Track Listing

1. Clairaudients (Kill Or Be Killed)
2. Four Winds
3. If The Brakeman Turns My Way
4. Hot Knives
5. Make A Plan To Love Me
6. Soul Singer In A Session Band
7. Classic Cars
8. Middleman
9. Cleanse Song
10. No One Would Riot For Less
11. Coat Check Dream Song
12. I Must Belong Somewhere
13. Lime Tree

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4944 in Music
• Released on: 2007-04-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 62 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
On their sixth and most straightforwardly clean album, Nebraska's Bright Eyes once again integrate a revolving cast of players to the mix, including Portland tunesmith M. Ward and alt-country queen Gillian Welch. But the band remains at the helm of forever-wunderkind Conor Oberst, and the fruitful songwriter has one-upped 2005's I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning with a proficient and accessible ensemble of expansive pop orchestrations and ornate folk songs that chronicle his traverses across the American panorama. Oberst's voice quakes and wanders through South Dakota lore and Sunshine State chicanery, always the perfect vehicle for his threadbare lyrics. "Take the fruit from the tree/Break the skin with your teeth/Is it bitter or sweet/All depends on your timing," he forewarns in "Cleanse Song," a psychedelic merry-go-round of a soundtrack that joins the Scottish-tinged "Soul Singer in a Session Band" and singalong single "Four Winds" as Cassadaga's finest. The 13-song-record is certain to open more doors for a band whose recognition has soared with every release since Oberst was just 14. --Scott Holter

CD Description
Conor Oberst's studio follow up to the two albums that he released simultaneously in January 2005 is steeped in the kind of rolling 70's country rock that graced the critically acclaimed 'I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning'. Long time Saddle Creek cohort Mike Mogus provides glossy production on a record that includes contributions from Ben Kweller, Gillian Welch,David Rawlings, John McEntire and M. Ward. The violin fuelled single, 'Four Winds' is featured.

Customer Reviews

Very Impressive
I had never heard anything by Bright Eyes until over easter, when they did an interview on radio one at something like midnight. They played a stripped down version of 'middleman', and i knew i was hearing something special. the album is no different. Current favourites are 'if the breakman turns my way' and 'hot knives', but each song is a gem. Might need a couple of listens if you are new to them, but their style is something you'll come to know and love. Lyrics are inspired as well, although not as politically driven perhaps as other albums, although there are several strong ideas.

Album of the year contender
The last time Conor Oberst released an album he released, well, two. It was ironic, of a fashion, that it was the "less experimental" one, I'm Wide Awake It's Morning that actually garnered most attention. That's not to say that Digital Ash In A Digital Urn was a bad album but it was one that didn't really play to Oberst's strengths.

It is perhaps telling then that Cassadaga is more "Wide Awake" than "Digital Ash". And it no less the thrilling for that.

Sure there is nothing here that will convert the doubters, of which there are more than a few it has to be said, but neither is there anything that will put any doubts into the minds of those that believe in him.

Indeed, songs like Four Winds and If The Breakman Turns My Way are up there with the best things he's ever put on record. Make A Plan To Love Me maybe even better. It's Oberst at his most simple, its an unabashed and straightforward love song, but quickly transplants itself onto a higher plain with the minimum of fuss.

I've never quite got my head around the "new Bob Dylan" proclamations, although at his best Oberst can channel that communal spirit that serves Dylan so well, but there's little doubt in my mind that this is a fantastic album and better than Dylan's recent efforts by quite some way.

It's definitely up there in terms of albums of the year so far.

a truly inspiring record... brilliant
I wasn't sure how well Bright Eyes would cope, following up from the massive success of the last two - so was mightily relieved to hear the strengh of songs on Cassadaga.

Loving the country-vibes on Four Winds, but there's a real depth and range of styles on this record, as we've come to expect from Conor and gang. If The Breakman Turns My Way has a cool, Lou Reed feel combined with that same hooky, heartfelt appeal evident on so much of 2005's I'm Wide Awake It's Morning. Other stand out tracks for me include the beautiful, orchestral Make A Plan To Love Me. Elsewhere, No One Would Riot For Less and final song Lime Tree are effortlessly brilliant.

If you're a die hard fan of Bright Eyes already, you probably need no encouragement - but if you're a newcomer to the band, my advice would be to get this album asap! You will not be disappointed.