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

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  1. 36Thoughtless
    Jan 5, 2006
    2
    Never having heard Bright Eyes before, I went with good expectations for the band because people I knew with decent tastes in music bought this album. Nevertheless, this album has reached new lows in music. Conan Oberst can not sing at all and is a very weak guitar player. The mix of country and rock-based songwriting does not display a great sense of musical talent either: each song Never having heard Bright Eyes before, I went with good expectations for the band because people I knew with decent tastes in music bought this album. Nevertheless, this album has reached new lows in music. Conan Oberst can not sing at all and is a very weak guitar player. The mix of country and rock-based songwriting does not display a great sense of musical talent either: each song begins shockingly dull and ends the same way! I may be particular about the music I listen to, but when I saw the critics' reviews, it blew my mind how so many people could applaud this album's commitment to utter mediocrity. Conan Oberst might as well have been a 14-year-old boy getting together with his friends and producing an album with a tape recorder. The only saving grace (hence my 2 points) is "First Day of My Life," which happens to somewhat memorable, but nowhere near merits the praise given by so many people.… Expand
  2. TimF
    Apr 8, 2005
    2
    Unbelievably overrated!!! Probably a talented guy but the songs are boring and inconsequential. It's the same phenomenon that leads to great ratings for Wilco for songs no one really wants to listen to. Take a listen to the older stuff you liked, dispense with your desire to give them credit for that and hold a talented artist like this up to a higher standard. He will never make the Unbelievably overrated!!! Probably a talented guy but the songs are boring and inconsequential. It's the same phenomenon that leads to great ratings for Wilco for songs no one really wants to listen to. Take a listen to the older stuff you liked, dispense with your desire to give them credit for that and hold a talented artist like this up to a higher standard. He will never make the album he has the potential for if you let him slide like this!… Expand
  3. DavidP
    Apr 8, 2006
    3
    I have an academic respect for this album, but unfortunately it falls far short of what I expected musically, given the high praise it has received. The meaningful lyrics don't do much for me without compelling music, and the music is far from compelling.
  4. Mark
    Jan 30, 2005
    1
    The only reason this disc doesn't get a 0 is because sadly there is another worse than it... Digital Ash.
  5. JebB
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    The next Bob Dylan? More like the next lowfat pie filling. Stop encouraging this whiner to put out mediocre records.
  6. JamieS
    Mar 2, 2005
    3
    nothing special here, bad attempts at country and some of the worst dylan ripoffs in recent years. as in note for note ripoffs.
  7. JoshuaM
    May 20, 2005
    2
    Bright Eyes may be the greatest scam perpatrated on the American People since trickle down economics. It's clear that Bright Eyes cares very much about social justice, society and especially his very sensitive feelings, but so do many high school sophmores. Unforunatly, he comes off like a gifted 15 year old, which while sometimes cute, does not amount to enjoyable listening. His Bright Eyes may be the greatest scam perpatrated on the American People since trickle down economics. It's clear that Bright Eyes cares very much about social justice, society and especially his very sensitive feelings, but so do many high school sophmores. Unforunatly, he comes off like a gifted 15 year old, which while sometimes cute, does not amount to enjoyable listening. His lyrics are straight out 10th grade english, and he has no skill as a singer whatsoever, if you can call his warbley, whiny whisper singing. Bright Eyes: Just because you're expressing emotion does not make this art, or even music for that matter.… Expand
  8. BobbyJJ
    Jun 26, 2006
    1
    bad
  9. CJ
    Sep 27, 2007
    1
    Did someone actually write "It's about time someone got political"? I'm going to go ahead and assume that was a joke, since the entire industry seems to have turned into a left-leaning think-tank for amateur foreign-policy aficionados. Or maybe rock stars just like to throw temper tantrum whenever there's something going on in the world that actually puts their significance Did someone actually write "It's about time someone got political"? I'm going to go ahead and assume that was a joke, since the entire industry seems to have turned into a left-leaning think-tank for amateur foreign-policy aficionados. Or maybe rock stars just like to throw temper tantrum whenever there's something going on in the world that actually puts their significance into perspective. Rock stars do hate perspective. This one is no different. I mean that in every conceivable way it could be interpreted. If this is what rock gods have come to, rock is dead.… Expand
  10. JimR
    Feb 26, 2005
    0
    God this crap is boring. If you wanna here this kinda music done professionally seek out the latest M. Ward or Bonnie Prince Billy cds.
  11. Stoo
    Mar 4, 2005
    3
    I used to like his real old stuff, but this is just trash.. Oberst embraces his pretentiousness and stretches it to a whole new level.. infinite lyrics that seem empty with only his extremely angsty voice to support them.. since there's obviously no technical talent here- also releasing his two albums in a polar country vs. electronic sounding style is a completely hypocritical cop I used to like his real old stuff, but this is just trash.. Oberst embraces his pretentiousness and stretches it to a whole new level.. infinite lyrics that seem empty with only his extremely angsty voice to support them.. since there's obviously no technical talent here- also releasing his two albums in a polar country vs. electronic sounding style is a completely hypocritical cop out. the songs gain nothing from being cleverly marketed.. putting himself on the same dirty level as good charlotte… Expand
  12. ScottY
    Jul 9, 2005
    1
    Highly overrated...pratically unintelligible.
  13. ChrisF-T
    Dec 18, 2005
    0
    I tried enjoying this record in the music store earlier in 2005 when everyone was talking about it but I have to be honest here... I couldn't make it past the first song. This poor guy was going on and on about a silly and lame story and sounded like he enjoyed beyong oh-so pretentious. There is justice in the world however as this has been nearly completely forgotten by the end of I tried enjoying this record in the music store earlier in 2005 when everyone was talking about it but I have to be honest here... I couldn't make it past the first song. This poor guy was going on and on about a silly and lame story and sounded like he enjoyed beyong oh-so pretentious. There is justice in the world however as this has been nearly completely forgotten by the end of 2005. I knew it was just a phase! don't worry you sad emo kids, there is good music out there, and it makes you curious and happy instead of proud and sad. Thank you world for forgetting Bright Eyes.… Expand
  14. ewrfdfv
    Oct 25, 2005
    0
    what a baby
  15. ericm
    Jan 26, 2005
    3
    Someone needs to beat this kid up.
  16. MikeJ
    Apr 28, 2005
    2
    weak. It seems this record is just the forced wishes of a society who desperately needs some kid of pretentious folk singer tobe the light in dark times. That is a noble cause, but lets make sure there is actual talent behind the person.
  17. ZackA
    Sep 26, 2005
    2
    Bright Eyes really just annoys me. His voice sound just too forced to be authentic. He is trying too hard to fit that mold of the "next Bob Dylan" that all these short-sighted (no pun intended) reviewers have constructed.

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. Stylus Magazine
    100
    Bright Eyes may well be on the verge of finally bridging the gap between his precocious talent and the maturity of an ageless songwriter.
    Read full review
  2. 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.
    Read full review
  3. The A.V. Club
    80
    A culmination of Bright Eyes' decade-long habit of reviving folk-rock conventions and social engagement for a generation raised on the celebratory egomania of rap and reality television.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »