Bright Eyes drop new single “Mariana Trench,” share upcoming album details

Conor Oberst’s folk rock outfit Bright Eyes has a new album coming out, their first in nearly a decade. Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was will be released on August 21 via Dead Oceans. In conjunction with the album announcement, the band shared a new song, titled “Mariana Trench.”

Bright Eyes’ last LP was 2011’s The People’s Key, but Oberst stayed busy touring with his punk band Desaparecidos, and with supergroup Better Oblivion Community Center, which he cofounded with Phoebe Bridgers, as well as releasing solo records. In January, the band’s Instagram announced their signing to Dead Oceans, as well as an early slew of tour dates. Today, they announced the album’s name, release date, track listing, and cover art.

In addition to more details on Down in the Weeds, Bright Eyes released “Mariana Trench,” their fourth single off of the new album, following “Persona non Grata,” “Forced Convalescence,” and “One and Done.” The song is more anthemic and less acoustic than the songs that made Bright Eyes famous, like “First Day of My Life” or “Lua.” Oberst’s distinctive voice is full and driving, surrounded by swells of brass instrumentation and backing vocals that give the track the theatrical quality of previous album closers like “Road To Joy” and “Let’s Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and to Be Loved).” Prog rock influences are no great surprise, as the original Bright Eyes trio is joined on this album by Flea, a former bassist and trumpet player for The Mars Volta, and Jon Theodore, drummer for Queens of the Stone Age.

Pre-order Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was here, and listen to “Mariana Trench” below.

Down in the Weeds Where the World Once Was
1) Pageturner’s Rag
2) Dance and Sing
3) Just Once in the World
4) Mariana Trench
5) One and Done
6) Pan and Broom
7) Stairwell Song
8) Persona Non Grata
9) Tilt-A-Whirl
10) Hot Car in the Sun
11) Forced Convalescence
12) To Death’s Heart (In Three Parts)
13) Calais to Dover
14) Comet Song