Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 432
Date: Friday, 21 April 1995
Chalkhills Digest, Number 432
Friday, 21 April 1995
Today's Topics:
who i want to be on the tribute album doing what.
Kinks' "Animal Farm"
Through the Hill, Ltd.
Chalkhills Digest #431 -Reply
John Fitzgerald Pumpkinhead? Don't think so.
More XTC nonesvch
Two missing songs on FAQ lists.
Alehouse rules--a suggestion
David Ike/JFK/Pumpkinhead
1000 chord changes
Midprice
Nonsuch
Re: David Ike/JFK/Pumpkinhead
Dr. XTClove - or - How I came to love Nonsuch (sorta)
somewhat difappointed
Nonsvsh Svcks? I difagree!
A name for us?
Dave Mattacks & Stuff...
Administrivia:
To UNSUBSCRIBE from Chalkhills, send a message to:
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>
For all other administrative issues, send a message to:
<chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org>
Chalkhills Archives not available using FTP.
World Wide Web: "http://chalkhills.org/"
The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors.
They're spilling from the bus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mallende@Phoenix.kent.edu (mark allender - king of the universe)
Subject: who i want to be on the tribute album doing what.
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 09:29:51 -0400 (EDT)
i want David Byrne to do "Complicated Game."
(listen to DB's "She's Mad" or Talking Heads' "Blind")
--
uh...
------------------------------ From: schrey@kennet.Paramax.COM (Timothy M. Schreyer) Subject: Kinks' "Animal Farm" Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 09:41:53 -0400 (EDT) > From: Jeffrey Langr <0005392548@mcimail.com> > > For the > uninitiated, "Something Else" and "Village Green Preservation Society" > (not to be confused with Preservation Acts I & II) are two fantastic > albums that are usually overlooked. Awesome tracks: "Two Sisters", > "Big Sky", "Animal Farm". For an great version of "Animal Farm" check out the JudyBats, a terrific Tennessee band who might appeal to XTC fans anyway. -- Timothy M. Schreyer schrey@kennet.paramax.com Weather Information Services (610) 444-2449 Unisys Government Systems Group FAX: (610) 444-2420 221 Gale Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 09:32:27 -0700
From: John Relph <relph>
Subject: Through the Hill, Ltd.
I was shopping in London on Friday, and I found two copies of a
numbered limited edition LP (yes, vinyl) of the Andy Partridge Harold
Budd album _Through the Hill_. The LP came in a plain white sleeve
with a sticker on it. It has the two bonus tracks from that were also
included on the Japanesee CD release, "Bosch" and "Breugel". The
album was released by All Saints Records UK, and is a limited edition
of 1,500, hand-numbered. I didn't buy it, so there should still be
two copies left in the Virgin Megastore (Tube: Tottenham Court Road).
-- John
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 15:16:04 -0500 From: Cherie Gallinati <CGALLINA@coe.edu> Subject: Chalkhills Digest #431 -Reply i agree with mister pacheco...everyone should buy the bizarre depiction xtc fan tribute tapes--my darling ian produces them and they are RAD. however, he has moved from philly...back to ohio. i have the quicker address, if anyone is interested or needs a rundown on the quality of either tape, i usually am one of the first to hear them (before popular consumption begins). peace, life, love and xtc to all (chalkhillians especially); rhubarb
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 14:54:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: Eric Muller <EMuller@UWYO.EDU>
Subject: John Fitzgerald Pumpkinhead? Don't think so.
I enjoyed the speculation that appeared a couple of digests ago to the
effect that the character of Peter Pumpkinhead was actually the late
President. I too entertained this idea when I first heard the song, but
quickly dismissed it. Admittedly, there are some lines that suggest Kennedy
(the President, that is, not the MTV V.J.). Chief among these is the
Vatican line, of course, but there is also the line about feeding the
starving and housing the poor (although, in fairness to LBJ, it was really
the Johnson Administration that took the Kennedy rhetoric about poverty and
made a real legislative initiative of it).
There are, however, lots of lines that don't work at all. For example,
the line to the effec t that "plots and sex scandals failed outright" is
irrelevant in the Kennedy context. True, we now know (or at least People
Magazine tells us confidently) that JFK was a philanderer, but this was not
reported at the time. Certainly there were no Paula Jones figures out there
suing Kennedy for sexual harrassment; these sorts of things were simply not
deemed relevant for public discourse at the time.
In addition, President Kennedy's assassination was not broadcast on
live television--or at least not on national television. Perhaps it was
broadcast on local TV in Dallas, although even this is doubtful. This was
just an everyday Presidential motorcade through a big city--not something
that TV stations tend to cover (at least not with a live broadcast that
interrupts regular programming).
Indeed, if there had been live TV coverage, there would have been
videotape (or its 1963 equivalent) of the event for law enforcement and the
Warren Commission to review. We wouldn't have had to rely on that fuzzy
home movie that we've all seen countless times now.
More importantly, it has always seemed fairly clear to me that Andy is
singing about a true "folk hero"--the kind of public figure who draws his
appeal from being an outsider, a challenger of the established order. No
matter how much we may romanticize the image of President Kennedy, he was no
outsider. He was the President of the United States, for heaven's sake! He
WAS the established order. The only way that you can view Kennedy as an
outsider or a folk hero is to believe Oliver Stone's clinically paranoid
view in the movie JFK that the President was killed by a huge conspiracy
that involved virtually the entire government-military-industrial complex,
supported by the Mafia, and that this monstrous conspiracy represented the
true established order.
No, President Kennedy was no folk hero like Peter in Peter Pumpkinhead.
While the analogy is tempting, I just don't think it works, and I don't
think it's what Andy was singing about.
As always, though, this is the kind of issue that there's actually a
real answer for. If anyone on the list is from Swindon and bumps into Andy
in the vegetable aisle at the local grocery, ask him, would ya?
Eric
emuller@uwyo.edu
------------------------------
From: LTaylor279@aol.com
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 18:34:17 -0400
Subject: More XTC nonesvch
First off, I'm a new subscriber and as far as I know of, I'm the only black
female XTC fan here in the Windy City. It's cool to see others rolling in
XTC. And I thought I was the only one this side of the Atlantic.
I was hooked unto XTC 2 years ago and went on a mad spending spree snatching
all their CDs. To this day, _Oranges and Lemons_ would always remain my
favorite, though _English Settlement_ is right on its heels. Even though I'm
such a baby listener, I do have to admit that _Nonsvch_ does seem more
watered down than the others. I don't know, it's as if the guys suddenly hit
a huge mellow sound pocket.
I'm not saying that it's less poignant: Andy's lyrics still pull you in (in
fact, I'll have to listen to it over just to catch this Bungalow (Bungle-O)
business). But the music itself, the violins, pianos, just seems to soft and
flabby and they don't stand out as much. I miss the guitars.
But like I said, Nonesvch isn't that bad. Onibus cracks me up. I can
actually picture Andy in this wild hat hopping up and down in front of a bus
filled with girls (Until a few weeks ago, I had no idea that XTC made videos
and had to make do with what was inside my head. Sorry). Crocodile and the
Disappointed are perfect for listening if you're ticked off at the opposite
sex, and Wrapped in Grey is by far the best song.
By the way, I just discovered the "Dukes" and was horrified to learn that
they had hung up their guitars. Any chance we can persuade them to put on
just one more performance? Pleeeeease?!!
LaShawn
Ain't nothing in the world like a black skinned girl,
Make your Shakespeare hard and your oyster pearl. . .
------------------------------
From: BBenoit@aol.com
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 00:24:08 -0400
Subject: Two missing songs on FAQ lists.
I think a song was missing on the FAQ covers list.
It was XTC as "Trick Bag". They covered the song "Fire" on the Hendrix
tribute CD "If Six Was Nine". It sure sounds like Colin singing the
background part. In a 1980 interview,Partridge said XTC's music was like a
"Trick Bag".
On the non-collected XTC song list,the song "Rocket" should be added. This
song is on the"Place of General Happiness" CD. Even though it's listed as
"XTC",all vocals and instruments are by Partridge.
I enjoy reading everyone's comments and I hope these are new XTC tracks for
folks out there.
BBenoit.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 00:52:04 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Tom X. Chao" <tqc8542@is.NYU.EDU>
Subject: Alehouse rules--a suggestion
Bob Sherwood's detailed description of an Alehouse concert has prompted
me to get in touch with my old college classmate, John Knoll, co-creator
of Photoshop and ILM special effects whiz. I'm asking him if he can't
whip up a "Jurassic Park"-style computer animation of the Alehouse live
experience for those of us who couldn't attend. From there, it's only a
small jump to an Alehouse "virtual reality" simulation.
And then, inevitably, we'd have to create a virtual reality XTC concert
("Spit in Andy's harmonica and win a foot massage!") because that's
probably the only way we'll ever get to see them now.
TXC
------------------------------ From: AngryYngMn@aol.com Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 18:10:36 -0400 Subject: David Ike/JFK/Pumpkinhead David, thanks for the enlightenment... The question I have though, is why does it seem PP is about a 'leader' of sorts, an elected official or something? Did Ike 'show the vatican what gold's for?' or anything? It just seemed like JFK was more likely a subject to a naive American like yours truly. But I'll take your word for what it's worth and I thank you for it! -AYM (The world is full of them!)
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 20:20:04 -0500 (CDT) From: "my world is spinning..." <LEACH@AC.GRIN.EDU> (Arlo B Leach) Subject: 1000 chord changes hey all- i've been away for a while due to insane end-of-my-undergraduate-career busyness, but i just wanted to check in with a question: has anyone ever figured out the chords to 1000 umbrellas? i have a friend who'd really like to know, and he asked me to ask you. i haven't tried to figure them out myself, but this guy is a terrific musician, so if he can't figure them out they must be tough. anyway, if anyone can help out, please write to me or directly to my friend dan at SHARPD@AC.GRIN.EDU. i hope all is well here, and i'm looking forward to catching up with you again...after graduation... thanks, -arlo p.s. anyone seen a JOB around here...?
------------------------------
From: adkoning@hvsag01.att.com (Andre de Koning)
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 95 09:58:38 +0200
Subject: Midprice
The Andy/Harold Budd CD 'Through the Hill' seems to be re-released as
'Midprice', according to an advert in a dutch magazine. It's part of a
whole batch of CD's from the 'All Saints' back-catalogue that are now
also 'midprice': Brian Eno, Eno/Cale, Harold Budd, John Hassel... etc.
Hope this is good news for the european challkhillers.
,
Andre
------------------------------ From: DAMIAN The Wonder Dog FOULGER <SPXDLF@cardiff.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 10:39:35 GMT Subject: Nonsuch Dear Chalkhillians, Just to save some people horrible embarrasment when they finally meet Andy, Colin and Dave Nonsuch is spelt Nonsuch not Nonesuch and I think is pronouced NONsuch rather than NONEsuch but I could be wrong. Thanks to Patty for the results of her questionaire, a most interesting read. Thanks to everyone on the list for making it was it is (and you all know what it is.) Peter Punkinhead by The Crash Test Dummies is getting a fair amount of airplay here in Britain and has even snuck into the top 40!! I think that it is at 35 or something. Personally I don't like it - it's a boring version. And the singer sings 'PeDer' instead of 'PeTer' and call me a snob but that really annoys me especially as it is sung 1000000 times in the song. Dames TWD (Life is good in the greenhouse:XTC) (You told me you saw Jesus, but I could only see a tree: Amber)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 11:23:58 +0100 (BST)
From: David William Lawson <dwl1@st-andrews.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: David Ike/JFK/Pumpkinhead
On Wed, 19 Apr 1995 AngryYngMn@aol.com wrote:
> David, thanks for the enlightenment...
>
> The question I have though, is why does it seem PP is about a 'leader' of
> sorts, an elected official or something?
>
> Did Ike 'show the vatican what gold's for?' or anything? It just seemed like
> JFK was more likely a subject to a naive American like yours truly. But I'll
> take your word for what it's worth and I thank you for it!
Very little.
Probably Andy did mean it for JFK but I have to say that I am not his
greatest fan (Bay of pigs, Cuban crisis, Veitnam, giving Oliver Stone the
chance to make more films e.t.c.) But I do kind of feel sorry for Ike so
I suppose it's just one of those songs you attach to the figure in
you're mind that you feel it suits best. Who knows some Cambodians are
probably hunched over a short wave Radio set right now, "But he made to many
enemys, obviously he's describing Pol Pot"
Then again..
Dav.
------------------------------ From: john%elsouth@ncren.net Subject: Dr. XTClove - or - How I came to love Nonsuch (sorta) Date: Thu, 20 Apr 95 12:35:46 EDT I very much appreciate all of the responses that I got to my nonsvch posting. I've included three tasty threads. From: Jeffrey Langr <mcimail.com!0005392548> >I think I'm in close to 100% agreement with you re: Nonsuch. I've been >listening to XTC since 1980, and found the same thing as you did: their >albums have been tough to listen to at first because of the underlying >complexities and things that make an album worth listening to for the >long haul. Nonsuch is just the opposite, as you said -- pretty listenable >at first, then just tiresome after a while. I've only played the whole >thing through once in the past few years. Several expressed this form of support. The "solution" to this problem, which was suggested by several, is to listen to the demos. Will do. I'll take a trip out at lunch and see if I can find said demos. Also suggested was to make a "best of". Can anyone suggest a running order? I tried 13,14,15,3, 4,5,7,1,2,8,9,11,12,17,6,10,16. It gets a little rough with 6 (the disappointed). It really needs to be in with 4,5,&7, but I can't abide the song. It's also pretty weak to start with 13 (war dance), but Colin's songs don't fit into the mix very well. I agree with whomever pointed out that the sequencing is good on the album. You'll appreciate it if you try to play the songs in order - best to worst. The is the essence of what I did with my running order, then I adjusted the sequence to not make it so "jerky". ---------------- Ian Dahlberg > I have to agree with Mr. Wesley Wilson's comment on the > blandness of Nonesvch. That's kind of the way I felt after listening to > Oranges and Lemons. The production is too clean and clear. I like XTC > albums to have that grainy earthy sound to them and not something where you > can pick out the individual bits and pieces. I feel a song has to be a > living, breathing audible organism where everything complements each other > and doesn't sound like an idea with stuff just layered on top of it. "The > Big Express" is probably the one XTC album I've played the most and it's > the one that got me hooked in the first place. It's just a raw and dirty > piece of grinding metal hissing steam all over; it really evokes a specific > image in your mind (something that watching a video might erase for good!) > Maybe I should drag a tape of Nonesvch through the dirt, then play it. > Hmmmm... Many complained of the clean production. I suppose, but there are some raucous tracks - Ugly Underneath, and Crocodile in particular. I can't say that production alone is the problem here. I guess listening to the demos will tell if the songs have more strength than the production allows. I must say I heartily agree with Ian's taste in production. I like mud. I'm a monster 4AD fan. Ian, run right out and buy My Bloody Valentine - Loveless. Do what you had to do with Black Sea - listen to it 3 times all the way through and you'll be hooked. Don't be surprised if this album finds its way into your all time top 10 list and if you start longing to own a tape machine with a fuzzbox and a whammy bar. You're welcome in advance. Always glad to infect others susceptable to my disease. *---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This was the most thorough and helpful response I got. Dave interpretted and rated the tracks. I've editted his interpretations into sound bites and appended my own rating. Appologies to Dave if he finds my editting heavy handed. I enjoyed comparing our ratings. It made me realise there is a chance to really like some songs I considered throwaways (My bird performs. Rook, Omnibus, Bungle-O). I'll have to study these songs and try to figure out the missing bit. I was glad to see that he was luke warm on the Disappointed, too. There, I have my proof that it's not great. From: execpc.com!dfranson (Dave Franson) >TRACK Dave John >Peter Pumpkinhead [D] [C] > Absolutely cliche-ridden, both musically and lyrically. > >My Bird Performs [A] [C] > I had a hard time forgiving the song its lyrics, but found alternate, and > much better, lyrics on the demo track. > >Dear Madam Barnum [A] [B] > Probably Andy's most sustained, consistent metaphor: The circus clown as > cuckold, the circus as love's battleground. > >Humble Daisy [A] [A] > A study, a portrait, a miniature. A poem. Delicate, spartan musicianship. > >The Smartest Monkeys [C] [B] > It's a total failure on the lyric level, but what music! Great syncopation. > >The Disappointed [C] [C] > It's got the tune, it's got the hook, but it hasn't any staying power. The > only thing about this song that remains of any interest to me is what I > believe to be its germ: "The Disappeared" Argentinians. > >Holly Up on Poppy [A] [A] > The swirling, calliope-like organ magically evokes the rockinghouse and/or > merry-go-round alluded to in the lyrics. > >Crocodile [A] [B] > Fighting off a most nasty manifestation of jealousy and self-pity. > >Rook [A] [D] > A very lean, plaintive appeal for the big answer. Check out Ted Hughes' > (ex-British Poet Laureate) "Crow" volume for further readings on the theme. > >Omnibus [A] [D] > The best XTC polyrhythms since "It's Nearly Africa." > >That Wave [A] [B] > Eclectic, offbeat, idiosyncratic... don't tell me they've lost any of their > edge! > >Then She Appeared [A] [B] > Utterly charming! > >War Dance [C] [A] > The theme has been done to death, and Colin's lyrics certainly have nothing > new to say. > >Wrapped in Grey [C] [A] > Tedious and plodding after several listens. > >The Ugly Underneath [A] [A] > venomous lyrics, nervous keyboards, beautiful chorus. > >Bungalow [A] [F] > Conceit and artiface in the best sense of those words. A lyrical and > musical joke: Colin deeply intoning the slightest of lyrics over that > classic XTC melodic buildup. > >Books are Burning [C] [C] > Most of the lyrics don't rise above the obvious. Musically: nice melody, > but where's the passion? > >OVERALL [B] [C] Thanks for all of the responses. It really gave me a chance to quantify what the source of my troubles with the album are. Sorry for the waste of bandwidth to those not interested. Tag! Gotcha last! - John White CIS Manager Electrical South Inc. john%elsouth@concert.net "Failure is not falling down... Failure is staying down." - Ken Morganstern
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 14:10:21 -0600 From: Erik Anderson <aa393@broadway.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca> Subject: somewhat difappointed First of all, does anyone out there subscribe to The Little Express? If not, get on it. Anyway... Maybe it's just me, but I was quite surprised to read all the criticism re: Nonsuch. Let me put it this way: to truly enjoy a band like XTC (who has been around forever) one must appreciate each album based on its own merits, not in relation to any other album, be it one by XTC or not. Indeed, can anyone out there really see a parallel between Nonsuch and, lets say, White Music or to a lesser extent Drums and Wires? Technology alone has distinguished said releases. Moreover, when the new album does surface, I think the critics of Nonsuch will be even further difappointed. According to Andy (LE #38), the new album will NOT feature a drummer and WILL incorporate a more "compositional" arrangement to the songs -- such as a greater number of string arrangements (a la Dave Gregory). As for a producer, although I would love to see Bob Mould produce a harder-edged album (hey, I didn't say grunge!) such as Black Sea, I think the band will be shopping for someone a little less "noisy." The Elvis Costello suggestion was a good guess; but Andy lamented the fact that Elvis had already done (ie. with the Brodsky Quartet) what XTC is hoping to accomplish. Later, Erik Anderson.
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Nonsvsh Svcks? I difagree! Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 21:42:06 +0100 (BST) Firstly "hi!" to everyone on the list since this is my first posting here... some of you have come across me already in my attempts to compile a Shriekback/Andrews/related discography (which incidently is just about ready to unleash on the world, but I'm waiting on one or two bits of information from a couple of people before I do so). Anyway enough of that. What's all this Nonsuch-bashing about then? Firstly, a confession, Nonsuch was the first XTC album I bought, my excuse for this shocking state of affairs is that I was born in 1974 and although I had heard most of the 'big' singles over the years, I didn't buy many records at the time. The flip side of this is that I now have a complete set on CD (plus a few vinyl bits & pieces). Anyway, at some time in '92 I inadvertently taped "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" off the radio, but even then it was a while before I bought "Nonsuch". Once I did though, I was hooked. Ignoring all that came before it, this is how I see that album: A long (pleasingly so) collection of mostly excellent songs, all crammed with brilliantly clever lyrics, and almost all with either great, catchy tunes or else beautiful well-orchestrated music which never fails to transmit the power and emotion of the songs. (Re-reading that it sounds really pretentious. Sorry). There are exceptions of course - I really can't stand "Omnibus", the lyrics are very clever certainly but to my ears, the tune is simply awful. However, songs like "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", "The Disappointed", "The Smartest Monkeys", "Books Are Burning", "Wrapped In Grey", "Dear Madum Barnum", and my personal favourite "War Dance" (Surely one of their most underrated songs... I wonder how mane people really understand this song?) stand out (to me) as absolute classics. If any other band had written all of these songs they'd be hailed as geniuses. On some of the other albums people don't seem to like, specifically the first two, I'd also have to disagree. "White Music" is one of my favourites. "Statue of Liberty" being my all-time-favourite XTC song - blows me away every time. Then there's their brilliant rendition of "All along the watchtower"...The bonus tracks on the CD are great too. I also think "Go2" is a great album (though I've yet to play it to anyone who agrees, admittedly). OK "Go2" has its weak points but I actually rather like Barry's keyboard playing on this album, and theres some great songs like "Crowded Room" and "Super-Tuff" too. "Life is Good in the Greenhouse" is worth a mention too just for being so bizarre. After those two, "Drums & Wires~ seems like a bit of a let down to me - mostly it's OK but what were they thinking of when they put "Roads Girdle the Globe" on the album? It's awful! As for "The Dub Experiments" which someone mentioned, well I actually don't think it's that bad but you need to be in the right frame of mind, which for me is very seriously angry and worked up and stressed (doesn't happen too often). This album along with no more than 2 or 3 others is, I find, ideal listening to work that anger out of my system. "Steam Fist Futurist" is great... Sorry I seem to have waffled on for so long, just thought that the counter-viewpoint needed to be expressed. PS: "The Big Express" is still my favourite though... :-) Phil. _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh ========
------------------------------ From: XDEVANS@CCVAX.FULLERTON.EDU Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 15:52:05 -0800 (PST) Subject: A name for us? I've been thinking--we XTC fans need a name so we can stop being confused about what to call ourselves. "XTC fans" is a bit dull and "Chalkhillians", which I've seen on this list, is a bit ungainly. I've batted around ideas inside my head like "The Affiliated" or "The Disappointed" or "Intelligent-Music-Lovers- With-Internet_Access Working Overtime". But nahh. The name I've come up with, and of which I'm more than a bit proud, is "Chalkheads". This is cool because it sounds kind of like "Chalkhills" and also is slightly reminiscent of another group of music lovers who slavishly pay attention to one particular band. Thanks to all who responded to my query re: the "Diamond Blue" lyric a couple of issues back. You've opened up several new meanings for a song I've been listening to for nine years, and that's great. Doug
------------------------------ From: d.zemel@genie.geis.com Date: Fri, 21 Apr 95 03:08:00 UTC Subject: Dave Mattacks & Stuff... Patty, Regarding your comments about doubting that Dave Mattacks would work with Andy again, I'm wondering where you heard that? I only question it because I had the pleasure of talking with Dave following a show he did with Richard Thompson during the Mirror Blue tour and we talked about his drumming for Nonsuch. He said that he'd had a great time and would love to work with XTC again but doubted that he'd be asked to do so because they only seem to use a particular drummer for one album. He said that he'd thought that Andy, Colin and David were all marvelously talented. There was absolutely no hint of animosity between Andy and him. Perhaps he realized that I was a major XTC fan and didn't want to get into any negative stuff but there wasn't so much as a clue that there was any negative stuff to get into. I'm just curious about where you heard that there were bad feelings between Dave Mattacks and Andy and just what it was that you heard. (I happen to think that Dave Mattacks is a fabulous drummer as evidenced by Nonsuch, plus I wish every one of you could've seen him drum on the Mirror Blue tour. He's so unobtrusive but drives the music with some very fresh beats.) On another matter, there are obviously those of us (i.e., fans of XTC) who are more endeared to the rougher-edged, early days of the group. To you, the smoother, more obviously Beatlesque/Beach Boyish songs and albums are dreck. I can see where you're coming from. But on the other hand, there are those of us who could do without those earlier albums and could live forever on a desert island with only the albums from Skylarking on. It's also easy to see where you're coming from. As I've said before and I'll say it again and again and again, I find something in every single XTC song that is nothing less than captivating. Yes, every single song! (However, I do think it was a good thing that I broke into XTC with a sampler tape of the more melodic songs from Senses Working Overtime on and, later, went back and heard everything earlier). In any event, to me the "debate" is starting to seem a little silly when I first read a batch of letters that tout the earlier stuff and condemn the later stuff and then a batch of letters that take exactly the opposite position. It's a little like watching a debate between two sides that are seriously arguing about whether Lite beer is less filling or tastes great. Or if Certs is a breath mint or if Certs is a candy mint. Let's face it---XTC is two, two, two bands in one! :=) Dean
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #432 *****************************
Go back to Volume 1.
21 April 1995 / Feedback