One of My Kind - Conor Oberst

This fairly recent film has been released free on the internet to any who wish to have a deeper understanding of the ways Oberst writes his songs. It opens with, my personal favorite, "NYC Gone, Gone" and displays shots from his trip to Mexico. 

The films plot, if it can be called that, is displayed in text at the beginning of the film. Oberst's trip to Mexico in late 2007, was one which, as Oberst explains, was meant to open up doors metaphorically and change the style by which Oberst has so often been tied to. Prior to this album (his second 'solo' title) his musical style was that which involved everything from radical use of synthesizers (Digital Ash in a Digital Urn) to simplistic guitar melodies (Im Wide Awake its Morning). The style of his most recent album (Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band) is something which Oberst has never attempted before, modern Folk music with lyrics that most would come to expect from a songwriter as talented as Oberst.

But I digress, this article's main focus will be on the film which follows Oberst and his newly found Mystic Valley Band through their tour of Mexico and the album which was produced because of it. The film, only lasting about 55 minutes, is riddled with backstage footage, interviews with the Mystic Valley Band as well as Oberst himself, and snapshos (taken by Oberst) of the influence of Mexican culture. 

Each song from the album is explained in detail in terms of meaning, writing style, production, and overall sound. One interesting note to add (spoiler warning) is the hilarious reasoning behind the song 'Eagle on a Pole'. Apparently, after the Mystic Valley Band guitarist returned from a recording session, he spotted an eagle in the distance and proclaimed "I saw an eagle on a pole!... I thought it was a eagle....". This quote marked the onset of a song writing competition between all members to try and create a song which begins with that line, Oberst's contribution is that which ended up on the album.

This film is interesting to say the least. It offers to fans of Oberst's music a look into how a songwriter of his caliber creates his art. Constant reminders of Oberst's lyrical genius are displayed perfectly through the documentary which presents it.