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.
Mirrors and Fevers
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere close to the surface
Between the ice and the stream
There is three inches of air
So I swam towards the light
I let my breath get there first
When I opened my eyes
And I knew I would do like my father has done
Yes, we will never break from these chains
Your life's gonna course like a history book
Don't be frightened of turning the page
'Cause it's all the same, it will always be the same
The lyrics of Bright Eyes's "Mirrors and Fevers" seem to describe the struggles and fears of coming of age and facing the inevitable challenges that lie ahead. The singer begins by describing a dream in which he is "cold" and struggling to find air. He appears to be drowning or suffocating, and the image of swimming towards the light and letting his breath get there first suggest a desire to escape or find some kind of relief from these struggles.
When the singer opens his eyes, he sees himself in the mirror and realizes that he is like his father in some way. The refrain "we will never break from these chains" suggests a sense of inevitability or being trapped, perhaps in a cycle of suffering or inescapable circumstances. Yet despite this, the singer urges us to embrace the uncertainty and unpredictability of life and not to be afraid of "turning the page" of our personal histories.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mirrors and Fevers" seem to offer a poignant reflection on the complexities of growing up and facing the challenges of the world around us. The imagery of drowning and finding air, as well as the idea of being trapped in chains, evoke a powerful sense of struggle and desperation, while the singer's call to embrace the unknown and unpredictable aspects of life suggests a resolve to overcome these struggles and find meaning in the midst of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I was cold in a dream
I was feeling emotionally distant and detached while asleep.
Somewhere close to the surface
It felt like the emotions were just below the surface but still out of reach.
Between the ice and the stream
The emotions felt trapped and unable to flow freely.
There is three inches of air
There's a small but significant amount of space between the emotions and the surface.
So I swam towards the light
I tried to move towards a brighter, more positive state.
I let my breath get there first
I took a deep breath and focused on calmness before heading towards the light.
When I opened my eyes
I became aware of my surroundings once again.
I saw myself in the mirror
I saw my own reflection and recognized my own identity.
And I knew I would do like my father has done
I realized that I might end up like my father and follow a similar path in life.
Yes, we will never break from these chains
We can't escape the things that hold us back, even if we try.
Your life's gonna course like a history book
Your life will unfold according to a predetermined plan, like a historical account of events.
Don't be frightened of turning the page
Don't be afraid of moving forward and experiencing new things in life.
'Cause it's all the same, it will always be the same
Everything might seem to be the same or stagnant, but change is still possible and should be pursued.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OBERST, Conor Oberst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
adam lewis
My favorite bright eyes album. One of those life changing albums.
muth
got this album when i was 12 and became obsessed. i am 28 now. help
DarMander86
There's a lot to say about this album. It's very special to me, although I don't listen to it often.
Thank you for sharing, the quality is excellent and it's all in one video. Much appreciated.
Anna Thole
6:30