Bright Eyes Blends Nostalgia and Innovation in ‘Five Dice, All Threes’
Photo by Nik Freitas
Three decades into their career, legendary indie rock band fronted by Conor Oberst, Bright Eyes, is returning with Five Dice, All Threes. The album showcases their ability to evolve while staying true to their emotional and poetic roots. Known for their heart-wrenching storytelling and raw delivery, this latest project serves as a reflection on time passing to the devoted following they have cultivated over the years.
The album opens with eerie title track, “Five Dice,” immediately setting a haunting tone. It begins with a snippet of a dice game conversation—players trying to roll all threes—before morphing into a distorted, disorienting soundscape. The track ends with a chilling rendition of the classic Mickey Mouse theme, stripping it of its innocence and rendering it sinister. This unsettling transition foreshadows the emotional depth of the rest of the record.
Next comes “Bells and Whistles,” a deceptively upbeat tune driven by a lighthearted whistling melody. Oberst reflects on life’s seemingly insignificant moments that end up shaping our paths, even capturing the gravity of influence he has over his fans and vice versa: “Signed a sleeve for a teenager/It felt just like a harbinger.” It’s a catchy but introspective song, offering a contrast to the album’s darker moments.
“El Capitan” slows things down with a quieter, Bob Dylan-esque narrative. Oberst’s rambling, cryptic story is set against a steady beat, delivering some of the album’s best songwriting: “And in time they'll decide what was yours and what was mine/And you'll end up in a ditched dream feeling like the color of the sky.” His lyrical prowess shines here, with a distinct depth that keeps the listener engaged.
One of the more experimental tracks, “Bas Jan Ader,” borrows from literature, using the famous opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities as its chorus. But in true Bright Eyes fashion, Oberst subverts the quote, repeating only “It was the worst” over a jaunty, piano-driven backdrop. The juxtaposition of literary references with Oberst’s deeply personal reflections on time and loss reveals his knack for blending high art with raw emotion.
“Tiny Suicides” stands out as one of the album’s most emotional tracks. It opens with staccato drumming before falling into a haunting silence, allowing Oberst’s poetic musings to take center stage: “Was it the violence that split the stars in threes?” Interspersed with vintage movie dialogue and tender strings, the song evokes a sense of nostalgia that will continue to run throughout the album.
On “All Threes,” Oberst teams up with indie royalty Cat Power. Their contrasting voices—his gritty and low, hers melodic and powerful—harmonize beautifully, creating a melancholic ballad about time’s inevitable toll: “You were beautiful until you weren’t” feels like the central thesis of the album, a stark meditation on beauty, age, and loss.
“Rainbow Overpass” serves as a much-needed burst of energy, breaking up the slower ballads with upbeat rock vibes. Its pacing offers a dynamic shift, re-engaging listeners after the album’s emotional depths. In contrast, “Hate” delivers an existential punch with its simple yet heavy lyricism. Oberst’s voice drips with emotion as he laments a dystopian future, singing, “The artificial poets from the future are here.” The track explores his disillusionment with life and the slow march of adulthood, a theme woven throughout the record.
One of the album’s most classically influenced songs, “Real Feel 105,” offers a poignant reflection on aging. With lyrics like “Growing old and confused / Beauty's wasted on youth,” the track reinforces the overarching theme of existential angst and the relentless passage of time.
Bright Eyes continues to experiment with different sounds on “Spun Out,” using record scratching in a way that feels fresh yet familiar within their signature style. The album culminates with two final tracks, “The Time I Have Left” and “Tin Soldier Boy.” The former features Matt Berninger of The National, his deep voice blending perfectly with Oberst’s in one of the album’s saddest and most reflective moments: “I would like to ask you the time/I have left.” The closer, “Tin Soldier Boy,” while not a standout, offers a steady conclusion with its strumming guitar and harmonica, wrapping up the emotional rollercoaster that is Five Dice, All Threes.
Overall, this new record is a masterclass in introspective songwriting, with Oberst reflecting on aging, influence, and the fleeting nature of beauty. Bright Eyes maintains their indie rock legacy while continuing to push boundaries, cementing their place as both pioneers and torchbearers of the genre. You can listen to it now on your favorite streaming and buying platforms, and be sure to catch them on tour this fall.