Monday Morning Newsletter (04/07/08)

Bassist Nikki Sixx has been named President of Eleven Seven Records, the label that put out his last Japanese Import. Label founder Allen Kovac had reportedly turned down the yet unnamed new Motley Crue album. Sixx, a man of discerning taste, may be releasing his own album again.

Britain’s Border Agency is appealing a lower courts court's decision to allow Snoop Dogg into the UK. Mr. Dogg was barred from Britain after an arrest for a “violent disruption” at Heathrow Airport back in 2006. Snoop appealed the ban and received entry clearance from an asylum and immigration tribunal in January. The Border Agency Stated “Mr. D-O Double G may also have been carrying marijuana.”

This week, NKTOB admitted a reunion album and tour was definitely in the works. Though disbanded in 1994, New Kids On The Block and have managed to achieve varied levels of success individually film, music, and TV. The last time all five members appeared together was in a commercial for the hair club for men.

Bozeman, Montana band, The Clintons are earning some national attention this week as a result of their comedic ballad, "A Love Song for Hillary Clinton.” The promo effort, complete with prerequisite Youtube video of course is an utter abomination. Jose Fritz will be voting for Obama; rumor has it, his vote actually matters this year.

Inexplicably rapper and clothing designer Big Boi will be performing in a ballet of his own making titled “Big”. The two-hour performance was choreographed by Lauri Stallings. Big is part ballet and part concert. Jose Fritz would like to know what Big Boi is smoking.

Norma Jean have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, The Anti Mother. They better hurry, they have a 3 month trans-America tour scheduled starting in June.

Fear Factory's Christian Olde Wolbers (guitars) and Raymond Herrera (drums) have formed a new band dubbed Arkaea with Jon Howard of Threat Signal. Somehow in congress they sound like old Pro-Pain. Jose Fritz has not decided if that is embarrassing or not.

Buckethead's album Enter The Chicken will be re-released through Serjical Strike on April 8th. This is not remastered or remixed but does feature a bonus track by the name of "Shen Chi".

The producer and rapper Lil Jon has started his own wine label, Little Jonathan. It offers selections including chardonnay, merlot and Sizzirp. The Little Jonathan Winery is not his first foray into the drink market: In 2003 he launched Crunk, an energy drink that tasted worse than diet Tab.

Monday Morning Newsletter (02/18/08)

Well, well, well, what better way to spend your President's Day than to read more of the slanderous accusations of drug use and the odd tour date in Jose Fritz's Monday Morning Newsletter.

We Are Scientists have scheduled the release of their next album for March 5th. It might be named Brain Thrust Mastery but maybe not. We’re not sure. It might be on Virgin records again but probably not. They’re feeling very unconfident after their drummer left. It’s hard to commit to big decisions like this.

Mindless Self Indulgence's new album If will see a release through The End on April 29th. It will be the best album of 2008. End of discussion.

Ours has set up a short set of tour dates after canceling their New Year Eve Show. The release of their new album Mercey is pushed back from March 15th into mid April amid paranoid rumors that Jimmy has run out of Heroin.

Norma Jean has announced that for their new album will be titled "The AntiMother". They are on schedule to be dome by mid-summer. Helmet's Page Hamilton is collaborating on one track.

Many wondered last week why at the last minute My Bloody Valentine was cut from the Coachella concert bill. Kevin Shields came out this week conceding that while his arthritis was a factor, his Alzheimers is the real issue. Coachella founder Paul Tollett said “I envy the elderly and senile, they have Medicare and they get all the best drugs free.”

Sleepercar the side-project of Sparta’s Jim Ward will be out April 22nd. It’s titled West Texas.

On April 4th, Fearless Records will release their Punk Goes Crunk compilation. It boasts songs by classic rappers and not one but two dead MCs. These classics are covered by the likes of New Found Glory and The Secret handshake proving the age-old lesson: white people should not rap.

Tapes N’ Tapes is putting out a new record, Walk It Off, on April 8th through XL Recordings. The first single is “Hang Them All.” The band in all their open source hippie-dom has posted a version in .flac on their website.

If you hadn’t heard Shihad has ditched their Warner Bros pseudonym of Pacifier in 2004 and are Shihad again. They are so Shihad in fact they are touring Australia to let everyone know that they are sorry about the whole pacifier thing. Their latest album Beautiful Machine comes out this April.

More rumors surface about Scarlett Johansson and her mystery album reportedly due out this Summer. Tom Waits confirms he gave his blessing to the covers album. Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio confirms that he has been acting as producer and that David Bowie guests. On a related note, Jose Fritz confirms that he will write an ode to her breasts in the record review.

Radiohead have announced the first leg of their U.S. tour dates. They are predicted to sell out before you can get your wallet out of your pants.