Bright Eyes’s new EP Four Winds serves as a hopeful harbinger of things to come from Conor Oberst and his band. With a more polished sound than on previous releases, Bright Eyes displays musical maturity that is sure to show up on the new full-length album Cassadaga, set for release on April 10th. The six-track EP, which features the single “Four Winds,” contains a handful of up-tempo B-sides and downbeat cowboy ballads. The standout track is the catchy “Reinvent the Wheel,” which is arguably the poppiest Bright Eyes has ever sounded, complete with a string quartet and Ben Kweller-ish piano line. If it weren’t for the usual subject matter of death, one might wonder whether Bright Eyes is selling out. Regardless, it is clear that Bright Eyes’s musical style is starting to lean toward the mainstream and it’s fortunate that they have the exceptional richness of Conor Oberst’s lyrics to keep them grounded. Grade: A-  

– Andrew Fatato, Muse Contributing Writer