Excellent Online

Dear <insert derogatory title>,

I've had it. After seeing <insert popular band> on your cover last month, I felt compelled to stick <insert popular band> CD's down my throat until I gagged and vomited silver splinters. You guys suck.

The critically acclaimed FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE have reportedly been dropped by Atlantic Records. However, the band is apparently confident that they will be able to find an outlet when they are ready to release new material. In the meantime, a new IVY record is said to be on the horizon. Thanks to the Fountains of Wayne mailing list for the tip.

RICHARD ASHCROFT is ready to release his first solo single, "A Song for the Lovers" on April 13th. His solo album is apparently set for a release later this year.

Some bad news today, as it has been announced that SYMPOSIUM have split up. Apparently tensions arising from the lack of a current record deal had something to do with it. The band was among the best live acts of recent years and were also some of the friendliest people you could hope to meet. An interview with the band from 1998 is available here. We will keep our ears open for word as to the future musical endeavors of Ross, Will, Hagop and the other former members of Symposium.

Shane's taking the month of February off because, well, he's pretty much pissed at the world. Some factors involved in this hiatus include:

It's pretty rare when we give a full feature on this site to an American artist. But then again, it’s pretty rare when a band like the Apples in Stereo come along. As founders and kingpigs of the critically acclaimed Elephant Six Collective, the Apples are spear-heading a roots pop movement that’s unquestionably the freshest thing in American guitar indie music today. Their new album, “The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone,” pushes the boundaries even farther, with forays into northern soul and Motown. Frontman Robert Schneider is well on his way to becoming the Phil Spector of his generation, handling production duties for the Apples as well as most of the bands under the Elephant Six wing. On the eve of their extensive world tour (see our Tours page for their North American dates,) Excellent Online sat down with Apples keyboardist Chris McDuffie for a brief chat about all things Elephant. Here’s a complete transcript of the interview.

Interview by Shane Brown

Twas a sad day indeed last year when the announcement came to us that the Boo Radleys were packing it in. One of the last shining stars of the fading Creation Records roster, the Boos spent most of the 90's proving to us time and again that great music can push the envelope of creativity AND still come from the heart namely, the heart of guitarist and songwriter Martin Carr.

Well, the Boos may be gone, but Carr's far from history. Reinventing himself under the guise of Brave Captain, he's about to release his first new material since the breakup of the band. The 6-track mini-album, "The Fingertip Saint Sessions Volume 1" is due August 14 on Carr's newfound label, Wichita Recordings (formed by former Creation exec Dick Green and Carr's best friend, Mark Bowen.) All six tracks were recorded with the help of SFA and Gorky's producer Gorwel Owen, and the two are almost wholly responsible for every lick of music on the record - and that includes Carr's first stab at lead vocals.

Martin's been a supporter and acquaintance of Excellent Online for years, and we're pleased and proud to have been given the opportunity to conduct an interview with him just two weeks before the release of the new record.

Interview by Shane Brown

Some news directly from Karen at the SUPER FURRY ANIMALS camp: The video for the new SFA single, "Do Or Die" is expected to be the second clip played on this Sunday's episode of 120 Minutes on MTV. The band's new Welsh-language album, "Mwng," is to be released in April, and Flydaddy is expected to release the album in the States. A short U.S. tour is expected to follow in May.

Excellent Online can exclusively reveal a bit of bad news: THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH have been dropped by their record label, Virgin. In a post to the band's mailing list today, drummer Nigel Powell says the band "only found out a couple hours ago. The immediate effects of this are, of course, there is [sic] no release dates for anything, and we're cancelling [a scheduled] gig.

OASIS just added yet another fan, as Noel Gallagher and Meg Matthews are today the proud parents of a 7 lb., 2 oz. baby girl. The newest Gallagher is to be named Anais Nin (after the French author.) The band, meanwhile, are taking flak this week because sources are claiming that the new Oasis single, "Go Let It Out," borrows heavily from the Beta Band's "Dry the Rain." While Noel Gallagher has publicly admitted that the group was an influence to him during writing, Beta Band frontman Steve Mason seems less than impressed. "A compliment that people steal your ideas?