After an initial listen of Fevers and Mirrors, I found myself being
disappointed. I wasn't sure what I was disappointed by, just that after
last fall's Every Day and Every Night EP, I expected more.


With every subsequent listen, though, Fevers and Mirrors has proven to me
that it is the young Conor Oberst's (Bright Eyes) best work yet.


I think my initial complaint with Fevers and Mirrors was that it seemed like
Oberst finally paid for a producer. Part of the appeal of a Bright Eyes
song was it's lo-fi nature. Each song sounded as if whoever was recording
it had the band and singer do everything faster so that they might catch
it all on tape before it ran out. This sped-up nature gave Bright Eyes a
certain feel that is unmatched by his peers (namely Elliott Smith).


Oberst's lyrics continue to tackle the same subjects of love and life that
he has wrestled with in the past, and as he ages, his lyrics get
better. The songs seem to have more layers and sound more complete than
they have in the past.   


After one listen to Fevers and Mirrors, I was convinced that the album was
a mistake. After one hundred listens to Fevers and Mirrors, I am convinced
that the only mistake Oberst made was to include a fake radio station
interview with near the end of the album. Bright Eyes is destined to go
down in America's indie rock history, so make sure you pick this up soon
and get your own piece.