The Who: Bright Eyes (8:15pm Saturday at the Main Stage)
What you should know: Bright Eyes is the band fronted by the musical mastermind from Nebraska known as Conor Oberst. Oberst is also responsible for that little record label know as Saddle Creek.
This week’s list includes some artists that you might be hearing about for the first time, while other bands are seasoned regulars on your iTunes list. When it comes down to it, Bright Eyes’ new release is just about the most important album out this week, and its unanimously agreed that The People’s Key hits that sweet spot and meets the highest expectations. Check out the other albums we’ve discovered this week:
As we reported last month, as more and more musicians continue to boycott Arizona due to the state’s controversial immigration law, there has been an anti-boycott groundswell developing in The Copper State, maintaining that a boycott will do more harm than good. One of the anti-boycotters is Charlie Levy, an Arizona activist and promoter who states that the boycott harms the people who are against the immigration law, and not the immigration law itself.
In response, singer Conor Oberst has fired off with an open letter to Levy in Billboard magazine, detailing why he will not return to Arizona to perform, according to Pitchfork:
The Omaha World-Herald has reported that Conor Oberst will release one more album as Bright Eyes then retire the moniker [via Pitckfork]. We have Saddle Creek‘s president, Robb Nansel, leaning towards the truth of the matter by stating “My guess, based on what he’s expressed to me, is that there will be one more Bright Eyes record and that will be it.”
Looks like the rumors are actually true, kids. Although Oberst had initially released music under his real name before he chose the moniker, he had also told Rolling Stone that “It does feel like it needs to stop at some point. I’d like to clean it up, lock the door, say goodbye.” Nansel seems to understand and explains to the Omaha World-Herald, “”I think he feels like Bright Eyes has a certain association, for better or worse. I think he’s trying to distance himself a little bit from what that means to people.”
This year why not deck your halls with some Indie Rock ornament goodness? The Oregon’s Glass Casters Union is offering some limited-edition recycled glass ornaments featuring the band designs for some of indie rocks finest.
Current offerings include Bright Eyes, Built To Spill, The Black Lips, The Thermals, and Iron and Wine.
Bands from the indie elite are lining up to pay tribute to 20 years of Merge Records.
Merge Records is offering a series of 14 compilation records in 2009 curated by bands, actors, comics and other celebrities including Peter Buck of R.E.M., The Upright Citizens Brigade, Amy Poehler, David Byrne and Zach Galifianakis. The series is available via subsrciption on Merge Records website and the releases will be mailed throughout 2009.
The subscription will set you back $179 before November 8 and $199 after. The proceeds will benefit charities picked by the curators of the compilation albums.
In addition to the series, a subscription will also include The Merge Covers Album and The Merge Remix Album. The Covers Album will feature artists like Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, The Apples In Stereo and others covering their favorite songs from the Merge catalog. The Remix Album, obviously enough, will feature remixes of Merge favorites by Battles, Caribou and Junior Boys among others.
Check out the lists of artists involved in the two albums after the break.
It’s a right of passage, a metamorphosis by fire: a broken heart. The feeling is indescribable, insufferable and truly indelible. Music, however, is the perfect accompaniment to such pain. Whether it is after discovering the one you love is loving someone else, finally ending the ritual of a tumultuous relationship, waiting for the phone that never rings or receiving an email breaking down the break-up, music is there to soothe the cruel ebbing of a torn heart and fill the aching hollow in the pit of one’s stomach.
This weeks Top 5 celebrates the amazing power of music’s ability to remind anyone going through such heart wrenching pain that they are not alone. Because of the artist’s own broken heart, these songs were created and because most relationships inevitably end, these songs will forever hold a very dear place in the mended hearts of many.
