Peter Saville was the house artist for Factory Records and the man responsible for all the cover artwork for Joy Division and New Order, among many others. If you check out his website, you can browse through a gallery of his work – he has a fantastic style. And as a bonus, you can download a whole bunch of the fonts he used on JD and NO album artwork – perfect for creating, oh, little banner ads advertising the Joy Division vs New Order tribute night at Sneaky Dee’s on Friday at which we will be playing. Plug plug.

Now 517 will be along shortly with an expansive commentary on Peter Saville and his work…

The Cure were supposed to release a 4-disc box set of b-sides and rarities called Join The Dots – The B-sides & Rarities Collection on October 21, but that has been pushed back to January 13 of next year.

Off Records is now taking pre-orders for the all-star Hedwig & The Angry Inch tribute album, Wig In A Box. The less devoted can wait till it comes out on October 21, but they will miss out on the FREE POSTER that Off is, er, offering.

Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy has been mauled by a tiger during one of their shows in Las Vegas. Now I don’t really wish ill on anyone, but come on – what the hell did you think was going to happen? It’s called the law of averages. Look it up.

np – Beulah / Yoko

School Of Rock is getting astonishingly good reviews – 86% at Metacritic and 89% at Rotten Tomatos, and this is with most if not all of the major outlets’ reviews already in. I thought it looked funny, but from the commercials and trailers, it seemed a little formulaic and kids in movies is always dodgy, but it looks like Jack Black and Richard Linklater has got themselves a slam dunk with this one. Cool beans.

Further on the topic of schoolteachers-turned-rock-stars, word is the openers for the November 14 Guided By Voices show at the Opera House will be The Constantines.

np – The Shins / Oh, Inverted World

You may note over on the right that the Clem Snide/Califone show is out and Mojave 3 is in. They kick off their North American tour in Toronto on Wednesday, October 29 at Lee’s Palace, tickets $15. Sorry Clem/Califone, maybe next time. I love Mojave 3. There will be another North American tour in Februrary, and yes, I’ll be there too.

The December 3 Broken Social Scene show is a fundraiser for the George Herman House, which provides housing and support for women with mental health issues. As it turns out, the George Herman House is just up the street from my place. How about that.

Did anyone else watch The West Wing last night? Did anyone catch exactly how the FBI found Zoey? I watched the last segment twice and didn’t get any clue. Smells like a little too much deus ex for my liking. But seriously, if anyone caught something I didn’t, please share.

Election day! I’ve found a polling station close to work so I can get that taken care of sooner rather than later. It’s handy working in the same riding that you live in.

Update: It turns out I actually *have* to vote at the polling station by my place, I’ve been registered there. Alas.

np – Mojave 3 / Excuses For Travellers

Broken Social Scene make a triumphant hometown return on December 3rd at the Phoenix after conquering the US in September and the UK in October. Not sure what they’re doing in November. Tickets are $15 and already on sale at Rotate This.

517 sent me this interesting article on manufacturing diamonds. It’s fascinating reading, and anything that makes De Beers worried is okay in my books.

Speaking of books, I got Steve Earle’s short story collection Doghouse Roses and Paul Auster’s latest Book Of Illusions from the library. I’m going to get started into them when I’ve finished reading The Dark Knight Returns, which is for my money THE best comic book story ever written. And that’s saying something.

And the costume for the Catwoman movie is quite possibly the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. The producers of Daredevil must be high-fiving each other as they prepare to pass on the albatross of ‘worst-looking comic book adaptation of recent memory’ to Halle Berry and co. And that’s also saying something.

All hail the King of the Hobos. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Russell Crowe.

np – Neil Young / On The Beach

Welsh singer-songwriter Matthew Jay has died. I remember him getting a goodly amount of press a few years ago when he performed at NXNE, and saw him opening for Doves in July 2001. He’d disappeared from the radar recently, but had a lot of potential. 24 years old is far too young. Sympathies to his friends and family.

Tipping Habits Of The Rich And Famous. Riotous stuff.

Someone talk to me about The Wrens. I have yet to read a non-gushing review of The Meadowlands. I suspect the album will be a little tough to track down hereabouts – will I regret not doing so?

Rehearsals for our set at the Joy Division vs New Order tribute night next Friday at Sneaky Dee’s got underway last night. It’s great fun deconstructing these songs and rebuilding them from the ground up. There’s a really interesting lineup of bands participating in this show, I’ll post more specifics when I get them.

Autumn has struck quickly and fiercely. The bike ride to work has gotten a helluva lot brisker – we’ve already broken out the heavy shirt, coat and gloves. Contemplating something to cover the ears. I am hoping to be able to keep riding to work through October, but that will probably require a more sweater-heavy wardrobe.

np – Bedhead / Transaction De Novo