Cassadaga (album)


Cassadaga is the eighth studio album by Bright Eyes, released in the UK on April 9, 2007 and in the US on April 10. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list. The album is named after the town of Cassadaga, Florida, a community of mediums and followers of spiritualism. Z Berg of the Like, Sherri DuPree and Stacy King of Eisley as well as solo artist Rachael Yamagata all appear on this album. The first single, "Four Winds" was released on March 6, 2007, from the Four Winds EP with five B-sides not on Cassadaga.
Cassadaga debuted at number four on the U.S Billboard 200, selling about 58,000 copies in its first week. It went on to sell over 231,000 in US. The album is the 103rd release of Saddle Creek Records. This album was #12 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007. In the United Kingdom Cassadaga reached number 13 on the UK Albums Chart in April 2007.
Johnny Depp named Cassadaga one of his "favorite things" of 2007.
The first single from the album, "Four Winds" can be heard in the background briefly during the party scene in the 2008 film Cloverfield.

Cover

The CD and LP versions of the album come with a "Spectral Decoder" which allows users to see the true cover art on the album. One particular segment of text located on the back of the case includes a phrase in Russian; "тяните другую кровавую ванну" meaning "draw another bloody bath", a reference to the first track's lyrics. Another hidden phrase is in Greek; "παρελθόν παρουσιάζω μέλλον" meaning "the past presents the future", which is also the title of an album by Her Space Holiday, with whom Bright Eyes released a split single.
Hidden phrases in English:
Hidden phrases in French:
Hidden phrases in Portuguese:
"For Sabrina" is written on the inside of the CD case, and a separate insert on the LP, in memory of Sabrina Duim, a harpist and Stanford University undergraduate who toured with Bright Eyes and died in January 2007.
On the back of the UK standard edition, "If the Brakeman Turns My Way" is converted to the British spelling of "If the Breakman Turns My Way". This UK standard edition was modified by designers at Polydor/Universal from the U.S. release.
On February 10, 2008, Cassadaga won a Grammy award for Best Recording Package.

Track listing

All songs written by Conor Oberst, except where noted.
  1. "Clairaudients " – 6:05
  2. "Four Winds" – 4:16
  3. "If the Brakeman Turns My Way" – 4:53
  4. "Hot Knives" – 4:13
  5. "Make a Plan to Love Me" – 4:14
  6. "Soul Singer in a Session Band" – 4:14
  7. "Classic Cars" – 4:19
  8. "Middleman" – 4:49
  9. "Cleanse Song" – 3:28
  10. "No One Would Riot for Less" – 5:12
  11. "Coat Check Dream Song" – 4:10
  12. "I Must Belong Somewhere" – 6:19
  13. "Lime Tree" – 5:53

    B-sides

"Susan Miller Rag" is a B-side to the album. The song was released on CD and vinyl formats, and was only available to customers who pre-ordered Cassadaga.

Personnel