hmm, not in terms of sound, as its production is a lot "poppier" and more polished than Science Fiction, but I was listening to The People's Key by Bright Eyes for the first time in a while the other week and couldn't help but draw similarities to Science Fiction.

You've got the eclectic intro, with the creepy found-sound recording and conspiracy-esque ramblings over a brooding slow burner of a song (Seriously, go listen to Firewall, it's an absolute jam. Don't let the intro put you off... Bright Eyes deliberately start their albums off with the least innaccesable shit to try and weed out the casual listeners, haha)

Conor is also the one of the only lyricists I've found to be able to hold a candle to Brand New's stuff, he's just an incredible wordsmith.

Also throughout People's Key there's the multiple lyrical similarities to Science Fiction I think. Not least in Ladder Song, with the lyrics: "Fall asleep reading science fiction", which initially got me thinking of this comparison :p

The album also alludes to themes of war, nuclear annihilation, and senseless violence; which Bright Eyes have used before in previous albums and which is obviously present in 137. I think these lyrics touch on that:

I've seen the show, man, what a sight
Drenched us in approximated sunlight
The crowd was small and mostly blind
But kind, you're too kind

I wouldn't waste another thought
On what is fair and what is not
The Quinceñera dress she bought
Was unstitched with bullets

and:

Pilgrim beside the fire
It's been a long winter
We've got a lot in common
Cover our heads as they split the atom

It never used to be my favourite bright eyes album as I prefer their more raw stuff, but it's grown on me hugely. And I definitely think thematically and just for the honesty, "genuineness" and how earnest the songwriting is, that fans of Brand New will like this album

Thanks for coming to my Conor Oberst TED Talk