Fevers and Mirrors
{{Infobox album
| name = Fevers and Mirrors
| type = studio
| artist = Bright Eyes
| cover = Feversandmirrors brighteyes.jpg
| alt =
| released = May 29, 2000
| recorded = 1999
| studio = Presto! Recording Studio, Lincoln, Nebraska
| genre = {{hlist|Emo|Lo-fi|alternative country|Britpop|chamber pop|indie folk{{cite magazine|last=Keiper|first=Nicole|date=September 2002|title=Omaha Stakes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28|magazine=CMJ|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issue=105|page=28|access-date=April 14, 2022}}}}
| length = 55:10
| label = Saddle Creek
| producer = Mike Mogis
| prev_title = Every Day and Every Night
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = Insound Tour Support No.12
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{Singles
| type = studio
| name = Fevers and Mirrors: A Companion
| single1 = Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh (Companion version)
| single1date = February 1, 2022
}}
}}
Fevers and Mirrors is the third studio album by American indie band Bright Eyes, recorded in 1999 and released on May 29, 2000. It was the 32nd release of the Omaha, Nebraska-based record label Saddle Creek Records. The album was released later in 2000 in the United Kingdom as the inaugural release from Wichita Recordings.[https://pitchfork.com/news/38347-yeah-yeah-yeahs-bright-eyes-help-wichita-celebrate-10th-anniversary/ Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bright Eyes Help Wichita Celebrate 10th Anniversary | News | Pitchfork]
The album begins with a recording of a little boy reading Mitchell Is Moving, a book by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. "An Attempt to Tip the Scales" includes what is ostensibly an interview with the band's frontman, Conor Oberst. However, Oberst has admitted that the interview was something of a joke, intended to poke fun at the dark tone of the album. Conor's voice is impersonated in the interview by Todd Fink of The Faint and Commander Venus. The man interviewing is Matt Silcock, a former member of Lullaby for the Working Class.{{cite web| url = http://www.kittymagik.com/interviewsViewer.asp?artist=36| title = KittyMagik.com Interview| last = Phillips| first = Amy|date=April 2005| access-date = July 16, 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070608034447/http://www.kittymagik.com/interviewsViewer.asp?artist=36| archive-date = June 8, 2007}}
The album was reissued alongside a six-track companion EP by Dead Oceans on May 27, 2022.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fevers-and-mirrors-mw0000063492 |title=Fevers and Mirrors – Bright Eyes |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=September 28, 2018 |last=DaRonco |first=Mike}}
| rev2 = Melody Maker
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite journal |title=Bright Eyes: Fevers and Mirrors |journal=Melody Maker |date=July 22, 2000 |page=52}}
| rev3 = NME
| rev3Score = 7/10{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com:80/reviews/reviews/20000706063541.html |title=Bright Eyes – Fevers And Mirrors |website=NME |date=July 6, 2000 |access-date=September 28, 2018 |last=Mulvey |first=John |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817094455/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000706063541.html |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |url-status=dead}}
| rev4 = Pitchfork
| rev4Score = 5.4/10 {{small|(2000)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/b/bright-eyes/fevers-and-mirrors.shtml |title=Bright Eyes: Fevers and Mirrors: Pitchfork Review |accessdate=2023-08-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816163527/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/b/bright-eyes/fevers-and-mirrors.shtml |archivedate=August 16, 2000 }}
9.0/10 {{small|(2012)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16532-bright-eyes-fevers-mirrors-there-is-no-beginning-to-the-story-ep/ |title=Bright Eyes: Fevers and Mirrors [Vinyl Reissue] / There Is No Beginning to the Story EP [Vinyl Reissue] |website=Pitchfork |date=April 30, 2012 |access-date=September 28, 2018 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}
| rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Bright Eyes |last=Catucci |first=Nick |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor-last=Brackett |editor-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA104 104–05] }}
| rev6 = Under the Radar
| rev6Score = 9/10{{cite web |url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/fevers_and_mirrors/ |title=Bright Eyes: Fevers and Mirrors (Saddle Creek) |website=Under the Radar |date=May 28, 2012 |access-date=September 28, 2018 |last=Everhart |first=John}}
}}
The music online magazine Pitchfork placed Fevers and Mirrors at number 170 on its list of top 200 albums of the 2000s,{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/7710-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-20-1/?page=2|website=Pitchfork|last=Pitchfork staff|title=The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s|date=September 28, 2009|access-date=October 1, 2009|page=2}} despite a low initial score of 5.4/10. In 2012, Pitchfork{{'}}s Ian Cohen gave the reissued version of the album a 9.0 out of 10.
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing =
| headline =
| total_length = 55:10
| title1 = A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever, and a Necklace
| length1 = 6:28
| title2 = A Scale, a Mirror and Those Indifferent Clocks
| length2 = 2:44
| title3 = The Calendar Hung Itself...
| length3 = 3:55
| title4 = Something Vague
| length4 = 3:33
| title5 = The Movement of a Hand
| length5 = 4:02
| title6 = Arienette
| length6 = 3:45
| title7 = When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass
| length7 = 2:40
| title8 = Haligh, Haligh, a Lie, Haligh
| length8 = 4:43
| title9 = The Center of the World
| length9 = 4:43
| title10 = Sunrise, Sunset
| length10 = 4:32
| title11 = An Attempt to Tip the Scales
| length11 = 8:29
| title12 = A Song to Pass the Time
| length12 = 5:30
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Japanese edition track listing
| total_length = 62:51
| title1 = A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever, and a Necklace
| length1 = 6:28
| title2 = A Scale, a Mirror, and Those Indifferent Clocks
| length2 = 2:44
| title3 = The Calendar Hung Itself...
| length3 = 3:55
| title4 = Something Vague
| length4 = 3:33
| title5 = The Joy in Discovery
| length5 = 1:06
| title6 = The Movement of a Hand
| length6 = 4:02
| title7 = When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass
| length7 = 2:40
| title8 = Arienette
| length8 = 3:45
| title9 = Jetsabel Removes the Undesirables
| length9 = 6:09
| title10 = Haligh, Haligh, a Lie, Haligh
| length10 = 4:43
| title11 = The Center of the World
| length11 = 4:43
| title12 = Sunrise, Sunset
| length12 = 4:32
| title13 = An Attempt to Tip the Scales
| length13 = 8:29
| title14 = A Song to Pass the Time
| length14 = 5:30
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Vinyl box set track listing
| total_length = 62:51
| title1 = A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever, and a Necklace
| length1 = 6:28
| title2 = A Scale, a Mirror, and Those Indifferent Clocks
| length2 = 2:44
| title3 = The Calendar Hung Itself...
| length3 = 3:55
| title4 = Something Vague
| length4 = 3:33
| title5 = The Joy in Discovery
| length5 = 1:06
| title6 = The Movement of a Hand
| length6 = 4:02
| title7 = Arienette
| length7 = 3:45
| title8 = When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass
| length8 = 2:40
| title9 = Haligh, Haligh, a Lie, Haligh
| length9 = 4:43
| title10 = The Center of the World
| length10 = 4:43
| title11 = Jetsabel Removes the Undesirables
| length11 = 6:09
| title12 = Sunrise, Sunset
| length12 = 4:32
| title13 = An Attempt to Tip the Scales
| length13 = 8:29
| title14 = A Song to Pass the Time
| length14 = 5:30
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Fevers and Mirrors: A companion
| total_length = 22:22
| title1 = Haligh, Haligh, a Lie, Haligh
| note1 = companion version) (featuring Phoebe Bridgers
| length1 = 4:38
| title2 = A Scale, a Mirror, and Those Indifferent Clocks
| note2 = companion version) (featuring Phoebe Bridgers
| length2 = 3:01
| title3 = Arienette
| note3 = companion version
| length3 = 3:47
| title4 = Hypnotist (Song for Daniel H)
| note4 = Lullaby for the Working Class
| length4 = 3:21
| title5 = When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass
| note5 = companion version) (featuring Phoebe Bridgers
| length5 = 2:49
| title6 = A Spindle, a Darkness, a Fever, and a Necklace
| note6 = companion version) (featuring Phoebe Bridgers
| length6 = 4:46
}}
Personnel
- Conor Oberst – vocals, guitar (1, 4, 6, 8, 10–12), sample (1), organs (2), Rhodes (5), keyboards (5, 12), piano (6, 7), tremolo guitar (9), percussion (11), toy piano (12)
- Mike Mogis – electric guitar (4, 9), pedal steel (6, 8), vibraphone (1, 8), tambourine (6, 8), glockenspiel (1), piano (1), Ebow pedal steel (2), electronics (2, 9), tongue drum (3), guiro (3), lap dulcimer (4), hammered dulcimer (5), atmosphere (7), acoustic guitar intro (9), organ (9), mandolin (10), keyboards (10), samples (11), percussion (11)
- Todd Baechle – keyboards (3)
- Tim Kasher – accordion (1, 4, 6)
- Joe Knapp – drums (3, 4, 6, 8, 9), percussion (3), vocals (8)
- Jiha Lee – flute (2, 4, 10), vocals (5)
- Andy LeMaster – guitar (3), percussion (3, 6, 11), Mellotron (5, 6), bass (2, 5, 10), electric guitar (9), vocals (9–11), keyboards (11)
- Matt Maginn – bass (3, 4, 6, 8, 9)
- A.J. Mogis – piano (2), Rhodes (9)
- Clint Schnase – drums (2, 5, 10)
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart positions for Fevers and Mirrors |
| scope="col"| Chart (2012)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|BillboardVinyl|7|artist=Bright Eyes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 3, 2022}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart positions for Fevers and Mirrors: A Companion |
| scope="col"| Chart (2022)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|UKIndependent|43|date=20220609|rowheader=true|access-date=June 3, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|54|artist=Bright Eyes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2022}} |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://saddle-creek.com Saddle Creek Records]
{{Bright Eyes}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Bright Eyes (band) albums
Category:Saddle Creek Records albums
Category:Wichita Recordings albums