Conor Oberst has had a strange career, given how he started. The prodigy that played on those early Bright Eyes albums has grown considerably, and his perspective as a lyricist–the main drawing point to Oberst’s music for many–has matured considerably as he’s gotten older. Therefore, it seems strange that Upside Down Mountain would be Oberst’s first solo album, but it’s a hell of a way to reintroduce yourself to his work. The album finds Oberst making a conscious decision to go back to his roots, resulting in a more immediate album than fans of the Mystic Valley Band or Monsters Of Folk would be used to. Oberst is celebrating the release of the album with an impromptu show at Rough Trade’s new Brooklyn outpost; tickets are first come/first served, so be sure to get there early.