Oberst bubble.

Excatly two weeks ago, NB heralded the release of two new Bright Eyes records.

Exactly now, NB is proud to declare Conor Oberst officially over. You may think it's the result of articles and pictures of Mr. Oberst being featured in the New York Times, Time Out New York, Entertainment Weekly and scads of other publications we probably haven't seen (we're halfway through this week's Star). It's not. The end came yesterday, when, on the PATH train (sub-subway, for those not familiar with NYC mass transit), the senior citizen sitting next to me was deeply involved in a Newsweek article about, yes, Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes' two new records. It's not that NB is, well, snobby about music—it's that when a shy, angsty, indie artist allows himself to be plastered on the front page of nearly every entertainment rag, it comes off as slightly inconsistent. Overexposure is not good for anyone. Right, Jude?

As well, I downloaded got Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, and, barring two or three songs, it's pretty much a snoozefest. The other one is supposed to be much better. Perhaps I'll download get that one and change my mind. But, as of now, you and your Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, are formally dismissed.