An orchestra is an integral component of Bright Eyes' new album, "Cassadaga," due April 10 via Saddle Creek. The 13-track set begins with "Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)," where an orchestral swell a la the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" gives way to lonely acoustic guitar picking and lyrics like "I thought you knew the drill / It's kill or be killed."

"Make a Plan To Love Me" seems inspired by Phil Spector's trademark Wall of Sound production style, with plucked string and angelic backing vocalists filling every available space.

The album leans heavily toward country-rock territory on tracks like "Four Winds," "Classic Cars" (sample lyric: "She said I kissed her different / And all the men her age are mean") and the shuffling "I Must Belong Somewhere," which sports pedal steel guitar accompaniment.

Elsewhere, frontman Conor Oberst pays homage to the Pogues on the Irish waltz on "Soul Singer in a Session Band," as he confeses, "I was a hopeless romantic / Now I'm just turning tricks." "Hot Knives" blends the orchestral elements with more of a rock sensibility, alternating between stripped-down and lush sequences.

"Cassadaga" features guest contributors like M. Ward, Gillian Welch and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Quasi). It will be preceded by the "Four Winds" EP, due March 6.

Bright Eyes will hit the road beginning Feb. 25 in Chicago and has dates on tap through March 31 in Amsterdam.

Here is the track list for "Cassadaga":

"Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed)"
"Four Winds"
"If the Brakeman Turns My Way"
"Hot Knives"
"Make a Plan To Love Me"
"Soul Singer in a Session Band"
"Classic Cars"
"Middleman"
"Cleanse Song"
"No One Would Riot for Less"
"Coat Check Dream Song"
"I Must Belong Somewhere"
"Lime Tree"