Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 47
Date: Wednesday, 4 December 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 47
Wednesday, 4 December 1996
Today's Topics:
The Good Things
Fathers who shame and something very funny....
Good news about my nephew!
Posting Colin
JASON you THINK you used ENOUGH all CAPS WORDS?
NON-XTC Content
Martin, FF, etc.
Music, can you believe it?
Post-T'Giving Blahs
Disjointed comments sans Argonauts
If one can JHB, how does one AO?
Kudos and clarifications anchor my feet...
Re: D&W Confusion
Re: Tiny Tim's influence on XTC
Brian Stevens
David Gilmour, I Think
No Political Content Whatsoever.
segues/Billy/Canada/Edward Lear
politics and (gasp) a FF review! (Real Groove, NZ)
Hardy-har-har.. a real knee-slapper
Camper Van Beethoven
Views XTC.
Blegvad website
XTC and Success
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And I know all you poets / Have seen it all before.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message-Id: <s2a2a712.061@dictaphone.com>
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 09:53:00 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <TKEN@dictaphone.com>
Subject: The Good Things
Hi everyone !
I've been listening to "THE GOOD THINGS" off TD
all weekend and I just wanted to say how much
I like this song. I never cared for the demo all that
much, so what they've done with it makes it all
that more special. And I think its a great song to
listen to over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Northeast Chalkhills Party is this coming Saturday (Dec. 7).
It'll be fun to finally meet some of you. I let the rest of
you know how it went (if you're interested).
Later !
Tim K.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 09:21:47 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Fathers who shame and something very funny.... Message-id: <01ICJ2DDGC4W8WWHHJ@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> I have a tape I made of all my fave XTC songs that I play when I clean my room. Anyways, yesterday I was listening to it, and The Somnambulist was on. I have great bass control on my stereo, so I turned the bass all the way up to get the feel of the heartbeat drum parts. A few seconds after the song started, my dad comes banging on the door telling me to "Turn that noise down!" I opened the door and said. "It's not noise, it's XTC." and he goes. "Great name. Another Seattle band?" I wanted to keel over right there. My poor, uneducated, raised on 50's music daddy. I feel for him..... Now onto the funny story.....there was a blooper show on tv on Friday night. I sometimes watch tv and have a cd playing at the same time, I keep the tv muted. Anyways, I was listening to When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty, and just as Andy sang the line "When you're near me I have difficulty standing upright", they showed a blooper of Will Smith from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air tripping and falling. I was in utter tears I was laughing at the irony. Funny story number two: Same scenario, watching tv, had the cd player on, I was watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. Anyways, King For a Day was playing, and obviously in the movie some sort of music was playing, b/c the robots began swaying back and forth...in exact time with KFAD. Later, (I'm sad. No Chalkhills the whole time I was gone!) :( Amanda Amanda's XTC song of the day-Snowman non XTC song of the day: Damage I Have Done-The Heads (who sings that one? I knw it's the Heads, but I have yet to spot a copy of No Talking, Just Head anywhere, so I don't know who does it.) XTC quote of the day: "Roughly %80 of the bands oyu see on Top of the Pops, you know they're not rich.They really haven't got money to scratch their ass."-Colin Moulding (Typo, that should say you. Damn lynx computers.)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 10:28:51 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Good news about my nephew! Message-id: <01ICJ4W7JM8O8WWHHJ@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> He got out of the hospital on Saturday and is back home. Me on the other hand, what with my terrible immune system have gotten over my strep throat, but am now in the throes of a nice stomach virus, and a dopey morning having not going to sleep till 4:00 AM and having gotten up at 6:00 to bring my mother to work. And yet here's another in a long line of misheard lyrics. I think I should be the recipient of the deafest XTC fan in existence..... By golly I can't remember the actual lyric, but on Officer Blue I heard Even Mazel Tov (Isn't that Jewish for congratulations?) Later, Amanda
------------------------------ From: Damian Foulger <Foulger@cardiff.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 10:02:51 GMT Subject: Posting Colin Message-ID: <146F2444973@nrd2s.cf.ac.uk> Mike wrote: > I need some advice about how to mail something to Colin. I recently read a <snip> > I'm not sure if I can just address it to : "Colin Moulding, famous bassist > for XTC, Swindon, England", but that doesn't sound real promising. Does Actually, that might work. I friend of mine's father got some post from India addressed to "Doctor Whitbread, England". Okay, it took three months but it got there. The Post Office have people whose job it is is to find the correct address for things that have got lost. Give it a go. Dames tWd (Life is good in the greenhouse:XTC) "I am quite happy to wear cotton without knowing how it works" - Black Adder
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996 08:45:03 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: JASON you THINK you used ENOUGH all CAPS WORDS? Message-id: <01ICC1RMG98I8ZEYTV@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Juuuuuuuussstttttttttt wondering! Is the Little Express still up and running? If it is, how does one subscribe? (I've got the address, but what do I do, the whole SASE thing or what?) Let's see....apology accepted, DeWitt. I felt that this amusing anecdote was perfect in light of the tone of recent postings on Chalkhills. I didn't write this, and for the love of Mary I can't remember who did (well, Andy did, but I didn't change the words.) so I don't take credit for being so clever, but here goes.... I ask myself, should I post my comment to the left, no! I ask myself, should I post my comment to the right, no! It doesn't really matter where I post my comment someone else will come along and flame it and it's always been the same, it's just a complicated game. Later everyone, Amanda PS-My little nephew is getting better. He's laughing and cooing away in his little hospital pen. Me, on the other hand, still doped up on Codeine for the time being.
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.32.19961202112945.00756408@mail1.electric.net>
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 11:29:48 -0800
From: David Hathaway <davidh@electric.net>
Subject: NON-XTC Content
>From: studio seventeen productions <ambient@adnc.com>
>Subject: STEWART not GILMOUR - off topic AGAIN
>I am not a big Paul McCartney collector, but since I love 10cc, I was
>thrilled, when, one year, 10cc lead guitarist Eric Stewart joined Macca's
>band, and they produced what is probably one of PM's finest post Beatles
>songs "No More Lonely Nights"...featuring beautiful lead solos and vocals by
>(unnoticed pop genius) Eric Stewart of 10cc.
>I also have a video of the song where I can SEE Eric Stewart miming along
>with the band...BUT, I DO NOT HAVE THE ALBUM (or any post Beatles PM except
>RAM and UNPLUGGED) so I COULD BE WRONG.
>
>Not Dave Gilmour as far as I know...
[Please correct me if I am wrong.]
Well, to continue on the dreaded NON-XTC content, I just happen to have a
copy of "Guitar Shop", Dec. 96, where Mr. Gilmour is the cover story,
detailing his absolutely out-of-control guitar gear setups. But, within the
article is a complete discography, listing :
Back To The Egg
Give My Regards to Broadstreet
Flowers In the Dirt
as "Gilmour" in evidence McCartney records. (Also listed is his utterly
gorgeous work on Kate Bush's The Sensual World, and to be nitpicky, there
is no mention of some particular pieces of Gilmour's hardware)
ANd, so as to have some XTC content, I'm particularily enamoured by three
songs lately...
{sure to be contentious}
1] War Dance
2] The Smartest Monkeys
3] Train running Low On Soul Coal
w w w . m o n k e y - b o y . c o m
David Hathaway, CEO Of monkey-boy.com, davidh@monkey-boy.com
------------------------------ Date: 2 Dec 1996 19:28:54 -0000 Message-ID: <19961202192854.11980.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Ben Gott" <xtcfan@hotmail.com> Subject: Martin, FF, etc. Hey, Chalkies (it's good to be Bach!) I'm wondering if anyone could find me a copy of FF for less than $30...I promised by friend Dave I'd buy him one, but he only gave me $25, and I don't want to spend too much of my own money...Thanks. "The Greatest Living Englishman" has been *living* in my CD player for the past week (except for when I had an incredible urge to listen to Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells II.") Thanks to everyone who urged me to buy the album. It is, of course, available at http://cdnow.com. I'm very impressed. Thanks, also, for the suggestions about Robyn Hitchcock. I'll let everyone know which one I buy. That's all for now, Ben * ------------------------------------------- Ben Gott The Hotchkiss School "It's just a complicated game..." -XTC
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 15:38:57 -0500 (EST) From: Christie <cbyun@cep.yale.edu> Subject: Music, can you believe it? Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.91.961202152743.28236A-100000@www.cep.yale.edu> Hi Folks, I would like to bring to your attention a very lovely little tune which is not often mentioned in this here space: Always Winter, Never Christmas. Yes, another one of Andy's most excellent "I'd love you like no other if you'd only let me in your door" songs. It's such a minimalistic song, with a beautiful guitar hook, a subtle supporting bassline, simple percussion, and of course Andy's lovely metaphors, sung in a slightly high pitched (and maybe a little pained) voice. Its minimalistic, intricately interlocking sound is reminiscent to me of '80's King Crimson, the Sheltering Sky in particular, for some reason. Anyone else out there revere it as much as I do? It makes my top three. I'm really surprised it didn't make the cut onto Nonsuch. No, come to think of it, it does make sense, since it's much better than 16/17 of the songs on Nonsuch. Anyway. Moving along here...during this past Thanksgiving vacation, I went home and dropped by the local compact disc/Grateful Dead emporium. In the X section, I found no less than three of the Exstatic demo CDs, plus a new one--a live in Boston 1980 CD from the same "company". I listened to it, and the sound quality is just about on par with the other Exstatic ones (meaning not very good). It and the others were going for $30 a pop and I didn't buy any. If anyone out there wants me to pick them up for you, please let me know. That's my public service message for the day. Christie
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 11:48:15 -0800 Message-Id: <v01550101aec8dbcfa292@[146.6.72.38]> From: h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu (Mike Mills) Subject: Post-T'Giving Blahs Chalkhillicious! Short post, but hey, I don't have much to say. >10cc lead guitarist Eric Stewart joined Macca's >band, and they produced what is probably one of PM's finest post Beatles >songs "No More Lonely Nights" >[Please correct me if I am wrong.] Um, that *was* Gilmour, actually. Says so right there on the credits. I'm referring, of course, to the soundtrack album for "Give My Regards To Broad Street", not a bad film but the album features "For No One" w/string quartet, which is better than the Beatles' version, in my opinion. Eric Stewart *did* play with Macca, but mainly on the album "Press To Play", which featured the songs "Press" and "Only Love Remains". >and later wrote that she cries her eyes out everytime she hears the >national anthem. > >If not for patriotic reasons, why? Good melody? I've just been checking out Mark Mello's page The Little Lighthouse-- good stuff! I'm enjoying all the pictures. Jason Garcia [there are quite a few Jasons on this list now, aren't there? I should start thinking of another pseudonym...] "Now that you've exploded, any words for our listeners?" -Mike Nelson
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199612021946.MAA11270@access.tucson.org> From: "Jeff Smelser" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 12:52:13 -0700 Subject: Disjointed comments sans Argonauts Hello Again Hillsters-- > To the fine bloke that threatened to mention Crowded House in their next > post, I say bring it on! Alas, yet another great band that never got > the (North American) recognition that it deserved and that I'll never see > live... I agree, I'm fluent in Split Enz speek and I was lucky enough to see them live, (after the wierd hair and makeup days.) > Here are listed three "Evil Canadians" > > 1) Savoir Faire > 2) Snidely Whiplash > 3) The Guy Who Decided To Release... And don't forget, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, and Geddy Lee. > I was sitting here at work pondering over some of my favourite XTC > tracks, when I noticed a startling thread appearing:... Does anybody else think there's a hidden meaning w/Holly Up On Poppy as Holly, high on heroin? It's not very usual for XTC to write about incideous drug use, is it? L8r, Jeff Jeff Smelser Video Engineer Access Tucson jsmelser@access.tucson.org
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 14:11:49 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: If one can JHB, how does one AO? Message-id: <01ICJCNZ5W548WWOX0@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Damn, I forgot about Snidely Whiplash! I knew that when I posted my comments that a fire would be started underneath them, and I thought it through as best as I could whilst doped up on cold medicine at 8:00 in the morning after a rough night. I decided to go ahead anyway. I thought this whole thing was overwith and done, let's just get back to XTC for Christ's Holy Sake! But one more note on my patriotism: Somebody personally emailed me me saying that a true patriot could see not only what was good about their country, but what was bad about it also. I guess, if one is to follow that definition, then I really am a patriotic person. Later, Amanda
------------------------------
From: jason.phelan@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Date: Mon, 02 Dec 96 14:12:30 CST
Message-Id: <9611028495.AA849564614@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu>
Subject: Kudos and clarifications anchor my feet...
Yeah! I finally got my own e-mail at work..... now if I could only get
that pesky raise.
Dear Chalkchildren,
I have gone into some sort of Chalkhills withdrawal until this last
posting. I thought John was finally fed up with all our quibbling and
decided to end the mailer forever.....that got me scared.
Thanks to all those who responded on my last post. I totally agree
with those who disagreed with me. I disagreed with myself after
re-reading. If someone thinks something sucks, I would also welcome an
intelligent discourse on why they think it sucks. What I really meant
to say is that a blanket statement doesn't keep me warm. Try to say
"In my opinion it sucks" instead of "This sucks period."
Anyway, enough with the sucking.
Thanks to all those ,and you know who you are, who traded successfully
with me. I can not relate the joy I was overcome with upon recieving
your trades. I am convinced this system works.
Could anyone who has heard the new demos and wants to discuss them
e-mail me privately? I promise this is all I'll say on the subject.
Last but not least, I just wanna say...*sniff*...I missed y'all and
hope my U.S. friends had a good Thanksgiving and I hope my world
friends are in high-high, healthy spirits.
Planning a trip to London soon,
Nashvillian,
Jason Phelan
a.k.a PPumpkinH
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007801aec8ed61b815@[207.198.144.16]> Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 15:47:36 -0500 From: "David H. Schwab" <sgd_luth@gate.cybernex.net> Subject: Re: D&W Confusion h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu (Mike Mills) wrote: > >>The only reason I'm writing all this is I always wondered why these two >>songs, clearly popular ones, got this treatment. Does any one know? > >Heh heh...Ah, the old "Beatle America" treatment. Wait a minute...did you >say that the original US version had both "Hop" and "Nigel"? And then >also say that "Someone made off with my LP (and the bonus single)"? What >was the bonus single? No, I believe the bonus single was "This is Pop" live (with Dave G.). The other tracks on it I don't recall. Any one out there know? The US version of the LP also started with "Hop", and I think the third track was "Nigel". It was a long time ago, but I remember both songs were definitely on the original US LP from the beginning. When I "had to buy everything" it was almost 10 years later! Doubtful they would try to get interest in a long out of print single at that time. Dave ************************************ David H. Schwab SGD Lutherie, "Custom Basses and Guitars" 300 Observer Hwy. 4th FL Hoboken, NJ 07030 201-217-0955 http://www2.cybernex.net/~sgd_luth/ ************************************
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b04aec8e8ff639a@[199.171.191.16]> Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 13:31:52 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) Subject: Re: Tiny Tim's influence on XTC >From: h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu (Mike Mills) > >Oh, but see, you're missing the whole point. As they said in the book, >"Any schlub can go and make a bad record." What makes the book amusing >and a good read is that they poke fun at artists that we (and they) really >respect, allowing them to be human and screw up, as well as trashing the >quick cash-ins (Richard Simmons, John Travolta). I suggest you approach it >with a good sense of humor and try again. Well, they should go one way or the other. Either it should be all the former, or all the latter. There are far too many "quick cash-ins" missing for that aspect of the list to have any validity. And don't talk to me about musical sense of humor -- I own LOTS of records purely because they're so awful. "Pop Goes The Zither," anyone? >From: fisher@easynet.co.uk (Mark Fisher) > >....(It might also create a diversion from the >people who seem to think Chalkhills is a good place to run a part-time >Beatles list). I sure get tired of reading people carping about the occasional Beatles posts. Any XTC fan who isn't a Beatles fan t'ain't a XTC fan at all, if you ask me, and as someone else pointed out very acutely, the Beatles have released more new music in the past year or so than XTC has in years and years. And if talking about XTC means we have to discuss insipid threads like "what songs to play loud," then give me Anthology 3 discussions any day. Eb
------------------------------ From: Cranie@aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 16:59:41 -0500 Message-ID: <961202165941_1422354888@emout06.mail.aol.com> Subject: Brian Stevens I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before, so if it has forgive me. I have found that the people here are always into hearing something new. My friend turned me on to a relatively new album by the ex bass player for the Cavedogs, Brian Stevens. It's called "Prettier Than You" and our good friends Dave Gregory (Recorded in the shed by Andy) and Jon Brion of Grays/Aimee Mann fame play on the album. It is in a word superb pop. If you liked Jellyfish/Eric Matthews/Jason Falkner/The Grays, then you must get this album. I have been in contact with Brian via E-mail, and he seems a bit disheartened that it isn't selling better. I told him I'd make mention of it hear and that Chalkhillians are always for good solid honest music. So check it out, I promise you won't be sorry. Also he is doing 2 acoustic gigs this Friday in Boston. One at Borders Books In Downtown Crossing, the other later that same night in Cambridge at The Kendall Cafe. Stop in If you can. Also if you want, e-mail Brian at xcavedog@aol.com and tell him Mike sent you:)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32A447DB.4852@sprintmail.com> Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 07:31:39 -0800 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: David Gilmour, I Think XTC Fans and Friends, Sorry to all of you who are tired of the non XTC content. >I am not a big Paul McCartney collector, but since I love 10cc, I was >thrilled, when, one year, 10cc lead guitarist Eric Stewart joined >Macca's band, and they produced what is probably one of PM's finest >post Beatles songs "No More Lonely Nights"...featuring beautiful lead >solos and vocals by (unnoticed pop genius) Eric Stewart of 10cc. I'm fairly certain that George Martin produced the "Give My Regards To Broad Street" album, which contained the "No More Lonely Nights" track. I'm also fairly certain the the guitar solo is performed by David Gilmour. I think that "Press to Play" was produced by Eric Stewart. (But maybe it was Dave Stewart of the Eurhythmics). The problem is, my albums are in storage, so I can't check the credits. 10cc was a wonderful band. On the bizarre and heated political threads, I'll quote the often maligned Gordon Sumners: "There is no political solution Have no faith in constitution ... We are spirits in the material world" Lighten up folks, drink some wine, smoke a bowl, turn up XTC, talk and write about politics, but stay cool. Life is short. "The stars are laughing at us, as we crawl on and on across this antheap!" Mike
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199612030130.RAA06305@dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com> From: "Steve" <huduguru@ix.netcom.com> Subject: No Political Content Whatsoever. Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 20:31:12 -0500 Hey! I just read that Richard Branson (of Virgin infamy) has started a new label. You don't suppose?....naaahhhhhh!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b02aec9522f789d@[139.80.228.167]> Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 14:43:24 +1100 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: segues/Billy/Canada/Edward Lear Hi folks - firstly apologies if this message has already appeared; I've been having mailer problems >And I like the XTSegues idea, your Mondayness. Howabout "Omnibus"/"Magic >Bus"?? although it's not a segue to a 60s track, I say again: Another Satellite/Golden Boys (Godley & Creme). Different lyrics, same music! (any reaction from Mr Blint's friend at 17?) hmmm. sixties... Big Day/Too Young to be Married Ballet for a Rainy Day/Bus Stop Ten Feet Tall/I Can't Explain ok? >>Billy Joel - Love 'im. Yes, I know I'm sticking my neck way the hell out >>now, but I feel I should be honest. Liked him since I was a kid. Still >>do. He taught me my first few lessons in the appreciation of songwriting. >>So sue me. I think probably most of you Beatle fans who don't like BJ >>just haven't listened very closely. He's written some very, very good >>stuff. Do I sound defensive? >Hey! Wow! There are OTHER Billy fans on the XTC list. I've been a Billy >Joel fan ever since my uncle played "Turnstiles" for me at the tender age >of 3. My first music purchase was Billy's 52nd Street album in 1979. And >I've been on the Billy Joel mailing list longer than even Chalkhills! yeah, there are one or two, although most of us don't admit it. You wanna hear Beatlesque Joel, listen to "Don't ask me why" off Glass Houses. One of the best McCartney songs that Paul didn't write. And BJ's version of Len & Mac's "Any time at all" is pretty good. >There is no such thing as an evil Canadian. I also watch Due South :) >I was listening to "Then she appeared" this morning and once again was >wondering who Edward Lear is. Andy mentioned him in an interview circa O&L >and i was wondering if anyone would care to enlighten me / give me some >titles for when i next go to the library. Edward Lear was a writer of humorous verse and drawer of pictures, largely for children, during the middle of last century. Imagine if Lewis Carroll had concentrated on poems rather than writing Alice in Wonderland, you'll get the idea. It is because of Lear that the limerick became as popular as it has. James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b04aec9527687f7@[139.80.228.167]> Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 14:44:22 +1100 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: politics and (gasp) a FF review! (Real Groove, NZ) Hi folks - firstly apologies if this message has already appeared; I've been having mailer problems I've just OD'd on reading a backlog of 'hills that have been building up for the last week or so. And I'm a little shocked at the abuse poor Amanda of the Caps suffered. Sure, some of the points she raised were possibly - how to put this kindly - a little politically naive, but they were valid questions, and they don't make her public enemy no.1! I thought the US was supposed to be the land of the free of summink. No "abridging the freedom of speech or of the press", to quote your first amendment (or did McCarthy get that repealed?). Sheeesh. I know some of your politicos are a tad weird, but still! Actually, I'm thankful that the biggest political loonies I have to worry about here are Winston Peters and Richard Prebble, but that's another story - AND I DON'T BORE THE LIST WITH IT! Politics that have a bearing on XTCs music, OK. If you're going to launch into personal polemics and violent flames, keep 'em off this list, huh??? Having said all that, during the early 70s, when I was a wee kid, I lived half a mile from an airforce base in the Midlands on 99 year lease to the US. As a politically aware and imaginative kid, there are few things scarier than hearing these warbirds testing their engines, never knowing whether they were about to take off do do serious damage somewhere further east... when I first heard "Living through another Cuba", it hit home exactly. This is what I'd been thinking and feeling back in Croughton four or five years earlier. Remember that when two armies go to war (hmmm... ghosts of Frankie surround me!), they usually try to do so on 'neutral' ground. That way, they don't have to clean up the mess. Just ask Belgium, Poland, Kuwait, Zaire... oh and to end this diatribe on a hopefully lighter note... Herne sez: >Several of our foreign Listers pointed out that it was impossible to not >be affected by american culture and politics no matter where in the world >one is. but...but... we're not foreign - YOU are! After all this is a list for a British band.... how can the Brits be the foreigners? :) (please note the smiley!) >Peter Dresslar <pdresslar@sirus.com> asked: >Now on to XTC stuff; when's the Michigan party? not to be confused with the Republican and Democrat parties, of course ;) NZ rock giveaway mag "Real Groove" reviewed Fossil Flue in their latest issue... now RG is as much a promo magazine for Auckland's top record shop (Real Groovy Records) as a legit rock mag, but that doesn't stop it from slating records it doesn't like (Smudge's recent album "you me carpark now!" got 2/10 in this issue, and an album by metallers Abscess scored a big fat zero), so it was good to see FF in one of their special highlighted boxes it keeps for recommended albums. Review follows (without permission - sorry RG, but I put in a free plug for the shop!) XTC Fossil Fuel - The XTC singles 1977-92 (Virgin) reviewed by Ilmar Taimre XTC emerged during the 70s punk movement, playing itchy and scratchy pop for white Britons on speed. Their first four singles date from 1977-78, and sum up the edgy pop-punk sound of XTC at the beginning. But these lads soon outgrew the throwaway tracsh ethic that helped to spawn them. The writing was on the wall with their sixth single "Making plans for Nigel", which turned into a top 10 hit in 1979. Over the years that followed, XTC's singles rarely reached the single digits in the charts. And small wonder. Their music was simply too good, too incredibly well crafted... and okay maybe a bit too eccentric, to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Scanning the list of tracks on this double CD compilation reveals just how many archetypically Brit-pop classics XTC have been responsible for. "Generals and Majors" and "Towers of London" reveal that XTC are part of a British musical heritage which reaches back to the Kinks at their late 60s best. "Love at first sight" reminds us that our very own Split Enz were charting a similarly quirky course in the early 80s. "Great fire" opens the second CD of this set; with more than a passing nod to psychedelic-era Beatles, this must surely be one of the best "pop singles" ever released. And so it goes... If you don't have the original albums this is an excellent place to discover XTC... or to remember just how superb they were. One packaging criticism - the liner notes give us all the lyrics, but absolutely nothing about recording dates, musician credits or the usual discographical details - there can be no excuse for this omission. The good news is that, after a three-year lull involving legal wrangles with their record company, XTC are poised to enter the studio again - the word on Respectable Street is that the demos are just as sublime as ever. (9/10) James
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Dec 1996 22:41:26 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199612030341.WAA12031@en.com> From: mikek@cleveplayhouse.org (Michael Kearns) Subject: Hardy-har-har.. a real knee-slapper becki digregorio <ziglain@cruzio.com> writes: >and john yuelkenbeck, you cracked me up w/ your comments about the >form-and- structure-folks and "does anybody else think the music theorists >don't have a clue as to what they are talking about, but are just being >pedantic to impress us?" thanks, john I found humor in it too at first (even as one of the cats he's jibing at, I presume...) Not so much in _that_ quote, but enough in his post to make the jibe bearable. But IMO it wears thin with repetition... >; and i had to look up "pedantic" Now that you looked it up, do you agree? Does the concept really apply to the posting style of the "form-and-structure folks" like me (now that I've been derided AND labeled.) End of Response. Fellow Chalksters -- I would have discontinued my posts (infrequent as they are) except some people responded saying they enjoy seeing them on Chalkhills... so as long as I have some ideas and free time, and don't feel like I'm cast away on a desert island, I will continue to post. Otherwise I won't. I'll admit, when I first found myself deluged with Chalkhills digests, I scrolled in wonderment at all the posts of (sorry for the stupid labels and insults...) armchair lyrical analysts and anal-retentive collectors. Their attention to detail on subjects that were (to me at the time) trivial reminded me of the Saturday Night Live skit with William Shatner shouting at the Trekkies "Get a life! It's only a TV show!" But I kept this short-lived opinion to myself, for, as Holden Caulfield in "Catcher In The Rye" stated... "There is infinite hope in reserving judgement." (I wish Mark David Chapman had understood that before acting on his self-righteous, murderous impulses. Some mornings I wake up missing John Lennon so much my emotions do not make for a pretty sight. Damned bastard.. reading Salinger's book at the murder scene! But I digress...) So I wondered if I belonged here, on this list, the only list I subscribe to. Probably a moot point... I am here and here I am. Now here. Anyway.. by following the digests and slowing down my scroll-finger a bit I became aware of the incredible humanity of _all_ the people who post here.. as if I need to speak for 'em. (If I were Andy-fucking-Partridge I would be damn glad that these folks were taking such a detailed and consuming interest in my music.) True, in a cynical moment I'll tell sneering on-lookers "So what? I _don't_ have a life! Or at least without music I wouldn't have much of one." But in fact we all do have lives, and who among us is without a clue? My training in music theory is part of my livelihood, and part of my art. If I fail to impress, it's because I'm not trying to. I do feel the urge to step in when I see "my" language (rather, terminology) bastardized, though I always cut plenty of slack (to the point of remaining silent) when people who are not trying to be authoritative naively misuse musical terminology for poetic effect. Mighty magnanimous of me eh? :-) I don't know what it's like in other countries, but in the U.S. concern for music education could be a lot better IMNSHO. Maybe then more XTC fans? :) Actually, I think so. Also glad to see the threatening-to-be-relentless bashing of mean mistaken Mr. Botany has stopped. "The humble and the great, even those we think we hate need the loving". Me too. Bye.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=AU%a=_%p=JDEAUNZ%l=MEL_SERVER-961203080526Z-98@mel_server.jde.com.au> From: Paul Haines <Hainesp@melbourne.jde.com.au> Subject: Camper Van Beethoven Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 18:05:26 +1000 People, dunno if I posted this already or not, but Camper Van Beethoven can be found disguised as Cracker (main man anyway). Haines , kiwi in Oz
------------------------------ From: Damian Foulger <Foulger@cardiff.ac.uk> Organization: UWCC Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 11:35:17 GMT Subject: Views XTC. Message-ID: <1D878C0307B@nrd2s.cf.ac.uk> Dennis R. McGuire wrote: > on the list. How do you listen to XTC's politics and justify > against your own? Do you just shrug off their views and enjoy the > music? It's not something I can do. This is a good point. Personally, my ideologies don't clash with XTC's. On the other hand, Robyn Hitchcock, who normally sings about fish, sang one song with lyrics that go something like this: 'Sometimes I wish I was a pretty girl, so I can Wuohf! myself in the shower.' This offends my sensibilities, but I rationalise it by thinking that he's just jesting. I can't think that anyone would write such a crass song without intending it to be tongue-in-cheek. A bit like 'My Weapon'. Enough blathering. Dames tWd (Life is good in the greenhouse:XTC) "I am quite happy to wear cotton without knowing how it works" - Black Adder
------------------------------ Message-Id: <059AF32A439AC03C*/c=no/admd=telemax/prmd=dagbladet/o=/s=Erlandsen/g=Egil/@MHS> Date: 03 Dec 1996 15:31:08 +0100 From: "Egil Erlandsen" <Egil.Erlandsen@dagbladet.no> Subject: Blegvad website To Bob D'Aprile and all other Belgvad fans: "So please tell me: what's the PB web site address?" you said in your mail to Chalkhills. Here is one I collected some time ago - I don't know if it's still there or have changed address, but you can alway try: http://sunsite.unc.edu/mal/blegvad/ You may consider checking out Peter Blegvads recordings with John Greaves, "Kew Rhone" and "Unearthed". The former is great, and worth a listen. It is quite different from the Blegvad solo recordings, though. I have tried to find the CD "Unearthed", even at HMV and Virgin in England, but with no luck. If anyone out there knows where to get it, please let me now. Regards from Oslo, Norway egil.erlandsen@dagbladet.no
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 12:35:52 -0700 (MST)
From: cminer@cougarnet.byu.edu (Chris Miner)
Subject: XTC and Success
Message-id: <01ICKNPYL5WEB8KI5N@yvax.byu.edu>
After reading a couple of interviews with Andy lately, he seems to be
somewhat upset that he hasn't made more money out of this whole rock and
roll thing. Heaven knows he deserves it. Personally, I was thinking that
with a new record deal that will (presumably) get them more money from their
albums, I really wouldn't at all begrudge him writing some throw away pop
songs. In fact, if he wants to write the next top 40 REM-type hit, more
power to him. I would be the last one to shout "sell-out" that's for sure.
Our favorite band has tioled in obscurity long enough. As long as there are
a few "normal" (whatever that means) XTC songs, I don't care if he does
"sell out". I want our boys to be rich and famous and I don't are who else
likes them or for what reasons. As long as he keeps on going, its worth it.
Any other opinions out there? I assume there are plenty of the "the
older stuff is always better" crowd and the "keep the music pure" types out
there. What do you think?
chris m.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-47 ******************************
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