New format alert: Seed Paper editions

Not, I'm imagining, the sort of format we'd be expecting to be picked up by too many artists, but The Pretenders have announced their new album Break Up The Concrete is going to be the first ever Seed Paper edition album.

Oh, you do so know what a seed paper edition is, surely?

The Pretenders ninth studio album, Break Up The Concrete, will have a limited run of ecologically-friendly packaging with handmade seed paper starting on the album's release date of October 7. This paper can be planted and, with care, may sprout in 1 to 4 weeks. The paper used on this plantable run, and the paper for subsequent non-plantable runs of the CD and vinyl configuration, has all been certified by the FSC, an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests.

You'll note that there's no actual explanation of what the seeds might be when they sprout - it could be Japanese knotweed. Or possibly the sort of plants which get the local constabulary interested. I'm hoping they'll be beets. Nice to have some beets late in the season.

Pretending again

According to their MySpace, the first Pretenders album in six years is just about ready. Breaking Up The Concrete is out at the start of October; if you can't wait that long - or are close to your pound notes - they're doing a download a week which will allow you to assemble an mp3 version of the album without cash investment.

Chrissie Hynde: We suspect she's not making the food

A few years ago, Chrissie Hynde got herself in trouble when she suggested firebombing McDonalds. Let's hope that Ronald doesn't take the chance for revenge now that Hynde is opening a restaurant in Akron, Ohio:

The long-time animal rights activist will be nixing all meat off the menu as VegeTerranean opens its doors on September 15 with a free performance by Hynde (backed by an acoustic act) followed by the grand opening of the Mediterranean/vegetarian digs. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee will partner up with Dan Duplain, owner of the Fedeli restaurant, to keep the restaurant running while she is at her home in London.

That's lucky, otherwise it would be a bit of commute.

Let's pretend we're the NME

Since the Daily Star used to just fill their columns with stuff filched off Popbitch, and so that presumably will be the great new dirction taken at AOL Kings Reach Tower now, we're beating them to the chase.

Actually, we've just read on Pb that The Pretenders are covering Interferon's Get Out of London, which is something we can't wait to hear. Now all we need is for Garbage to do the Mobiles' Drowning in Berlin, and we can die happy. Not pretty, but happy.