Starting off with a monologue about a doomed international traveller, whose last moments in a plane crash are recounted in the form of a jaunty country hoedown filled, you can tell that Conor Oberst has once again pulled out all the stops, (and possibly his sanity) and avoided the trap of standard structure to bring out I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning--his most commercial album to date. Released alongside the less human album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, the stylistic chasm between the two only emphasizes the difference between the two, simultaneously bringing out the best qualities in each other.

The most obvious precedent here is Tom Waits' "Blood Money" and "Alice"- stylistically different, and as good as each other, but for different reasons. This is immediately accessible, featuring Emmylou Harris to add a layer of vocal varnish. It's a nice listen, full of lush productions and heart-stirring tales of romance, and conditions of the human heart. The country-ish theme is prevalent throughout, with lots of pedal steel and mournful brass, most notably on "Train Under Water", though the hit single of "Lua" is a quiet, intimate story-telling acoustic piece that is just about the most affecting song here. --Thom Allott

Though the music is pleasant some of Conor's lyrics are really corny and as deep as a frying pan, his voice is affected and, this is country music for emos (yeah Bright Eyes is like an emo Gram Parson), Not very authentic to me (I bet the guy was born in a big city and has a fantasy about countryside but he he's been listening to tons of depeche mode and that his parents has tons of money and he requests fresh green tea and wheatgrass shots when he tours), some songs are quite pretty but does not affect me as much as Bonnie Prince Billie, Smog or Gram Parson. It's not bad at all, just not my cup of tea. It's probably his best record.

I had heard of Bright Eyes but never heard the music - took a chance on this album earlier this year - why did I wait this long ? Get the same satisfaction from listening to this album as you do from finishing a great book. It's my new comfort blanket. Night night....

I recetly bought Cassadega after praising reviews and through its brilliance was compelled to buy this too, and my God, was that a good decision.
This album is borne of the lyrical style typical of Conor Oberst, the only man aive I feel worthy of comparison to Bob Dylan, and here is the proof. From the little story that opens the album, to the beautiful acoustic Lua and the heart wrencing Poison Oak, every note, every quivering word is perfect.
the album itself is mostly acoustic orientated, drawing heavily on styles like Folk and Country, unlike the electric sound of smultaneously released Digital Ash in a Dgital Urn, this feels more streightforward and concise, more focused.
Apparently centred on Oberst's moving to New York, the album is simple and uncomplicated, just a collection of songs. Its brillaince lies in the fact that it doesn't aim for greatness, it is not ambitious, and yet manages to acheive greatness anyway through the songs alone being simply brillaint. There arent many albums this smplistic that I feel deserve five stars, but this is certainly one of them, and every single person I have recommended this to has loved it equally; so take this as a reccomendation. Buy it, you will love it just as much as I have.

Stop this now. This music is an abomination.Where has good taste gone. Is everyone on tranquilisers.

Sorry. Started a review with Art Garfunkel lyrics. Should really have resisted that but this album does burn like fire.
At 24 years old Conor Oberst should be far too young to so eloquently put across the feelings of intense sorrow and yearning that he writes about. There are numerous stand out moments. The lyrics to 'Landlocked Blues' are like poetry. In fact all of the lyrics possess wonderfully meaningful tales of love lost and life struggles but the album manages to be uplifting too. Misery is sometimes deliciously compelling and makes you feel alive.
Conor knows this and utilises his talents to the max on this sublime disc. A must buy to all fans of singer songwriters who write from the heart. An album to return to again and again.
Thank you Mr Oberst, I await your new CD with baited breath.