Bright Eyes—the musical project of Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nate Walcott—released an exploratory, all-encompassing EP, Kids Table. This EP attempts to make sense of the world through a curious, and perhaps innocent, lens with critiques and questions. Kids Table is in-character for the band, as their music is known for uncovering what’s below the surface and using it as a call to action, whether that’s holding the government accountable or chipping away at society’s toxic construction.
Bright Eyes released their 10th album, Five Dice, All Threes, in September of 2024 and a year later, they released their Kids Table EP. Although it may seem like a head-scratcher as to how they conjured up another musical project in such a short amount of time, the album and EP are actually connected.
Oberst said this EP is full of tracks that didn’t quite find a place on Five Dice, All Threes, but were meant to see the light of day at some point. The title track, “Kids Table,” was actually a contender for a single on Five Dice, All Threes but was set aside after deciding to move forward without it, knowing that they would have it be the star piece on the EP.
For this reason, “Kids Table” almost stands alone, acting as a strong opening piece and a narrative builder that starts the momentum and chains the rest of the tracks together. It represents the sheer naivety of a childlike perspective mixed with a harsh reality that comes into focus with age. They try to keep that childlike innocence, but the grip on it seems to become looser and looser as the seat at the kids table becomes uncomfortable and feels out of place.
The sonic switch-up that “1st World Blues” presents is a power move in itself, proving that this band can voice a critique of American capitalism in a deeply impactful way. The pairing of the ska instrumentation with Obert’s signature raw vocals creates an intriguing piece that hides its weight on the surface, requiring the listener to use a bit of deciphering and interpreting to get to the meat of the song.
“Victory City,” the concluding track, is another narrative based on impending doom and a failure of society to hold it all together seamlessly. Wishing to have the same qualities of those who seem like they can withstand the obstructions and limitations of this “ideal city,” Oberst turns melancholy into power to end the EP with one final critique.
The EP also features a cover of Lucinda Williams’ “Sharp Cutting Wings (Song To A Poet),” which is a meaningful track to Oberst, as he decided to cover it as the first song to sing after recovering from a medical emergency in the fall of 2024 involving a vocal injury. The vulnerability shines through on this raw cover, allowing the words to speak for themselves with just a backing guitar.
Kids Table has strong peaks and takes songwriting to the next level, which is something Bright Eyes have always excelled at. It serves as a conclusion piece of Five Dice, All Threes, giving the experience of sitting at a kids table, going to prom, trying a new SSRI, and other moments that are nothing but human, a home of belonging and trust.
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