Nylon
BRIGHT EYES
Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998 – 2005)
(SADDLE CREEK)
There’s a fine line between being prolific because of a genuine need for artistic expression (see: Johnny Cash) and being prolific for bragging rights’ sake (cough, Ryan Adams). Omaha indie-rock icon Conor Oberst may still be in his mid-twenties, but he’s already amassed countless releases under his Bright Eyes moniker, many of which are now out-of-print or only available on vinyl.
Noise Floor compiles sixteen of these rarities on one CD—and what it lacks it cohesiveness it more than makes up for with casual charm. Highlights include the electronica-tinged “I Will Be Grateful for this Day” (recorded four years before the bleep-heavy Digital Ash In A Digital Urn); the Dylan-esque “Trees Get Wheeled Away”; and the tender “Weather Reports” and “Seashell Tale,” both of which are taken from an unreleased 7-inch recorded with M. Ward.
While even hardcore fans could probably do without painfully lo-fi offerings like “The Vanishing Act” and “Motion Sickness,” these songs offer an interesting glimpse into Oberst’s artistic evolution—and if they sound sophomoric, remember that Oberst was probably a high school sophomore when they were recorded. Vinyl aficionados take note: the LP version of Noise Floor includes three additional tracks, including material from the coveted Sub Pop singles club 7-inch.