Monday Morning Newsletter (06/09/08)

The proggy-as-fuck Russian Circles added two weeks to their tour schedule with Coheed And Cambria and Secret Machines. Their hometown of Chicago has begun to show signs of withdraw.

The legendary music icon Bo Diddley has died. He’d had a stroke in May last year, then a heart attack three months later. He died at home in Archer, Florida; he was 79. His real name was Ellas Otha Bates born in McComb, MS. He may be the only person for whom a beat is named. The bio-diddly beat. Even Jose cannot speak ill of the man.

Sparks performed all 21 of their albums in their entirety in a month-long stretch of shows in London. They played one album per night at the Islington Academy, and on the 21st night debuted their 21st album. That's approximately 250 songs. Of course if the band had any stamina they could have performed double albums in half the time.

The Raveonettes have announced a string of US and European tour dates. Sadly guitarist Sharin Foo was not permitted to enter Europe because of her association with U.S. White House advisor Henry Kissinger. Her sister Sune Rose Wagner will be taking taker her place.

Oneida is releasing their ninth full-length album, Preteen Weaponry, on August 5th. This will not be on their long-time label Jagjaguwar, but on their own vanity label, Brah Records, which Jagjaguwar distributes. Yeah that’s way different. Preteen is wholly instrumental. They are resting their voices for their 10th album due out in 2009.

Car manufacturer Toyota has been releasing a string of sampler CDs co-branded with their Scion series. In a desperate attempt to embrace the indie and trendy, labels like Daptone, Vice and Iheartcomix were all courted. This strange capitalist dance has culminated recently with the two-disc, party-packed Scion Sampler Volume 21: IHEARTCOMIX Remixed. I don’t know whether to yawn or puke.

The innovative and legal peer-to-peer download site QTrax is a step closer to a real launch. They inked a deal with EMI Music this week ensuring the ad-supported music service has access to their catalog. EMI is the second major label to cave in after Universal Music signed last month. Qtrax was supposed to launch in January but well... denial is a powerful force.

Monday Morning Newsletter (03/10/08)

While you are packing your bags to board your flights to Austin for the clusterfuck that is SXSW, Jose Fritz has all the news you need to know beforehand in the Monday Morning Newsletter.

Nine Inch Nails have released a new 36 track instrumental album dubbed "Ghosts I – IV." The album is currently download-only. A 9 track mp3 preview, is here.

Parlor Mob, the long lost classic rock band of the last 1970s has been released from their cryobank in Paramus, NJ and will be releasing their first album in 30 years this week.

Russian Circles will be releasing their new LP Station on May 6th this year on Suicide Squeeze Records. The band is currently on a headlining East coast tour with Dalek and Young Widows. For the record, they are the only indie band in America today who uses male models for their T-shirts.

The Black Keys, the Ohio the retro scuzz-blues duo are releasing their fifth album, "Attack & Release," on April fools day. The 11-track album will see release through Nonesuch and was produced by Danger Mouse of all people. Apparently Steve Albini was busy.

Jessica Simpson will join rock act Disturbed and comedian Carlos Mencia in Kuwait during a concert for US troops March 10th. It will also be broadcast live on the social networking site MySpace. The concert will be followed by an auction of her Thong on the popular auction site eBay.

Puscifer is releasing a new V Is For Vagina remix EP on April 29th. The set includes remixes by Slipknot, Isis, Ministry and some old unemployed nu metal dudes. as they take stabs at tracks "Queen B" and "Dozo", plus a vinyl version of V Is For Vagina on April 29th as well.

MACRoCk has begun to announce bands for 2008. The first confirmed bands include Elf Power, Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Forms, Fin Fang Foom, and Antlers. This is the 9th annual Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, that’s almost a decade of being the only game in town.

The Old 97’s will release their seventh studio album, Blame It On Gravity, May 13 on New West Records. This is their first studio album in 4 years. For the record Rhett still is in desperate need of a haircut.

Rocklahoma has announced it ‘s line up including Warrant, Whitesnake, Motley Crue, and Kix. Most band members were easily found working fryolators across southern New Jersey.

The Vines are hav a new album ready for the new year. No release date is set, but their fourth album is titled Evolved. You may remember their singer Craig Nicholls torpedoing their rise to fame in 2002 by throwing tantrums before after and during shows. In 2005 he was diagnosed with lead vocalist disorder and refocused on his career.