I wish I was making this up...
Five Dice, All Threes is the 11th mainline studio release for indie folk legends Bright Eyes. While frontman Conor Oberst has been active in the last couple of years, this is the first Bright Eyes record since 2020's Down in the Weeds... The singles leading up to this record were... kind of disappointing. "Bells and Whistles" sounds like a watered-down version of what Bright Eyes has been doing for years; a sort of copycat of an original piece that could never live up to the hype. Even the Microphones-esque production on "Rainbow Overpass" could not save the weak songwriting throughout. In the context of the entire record, these songs will either wisp right past you, or meander just a little too long.
That's not to say this entire record is terrible and disappointing. From front to back, the band takes risks in production and mixing, intertwining electronic synths and drums, old radio snippets, and a recording of a dice game to make the listening experience somewhat cohesive. Throughout the tracklist, there are songs that prove Oberst can still write compelling, heart-wrenching, and emotional tracks. Like "Tiny Suicides" and "Spun Out", which sound like I'm Wide Awake-era tracks vamped up for a newer generation. The lyrics have that same "wtf is this guy talking about" energy, over Conor's crooning, weeping vocals that will get you every single time. The closer "Tin Soldier Man" tries to wrap up the project with a neat little bow, and it's pretty fine, compelling even.
That's where the positives end, unfortunately. The penultimate track "The Time I Have Left", a duet with The National frontman Matt Berninger, tries to be this grand piano ballad, but falls completely flat the second any electronics are thrown at you. I understand the emotional exposé at play, but I just can't get past the vocal effects after the first chorus. I swear these electronic synths throughout the record sound like some 2014 indie Homegoods/Kohls folk music from a one-hit-wonder band that was only popular in rural Nebraska. The kind of music you vaguely remember hearing as a kid but have no interest in investigating any further.
Overall, I'm sad my first review had to be of a legendary band's latest effort that sincerely disappointed me. The thing is, Conor Oberst and company show that they still have some gas left in the tank; the highs are high on this record. But, Oberst is losing his edge (LCD Soundsystem reference, nerd emoji). It's kind of crazy to think that the guys who made Poison Oak and First Day of My Life were even capable of falling this hard, but I will still hold records like those close to my heart, and reminisce.
Favorite Tracks:
Tiny Suicides (actually please listen to this, it's great)
Spun Out
Worst Tracks:
Trains Still Run On Time
The Time I Have Left
5/10, big long sigh... not a great listen while trying to study
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