The CANDYSKINS reissues, due on the wonderful Velvel label, have been pushed back to the summer. All three previous Candyskins albums are set to be rereleased stateside, including the third album, which has never before been released in America.

The rather nice people at Velvel records will be rereleasing the complete CANDYSKINS back-catalog on February 23rd. The first two Candyskins albums, "Space I'm In" and "Fun" were previously issued on Geffen, while their third album "Sunday Morning Fever" has never before been released in the U.S. The 'Skins current album "Death of a Minor TV Celebrity" made the top albums of the year listed as voted by the Excellent UK-Indie mailer, and the band is being tipped by Sonicnet as rising stars for 99. Nice going, lads!

The Candyskins have had a tough go at it. Debuting in 1991 with their album, "Space I'm In," the Oxford 5-piece created a sound that was Britpoppius Rex -- a wonderful pop sensibility unfortunately about four years ahead of its time for success. Mocked by the press and dropped by labels, most bands in the same boat would surely abandon ship. But the Candyskins are no Jurassic beasts -- they rode the storm to an unexpected UK Top 40 hit with 1996's "Monday Morning." Now, with the release of their fourth album, "Death of a Minor TV Celebrity," currently out in the States on the astounding Velvel label, the band are trying once again to conquer our side of the pond, drumming up grass roots support by mounting a massive tour of some less-than-massive venues throughout the US. On October 11th, the band took to the stage at Chicago's Schubas, and Excellent Online was front row center. Delivering a blinding set to a packed house of both old fans and new, this was the sound of a band in the middle of an energized rebirth, a band taking baby steps to greatness.

After the show, we had a chance to sit down with Candyskins frontman Nick Cope

Interview by Shane Brown and Stuart Forrest Reid

The Candyskins first American tour in years is now official. Click on Tours for the itinerary. Also, it appears that the E.A.R. tour has been postponed for about a month.

More bad news to report. While we still haven't seen an official source for this news, it seems clear that the EMBRACE tour of the U.S. is off, at least for now. There's been some talk that the band will set new U.S. dates in January. In happier news, THE CANDYSKINS look to be touring the U.S. briefly in late October. As soon as we get the details, we will post them in tours. Finally, top U.S. popsters PAPAS FRITAS are set to hit the road in anticipation of their third album. Click on tours for all the details.