Conor Oberst, aka Bright Eyes, is scarcely known on this side of the Atlantic - but on the American alt-rock scene, the moody Nebraskan inspires a devotion that's eerily reminiscent of Kurt Cobain. Now he's releasing two contrasting albums on the same day, a common practice from those who feel that they've more good songs than they know what to do with. I'm Wide Awake shows off Oberst's more traditional side, a collection of acoustic folk tunes, shot through with fragile, self-doubting lyrics. Digital Ash is a far more unconventional work, featuring drum loops, freaked-out electronica and frantic vocal performances that have a distinctly unnerving effect. Both have their fair share of highlights and confirm Oberst's status as an edgy, compelling talent. But there's an inconsistency about the songwriting that suggests he might have been better off fusing the two records together into one killer album. Still, well worth investigation.
