It’s Cool If You Keep Quiet, But I Like Singing: A Tribute to Conor Oberst

/
BE ICIFYKQBILS cover IG BC (2).jpg

Whether it be Bright Eyes, his solo stuff, Desaparecidos, or any of his other numerous musical ventures, everyone on this compilation has been impacted by the art that Conor Oberst has put out in the world. It was extremely fun to put this compilation together and have so many great musicians reach out wanting to participate. I was also pleasantly surprised by the balance between the hits and deeper cuts. I don’t think it would be right to do a Conor Oberst compilation without songs like “First Day of My Life,” “Lua,” or “Four Winds,” but adding lesser-known tracks (including the unreleased “LAX”) makes it feel representative of his decades-spanning discography. I have spent the last couple of years since Ruminations / Salutations in awe of Oberst’s ability to hold up that level of songwriting for so long, so I was also thrilled to have a couple of solo songs represented as well. 

Tracklist

  1. “Empty Hotel by the Sea” by Ship & Sail (Ypsilanti, Michigan)

  2. “The Big Picture” by Holy Profane (Detroit, MI)

  3. “Common Knowledge” by Young Ritual (Flint, MI)

  4. “First Day of My Life” by Kevin Rice (Kalamazoo, MI/Nashville, TN)

  5. “False Advertising” by Burntroot (Ypsilanti, MI)

  6. “It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends” by Glasspiece (Detroit, MI)

  7. “An Attempt to Tip the Scales” by Daddy and the Long Legs (Plymouth, MI)

  8. “Lua” by Tired (Ypsilanti, MI)

  9. “Four Winds” by In A Daydream (Ann Arbor, MI)

  10. “LAX” by Young Adult Fiction (Ann Arbor, MI)

  11. “If Winter Ends” by Serencia (Lancaster, PA)

  12. “Mamah Borthwick” by Heather Cook (New York City, NY)

Artwork

I am honored to have been able to use my visual art skills to create my own homage, cover if you will, of a Bright Eyes album that most influenced me. It was the first Bright Eyes vinyl I bought, and one I know completely. I’ve seen Conor Oberst live 6 times, in nearly every project he’s been involved. His music carried me through many years. I am open to commissions and collaborations. You can find my artwork at www.nikitakuz.com & on Instagram: @_bbyvamp

Stream