A Complete History of Bright Eyes’ “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning”
In January 2005, Bright Eyes released two albums, among them the widely acclaimed “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning.” This is the complete history of that album, a look at where frontman Conor Oberst was in his career at that time, and some of the events that led up to the stunning double release and the standout singles “The First Day of My Life,” and “Lua,” as well as other highlights on the album like “Road to Joy” and “Land Locked Blues.”
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✓ Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” https://youtu.be/UjzAvjWhuCA
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✓ Arcade Fire’s “Funeral” https://youtu.be/HrhaL4Rhou8
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Poetic Wax is hosted by Andy Fenstermaker.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 A Complete History of “I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning”
1:53 Commander Venus
3:21 The Early Days of Bright Eyes
6:17 A Turning Point for Bright Eyes
8:58 The Release of Bright Eyes Two 2005 Albums
10:09 Bright Eyes 2005 Split Tour
11:36 The Musical Evolution of Bright Eyes Beyond 2005
12:43 The Legacy of Bright Eyes
CLIP REFERENCES:
“The First Day of My Life” Music Video: https://youtu.be/xUBYzpCNQ1I?si=kLzMIMMELLnRlSB4
Bright Eyes (KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic, April 10, 2003): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayuxyxqQxhE
Bright Eyes “Road to Joy” (Live, 2005) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKV2bHpiH1E
Bright Eyes – Conor Oberst interview by Craig Ferguson – Late Late show 2/14/05 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gt3TKWZN14
Conor Oberst Tells a Joke (NME) https://youtu.be/lZonVaph768?si=iY6oaTa0jW51bAUn
Bright Eyes – Take It Easy (Love Nothing) – Live Scotland 2005 https://youtu.be/EZPFUChCqXE?si=KK6H3C7H-ehCKjFU
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@AndyFenstermaker
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Next, let's look at the history of "Fake Plastic Trees," one of Radiohead's classics from their 1995 album The Bends 👉 https://youtu.be/UjzAvjWhuCA
@mkteku
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
The last name Oberst typically has the stress or intonation on the first syllable: O-berst. This pronunciation aligns with common patterns in German surnames, where the stress often falls on the initial syllable. In English, it’s usually pronounced similarly, as OH-berst.
@nickmoranis2865
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Noise Floor is a great album too.
On a brighter note! Has anyone seen Bright Eyes live when Conor wasn’t wasted? Last time they were in Glasgow he was hilariously out of it. Still great though.
@nickmoranis2865
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
When the President Talks to God is the b-side to First Day of my Life.
I listed it on eBay last night funnily enough! Getting rid of all my 7” and 10”s records.
This is not an advert!
@nickmoranis2865
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
My take on the band name Bright Eyes is the character Taylor in Planet of the Apes being called bright eyes.
A man stuck in a future that is the past. Alienated.
Could just be from that Garfunkel song about myxomatoses rabbits though.
@Wehwehweh
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Those songs, and those vocals… they made me
@RyanRDixon
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
This is taking nothing away from Wide Awake but Digital Ash is just such an amazing different album.
@Artcore103
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
That awesome vinyl collection of yours REALLY deserves a better playback system than those trash Edifier speakers :'(… makes me sad to see that incredible vinyl played through that. They're literally some of the worst speakers that exist, and no surprise for 100-150 bucks if that. It's also very problematic acoustically to have the speakers on a table pulled back like that, the reflections off the table in front of the speakers cause all sorts of bad cancellations and horrible off-axis performance. They should be on stands ideally, or use floorstanding speakers… but if they have to be on a console/table they need to be pulled to the edge, the downside being less bass reinforcement… and they should be on acoustic isolation pads. Also any turntable with a built in preamp is pretty much trash. Get a Fluance or Rega or Pro-Ject or U-turn or something… no AT tables, something like an RT85 or better. Your collection deserves it and the difference will be astonishing, with that and especially better speakers. If you want to keep it simple with active (powered) speakers, you could get the Klipsch Sevens or Nines, and get a separate phono preamp… or the Kali IN-8 or LP-6 or LP-8, JBL 306p/308p, or Adam audio t7v/t8v. If you get passive speakers and an amp then there's many many options.
@Artcore103
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
commander venus actually had some good songs. Desaparecidos, another side project of his, was also totally amazing, more of a punk rock fare, at least the first one (not very familiar with their 2nd 2015 release, need to check that out). But bright eyes was legendary from 98 (letting off the happiness) to 2005, the double release of wide awake / digital ash. That was like the culmination, the peak most polished expression of bright eyes. it was downhill from there with a few select standout tracks after that, like hot knives or approximate sunlight, vs entire epic albums up to that point. But as amazing as wide awake was and is, Digital Ash was just as good and might even be my favorite of the two.
Cursive was also completely epic, and Tim's side project the good life, album of the year, was outstanding as well. Actually there were several great bands and albums on Conor's record label. He was also very early to the vinyl comeback scene, with his label directly releasing 180gram (extra thick) vinyl of ALL their releases, and I have all the bright eyes albums up thru 2005, and several cursive albums, and one or two others. Plus, different label of course, I have several death cab releases on vinyl too, some of which might also be 180 gram I can't recall. The dual LP of transatlanticism is pretty valuable on the second hand market now. I imagine the 7 album bright eyes set, or the wide awake / digital ash dual release, are probably also valuable. The Ugly Organ by cursive is a cool translucent green vinyl, and that's certainly their most standout album.
@seanpartain1419
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Oh Burst
@samamama8192
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Damn. I remember when he first played a few songs from lifted at one of his concerts. For that matter, I remember when there was only like 40-50 people at his concerts. His first interview on a late night show- still and always will be my favorite band. Thanks for this video.
@jeremyspring9234
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Why would you put a picture of Digital Ash in a Digital Urn Companion that came out 2 years ago up instead of the cover of the actual album? You must really not be familiar with that album at all.
@GratefulAmericans
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
I saw Bright Eyes back in February with pretty much zero idea of what to expect. I really enjoyed it. I was expecting it to be a lot quieter though. That’s one of the loudest concerts I’ve been to all year
@doctorstrainlove6318
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Dude must’ve just been built with thousands & thousands of bangers just downloaded to his main frame. He’s always acted like an adult, writing some of these tunes at 13 years old in the 90s is baffling but we love Conor.
@doctorstrainlove6318
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Conor is a one of one, and will go down as the modern age Bob Dylan. I hope he can link up with Jesse Wells, that would be such an eclectic duo.
@carleyprice3138
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Craig Ferguson is an absolute turd
@louieo.blevinsmusic2011
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Dang, dude. You look great for 43/44.
@bjnsn4336
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Just a nit.. Bright Eyes is truly a band as opposed to an Oberst moniker.
@RoyPortel
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Is Oberst really pronounced like that? 😮
@MrDot9
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Almost an Elliot Smith path.
@natemekis3959
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
7:00 Yim Yames was on Digital Urn?
@everythingnewsucks9678
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
This is a great video, because I'm a bright eyes nerd and have read every interview done during this time here is a couple of interesting facts:
All the drums on Digital Ash are real, and was written at the same time as I'm Wide Awake. Both albums minus Landlocked Blues were written when he moved to NYC which I think happened after they toured Lifted.
Bright Eyes actually signed a record deal in the UK for 2 records after I'm Wide Awake and Digital Ash that saw the band (Mike, Nate, Conor) get a real good pay day. They were able to pay off their houses and I believe used that money to record in various studios for Cassadaga. I can't remember the exact figure but I think it was a couple million (5 – 7).
The band actually preferred Digital Ash. It was a more exciting project for them to work on in the studio.
@Str0ngSad
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
great video, thank you for making it
@DavisNationLlc1
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
It sounds like a love song but sometimes unsure.
@ArtofZentrification
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
This was an album that came to me by chance not long after it came out. I had just finished playing a show with my band in a small bar, and as I was leaving, I ran into an old friend's younger brother for the first time in about five years in the parking lot that was shared by a bank. This kid picked up the guitar because we were playing, and he always gave me more credit than I deserved for his playing. When he saw me, we exchanged typical pleasantries. Then he reached into his backpack, pulled this CD out and told me I have to take it and listen to it. I told him I didn't know when I would see home to get it back to which he replied "I'll buy another one."
It has been in steady rotation ever since and is easily one of my deserted island picks.
@cheetengho7876
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
This is my favourite artist of all time just based on that one album. It’s an incredible album and I can’t help wondering if there anything else remotely like it. It’ll always have special place in my heart.
@ClaraOneill1967
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Love this, thanks
@lazlomattachine8334
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Great subject!
@crayoniii
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
I love Wide Awake so much but that has never stopped me from being so damn salty that Digital Ash was completely overshadowed and STILL doesn’t get the praise it deserves. What a shame. I mean, Ship in a Bottle with the crying baby call and response? C’mon that’s freakin’ genius! So good. I’m SOOO SALTY.
@PrairieGhostKen
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
That album helped me get through highschool, and was a huge influence on my guitar playing, and song writing. Glad to see he's still making music.
@jacey9267
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Lol thank you for posting this so I can learn about my girlfriend's favorite emo boy. I liked Digital Ash a lot more for it's heavier more psychedelic impulses. Poetic wax is a great channel name btw.
@rohantredinnick4021
October 10, 2025 at 7:18 am
Such a talented artist . Whilst I don’t love everything he has done , I rate some of his albums as amongst my very favourite – Im wide awake, Cassadaga and his superb solo album , Ruminations (2016). Nice Review
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