Bright Eyes will release rarities collection in October

October 24th will not only be the first Tuesday I'll be 21, it will also be the day of the first Bright Eyes release since last year's live album, Motion Sickness. According to the Saddle Creek Records newsletter, Conor Oberst has put together an announced amount of rarities on an album titled Noise Floor, ready to be released on October 24th. Of course, this isn't Bright Eyes's only planned release -- he's publicly talked about his yet-to-be-named spring 2007 record. Get out your wallets! Or your torrent programs. Just get out something.

Again--
Bright Eyes - Noise Floor (Rarities 1998-2005) -- October 24th, 2006
Cool.

The Velvet Underground & Nico: best debut album ever?

In the latest issue of Uncut Magazine, the editors have chosen what the consider to be the 100 greatest debut albums of the last 60 years. The list is pretty good -- though I have to say that Isn't Anything was not My Bloody Valentine's first record. I don't know who fucked that one up.

See the full "100 Greatest Debut Albums" list here.

Jens Lekman show sells out; I'm relieved to be so obsessed

Swedish singer/songwriter/sampler/hottie Jens Lekman's Boston stop at T.T. the Bear's Club in Cambridge on July 22nd has sold out, according to Ticketmaster and the T.T.'s Box Office. This doesn't come as a shock or let-down for me, who totally fucking adores this man, and bought tickets months ago. Those of you who decided to wait will now have to eBay it.

Lekman has significantly risen in popularity since last year's stop at P.A.'s Lounge, following the release of Secretly Canadian compilation Oh You're So Silent Jens. We're still waiting on his third full-length, with no release date or album title in sight.

If you're a fan of Morrissey or the Magnetic Fields, you need to hear this man. Seriously. Click below.

Jens Lekman - "Black Cab"
Jens Lekman - "Someone to Share My Life With" (Television Personalities cover)
Jens Lekman - Official Site

Sufjan Stevens, Thom Yorke material out today: nobody cares?!?

For the first time in many, many weeks, I'll be making a trip to the record store to buy CDs the day they come out. Remember Blessid Union of Souls? I bought that "Hey Leonardo" album the day it came out too. And it was awesome.

So what's on tap? A lot -- in particular, Thom Yorke's long-anticipated The Eraser and Sufjan Stevens's lovely bundle of outtakes, The Avalanche. There's also new stuff from Muse and David Bazan if you really want.

I've been especially perturbed by how much everybody hates these two records -- especially The Avalanche. Alright -- even though he's awesome, you can hate Thom Yorke if you want (I guess) -- but can you really rip on a fucking outtakes album? The guy released it because people like me are out there who will claw somebody's eye out for the last LP. Give him a break -- he's just giving people what they want.

So here's the evidence against buying the record:
All Music tells Sufjan to shut the fuck up in a special feature called "A Case Against Sufjan Stevens"
Pitchfork Media explains that this record is "useless" (seriously).
Stylus Magazine compares The Avalanche to the notoriously shitty The Spaghetti Incident (Guns 'n Roses) here.

Here's the evidence for buying the record:
Stream The Avalanche

Holy shit: Syd Barrett, 60, dies of cancer

Long-time Pink Floyd collaborator and singer/songwriter Syd Barrett has died of cancer at the age of 60, according to various sources, including the manager of his estate. Although he had not released any albums since 1970's The Madcap Laughs, Barrett's influence as a composer has been felt throughout rock. David Bowie, Wayne Coyne and Malcolm Mooney have all cited Barrett as a huge motivator for their songwriting.

Though often forgotten, Barrett's contribution as a member of Pink Floyd was massive. 1968's Piper at the Gates of Dawn was mainly a Barrett work, and several tracks from Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here (i.e. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond") were written about him -- by his own bandmates. Clearly he had a fucking ridiculous impact.