of neckties and coastlines, which seemed to represent a desire for adventure and exploration. The line "I've seen the show, man, what a sight" suggests that the singer has grown up and experienced different things that have shaped his perspective. The "approximated sunlight" mentioned refers to the idea that sometimes people don't always see the truth and may only be able to experience life through a tainted lens.
The song seems to take a more sinister tone as the lyrics progress. Lines like "Lick the solar plexus of some LA shaman" imply the idea of exploitation and manipulation at the hands of a spiritual leader. The singer has fallen into a state of exhaustion, and his complacency may be due to following others blindly.
The song concludes with the repetition of "Now you are how you were when you were real," which suggests that the singer is trying to rekindle a sense of reality that he may have lost somewhere along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Used to dream of time machines
In the past, the singer used to daydream about time machines and its potentials.
Now it's been said we're post-everything
In the present, there have been comments that society has moved past everything and is now in a new era.
As a child, imagining
When the singer was young, they spent time imagining things and having dreams.
Neckties and coastlines
The artist once had fantasies of neckties and coastlines.
I've seen the show, man, what a sight
The artist has seen the beauty of life and appreciates it.
Drenched us in approximated sunlight
Life has a way of blinding us with its illusions and temporary highs.
The crowd was small and mostly blind, but kind
In the midst of all its illusions and highs, the people who the singer has encountered are not really able to see reality as it is.
You're too kind
The artist is grateful for the kindness shown to them by the people around them.
Now you are how you were when you were real
The present situation brings back memories of the past, when reality was important.
There you go again, on that circular trip
The artist comments on how the cycle of life continues to repeat itself endlessly.
Lick the solar plexus of some L.A. shaman
People sometimes follow ideas or people who have no real value, just like some people would blindly follow an L.A. shaman.
I'm out of breath, I'd better sit
The artist is tired from trying to keep up with everything and needs a break.
Been living hard, living
The singer has been living hard and faced the brutal realities of life.
All I do is follow, just follow this hollow you around
The singer feels that they are simply following someone else's path, without considering their own feelings or desires.
I wouldn't waste another thought
The singer sees no point in dwelling on certain thoughts or ideas that don't really matter.
On what is fair and what is not
The concepts of fairness and justice can sometimes be distracting and irrelevant to real-life situations.
The Quinceanera dress she bought
The artist mentions a dress bought for a specific occasion, possibly a birthday celebration.
Was unstitched with bullets
Unfortunately, the dress was ruined because gunshots or some other form of violence had occurred.
All the guests in the garden screamed
The singer describes a violent event where people are terrorized and in pain.
Women and tires squealing
The violence and chaos cause the sound of women and tires to scream.
Such opulence, such misery
The violence is made even more tragic by the contrast with the beautiful surroundings or celebration taking place.
Unwinding, unwinding
The situation is rapidly spiraling out of control, with no clear end in sight.
All I do is follow, just follow, just follow this hollow you around
Again, the singer feels like they are following someone else's path without much thought or input.
Now you are how you were when you were real
The present situation reminds the artist of a past time when they felt more connected to reality and themselves.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CONOR M OBERST, NATHANIEL WALCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joe Steen
Basically...
I used to dream of HG Wells.
Now it's said reading is too difficult.
However, I remember as a child reading and flexing my imagination and the benefit it brought into my life. "Neck ties and coast lines" {Orange County?}
Isn't everyone watching my favorite TV show?
Now you are how you were when you were real.
There you go on your GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO EXPLORE YOUR SEXUALITY
Lick the Solar Plexus of some L.A. Shaman after Music School Practice.
Out of breath? Meditate and rest.
"All I do." "All I do." "All I do." "All I do" "All I do"
Is follow you around...
For me, i could say I'm following the subtle gravity pull of the planets, stars, black holes, nebulas, etc...
I wouldn't waste another thought on what is fair and what is not
The Quincenera dress she bought was un-stitched with bullets
All the guests in the garden screaming,
Women,
The tires squealing,
Such opulence,
Such misery,
Unwinding, unwinding.
"All I do." Is catch Ghosts and right down their stories until every little sheep human is accounted for on Planet Earth as we continue to journey together through Space into the vast horizon. Andre the Giant ;)
Buddha sits with his spine erect! He watches everything through his third eye!
NOW
you are how you were when you were here.
Real.
Reel'em in.
Written and studied by Homo Sapiens worldwide.
Kaya Lynn
I love this new style he has going on. This is a bit darker/sexy sounding than their other stuff. I like it. Can't wait to see them tomorrow! God. Conor is a lyric god.
NES ADDICT
This album is underrated in my opinion.
TheVictim714
this song is just soo amazing...it gives me chills...its kind of haunting but its lovely..I LOVE IT..CANT STOP LISTENING TO THIS SONG...
georgiamayjay
This is my favorite off the album. it's different . it's meant for me. thank you bright eyes
mexifrida
Puts you into a sort of trance in the best way possible.
DarkoSk8er
I want Bright Eyes playing in my head constantly.
RENEE CHRISTIANSEN
LOVE THE BEAT CAN'T STOP LISTENING
Sean F.O.
What a progression Conor has made over the years. Digging this track.
Aja Simpson
this is definitely my favorite song from the new album.
Adam B.
3:38 is so blissful and amazing.