Morrissey Wins Apology From Word Mag in Libel Suit
Also: Moz still loves seals, hates Canada

While Morrissey's lawsuit against the NME late last year got all the attention, it wasn't the only court action Moz took against a publication recently over charges of racism against the singer.

UK rock rag The Word ran a review of that recent Greatest Hits set in its March 2008 issue that read more like a diatribe against Morrissey. Moz's camp took particular offense to the closing paragraphs of the review, penned by David Quantick, which included the following:

What vexes me is that once Morrissey made music that talked about the underdog, the victim, and those in the minority. Now he makes music that excludes those people. The odd song about a Mexican gang member and a lonely lesbian doesn't disguise the fact that he's quite happy to dismiss a whole chunk of the population as people who, to use the nasty phrase from [Viva Hate's] 'Bengali in Platforms', don't belong here.

Never mind that he's the 2008 equivalent of a '70s rock exile, opining about a country he only really knows from a Knightsbridge hotel window or a cab to Wembley Stadium. Never mind that as the child of an immigrant parent he really should know better than to attack immigration (which is, you ignorant quiffy rock exile, what keeps this country from being a Royal Family-led NF [National Front] tourist park).

For his waving of the flag (for publicity too, it would seem), for his ingrained habit of paying lip service to anti-racism while talking like an old Tory immigration spokesman, and for his abandonment of everything that made the Smiths a band for outsiders, Morrissey should be ashamed of himself. Sadly, he never will be.

Ignorant quiffy rock exile! Ouch!

Morrissey filed a libel suit against The Word's publisher, Development Hell Limited, alleging defamation. The publisher offered a court-ordered apology today in a statement read at England's Royal Courts of Justice. The apology portion of that statement reads as follows:

It has been drawn to the Defendants' attention that the closing paragraphs of Mr. Quantick's article could have been construed to suggest that Mr. Morrissey was a racist, held racist opinions, or that (as the child of migrant parents) he was a hypocrite. The article suggested that Mr. Morrissey has in the past paid lip service only to anti-racism.

The Defendants never intended the article to have the meanings suggested above and wish to make absolutely clear that they disassociate themselves entirely from any such inferences that might be drawn from the article. The Defendants accept that it would be absurd to accuse Mr. Morrissey of being a racist or of espousing racist views. They equally accept that Mr. Morrissey is not a hypocrite, in relation in particular to the views he has expressed in the past in relation to British cultural identity.

The Defendants accept that Mr. Morrissey is well known as a keen supporter of anti-racist groups and the Defendants wish to make absolutely clear that they never intended the article to suggest that Mr. Morrissey was anything other than a sincere supporter of anti-racism initiatives.

The Defendants wish to take this opportunity to apologise to Mr. Morrissey for any offence or distress that he may have been caused by the closing paragraphs of the article and are happy to make the position clear.

Morrissey accepted the apology, and related the incident to his suit against the NME, which has not yet been resolved: "I am obviously delighted with this victory and the clearing of my name in public where it is loud and clear for all to hear. The NME have calculatedly tried to damage my integrity and to label me as a racist in order to boost their diminishing circulation. Word magazine made the mistake of repeating those allegations, which they now accept are false and, as a result, have apologised in Open Court. I will now continue to pursue my legal action against the NME and its editor until they do the same." [MORE...]

Indie Rock Gets Its Very Own String Quartet Tribute
Strung out: Pixies, Sonic Youth, Elliott Smith, Arcade Fire, White Stripes, Bright Eyes, Interpol

From the people that brought you such essential collections as The Dub Tribute to the Black Eyed Peas, The Sweet Sounds of Slim Shady: The Lounge Tribute to Eminem, and Un, Dos, Tres: An Electronic Tribute to Ricky Martin comes yet another masterpiece, Strung Out on Indie Rock Vol. 1: The String Quartet Tribute.

The String Quartet Tribute to Death Cab for Cutie's "Transatlanticism" makes its second showing on a Vitamin Records release here, having previously appeared on 2006's Ghost: The String Quartet Tribute to Death Cab for Cutie; the Pixies' "Debaser" and Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay" first surfaced in 2004, Sonic Youth's "Kool Thing" ,Bright Eyes' "The Calendar Hung Itself", and Muse's "Time Is Running Out" got the treatment in 2005, the Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" came out last year, and Jeff Buckley's "Last Goodbye" showed up in 2003.

Alas, Interpol's "The Heinrich Maneuver" and the White Stripes' "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told)" were too new to have graced last year's Interstellar: The String Quartet Tribute to Interpol and 2005's tribute to the White Stripes.

Thanks to Taylor Loftin for the tip. [MORE...]

Radiohead Best Of Details Revealed

Turns out Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien and drummer Phil Selway weren't joshin' when they suggested the band's former label Parlophone/EMI would assemble a greatest hits package to coincide with Radiohead's spring tour. Hence we have The Best Of, due June 2 across the pond, a mere four days before Radiohead's first European In Rainbows date in Dublin [via At Ease and confirmed by an EMI rep].

Not unlike EMI's previous Radiohead cash grab, the discography box set, this Best Of comes in multiple formats to maximize money milking potential. We have the single-disc version, comprising 16 tracks (including "Pyramid Song", woo!). We have the double-disc version, containing the first disc plus a second CD packed with 13 more tracks. And we have the 4xLP limited edition box set, containing the material found on both discs spread across, yes, four pieces of vinyl.

Also not unlike that discography box set, Radiohead did not sanction this release.

You can't really argue with the song selection, though: "Paranoid Android", "Street Spirit (Fade Out)", "Fake Plastic Trees", "Karma Police", and sure, "Creep", all make the first disc, while disc two includes "Airbag", "The National Anthem", and that best known of Radiohead rarities, "True Love Waits". No word yet on a U.S. release for The Best Of.

In other Radiohead news, Thom Yorke's doing some remixing, Jonny Greenwood's debuting some compositions, Bat for Lashes and Liars are opening parts of the tour, animated video and remix contests are on now, UK Radiohead fans can get a live "Videotape" download and an April 1 BBC gig stream right here, and all freeloaded copies of In Rainbows mysteriously self-deleted on Tuesday.* [MORE...]

My Morning Jacket Reveal Evil Urges Album Cover

It always sucks when somebody walks right in front of the camera when you're taking a picture, doesn't it?

My Morning Jacket's Evil Urges is out June 10 on ATO.

Thanks to Andrew Lappin for pointing this out. [MORE...]

Jay-Z Signs With Live Nation for a Bazillion Dollars
Bazillion = 150 Million

Photo by Kyle Gustafson

Big pimpin up in L-I-V-E! The New York Times reports that Jay-Z has signed a $150 million deal with concert promotions behemoth Live Nation, encompassing his tours, albums, endorsements, and other business endeavors over the course of the next ten years. Those other endeavors will be under the rule of a new company called Roc Nation, and "are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing," according to the Times.

Live Nation expects at least three albums from Hova during the decade to come, and he's getting $10 million for each of them. We can also look forward to a lot more touring from him. Jay-Z told the Times, "In a way I want to operate like an indie band. Play the music on tour instead of relying on radio. Hopefully we'll get some hits out of there and radio will pick it up, but we won't make it with that in mind."

He also said, "I've turned into the Rolling Stones of hip-hop."

As previously reported, Jigga left his position as President of Def Jam Recordings in December, but was still under contract to the label as a recording artist. He still owes Def Jam one more album, which the Times reports will come out in 2008. So yeah, that album will kind of be like when your parents decided they were getting divorced, but they didn't want to break the news to Grandma until after she came to visit for the holidays, so they pretended that everything was fine and dandy for a few weeks.

This is the second ginormous deal Live Nation has struck this week, with U2 signing a 12-year contract for touring, merchandising, and website management, but not recording. In October, Madonna signed an all-encompassing deal with Live Nation valued at $120 million.

Jay-Z is currently out on the road with Mary J. Blige on a tour put together by, yes, Live Nation. [MORE...]

Kanye West Launches Travel Website for Some Reason
Also adds dates to "Glow in the Dark" tour for a very good reason: People like him.

Photo by William Joines

Brace yourself, ladies and gentlemen of the interwebs! Kanye West has leapt headlong into the exciting world of online travel websites! Wait, what? For serious: This week Mr. West launched KanyeTravel.com, a site dedicated to all your Kanye travel needs.

Nevermind that this thing basically looks like a Travelocity/Orbitz/Cheapflights.com search engine with a Kanye banner tossed across the top, or that most normal people don't have any "Kanye travel needs" that involve airplanes, hotels, car rentals, and cruises. KanyeTravel.com is here to stay, and may one day even offer something that makes some semblance of sense: concert tickets and merchandise.

An Advertising Age report suggests these ticket and merch offers are forthcoming (why Kanye couldn't just sell them via his own webstore, who knows), and also indicates that we can look forward to some "cross-promotional deals with marketing partners" as well. Oooo.

If this is an April Fool's joke, you guys, by god is it ever lame.

KanyeWest.com is of course just the latest wacky web venture for the Chicago rapper, who previously gave the internets his very own search engine, SearchWithKanyeWest.com. It's no Google, but then, does Google have a picture of Kanye staring at you like he's the Terminator? Didn't think so.

Finally, Kanye has beefed up his "Glow in the Dark" tour with Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., and Rihanna with the addition of some more dates. He'll also apparently appear at the "Brooklyn Ball" tomorrow night (April 3) at the Brooklyn Museum [via, yes, Brooklyn Vegan], which will launch an exhibit dedicated to Graduation cover designer (and Japanese pop art icon) Takashi Murakami on April 5. [MORE...]

James Toth Sheds Wooden Wand, Signs to Rykodisc
John Dietrich of Deerhoof, Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich guest

Photo by Bo Streeter 

A year after announcing that he would be shedding the Wooden Wand moniker following 2007's James & the Quiet LP, James Jackson Toth is keeping his word.

On July 29, Rykodisc will release Waiting in Vain, Toth's first full album under his given name. Ryko is a fitting home for Toth, since, as previously reported, the label's Senior Director of A&R and Artist Development is none other than Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars and 5RC, former home to Wooden Wand.

Solo affair though it is, Waiting in Vain finds Toth in some impressive company, with contributions from Nels Cline of Wilco, Andy Cabic of Vetiver, Carla Bozulich of Evangelista, and John Dietrich of Deerhoof, and production work from Pacific Northwest staple Steve Fisk.

Check out lead-off track "Nothing Hides" below.

Those seeking Toth solo dates for the moment will be disappointed, though Toth's MySpace blog suggests he's searching for a U.S.-playable copy of the 1981 Kim Basinger/Tanya Tucker drama Hard Country on DVD, so perhaps you and he can work out some mutually beneficial arrangement? [MORE...]

Lidell Remixed by Mr. Oizo, Senor Coconut on Single

Jamie Lidell's "Little Bit of Feel Good", as you've surely heard by now, does plenty to live up to its name. But when Mr. Oizo and Señor Coconut get their remix-happy mitts on it? You can't be feeling too bad about that.

Warp, as we've mentioned, plans to issue a UK-only single for "Little Bit" on April 14. The disc sports remixes from the aforementioned movers and shakers, and comes in advance of the release of Jim, Jamie's third full-length platter of good feelings, out April 28 in the UK and April 29 in the U.S.

Jamie's spring tour plans kick off April 11 at Rotterdam's Mozaïque Festival, with dates all over Europe, the UK, and North America. [MORE...]

Flaming Lips Add Shows, Christmas on Mars Screening

In mid-October 2005, Pitchfork News posted a story titled "Flaming Lips Finish Filming Christmas on Mars", several years after our first mention of it in November of 2002. Whether or not it was, indeed, done some two-and-a-half years ago, we felt compelled even then to mention that the Flaming Lips' long-delayed filmic epic was "finally... finally... FINALLY" in the can.

Though there's been plenty of talk of a release for Christmas on Mars in the interim, those plans have never quite congealed. That is, until now: next month, for reals this time, Christmas on Mars is finally... finally... FINALLY going to be screened in public. As previously mentioned, Christmas on Mars will make its screen debut May 25 in George, Washington as part of the Sasquatch! Festival, a day before the Lips take over the Gorge for a live performance. The film will also be shown at Bonnaroo, at which the Lips are not appearing.

About... damn... TIME.

The Lips-- who, if you haven't heard, put on kind of an okay live show-- will inspire mass apathy in audiences all over the place this spring and summer, with dates in North America, the UK and Europe. Oh, who the hell am I kidding? LIVE FLAMING LIPS WOOOO!!!!

And once the woos have subsided, the Lips will head back to the studio to work up their next LP with constant companion Dave Fridmann. No word yet on a DVD release for Christmas on Mars, but one imagines starting that letter to Santa now won't be in vain this year. [MORE...]

Cursive Add Dates, Kasher Pens Story for Lit Mag

Boy, if Tim Kasher was thinking of breaking out of the whole "emo kid, all grown up" image he's been cultivating for the last decade-plus, this probably wasn't the way to go about it.

The Cursive frontman and occasional examiner of the human condition has taken a break from writing that new Cursive LP to contribute some short fiction to online lit magazine Take the Handle's recent travel issue. His piece is called "A Friendly Resolution" and it concerns, you guessed it, a couple's falling out.

Take the Handle also notes that that Help Wanted Nights screenplay Kasher told us all about is currently in development. Hey, it's a start!

And, of course, Tim's not really looking to shed his bookish image; where oh where would Cursive be then? We'll leave you to ponder that imponderable while we show you just where Cursive are gonna be on their forthcoming U.S. tour, including dates never before seen on this website! [MORE...]

Neu!/Kraftwerk Drummer Klaus Dinger, R.I.P.

A founding father of krautrock has passed away. Klaus Dinger, who played drums for Kraftwerk and went on to co-found Neu!, died March 21, although the news of his death was not made public until today. A report from Neu! label Grönland cites the cause of death as heart failure. Dinger was 61, and would have turned 62 on March 24.

Dinger trademarked the steady, propulsive drumming style that came to define the motorik sound associated with krautrock. He drummed on Kraftwerk's 1970 self-titled debut before leaving the band, along with guitarist Michael Rother, to start Neu! Neu! released three seminal albums during the 70s, and had a noted influence on everyone from David Bowie to Sonic Youth to Stereolab.

After Neu! dissolved, Dinger achieved commercial success with La Düsseldorf, and in the 90s he formed a composite group of sorts called La! Neu?

René Renner, head of Grönland Records, called Dinger "an uncompromising musician, a challenging personality, [an] inspirational human being, and one of the most influential drummers" in a statement released today.

Renner also invoked a telling Brian Eno quote: "There were three great beats in the 70s. Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, James Brown's funk, and Klaus Dinger's Neu! beat."

Rother eulogized Dinger on his website, writing, "Together with many friends of his music I will remember Klaus for his creativity as an artist and I will think about him with gratitude for his wonderful contributions to our project Neu!."

Thanks to Jesse Steichen for the tip-off.

Neu!: "Hero" (Live in 1974)

The Hives Plot Return to North America

Photos by Joseph Mohan

Those endearingly arrogant Swedes known as the Hives have decided to grace North America with another handful of dates in support of The Black and White Album. These new shows are all in May, after the band wraps up its April tour of Europe.

A good portion of the new dates take place in Canada, allowing Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and co. to work on their hockey skillz. [MORE...]

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