Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band: "Nikorette"

Fast-fact about me: I own a Bright Eyes t-shirt. It’s old and well-worn, stained with blood from where my fragile teenage heart kept bleeding profusely. I can’t bring myself to wear it anymore—not when my dear Conor Oberst keeps releasing garbage like “Nikorette.” It’s not that I’m embarrassed to be a Bright Eyes fan; it’s that songs like this are so terribly repellent, so obnoxious and simplistic that my haggard green tee can no longer be displayed with love or conviction. When I was 17, it said “Yes! I am a Bright Eyes fan.” When I was 20, it said “Uh, yeah—I’m still, for the most part, a Bright Eyes fan.” Now it says “Listen, Lifted was pretty good. Also it’s laundry day, so, like, gimme a break, okay?”

“Nikorette” is more of the same post-I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (2005) solo (...plus band) Oberst material. The Mystic Valley Band noodle and jam like it’s last call at the County Fair, while Conor, as you might expect, rambles on about lynching mobs, believing in God, and dreams that don’t come true. It’s, like, about politics and stuff. And there’s a guitar solo. It’s a tired Conor Oberst (2008) retread, but at least that record’s lead single (“Souled Out!!!”) was a little more lively.

“Nikorette” ends with Conor informing us that “if it happened to me, it’ll happen to you.” Assuming by “it” he means “get boring,” that’s more warning than assurance; Conor, please, don’t drag us down with you.