Ninja High School have a new 7'? released on Germany's Tomlab label. It features two songs and there are only 500 being pressed worldwide, but the songs are available for free online at www.ninjahighschool.info.

The soft-spoken and always kind Tony Decker, frontman for the Great Lake Swimmers, has a new album being released this month on Weewerk. It's also being released on Misra Records in Europe.

The Meligrove Band, who have achieved some sort of Lost in Translation success in Japan, are just about done their new album and are looking for a good label fit. Many are predicting them to be Toronto's new breakout band and Japan's new icons.

The Diskettes have delayed the release of their new album because of some packaging problems. It should be out on Blocks Recording Club 'œreal soon now.'? In the meantime, if you're looking for a Blocks fix, the new, still-untitled-at-press-time Barcelona Pavilion EP is being released by the Club this month.

Speaking of Blocks, one of its recent releases became the first ever on the Club to be reviewed by Pitchfork. Final Fantasy's Has A Good Home received a lackluster 6.6 'œscore.'? Owen was unfazed by the number, as 'œrad albums'? by the likes of US Maple, The Organ, Nervous Cop, Kid 606 and Bogdan Raczinski are all 6.6ers, according to internet music nerd giants.

Congratulations to Wavelength alumni, Jim Guthrie and Feist for their Juno nominations! Guthrie's Now, More Than Ever and Feist's Let It Die are up for Best Alternative Album. Rounding out the competition are AC Newman's The Slow Wonder, Stars' Set Yourself On Fire and Arcade Fire's Funeral (Arcade Fire also have a nod for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year). You can watch the Junos April 3rd at 8pm on CTV if that's your sort of thing.

In other Arcade Fire news, the band is booked to play Danforth Music Hall in late April. The first announced show, on the 27th, sold out in four hours. Due to popular demand, shows were added the night before and the night after. Get tickets while you can, or face the wrath of creepy guys in Maple Leafs jackets and acid wash on the night of each show.

If all the artists from Toronto and other nearby areas played NXNE instead of SXSW, we'd actually have a good festival. If you're going down to Austin, expect to see just tons of local bands that you've seen at Wavelength before, such as The Parkas, Death From Above 1979, Aaron Booth, and Elliott Brood. The music festival and conference runs through March 11 to 20.

Republic of Safety are ready to release their debut EP this month. The CD release will be at Hey Ladeez March 19 at Stones Place with DJs Barbi and KP Regina. RoS will also be guest band at Matt Blair and Nemo Burbank's new dance party night, Dynamite Soul, March 11 at the El Mo.

Dan Burke is gonna shit on your head if you don't go check out the Zoobombs early this month. The Japanese band is headlining all three of his CMW shows with a stellar lineup of locals who make the nights worth it anyway. Check the March show listings for all lineups and venues.

The Dufferin Hotel will be hosting what's being called an 'œAnti-CMW'? show March 5. This will be Frank FB_A's release party for their new CD/DVD, I Pity Da Fool and a recoding session with Greg Collins. Also playing are Matias Rozenberg and Awesome. Hopefully, the cops won't have to break up the party this time.

Finally, Davy Love's longstanding Saturday night dance party, Blow Up, is coming to an end. In celebration, one final hurrah will be thrown at original Blow Up HQ, The Elmocambo on March 26. The main floor will be taken over by bands such as The Two Koreas, Boy Ballz and The Diableros, while the top floor will feature almost every DJ that's spun at Blow Up during its past ten years. Thanks for the fuzzy memories, Blow Up!

By Steven Himmelfarb; with files from Shaunna Bednarek and Greg Collins