This week sees the Shifty Disco UK release of the debut record from MEISTER, a new supergroup revolving around Japanese guitarist Ryo Matsui... and for once, they're not lying when using the tagline "supergroup," as the line-up on this album reads as a who's-who of our favorite musicians. Matsui's band is rounded out by Nick Beggs (yes, THAT Nick Beggs out of Kajagoogoo) on bass and Loz Colbert (ex-Ride) on drums. The album also features a revolving door of guest vocalists, including Sice (ex-Boo Radleys,) Manda Rin (ex-Bis,) Idha (wife of ex-Ride guitarist and current Oasis bassist Andy Bell,) Gary Stringer (of Reef fame,) and more! The easiest way for stateside folks to grab the album is via the fine folks at OxfordMusic.Net. We've used OxfordMusic.Net for Shifty Disco orders in the past, and they're VERY timely, reliable, and all-around good people. This is a do-not-miss record for the musicians involved alone!

In honor of his beloved Red Sox who apparently have a chance this year at World Series play... Joe Pernice has penned a new song available for download on his website. An ode to Manny Ramirez, the song "Moonshot Manny (Pega Luna Manny)" came about as...

"At some point in the middle of the season I started singing, "Manny hit me home with a moonshot, baby" to the TV set every time Manny would step up to the plate. Just as my falsetto was shaping up fairly and the tune was actually becoming a song, my wife started singing it too. Then our friends joined in. Pretty soon a gang of us was dancing around the apartment, singing the tune and making a racket of our own."

All proceeds for the song are being donated to First Night Boston, a community-based outreach and arts education program.

Sad day kids. Yesterday afternoon in his LA home Johnny Ramone of The Ramones passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer. Johnny Ramone, guitarist and co-founder, was 55.

It's taken Tears For Fears quite awhile to gather the old crew back together and record an album, but that album is about to hit the street on Tuesday. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending will finally see a release on American shelves on this week and along with it comes not only an extensive tour but about 12 million dates on US television. Ok, 12 million was an exageration, but not by much...

KTLA Morning News - 9/13 (Los Angeles),
Tonight Show - 9/14,
Conan OBrien - 9/21,
Carson Daly - 9/22,
CNN The Biz - 9/23,
A&E Breakfast with the Arts - 9/24,
Today Show - 9/25,
Late Late Show - 9/27,
Jimmy Kimmell - 10/18

DAFT PUNK released a Japanese animation movie called 'Interstella 5555' which uses their album, 'Discovery' as a soundtrack. Actually, that's the only thing you'll hear in the movie as there's no dialog, so it's more like a full-length music video. They just released action figures based on the characters from the movie on their official site. They're 55.55 pounds and only 5,555 sets were made.

What's that you say? That's not the original cover of the Super Furry Animals single 'The Man Don't Give A F#ck'? Nope... sure isn't. It's a *new* one. The Furries classic bring-down-the-man anthem is being re-released on September 20 as a prelude to the forthcoming Songbook (to be released on Oct 4 in the UK). While the live version of 'The Man Don't Give A F%ck' included on the single was recorded at the Hammersmith Apollo on the last night of the band's Spring tour this year, it won't appear on Songbook... the band's first singles compilation. So what will be on Songbook?

Gotta say we (ok, me) love the trend of cute lil Flash games that coincide with new releases. You can now play Tour De Glasgow and peddle yer little bicycle through the maze of Scottish streets while bopping along to the forthcoming new Delgados record 'Universal Audio'... oh and you get a bonus for cycling over people with pies!

You can also peddle away with a new iPod if yer lucky. The Delgados UK label Chemikal Underground Records is holding a little contest where you can not only win a new ipod but the pod comes loaded with the label's entire back catalogue (Bis, Mogwai, Aerogramme, the Delgados and more).

American rock stars aren't the only ones prone to indulgence despite what you may have assumed by P Diddy's new HP iPod encrusted with 120 diamonds. For instance.... back when Oasis was still selling out arenas Alan McGee, former head of Creation Records, presented Noel Gallagher with a 1978 Rolls Royce Shadow 2, in fact this 1978 Rolls Royce. Yes, that is a link to eBay UK where the current owner is auctioning it off. With 8 days left the bidding is only up to £10,000... I'd expect it'll end up a lot higher. Didn't anyone tell Noel it wasn't nice to sell off presents?

In other Noel news (oh yes I'm making a BIG assumption that you actually care), he's supporting fellow Mancunian Ian Brown by showing up in his new video for 'Keep What Ya Got'. Oh the irony...

As if the Kings of Convenience could be any more adorable... they have produced a new video for their new UK single, 'I'd Rather Dance With You'. Cuter than puppies and kittens flying kites and pushing each other on swings, and other cute things.

"Do you want to be in the new KILLERS video? Call this casting agency - they're looking for people. And give them my name, too, okay?"
Thus began my second excursion into the world of the music video (we'll not mention the fiasco that was The Bluetones 'Fast Boy', okay?). So I rang up the number my friend Nina gave me, and discovered the shoot was happening on Monday, around the corner on Brick Lane, and that I was in the right age group they wanted. I was told to arrive at 1pm and to wear what I would to a gig, but wear neutral colours ONLY. I mean, we don't want to show up the band in a purple catsuit or anything...