Saddle Creek
Get your diaries, plastic framed glasses and ratty Converse sneakers ready, kids' it's time for a new Bright Eyes album.
 
A few tracks on "Cassadaga" are fresh and fun. "Four Winds" is upbeat and twangy, contrasting nicely with front man/loner icon Conor Oberst's shaky and often feminine voice. "Soul Singer in a Session Band" is another standout track, which combines bar-song rhythm with Billy Joel-ish lyrics and delivery.
 
In fact, this song sounds a lot like "Piano Man," but with more disaffected lyrics and no piano.
 
This is Bright Eyes' sixth studio album, and features dozens of guest musicians and collaborators. Singer/songwriter Gillian Welch makes an appearance on "Classic Cars," as does Cursive singer Ted Stevens on the track "Middleman."

Bright Eyes and Oberst might be talented musically, but it's pretty much always boring. And in that respect, "Cassadaga" doesn't disappoint. But, hey ... maybe the group's seventh album will be entertaining.
 
 "”Joe Wertz