Album Review: Conor Oberst - Ruminations

On Ruminations, Conor Oberst eschews the elaborate production of recent Bright Eyes and solo albums.

Holing up in his hometown of Omaha with just a guitar, piano and harmonica, Oberst does what he does best - weaving his personal, political and social ruminations into vivid lyric narratives.

Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch) references the tragic history of Frank Lloyd Wright's partner; A Little Uncanny name-drops an eclectic cast of influencers - Ronald Reagan, Robin Williams, Sylvia Plath - who in their own way helped him "admit to things I knew were never true". The spare arrangements illuminate the direct yet sophisticated lyrics, delivered in that distinctive lisping lilt, which oozes pathos with every syllable.