New Albums

* Bright Eyes, “Lifted or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground,” Saddle Creek. Normally a CD with a 73-minute running time and interludes of dialogue and ambient sound would be a red flag signaling pretension and self-indulgence. But Conor Oberst pulls off everything in this sprawling, bravura work with ease and command. As the star of the increasingly prominent Omaha rock scene, Oberst reflects a Great Plains mentality in the way the album spreads unimpeded, taking as much time and as many words as it needs to tell its story.

Also:

30 Seconds to Mars, “30 Seconds to Mars,” Immortal/Virgin

Brad, “Welcome to Discovery Park,” Redline

Cliff Eberhardt, “School for Love,” Red House

Marianne Faithfull, “Kissin’ Time,” Virgin

Future Sound of London, “The Isness,” Hypnotic

Guttermouth, “Gusto!” Epitaph

Nerf Herder, “American Cheese,” Honest Don’s

Nickel Creek, “This Side,” Sugar Hill

Eliades Ochoa, “Estoy Como Nunca,” Higher Octave World

Plankton Man Vs. Terrestre, “Plankton Man vs. Terrestre,” Provider/:run

Slum Village, “Trinity,” Priority/Capitol

Sparta, “Wiretap Scars,” DreamWorks

Keith Sweat, “Rebirth,” Elektra

James Taylor, “October Road,” Columbia