Track Listing

1. Spindle A Darkness A Fever And A Necklace
2. Scale A Mirror And These Indifferent Clocks
3. Calendar Hung Itself
4. Something Vague
5. Movement Of A Hand
6. Arienette
7. When The Curious Girl Realises She Is Under Glass
8. Haligh Haligh A Lie Haligh
9. Centre Of The World
10. Sunrise Sunset
11. Attempt To Tip The Scale
12. Song To Pass The Time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1811 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's rare that pop music reaches such depths of emotion. Fevers And Mirrors, the debut album from Conner Oberst's Bright Eyes, may recall many other classic tortured artists-- Tim Buckley, naive blues poet Daniel Johnston and Leonard Cohen not least among them--but its fragility and melancholy is most definitely its own. The pivotal track is the opening "A Spindle, A Darkness, A Fever, And A Necklace" wherein the Nebraska-born singer's trembling voice attempts to answer a fuzzy recording of a child pleading a dread of separation, and fails. Elsewhere, on songs like the frantic "The Calendar Hung Itself" and "Sunrise, Sunset", the melodies become even more poignant, even more beautiful. Tinny keyboards, rapid-fire drum-beats and the odd guitar all sweeten the mix. Oberst first started detailing his desire and lack of fulfilment six years ago, as a 14-year-old prodigy in the band Commander Venus--and one can only imagine that a major cult will grow up around this tortured, mysterious, ex-Catholic. An extraordinary album. --Everett True END

Customer Reviews

Pure Beauty
This is the most beautiful Bright Eyes album to date with Lifted in a very close second, the album flows from track to track almost without notice. Many reviewers have slated the musical styles of Conor for various reasons which I will never understand, although this is not an album you can just put on in the background and absorb passively it is one of beauty, grace and a level of song-smithery so advanced it is breathtaking.

When listening to this album you almost feel like you are sat beside him. There is a subtle intimacy between the imperfect music and scratchy vocals which make every note and every word hit you with the force of 1000. This is a truly amazing album which gets better with every listen , you will find that each time you hear a song you will acknowledge something you had missed the previous time. Whether it is an off note, a quiet guitar line laying just beneath the surface, or a subtle breath mid word; every little detail works together to make this album what it is.

Immense and magical
Someone here previously wrote that Conor Oberst needs to "cheer up and grow up". Well that is pretty hard as he can't really control a lot of his thoughts. The emotion and everything generated in his mind is beautifully crafted into passionate, but sometimes uplifting songs as an alternative to self-destruction.
It may be depressing, but it's nice, the first half of the album especially - each track being your favourtite, until the next one starts.
I was sceptical when someone close to me recommended this to me, but I am a big fan. Listen to it when you feel low, or happy, it's just great whenever, even if you don't empathise with the music and the lyrics. Perhaps the best Bright Eyes album, Conor Oberst's voice as fantastic as ever.

I am LOVING Fevers and Mirrors!
This album gets better each time I listen to it. The voice of Mr Oberst is addictive and hypnotic; the music is beautiful. I wouldn't, couldn't, go anywhere without this album. I have never submitted a review of anything at all prior to today...and was only on Amazon looking to see what else I can get by the artist. A rare talent.