Nottingham’s Six By Seven, on the eve of releasing Artists Cannibals Poets Thieves, have announced that after weathering eight years and five albums of lineup changes, label hassles and commercial neglect, they’re calling it quits. I’m not surprised, to be honest, but I am disappointed. They had just signed a North American distribution deal for their last two albums and there was even talk of a North American tour this Fall – not to be. In fact, I don’t know what this means for the domestic release of last year’s :04 or Artists, but I’m not going to hold off on getting an import copy of the latter on the miniscule chance that it’s still coming out. But if there’s to be a silver lining in all this, the band is offering their fans some lovely parting gifts. They will release a live best-of compilation before the year’s out and are talking with former home Mantra about digging through the vaults for some more posthumous rarities releases.

If you’ve never heard the band before, here’s a sample of what you were missing out on. The first track comes from their second album The Closer I Get, the second from its follow-up The Way I Feel Today.

MP3: Six By Seven – “Eat Junk Become Junk”

MP3: Six By Seven – “I.O.U. Love”

Sorry to see you go, guys. So long and thanks for all the rage.

But on to happier news – Teenage Fanclub have confirmed the dates of their North American tour, including a July 25 show at the Mod Club in Toronto! I’m surprised they’re playing a venue that size – last time through, they sold out the considerably larger Opera House. I’m not complaining, though. Smaller venue = better, though it also means this will sell out super fast. No ticket information yet, and I’m not telling anyone anyway, at least not until I’ve got mine. The new album Man-Made is out today and Insound has an mp3 from the album if you need some convincing.

MP3: Teenage Fanclub – “It’s All In My Mind”

It seems a certainty that Sigur Ros’ new album will be out by September because they’re already booking a North American tour to promote it. The Toronto show will again be at Massey Hall on September 19, coincidentally the exact same day they were here in 2001. Great timing, I will be out of the country at this time. I wonder how many shows I’ll miss over those two weeks in September?

Salon.com’s Audiofile is currently running a contest wherein you send in a Summer-themed mix comprised of free, legally downloadable mp3s of between 10 and 15 tracks. The best mixes, as selected by a panel of agitated rhesus monkeys, will win a shiny new 20GB iPod. I would enter, except it sounds suspiciously like work.

Stylus plays god with Belly’s Star. I don’t know if removing the hit single and adding two covers (among other revisions) necessarily makes it a stronger album, but I love this record (and the b-sides) so I’m not really able to comment objectively. Don’t mess with perfection!

My Morning Jacket have a new album scheduled for release on September 20, their first to feature the post-It Still Moves lineup.

My photos from Sunday night’s Spoon show are now up. I turn my camera on indeed.

Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Red Dragon) has been confirmed as the new director of X-Men 3. Outrage ensues.

np – The Chameleons / What Does Anything Mean? Basically

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