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. 36Thoughtless
    Jan 5, 2006
    2
    Never having heard Bright Eyes before, I went with good expectations for the band because people I knew with decent tastes in music bought this album. Nevertheless, this album has reached new lows in music. Conan Oberst can not sing at all and is a very weak guitar player. The mix of country and rock-based songwriting does not display a great sense of musical talent either: each song Never having heard Bright Eyes before, I went with good expectations for the band because people I knew with decent tastes in music bought this album. Nevertheless, this album has reached new lows in music. Conan Oberst can not sing at all and is a very weak guitar player. The mix of country and rock-based songwriting does not display a great sense of musical talent either: each song begins shockingly dull and ends the same way! I may be particular about the music I listen to, but when I saw the critics' reviews, it blew my mind how so many people could applaud this album's commitment to utter mediocrity. Conan Oberst might as well have been a 14-year-old boy getting together with his friends and producing an album with a tape recorder. The only saving grace (hence my 2 points) is "First Day of My Life," which happens to somewhat memorable, but nowhere near merits the praise given by so many people.… Expand
  2. JonH
    Feb 2, 2005
    7
    While I enjoyed the album it didn't effect me as much as Lifted... did, didn't have the same emotional empact that that one gave me, still though, there some solid material here.
  3. EB
    Feb 3, 2005
    10
    Lovely.
  4. EdwardE
    Mar 2, 2005
    7
    I bought 'Lifted' long ago & despised the incessant whining & lack of songcraft. Although Oberst seems to be pulling his ideas together more melodically & sonically with this release, I still think he should employ a singer to convey his thoughts.
  5. ZachL.
    Jul 5, 2005
    9
    One of the best albums of the year. I can't believe some idiot even suggested good charolette was anything even remotely like him. Good Charolette is some of the lowest of the low. Get your standards right, buddy.
  6. ChrisF
    Jan 30, 2005
    9
    This album is the best album to come out this year, but it's only January. He really does stand out from the pack in that he is writing substantial, lyrical protest rock. Hence, comparisons to Dylan. There are strains of Dylan in his music, particularly from Highway 61 Revisited, but his music isn't as complex as Dylan's. Oberst's greatest fall will be his inability to This album is the best album to come out this year, but it's only January. He really does stand out from the pack in that he is writing substantial, lyrical protest rock. Hence, comparisons to Dylan. There are strains of Dylan in his music, particularly from Highway 61 Revisited, but his music isn't as complex as Dylan's. Oberst's greatest fall will be his inability to write popular music, not his ability to write good music.… Expand
  7. SueM
    Feb 15, 2005
    10
    I've never been much of a fan of country-style music, more into alternative rock, but Conor Oberst opened my ears and mind with "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning". He is a storyteller and the emotion really comes through here.The more I listen, the more I love it!
  8. giulia
    Feb 7, 2005
    9
    all in all´its a good record, i will go to a bright eyes concert in about one month, and i m happy about it.
  9. JimB
    Mar 9, 2005
    10
    the new dyan?...my friend he is much bettter than that!
  10. TimF
    Apr 8, 2005
    2
    Unbelievably overrated!!! Probably a talented guy but the songs are boring and inconsequential. It's the same phenomenon that leads to great ratings for Wilco for songs no one really wants to listen to. Take a listen to the older stuff you liked, dispense with your desire to give them credit for that and hold a talented artist like this up to a higher standard. He will never make the Unbelievably overrated!!! Probably a talented guy but the songs are boring and inconsequential. It's the same phenomenon that leads to great ratings for Wilco for songs no one really wants to listen to. Take a listen to the older stuff you liked, dispense with your desire to give them credit for that and hold a talented artist like this up to a higher standard. He will never make the album he has the potential for if you let him slide like this!… Expand
  11. StuartY
    Jun 24, 2005
    10
    Best album of 2005 so far. Sheer joy, from the folksy strumming of the opener to the angry, ecstatic noise of the finisher. Let's hope that next time round they get proper mainstream recognition.
  12. 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.
  13. DavidP
    Apr 8, 2006
    3
    I have an academic respect for this album, but unfortunately it falls far short of what I expected musically, given the high praise it has received. The meaningful lyrics don't do much for me without compelling music, and the music is far from compelling.
  14. mattf
    Oct 11, 2005
    10
    this is one of the best albums i have ever owned. i will admit, it took me a good four listens to really appreciate it, but now, i swear, it has probably moved into my top five favorite albums of all-time. the lyrics on this cd are unmatched. He's not Dylan, granted, but he is a marvelous departure from the blythe repititous indie world.
  15. JDrof
    Oct 22, 2005
    10
    It is amazing and not as emo as fevers and mirrors makes you feel his deppresion
  16. TimB
    Jan 23, 2005
    10
    breathtaking
  17. jasonw
    Jan 24, 2005
    9
    musically its a notch above mediocre.......lyrically, unmatched in the last decade. guess im bias because he reminds me of myself in the young, rhetorical, and good looking kind of way (me being a smartass)....but he is quite the lyracist. keep it up conor
  18. margo
    Jan 24, 2005
    9
    All in all a great album.. I picked it up at one of his concerts and it's absolutely amazing. Each song is beautiful and I would highly recommend it.
  19. CassiusClay
    Jan 25, 2005
    10
    Album of the year!
  20. ChadS
    Jan 29, 2005
    8
    With a war going on, a Bob Dylan for our times would be nice. Conor Oberst sounds more like the second coming of Wilco, but "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" has a chance of being a classic. I like the brief referencing of "It's a Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" before Oberst makes the line his own. "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" is a solid album and I will most certainily go With a war going on, a Bob Dylan for our times would be nice. Conor Oberst sounds more like the second coming of Wilco, but "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" has a chance of being a classic. I like the brief referencing of "It's a Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" before Oberst makes the line his own. "I'm Wide Awake It's Morning" is a solid album and I will most certainily go through his back catalog. I followed the wrong child prodigy. I bought all of Ben Lee's stuff.… Expand
  21. Mark
    Jan 30, 2005
    1
    The only reason this disc doesn't get a 0 is because sadly there is another worse than it... Digital Ash.
  22. RobertR
    Jan 30, 2005
    10
    I find it interesting that the critics at All Music Guide find Celine Dion a gifted Canadian artist, while refering to Oberst's work as simplistic and plodding.
  23. ChadV
    Jan 30, 2005
    10
    a honest, emotional, and brilliantly conveyed record. Bright Eyes carving out his legacy with each release.
  24. kstew
    Feb 16, 2005
    8
    okay, really, about an 8.35. oberst has a great voice, and can relax out a melody sing with obvious ease....the only track i'm not into is the first one, and thats because i detest the spoken word junk. other than that, its an interesting listen, overall, it is far too short for a cd...but i only paid 10 bucks for it. maybe he could have combined the two decent albums into one great okay, really, about an 8.35. oberst has a great voice, and can relax out a melody sing with obvious ease....the only track i'm not into is the first one, and thats because i detest the spoken word junk. other than that, its an interesting listen, overall, it is far too short for a cd...but i only paid 10 bucks for it. maybe he could have combined the two decent albums into one great one, and made a lot less money..but, really, who would choose that option?… Expand
  25. BrianK
    Feb 16, 2005
    10
    How refreshing to hear someone this thoughtful and risk taking. This is NOT pop music and not necessarily alt-country. If that's what you want beware. But it is the spirit of rock and roll in it's original rebellious spirit and raw rage that is becoming harder and harder to find these days. When I see comments like those from the All Music Guide it makes me smile and remember How refreshing to hear someone this thoughtful and risk taking. This is NOT pop music and not necessarily alt-country. If that's what you want beware. But it is the spirit of rock and roll in it's original rebellious spirit and raw rage that is becoming harder and harder to find these days. When I see comments like those from the All Music Guide it makes me smile and remember that not everyone though Dylan or Elvis were such hot shots either. I saw Bright Eyes on the Vote For Change tour not knowing who they were. I was expecting some reincarnation of some teenage garbage like Green Day or G&R and was pleasantly surprised as were several people I met between the REM and Springsteen sets.… Expand
  26. JebB
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    The next Bob Dylan? More like the next lowfat pie filling. Stop encouraging this whiner to put out mediocre records.
  27. AndrewS
    Feb 3, 2005
    8
    I really loved The Lifted... album. but this one feels there is something missing. Lyrically, Oberst is fantastic as ever.
  28. JasonL
    Feb 8, 2005
    9
    In the last two weeks I bought I'm Wide Awake, the remastered first Slits album Cut, and the remastered Here Come The Warm Jets by Brian Eno. By far I've listened to Wide Awake the most, which is as much praise as I can give it. Land Locked Blues is a thing of beauty, and several of the songs come close to it.
  29. JamieS
    Mar 2, 2005
    3
    nothing special here, bad attempts at country and some of the worst dylan ripoffs in recent years. as in note for note ripoffs.
  30. MichaelW
    Apr 25, 2005
    10
    Amazing album. Every song is fantastic. A classic that will be mentioned decades from now. Best album of the year already. Made me go out and download every single one of his albums
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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
See all critic reviews »