Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Nathaniel Wolcott) have announced the third wave of their companion EP releases that tie into previous albums: “Cassadaga: A Companion”, “The People’s Key: A Companion”, and “Noise Floor (Rarities 1998-2005): A Companion”.
They have also shared three tracks, one from each EP: “Middleman (Companion Version)” (from Cassadaga), “When You Were Mine” (from “The People’s Key“), and “Blue Angels Air Show (Companion Version)” (from “Noise Floor“).
The EPs are all due out June 16th via Dead Oceans. Check out the tracks below.
The EPs feature various notable guest musicians, including: Johanna and Klara Söderberg of First Aid Kit (“JeJune Stars,” “Coatcheck Dream Song,” “Wrecking Ball”), Gillian Welch (“Napolean’s Hat”), and Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff (“Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed),” “Firewall,” ‘When You Were Mine”).
Dead Oceans has been reissuing the newly-acquired Bright Eyes back catalogue on vinyl over the past year, and we’re thrilled to present the Bandbox editions of the campaign’s third wave – the 2006 rarities collection “Noise Floor“, 2007’s chart-topping “Cassadaga” and the 2011 LP that closed the book on the band’s first chapter, “The People’s Key”.
“Middleman: Companion Version”, the first single from ‘Cassadaga: A Companion’ in the Bright Eyes reissue series.
Oberst had this to say about the EPs in a press release: “We are really excited about the final installment of our companion EPs. It’s been an interesting journey revisiting and reimagining all of these old songs. 54 songs total seems ridiculous now looking back, but I’m glad we did it. This new batch includes great contributions from Alynda Segarra (Hurray For The Riff Raff), Johanna and Klara Söderberg (First Aid Kit), and an amazing cast of other fantastic musicians that brought these songs into the present tense. I hope all of the fun and neo-nostalgia we experienced recording these comes through to the listeners.”
“When You Were Mine”, the first single from ‘The People’s Key: A Companion’ in the Bright Eyes reissue series.
“Blue Angels Air Show: Companion Version”, the first single from ‘Noise Floor: A Companion’ in the Bright Eyes reissue series
The beloved Omaha indie group’s “Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998-2005)” [2xLP clear smoke] and “Cassadaga” [yellow vortex] are coming to colored #vinyl for the very first time, while “The People’s Key” [fiery orange splatter] is making its standalone colour debut.
Tracks Cassadaga: A Companion, The People’s Key: A Companion, and Noise Floor (Rarities 1998-2005): A Companion All Due Out June 16th via Dead Oceans All three Bandbox exclusive color pressings come with our signature artist #fanzine, this time sporting career-spanning features on Conor Oberst & co., rare photos, and a Bright Eyes crossword puzzle!
In 2022 they released the first two waves of the Companion EP series, with the first set out in May and the second set out in November.
Bright Eyes’ most recent album, Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, came out in 2020 via Dead Oceans.
The Fat Angel Sings 