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Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
by
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 77 Ratings

  • Summary: Prolific 22-year-old Nebraska singer-songwriter Connor Oberst returns to his Bright Eyes guise for this 13-track effort, following a stint fronting the band Desaparecidos.

Top Track

Lover I Don't Have to Love
I picked you out Of a crowd and talked to you. Said I liked your shoes, You said, "Thanks, Can I follow you?" So it's up the stairs, And out of... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Nude As The News
    95
    A maddeningly ambitious album, Lifted fits into the pantheon of the great concept records of the past few years, joining the likes of The Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin, and Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea.
  2. Drawer B
    80
    This album is an extraordinary display of Oberst’s songwriting prowess. It’s obscenely ambitious and pretentious and ridiculous but unquestionably memorable and affecting.
  3. Spin
    80
    By turning indie-folk into nonstop neurotic cabaret, Oberst may have made the best album of his prodigious, prolific career. [Sep 2002, p.133]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Pitchfork
    77
    Love it or hate it, the precious, nasal vibrato Oberst affects is the tie that binds all these varied tunes together in the end, and in most cases, it compliments the music admirably.
  5. Almost Cool
    73
    While it's sometimes a rambling mess, The Story Is In The Soil... sounds like one of those releases that was both cathartic and damn fun to put together.
  6. The A.V. Club
    70
    At times, as with his past work, Lifted offers more to admire than love, as Oberst's tendency toward overreaching and didacticism periodically distracts from the nakedly beautiful emotion at the album's core.
  7. Splendid
    30
    There are times on this record, though, when the quaver fades for a few notes and [Oberst's] voice drops out of hysterical high range, and it's actually pleasant to listen to -- but that never lasts, and that's a shame.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 37
  3. Negative: 2 out of 37
  1. JasonK.
    Sep 21, 2002
    10
    this cd is great, go see them live. now. now damnit now
  2. davenbettridge
    Nov 6, 2011
    10
    So many awesome memorable songs are contained within, I have listened to these songs countless times over the years and their meaning has onlySo many awesome memorable songs are contained within, I have listened to these songs countless times over the years and their meaning has only deepened over time. False Advertising, You Will? You Will ?, Lover I Don't Have to Love, Nothing Gets Crossed Out and From a Balance Beam are great songs because they are deep, original and moving to people who spend time in reflection.… Expand
  4. sylvieo
    Oct 16, 2003
    10
    It doesn't matter that this music isn't always what we would call flawless or that every song doesn't fit together to make a It doesn't matter that this music isn't always what we would call flawless or that every song doesn't fit together to make a perfectly congruent album. It doesn't matter that this writer contradicts himself. It doesn't matter that he "whines." Who is perfect, who doesnt feel conflicted, who doesnt whine? This is about as real as we can ask for. It doesnt deserve either criticism or acclaim. Its not edited. No one has the right or the ability to critique another person's feelings. I am only grateful to this singer/songwriter for sharing of himself.… Expand
  5. EllingS
    Jun 20, 2005
    10
    simply brilliant
  6. voodoocookie
    Aug 12, 2005
    10
    This is Conor Oberst's best album ever. I would recommend this album as the first album a newbie to Bright Eyes should listen to. Fever This is Conor Oberst's best album ever. I would recommend this album as the first album a newbie to Bright Eyes should listen to. Fever and Mirrors comes close but there is something special about this album!… Collapse
  7. danM
    Mar 27, 2007
    9
    Amazing album..every song is absolutly perfect in it's own way...Although Fevers & Mirrors is far better, I do love this album...best Amazing album..every song is absolutly perfect in it's own way...Although Fevers & Mirrors is far better, I do love this album...best songs are "Big Picture", "False Advertising", "Wast Of Paint", and "Bowl Of Oranges"… Expand
  8. BobbyJJ
    Jun 26, 2006
    1
    i cant believe people like this album, i dont

See all 37 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best Album of 2002
26
#26 Most Discussed Album of 2002
47
#47 Most Shared Album of 2002

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