Vice Recordings has an idea that the best rock music comes from New York City. They might have a point if you consider the new cd they will be releasing on June 3. The album, titled Yes New York, will be released as a benefit for Musicians On Call and contains tracks from Interpol, The Strokes, Longwave, Le Tigre, Ted Leo, The Rogers Sisters and many more.

I recently upgraded my Mac to iTunes version 4 and noticed that Apple's little "Music Store" has been built into iTunes now. I played around for awhile, experimented with finding a few things i'd want and have reached a conclusion: With the exception of not having to run other software to gain instant access to music, this is a pile of dung.

Mundane Sounds has come up with a new idea called Instores Across America to bring attention to the benefits of independent record stores. According to the website, Instores Across America has a two-fold purpose,"First, Instores Across America is designed to bring people into their local independent record stores for some live music. In the "bigger picture," Instores Across America is designed as a day for the supporters of independent business and independent music to STAND UP to the "music" chains that are growing stronger, as well as to generally remind the world why smaller is better." Instores Across America is currently slated to happen on May 17, please check out their website for further information and to get involved.

The Datsuns/The Sights
Berbati's Pan
Portland, OR
4/10/2003

Once again, I was suckered in by hype. This happens a lot. There are certain types of people, sadly such as myself that tend to buy whatever shows up on the cover of particular magazines, as well as the artists that grace the tops of the prestigious indie charts.

In a warm up to the June 7 headling slot at the Field Day Festival, RADIOHEAD have announced a show the night before at the Beacon Theatre in NYC. The band has put a pair of front row tickets online at eBay with all proceeds going to charity. The Beacon show will be broadcast at a later day on MTV. No word yet on a US tour, we'll keep you updated.

Indiesynthpop duo The Postal Service are taking to the road this weekend for a month long US tour. The band (a collaboration between Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Dntel's Jimmy Tamborello) have just hit the #1 spot on the CMJ college radio airplay chart with their Sub Pop release 'Give Up'. According to a recent MTV interview, in order to keep the audience interested in a performance that is basically 2 boys and a laptop... they plan on showing videos during each tune. Also appearing on stage will be Rilo Kelly singer Jenny Lewis who also contributes backing vocals on the full length album.

The new RADIOHEAD album was leaked on the Internet last week. "Hail to the Thief" is scheduled to be released in June but a rough copy that hasn't been mastered found it's way on several sites last week. This was confirmed when Nigel Godrich (their producer) posted on the Radiohead Messageboard:

"Its the rough mixes ....
some tracks not even finished.
aint that a bitch?
Not really what I'd want the world to hear, frankly.
boo."

And in other news, I found this interview with the "guy" that provided the vocals for "Fitter Happier".

In what might be the first good anti-war song released since the latest Gulf incursion, R.E.M. has stepped onto the playing field by making a rough studio mix of their new song "The Final Straw" available on their website. The song, which is set to appear on the forthcoming 2004 R.E.M. album, clearly expresses disdain for the US government's current war in Iraq.

A note on the site expresses Michael Stipe's desire to release the song prior to the album completion. "This is the strongest voice I could think of to send out there. We had to send something out there now. We are praying and hoping for the lives of all people involved, the troops, the Iraqi civilians, refugees, pow's, families of troops, the innocents-- that they are safe and okay. Safe home, all."

In an official word from THE STROKES, they've gone back to the studio to start work on the sophomore album. The New York five piece has decided to start laying down a few tracks with famed Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. If all goes well they will continue working with Godrich otherwise... they've left it up in the air as to whom they might employ next. They are *aiming* at the new album being out Late August or September but certainly can't be held to that timeframe yet.

In an effort to get the record out there will be NO UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS. Apparently they get lots of email about this, so leave em alone, there's no chance until sometime after the album release. After that point, they are expected to attempt tours in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Canada, Europe and the US. A few of the songs you might have heard live in the past are expected to make the new disc, including: "You Talk Way Too Much", "The Way It Is", "Meet Me in the Bathroom" and "I Can't Win".

Louis Philippe sent us a message just for you. :-)

"Quite a few American fans have asked me if and when my new album, My Favourite Part of You, would be available in the US...I'm sorry to say that we haven't found any licensing deal so far. BUT the album will be available in so-called "specialist" shops - I'm thinking of Other Music in NYC, for example - from 25 March onwards. You can already order it on the web from www.XIIIbis.com, and a link will be put up on my website, www.louisphilippe.co.uk.

Apologies for this shameless bit of self-promotion. And many thanks to my American friends, who have been so patient and so loyal over the years. One last thing: make sure you vote next time, and don't let a fundamentalist cross-eyed war-crazed monkey in the White House. I have spoken.
Peace to you all.
Louis"