Geez, everywhere I turn these days I'm seeing Bright Eye/Conor Oberst -- he's had big profiles in Time, Spin, Blender, The New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly and god knows where else lately. I'm not really familiar with his work and it might be something I'd like, but, man, whoever is running the publicity machine for this kid really is getting the job done! I expect to see him on the cover of "Guns & Ammo" next! ;D

No kidding, the guy keeps popping up everytime I pick up a magazine. I donwloaded one of his two new albums, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning," just to see what the hype was all about, and it didn't do a whole lot for me either way on first listen. Typical singer-songwriter stuff. I find it hard to believe the guy is going to become a huge selling star, but who knows?

It's "I'm Wide Awake" the album, it's so good people think this kid came of of nowhere, which he kind of did about 5 years ago.

Sorry, but I loathe Bright Eyes. I fail to see what's so moving and musical about some schmuck "singing" off-key, crying and playing instruments badly.

Interestingly and seriously enough, I tend to like singing off-key, crying and playing instruments badly, but I don't care for Bright Eyes.

Heard them live once, and was very underimpressed (as, it seemed, was the rest of the crowd).

Seems you might be right. Both his new lps debuted in the top 15.