Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
Bright Eyes · 2002
73 min · 13 tracks · folk rock · indie rock · reggae
A tapestry of introspective lyrics wrapped in lush arrangements, blending folk-rock with emotive indie sensibilities.
Why this album works
'Lifted' received widespread critical acclaim, debuting at number 50 on the Billboard 200 and featuring prominently in year-end lists. The single 'Lover I Don’t Have to Love' sparked discussions around themes of love and identity, making it a defining track of early 2000s indie rock.
- Best for
- long, immersive listening sessions dynamic emotional journeys thoughtful introspective moments
- Context
- Released on August 13, 2002, 'Lifted' marked Bright Eyes' fourth studio album and solidified Conor Oberst's position as a leading voice in indie music. Following the success of 'Fevers and Mirrors', this album saw Oberst expanding his sound and lyrical depth while grappling with newfound fame.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Big Picture 8:42
- 2 Method Acting Standout 3:42
- 3 False Advertising 5:52
- 4 You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. 3:25
- 5 Lover I Don’t Have to Love Standout 4:00
- 6 Bowl of Oranges Standout 4:48
- 7 Don’t Know When but a Day Is Gonna Come 6:31
- 8 Nothing Gets Crossed Out 4:34
- 9 Make War 6:16
- 10 Waste of Paint 6:29
- 11 From a Balance Beam 3:40
- 12 Laura Laurent 4:56
- 13 Let’s Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and to Be Loved) 10:07
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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