Digital Ash In A Digital Urn - Bright Eyes
Conor Oberst - Guitar and Vocals (the only one member of the group)
There are a lot of other people who play other instruments, and I'm too lazy to name them all. :)
Digital Ash In A Digital Urn is one of the two albums that Bright Eyes released simultaneously in January of 2005. I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning was the other album, and it is supposed to be the polar opposite of Digital. This album was said to be more indie rock, and Wide Awake was more folk/country. I'm not sure that's totally right, however. Digital has some folkish parts, like track 3, The Arc of Time. Of course, there are more indie rock songs than Wide Awake, like track 10, Light Pollution. Overall, I liked Wide Awake more than Digital, but there are still some high points on the album, and some great Conor Oberst lyrics.
1. Time Code 2/5
It's hard to review this song, since 3/4s of it is softer background music. About two minutes in, you get to the lyrics, which are spoken mysteriously. After the lyrics, the focus is more on the drums, with the same kind of soft background music playing. I felt like there could have been a better intro, and the whole thing is practically an instrumental.
2. Gold Mine Gutted 5/5
I really like this song. It is more folk than indie, but the song was great. Great Oberst lyrics, like "But you think about yourself too much and ruin who you love." There is a drum intro and that beat continues through the song. The backing vocals blend well with Oberst's and it creates quite a nice song.
3. Arc of Time (Time Code) 4/5
This, like I said, was the most folk song on the album. It sounds like it should have been sung in the dinosaur period. A jungly sounding drum beat and acoustic guitar makes this song interesting. Almost too much backup vocals, though, which makes it even more folkish. Good lyrics, but the backups ruin Oberst's voice.
4. Down A Rabbit Hole 3/5
This song sounds like so many of Oberst's songs, I want something new. Classic song, and if you've heard Lua or We Are Nowhere And It's Now on Wide Awake, this song sounds like that. Soft acoustic guitars and strange background sounds, and good lyrics. Not much different about this song.
5. Take It Easy (Love Nothing) 5/5
The melody sounds great in this song. I think this is the song that showcases Oberst's voice the most, which is a good thing. Great lyrics: "Someone might get hurt, but it won't be me." Like I said, the melody is upbeat and nice. A good electronic solo at the end, too.
6. Hit the Switch 4/5
A song that really picks up about 45 seconds in. The beat starts going faster and the guitar comes up. The beginning kind of ruins it, though; if it had just started at the good part it would be a 5/5. One of the better songs on the album, but the intro just throws it off.
7. I Believe In Symmetry 5/5
A bit like Hit the Switch: it picks up 30 seconds in. I gave it a 5 because the main song is better than Hit the Switch's and the intro isn't as long. Oberst sings about just wanting everything to be the same, not changing. A very good song.
8. Devil In The Details 3/5
A softer song, and it was okay, just not one of the better songs. The chorus is, like Arc of Time, has too much background vocals, and it just didn't work for me. The only savior was the end. It finished great, with a guitar solo and a great last verse.
9. Ship in a Bottle 4/5
This song eerily reminded me of Nothing Better by the Postal Service. The verses were kind of boring, but the chorus was upbeat and great. If the whole song was like the verses, it would not be as good. Odd sounds on the bridge, like a baby crying and just random noise.
10. Light Pollution 5/5
The most indie song on the album, and it sounded great. Also the best song on the album. It had a good melody, chorus, lyrics, everything. Not much else to say.
11. Theme to Pinata 3/5
Spanishy sound, as you could tell from the title. Good guitars, but the vocals were kind of muffled, but the lyrics were great, as usual. A bit too unoriginal (except for the Spanish guitar), like some other songs on the album.
12. Easy/Lucky/Free 4/5
The longest song on the album, just beating I Believe In Symmetry. It was a good finish, but a bit too long in my opinion. Some of it got boring at the end. The melody is good, and it is one of the better songs on the album. A nice finishing touch on a nice album.
In conclusion, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn is more indie than Wide Awake. I think that Wide Awake is better, but that's your opinion. There were more high points than low, and it was a good Bright Eyes album.
Overall: 4/5
Song Highlights:
Gold Mine Gutted, I Believe In Symmetry, Light Pollution
