I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
by Bright Eyes
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 214 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 177 out of 214
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 214
  3. Negative: 23 out of 214

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  1. EdM
    Aug 23, 2005
    4
    I hate to say it, but this album is borderline terrible, full of folk music at its most self-important and least interesting. Compared to something like Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise, which is bursting with ideas, Bright Eyes' cloying lyrics and empty strumming sound mostly like a whiny teenager. There really is a clear line between singers who have maturity and those who try to force it.
  2. PaulG
    Aug 22, 2005
    4
    While this new album from Bright Eyes is pleasant enough, it does not justify the attention it has gotten nor the praise. There has been a lot of grooming of this young artist as the new Bob Dylan or what have you, but his work is too slight and for this album, (I have not heard the others) somewhat forgettable. One might look at Sufjan Stevens or Iron and Wine
  3. NickR
    Mar 25, 2005
    4
    Terrible whinging music sung in a kind of 'Help, i'm so weak and pathetic' kind of voice that just got right on my tats. Digital Ash in A Digital Urn is definatley the better of the two.
  4. BillW
    Apr 1, 2005
    4
    the music is fine, rolls nice and all, but i can't get past these whiney, over-affected vocals... and i like bad/odd voices (chuck mosely, dale bozzio, tammy wynette) but this guy needs punched in the stomach. and the lyrics are terrible.. this sounds like music for not-so-arty art school girls and little boys who want not-so-arty art school girls to like them ...im listening right the music is fine, rolls nice and all, but i can't get past these whiney, over-affected vocals... and i like bad/odd voices (chuck mosely, dale bozzio, tammy wynette) but this guy needs punched in the stomach. and the lyrics are terrible.. this sounds like music for not-so-arty art school girls and little boys who want not-so-arty art school girls to like them ...im listening right now, shut up and play yer guitar 'bright eyes'!… Expand
  5. NelsonD
    Sep 9, 2006
    4
    In the grand scheme of MTV and VH1 pop music, this album is a goldmine. In the indie/alternative world (and especilly compared to Bright Eyes previous masterpieces), this album is a giant disapointment. After the grand LIFTED in which he seemed to put all his worries finally aside, he seems to go back to pre-adolescent lyrics and themes in this album. The fact the he decided to make it a In the grand scheme of MTV and VH1 pop music, this album is a goldmine. In the indie/alternative world (and especilly compared to Bright Eyes previous masterpieces), this album is a giant disapointment. After the grand LIFTED in which he seemed to put all his worries finally aside, he seems to go back to pre-adolescent lyrics and themes in this album. The fact the he decided to make it a sort of Singer/Songwriter album also ruins it because unlike LIFTED and his previous albums, this one is unadorned, simplistic and in many cases (example: Lua) almost devoid of music. Maybe if the lyrics werent as crypted as an emo kid's poem, then maybe, the album would work better, but with such boring music acompanying it, it just doesnt work. Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, at least, is far more interesting music wise, for its diversity, though the lyrics suffer as before. Here's hoping Conor acts his age for the next album.… Expand
  6. JoshH
    Dec 22, 2005
    6
    The good moments on this album are good, but the bad ones are catastrophic. It hits its low when he talks about guys throwing their backs out trying to lift a girl's heavy heart. Not every lyrical conceit is a good idea, and that's a prime example of one that's not. Oberst has outgrown the wunderkind label people have always slapped on him, but it's clear that he still The good moments on this album are good, but the bad ones are catastrophic. It hits its low when he talks about guys throwing their backs out trying to lift a girl's heavy heart. Not every lyrical conceit is a good idea, and that's a prime example of one that's not. Oberst has outgrown the wunderkind label people have always slapped on him, but it's clear that he still has a lot of growing up to do.… Expand
  7. DelboyS
    Jan 25, 2005
    6
    I have yet to understand the hype surrounding the obvious but uneven talents of Oberst. While this album is well written, it is hardly a masterpiece and it is only the talents of Emmylou Harris that make this more than an average record. The best I can say about this album is that Oberst finally stops whining like a kitten caught in a combine and actually sings.
  8. druss
    Feb 2, 2011
    4
    In spite of the odd decent tune, the dislike I feel for the man singing is hard to suppress. He's like Dylan with a fraction of the musical talent and without any sort of artistic vision (not counting the ideas he stole from Dylan).

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best Album of 2005
28
#28 Most Discussed Album of 2005
28
#28 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Stylus Magazine
    100
    Bright Eyes may well be on the verge of finally bridging the gap between his precocious talent and the maturity of an ageless songwriter.
    Read full review
  2. AllMusic
    40
    Far from being the second coming of Dylan, Oberst is as precious as Paul Simon, but without any sense of rhyme or meter or gift for imagery, puking out lines filled with cheap metaphors and clumsy words that don't scan.
    Read full review
  3. The A.V. Club
    80
    A culmination of Bright Eyes' decade-long habit of reviving folk-rock conventions and social engagement for a generation raised on the celebratory egomania of rap and reality television.
    Read full review
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