Conor Oberst Brings New Songs, Paul Simon Cover To ACL

Somewhat lost amidst the madness that was Austin City Limits was the stirring set by Conor Oberst, who unleashed a pair of new tunes and covered a Paul Simon song. Oberst treated the crowd to a cover of Paul Simon's "Kodachrome," reportedly a popular singalong on Oberst's tour bus. As for the new ones, "I Got A Reason #2" is a Dylanesque rave-up that even name checks this magazine — Oberst sings "In the glass houses, in the pages of the Rolling Stone" at the top of the second verse. The other new song "10 Women" doesn't reference us, but it's still a pretty good tune. Oberst has been playing around with both songs on his "solo" tour, including the above rendition of "I Got a Reason #2" at an in-store performance at San Francisco's Amoeba Music.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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