In related news, I'm still looking for other people to contribute their own playlists for the streaming radio thingy. If you think you've got exquisite tastes and want to share it with the world, please get in touch.
Nine has been added to the lineup of the Funfest in Leuven, Belgium on September 27-28. More info: www.funtimerecords.com/funfest
Here's a new webdiary entry from Sondre Lerche with him talking about touring with Liz Phair and Jason Mraz, seeing Justin Timberlake and more.
Her Majesty's new single "Nobody" comes out October 1. In the meantime, they are in the studio recording "cover of one the Cardigans' most beautiful tracks." No word on where it'll end up, but I'll let you know.
New from online free mp3 label Monotonik is the "It's Not The Sweetness We're After, It's The Sugar" EP from Sweden's Bliss aka Henrik Jose. "This lovingly crafted 3-track EP cements his reputation as creator of some of the lushest, most beautiful electronics around," they say. Check it out.
Jaga Jazzist will play the Tränenpalast stage at the Berlin Jazzfestival on November 8. More info here.
I dunno why I passed on the opportunity to stoke the flames of controversy last week, but in case you missed it JR Ewing talked shit on fellow Norweigan hardcore band Kaospilot last week in their newsletter by calling them an Orchid clone. The reason? This article from Dagsavisen in which Kaospilot rags on JR Ewing and Amulet basically labelling them as sell-outs and losing touch with the scene (in Norweigan). Gee, haven't heard that one before. Anyhow, the Ewing's explanation for calling 'em out and prolonging the scene in-fighting:
"They spent 2/3's of the space in their interview with Dagsavisen talking shit about us and our best friends Amulet, with that OLD and boring "punker than you" speech. We thought these guys were friends of ours, now we see they're not. That's all."
Apparently, you can head over to the Level-Plane board for even more trash-talking, but I'm too lazy to register and see for myself. Remember guys, when the kids are united they will never be divided.
Black Star Foundation reports that the Tiger Lou "Second Time Around" 7" is sold out and no repress will be made, however the label plans to release a CD compiling all of Tiger's previous vinyl output plus a few new songs sometime this autumn. There's also a new 7" in the works from him, too.
In other BSF news, the label has signed the new Umeå band Koma and will release their debut album "Tsunami" in November or December or something like that. The band features ex-members of bands such as Cult of Luna, Plastic Pride and Scared and sound kinda like the Deftones or Linkin Park to my ears. But don't take it from me - download some demo mp3s from here.
The Hellacopters are offering 5 signed copies of their new DVD "Goodnight Cleveland" along with t-shirts and posters if you can answer the following question: what band did the 'Copters tour with during the filming of said DVD? Mail answers to hellacopters_comp@hotmail.com.
Cooking Vinyl has a silly Wannadies online game for you to play to win tickets for their upcoming UK gigs or just to amuse yourself: cookingvinyl.com/wannadies/wannadance
Dead Frog Records has signed the band The April Tears and will release a compilation of the group's previously unreleased material from the 90s entitled "Halfclosed Eyes, Imperfect Kisses". The tracks were culled from various sessions and will be released February 1, 2004 along with a single and video to precede in December. The tracklist:
01. Little Baby Is Coming
02. Some Delight In Store
03. Eyes Cold Kisses
04. Cat
05. Boy In A Mess
06. Clean Dirty
07. Electric Angel
08. Just For A While
09. Charlot
10. Blue Girl´s Beach
11. Tease Me
12. Lost In My Dreams
Go here to read about Kaizer Orchestra's upcoming European promotional activities to get the band out to a larger audience.
MIC Norway has posted a profile of Sami folk/electronic act Orbina.
Turbonegro won the "Spirit of Independence" award at this year's Kerrang magazine awards in London. Personally, I think the award is next to meaningless (just take a look at the other categories/nominees), but it does escalate the band's public profile by a very significant amount. It doesn't hurt that bands like Metallica and Good Charlotte are giving them props either.