Bright Eyes Announce New ‘Companion’ Reissues

Bright Eyes detailed the second installment in their Companion reissue series due out on November 11 via Dead Oceans. The next three albums to receive the Companion treatment are 2002’s Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground as well as the 2005 double release I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn.

Bright Eyes announced their Companion reissue series in March and in May released the first round consisting of their first three albums along with Companion EPs. The EPs featuring reworked versions of songs along with a cover that influenced the era also see the band bringing in guests with the first round featuring contributions from Waxahatchee (Katie Crutchfield), Phoebe Bridgers, M. Ward and Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond).

Stark returned to guest on the new wave of Companion EPs as well as Gillian Welch, and Maria Taylor. The new covers include Azure Ray’s “November,” Townes Van Zandt’s “Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel” and The Faint’s “Agenda Suicide.”

Additionally, Bright Eyes shared previews of original songs from each new Companion EP including Lifted or The Story’s “You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will.” The singles, “Old Soul Song (for the New World Order)” and “Gold Mine Gutted,” from the 2005 double release of I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning and Digital Ash in a Digital Urn — both released on January 25, 2005, and containing acoustic and electronic stylings respectively — see the band flipping the format and recording each song in the other album’s style.

Preview Bright Eyes’ second round of Companion EPs with lyrics videos for “You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will,” “Old Soul Song (for the New World Order)” and “Gold Mine Gutted” below:

Bright Eyes also announced tour dates in Europe, The UK and North America. Check out their itinerary below: