I’m not usually one to cut-and-paste a post out of someone else’s post or–worse yet–a press release, but seeing as how Matt @ The Music Slut is one of my favourite bloggers, and this is such a fantastic and brilliant project, I want to make sure all of you get the scoop in time.

Here’s Matt explaining it in his own words:

“As many of you are well aware, I’m a massive Morrissey fan. In fact, ‘massive’ might just be an understatement. As Mozzer’s 50th birthday approaches (May 22nd), I wanted to celebrate in some sort of special manner. After much deliberation, I decided that a covers project would be the perfect way for The Music Slut to mark the occasion. Over the course of the last few months, I’ve asked a bevy of my favorite artists to contribute tracks to TMS Hearts Moz. Highlighting a selection of their choice, the result is a 19 song compilation that includes renditions of Smiths favorites, Morrissey rarities and nearly everything in between. I’m so proud to present this to you, our dear readers, and I’m forever thankful to each of the acts that took time out of their busy schedules to submit their own interpretations of some of my most cherished tunes. Beginning on May 4th, and concluding on May 28th, one cover will be profiled & available for free download every weekday at 4PM EST.”

Ain’t that the best news you’ve heard about a 50-year-old pop idol all day?
The full list of artists included on TMS Hearts Moz:

A Brief Smile http://www.abriefsmile.com
Bridges & Powerlines http://bridgesandpowerlines.com
Chris Garneau http://www.chrisgarneau.com
Deleted Scenes http://www.deletedscenesmusic.com
Exit Clov http://www.exitclov.com
Free Blood http://www.myspace.com/freeblood
The Glass http://www.theglassnyc.com
Laura Palmer http://www.myspace.com/laurapalmermusic
Max Vernon http://www.myspace.com/maxvernon
Microfilm http://www.microfilmmusic.com
Mixel Pixel http://www.mixelpixel.com
My Burgundy Waltz http://www.myspace.com/myburgundywaltz
Pattern Is Movement http://www.myspace.com/patternismovement
The Physics Of Meaning http://www.thephysicsofmeaning.com
Sharon Van Etten http://www.sharonvanetten.com
Soren Anders http://www.myspace.com/sorenanders
Spanish Prisoners http://www.myspace.com/spanishprisoners
Teddy Blanks http://www.blanksspace.com
Unicycle Loves You http://www.unicyclelovesyou.com

And to whet our appetite, here’s a pair for all the hipsters out there:

MP3: Colin Meloy “Jack The Ripper”
MP3: Colin Meloy “Every Day Is Like Sunday”