Excellent Online

If you're in LA, you can catch the world premiere of a new documentary... of a documentary? Yes, I'm a little confused but apparently starting December 9 you can catch (THIS IS KNOWN AS) THE BLUES SCALE at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. According to the press release...

Director David Markey presents a film of rare, never-before-seen outtakes of his documentary 1991: THE YEAR PUNK BROKE (1992, We Got Power Films, 99 min.) from the fabled Sonic Youth/Nirvana tour. A cinematic postscript that is just as entertaining and stimulating as its movie parent, with Sonic Youth singer/guitarist and all-round-rabble-rouser Thurston Moore proving a devilishly funny ringmaster to the circus of backstage antics. Featuring more performance footage of Sonic Youth and Nirvana as well as pungent commentary by Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo, Dave Grohl, and others.

So I wasn't so far off about it being a documentary about a documentary... was I?

The Dears released their latest album, No Cities Left, in the US a month ago to quite a lot of fanfare. The once hidden Montreal supergroup have been making a name for themselves by playing a million live shows around the world. Unfortunately, due to a hiccup in scheduling they've had to cancel a few shows and will be touring this holiday season mostly along the US west coast. Sincere apologies have come from the band for having to cancel shows in Denver, Chicago, Buffalo, etc. They'll be spending the holidays holed up in the Canadian cold laying down the dozen or so songs they've worked up so far as a followup to NCL. Then it's back to the road with a massive UK and European tour starting up again in January.

It may not be obvious but Saint Etienne have had a busy year. They've released not one but two compilation/mix cd's, an American Best of through SubPop and have been putting their finishing touches on a new record, all the while growing their little family with new children and marriages. They've recorded 23 tracks (!) for the new disc... and Bob has let a few details slip here and there. If you'd like a preview... you can join the few of us who are making the trip overseas for their London New Years Eve show with The Concretes and The Magic Numbers.
I was lucky enough to catch a live set by the Magic Numbers in London in March and was absolutely floored. Keep an eye out for new material from them on Heavenly Records, or you could take a peek at their video for 'Hymn For Her' at NME.

Rumor has it that Morrissey's final shows in LA featured him in a vicar's outfit. Not to worry, he apparently still showed off his abs during the ripped shirt portion of his encores. What a perfect tie-in to his new single, I Have Forgiven Jesus. Purely unintentional I'm sure. Moz will be releasing A DVD/CD deluxe edition of "You Are The Quarry" stateside in December. The DVD will feature many new b-sides to American audiences as well as video performances of his Kilborn stint and several music videos. The album marks Moz's most successful release to date (including all Smiths releases) so we're not quite sure why a re-release is needed.
Oh wait, I'm supposed to put editorial content in italics... oops. ;-)

In other unnecessary re-releases, Franz Ferdinand have reissued their debut record for American audiences this past Tuesday to include all the b-sides from their British singles. Apparently, the four US tours in a year weren't enough to catapult their name back onto the top 20 of the "college" radio charts. Oh right, I've neglected to mention they are on their way back to the states for a bevy of radio holiday shows. Well good luck with that...

They've been quiet as of late, so it shouldn't be too shocking but GENE have thrown in the towel. Martin Rossiter confirmed tonight in the UK (um, that's today here) to Olympians Online that there will be no more new material, and no more shows... well except for the single they'll be releasing next Monday apty titled, "Let Me Move On" and the 3 farewell shows they have planned for the UK. Gene released a DVD today in the UK featuring a live show recorded earlier this year in Sheffield. The disc also features interviews, a scrapbook and more.

Wow... The Wedding Present have reformed? The first single, INTERSTATE 5, is due to be released next Monday in the UK. INTERSTATE 5 is the first taste of the of the band in seven years and is a preview of a new album 'Take Fountain' that should see the light February 2005. The band's site on the reformation of the Wedding Present...

After calling what was intended to be a temporary halt to The Wedding Present in 1997, David Gedge embarked on a melodic strings and keyboard-driven project under the name Cinerama, as a duo with his then girlfriend Sally Murrell. Cinerama released their debut album, VA VA VOOM, in 1998 and swiftly became the sole creative output for Gedge's writing, recording and performing - but, by 2002's third album, TORINO, the sound was becoming darker in tone and more guitar driven and Cinerama had also taken to mixing the odd Wedding Present song into the live shows, further blurring the distinction between the bands. Around the same time, following the break up with his long-term girlfriend and musical partner, Sally, Gedge's personal life also entered a darker place, and he moved to Seattle and began writing a series of songs that were clearly influenced by his despair over the split. The resultant material was recorded in Chicago and Seattle by Steve Fisk, producer of The Wedding Present's 1994 LP, WATUSI, and will see Gedge revive The Wedding Present name for the first album since 1996's SATURNALIA.

In other David Gedge news, next week will also see the release of new Cinerama material... a 68 minute documentary that follows the band on the road. 'Get Up And Go' will be released in the US on Tuesday and includes concert footage, radio sessions and interviews while the band was on tour with 'Torino'.

As far as I knew "The Smiths" was not a storyline, but... apparently to some it is. Andrew Wale and Perrin Manzer (creators of Jacques Brel's Anonymous Society) are taking "The Smiths" the way of The Pet Shop Boys and ABBA... into a musical. The show, which will premier in London at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre next summer, will consist of more than 20 classic Smiths tunes re-arranged for a string quartet and a half a dozen vocalists. Negotiations are currently ongoing with the producers and Misters Morrissey and Marr to determine exactly which Smiths songs will be included. How will this weave itself into a story? Associate Producer Michael Brazier told the Independent...

"It is not a linear story. There will be action going on on stage whether it's dance or movement or acting without words depends on the scene. Sometimes the song - and what the singer is saying in the song - will be the main line of action. But other times when you are concentrating on the singer, out of the corner of your eye you will be seeing impressionistic goings- on elsewhere on the stage. The significance of that [action] will become clear later. The meaning of these clues will gradually reveal themselves."

Remember a few months ago when aging Welsh rockers The Alarm scored their first chart hit in years by masquerading as kids? The Wayriders (a young Welsh band) even lip-synced in a video as "The Poppyfields" to complete the scam. Only after the single reached #28 in the radio play charts did the band admitted to using the false name claiming image-obsessed DJs would otherwise refuse to play their song. Well, the story has enticed the movie industry. John Williams, a producer from Shrek, has contacted Mike Peters (lead singer of the Alarm), and Sara Sugarman (a director and old-friend of the band) to begin script development. So far The Alarm are set to provide the soundtrack and will likely appear in cameo rolls.

Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello have struck a deal with the United States Postal Service. Bigwigs at the USPS weren't thrilled when they found out a few months ago that SubPop band, The Postal Service, had stolen their moniker for their band name. It was a little too late to release cease and desist letters as The Postal Service (the band) has been recording record breaking sales and has garnered quite the cult following. When said USPS bigwigs heard The Postal Service background (Ben and Jimmy made the record by sending bits and pieces back and forth through the US Mail system)... they thought they strike a deal with the resourceful duo. SubPop has agreed to let the band's music be featured in commercial spots for the USPS along with ad campaigns and promotions... in exchange for not losing the name.

The Godfather is gone.

JOHN PEEL, renowned BBC Radio 1 host, has died of a heart attack while on working holiday in Peru.

Umm, it's really hard to even say anything in tribute to the man, because he was beyond words. Suffice to say that if it weren't for Peel, you wouldn't be here on this site right now. It was John Peel's love of indie music that first exposed the world to some of the best bands on the map. Punk... indie... even hip-hop -- got some of its first world exposure via Peel's radio show. Live recordings of bands playing in his studio have become the legendary Peel Sessions that we all know and love. Even though many of us live in the States and only had limited exposure to his radio show, without it most of our favorite UK bands wouldn't have had the exposure to hop the pond in the first place.

Tributes are pouring into the BBC from fans and artists alike. The BBC has an official obituary HERE. Stop by and read what artists like the Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals, and The Undertones are saying.

Rather than wax poetic, we at Excellent would just like to say thanks, John, for the music. You helped shape our lives.

John Peel was 65. He leaves his wife Sheila and 4 children.