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.
Racing Towards the New
Bright Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This sweet day is almost weightless and new
So I talk but no one can relate
To the fear I had when I was younger
Somehow I knew I'd end up empty and alone
We all accept in the same tired way
The gentle shift of continuous change
We confuse all the things that we say to ourselves
But at least we find some comfort for awhile
So we'll start where the others left off
Get in our cars and embrace something new
To escape you will always get caught
In the fear that what you had before was better
And you will become sick with the dream of going back
To the old
The lyrics to "Racing Towards the New" by Bright Eyes are a reflection on the inevitability of change and how it can be both exhilarating and terrifying. The lyrics encourage the listener to let go of what they can no longer replace and embrace the new opportunities that come their way. The lines "This sweet day is almost weightless and new" and "We all accept in the same tired way, the gentle shift of continuous change" highlight the idea that change can be freeing and liberating.
However, the song also acknowledges the fear and uncertainty that come with change, particularly when looking back on the past. The lyrics "To escape you will always get caught, in the fear that what you had before was better, and you will become sick with the dream of going back to the old" speak to the nostalgia that we often feel for what is no longer attainable. Singer Conor Oberst also touches on the idea that communication can be difficult, that sometimes what we say to ourselves is not the same as what we say to each other.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the struggle between accepting the new and letting go of the past. It encourages listeners to be brave in the face of change and to embrace the unknown, even if it scares them.
Line by Line Meaning
Just forget what you cannot replace
Focus on what you can change and let go of what cannot be replaced.
This sweet day is almost weightless and new
The present moment is light and fresh, free from the weight of the past.
So I talk but no one can relate
Despite attempts to communicate, no one else truly understands the singer's fears and concerns.
To the fear I had when I was younger
The artist is reflecting on past anxieties and worries that may still resonate in the present.
Somehow I knew I'd end up empty and alone
The artist had a premonition about their future state, which may have contributed to their current emotional state.
We all accept in the same tired way
People tend to accept changes in their lives in a resigned, unenthusiastic manner.
The gentle shift of continuous change
Life is constantly changing, and these transitions can be subtle and gradual.
We confuse all the things that we say to ourselves
People may deceive themselves with their own thoughts and beliefs, causing confusion and inner conflict.
To the things we say to each other, it's always a lie
Even when people speak to one another, there may still be deception or misunderstandings present.
But at least we find some comfort for awhile
Despite these challenges, there can still be moments of comfort and connection with others.
So we'll start where the others left off
Even if others have moved on, the singer and their companions will try to begin anew.
Get in our cars and embrace something new
Moving forward and embracing change is likened to getting into a car and driving towards the future.
To escape you will always get caught
Attempting to escape problems or negative emotions will lead to being ensnared by them.
In the fear that what you had before was better
The fear of losing something good from the past can create a longing to return to it.
And you will become sick with the dream of going back
The desire to return to the past can become obsessive and detrimental to one's well-being.
To the old
Returning to the past or holding onto old ways of thinking can prevent personal growth and progress.
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jaime Urbina
I have thought I had heard all of conor/ bright eyes/ commander venus/desaparesidos/ monsters of folk first time hearing this thanks
louisemfry
Thanks for the love! Back in the PirateBay days I got this from a super comprehensive Bright Eyes torrent that only had 2 seeds -- it took me a week to download. I'm so glad it's still making people happy :)
deathislife
@louisemfry I think I have all the Conor/Bright Eyes stuff readily around, but I might as well ask, lol. What other on the rarer side did you pick up with that torrent (if you still have it around, anyway, I just realized how long ago you must have downloaded it XD )
louisemfry
glad you like, it's one of my faves!
breanne987
I looove you for uploading this :)
Michael Wehner
@Farfrae right?
Marcus aka the commonwealth coldly
Common cold
Marcus aka the commonwealth coldly
Why do y’all think mr Conor n the boys made their comment section can’t comment like o ain’t hatin u dudes just wanted to talk to some victims of the Avon flu...
sludgekitty
not sure...
Marigold Maverick
Probably a dumb question but do you mean covid?