Monday Morning Newsletter (8/4/08)

Dany and Rusty are in hiding an undisclosed remote fortified compound this week. José feels obligated to warn the faithful readers of this blog that he will be the sole Stranded in Stereo blogger for the week. May god have mercy on your gringo soul.

Be Your Own Pet have announced that they are going their separate ways. I’ll quote from their Myspace page. “We are sad to bring you the news that our upcoming shows in the UK are going to be our last as a band…thank you for all your love and support these past few years — its been a blast but the time has come for the 4 of us to go our separate ways.” A moment of silence please.

The sixth annual Robot Mosh Fest wrapped up last night in West Bend, WI. Normally I don’t care about the activities of the average cheese-head, but this is something special. Bands included Poison The Well, A Life Once Lost, With Dead Hands Rising, Darkest Hour and my favorite band name ever Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza. For the event all musicians have been replaced with animatronics.

This October octogenarians AC/DC will embark on an 18-month world tour. This will be in support of their impending Walmart-only album. The album is their first in 8 years and it’s release plan is top secret. Even the tile is currently unknown. Rumor has it the geezers have been muddling through the recording process with producer Brendan O'Brien since 2004.

Also coming out in October; Deerhoof has announced that Offend Maggie will be released on Kill Rock Stars. In support of the 14-song release they’ve scheduled a fall tour. Bizzarrely the band has released the first single “Fresh Born” in the form of sheet music. Fans can share their renditions of the song here. One obsessed fan created MIDI files of the separate parts so that the musically inept can play too.

The Killers are in their Las Vegas studio finishing up their third, LP. It‘s tentative release is scheduled for this November. The album is being produced by Stuart Price, who already remixed their single "Mr. Brightside." The album was originally scheduled for this March but Brandon Flowers lost big at Keno.

A new Bob Dylan rarities collection is hitting retail October 7. The three-disc set will be titled Tell Tale Signs. It is said to primarily draw from the last 20 years of Dylans career. The set is part of his ongoing Bootleg Series.

Fantasy records will be re-releasing the first six Creedence Clearwater Revival albums for the bands 40^th anniversary These will feature unreleased live material, rare B-sides and previously unheard studio sides. The whole set has been remastered so as to offend the last few living vinyl purists. José would like to point out that the band is so geezerly that they have no webpage. Dude, even AC/DC has a webpage.

Staind will be releasing their 6^th LP, The Illusion Of Progress, August 19^th. They are promoting the date with a private show in Times Square at the Hard Rock Café. José would like to point out that there’s nothing very private about anything in Times Square. But whiel your’e there check out those kids that play the buckets with drum sticks.

ABBA hit number one this week making British chart history this week. Their "Gold Greatest Hits" album became the oldest album ever to do so. The Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday. The Swedish super group attributes the resurgence to their presence on the soundtrack of the hit musical "Mamma Mia. Strangely despite what must be wide-spread popularity no one will admit to owning any of their catalog.