Personnel: Johnny Chang (violin); Kim Humphreys (violin); Maria DeLuca (viola); Ariel Walden (viola); Jessica Catron (cello); Kim Humphreys (violin).

Arranger: Steve Gregoropoulos.

String Quartet Tribute to Bright Eyes: Beautiful in the Morning presents chamber music versions of 11 Conor Oberst selections. Performed instrumentally on violin, viola, cello, and bass, they miss the achy melodrama of Oberst's singing voice. But that sentiment permeates his songwriting too, even in the Radio Shack electronic tick of Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, so that album's "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" becomes a heartfelt swoon. The Lifted or the Story songs "Bowl of Oranges" and "Method Acting" are more hopeful and upbeat, while I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is represented by "At the Bottom of Everything," "We Are Nowhere and It's Now," and "Lua." ~ Johnny Loftus