album · November 2, 1998

Letting Off the Happiness

Bright Eyes

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indie rockfolk rocksinger-songwriter

The 1998 debut album from Bright Eyes, "Letting Off the Happiness," captured the raw, unpolished sound that would come to define Oberst's early work. Recorded primarily in his parents' basement, the album showcases Oberst's nascent songwriting talent, blending lo-fi folk with moments of abrasive noise.

• "Letting Off the Happiness" was recorded primarily in Conor Oberst's parents' basement in Omaha, Nebraska.
• The album features guest appearances from members of Lullaby for the Crane Flies and local Omaha musicians.
• The release preceded Bright Eyes' signing to Saddle Creek Records, a label Oberst co-founded.

Bright Eyes is the project of Conor Oberst, an American singer-songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska, known for his prolific output and intensely personal lyrics. Emerging in the late 1990s, Bright Eyes became a defining act of the early 2000s indie rock boom.