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Bright Eyes, 'Haile Selassie' -- Free MP3 Download

Bright EyesAutumn de Wilde

When Bright Eyes announced that they were releasing a new album in 2011, one camp assumed it meant that Conor Oberst was trying to get back to a certain pre-Mystic Valley Band sound, while the other half figured he wanted to take what he learned out on his own and apply it to Bright Eyes' classic configuration of Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott. Turns out, both sides were right -- and everybody wins.

As an album, 'The People's Key,' due Feb. 15, thematically dances with science fiction, time travel and -- at its heart -- humanity. And while the track 'Haile Selassie' certainly plays into that in many ways, it's also a typical Oberst take on a historical figure -- and all it seems to fall together like puzzle pieces. The right pieces.

Ethiopia's Emperor from 1930 to 1974, the actual Haile Selassie was not only a defining figure in African history but he also transcended his political post to, perhaps unexpectedly, become a central religious figure in Jamaica. The Rastafari movement considers him to be the Biblical messiah, the son of God here to lead followers into a new golden age. Neither he nor Oberst can actually lay claim to doing that, but both, in their own way, have gotten us just a little bit closer. As Oberst sings on the track, "I've seen stranger things happen before."

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Mr Jelly\'s Gazebo

one of the true genius songwriters of all time. Lyrics that send shivers up your spine. can't wait to hear the new material......

February 12 2011 at 4:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thebrakeman

wait till someone you love is killed by someone who never had a LEGAL right to be here in the first place then tell me how evil american laws that are designed to protect the AMERICAN people are so wrong. The US governments job is to watch out for United States citizens which we have more than are hands full trying to do. The US government is for the US, not Guatemala, el salvador or mexico. Maybe once we can feed, house, and actually protect OUR OWN citizens, then we can begin to worry about the unfortunates of the rest of the world. Are people like Joe Aprailo or however u spell it first gade evil assholes u bet, but all thepoliticians that act so pro-immigration are doing this to win the hispanic vote not because the believe or care that it is right. Connor u rock but you dont know shit about politics stick to making awsome music. Dont be so naive and stick with one problem aty a time why not throw a concert to feed and clothe the homless instead why not eworry about you own people because i can tell you that the countries of south and central America sure arnet giving any aid. "[Is] rapid population [growth] by as great importations of foreigners as possible... founded in good policy?... They will bring with them the principles of the governments they leave, imbibed in their early youth; or, if able to throw them off, it will be in exchange for an unbounded licentiousness, passing, as is usual, from one extreme to another. It would be a miracle were they to stop precisely at the point of temperate liberty. These principles, with their language, they will transmit to their children. In proportion to their number, they will share with us the legislation. They will infuse into it their spirit, warp and bias its direction, and render it a heterogeneous, incoherent, distracted mass... If they come of themselves, they are entitled to all the rights of citizenship: but I doubt the expediency of inviting them by extraordinary encouragements." --Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Virginia Q.VIII, 1782. ME 2:118

January 28 2011 at 3:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shane

I cannot wait for more beautiful music!

January 27 2011 at 5:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joyce B. Gerhart

Thanks for the post. It’s good to hear that Bright Eyes will be launching their newest album this year. I love this group ever since. I love the way they performs on stage. I’m so excited to catch up their newest album. I would have to inform my friends about it. For sure they will love it as well.

phones for hard of hearing

January 27 2011 at 5:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
crystal

Im sooooo excited. I love Conor Oberst! He is a musical genius.

January 26 2011 at 4:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply