When I was a lot younger I went through that phase I think a lot of people do where i developed a very emotional relationship with he music I listened to. Throughout my teens Bright Eyes was always my favorite band. I was intoxicated by those sweet emo lyrics of frontman Conor Oberst. Oberst started his own record company called Saddlecreek and I was just as obsessed with the bands of his friends and others signed to the label that played this same mixed genre of sad indie-emo and bluegrass.
Over the years Conor has played less and less with Bright Eyes and explored other acts and projects. I've liked them as much as his older works. Earlier this year I got the chance to see my lifelong idol play in person. It was a new band he had started, one I'd never heard of but I didn't care. While I will always be thankful I got to see the poet I've always admired, the experience wasn't anything like I imagined. The same type of lyrics I would expect- but the music was different. The mood was entirely different than the music that had ingrained itself on my soul for so many years.
I got to thinking recently. On the back of Bright Eyes CDs Conor was credited as the writer, but another member was credited as the producer. Mike Mogis. Looking more into his music history I learned he had a hand in producing every saddlecreek album I'd ever loved. I view this situation similar to the way I see Dr. Dre and Eminem's relationship. Eminem is a great lyricist, but i don't like the music since he stopped working with Dre.
I guess the point I am getting at is that I'm realizing now the artists I admire more are the producers, the ones who put the sounds together more than the noisemakers. The mood of an album I think makes a bigger impression than the pretty poetry.
Lyricists vs Producers
Sc is pretty boring.
