Video Conor Oberst: Full Concert | NPR Music Front Row

‘Ruminations' is one of Conor Oberst's most personal records — and it was a surprise, even for its creator. He didn't intend to make an album — he was trying to recover from exhaustion after he was rattled by a health scare, a cyst on his brain. But when he left New York, N.Y., and moved back to his hometown of Omaha, Neb., the songs started coming. He recorded ‘Ruminations' on piano, guitar and harmonica in 48 hours during the winter after he moved home. The result is a collection of brave, dark songs that confront Oberst's thoughts during that time head-on.

— BOB BOILEN

SET LIST

“Tachycardia” - 0:48
“Gossamer Thin” - 4:46
“Barbary Coast (Later)” - 9:37
“Counting Sheep” - 15:41
“Mamah Borthwick (A Sketch)” - 20:18
“Next of Kin” - 25:42
“The Rain Follows the Plow” - 29:50
“A Little Uncanny” - 34:24
“You All Loved Him Once” - 39:33
“Till St. Dymphna Kicks Us Out” - 45:32

CREDITS

Producers: Saidah Blount, Bob Boilen, Colin Marshall, Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey; Director: Colin Marshall; Videgraphers: Nicole Conflenti, Nickolai Hammar, Cameron Robert; Post-production Editor/Colorist: Nicole Conflenti; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Special Thanks: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann, Rita Houston