Conor's Basement: The Music of Conor Oberst

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Conor's Basement is a podcast created by two high school friends, Chris and Jesse, as an exploration into the discography of Bright Eyes and Conor Oberst. Along the way, we will provide analysis and our personal interpretations of the songs and lyrics. Each episode is a deep dive into an album or batch of tracks with the goal of starting a dialogue with the die-hards and opening up an avenue for the soon-to-be superfans.

Conor's Basement


    • Jul 28, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 23m AVG DURATION
    • 18 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Conor's Basement: The Music of Conor Oberst

    Episode 11.2: ...They Have Those In Conor's Basement Too

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 111:58


    Part 2 of 2 of the analysis of Bright Eyes' 2007 release, "Cassadaga." Like a modern day Mulder and Scully, their investigation into an album of esoteric occultism leads them into unsolved mysteries about the foreshadowing of Bright Eyes' hiatus, cryptic (and not so cryptic) political commentary, and whether or not Conor is a gamer.--@conorsbasement - IG & TwitterSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Episode 11.1: The Basement, That's Where You're Gonna Find the Center of Energy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 89:05


    In Part 1 of this 2 part episode, Chris and Jesse discuss the first 6 songs off of Bright Eyes' 2007 release, "Cassadaga." Like a modern day Mulder and Scully, their investigation into an album of esoteric occultism leads them into unsolved mysteries about the foreshadowing of Bright Eyes' hiatus, connections to older albums, and the rapper Too $hort.--@conorsbasement - IG & TwitterSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Episode 10: Conor's Basement Presents: Four Winds (With Supplemental Material)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 73:28


    In this episode of the podcast, Chris and Jesse discuss the 2007 EP, "Four Winds" boasting the single of the same name that would prepare us for Cassadaga.Though a short 6 songs, the EP presents us with some challenging  string to untangle and webs to connect (or are those just from the spiders down here???) Be sure to subscribe so you're notified when the full Cassadaga episode is released!---------------@conorsbasement on InstagramSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Episode 9: Into the Basement With Just Our Podcast and Our Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2021 116:04


    In this episode,  Jesse and Chris discuss the much heralded, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning released in 2005 by Bright Eyes. Throughout the episode, we discuss symbols of weather patterns and the context of a post-9/11 New York City. An additional discussion is had about the albums SpA Score or "Slaps per Album," a proprietary mathematical formula by failed mathematician Chris.---------------@conorsbasement on InstagramSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Episode 8: Pretend This Title is a Really Funny Lua-based Basement Pun

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2021 52:45


    This episode was originally recorded live on https://twitch.tv/conorsbasement! In this episode, Jesse and Chris discuss their thoughts on Bright Eyes' 2004 EP, Lua, along with two other non-Bright Eyes songs: Heartbreak by Margaret Glaspy and Rainbow Signs by mewithoutYou---------------@conorsbasement on InstagramSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Announcement: Twitch Stream & Live Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 3:31


    Hey everyone! Just a quick announcement here. Our next episode will be recorded live on Twitch, then edited and uploaded normally on our streaming platforms. We'll go live at 7pm EST on 2/27 - Go to https://twitch.tv/conorsbasement and follow so you're notified when we do!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Episode 7: Digital Podcast in a Digital Basement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2021 107:16


    In 2005, Bright Eyes released two albums with stark differences in sound. The first we tackle is Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, which true to its name, explores an electronic sound, new to the band at that point.In the episode we explore the themes of death, coping, and drug use that fill the album's lyrics. Join us down the rabbit hole on this psychedelic banger.---@conorsbasement on InstagramSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep 6: LIFTED or The Podcast is in the Basement, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 131:12


    In our glorious return to album analysis, we look at the 2002 epic, "LIFTED." A genre-defining landmark, the band explores new sounds while Conor investigates the broader questions of humanity and how to find meaning in life.We discuss themes of authenticity, existentialism, and connection found across the album's 73 minute runtime.---@conorsbasement on InstagramSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Conor's Basement Mingles with Singles 2: Down in the Weeds Hot Takes ft. Guest

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 88:24


    Hey we're back! There's been an overwhelming desire to hear our thoughts on Down in the Weeds, so we figured we'd find a middle ground by discussing it at a surface level, leaving the deep dive for the full episode when we get to it chronologically.Our dear friend, Nikki, (also a huge Bright Eyes fan) joins us to discuss our hot takes, favorite songs, as well as some fun digressions as always.@conorsbasement (Twitter & IG)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep. 5: There Is No Beginning To The Basement

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2020 81:33


    In this episode we explore the Bright Eyes EP, "There Is No Beginning To The Story," released in 2002. Marking another shift in sound following the success of Fevers and Mirrors, Bright Eyes followed this EP up with their storybook epic, LIFTED. We see some familiar themes continue to pop up, as we consider possibilities for LIFTED.-- @conorsbasement (Twitter & IG)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep. 4.2: A Basement (Fevers & Mirrors Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 125:10


    In this 3 episode epic, Jesse and Chris break down their favorite Bright Eyes album, Fevers and Mirrors. In this episode we explore tracks 4-9, "The Movement of a Hand," "Arienette," "When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass," "Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh," and "The Center Of the World."Released in 2000, this album cemented Bright Eyes' place in the Indie scene and brought Conor's raw, emotive lyricism to center stage.We discuss our theories on the multiple stories being told in the album, peeling back layers of symbols, motifs, and themes that run rampant in its 55 minutes of glory.WARNING: This album contains potentially triggering stories of depression, grief, and suicide. Please only listen if you feel you are in a headspace to do so. Much love.@conorsbasement - IG & TwitterSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep. 4.3: And Those Indifferent Hosts (Fevers & Mirrors Part 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 83:14


    In this 3 episode epic, Jesse and Chris break down their favorite Bright Eyes album, Fevers and Mirrors. In this episode we explore the final tracks on the album, "Sunrise, Sunset," "An Attempt to Tip the Scales," and "A Song to Pass the Time."Released in 2000, this album cemented Bright Eyes' place in the Indie scene and brought Conor's raw, emotive lyricism to center stage.We discuss our theories on the multiple stories being told in the album, peeling back layers of symbols, motifs, and themes that run rampant in its 55 minutes of glory.WARNING: This album contains potentially triggering stories of depression, grief, and suicide. Please only listen if you feel you are in a headspace to do so. Much love.@conorsbasement - IG & TwitterSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep 4.1: A Podcast (Fevers & Mirrors Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2020 68:42


    In this 3 episode epic, Jesse and Chris break down their favorite Bright Eyes album, Fevers and Mirrors. In this episode we explore the first four tracks, "A Spindle, A Darkness, A Fever, and a Necklace," "A Scale, A Mirror, And Those Indifferent Clocks," "The Calendar Hung Itself," and "Something Vague."Released in 2000, this album cemented Bright Eyes' place in the Indie scene and brought Conor's raw, emotive lyricism to center stage.We discuss our theories on the multiple stories being told in the album, peeling back layers of symbols, motifs, and themes that run rampant in its 55 minutes of glory.WARNING: This album contains potentially triggering stories of depression, grief, and suicide. Please only listen if you feel you are in a headspace to do so. Much love.@conorsbasement - IG & TwitterSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Conor's Basement Mingles with Singles: Chris and Jesse's Top Spotify Songs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 110:43


    Breonna Taylor deserved better.---Due to our delay with getting Fevers and Mirrors out, we talk a bit about our most listened to songs on Spotify, asking each other to break down the other's songs. It's rough and barely edited, which means a lot of the fun little outtakes are left in. Enjoy!@conorsbasement (Twitter & IG)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep 3: A Line Allows Progress, A Basement Does Not

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2020 70:08


    In this episode of the podcast, Jesse and Chris discuss Bright Eyes' 1999 EP, "Every Day and Every Night." Sandwiched between '98's Letting off the Happiness, and the forever-epic, Fevers and Mirrors, Every Day and Every Night displayed nascent signs of a full-band transformation by Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis.We talk themes of existentialism, heartbreak, loneliness, as well as a connection to an infamous book.Warning: This album does contain depressive themes among many other heavy topics. Please only listen if you are in a comfortable head space

    Ep. 2: A Poetic Retelling From Conor's Basement

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 76:48


    In episode 2 of the podcast, Chris and Jesse discuss Bright Eyes' 1998 album "Letting Off the Happiness." We provide track-by-track analysis and craft theories regarding the overall story of the album as well as specific events of our tragic protagonist's teenage years.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep. 1: Down in the Basement, Where Conor Once Was

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 56:14


    In this episode, Jesse and Chris share their thoughts on the return of Bright Eyes, the four singles (Persona Non Grata, Forced Convalescence, One and Done, and Mariana Trench), as well as the nine-year hiatus.@conorsbasementSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

    Ep. 0: Meeting in a Basement, Way Down Low

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 49:51


    In the introductory episode of the podcast, we'll talk a bit about who we are and the format of the podcast.---Conor's Basement is a podcast created by two high school friends, Chris and Jesse, as an exploration into the discography of Bright Eyes and Conor Oberst.Along the way, we will provide analysis and our personal interpretations of the songs and lyrics. Each episode is a deep dive into an album or batch of tracks with the goal of starting a dialogue with the die-hards and opening up an avenue for the soon-to-be superfans.@conorsbasementSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/conorsbasement)

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