Conor Oberst meets “a girl with Klonopin eyes” on this new cut, a quick nod to John Lennon’s Lucy before the folk-meets-psych-rock arrangement breaks out reverse tape delay, saloon piano, and a closing horn section. It’s the follow-up to his upbeat “Hundreds of Ways” last month, both off the new solo record, Upside Down Mountain. Perhaps there’s more to the benzo reference, as these tracks and Oberst’s own description suggest an easygoing approach this round. “I’m not the greatest guitar player or piano player—I’m not the greatest singer, either,” he says, “but I feel if I can come up with melodies I like that are fused with poetry I’m proud of, then that’s what I bring to the table.” That new quote is a far cry from the call-to-arms final moments of Wide Awake. Of course, that unsettled set came out a decade ago, and now it’s sounding like he’s finally found some peace. The album arrives on May 19th.
