I’m not sure where I’ve been for the last eight years regarding the group Spain, but until now I plead abject ignorance. For three intensely quiet, calm-on-the-surface but boiling underneath albums for Restless Records between 1995-2001, L.A.’s Spain was the band outlet of bassist/singer-songwriter Josh Haden, son of jazz bass …

English judge orders Van Morrison to pay actual damages for canceled performance, but doesn’t buy doomsday scenario: A British court has ordered veteran rock star Van Morrison to pay $66,868 in damages to a hotel owner who said the singer had ruined him by canceling a concert. Gary Marlow had …

Hey Tom, you just got a new bass guitar. How about free lessons from the best teachers in the world? Check this out: BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC LAUNCHES “BERKLEE SHARES”: A GROUNDBREAKING NEW PROGRAM OFFERING FREE MUSIC EDUCATION ONLINE World-Renowned Music College Encourages People to Share Music Lessons via File …

The Barenaked Ladies have a new album out that Mark Saleski does his usual fine job of reviewing here. The Ladies are also on tour in support of the album and are blogging about it here: Mon November 3 ’03 – Notes from the field. submitted by Ed My day …

Sometimes I love the modern world – you know, the reassuring part. We just got back from the doctor and all is well thanks to the reassurances of ultrasound, monitoring devices, projected growth rates, and all that good stuff. Dawn and the little dude are at the 36-week mark, rounding …

Though there is no THE ANSWER yet, I am much encouraged by the range of projects trying to become AN ANSWER to the standoff between file sharing and the economic rights of copyright holders. Though this new U.K. ISP project is an elegant solution, the major labels have to sign …

Nice review of portable digital audio players from TechTV, including a handy comparison charts: Other than the third-generation iPod, we’ve spent most of 2003 waiting for an innovative new MP3 player. We can finally welcome a whole new crop of players. They sport vast hard drives, innovative form factors, extra …

The Miss Earth contest gives Afghani contestant special “beauty for a cause” award – good call. Meanwhile, back in the land time forgot, assplow rattles sabre in the young woman’s general direction. Don’t we have a few people over there who can kick his ass? Miss Afghanistan Vida Samadzai, condemned …

Stroke mags becoming obsolete: After 35 years in the business of titillating and offending, pornographer Al Goldstein says his magazine can’t compete anymore. The audience is just as large, he says, but the Internet has transformed the product and its delivery. Just over a month ago, Goldstein stopped publishing Screw …

Wal-Mart doesn’t want to lose its clout in the “music software” arena. It seems to me they have the kind of leverage that could really drive the price of a digital song down, or maybe they don’t really care: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer and the top seller …