Extremely sad and totally unexpected: Grant McLennan, frontman of the Go-Betweens died in his sleep yesterday (ILM thread). He was only 48 years old. No way can I listen to Streets of Your Town without tears in my eyes today.

P.S. Another ILM thread on favourite Grant McLennan songs. A longer post in commemoration over at vain, selfish & lazy.

Miami, Death Party and Las Vegas Story will be re-released in October on Sympathy for the Record Industry.

has a new album out: Ogle Some Piano. As the title indicates it is another piano release (the second after the wonderful mix of late-hour jazz with classical elements of Lull Some Piano) with some help of his Giant Sand bandmates John Convertino and Joey Burns plus the usual gang of friends.

Ninety second streams from Aquarius Records which brought this to my attention in their latest newsletter:

• Spangle Bib of Radiant Value
• A Memento Was Slid in Between the Actual House of Cards As to Maybe Remain

In the 2003 interview for Delusions of Adequacy Howe speaks of his third child, his scatterbrain, the new piano record, the relative success of Calexico compared to the father band Giant Sand, his Danish séjour, the Band of Blacky Ranchette and playing in bands which are not his own, Evan Dando, Kristin Hersh etc.

Will there be a My Bloody Valentine EP Box Set and if yes when will it come out? According to the latest news the release date will be late 2005 or early 2006. All this sounds very My Bloody Valentinesque to my ears.

Infos on two box sets including a live and music video DVD spanning My Bloody Valentine's entire career over at Kingblind. Scheduled release date not before end of next year. Apparently there won't be any post Loveless material included.

The two most interesting observations concerning the Janet Jackson incident:

1. "You know, I'm almost completely shocked by the near complete lack of commentary on the irony of a Jackson being molested by a boy." (from here)

2. The most amazing thing on the photo are not her breasts nor the piercing but how ugly her face looks. Or how uncomfortable she feels. Which kind of saves her in a way. Or maybe not. Maybe that's just not professional. Next time when you will show both of them we want you smiling, Janet!

There is a new album titled Summer Sun out on April 8th. An mp3 of the song Don't Have To Be So Sad (also on the EP Sleep and Release to be released on Februry 18th) is already available here on the Matador site. A laid-back warm and calm downbeat song very much in the vein of And Then Nothing.... Pitchfork provides the tracklisting and US tour dates and reports:

Chris Whitfiled from Americana UK about Oasis rerecording Wonderwall:

Yahoo! News - Verizon Must Reveal Internet Song Swapper (via planing lakes)

According to Aquarius Records again: