We've got your reissue of NEXT year right here kids... REVENGE - One True Passion. Remember when New Order took a break after the release of Technique? Well Peter Hook wasn't just hangin around doin nothing. Hook formed Revenge with what would eventually become the members of Monaco and released 'One True Passion' on Factory in 1990. Revenge were chastity belts, synths and industrial intensity and this new 2-cd set on LTM contains over two hours of music digitally remastered, retooled and reconfigured by Hook and David Potts. The second disc contains unreleased demos and rare remixes... and it's all wrapped up in sleek Peter Saville style.

One of the final holdout bands from the days of Britpop yore, SHED SEVEN, have decided to split following their current UK tour. The surprise announcement today reveals that these final live dates will be "a celebration, a retrospective, a Shed Seven tour to remember," and stresses that the band's greatest hits catalogue will be showcased alongside "lost gems" not often heard at Shed Seven gigs. Despite nearly continuous critical backlash for their entire career, Shed Seven managed to outlast most of their Britpop contemporaries, and we here at Excellent are a little wistful to see 'em go.

What a complete and total waste. ELLIOTT SMITH, the Portland native who had basically become the poet laureate of the indie community over the last few years, was found with an apparant self-inflicted knife wound at his home yesterday morning. Smith was rushed to local hospital and an hour later declared dead. Smith's rather open struggles with drug and alcohol abuse were well documented in the lyrics of his many solo albums, though his recent lack of production had many wondering if his personal demons had returned (one 7" single was released this year, the first new output from him in almost two years.) Smith was said to be working on a new record at his time of death. He leaves us with some of the most fragile, beautiful albums of our day, and fond memories of a VERY out-of-place Academy Award performance of "Miss Misery," his nominated track from "Good Will Hunting." Shame.

If you have any personal Elliott Smith stories--of meeting the man, chance encounters, please email liz with them. We are compiling recollections for an article with mundane sounds. While we appreciate the "i never did, but I was a fan" stories please keep in mind we are looking for personal stories.

What is going on with all of the car accidents involving touring indie bands? Apparently something has happened to Calvin Johnson's DUB NARCOTIC SOUND SYSTEM. The following statement is from K Records:

Dear Friends,
Dub Narcotic Sound System was involved in a single car accident in the early morning of Oct. 15. Calvin, Heather and Chris are all OKAY, but Chris and Calvin's injuries required hospitalization. All of us at K appreciate your concern for the band's health and outlook. We will keep you updated on this site. It is already anticpated that there will be some major hospital bills to pay. We are researching all the insurance/aid options, but if you would like to help we have set up the "Dub Narcotic Sound System Medical Fund." Please make checks/money orders payable to the Dub Narcotic Sound System and send them to Box 7154 Oympia, WA 98507 or click here to make a credit card contribution. Thank you.

The following cryptic message appeared on the official EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL forum from Ben Watt:

"hi. six months and not much from us. sorry, everyone. i have been very busy with opening a new club in london called neighbourhood and running my small independent label, buzzin' fly. however, i am almost finished on the solo project i mentioned earlier this year which features guests but not tracey. i am hoping to release it early next year. on the subject of tracey, i would like to register my dislike at several posts on this forum from people taking exception to tracey's choice as family-maker. there are enough useless celebrity mums out there ruining their kids lives with lack of attention, self-centredness, divorces, endless nannies and babysitters. tracey is doing a far more important job now than she ever did before as a singer. get real, people! she has given us 20 years of great music. she is allowed to stop if she wants. we all have to move on at certain points in our life. i am prepared for the fact that EBTG may be over, if not for ever then a least a long while, hence buzzin fly, neighbourhood, cherry jam, beth orton, djing, remixing, solo project etc. i am certainly not sitting around moping that life isn't the same, or DEMANDING that tracey sing again. if she does i will welcome it with open arms. if she doesn't, it was truly great while it lasted, but life goes on. so, to all of us out there i say: pick up your life and get on with it ... best and respect .. ben watt ... and just for the record, remember: who ever thought the eagles would re-form??? "

The end?

The rumor mill has exploded in new info again. It appears that NY indierockers BLONDE REDHEAD have signed a deal with the legendary 4AD Records. Hmm... One-Third Japanese, Two-Thirds Italian... Can I even call them NYers? Well anyway... the sixth album is in the works. Expect an official announcement from the label soon.

After some hemming and hawing it appears the BLUETONES US tour for November has been postponed. The dates that were being held in NY, LA, San Fran and Chicago have been cancelled. Due to the US release of 'Luxembourg' now falling in January 2004, the band felt they should come over when the record is released. November would have been good, but I guess we'll have to 'Cut Some Rug' in the new year instead.

Finally some news on one of our favorite US indiepop bands.

It's been almost a year and a half since any new material from OF MONTREAL... which, for that band, is a bit of a record.

Here's what we HAVE known: Following the band's last release, "Aldhil's Arboretum," in January of 2002, Of Montreal parted with longtime label Kindercore Records. Talk during the tour was that they were planning a double album follow-up, featuring one record of uplifting pop, and another record of down-tempo, moody numbers. That tour was also the last to feature guitarist Andy Gonzales, who left the band in mid-2002 to return to school and focus on his own project, The Marshmallow Coast. In February of 2003, Of Montreal contributed their only new track of the year, "Sad Love," to Excellent Online's own "Flirt!" free mp3 compilation. About the same time, Of Montreal frontman Kevin Barnes set off with his girlfriend and brother, playing low-key performance art gigs under the name A Pollinaire Rave. Finally, we learned that earlier this summer, Barnes tied the knot with his girlfriend Nina (formerly of cult Scando faves Ethnobabes.)

Sorry kids... There's been an illness in the Supergrass family and they've had to pull out of their existing US tour. The last four dates of the tour (DC and NYC) have been cancelled. No word on who will be opening for Radiohead at Madison Square Garden later this week.

MATTHEW JAY has often been compared to seminal folk rocker Nick Drake, and sadly, now there's another way to draw similarities. Jay died this past Wednesday after falling seven stories to his death from a window. While suicide appears to be a likely cause, no note was left at the scene. The Brit singer-songwriter was only 24 years old. Jay's debut album, "Draw," drew praise from critics and fans alike, including many a vote on Excellent Online's own end-of-the-year poll for 2001. Jay was working on the follow-up at the time of his death.