Desaparecidos - The Happiest Place on Earth EP
(Saddle Creek)
Desaparecidos ("Disappeared" in Mexican) is the new punk rock band for Connor Oberst, the tortured soul behind Bright Eyes, taking Oberst away from his soul searching confessionals in exchange for political rants. Desaparecidos is not a full band version of Bright Eyes or an electric version of Bright Eyes or anything like that; it is a different type of music, serving a different purpose. The Happiest Place on Earth EP is the standard tease for a new band: one song off the upcoming debut album (Read Music, Speak Spanish coming in February) and two left off of it. (And consider me sufficiently teased.)
The title track of the EP comes off as risque in this current epidemic of faux patriotism. As four months have passed since September 11th and all the flags have become battered from the wind, beginning to fray and rip, falling off the gas-devouring SUVs they are attached to, Oberst introduces the listener to his new band with his own attack on America, finding fault with capitalism, the ease of modern warfare, pollution, and the mirage of the American dream. The music is by the books punk (think Superchunk with Connor's voice) but it is well done, all five members (keyboards, two guitars, bass, and drums) working well together. The song has depth, making it more interesting than plain old punk. For instance, when the song reaches its louder sections, the lead guitar plays against the grain in tempo and melody, the contrast creating a third dimension to the sound, or, during the quieter sections of the song, when the keyboard makes silly little squiggles to add texture to the otherwise simple surroundings.
"What's New for Fall" is less interesting sonically but still a rather enjoyable song, if mostly due to the fact that it is at a quicker tempo and that is so tongue in cheek. The song starts off with a taped conversation of women chatting about "the ideal boyfriend," the listener unable to hear the conversation clearly due to the lead guitar that takes over the song. Oberst starts singing about fashion (listing various types of pants and slacks), and then kicks his "LOUD" pedal, both offering to a lady friend that she can dress him however she wants while simultaneously mocking the overall absurdity of fashion and trendiness. The song itself is rather absurd, as it seems to be almost entirely about being judged on keeping up with fashion; Oberst temporarily tries to link it to the totality of physical appearance but never really follows through. This song is more upbeat (and thus more conducive to jumping around) than the first track and uses a simple but sweet hook, abruptly changing the tempo for one line, then kicking it back into gear.
"Give Me the Pen" is also a decent song but is probably deserving of being relegated to the shameful life of a B-side. There's more screaming on this one, though, for better or worse (mostly worse). The opening slow and soft, fast and loud, slow and soft sections of the composition I could do without, but after that the song drifts into a moderate-paced melodic section which is quite nice. After concentrating so much on what the lyrics of the first two songs are about, "Give Me the Pen" doesn't seem to be about anything (either he wants to get in some girl's pants or he's ranting on complacency or he's ranting on how one woman's complacency is preventing him from getting in her pants).
When a sad, fragile kid from Nebraska is able to tour 48 states in a van, sign a publishing deal with a grossly humongous Japanese electronics company, and live the life of a rock and roll star, one has to question how seriously we should take his attacks on the American dream. He sings with such passion, though, that when the rest of the band is giving their full effort behind him, this teaser EP gives me the feeling that that the upcoming Desaparecidos album will be one not to be missed.
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