Music

I know that this makes me look like a completely generic tussle-haired fifteen year old emo-goth, but the new Bright Eyes EP is really, really good. And let me tell you what's even better: the leaked tracks from the new Nine Inch Nails record. Say what you will about Conor Oberst, but the fact remains: He's an incredibly talented songwriter, and his brand of ultra sincere, urban smart-kid folk rock is one of the best things happening in guitar-based rock today. As for Nine Inch Nails, well, Trent Reznor is one of those guys who you don't have to like--no doubt he's abrasive and difficult and off-putting--but he's also pretty much a genius. Quite simply, no one else sounds anything like him. Sure, there are ripoffs aplenty, but not one can summon the utterly enveloping, intricate layers of noise and sound that Reznor puts together, and more importantly -- no one can do it in a way that's also so surprisingly accessible.

And, while we're on the topic of electronic geniuses, I managed to hear an early release of the new El-P album, I'll Sleep When You're Dead. It's higher order geek-thug android hip-hop--as meticulous and insane as his much-hailed Fantastic Damage, which, if you haven't heard... well, just listen to "Fantastic Damage" on MySpace and prepare to have your brain scrambled. As an added electro-genius super bonus, the album has a track with Trent Reznor called "Flyentology." You can hear it, and watch a certifiably nutso Adult Swim-produced video for the track, here.