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August 8, 2008

New Conor Oberst Video - "Souled Out!!!"

thumbnail icon: New Conor Oberst Video - "Souled Out!!!"

Sorta loving everything Conor is up to these days. "Souled Out!!!" was a grabber from first stream, and his self-titled record with the Mystic Valley Band delivered with a rural, dusty, warm return-to-form LP. This first Alan Tanner-directed video from Conor Oberst is on point, too, firstly and foremostly for the reminder that Conor no longer looks like this, and also because it plays like the smile and wink you can hear in Conor's voice throughout the track. He wakes up, goes for a walk, gets a haircut, plays in scuba gear (ala old friends), all on location, and by on location, I mean standing in front of a lo-fi movie projector screen with the occasional prop and costume change and tossed lock of hair.

Given all the metaphysical allusions and the clip's projected images, it's not too hard to see this as a riff on Plato's cave allegory from The Republic. Or it just might be a fun and low cost way to make a good video. Either way, score. Conor played Leno and Ferguson this week, but YouTube hasn't felt like playing along. Yet.

Conor Oberst is out on Merge.

Posted at 9:11 AM by amrit in
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32 Comments

Mother Fuckin' Death Set!

Posted by: Made Up Name at 08/08/08 9:43 AM | Reply
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This is actually a really cool concept for a video.

Posted by: jeff at 08/08/08 9:45 AM | Reply
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williamdoyle

what a great video to a fantastic song. Very creative and simple idea.

Posted by: williamdoyle profile link at 08/08/08 9:53 AM | Reply
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Good heavens, he's adorable again.

Posted by: michelle profile link at 08/08/08 10:04 AM | Reply
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weird, i can almost stand conor oberst now...whats happening to me?

also i heard from jim james mouth this weekend that the album with m. ward and conor is done and looking for a label...

Posted by: jBoz at 08/08/08 10:14 AM | Reply
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jason and nik are hawt

Posted by: blargh at 08/08/08 10:14 AM | Reply
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well, its better than the Vampire Weekend video...

Posted by: Julia Gulia at 08/08/08 11:01 AM | Reply
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there was a moment in that video where i thought "sweet jesus he looks just like elliott smith..."

Posted by: annie onymous profile link at 08/08/08 11:14 AM | Reply
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Cygnet_Comm

Would everyone love this bland country so much if anyone else was making it?

I mean, this shit is OK, but I just want to hear some EMOTION again. Guess I'll just keep spinning Fevers and Mirrors.

Posted by: Cygnet_Comm profile link at 08/08/08 12:11 PM | Reply
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there is a difference between emotion and immature self-pity. Fevers and Mirrors is a great album, but it is immature. He grew up, deal with it.

Posted by: Hutch Landfair in reply to Cygnet_Comm's comment at 08/08/08 3:34 PM | Reply
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We Totally Dig This!

Posted by: TheJunction at 08/08/08 12:44 PM | Reply
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k

[ look at the positiveness! ]

Posted by: k profile link at 08/08/08 1:39 PM | Reply
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k

also: Harold and Maude-meets-http://www.gracemcsorely.com/

Posted by: k profile link at 08/08/08 1:42 PM | Reply
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k

also: [to the bald man from LOST] emotion around the 2:50-ish mark.. . ?

Posted by: k profile link at 08/08/08 1:46 PM | Reply
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oberst would've killed himself if he saw this 5 years before.
but its awesome

Posted by: foundmyrosebud01 profile link at 08/08/08 2:03 PM | Reply
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Curt

It's so good to see him enjoying himself. Yay for happy Conor.

Posted by: Curt profile link at 08/08/08 3:38 PM | Reply
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victor

i've never been an oberst fan, but this is a pretty good song. his voice seems to have a bit more confidence, and it definitely sounds more mature. i might have to give this album a listen.

Posted by: victor profile link at 08/08/08 3:44 PM | Reply
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I'm really digging the new album, and the video's really sweet too.

Posted by: Nix Santos profile link at 08/08/08 7:43 PM | Reply
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Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. I'm a Fevers and Mirrors kind of person too (As well as everything else up to Cassadaga). But this is also some good stuff. Hope people keep dropping the hate for him due to some weird notion they got from his early stuff. Though, it kind of seems people who dismiss him for that are really missing out on a huge amount of great material. I mean, have you heard "I'll Be Your Friend"? He's been writing great shit for years! There's so many great early tracks. Maybe it will also get people going back through that stuff.

This video kind of gives me a early Flaming Lips vibe for some reason.

Posted by: Grand at 08/08/08 10:13 PM | Reply
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What a fucking poser! He looks like a goofy goon. HATE HIM!!!!!

Posted by: Mom at 08/10/08 2:24 AM | Reply
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Silvio

good thing you don't have an avatar. someone might've stolen your style by now.

Posted by: Silvio profile link in reply to Mom's comment at 08/11/08 1:43 AM | Reply
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ugh i agree with cygnet_comm. i loved conor's old stuff, but i probably wouldn't have given his new stuff a second thought had they not been labeled with his name. i'm hoping he reverts...

Posted by: karissa at 08/10/08 1:34 PM | Reply
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Silvio

I'm having issues with your real name as well. maybe throw an "explains it all" at the end and I might open my wallet.

Posted by: Silvio profile link in reply to karissa's comment at 08/11/08 1:41 AM | Reply
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I agree with a previous comment, yeah this song is catchy and well made but i want the emotion back from conor.

Posted by: ashleasays at 08/11/08 2:17 AM | Reply
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been a fan of his music since fevers and mirrors era, I think if he didn't change his style every record he would be bored like every other band on Saddle Creek. I mean, look at Cursive. Every album is completely different than the last. With that said, I think this album is a true return to form for him, instead of free verse poetry he actually wrote out some catchy hooks and choruses. I'm seeing him at other music on tuesday, can't wait!

Posted by: matt at 08/11/08 9:59 AM | Reply
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yeah this album is awesome! I didn't really like it at first thinking it was just another cassadaga, but it really has that raw, off the cuff feeling that made "im wide awake" great (albiet not to quite the same result.)

the music video is awesome too

Posted by: machu at 08/12/08 8:35 PM | Reply
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I'm in the opposite camp of a lot of these people. I HATED the sort of music he was making with Fevers and Lifted, and I've been wary about him ever since. That said, I think this is a really good sound for him.

Posted by: dafs at 08/13/08 12:18 PM | Reply
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Cygnet_Comm

Ugh. We wouldn't be friends.

Posted by: Cygnet_Comm profile link in reply to dafs's comment at 08/14/08 2:40 PM | Reply
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I think this album is some of the best stuff he's ever done. I really like his whole catalog though besides Cassadaga. This stuff sounds really great, good for him.

Posted by: b at 08/13/08 1:31 PM | Reply
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Wow it's...un-self conscious and light hearted! How appealing.

Posted by: jayfarer at 08/13/08 3:07 PM | Reply
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cassadaga without the overproduction, oh boy.

Posted by: dramamine at 08/14/08 4:09 AM | Reply
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