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Conor Oberst — Big Black Nothing
Album: Outer South
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 774









Released: 2009
Length: 3:36
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Big black nothing
Fooling everyone
Big black nothing
Put a halo around what you've done
Because a big black nothing
Is coming up

Would you be my
Would you still be my friend
If I told you
It's all just pretend?
'Cause a big black nothing
Is not the end

''(Ooh, ooh, ooh)''

Sing ''(big)'' me ''(black)'' something ''(nothing)''
Something I can feel
Sing ''(big)'' it ''(black)'' louder ''(nothing)''
The whole world has to hear
Because a big black nothing
Was made to appeal

''(Ooh, ooh, ooh)''

Lock the doors
Hide the keys
Flipping channels
Through the streets
All this news
Just makes me scared of you and you and you

Board up the windows
Unplug the phone
Make it look like
Nobody's home
I was scared
But so prepared for the worst, yeah for the worst

Big black nothing
Fooling everyone
Big black nothing
Put a halo 'round what you've done
It's just a big black nothing
Comments (69)add comment
 Phoenix68 wrote:
Haven't quite made up my mind as to how I feel about this one. Is he playing ALL the instruments? If yes, it would deserve a better rating than if no.
 
Obviously I'm too tired to be commenting tonight. There is a band there, of course. But I didn't see any info about them, and the info does say that Oberst plays a ton of instruments himself. So ... forgive my foolish question?
Haven't quite made up my mind as to how I feel about this one. Is he playing ALL the instruments? If yes, it would deserve a better rating than if no.
nope

you are awesome!
Big Black Nothing Of A Song
 eroz wrote:

Agreed.

 
Incredibly agree!
 4merdj wrote:
Tom Petty sound-a-like? {#Whisper}{#Sunny}

 
Agreed.
Happy new year!
 toomanyollys wrote:

Have you listened to these trillion other boring songs? Eh? 'Cos that would make you at least 4.7 million years old. I know terrapins can live to a ripe old age, but...

 

A literalist, are you?

Big boring Nothing
 terrapin52 wrote:
Oh woopty friggin' doo.  This sounds like a trillion other very, very boring songs.  They can't be serious.  I'm one negative dude.  I might be bi-polar or something.  :P
 
Have you listened to these trillion other boring songs? Eh? 'Cos that would make you at least 4.7 million years old. I know terrapins can live to a ripe old age, but...
Meh.
Oh woopty friggin' doo.  This sounds like a trillion other very, very boring songs.  They can't be serious.  I'm one negative dude.  I might be bi-polar or something.  :P
{#Bananajam}
somehow, this song reminds me of my ex....big black nothing, but a really catchy tune regardless..........

Big black nothing!
Nice furniture. craigslist much?
8 -> 7...  For some reason I'm not digging this as much as I did when I rated it.
 freeone1 wrote:
 connor's voice is really growing up, yes?
I agree. Liking him more and more since Bright Eyes.

Boy that's some ugly furniture on the album cover.
Turn it UP!!!
so desu ne!!!!  i was thinking the same thing.  connor's voice is really growing up, yes?

 
4merdj wrote:
Tom Petty sound-a-like? {#Whisper}{#Sunny}
 


as soon as this came on the Windows Media Player exploded this Big Black Kaleidoscope that turned into Gray. How does it know how to do that? I'm gonna bump this up.
Still holds up....
Tom Petty sound-a-like? {#Whisper}{#Sunny}
This just evokes sadness and boredom in me...(not a good thing)

Nice music. stupid lyrics. At least he's stopped singing like a cartoon character. {#Lol}
Another very nice set this morning, Bill!! Thanks!!
This totally kicks ASS.
 laroue wrote:
I hear Wilco and....?
 
No doubt - I thought that this was Wilco on my first listen!


 Sjaaks wrote:
Very nice! I'm gonna look me up some more :-).

8
 

In the meantime i purchased the album and not dissapointed in the least... A very pleasant up-tempo album with a great variety of songs...

This one stays at an 8 for me...
Wandered over to their show at ACL one year, wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. I was pretty impressed.A very enjoyable performance. As for this song? not my favorite of theirs, but i am totally digging the back up vocals. all and all not bad.
 bubink wrote:
NICE! (I might be a tad biased because he is from Omaha and went to high school with my son....)
 
Yes, but you have good taste in music.

NICE! (I might be a tad biased because he is from Omaha and went to high school with my son....)
A great songwriter. Period.
appropriately titled.
Big Black Nothing, yeah I think that just about sums up this song.
My son got me into this guy, and I think he's the real deal.
He impressed me the first time I heard, "When the President Talks to God".
Very nice! I'm gonna look me up some more :-).

8
 Giselle62 wrote:
i'm really starting to like this—-and you say there are even better songs on there? Okay, I'll check it out.
 
{#High-five} Me too.

classic rp-sad sweet,slightly creepy/sweaty/desperate
i'm really starting to like this—-and you say there are even better songs on there? Okay, I'll check it out.
This one's OK, but there's several better songs on the album, which is well worth picking up.
suddenly i cant sit still. Have to do a cry dance....
 jadewahoo wrote:
I first heard this via my 16 yr old daughter, who loves Coner Oberst. So much so that she had me take her, her brother and a girlfriend of hers all the way up to Telluride Bluegrass festival just to see him and the MV band. I can appreciate, even like, CO. Has a sound reminiscent of the Waterboys, to my ear.
 
thanks for making me think of that connection, good call ~ you've taught your daughter well

Nice !!
Listening tonight from Conor's hometown....Omaha,Ne
Sounds a lot like Kevn Kinney.  Thanks for all the unique music RP plays.
Oh wow! I didn't know you had any Conor Oberst! I'm impressed!{#Notworthy}
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

I'm going to guess that you posted this without actually hearing the song. Maybe not. But this is so much less warbly than his earlier stuff that the tag doesn't really fit anymore.

 
I agree, it's like listening to a whole different singer. I might actually like this.

I first heard this via my 16 yr old daughter, who loves Coner Oberst. So much so that she had me take her, her brother and a girlfriend of hers all the way up to Telluride Bluegrass festival just to see him and the MV band. I can appreciate, even like, CO. Has a sound reminiscent of the Waterboys, to my ear.
Reminds me of Matthew Ryan. I love Matthew Ryan—will have to look into this album, see if the comparison holds.
I may have to break down and buy this.
 laroue wrote:
I hear Wilco and....?
 
The "Decemberists" maybe. I also hear some “I am Kloot".
the waterboys meets dylan
not a bad combination...
{#Dancingbanana}
I wish I didn't like this.
I hear Wilco and....?
 wrangler wrote:
impossible for me to get past his warbly voice; like nails on a chalkboard for me
 
I'm going to guess that you posted this without actually hearing the song. Maybe not. But this is so much less warbly than his earlier stuff that the tag doesn't really fit anymore.

On first listen through, I liked this album. Reminds me of earlier Wilco.
Another song from this disk that is not so good.
Boy, he can really sound like Paul Westerberg at times. I actually had to check who this was!
Conor's lyrics are overall wonderful, and his a true talent, for sure. But somehow he is releasing music too much in my opinion. He has put out like 15 albums so far (with different bands) and guys not even 30 yet:0 Maybe should do much more touring, and next time spend  two years focusing on the material. Maybe then we'd see the extraordinary talent behind this man.
 wrangler wrote:
impossible for me to get past his warbly voice; like nails on a chalkboard for me
 

Certainly one must develop a taste for Conor.  This song isn't so bad, but a lot of others are pretty....raw.

Trouble is, I think many people don't want to develop this kind of taste!  I can imagine his former vocal instructor (if one existed, that is) promising him that he had no career in music. 

Lesson is never listen to people that stand in your way!


A mediocre album compared to Oberst's significant works...several duds throughout.  But examples of his artistry are sprinkled in, like this one, "White Shoes", and "I Got the Reason".  The lyrics are outstanding, as usual.

impossible for me to get past his warbly voice; like nails on a chalkboard for me