Phil Shaffart was not hired by Conor Oberst to make the film "One of My Kind." He was hired to make sure the guitars stayed in tune. But Phil had a video camera with him as the Mystic Valley Band came together for the first time at Valle Mistico in Tepoztlan, Mexico in January of 2008 and so he started filming what he sensed was something special."When I started filming, none of us had the intentions of turning what was being shot into a film," says Phil, "but the things we were seeing, feeling and capturing with the music proved to be inspiring in ways we were not prepared for."

Phil Shaffart was not hired by Conor Oberst to make the film "One of My Kind." He was hired to make sure the guitars stayed in tune. But Phil had a video camera with him as the Mystic Valley Band came together for the first time at Valle Mistico in Tepoztlan, Mexico in January of 2008 and so he started filming what he sensed was something special."When I started filming, none of us had the intentions of turning what was being shot into a film," says Phil, "but the things we were seeing, feeling and capturing with the music proved to be inspiring in ways we were not prepared for."

Conor Oberst assembled a special band in Mexico for this recording, known amongst themselves and to friends as The Mystic Valley Band. Members include Nate Walcott, Jason Boesel, Macey Taylor, Nik Freitas, and Taylor Hollingsworth. The result is his first solo album in thirteen years, following "Water" (1993), "Here's To Special Treatment" (1994), and "Soundtrack To My Movie" (1995). In that time, he's recorded and performed in Commander Venus, Park Ave., Desaparecidos, and most notably Bright Eyes, his main musical vehicle for the past decade.

While touring in support of last year's debut "Conor Oberst", Conor and The Mystic Valley Band began writing new songs. The result is the first album credited to this group. Oberst's songwriting and delivery remain an engaging presence, but the addition of songs by Taylor Hollingsworth, Nik Freitas, and Jason Boesel make for a multi-textured and colorful collaboration. The Mystic Valley band also includes Macey Taylor and Nathaniel Walcott.

Today's avant-roots renaissance owes a great debt to John Prine's laconic, ever-questioning poetic quality. Featuring 12 newly-recorded versions of classic Prine songs, "Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine" boasts an enviable roll call of inventive musicians, including My Morning Jacket, The Avett Brothers, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, and more. That Prine's perspective flourishes so vividly in these modern recastings is testament to not only the sheer power of his songs, but to the subtly defiant undercurrent that runs throughout his music.

Conor Oberst assembled a special band in Mexico for this recording, known amongst themselves and to friends as The Mystic Valley Band. Members include Nate Walcott, Jason Boesel, Macey Taylor, Nik Freitas, and Taylor Hollingsworth. The result is his first solo album in thirteen years, following "Water" (1993), "Here's To Special Treatment" (1994), and "Soundtrack To My Movie" (1995). In that time, he's recorded and performed in Commander Venus, Park Ave., Desaparecidos, and most notably Bright Eyes, his main musical vehicle for the past decade.

Monsters of Folk is a collaboration of Conor Oberst, Jim James, M. Ward- three of this generations most critically acclaimed voices and Mike Mogis , one of the most sought after producers working today.

While touring in support of last year's debut "Conor Oberst", Conor and The Mystic Valley Band began writing new songs. The result is the first album credited to this group. Oberst's songwriting and delivery remain an engaging presence, but the addition of songs by Taylor Hollingsworth, Nik Freitas, and Jason Boesel make for a multi-textured and colorful collaboration. The Mystic Valley band also includes Macey Taylor and Nathaniel Walcott.

Conor Oberst assembled a special band in Mexico for this recording, known amongst themselves and to friends as The Mystic Valley Band. Members include Nate Walcott, Jason Boesel, Macey Taylor, Nik Freitas, and Taylor Hollingsworth. The result is his first solo album in thirteen years, following "Water" (1993), "Here's To Special Treatment" (1994), and "Soundtrack To My Movie" (1995). In that time, he's recorded and performed in Commander Venus, Park Ave., Desaparecidos, and most notably Bright Eyes, his main musical vehicle for the past decade.