I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
by Bright Eyes
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Almost Cool
    60
    While it's all produced and performed immaculately, it just feels like too many of the rough edges have been smoothed off.
  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    60
    I’m Wide Awake is an uneven product, full of everything there is to loathe and love about Oberst.
  3. Village Voice
    60
    A handsome channel 13 complimentary tote bag of an album that polishes his image as the fantasy rebellious son who hangs at socialist bookstores and swipes your Gram Parsons records.
  5. AllMusic
    40
    Far from being the second coming of Dylan, Oberst is as precious as Paul Simon, but without any sense of rhyme or meter or gift for imagery, puking out lines filled with cheap metaphors and clumsy words that don't scan.
  6. Austin Chronicle
    40
    Moments, ideas, turns of phrase are jumbled together, good and bad, resulting in the sweet smell of garbage.

Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best Album of 2005
28
#28 Most Discussed Album of 2005
28
#28 Most Shared Album of 2005

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 214 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 177 out of 214
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 214
  3. Negative: 23 out of 214
  1. auxnbus
    Jun 17, 2014
    10
    It never got better than this for Bright Eyes.. One of the greatest albums of recent times - and stands with the greats of all time.
    This    It never got better than this for Bright Eyes.. One of the greatest albums of recent times - and stands with the greats of all time.
    This album seems to perfectly capture a stage in anyone's life at any given time. From the soul-crushing despairs of heartbreak, to the most hopeful of hopes, to the sour distaste for political affairs.
    This is the type of album that touches one day you and sticks to you for the rest of your life.    … Full Review »
  2. jmarkfin
    Sep 18, 2013
    9
    An absolutely lovely album that is one of Oberst's best. It's definitely not for everyone, but for those whose tastes are attuned to thisAn absolutely lovely album that is one of Oberst's best. It's definitely not for everyone, but for those whose tastes are attuned to this acoustic-folk sound, it's some of the highest quality stuff you can listen to.… Full Review »
  3. davenbettridge
    Nov 7, 2011
    10
    "I'm not sure what the trouble was that started all of this, the reasons all have run away but the feeling never did - It's not something I"I'm not sure what the trouble was that started all of this, the reasons all have run away but the feeling never did - It's not something I would recommend, but it is one way to live, cause what is simple in the moonlight, by the morning never is..." - Lua, Bright Eyes… Full Review »
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