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Okay, maybe I made the header sound overly dramatic for the sake of alliteration, but this is an interesting bit we grabbed off the wire today. The Camden Council in North London has served anti-social behavior orders to three top advertising executives at Sony and BMG today -- a charge that could carry up to five years in prison. Why? For illegally flyposting on buildings, pillars, and statues around London. Apparantly the Council couldn't take staring at one more excessive poster of that Darkness bloke, eh? From what we understand it, the behavior order is similar to a "cease-and-desist" over here -- either flyposting stops... or the major label marketing people find themselves in the slammer for five years (a pretty high price to pay for plastering George Michael's head onto a phone pole.) The whole story can be read in the current issue of The Telegraph.

Is Canada the new England?

Just when the South Park gang taught us that Canada is evil, now they go and start injecting some culture into our lives.

First the Hidden Cameras come along to prove Canadians can be twee, too... and now the TRAILER PARK BOYS have supplanted The Office as the most talked-about show on BBC America.

The show, shot in a similar mockumentary style as The Office, is a low-key chuckle-fest about the wonderful world of Canadian trailer trash, and it's been making us grin for a while now since debuting on our side of the pond... err, horizontal line. Don't believe us? On the BBC America website, you can check out a host of clips.

Anyways, we just wanted to put in a quick plug, coz it's a pretty funny show. Thursdays at 9, BBC America, dig it. They're re-running the first season now, and the second season debuts on BBC America later this summer.

Tonight marks the start of Morrissey's residence on "The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn." He'll be sitting down for an interview tonight and will be the musical guest tonight and every night for the rest of the week. He's expected to play all new material from his recently released "You Are The Quarry". You can hear clips of the new record on MorrisseyMusic.com

In a statement to the press Kilborn was quoted as saying, "We're thrilled to have Morrissey back... His music conveys the loneliness and despair of a man hosting a 12:30 a.m. talk show on CBS."

NOTE FROM SHANE: Last week, Kilborn had Rachel Leigh Cook on as a guest. When the topic switched to Morrissey's appearances on the show this week, Cook chimed in, "Craig, I would've guessed you were the kind of guy who beat up Morrissey fans in high school." It was a moment of genius.

UPDATE 5/25/04: Well, Mozzer bailed on the taping last night... apparantly he's a bit jeg-lagged and under the weather, according to Kilborn. On the show last night, they said he still has plans to perform later this week, but, just like Sam Cassell, his status is day-to-day.

NOTE FROM SHANE 5/25/04: Yes, I DID just compare Morrissey to an NBA player. What of it? (And seriously, we're an impartial website. We really are. But GO T-WOLVES! Now go listen to some indie music.)

When was the last time politics shook itself into a cheery dance party? Even if partially hamstrung by the musical confines of Indiepop, The Smittens have got a unique enough set of beliefs and ideals to make them promising enough to watch out for.

The most engaging thing about this Vermont quintet is their "Gentlefication" manifesto sketched out in their liner notes as well as on their website. Gentlefication basically boils down to the belief that kindness and open-heartedness is infectious, and can help make the world a better place. Put in their own words, "being nice is a political act." It almost seems like the subject of a speech you would cringe to hear at a high school or college graduation, yet The Smittens are intelligent enough to realize that "being nice" is not something that requires you to sermonize or to secularize. Niceness has to start on a micro level with yourself, your family, and community in order to have any hope of reaching the macro level: the rest of the world. The band has taken to playing as many benefits as possible, include shows to support battered women's shelters, rape crisis organizations, lesbian and gay communities, and AIDS education agencies. There is definitely something more honest about this freewheeling brand of politics then the way current politicians tend to paint immaculate, caring pictures of themselves in order to sell their campaign and further a political career.

It was around two years ago that we were telling you that THE MOONEY SUZUKI were destined to be more popular than The Strokes. Okay, we were a bit wrong. But back then, the Mooney's first album, "People Get Ready," was a breath of fresh (albeit a touch retro) air in the stagnant zeitgeist of the garage rock explosion. A few years on, and the Mooneys have done something that's either going to bring them acclaim or get them laughed off the musical horizon...

RACHEL GOSWELL, her once of Slowdive, now of Mojave 3, and always of Shane's ultimate fantasies, is releasing her first solo EP in the UK this week. "The Sleep Shelter EP" is out on 4AD, to be followed by her debut solo album, "Waves Are Universal," due next month. Goswell's solo efforts are said to be less experimental than her oft-breathy, surreal vocals showcased so well in her other outfits. There's yet to be any definitive word of a US release date, but the EP is available for full download plus artwork for 3 pounds via 4AD's website.

So this marks number 7? 8? What year of the festival is this exactly? Well who cares really as it's the best lineup in a decade. The dates of this year's Lollapalooza tour have been announced and we don't think anyone will be disappointed. As we found out a few months ago each stopover on the tour will be a two day affair. Day One's will consist of Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Modest Mouse, Le Tigre, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Von Bondies, The Walkmen and the saddest man to no longer live in Manchester... MORRISSEY. The Day Two lineup thusfar is also shaping up nicely with the likes of The Pixies, Wilco, Gomez, The Polyphonic Spree, The Thrills, Basement Jaxx, The Fire Theft and More. Read on for the dates...

Coachella 2004 was my fifth Coachella. I have gone every year, and as the crowds grow, the festival gets more and more organized. Last year's big complaint was the three hours it took getting inside. Security was so tight and understaffed that you missed a bunch of early bands if you didn't get there before 11:00am. This year, however, they vowed to fix many of the problems with the previous festivals. With both nights sold out, let's see how they did...

TV On The Radio - Philadelphia - First Unitarian Church - May 12th

Someone posted on the (mailing) list earlier about how wonderful TV On The Radio was live in D.C. Between that and a friend's recommendations, I've picked up the Young Liars EP and the new album "Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes". Both are great albums, but I was curious to see what kind of sound they would be able to come up with in a live setting. I was so impressed with their musicianship, passion, and energy... what a show!

Death Cab For Cutie - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR - 5/5/04

Arriving at the Crystal on Wednesday night, I noticed something right off. I was in for a very crowded evening of rock n roll. The great Northwest has spawned its share of highly successful bands over the years, but the number has been fewer over the last couple. One thing that can be said about the good folks up here is they LOVE their local bands, and they will show their support.