Outer South

Personnel: Conor Oberst (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, electric piano); Nik Freitas (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, electric piano); Taylor Hollingsworth (vocals, guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar); Nate Walcott (vocals, piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer); Jason Boesel (vocals, drums, percussion); Corina Figueroa Escamilla, Andy LeMaster, Macey Taylor Sr. (vocals).
Audio Mixer: Andy LeMaster.
Audio Remasterer: Bob Ludwig.
Recording information: Sonic Ranch Studios, Tornillo, TX (11/2008-12/2008).
Author: Walt Whitman & the Soul Children of Chicago .
Photographers: Jacob Feinberg-Pyne; Butch Hogan; Jason Boesel.
When Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst assembled The Mystic Valley Band after releasing one album only under his own name, it would have been easy to assume they were simply backing musicians who would never impose on the singer/songwriter's suzerainty, but their first album together, OUTER SOUTH, proves otherwise. While Oberst is still quite obviously holding the reins, three of the MVB members--guitarists Nik Freitas and Taylor Hollingsworth and drummer Jason Boesel--contribute songs of their own and step up to the microphone to deliver them. The overall vibe hasn't changed enormously since the last Oberst album; an organic roots-rock sound prevails, but there's a bit more rock & roll edge here, and yes, more of a band feel to the tracks. And while Oberst's compositions are certainly the most memorable on OUTER SOUTH, those of his bandmates stand up well amongst them. In any case, Oberst sure has come a long way from the nervous-voiced teen who dripped lo-fi acoustic angst all over those early Bright Eyes releases.