Particularly vocal has been Conor Oberst, who recently penned an open letter to Stateside Presents promoter Charlie Levy, in which he stated, among many other things, plans to organize a fundraiser for the Nebraska chapter of the ACLU.

Seems he went through with the plan, and on July 31 will gather not just his Bright Eyes troupe, but also the Desaparecidos crew, from whom we haven’t seen a performance since Conor et al. were thrashing around onstage back in 2002. Also on board for the event is another oldie-but-goodie, indie-folk band Lullaby for the Working Class, as well as Cursive. It’s a hell of a cause when you gather more or less the best of the Saddle Creek back catalog, and expect the amps to be cranked full-blast. (Is it too much to ask we get these guys on board too?)

Proceeds from the concert go to the ACLU Nebraska, currently preparing to file suit against the town of Fremont, Nebraska, who recently passed a measure prohibiting businesses from hiring illegal immigrants.

Grab tickets here.

Read more about ACLU Nebraska right here.

In addition to Fevers and Mirrors, the “birthday releases” include The Cribs’ self-titled debut, Simian Mobile Disco’s Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release, and Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm, which will come with a bonus 7″. All albums will be pressed up on high-quality vinyl and limited to 1000 copies. Pre-order now or snag copies at retailers participating in this year’s Record Store Day festivities.

It’s no anniversary without a few parties, and a few live shows are planned for May. Check the Wichita site for further updates.

05/14 Brighton, England – The Great Escape @ Life *
05/21 London, England – Venue TBA ^
05/26 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera @ The Apollo #

* w/ Peggy Sue, Sky Larkin, Gold Panda, Dam Mantle
^ w/ Sky Larkin, Frankie & the Heartstrings, Cold Pumas, Dam Mantle
# w/ Los Campesinos!, First Aid Kit, Peggy Sue

Listen to the new song here.

It’s off the reissue of One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels, which was a collaboration between Bright Eyes and Neva Dinova in 2004. The new version includes “Happy Accident” and three other brand-new tracks that were recorded last fall. It’s shipping now via Saddle Creek, and hits stores on March 23.

Meanwhile, Tim Goldsworthy, who, along with James Murphy, founded DFA Records and has played a vital role in its growth and success, has reportedly split from the label, leaving New York for the UK. Label manager Jonathan Galkin told Resident Advisor that “Tim Goldsworthy moved away to somewhere in the United Kingdom, without informing anyone here at DFA. We have had no word from him since he left the United States. So we moved on with our lives and our business. Simple as that. He most definitely took a piece of us when he left, but we wish him the best with whatever he gets up to next.” Hostile split? Goldsworthy told Resident Advisor he left because of work and family obligations in the UK, and that he would be willing to do more work for the label “if something good came along.”

DFA isn’t the only US record label having a slightly chaotic week. Indie rap imprint Definitive Jux was at the epicenter of internet hype yesterday, when rumors that it would fold arose. Label boss and rapper/producer El-P has posted a statement clarifying the situation. “As a traditional record label, DEF JUX will effectively be put on hiatus. We are not closing, but we are changing,” he writes. He adds, in his statement, that the label is busy “re-imagining” its future. Its website and merch catalog will continue to exist in the meantime.

In brighter news, Jack White is still with us and going strong. Music’s busiest man promises a new album with his band The Dead Weather, a follow-up to last year’s Horehound. A Dead Weather tour is set to kick-off in mid-March, right around the time The White Stripes live film, Under Great White Northern Lights, gets release in box set form.

Midlake’s latest album, The Courage of Others, was released this week on Bella Union. The Guardian asked the band to perform the album as part of its Denton Sessions. You can download the set here.

Finally, Bright Eyes is back. Sort of. News in 2009 suggested that Conor Oberst and Co. will make one more album under their famed indie moniker. There are no album details yet, other than an unamed 2010 release date, but Saddle Creek is reissuing the Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova split, One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels, this March (pre-orders are available right now). Four new Bright Eyes tracks, written in fall 2009, will be included in the release.

The Merge Records Companion

Celebrating 20 years of music is North Carolina’s Merge Records, home to artists like Lambchop, She & Him, Arcade Fire, Spoon, and dozens of others. As part of its ongoing anniversary celebration, the label has compiled this little volume, a visual look at its last two decades of releases. The covers of each and every album, EP, single, and DVD ever released by Merge are featured in the book, which also includes introductory essays by label founders Mac and Laura. Note that this is a limited edition item, so if you haven’t snapped it up by now, get thee to the Merge Records site.

Cost: $15.98
Buy

Bright Eyes – A Christmas Album

Back in the days when Bright Eyes was Conor Oberst plus a very large and ever-rotating cast of musicians, Saddle Creek released A Christmas Album, which saw the crew putting an indie-folk twist on traditional Christmas jams. The album, which originally dropped in 2002, has only ever been available on CD, but this year, the label repackaged it on 180 gram vinyl (that’s white, apparently) and is selling the record exclusively through its online store. Purchase includes the album and code for a high-quality MP3 version. All proceeds will benefit the Nebraska AIDS Project.

Cost: $15
Buy

Vinyl is Forever Apparel

Vinyl has undergone resurgence in the last 10 years, and whether you’re a longtime crate-digger that owns a battered copy of Hoyt Axton’s Road Songs or a newbie who simply knows that Arcade Fire sounds better on 180g, you’re hardly alone in your fetish. Soundscreen Deisgn—avid enthusiasts of the medium—have created an entire apparel line dedicated to the love of vinyl that features bright, bold designs on series of t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags. Currently there are three editions to choose from. All garments are 100% Organic Alternative Apparel and limited edition.

Cost: $18 – $40
Buy

Wilco (the tote)

There are many tote bags in the world. None manages the affordable/efficient/hilarious combination quite as well as this one. I bought mine at a show this past summer and it’s been everything from a grocery bag to a piece of carry-on luggage to a conversation sparker. The tote is available as an individual item, or as part of Wilco (the bundle), which includes the bag, a vinyl copy of Wilco (the album), and a sticker. It’s worth noting that the entirety of Wilco’s online store right now is a music fan’s holiday shopping paradise, so take a look at some of the other fantastic packages up for sale.

Cost: $8 (bag only), $25 (bundle)
Buy

Portrait of a Young Man Trying to Draw

William Schaff is probably best known for creating the album art for bands like Okkervil River (The Stage Names) and Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven). Recently, he gathered 10 scratchboard images on linen paper and compiled them into a hand-bound book that’s signed and limited to a mere 500 copies. Needless to say, this one won’t last long in stores.

Cost: $34.99
Buy

Check Your Head Pillowcases

Most music-themed home decor is, admittedly, a cheesefest, but we wouldn’t be true enthusiasts without one or two items in the apartment. Tacky up the throw cushions with a set of these DJ-friendly pillowcases. (though if you’re out of college, you might want to relegate these to the man den.)

Cost: $24.99
Buy

OrgiAudio Speakers

This item grabbed Time Magazine‘s award for Best Invention of 2009. The eco-friendly folding speakers are made entirely from recycled material, require no batteries, are compatible with any device (so long as it has a headphone jack), and are nicely designed to boot. Available themes right now include Cityscape, Daydream, Lake, Flowers, Surf Break, and Canvas. Or go the extra step and create your own at the OrgiAudio website.

Cost: From $16
Buy