I've always assumed that BJORK sprouted into life or something equally hazy, somewhere in a mythical fairy land. Sure I realized she had a father, afterall someone had to be named Gudmund.

Bjork's mother, Hildur Runa Hauksdottir, has apparently taken to social activisim in Iceland. She is on a hunger strike to prevent Alcoa and the Icelandic government from creating a power plant and smelter (?) near the Vatnajokull glacier.

Checkout the full story on Billboard.

Yesterday, on what would have been JOHN LENNON's 62nd Birthday (Oct. 9) , YOKO ONO has awarded the first ever LennonOno Grant for Peace. She awarded the prize of 50,000 USD to two artists from Palestine and Isreal on the work they've done to promote peace during "the intense political situation we all live in." Secretary-General of the UN, Kofi Annan was quoted as saying, "peace is everybody's business -- not just an issue for governments."

On an secondary note, Mark David Chapman was denied parole again yesterday for the second time.

I just downloaded the new BECK microsite and it's pretty cool. Here are the links for the PC version and the Mac version. For the Windows version, just download it and run through the very quick installer and you'll end up with a Beck icon on your desktop. Make sure to adjust the playlist in the "Music" section so you can listen to the whole album.

No, it's not another best of poll, it's time for CMJ! (btw, take note Shane is obviously wearing off on me, i just used the word "folks").

The music world will be converging on NYC again this year from October 30th to November 2nd. Ahem, tickets and hotel reservations should have already been booked now, but if you haven't... HURRY! Among new features of the conference this year are a DIY seminar and an entire track of programs for music retailers.

A few of acts at CMJ include: The Chemical Brothers, Simian, Kid Koala, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sigur Ros, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Walkmen, Ben Kweller, Sahara Hotnights, The Mooney Suzuki, Bright Eyes, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Aberdeen, Anna Waronker (ex-That Dog), Blonde Redhead, The Blood Group, Dressy Bessy, Dirty Vegas (DJ Set), I Am The World Trade Center, Idlewild, King of France, Ladytron (DJ Set), Love Life, Metric, Moldy Peaches, The Music, OK GO, Parker and Lily, The Ocean Blue, Polyphonic Spree, Soviet, Sprites, Stereo Total, Venus Hum, Trembling Blue Stars, VHS or Beta, and on and on and on...

Hmmm. Statements from the PULP camp have been a little concerning lately, "Pulp aren't technically splitting up, but neither are they making any plans to return to the studio for the foreseeable future." So what's the difference between "technically" splitting up and no longer recording as a band?

In the meantime, to release themselves from their Island record deal they are releasing a best of package ('Pulp Hits') on November 18th in the UK. To be featured on the new album are: Babies / Razzmatazz / Lipgloss / Do You Remember the First Time? / Common People / Underwear / Sorted for E's & Wizz / Disco 2000 / Something Changed / Help The Aged / This is Hardcore / A Little Soul / Party Hard / The Trees / Bad Cover Version / Sunrise / The Last Day of the Miners' Strike (new song).

So the trend continues of adding bonus songs to UK artist's US releases. DOT ALLISON's US release of 'We Are Science' will have a remix of "Substance" by FELIX DA HOUSECAT and a remix of "We're Only Science" by SLAM. The album is to be released domestically on Beggars on November 5.

So you say you want a revolution? So do Robert '3-D' Del Naja of MASSIVE ATTACK and Damon Albarn of BLUR. As the NME has been reporting for awhile, the pair have been teaming up with CND and 'Stop The War' coalition to register their dissent with the British government's involvement in an upcoming (aka on-going) war in Iraq. 3-D has been extremely active in advertising his resistence through the NME and actively attempting to involve fellow musicians. According to a new NME story, their attempts are only to escalate as the push for war increases.

On a music related note, the new MASSIVE ATTACK album, as yet untitled, is still scheduled for a UK release on January 27. No word yet on an anti-war theme. ;-)

Currently available for download on OF MONTREAL's official website is a free live album recorded live at the Eyedrum in Atlanta last April. Included in the live set are such highlights are Peacock Parasols, Sleeping in the Beetle Bug and Penelope.

OF MONTREAL are currently on tour.

Over at News.com, they're running a story about how the NAPSTER creator, Shawn Fanning, has sold the rights to his life story to MTV. In other music industry news, the Onion is reporting that the RIAA is suing Radio Stations. Laugh, it's funny.

Due to a mixup with obtaining the correct visa documents, THE FALL have once again cancelled their US tour. I'm sure most venue's will be offering a full refund for advance ticket sales. Please contact the venue in your area for details.
The following statement was sent to each venue's booking agent:

"first of all thanks for your help so far.I'm sorry for not being in touch but only this week we lost hope and have now decided to cancel the tour, as the visa-application should have been processed first, and then a tour booked. I understand this is the correct procedure, but as you know Ed just booked the tour without making sure we would have a visa. The agency you recommended seemed hopeful at first,but it soon became clear that the processing times are too long at the present moment. I am very sorry that due to the strict visa regulations we cannot do anything else but cancel all shows. Any further bookings in the future will certainly be made in the correct way.
Mark E. Smith apologises to all fans and promoters."