The cover of the latest release from the Conor Oberst catalog features a picture of himself along with his backing band, only Conor is wearing a blindfold as a way to symbolize his first album where he gives credit to a backing band and allows them to rise to the forefront. Well that’s all good and nice, and a fine gesture from Conor, but hopefully it’s nothing that we’ll have to get used to. Just 9 months after his self-titled album, his first released under his own name, Oberst returns with Outer South which features 16 songs, a handful of which Conor didn’t write and does not contribute vocals to. Predictably, the Oberst songs are the strength of the album (with a few exceptions). “Ten Women” and “White Shoes” are the kind of stripped down acoustic folk ballads that show Conor at his best, and along with free-wheelin’ rousers like “Slowly (oh so slowly)” these are the kind of songs that helped Conor earn the tag of the “New Bob Dylan”.
The seven songs led by members of The Mystic Valley Band aren’t nearly as strong (with a few exceptions) with “Difference in Time” and “Eagle on a Pole” being the highlight of those (both Jason Boesel led tracks). And a quick shout out to bass player and Birmingham, Alabama native (and fellow Homewood High School alum) Macey Taylor who sings lead vocals on “Worldwide” which is the lone Oberst penned track that Conor doesn’t sing himself. However, a song as bad as “Air Mattress”, a non-Oberst written song, should never find its way onto a Conor Oberst release. As a whole this album is exactly what it was meant to be: a collection of fun folk-rock songs that Conor and the band wrote while on tour supporting the self-titled release. However, that’s all it is…a collection of songs, which is why it’s nothing special. What Conor has always done so well, as his Bright Eyes releases can attest, is create an album that is more than just a bunch of songs thrown together. So kudos to Oberst for allowing his friends and back-up band to get a little credit, but when’s the next Bright Eyes album already?
[“Slowly (oh so slowly)” – Outer South]
[“White Shoes” – Outer South]
[“Eagle on a Pole” – Outer South]
Posted by Hawkins 
A Round of Sound 