Wow. It seems like Conor Oberst is finally maturing. While he produced some amazing songs while he was younger (he started writing songs at 13), my problem with them was that sometimes he was a bit too whiney-sounding. Conor is in his '20s now, and the "whineyness" is gone. Conor also used to lay the symbolism on a bit too thick. He has toned that down now to the perfect level.

I have a very serious problem with this album, however. There are only 4 songs. I want more. Each song is a masterpiece. I have over 3000 mp3s on my computer, I have listened to probably tens of thousands of songs in my lifetime. These 4 songs are all in my top 50 of best songs in any genre.

"Loose Leaves" is the best song I have ever heard. Both the lyrics and the melody is creative, original, and imaginative. The song is very polished, yet somehow escapes feeling artificial like mass-produced teeny-bopper music.

Where "Loose Leaves" involved too many instruments and sounds to keep track of, "Messenger Bird Song" is an acoustic, simple, and beautiful tale of love.

The other songs are great too. I won't describe them because people interpret Bright Eyes songs in so many different ways.

Who would love Bright Eyes? Romantic philosopher existentialists. Disenchanted nihilists. Manic depressives. Youth in the midst of a complete identity crises.

If you want to feel strong emotions of awe and happiness, buy this CD.

However, if you want a slightly darker, more powerful CD, try an earlier work by Bright Eyes, "Fevers and Mirrors."

let me see... bright eyes career has followed a strange and hard to pin down quality curve. basically, i think his albums are getting worse, while his singles and ep's and such are getting better. i'm not sure if the sub-pop single "i will be grateful for this day" came out before or after "oh holy fools", but suppose it doesn't matter. the point is that for me, this ep was following up the sub-pop single, the a-side of which i feel is the best thing bright eyes has yet come up with. i mention all this just to say that my expectations for this ep were high.

starting with "from a balance beam"... immedaite wish-fullfillment. it was exactly what i wanted to hear. i love that song. it's got the shimmer of the sub-pop single, tempered by a more organic feel. very foward-thinking and singular and imaginitive and the lyrics are just wonderful (at least for the first half). then the messanger bird song. it's very nicely produced. you can tell that banjo sounds EXACTLY how they wanted it to sound. lonely and sad. the song is just a bit bland though. a little blockheaded. still good though. "we are free men" is nice too, but i don't care for the alternating vocals. the other singer (simon joyner?) seems to be mocking the lyrics he's been asked to sing. but maybe that's fair, as they are a little ponderous and overwrought. and it seems that maybe conor oberst reach cannot meet his grasp in the epic feel of the song. it sounds a little corny and overly grand. "loose leaves" is "loose leaves". you cannot argue with this song. it's undeniable and none shall be spared it's deadly hooks, it's great. i love it. the perfect mix tape song for that special friend, because unless you are dead you cannot NOT find this song irresistable. the maine problem with this cd is that bright eyes sort of blew their load by using "from a blance beam" as a teaser for the lp, since by and large, the rest of the songs on "lifted" don't come close to being as cool. the lp is still great, but not as visionary and interesting as that one song. so, until the next ep/single...

What a beautiful EP! I loved every song on it and Messenger Bird's Song is a quite unknown song to many! Take the time to buy this CD and give it a listen! You won't regret it!!!

This is definatly my favorite artist... poetry more than singing... His voice will either keep you listening for hours or lull you to blissful sleep.... i absolutly love his speaking voice and i could fall in love with the cd over and over again... I love it!!

An okay ep, but the best ever? ridiculous!

To place a value on it, I'd say it is worth about $2, not $8

If you like sad songs that aren't so whiny, go get a copy of a Nick Drake or Red House Painters CD for $8 - you'll be happier.