Bright Eyes plans dark new album

• 7th Nov 2006

Conor Oberst, singer of collective Bright Eyes, has said that his new album will have a even darker tone than his last album 'I'm Wide Awake It's Morning'. Recent shocking world disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami have clearly had an impact on the the acclaimed song-writer and will influence his sixth LP.

The record is currently untitled and is due to be released in for spring 2007. Along with the new direction in subject matter and ominous influences, it is also set to be more country-driven, with more elements of folk music and psychedelia than Oberst's previous albums.

“The apocalypse is a prevalent theme in my new songs,” Oberst told Spin Magazine (link). “There's a feeling in the world right now like everything is unravelling, but maybe that's not a bad thing. I'm not convinced that the human race is good for this planet anyway.”

Along with Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami, some tracks will also concentrate on more personal issues, he added.

“The new songs are mostly stream of consciousness,” said Oberst. “Telepathy is a big theme. If you just concentrate, you'll know what I'm talking about.”

Tracks that may be appearing on the album include 'Lime Tree', 'Cartoon Blues' and likely first single 'Classic Cars'.

Bright Eyes' new album has been recorded with longtime producer Mike Mogis in New York, Portland, Oregon, Lincoln and Nebraska, and will feature guest appearances from Gillian Welch and Sleater Kinney's Janet Weiss.