Album Review: Conor Oberst “Ruminations” Is A Folksy Look Into Mental Distress
Conor Oberst has created a powerful record that left me both moved and daunted. While other musicians try to glamorize self- destruction through drugs, sex, and violence, Oberst shows the mental drain that goes with always seeing yourself as less than. Ruminations was one of the few records I have heard that both teaches and confronts you on how boring worrying can be, which may not seem like a common word associated with worry or with what an artist’s wish for things you will discover through his music. Yet, the genius of Oberst is in his humanity, and his willingness to share that being human can be a humdrum experience when you are continuously feel like a failure. A failure in your relationships, a failure to your dreams, and a failure to the better “you” that never gets a chance to show itself. Lyrically, Ruminations feels so naked and tender that you will wonder whether you should be getting so personal with a song.
Tracks like “Barbary Coast” or “Counting Sheep” struck me so deeply, as Oberst sings on his growing desire to be “easy”. Easy in his approach to life and its issues. Easy towards his loved ones, whom he fears are starting to find him emotionally needy. Easy in how he is able to fall asleep for once without feeling a rush of anxious thoughts telling him he is insufficient. I was shocked by the crude deprecation ruminating through his songs/ mind. There were moments when I was teary-eyed had hearing the guitar driven melodies of melancholy he had mustered. In songs like, “A Little Uncanny” and “You All Loved Him Once”, Oberst uses the harmonica to drive the heart-wrenching discussions on the changing tides of love people can have towards a person. Throughout each song, Oberst’s voice is straight-toned with a subtle quake of brokenness like, an earthly plate moving out of place. It is natural and sourly stunning because, for however admirable Oberst is for tapping into hurt, like with all folk music, you walk away quietly sullen that “hurt” even exists.
https://www.npr.org/player/embed/495773081/495798716