Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 383
Date: Monday, 3 October 1994

              Chalkhills Digest, Number 383

                  Monday, 3 October 1994

Today's Topics:
                   Re: Racism and Board
                        Re: Rush?
                   The Farting Monkeys?
                       "ex-tee-cee"
       Acoustic Radio Tour and the Moody Blues (?!)
                        Ultradisk
                        Kinks/XTC
               Choices and choice comments
               Re: Great FIre, Stephen Duff
                  songs we love to hate
                     New XTC release
                   Re: Chalkhills  #382
                       moody blues
               andy and harold in musician
                  Mobile Fidelity discs
                 "No Thugs in Our House"
                         Alice CD
             Re: #1(2) Chalkhills Digest #382
                 John Henry is Paul Foxed
                 poll, & various thoughts
               Re: poll, & various thoughts
                      Stephen Duffy

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Sometimes this job puts you so high you forget your roots now.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 94 16:45:44 PDT
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Re: Racism and Board

jjm@wwtc.timeplex.com (Jim McGowan) writes:

>In Chalkills #380, James Dignan writes:
>
>> I always find the inherent racism of Millions embarrassing, even if it was
>> done as a pointed attack on racists.
>
>Eh? I always interpreted that song as a lament for the westernization of
>Chinese culture: "I hear you asking for Western thinking, I say it's poison
>that you'll be drinking."

Exactly.  Much akin to Ursula LeGuin's science fiction novel, the
title of which escapes my mind, perhaps it's _The Disposessed_, which
was actually written about the introduction of Coca-Cola to China.

On an unrelated note, "William Q. Johnson" <wqjohnso@cap.gwu.edu> writes:

> Found your board in "The Internet Directory."

What's a board?  :-)

        -- John

------------------------------

From: CurtissH@aol.com
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 94 21:00:47 EDT
Subject: Re: Rush?

In our last action-packed issue, Tom Keekley admitted that his favorite band
is Rush!

Tom is not alone.  While Rush is no longer number one in my book, they are
still in the top ten.  And while we're feeling like confessing, my third
favorite band is Yes, at least up to Drama. Other favorites include King
Crimson, E.L.P., David Bowie, The Who and Led Zeppelin.  Are these bands
incompatible with XTC (who are number two on my list after the Beatles)?

I don't think so.

Anyone else dig something other than "new wave?"

Curtiss Hammock, Atlanta, GA, USA

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 8:21:42 EDT
From: "mark allen" <mallen@rosedale.org>
Subject: The Farting Monkeys?

Yo! Some of you are really don't like "The Smartest Monkeys", do you?

Just to balance things out, it happens to be one of my favorite tracks on
"Nonesuch". The lyrics contain the usual XTC wit and Colin's bass playing is
killer.

BYE-BYE!

------------------------------

From: ph297md@prism.gatech.edu
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 09:34:21 EDT
Subject: "ex-tee-cee"

Hi everyone,

On the question of how to pronounce XTC, I have always pronounced it
"ex-tee-cee". Also, I remember that when Dave Gregory was touring with Aimee
Mann, she introduced him as playing guitar for "the greatest band on the
planet, 'ex-tee-cee'". I imagine she knew the correct pronounciation.

I've been lurking for a while, but I felt I needed to say something on
the fave song/lemon controversy. It is obvious that there is a large
amount of disagreement on what are good XTC songs and what are bad XTC
songs, i.e. there is direct opposition in some cases. I would submit that
it is this very disagreement which is the genius of XTC. Their range of
expression is almost beyond what many people can tolerate. They have
created some of the most raucous songs around (e.g. Train Running Low on
Soul Coal, some songs on White Music, Complicated Game) and some of
the most melodic and beautiful songs around (e.g. Ladybird, Chalkhills
and Children). I happen to like both ends of their spectrum, and most
everything inbetween. Let's rejoice in diversity.

-Markus De Shon
 Atlanta, GA

  Join us tomorrow, when our topic will be, "Religion:  Which is the
  one true faith?" -- newscaster on "The Simpsons"

------------------------------

From: jtl@mcs.com (Joe Lynn)
Subject: Acoustic Radio Tour and the Moody Blues (?!)
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 09:15:31 -0500 (CDT)

neidorf shawn marie writes:

> You wrote that you heard an acoustic XTC medley at the Oktoberfest in
> Chgo.  My guess is that it's from the "On XRT: Live From the Archives
> Vol. I" disc. If you're not from Chgo., XRT (93.1 FM) is a great station
> that plays a lot of XTC.  They put out a benefit album last Christmas
> ..

The performance on the CD is taken from their in-studio performance
at WXRT in May of 1989.  I've never heard the CD, but I taped
the show when they were originally on the air, and they were brilliant.
WXRT deejay Johnny Mars gets in 'way over his head a few times during the
interview, given Andy's rapid-fire wisecracks:  it's great.

A number of Chalkhillians traded tapes with each other at the time
as XTC wandered across the country, and the radio shows, combined with
Andy's appearance on MTV's _120 Minutes_ and XTC's performance on
_Late Night with David Letterman_ proved to me beyond any doubt that
Andy's "stage fright" isn't chronic, and these guys should be touring.

I wouldn't say that that WXRT "plays a lot of XTC:"  I'd
say they're one of the few stations around here that plays *any* XTC.

> By the way, does anyone ever get trapped in, say, a grocery store and
> hear the Moody Blues and think of XTC's vocal sound?  Am I completely
> alone in this?

No, you're not alone.  I was a huge Moody Blues fan in high school,
and XTC was one of the first "new wave" bands I discovered in the
early 80s, and I was taken not only by their songwriting and musicianship,
but by their vocal "sound" as well.  I attribute it to the
"Englishness" of XTC's overall sound, which is apparent in the music
of their British musical forefathers such as the Kinks and the MBs.

In the _Play at Home_ video, Andy shows the Swindon Mural (a huge painting
that featured famous Swindonites-- it took up an entire wall on
an apartment building, although it's since been painted over), and
refers to fellow Swindon native Justin Hayward of "The Muddy Bulbs"
as having hair "carved out of butter."  Funny stuff.

jtl

------------------------------

From: Mike.Gervasi@f1.n3658.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Gervasi)
Date: 28 Sep 94 03:55:43 -0500
Subject: Ultradisk
Organization: FidoNet Nameserver/Gateway

ch>Seriously, I don't know whether the ultradiscs sound noticeably differe
ch>Their vinyl counterparts (years before the CD) definitely did: they wer
ch>with a bit more punch, and generally were pressed on stunningly superio
ch>vinyl.  SOMEBODY must think ultradiscs are worth the extra money: they
ch>be continuing to release many albums that cross some threshhold of sale
ch>this format.
 I had a beat up old cassette copy of Quadrophenia that was sounding
ragged. I bought the Ultradisk as I wanted the best possible sounding
source for my new workout tape. Imagine my surprise when I found that for
all the pretty packaging and 32.00 price tag, that in side by side tests
the tape sounded almost as good as the CD!
My Advice? Only buy REMASTERED cd's of older albums. Ultradisk are made
 from the Master tapes, but are not remastered. So you end up with the same
old tired 1970's production and mix, but it's clean.
Unless they are remastering Skylarking, stick with your current CD copy of
it.

------------------------------------------------ Mike
 * Wave Rider 1.20 # 367 *
... Captain Picard! Mr. Spock just swallowed our budget!
--- Blue Wave/Maximus

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 09:19 EST
From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com>
Subject: Kinks/XTC

 From Tim Szeliga Mon 26 Sep 94:
TS>The Kinks albums of that period: Percy, Lola, Arthur, Face To Face,
TS>WATVGPS
TS>(before it degenerated into Preservation Parts I, II,...)

Tim -
Don't forget Something Else by the Kinks, and The Great Lost Kinks Album
which contains many tracks written at about the same time as VGPS.  Percy is
just OK (God's Children is my favorite), but Face to Face and Village Green
Preservation Society are hidden classics.  I did a paper about 8 years ago
for a popular music course at the U of Md that compared the Kinks to XTC; I
produced a corresponding tape of similarities in songs (mostly themes of
songs).  I got an 'A'.  Mummer is probably the closest thing to the Kinks of
the 1966-69 period.

Oh yeah, and as regards putting out stuff of uneven quality: both Andy and
Ray Davies have a bit too big of a head and really need someone to hold
their reins just a little.  Much of Ray Davies' best stuff came under the
control of Shel Talmy; the early '70s stuff like Muswell Hillbillies, Pres
Society I, II, Soap Opera, etc. had flashes of brilliance but there was no
one there to whittle it into masterpieces.  Same with XTC - Skylarking was
their best-received album to that date and mostly because they had a firm
hand to guide them; Oranges & Lemons is bloated and uneven and has a couple
really bad tracks on it.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 16:17:06 EDT
From: patty@gdb.org (Patty Haley)
Subject: Choices and choice comments

Thanks be that we're talking mostly about XTC again and not Bl**.
Their singer makes me shudder.  And I'd love to see our man
Partridge hitting Sting over the head with (what was it, a
pineapple?) anything, most preferably a concussion-inducing
object.  Is that film/video available in wide distribution? I'd
pay just to see that bit.

OK, down to survey choices:

1.  Fave song?  Hell, there are so many, but "Wrapped in Grey" is
so poignant, and always results in a teary-eyed Patricia, that I'll
give it the nod, for now, at least.  Worth the price of a sub-par
"Nonsuch" on its own.

2.  Song to recommend:  Depends on the person.  I have a good friend
who turns a deaf ear to me every time I rave and rant about them, and
I've been thinking of just making him a comp tape and asking him to
do himself an aural favor and listen.  That way if one song doesn't
connect, another should.

3.  XTC clinkers?  The first two albums.  Never listen to 'em.  Later
stuff includes "President Kill" on "Oranges and Lemons."  A teeriff
album, but that song really doesn't fit.  Also the Colin clinker
"Bungalow" and Andy's "Books Are Burning."  Whenever I listen to "Nonsuch,"
I go out of my way to avoid those songs and "Omnibus."
> Dave Gregory did three dates in Japan (Tokyo 9/11,9/12, ?) playing keyboards
> and guitar in Martin Newell's band. Andy was recruited as well but declined.

Will someone please hold Andy for me so I can jam my foot wayyyy up his bum?
I totally agree with whomever had the wit and wisdom to mention here that
old Partridge never ever comes off like he's having a bad time on stage, as
much as he swears to the contrary.  If that's the case, then Andy should
have won a Best Actor Oscar for the years they actually played live.

Also, I totally agree with the p.o.v. that because "Nonsuch" was subpar,
it doesn't mean the lads from Swindon have passed their nadir.  And I would
rather have them fall flat once in a while then put out the exact same
record time after time as so many groups seem to.  I own a lot of "one off"
albums by bands--heard one album by them, you heard 'em all.  XTC is the
only band I have where different records fit different moods.  I've been
listening a whole lot to "English Settlement" of late.  I know that even
if the next album is a clinker I will still buy it out of loyalty to a
band who have provided me with such great music for so long.  No other band
I know has done that for me, and I am grateful, even discounting those
first two albums.  It took me a looooong time to get into "Mummer," but
now I love it.

> End of Chalkhills Digest #382
> *****************************

Hey!  If following whatever the hell guidelines (what ARE they, by the way)
that Chalkhills is now touted to follow means no more song line at the end
of the digest--I WANT THE OLD DIGEST BACK NOW!!!!  NON-CONFORMITY IS AN
ADVANTAGE!
	
-Patty

Catherine Wheel World Wide Web Home Page:
http://gdbdoc.gdb.org/~patty/CW/CW_home_page.html

	[ Sorry, my fault!  I forgot the lyric.  -- John ]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 18:45:07 -0400
From: "Paul Myers" <pmyers@cmrra.ca>
Subject: Re: Great FIre, Stephen Duff

        Reply to:   RE>Great FIre, Stephen Duffy, Sheryl Crow

Hi chalkhillians,  I just wanna reply to couple of things and then throw in a
couple of my own sense.
SHERYL CROW - Is All I Wanna Do really just Stuck In The Middle With You by
Stealers Wheel?
GREAT FIRE - This one always struck me as Senses Working Overtime part deux,
cept that the production is a tad obnoxious.  Sorta like mid seventies Chicago
:(
Ironically, I once met Andy at the time of Big Express (brag brag) and made a
gaff by telling him that I heard a Chicago infl. in Colin's I Remember The Sun.
Andy got a bit defensive and assured me that Colin was thinking of Brian
Wilson and those Boys du Beach.
VELVET CRUSH: TEENAGE SYMPHONIES TO GOD -I love this record, it's in the
Matthew Sweet realm and produced by early REM guy Mitch Easter who was not
only in LET'S ACTIVE an unsung groovy pop band, but also produced GAME THEORY
who had a song called Kenneth What's The Frequency years before REM. The title
of the Velvet Crush record is attributed to a Brian Wilson quote, he said his
songs were little Teenage Symphonies etc...
BARENAKED LADIES have a song called BRIAN WILSON, and I must segue into the
STEPHEN DUFFY co-wrote with Steven Page on the new BNL disc Maybe You Should
Drive.  By the way EARN ENOUGH FOR US is one of my fave songs to hook in new
listeners.
 Please let me know if the CAPS are a problem. :) Paul

------------------------------

From: seanbe@microsoft.com
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 15:26:49 PDT
Subject: songs we love to hate

jeeze you guys.
I think Bungalow is a crackup. I think Rook is a brilliant song right
up there with some of the stuff on The Juliet Letters.  Not that
everyone has to love every XTC song to death, but i guess I don't see
the point in all this slagging.
NO ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE.

sean  :)

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 23:31 BST-1
From: joeo@cix.compulink.co.uk (Psion plc  Joe Odukoya)
Subject: New XTC release

At last some info....
The XTC Radio One sessions features 16 tracks (from '77 to '89) including:
The Atom Age
Meccanic Dancing
Dance Band
Roads Girdle the Globe
No Thugs on our House
Jason and the Argonauts
Seagulls Screaming
Poor Skeleton Steps Out

Also a spoof Andy Partridge intro
And apparently nothing from Black Sea :-)
Should be in the UK shops in October
Hope this is of interest - will post more info when I have bought it.
Keep Chalking!

- Joeo -

------------------------------

From: DFerg@aol.com
Date: Sat, 01 Oct 94 14:28:06 EDT
Subject: Re: Chalkhills  #382

Some recent information has prompted me to unlurk...dislurk...to uh,
disenbrowse and flip two lincoln head pennies into the arena.
First, the E.J. Madman across the Water was indeed a crudy version compared
to other companies versions, and should not be used as a comparison for any
Mobile Fidelity reissue, as the company later admitted they were forced to
use an inferior second dub (or so) for their recording, which sounds like
someone letting all the air out of your car tires during play.
Although it is true that Gus Dudgeon was producer on Elton's essential
material, Gus also tends to allow an unacceptable amount of tape hiss and low
dynamic range to the product he puts out. (Witness Genesis' Duke album as an
example.) Hopefully the upcoming remixes of those older Genesis albums and
any XTC will be ressurected to a level that takes advantage of new recording
and remix technology.
===========
I have seen some newer reissues in boxes that look like minatures of the
original 24 track box for Phil Collin's Face Value, Yes- Fragile and one
other I can't remember right now. Has anyone else seen and heard these and
found the sound superior to the older versions?
===========
I purchased the Stevie Ray Vaughn Couldn't Stand the Weather 20-bit remix
(Those long white box versions that go for about $25.00), and the bass was
snappier and the separation better. What does this have to do with XTC?
Perhaps the new MF Skylarking will also not only have better sound, but have
both Dear God and Mermaid Smiles and anything extra pertinent added to the
original banding of the album. How about more liner notes, an interview or
track discussion by the boys?.
What a great idea IMNSFHO. Rebuttals welcome.

Dave

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
--Hunter Thompson

------------------------------

From: OLIVER@slais.ubc.ca
Organization: SLAIS, UBC
Date:         1 Oct 94 15:23:27 GM+5
Subject:      moody blues

To the person who was talking about the Moody Blues:

I have to admit, I've always thought the vocals on the Moody Blues
song "Your Wildest Dreams" really sound like Andy, especially the
part that goes "And when the music plays/And when your heart is
touched with sorrow" (or however the lyrics go).  This makes the song
much more bearable for me than something like "Nights in White Satin."

------------------------------

From: OLIVER@slais.ubc.ca
Organization: SLAIS, UBC
Date:         1 Oct 94 15:28:16 GM+5
Subject:      andy and harold in musician

 From the latest issue of Musician (Oct. 1994), a capsule review of
Through the Hill:

"Duets are in, and apparently, the more unlikely the better.  Which
is one reason why this collaboration between minimalist composer-
pianist Harold Budd and XTC's Andy Partridge merits some interest.
The title cut introduces the dreamy soundscapes that have become
Budd's calling card, and Partridge's influence surfaces sporadically,
most notably on "Missing Pieces to the Game of Salt and Onyx."  An
expansive, stark piece with a dissonant, slo-mo guitar, it's one of
the few cuts that bears the fruits of a real collaboration.  The disc
has its share of worthwhile moments, but if you're a fan of Budd's
minimalism, pick up the far superior "She Is a Phantom" (New Albion),
a live recording with Zeitgeist."  -- Michael Lipton

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 18:01:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: Greg Langmead <gcl@math.sunysb.edu>
Subject: Mobile Fidelity discs

        It was discussed in last chalkhills somewhere that _Skylarking_ is
being reissued on a Mobile Fidelity gold disc.  There were then questions
about whether this is necessarily a good thing.

        My opinion: These discs are wonderful, and they really do sound
different.  The whole disc invariably sounds much cleaner, much more real, all
the things that CD's should be.  I have a friend who is into these discs, and
we've done a side-by-side comparison of _Dark Side of the Moon_ and _In Search
of the Lost Chord_ (Pink Floyd and Moody Blues, respectively) with their
standard issue counterparts.

        When heard together like this, you can _definitely_ hear vast
improvement on the gold CD's.  The problem: they cost $30, so that's why I
don't have any.  But I personally take the remastering of _Skylarking_ as a
wonderful complement.  Only about 20 of these gold CD's exist, as far as I
know, and all that I've seen are great albums, by any standard.

Greg L.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't need to learn 8+7: I'll remember 8+8 and subtract 1.
                                                        --T.Cuyler Young, Jr.

------------------------------

From: mark.derby@nwcs.org (Mark Derby)
Subject: "No Thugs in Our House"
Date: Sat,  1 Oct 1994 23:08:00 GMT
Organization: NWCS Online * Oregon USA

>From: ergosum@crl.com (Larry Cummings)
>Subject: Long reply Favorite song/Best example/Least favorite song

>This song I think speaks to what they perceived their audience to
>be (or at least how I came to be in their audience) both musically
>in the dramatic difference between the bridge and the verse "moods"
>and lyrically especially the way Andy sort of Arrrghss between the
>two (the "insect headed worker wife" line always cracked me up as
>well).  For me they were the first band that really pulled off the
>"I am smarter than the people that are keeping me down but I don't
>care enough about them to fight them on their ground." motif with
>such accurate intent.

        How I interpret this song:  a black comedy about an extremely
dysfunctional, working-class British family.  Most of the lyrics are from
the point-of-view of the parents:  blissfully ignorant of the fact that one
of their sons is a neo-Nazi.  (Though Andy inserts his commentary here and
there:  "Her little tune is such a happy song...")
        I don't think it reflected any kind of negative attitude toward
XTC's audience (am I misreading your point?).  It could be taken as a swipe
at the lower classes...but I don't think it's intended as such a general
statement.  It's only a story.  (Anyhow, Sir Patridge's background wasn't
exactly upper-class.)

        It _is_ hilarious, despite the grim subject matter.  "The young
policeman who just can't grow a mustache will open up his book/And spoil
their breakfast with reports of Asians who have been so badly kicked."  And
yes, that "aarrggh" speaks volumes.

        Took me awhile to figure out the "plot".  Once I did, the line "And
all the while, Graham slept on/Dreaming of a world where he could DO JUST
WHAT HE WANTED TO" became chilling.  I'd vaguely assumed it referred to
every child's fantasy of finding a place where he didn't have to obey his
parents.  Not a young thug's desire to cleanse Britain of its immigrants.

---
 * WR  # 338 * They thought that it was just a boy's club badge he wore

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Oct 1994 00:01:04 GMT
From: Ashley@apowell.demon.co.uk (Ashley Powell)
Subject: Alice CD

Stop me if this old hat, but it's news to me.  I came across a CD this
weekend from 1989 by an  Italian  singer  called  Alice.  I don't what
made me pick it up  (although  it  could  be  something to do with the
picture of the gorgeous Italian woman  on  the cover), but on the back
some very interesting contributors are mentioned.

For Sylvian/Fripp  fans  Steve  Jansen,  Richard  Barbieri,  and  John
Hassell all make an appearance, and  XTC's  Dave Gregory plays on four
of the songs.  The  album  is  quite  atmospheric,  and would probably
appeal more to fans of Jansen  and  Barbieri,  but those who liked the
Budd/Partridge album might find it worth a listen.

At any rate it  does  show  that  Dave  Gregory can handle atmospheric
playing as well as anyone, and his ebow solo in "l'Era del Mito" shows
that it's not only Fripp who  knows  how  to play the instrument well.
The album is very well produced, and  although one or two of the songs
are a bit average the album as a whole is very good.

As I said, I'm prbably the first to  be the last to know, but here are
the details anyway:

Artist: Alice
Title : il sole nella pioggia
Label : EMI Italiana Spa
Number: 090/7925202
--
Ashley Powell

------------------------------

From: Timxxxxxxx@aol.com
Date: Sun, 02 Oct 94 23:44:50 EDT
Subject: Re: #1(2) Chalkhills Digest #382

Jon Flynn asks:

>Anyone have any other recommendations for 60's gems worth chasing up by an
>>XTC/Dukes of Stratosphear fan?
One of my favorite 60 psychedelic lps is "S. F Sorrow" by the Pretty Things.
 Anyone who loves the Dukes would love this lp (available on CD in England).

Tim

------------------------------

Date:         Mon, 03 Oct 94 00:52:02 EDT
From: "Gene (Sp00n) Yoon" <ST004422@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
Subject:      John Henry is Paul Foxed

Recently got the new They Might Be Giants album "John Henry" and
recommend it to those TMBG-inclined Chalkhillians.  Big album, 20
tracks, and co-produced by familiar name Paul Fox, who did a more
restrained job with this project than with Oranges & Lemons (thank
goodness, though I heard somewhere that the excess of that album
was more the work of a partridge than a fox).  Not as nerdy as their
earlier stuff (with a full band backing them up for the first time
they have a much fuller sound) though it's still trademark TMBG.
Which is a good thing, IMO, since I've come to respect  the Linell-
Flansburgh songwriting almost as much as the Partridge-Moulding
variety.  John Linell sounds more serious, somewhat more negative in
his lyrics, especially in "I Should Be Allowed to Think" and "The End
of the Tour".  I couldn't help but think of XTC when listening to the
latter song, which seems to express a profound dislike for touring,
and it ends with the proclamation "And we're never gonna tour again/
We're never gonna tour again."  I wouldn't be surprised if that were
actually true, as I saw them in concert earlier this year on campus
and John Linell didn't seem to enjoy performing one bit (though John
Flansburgh appeared to be having a good time).  Perhaps one more band
to be forever imprisoned in the studio?

Gene

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Oct 94 15:21:16 +0100
From: sboff@hp735.stru.polimi.it (Giacomo Boffi)
Subject: poll, & various thoughts

preferences based on too little knowledge of the opus.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
introductory song: it depends, i'll chose between

 "summer's cauldron/grass"

 "senses working overtime"

 "across this antheap"

Fit your acquaintances to your misperceptions of these songs...

------------------------------------------------------------------------
best song:

 "seagulls screaming"

 "ten thousand umbrellas"

 "senses working overtime"

these are "best songs", not the "best song" i was asked for, but if i
had singled out a name, then i'd been lying...

------------------------------------------------------------------------
lemons:

 too many

i think that the high number of xtc's songs that i cannot love is a
rating of how different they are the directions the guys explore. i
love them because of this: sometimes they'll hit a nerve i did not
know of, it is true because it has happened before. most pop/R&R is so
boring! (see also: second work syndrome).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
discussion about sting, police, etc...

 the tone of the debate is sometimes a bit condescending: "xtc's
 lyrics/melodies are so smart (and so i am)." while on the other hand
 it is said that he, sumner, is too inclined to whisper us: "my
 lyrics/melodies are so smart (and so i am)."

 i ultimately found that pop is more complex than playing smart. not
 all of my nerves are terminated in the cerebrum.

 and to close these thoughts, i don't love sting. i love the vocalist
 of the police, especially when he sung yoooh-oooh. (is the spelling ok?).

best wishes of earthly delights to everyone, but especially to YOU

ciao
                        gb

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Oct 94 15:31:59 +0100
From: sboff@hp735.stru.polimi.it (Giacomo Boffi)
Subject: Re: poll, & various thoughts

"gb" == Giacomo Boffi <sboff@hp735.stru.polimi.it> writes:

 gb > i ultimately found that pop is more complex than playing smart.
 gb > not all of my nerves are terminated in the cerebrum.
                                                 ^^^^^^^^
because IT is very hard to find...

ciao
                        gb

------------------------------

From: bil@de.crawford.com (Bil White)
Subject: Stephen Duffy
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 11:31:46 -0500 (EDT)

> From: "Wesley Wilson" <Wesley_Wilson@iegate.mitre.org>
> Stephen [Duffy] is an EXCELLENT songwriter and performer. You can get his
> latest (1993), "Music in Colours" on CD (out of England). He's also due to
> release a new album soon; it probably won't be released in the U.S.
>
> I don't know if Stephen Duffy is involved with the band Barenaked Ladies; I
> do know that he has contributed writing and vocals to St. Etienne's "Tiger
> Bay" and Velvet Crush's "Teenage Symphonies to God" (neither of which I have
> heard yet; I can't afford it!)

Word from rock supergod Mitch Easter is he's currently producing Stephen's new
album and the bassist and drummer from Velvet Crush are appearing on it.
"TS to G" is pretty good, but only mildly recommended to Chalkhillians.

Oh, yeah, the survey:

1. WAIT TILL YOUR BOAT GOES DOWN -- but this changes frequently.

2. I agree with the majority, so I won't bother.

3. Isn't it interesting that favorites and lemons have been flip-flopped
so frequently from person to person? I think BUNGALOW is fabulous and like
LEISURE quite a bit too. Go figure. But I reluctantly join the HUMAN ALCHEMY
and ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER crowds.

Bil White,  Atlanta GA

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End of Chalkhills Digest #383
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