Sweden's illustrious Cardigans have invited you along on a recording tour of their new album. Their album diary follows them on their journey from Sweden, to Spain to England, to the moon and back again as they record and produce the upcoming record. Look out for a less electronic and more "live" feel to the new album.
PS. If you want to enter their 'contest'... try reading the gossip at Tambourine Studios.

EMI/Capitol has just compiled 20 of The Stranglers top cuts for a new release. The compilation is to be titled 'Peaches: The Best of The Stranglers" and is set for a US release on 11 February 2003. The band is on tour this week and next in the UK.

The Australian Go-Betweens are finishing up their new album, 'Bright Yellow Bright Orange', to meet a release date in February 2003 on Circus Records. This is the Go-Betweens first album since 2000's 'Friends of Rachel Worth' that put them back on the map. The band's indie classic "Streets Of Your Town" was included on Ivy's recent cover album 'Guestroom'.

The Register posted the news about how BMG will include copy-protection on all their CD's. And we're all affected because BMG has a handful of labels underneath them, some artists are: Strokes, Sloan, David Gray and The Calling.

In one of the most celebrated returns of a modern indierock hero, Johnny Marr is back. His new band The Healers will be releasing their debut album 'Boomslang' on Feb 3, 2002 on iMusic. Produced and written by Johnny in his Manchester studio, we should expect a preview of the new material on January 20 when the first single 'Bangin' On' is to be released in the UK.
"I try to keep myself curious and interesting, otherwise life's wasted and I wouldn' t feel I had anything to say. The way the music comes out is just how I sound these days."

The Healers are Johnny on vox and guitars, Alonza Bevan ex-Kula Shaker on bass, ex-Kula Shaker and Zak Starkey (Ringo's son) banging the drums. A UK tour is being planned for early next year. I'll keep you updated on US release dates and tour news.

The Metro in Chicago is set to be the site of a special New Year's Eve gig by the Flaming Lips. Tickets can be purchased TODAY at noon (CDT) at any Ticketmaster outlet or www.ticketmaster.com. This gig is not being announced to the public until Saturday at 9 AM. Tickets are 75 USD plus fees.

Editorial note: What a great way to ring in the new year and celebrate the Metro's 20th Anniversary!

I don't blatantly plug other websites very often, but Joseph at Mundane Sounds is running a little contest that may be of interest to you. By answering a few simple questions about Harper Lee you can win your very own copy of Matinee Recordings current sampler.

Psst, while you're at the site, check out the word association with Harper Lee's Keris Howard (ex- Trembling Blue Star).

Mute Records and Moby have announced a contest for developing directors. By emailing a 2mb (or less) video treatment (utilizing any song from 18) to info@d-e-f.com (include VIDEO COMP as the subject ) you could have the opportunity to direct a new video for Moby. Moby will personally select his favorite idea and then a 5,000 GBP budget will be awarded to the winter to direct a video for possible release.
Entries will be accepted until November 30, 2002. Further information is available at Mute or Moby's website.

A lawsuit has been filed in the US federal courts against Blondie and Left Bank Records. The suit charges that they failed to pay Craig Leon (producer of 1999's No Exit album) the royalties owed to him in excess of 130,000 USD.

North America is set to get a special treat from The Jam on November 26. Interscope/UME will be releasing a double DVD collection of Jam videos and European telly appearances that span the band's 1977-1982 career. To the rare Jam fan who has managed to grab a copy of 1984's 'Video Snap', this new DVD release adds a lot of material, and it's all been digitally remastered. As if all this wasn't enough, we're also set to receive detailed liner notes and collectable postcards in the package.