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Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground - Bright Eyes
User Score
9.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 60 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 60
  3. Negative: 3 out of 60

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  1. MartynasA
    Jan 20, 2005
    10
    Very good album
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. kittygirlie
    Dec 15, 2002
    10
    WOW!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. CB
    May 13, 2003
    9
    Very good album. Worth it for the lyrics alone. Musically inconsistent, and the songs are overly long at times, but it doesnt matter when there are few others out there with this level of insight.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. GlennM
    Aug 2, 2005
    10
    I was going to give this a 9 because I think Fevers is better, but I couldn't because Oberst cannot make a record that i could give anything less than perfect
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. JoeM.
    Oct 22, 2002
    10
    Cant stop listening. Cant wait to see the show in New York and see if the energy holds up live. (My suspicion is that it will be in multiples of what is on this record.)
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. WillR
    Oct 26, 2002
    9
    This is great. Not quite as good as Fevers & mirrors but still good. Not for everyone, you either love it or hate it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. ChrisB.
    Aug 20, 2002
    9
    This is album may be even better than "Fevers and Mirrors." Usually, when an artist is compared to Dylan it is completely unwarranted (think John Mayer), but it is accurate for Oberst. The range of emotion he conveys in his songs, without resorting to cliches, is rarely seen in pop music these days.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. EricC.
    Aug 26, 2002
    9
    This album is yet another fine addition to the warm quilt of music that everyone should wrap around their ears and soul. Conor's ability to put in words the universal themes of love, growing up, truth, self-doubt, and what-the-hell-are- we-for. the question is not whether or not he or any of his listeners (including critics) have actually experienced what he sings about, but if you can understand, empathize, or even realize what is/is not pretentious. The musical arrangements are about as complex as you'll find in contemporary indie-folk-pop these days, and more importantly they are conor and co.'s own and complement the outstanding lyrics. Unlike other releases, this one contains several semi-optimistic and uptempo songs, while maintaining the sincerity of the songwriter. the fine productions only adds to the emotional content. This album, while may appeal to a specific young suburban crowd, could be universally accepted if listerner's give it a shot or two. … Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. ambrose
    Sep 3, 2002
    8
    if it was cut 15 minutes shorter, it would have been magnificent, now it's just great; bright eyes has won me over
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. garlicfallon
    Feb 15, 2003
    10
    need i say more
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. Moleculothaspidermonkey
    Feb 24, 2003
    0
    So bad it's funny. Cry Cry Cry. I'm so sad. But this album always cheers me up. This loser is hilarious.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. ericm
    Mar 6, 2003
    10
    I wish the numbers in this poll went higher. Oberst's musical talent with a guitar, his unbelievably poetic verse, along with his flawless emotional voice makes him one of the greats in indie-rock. His songs convey such deep emotion that he surpasses any of the music icons on MTV.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. SeanM
    Jun 26, 2003
    10
    A beautifully weaving storybook written in song. If you love hearing emotion in your music you can't help but feel the emotional range of Connor Oberst in each note of this modern day masterpiece.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  14. joeg
    Sep 13, 2003
    10
    Conor is a genious
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  15. Tyler
    Dec 6, 2004
    10
    The Ritalin generation's Bob Dylan? Was Huey Lewis the Babyboomers Bob Dylan then? Conor Oberst is any generation's Bob Dylan. Your just jealous.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  16. Andrea
    Mar 19, 2004
    10
    amazing. the lyrics are genious and connor's voice is beautiful-
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  17. jontih
    Jul 28, 2004
    9
    excellent
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  18. EllingS
    Jun 20, 2005
    10
    simply brilliant
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  19. BenD
    Jul 1, 2005
    10
    Conor Oberst has grown a lot since the release of Fevers and Mirrors. His music is no longer so self-centered and screaming fits have been toned down on this album. LIFTED is an absolutely epic album that takes the listener on a journey through Conor's mind. The best album of 2002.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  20. SagacityRecords
    Aug 27, 2002
    10
    A masterpiece. Is Oberst the next Bob Dylan? Anyone who knows, knows there will never be another Bob Dylan. But in 20 -30 years the people who know, who aren't dead yet, will be saying, "There will never be another Connor Oberst ."
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  21. JasonK.
    Sep 21, 2002
    10
    this cd is great, go see them live. now. now damnit now
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  22. PhilipL.
    Sep 30, 2002
    9
    Fucking Beautiful!!! Not as good as Fevers And Mirrors, but still pure poetry.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  23. 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 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
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  24. cath
    Jul 21, 2004
    10
    this album is very good. i really really like it. there are only 2 problems with it. they are that once you listen to bright eyes you find it hard to listen to anything else! and that i get hooked onto a song is i listen to it way to much then get sick of it coz i out-listened it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  25. HanaK
    Sep 12, 2004
    10
    bright eyes saved my life.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  26. nikolep
    Sep 18, 2004
    10
    i think that connor is an amazing artist n this cd is one of his best written ones..i believe that ne thing he does is inspiring and well made
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  27. Shane
    Jan 15, 2005
    3
    This man annoys me beyond belief.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  28. giulia
    Feb 18, 2005
    10
    i love this record
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  29. joeg
    Mar 10, 2005
    10
    Conor is a genious
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  30. 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 and Mirrors comes close but there is something special about this album!
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  31. kennym
    Sep 8, 2005
    10
    this is an amazing, epic album, and in my opinion the best bright eyes album with "i'm wide awake, its morning" right behind. no one who apreciates good lyrics should pass it up.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  32. BobbyJJ
    Jun 26, 2006
    1
    i cant believe people like this album, i dont
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  33. Andy
    Aug 16, 2006
    8
    The CD that made Conner a celebrity, and rightfully so.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  34. JezsicaB
    Dec 15, 2002
    10
    Connor Oberst lets his voice guide you threw his journey with him. Such a unique voice you can't help but wish you had more then two thumbs to put up.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  35. JamesB.
    Aug 26, 2002
    10
    i've always sort of liked bright eyes, but always kind of not liked them also. you know? like i kind of dug what he was doing but it always came off as immature and way too pretentious and dealing with lost love and oh look at me im going to go cry in my hot tea while writing lame journal entries. but this record kicks it. it i intensely pretentious, but so was dylan. just listen to this record. it is a masterpiece. … Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  36. MultipleMiggs
    Aug 28, 2002
    5
    The most overrated album in a long time. Cliched lyrics, overwrought singing, and an overall lack of songs.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  37. Yossarian---
    Jun 18, 2003
    8
    While I view "Lifted" as an awesome effort, I have my reservations. Every piece of the album that I see as weak contributes to it's greatness as well, so ambivalence is to be noted. "Lifted" is not misdirected... just without direction due to massive amounts of ambition. The lyrics, while earnest, are caught between adolescent swaying and adult responsibility (hear political ranting next to cathartic wailing). There's no fluidity as was felt in Fevers and Mirrors, but hell the diversity is astounding and excellent when attempted. Certainly needs to be listened to several times before judgment. Your own opinion on the album may be determined on whether or not you believe in his sincerety, and that it's not just Morrisey-like whining.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  38. heather
    Apr 13, 2004
    10
    this cd is amazing, like everything connor writes.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  39. Tia
    Jul 26, 2005
    10
    Conor Oberst is a genius, pure and simple.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  40. RFord
    Sep 21, 2005
    10
    Conor Oberst is the man i havent heard a bad song yet by him
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  41. MorganM
    Sep 22, 2005
    10
    frickin' awesome...
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  42. 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 songs are "Big Picture", "False Advertising", "Wast Of Paint", and "Bowl Of Oranges"
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  43. johnp
    Nov 12, 2002
    10
    this is an unbelievable album. live the songs are even better. if conor does ever seem pretentious (maybe on waste of paint) he usually seems less irritating and more earnest in his attempts to say something that isn't just introspective and boring. every track is intellectually, musically and emotionally astounding. do yourself a favour and buy it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  44. Carina
    Dec 29, 2002
    10
    fucking amazing. Bright eyes is fucking amazing. Connor is god.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  45. Vampire25
    Mar 2, 2011
    8
    I could relate to this album. It's such a great album. The lyrics are poetry and Conor Oberst's voice mends so well together singing it. It's a powerful, emotional punch of a record. All In All, a beautiful record that I recommend. B+
  46. 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 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.
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Untrustworthy, confused, touching and idiotically ambitious; hard work that, undoubtedly, repays the effort.
    Read full review
  2. Neumu.net
    60
    It is, in such, truly great, or truly arrogant, or truly conceited, or truly preposterous, or truly confused, or truly bemused, or truly profound, or truly magnificent. Or maybe all of these things. At once. Or at times.
    Read full review
  3. 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.
    Read full review
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