File this one under "Cutest Thing In the World EVER." An elementary school music teacher in Menlo Park, California has filmed his students performing THE POLYPHONIC SPREE track "Light and Day." The end result is something between The Langley Schools Music Project and Muppet Babies gone to hell. It'll make you smile.

"Light and Day"
Oak Knoll Elementary School

Well, it's official. Our favorite Scottish Band That Could, the TRASH CAN SINATRAS, have signed a deal with spinART Records for their new album, "Weightlifting" (not to be confused with the Weightlifting EP released by the band earlier this year!) The record will be out August 31st, with a FULL U.S. TOUR IN SEPTEMBER! The Trashies have long been one of our favorite bands, and their web community is too beautiful for words (the band's online fans have continually raised money for the group with donations and homemade releases - it's really magical.) We're SO excited that they're back.

Bobby and Beth are back. They've bounced back from their split with Shinkansen to a new label (Elefant) and are preparing a limited edition single, "Southern Skies Appear Brighter". The advance single hasn't been officially released yet but is available now through Elefant and Darla. The five song sampler is a preview of their new album "The Seven Autumn Flowers" that Spanish label Elefant will release worldwide this fall.

You know, when it comes to 15+ member pop bands, one name stands out from all the rest! Well, okay, so only one name exists. THE POLYPHONIC SPREE are set to return next month with their highly anticipated sophomore album, "Together We're Heavy." And, to kick things off, the band's website, thepolyphonicspree.com, is prepping a pretty cool offer. For only $60 through the online store at the band's site, you can now order what's being referred as the "Ensure Your Reservation" package. Shipped in order to arrive on the album's release date of 7/13, the package contains:

- a copy of the new CD autographed by EVERY member of the band
- a limited edition technicolor robe as featured in the album art
- an exclusive Polyphonic DVD entitled, "The Earth Giving Birth"
- an exclusive image of the band available nowhere else
- the ever-popular "other special surprises"

Kind of a cool idea, we think. Noodling around on the band's revamped site will also allow you to hear audio snippets from the new record. Very cool.

It hasn't been a good month for Pete Doherty of the LIBERTINES. As you probably know by now, Pete was kicked out of the band months ago for excessive and self-destructive drug use. After first being thrown in jail for trying to rob bandmate Carl Barat's house, Doherty was eventually released from prison and welcomed back into the Libertines fold. This month, however, Doherty checked himself into The Priory, the UK's famed drug rehabilitation clinic. During his stay, Doherty was posted on message boards and forums about his struggle to stay clean and his experiences in rehab, which included a rather chilling post about being placed on suicide watch. A few days later, Doherty checked himself out of the clinic. Last Friday, according to NME, Doherty gave an interview to a UK tabloid wherein he basically sacked himself from the band, claimed that Barat had "given up" on him, and spoke of checking into a French rehab facility. A band spokesman now confirms today that Doherty was indeed taken to a French clinic by his mother. No word how this will affect the Libertines' second album and upcoming tour, both slated for early summer.

Okay, maybe I made the header sound overly dramatic for the sake of alliteration, but this is an interesting bit we grabbed off the wire today. The Camden Council in North London has served anti-social behavior orders to three top advertising executives at Sony and BMG today -- a charge that could carry up to five years in prison. Why? For illegally flyposting on buildings, pillars, and statues around London. Apparantly the Council couldn't take staring at one more excessive poster of that Darkness bloke, eh? From what we understand it, the behavior order is similar to a "cease-and-desist" over here -- either flyposting stops... or the major label marketing people find themselves in the slammer for five years (a pretty high price to pay for plastering George Michael's head onto a phone pole.) The whole story can be read in the current issue of The Telegraph.

Is Canada the new England?

Just when the South Park gang taught us that Canada is evil, now they go and start injecting some culture into our lives.

First the Hidden Cameras come along to prove Canadians can be twee, too... and now the TRAILER PARK BOYS have supplanted The Office as the most talked-about show on BBC America.

The show, shot in a similar mockumentary style as The Office, is a low-key chuckle-fest about the wonderful world of Canadian trailer trash, and it's been making us grin for a while now since debuting on our side of the pond... err, horizontal line. Don't believe us? On the BBC America website, you can check out a host of clips.

Anyways, we just wanted to put in a quick plug, coz it's a pretty funny show. Thursdays at 9, BBC America, dig it. They're re-running the first season now, and the second season debuts on BBC America later this summer.

Tonight marks the start of Morrissey's residence on "The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn." He'll be sitting down for an interview tonight and will be the musical guest tonight and every night for the rest of the week. He's expected to play all new material from his recently released "You Are The Quarry". You can hear clips of the new record on MorrisseyMusic.com

In a statement to the press Kilborn was quoted as saying, "We're thrilled to have Morrissey back... His music conveys the loneliness and despair of a man hosting a 12:30 a.m. talk show on CBS."

NOTE FROM SHANE: Last week, Kilborn had Rachel Leigh Cook on as a guest. When the topic switched to Morrissey's appearances on the show this week, Cook chimed in, "Craig, I would've guessed you were the kind of guy who beat up Morrissey fans in high school." It was a moment of genius.

UPDATE 5/25/04: Well, Mozzer bailed on the taping last night... apparantly he's a bit jeg-lagged and under the weather, according to Kilborn. On the show last night, they said he still has plans to perform later this week, but, just like Sam Cassell, his status is day-to-day.

NOTE FROM SHANE 5/25/04: Yes, I DID just compare Morrissey to an NBA player. What of it? (And seriously, we're an impartial website. We really are. But GO T-WOLVES! Now go listen to some indie music.)

It was around two years ago that we were telling you that THE MOONEY SUZUKI were destined to be more popular than The Strokes. Okay, we were a bit wrong. But back then, the Mooney's first album, "People Get Ready," was a breath of fresh (albeit a touch retro) air in the stagnant zeitgeist of the garage rock explosion. A few years on, and the Mooneys have done something that's either going to bring them acclaim or get them laughed off the musical horizon...

RACHEL GOSWELL, her once of Slowdive, now of Mojave 3, and always of Shane's ultimate fantasies, is releasing her first solo EP in the UK this week. "The Sleep Shelter EP" is out on 4AD, to be followed by her debut solo album, "Waves Are Universal," due next month. Goswell's solo efforts are said to be less experimental than her oft-breathy, surreal vocals showcased so well in her other outfits. There's yet to be any definitive word of a US release date, but the EP is available for full download plus artwork for 3 pounds via 4AD's website.