sleepy jack

Bright Eyes "Four Winds"



Label: Saddle Creek Records
Release Date: January 25, 2005
Genre: Singer-Songwriter/Indie
Tracklist:
1. "Four Winds"
2, "Reinvent the Wheel"
3. "Smoke Without Fire"
4. "Stray Dog Freedom"
6. "Cartoon Blues"
6. "Tourist Trap"

Four Winds is the EP for his upcoming album "Cassadaga", the only song that will be on that album is Four Winds the rest are b-sides.

The EP begins with "Four Winds", music wise its like something off I'm Wide Awake Its Morning, because of the country influence. I have no idea what this song is about for the most part so i'll just throw in some fun facts. Theres a psychiatric hospital in new york called four winds, and Conor could've gone there for depression or his alcoholism or something. "Well, I went back, I rent a Cadillac, a company jet Like a newly orphaned refugee, retracing my steps" could be talking about getting out of the hospital. But most likely its a biblical reference to Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones (Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life."'") or a reference to a Neil Young song, conor did cover Out On The Weekend. Theres also a reference to W.B. Beats' The Second coming. Also about the line "I went to cassadaga to commune with the dead" cassadaga is a town in florida where the population is largely psychics. I think the song is about trying to bring someone back to life, which is why I think Four Winds is taken from Ezekiel.

Following that is my favorite "Reinvent The Wheel" i'm very sure this is about Elliott. "ghosts they have their secrets and they'll tell them to a few so you could never pay attention when they're whispering to you there were many talents you possessed that I wished myself to have but the way your eyes would gloss over well I never envied that and I doubt you'll ever come back now from wherever it is you are because you never understood what we loved you for." and other lines like that, easily one of the best songs on the EP.

Now we have "Smoke Without Fire" featuring M. Ward, this is one of the slower songs on the album. Possibly the slowest, but thats not the bad thing. The song reminds me of Leonard Cohen. This song is deep, so deep I don't know what the hell its about.

After that is "Stray Dog Freedom", to be honest I can't stand the first verse of this about the whole stray dog concept, (fun fact: stray dog freedom is a line from gold mine gutted off digital ash in a digital urn) but the part after it is pretty good. "I might make a phone call to a better man to ask the questions that i have like how do i get started and wheres it gonna end why should i treat a traitor like a friend"

Now it gets sped up with "Cartoon Blues", this is one of the best off the EP it touches on various subjects, the first part talks about a talk with a poet, with a padriac my prince reference thrown in. After that he basically talks about random thoughts and theories in his head that you can figure out once you read it.

The final song is "Tourist Trap", which is another slower one. Its basically Conors opinion on the state of Omaha, Conors other band Desa. has a line from, Greater Omaha I think "traffics like a pack of dogs" thats used here also, the songs are pretty similar (lyrically) actually. Its basically about Omaha becoming an urban modern town when to him its always been his quiet small town, home town. The song is pretty straight-forward, Conor doesn't like what its become and while he was originally looking forward to coming home hes glad to go back on tour.

A very well rounded EP, most of it is fantastic, I really only dislike one song. My respect and love grew for it after checking more into the lyrics. There were 30 or so songs recorded for Cassadaga, I hope they all get released because Endless Entertainment which is another leaked song was fantastic and if this is what the b-sides are like the album is going to be the shit.

Recommended Tracks: Reinvent The Wheel, Cartoon Blues, Four Winds
Album Rating: 7/10
Download link: hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/4kccc4

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_Spinning_

SexeH.

pheurton

I prefer this to Cassadaga.

ObiSobi

Bright eyes suks!

sleepy jack

How does Bright Eyes suck?

Anyway i'd lower this to a 6.5 now, possibly a 6 since i'm no longer looking through the eyes of an avid fanboy (thank you cassadaga). This EP is still better than Cassadaga though I agree. This wasn't really a review either it was more an analysis...

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ObiSobi

I just don't like there sound, just like I don't find Jessica Simpson attractive, and yet shes a celeb for her looks.

sleepy jack

Just because you don't like the sound doesn't mean it sucks. While recent material isn't so great, Oberst is a great songwriter and Bright Eyes has had a fairly consistent career.

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ObiSobi

sorry, i guess i should have said "They suck to me personally"

The Dave

What is it about them that you don't like? Coming into a thread and saying some form of "lol, this band sucks," contributes and accomplishes nothing.

pheurton

Apart from admitting your a vulgar ***.