The Killers covering 'Four Winds' by Bright Eyes.

Weird.

Apparently the band are releasing a covers album this year.

Weird.



Original here.

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Being a big Bright Eyes fan, an eyebrow was raised at seeing Conor Oberst on the Electric Picnic bill. Bright Eyes is essentially 'The Conor Oberst Show', so a solo spot seemed odd. I was expecting a one-man-and-a-guitar kinda thing, but that is apparently not the case.

Oberst has in fact recorded a solo album, backed up in a Bright Eyes fashion by a group of his mates (including M. Ward & Rilo Kiley's Jason Boesel) who are being called the 'Mystic Valley Band'. It's this setup that Picnic goers will be seeing.

The album, which I can only assume that it's to be titled Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, was recorded in Mexico, and produced by Oberst with help from Now It's Overhead's Andy LeMaster. It's due to released on August 4th.

It seems a lot of their tracks are available to check out on youtube (click), but for mp3 tasters and a full album tracklisting check out the read more...

Here are two tracks from Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band's performance at SXSW last month.

Let Them In:



Click for mp3

Cape Canaveral:



Click for mp3

Album tracklisting:

'Cape Cañaveral'
'Sausalito'
'Get-Well-Cards'
'Lenders In The Temple'
'Danny Callahan'
'I Don’t Want To Die (In The Hospital)'
'Eagle On A Pole'
'Moab'
'NYC -- Gone, Gone'
'Valle Místico (Ruben's Song)'
'Souled Out!!!'
'Milk Thistle'
Convinced? Tickets for Electric Picnic are still available here.

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Even though Cassadaga was the first time I've really questioned the genius of Conor Oberst, I still reckon Bright Eyes are one of the greatest acts in the world. The band's glass-smashing-tastic show in Whelans on the last night of the Fevers & Mirrors tour is still more than likely the greatest live performance I've ever seen.

Youtube seems to be thin on the ground as far as videos of these legendary performances are concerned (at least the ones I was looking for) but sure enough, here's Oberst & Co tearing up the stage in awesome fashion on Craig Ferguson, no less, followed by a rather squirmish interview:

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Is this pretty cool animation for one of the better tracks of the latest Bright Eyes album, 'I Must Belong Somewhere':

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Check out this article from NME.com:

Bright Eyes are set to perform alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl this Saturday (September 29). The concert has been a labour of love for Conor Oberst - dedicating eight months to the composition of the 60-piece orchestral score - who will play to 17,300 at the venue. Band member Nate Walcott revealed to Billboard just what a challenge the process has been, arranging parts for 40 strings, 11 brass and 12 woodwinds. Declaring it almost like "music math" Walcott explained, "It's hard to do anything on tour, let alone put together 15 arrangements for the Los Angeles Philharmonic." The Bright Eyes band member also revealed that the show will comprise songs from the past eight years, many of which will contain orchestral elements. Although there are no plans for any further orchestral concerts, Walcott has implied he would not be at all surprised if other shows materialised at a later stage.

Bah! Damnit...

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