Conor Oberst
's
Mystic Valley Band
initially seemed a bit like a busman's holiday, a way for him to throw off whatever expectations he had as
Bright Eyes
, a way to get a bit loose and rowdy. The
is turning into something more -- not quite a full-fledged multi-headed beast the way
the Byrds
were at their peak, but not
Dylan
pushing through the
Rolling Thunder Revue
as its undisputed leader, either. The
Mystic River Band
turns out to be a bit of an oddity: a group with a clear-cut leader that manages to seem egalitarian, particularly here on
Outer South
where
Oberst
recedes from the spotlight on a whopping six of the 16 tracks, letting his bandmates sing their own songs. This behavior is atypical for singer/songwriters, but it fits the spirit of
, an album written, recorded and about the road -- a roadworn cliche that always gets reinvigorated whenever its executed with gusto, as it is here, partially due to
spreading the wealth. Having three other singers here makes
a bit messy, but it speaks to what makes the album work: it's about playing, not the song. Which isn't to say that there aren't good songs here, as there are -- the ratio is as strong as they were on
, testament to
's steady work ethic paying back craftsman dividends -- but what impresses is the spirit and the sound, how the band sounds like it's consistently on the move, not quite caring whether they're taking the direct route, as long as it's scenic.
himself seems swept up in the motion -- he's dropped his vocal affectations, his grandiose couplets, he's happy to be leading a group that feels like a band of brothers -- one that might not always sing in the same voice, but share a sensibility, something that gives
a big human heart. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine