Bright Eyes – Cassadaga (2007)

Many true Bright Eyes fans saw the release of Cassadaga as selling out, because the songs are significantly less lo-fi than on the earlier albums. I don't, however, think that this is necessarily a bad thing. Even though I adore some of the songs on the earlier albums, I really liked the straightforward nature of the songs on this album. This shift could also be seen in record sales. This album made it quite high on various charts considering we're talking about an alternative folk album that starts with several minutes of noise, a trick well known from all the previous Bright Eyes albums. Conor Oberst has commented that this technique is to repel occasional listeners. It might have just been a joke, but at the same time, if he was telling the truth, it's kind of great. Cassadaga is named after a town in Florida that is known as a community of mediums and followers of spiritualism.



I am really happy that I own this album on a vinyl record. The reason for this is that the album cover is one of the most innovative album covers I've ever seen and you can't appreciate any ofthat just by looking at the cover online. There's a so-called 'spectral decoder' that comes with the album. It's this kind of a plastic window and when you place it on the album cover, it reveals hidden texts and pictures from the otherwise grey album cover. As the album is in a gatefold sleeve, there is a lot to investigate in its covers and I've certainly spent a lot of time investigating its secrets. These kinds of tricks in packaging really make a difference between owning a physical album compared to just listening online.

Cassadaga is a very ambitious album. The songs may be quite simple Americana folk and country songs, but there is amazing emotions in the songs. Also, the sounds are amazing, which is partly due to the fact that there are almost 40 musicians on this album including some big names from US alternative folk scene, such as Gillian Welch and M. Ward.

As I already mentioned, the opening song Clairaudients (Killed or be Killed) starts as incomprehensible noise along with some strange monologue of an American woman. The song, however, turns into a proper country ballad about half way. Even if the first track turns into a song, the album really doesn't start in full until at the second track Four Winds. This song starts with a bang. There are some excellent folk fiddles and the melody is really catchy. No wonder this was the first single from the album. If the Brakeman Turns My Way is a great example of Conor Oberst's songwriting skills. This country ballad is just incredibly beautiful and his delicate voice works perfectly in it. Hot Knives kicks the tempo and volume up. The drums are really impressively innovative for an Americana folk song. Make a Plan to Love Me starts like a fairytale and it really is an amazingly beautiful song. The string arrangements are like from a musical. One of the catchiest songs on the album is Soul Singer in a Session Band. I've had this country song as an ear-worm many a time. Classic Cars is a classic country song with appropriate storytelling and a very western mood. Middleman is probably my favourite song on the album. It's like one of those folk songs of old with mystique and magic. It sounds like it would be best performed at an open fire somewhere on the prairie. No One Would Riot for Less is another amazing song that shows just how heartbreaking Conor Oberst's songs can be. They can make you weep on the spot if you're in the right mood. I Must Belong Somewhere is a fantastic country song that makes you want to stomp your feet and dance along. The album ends with an echoey lo-fi folk song Tourist Trap.

The music video for Four Winds is a great classic black and white live video of the band performing in a tent somewhere. The style of the video looks like it could've just as easily been recorded in the 1950's, although, compared to the video, the music sounds incredibly modern. The interesting thing about the video is that the audience is booing throughout the song and throwing things at the band. I guess it's some kind of comment towards the red neck crowds that claim to own country music in some parts of the US.

I don't really have words to describe just how much I like some of the songs on this album. Bright Eyes is a very dear band to me and Cassadaga has some of my favourite songs from them. It's a great album to start with if you haven't heard Bright Eyes before, before you plunge into the more experimental early albums.

Listen to the album on Spotify.