Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998–2005)
Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998–2005) is a compilation of previously recorded but unreleased or hard-to-find songs by Bright Eyes. The compilation album collects selected Bright Eyes singles, one-offs, unreleased tracks, collaborations and covers recorded between 1998 and 2005.
| Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998–2005) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | October 9, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 1998–2005 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 60:58 | |||
| Label |
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| Bright Eyes chronology | ||||
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| Vinyl cover | ||||
_(Vinyl)_(Front_Cover).png.webp) | ||||
| Singles from Noise Floor: A Companion | ||||
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The album was reissued by Dead Oceans alongside a seven-track companion EP on June 16, 2023.[1]
Background
"Motion Sickness" was originally released as a standalone single in 2000.[2]
Release
The compilation was released on CD and vinyl in Europe on October 9, 2006, and in the US on October 24, 2006 on Saddle Creek Records. The vinyl version of the album includes five extra tracks not found on the CD.[3] Unlike the cover pictured, sometimes the artwork consists of a case completely decorated in flowers, there is no text on the case, and the cover pictured is sometimes included over the other cover. The inlay includes lyrics and a personal comment from Conor Oberst for most songs.
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 67/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    link |
| Pitchfork Media | 6.4/10 link |
| Robert Christgau |  link |
Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998–2005) received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 67, based on 19 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[4]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Conor Oberst, except where noted
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mirrors and Fevers" | Don't Be Frightened of Turning the Page (EP) - 2000 | 3:01 |
| 2. | "I Will Be Grateful for This Day" | Sub Pop Singles Club (7") - 2001 | 4:19 |
| 3. | "Trees Get Wheeled Away" | Lost & Found, Volume 1 compilation - 2003 | 4:09 |
| 4. | "Drunk Kid Catholic" | Drunk Kid Catholic (EP) - 2001 | 3:10 |
| 5. | "Spent on Rainy Days" | Home Volume IV split (EP) on Post Parlo Records - 2002 | 2:06 |
| 6. | "The Vanishing Act" | Too Much of a Good Thing (7") - 1999 | 3:08 |
| 7. | "Soon You Will Be Leaving Your Man" | Motion Sickness (7") - 2000 | 5:12 |
| 8. | "Blue Angels Air Show" | DIW Magazine (7") - 2002 | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Weather Reports" | Unreleased (7") with M. Ward | 3:02 |
| 10. | "Seashell Tale" | Unreleased (7") with M. Ward | 3:27 |
| 11. | "Bad Blood" | The Album Leaf split (7") - 2001 | 4:40 |
| 12. | "Amy in the White Coat" | 3 More Hit Songs from Bright Eyes (UK single) - 2002 | 5:25 |
| 13. | "Devil Town" (Daniel Johnston) | The Late Great Daniel Johnston compilation - 2004 | 3:03 |
| 14. | "I've Been Eating (For You)" | Drunk Kid Catholic (EP) - 2001 | 2:55 |
| 15. | "Happy Birthday to Me (February 15)" | Drunk Kid Catholic (EP) - 2001 | 3:50 |
| 16. | "Motion Sickness" | Motion Sickness (7") - 2000 | 6:20 |
| Total length: | 60:58 | ||
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Act of Contrition" | Second Thoughts compilation - 2000 | |
| 18. | "Hungry for a Holiday" | Album Leaf split (7") - 2001 | |
| 19. | "When the Curious Girl Realizes She Is Under Glass Again" | Sub Pop Singles Club (7") - 2001 | |
| 20. | "Entry Way Song" | Amos House Vol. 2 compilation - 2002 | |
| 21. | "It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends" | Transmission One: Tea at the Palaz of Hoon compilation - 2000 |
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Act of Contrition" | Second Thoughts compilation - 2000 | 3:32 |
| 18. | "It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends" | Transmission One: Tea at the Palaz of Hoon compilation - 2000 | 5:34 |
| Total length: | 70:04 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nunca Seré Feliz Otra Vez" (companion version[nb 1]) | 3:39 |
| 2. | "The Vanishing Act" (companion version) | 3:00 |
| 3. | "Soon You Will Be Leaving Your Man" (companion version) | 6:04 |
| 4. | "Blue Angels Air Show" (companion version) | 3:13 |
| 5. | "I Will Be Grateful for This Day" (companion version) | 4:32 |
| 6. | "Motion Sickness" (companion version) | 6:28 |
| 7. | "I Won't Ever Be Happy Again" (companion version) | 3:39[5] |
| Total length: | 30:35 | |
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[6] | 107 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[7] | 6 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[8] | 155 |
Notes
- A Spanish-language version of I Won't Ever Be Happy Again."
References
- Corcoran, Nina (May 9, 2023). "Bright Eyes Announce "Companion" Reissues of Cassadaga, Noise Floor, and The People's Key". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Hatfield, Amanda (July 22, 2019). "Conor Oberst played rare Bright Eyes songs & more at White Eagle Hall". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- Bright Eyes Rarities Compilation Due | Pitchfork
- "Reviews for Noise Floor (Rarities: 1998–2005) by Bright Eyes". Metacritic. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
- "Noise Floor: A Companion - Bright Eyes". Bandcamp. Epic Games, Inc. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- "Bright Eyes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- "Bright Eyes Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
- "Bright Eyes Rarities Compilation Due" by Kati Llewellyn, Pitchfork Media, July 20, 2006