Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 94
Date: Monday, 15 June 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 94
Monday, 15 June 1998
Today's Topics:
Personal data?
Martin Newall
jumpin' on the bandwagon
Re: Procrastination & Fuzzy Warbles
re: Procastrination & the fuzzy warbles
Can I have a go?
Re: All talk no substance
Harrison's Soapbox
Power to ALL People!!!
more vital stats
My Very First Web Page
Why The Hell Have I Never Done *THIS* Before
Oh Eric, Eric, Eric....
innocent until proven....
Re: That Chord
More statistics
My very last response to "Harrison's Soapbox" (promise)
hi
Statistics Thingy
re-cycle of XTC
Local Swindon Newspaper Interview
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So let me hear the violins all rend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 14:36:54 -0400 From: Ira Lieman <Ira.Lieman@ogilvy.com> Subject: Personal data? Message-Id: <"980612184139Z.WT20772. 0*/PN=Ira.Lieman/OU=NEWYORK/O=NOTES/PRMD=OGILVY/ADMD=IBMX400/C=US/"@MHS> Here's my response to the latest Chalkhills survey... Religion: I believe I'm the token Jew on the list. I do *NOT* answer to "Kyle." Political party: I'm an Iracrat. A Republieman. :) But I'm left-wing whatever it is. Drugs: Caffeine, Advil, Caffeine, a rare sip o'alcohol, Caffeine. Job: searching for a new one. Currently a Database Analyst at a backward-thinking organization. "Leaping from tree to tree!" Dream: To be "critically acclaimed." It's days like this in New York (wet, cool, morose) that makes me understand what it must be like in Swindon. Or Seattle. And didja know the group Oasis was named after the Oasis Youth Center in Swindon? (What magazine did I read that in? POV I think.) -ira (ira@myself.com)
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3581A34A.A96250A7@virgin.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 22:53:14 +0100
From: John Bartlett <john.bartlett1@virgin.net>
Subject: Martin Newall
Hello all,
just a quick question(particularly for the British on the
list).Is the Martin Newall who writes the alternative lyrics in the
Independent Martin"The greatest Living Englishman"Newall.Just curious.
Cheers,
John
------------------------------ Message-Id: <9806121708.AA15343@jhensley> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 17:08:15 -0500 From: "Jon Hensley" <jhensley@eb.com> Subject: jumpin' on the bandwagon Hello all, I just have to join in on this! Religion: atheist (It just seems so silly that an all powerful, supernatural being created the entire universe and then wanted the Earths inhabitants to worship him/her/it) Political party: none but I always vote for democrats Drugs: music Job: graphic designer Dream: I'm in a band (an experimental, all instrumental, sound landscape/ textural/computer blippy sort of thing) and I hope to just make CDs and gather a small fan base internationally or just here in Chicago. That's it. XTC content: I am confused as to when the new XTC album will be coming out. Can anyone tell me the newest update? Thanks! Jon ps Does anyone on this list share my love for the High Llamas, Tortoise, Calexico, Oval, Stereolab, The Apples in Stereo...............
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19980612180952.0069fd00@mail.clemson.edu>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 18:09:52 -0400
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@clemson.edu>
Subject: Re: Procrastination & Fuzzy Warbles
>So what wild stuff did not make it onto Drums and Wireless ?
>Perhaps those in the know can shed some light here.
I can't say for sure, but I've noticed that most of the songs on D&Wireless
weren't released as singles. Perhaps that's what we have to look forward
to? I can't wait to find out. ;)
>Is it ethical to sell a 4 cd set to fans who already have half of it? I
>thought that was what big corporations did.
Well, I'd agree if this were very readily available material, but (at least
in the US) you'd have a pretty difficult time finding Drums And Wireless
and Live In Concert in most stores. With all the extra material, I think
it ought to be more than worth it. Besides, now we can use our extra CDs
to convert more people. ;)
>Would anyone care to tot up the amount of XTC cds since Nonsuch. Filler is
>not quite the word and i love R&BB but honestly .
I love R&BB too. :) For a rarities/b-sides/leftovers album, it's rather
good. :)
-Adam
/=---------------- http://www.he-man.org/ctyner/ ----------------=\
http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
The home of He-Man, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, and more!
Demented music list admin O- MiSTie #67,326
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE0203C220@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: re: Procastrination & the fuzzy warbles Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 23:33:08 +0100 Hi all, greetings from the wrong side of some food poisoning. (yeuk) in the last digest Jonathon said ... >Is it ethical to sell a 4 cd set to fans who already have half of it? I >thought that was what big corporations did. Yes, it's ethical because we don't have to buy it. We don't already have half of it - the quality of a legit release will be far superior. Yes you are absolutely correct : what you describe is what big corporations do.... >I wish AP and CM would just get a move on on release Firework. I fail to see >the benefit of this diversion other than it allows them to put off the >release for even longer. They would love to get a move on (no secret there). This is an exercise in raising the funds needed to finish the album. The last thing Andy, Colin, Paul, Haydn and everyone else involved in Idea and Cooking Vinyl / Pony Canyon want to do is put off the completion and release of this brilliant brilliant brilliant album. >Would anyone care to tot up the amount of XTC cds since Nonsuch. Filler is >not quite the word and i love R&BB but honestly . The reasons for the lack of releases of new material since Nonsvch are well documented. I would much prefer that we get a truly brilliant album in 1999 that puts XTC where they belong in the great-pecking-order-that-is-the-music- bizness than a nearly-brilliant album in 1998. But that's just my opinion....
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3581B105.CE24AC9D@virgin.net> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 23:51:49 +0100 From: John Bartlett <john.bartlett1@virgin.net> Subject: Can I have a go? My contributionto the survey Religion: god does not exist Politics:I've been known to vote Liberal,but generally,sort of Labour Job: Maintenance engineer at one of our glorious national newspapers Drugs:Cafffine(I work nights),alcohol(currently drinking Strongbow) Dreams(general):XTC play live again,West Ham win the League,England win the world cup in my lifetime(born the day after). Dreams(personal):my eldest daughter needs no more heart surgery,and my youngest to be rid of the arthiritis in her knee Cheers,John
------------------------------ From: Davejh5@aol.com Message-ID: <38263131.3581bed2@aol.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:50:39 EDT Subject: Re: All talk no substance I really get excited when I see 2 or 3 Chalkhill Emails. What pisses me off is when someone writes 1 post that takes up 1/2 the post that talks about nothing about XTC. I am curious how many people just skip right by this bullsh*t. How many people read every single word ? Had a bad day at work just venting . Sorry if I offended anybody.
------------------------------
From: sberkeley@ccm.frontiercorp.com
Message-Id: <9806128976.AA897697790@ccm.frontiercorp.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 98 16:39:53 -0500
Subject: Harrison's Soapbox
>I'm probably the only person on this list who doesn't agree with you.
>All the best
>Simon Deane
Ummm... Actually Simon I'm with you on this one as well; since
the hip are the a less influental minority (the very core of their
hipness), their ability to inflict tyranny would be due to our
stupidity. Also, some elitist art IS better, isn't it?
-Shamus
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:31:20 -0700 Subject: Power to ALL People!!! Message-ID: <19980612.193121.16478.0.deuchars@juno.com> From: deuchars@juno.com (jim d deuchars) hey chalkfolk! Eric Rosen say "Why would anyone making less than $200,000 per year ever align themselves with the Republican party?" Marketing! Repubs making $200k+ can afford to saturate the media with messages that play on the basic xenophobia of the desensitized masses using the same techniques that encourage us to buy Pepsi visit Disneyland or listen to Puff Daddy (that last bit's for you, Dom!) Hey Harrison, Korporate Kulture, what is hip, blah, blah blah... You're probably my favorite read in the Digest, consistently, and I'm NOT jumping on the "I disagree with Sherwood" bandwagon, but blah, blah, blah. As we know, business is (unfortunately) neither moral nor immoral, it is amoral. At least in the eyes of BIG BUSINESS. Simply put, they just wants to make money and they'll sell to anyone who'll pay. If it takes a rebel image to sell to the rebels, so be it. Sell the rest some vitamin-enriched white bread. All we can do is to buy the products that appeal to us, and NOT BUY what doesn't (or steal'em if that's yer trip) Just remember: everything's a commercial for sumpin'! XTC content! I've noticed lotsa folks include "Bungalow" when mentioning fave tracks. To be honest, it's always come across (IMHO) as o.k., but maybe in the middle of the pack when it comes to the xtc ouvre. I'm curious to hear what grabs y'all in particular about this cut. Maybe it'll open my ears. demographics: godstuff: baptized Lutheran, raised Catholic, mostly into Vishnu these days. politickles: left wing extremist who'll go for coalition-building to push the envelope. drugs: never exhaled Job: paying for the revolution- I manage fundraising campaigns for Progressive political and environmental causes. dream job: Minister of Information in the Next World Order dream: my band and me recording a cd in the next year or so. luv deuchars ps I'll bite_ if anyone can get me a copy of these demos for "fireworks of the middle ages", email me at deuchars@juno.com I have a teeny bit of xtc to trade, I have some very cool dylan stuff, and various other things- thanks!
------------------------------ From: Stroo@aol.com Message-ID: <97d424aa.3581e578@aol.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 22:35:34 EDT Subject: more vital stats Hello fellow chalkers, Some boring stats about yours truly. Religion: Catholic (explains my fondness for Peter Pumpkinhead) Political party: Republican I guess, but open-minded Drugs: no way (except for prescription) Job: bean counter (accountant) Dream: to have my job as a bean counter tomorrow (WillJ4comm@aol.com) wrote: > I love all of those, but here's my question: > does anyone think that Mummer, Big Express or > Rag & Bone measure up to my mighty five of BS, ES, > Skylarking, O&L or Nonsuch? I agree with Mr. Relph that Big Express does not get the credit it deserves. The First Time you hear "All You Pretty Girls" it will be ingrained into your brain forever (a good thing, BTW.) This World Over falls in line after Peter Pumpkinhead. I truly don't think there's a bad song on here. As for Mummer, I think Jon Eva was right on. After a very slow start this one still is growing on me--Great Fire is a true classic, and count me in among the Ladybird lovers. As for Rag and Bone, there are some definite hits and misses, but it's worth it for Murmaid Smiled alone. Throw in the Three Wise Men and Heaven is Paved With Broken Glass and others and it's while worth your while, especially at the unfortunate price of $4.99. Can't wait for Fuzzy Warbles! Bob
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980613023549.10808.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Jason Phelan" <phelander@hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 19:35:49 PDT Subject: My Very First Web Page Hello chalkwielders, I just completed the initial stages of my very first web page and invite you all to come by and leave a note. There is a bit of XTC including a Dave-less picture (to be up to date) and I hope to have a lot more soon. Here is the address: http://www.angelfire.com/tn/socksnum1 Do come by and all comments are welcome... Tah Jason M. Phelan Phelander@hotmail.com "But the only job I do well is here on the Farm, and it's breaking my back."
------------------------------
From: DBMEIER0@wcc.com
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 1998 22:41:44 -0600
Message-Id: <000A9D71.1586@wcc.com>
Subject: Why The Hell Have I Never Done *THIS* Before
I've stumbled onto the obvious. 6 CD changer:
1) White Music
2) Go 2
3) You Get the IDEA
I'm currently on Buzz City Talkin'. Lucky Me!
Think it's great to see a marked increase in first time postings..a
groundswell of anticipation I think.
And, as for my participation in the - sucked more posters out of the
woodwork than any thread in a good bit- thread:
Religion: I don't need REligion, as I've never actually properly
denounced Ligion.
Poloticks: n; small, parasitic animals which prefer to attach
themselves to polo players. However, since polo players are
relatively rare (at least in the good ol', monster-truck-watchin'
USA), these blood-sucking ambushers will attach themselves to just
about any voting-aged tax payer.
Drugs: I'm on Beat Town now...
Work: Geologist, currently mapping a 6 mile tunnel under the San
Bernardino Mountains as it is gnawed out of the living rock.
Dream: I really want my grandkids to think I'm cool.. like the way I
think my grandfather is cool.
Dream Come True (doesn't apply to above category): For my daughter to
think I'm cool like I think she is cool.
I'll tell you about the time my dogs discovered skunks some other
time.
Dan - formerly of Portland, Or Now So Cal Mountains - Meier
ps: I'm currently listening to My Weapon. Can any of you "way too
much time on my hands" types tell me how long it took me to compose
this post?
------------------------------ From: LadyCPlum@aol.com Message-ID: <e4205372.35820bbc@aol.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 01:18:51 EDT Subject: Oh Eric, Eric, Eric.... Treading on dangerous ground whenever you talk politics on Chalkhills. But to answer your question "Why would anyone who makes less than 200,000 a year align themself with the Republican party?" Why ask why? I make SHITLOADS less than that, and I'm a proud GOP'er. All comes down to core systems of belief. (And I shalt not expand further on that note.) Ciao, Amanda XTC song of the day-Holly Up On Poppy non-XTC song-Rock Lobster-B52's.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980613073224.1077.rocketmail@web1.rocketmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 00:32:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com> Subject: innocent until proven.... Hi chalkpeople, Religion: Bad....get it?! Bad...Religion. Bad Religion. bad oh never mind. *sigh* Political Party: no thank you. I only attend fun ones. Like...The Church. Some of you Aussies migh know what I'm hinting at. Wink, Wink, Nudge Nudge. Uhhhh-huh. : ) Drugs: Ibuprofen is good. Job: searching, seeking, hoping ...for employment. Dream: ... with two cats in the yard...life used to be sooo hard.. In the last decade my ultra cool friend Todd B. asked about the innocence of XTC's music. and if my memory serves me correctly on what we though of that. Well by golly, I'm going to answer that now. In my own loopy way. I think this innocence is what attracts me to their music. For example "I'd Like That". It has such a sense of youthful innocence to me. Yes I know what's going on in the song but the way he puts it...it's like out of that joyous feeling you get of something pure and good...like love. The song makes me think it's like a string of statements a guy in total love would just blurt out to his lover. Isn't that a sort of innocence? Or "Some Lovely" That one is a bit more risque but in a playful sort of way it comes off as sounding rather innocent to me. What's another example of what I'm tryin to say.....It's late and my brain has suddenly decided to turn off. This natural innocence I find in Mr. P's songs, I think lends well to the children songs he has produced. The Giant Peach songs are great. The kids I nannied for loved them. Kit got such a kick out of the "Stinking Rich" song. Okay, I think I went left with this topic but it's what strikes me about their music. These songs hit the kid part in me , which I'm sure was his intention. Youthful, happy, crazy...these descriptions I can apply to each of the songs I have mentioned. David Fatscher wrote: >and may I prostrate myself at the Church of >Cheryl and beg humble forgiveness. This is where I get all Goofy-like. Well, golly-gee, a-hu! Sure! Sure! Sure! Yep! Forgiven allright. Now look what you've done. I'm blushing. Oh dear... Wishing desperately for a Hobnob and a good cup of tea, Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199806131118.NAA24300@mail.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 13:20:01 +0000 Subject: Re: That Chord Dear Chalkers, Last issue the most honourable Mark Fisher said: > There's video footage (amateur or professional, I can't remember) of > Dave Gregory picking up a 12-string guitar at home and playing the > opening chord of A Hard Day's Night. > Does anyone else recall the film clip? Yes i do, it's part of the XTC Play At Home documentary made by ITV in the early 80's. Dave "showing off" his collection of guitars is one of the best and most interesting bits in this film. Another great bit is where Andy is showing a few of the games he's designed; they really look great and very playable. I haven't checked but i think Dave does press down a few strings when he plays that famous chord. Anyone who is interested in a Europal VHS copy of the documentary should email me ( mmello@knoware.nl ) yours in xtc, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse the XTC website @ http://come.to/xtc and http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03007800b1a83cf22842@[198.53.7.96]> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 10:36:35 -0400 From: Erich Walther <enrico@fox.nstn.ca> Subject: More statistics No real XTC content: Check out the most excellent Rufus Wainwright CD! Jon Brion production, Van Dyke Parks arrangements, and great Andy like song writing! I'll bite; Religion: First Church of Appliantology Politics: Card carrying socialist Drugs: Where'd I leave that bong? Job: a mole in the ministry (civil service) Oxymoron Dream: Andy hears my demos and the rest is history. And I'll go with Brazil for the cup!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <01BD96CE.FBDC7380@h28.s254.ts32.hinet.net> From: Macgyver <tonikuo@ms10.hinet.net> Subject: My very last response to "Harrison's Soapbox" (promise) Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 13:27:14 +0800 Simon Deane wrote: > A "short" note to Dom Lawson after Harrison's tongue-in-cheek, > not-really-serious attack in 4-89. Don't take it to heart - he's just > trying to wind you up. Sure. Problem is, Dom didn't get very wound up, did he? Perhaps he got scared away? I'm a little disappointed. I wanted to hear him counter the accusations made against him. > ...irony of ironies, Harrison's the one who's shadowboxing! Dom, > you did rather set yourself up with the "Jesus Christ Superstar", > hip hop and Heavy Metal comments... True. Although might I suggest that you, Simon, betray a bias in inferring that JCS, hip hop, and heavy metal (capitlized?) are unworthy ammunition in this erstwhile tete-a-tete? Doesn't this place you squarely within the "quirky white (gawd, this "w" word is wearing on me) alternative" camp of which Dom so ardently, if ineptly, attempted to besmear? > ..."Harrison, mate, how the hell do you know Dom's a victim > of hipness? I'd assumed that Dom's two missives to this digest made that fairly obvious, no? > ...And anyway, since when was Heavy Metal and hip hop hip?" What is hip? Whose hipness barometers should we trust? I rather like the idea of not caring about the whole deal. I rather enjoyed Harrison's dismissal of the tiresome concept. > Judging from Harrison's previous contributions this irony is > intended just to catch us all out to show us how clever he is... Touche. Point well taken. And Harrison's erudition on the topic evinces a well-spring of experience in the nebulous underworld of the "cleverly hip", meaning, not the proles who are content to descend one level deeper beneath the sphere in which Madonna gravitates, but those who relentessly probe the murky depths for a hidden passageway to an "Atlantis of hip", that lowest of low places, that foundation upon which one's feet are anchored securely for the all-important act of raising of one's head to view the shifting currents of fashion above. After all, one does not want to be unwittingly swept away by an unseen undertow. (Was "gravitate" a stretch for the ocean metaphor?) Which, of course, is ultimately a crock of shite. Identifying the zeitgeist as the precursor to a mainstream movement in art, politics, and what have you can be a fun, educationally nourishing exercise, but taking that grain of knowledge and running off with it to arrogance land is a trap far too many people fall into. I myself was once a victim of the need to find an "Atlantis of hip". I can only imagine how insufferable I was (most people were far too polite to tell me!). Although I daresay that I made it lower than our correspondent Dom, as open declarations of what isn't hip, are, of course, not hip! > Big deal - so you finally worked out that commercial enterprises > are here to make money from us? Did you really need Andy > Partridge to tell you that? Hey, now you're turning cold on us Simon! That the music industry is a commercial enterprise is hardly an earth-shattering discovery. But that's far too simplistic an assessment. Call me an optimist, but peddling CD's just ain't the same as peddling soap! The famous quote, "only a fool never wrote for money", by a personage whose name escapes me at the moment, is not, I believe, a catch-all truism that expresses one's motivation for producing art. Not to deny that there are musicians out there numbly churning out product, but then how would you categorize the many people who gamely go about trying to write songs and novels in their spare time? If one's desire were limited to earning rubles only, then why bother with music? It's a losing proposition like boxing, where 0.05% of them make millions like Mike Tyson, while the rest are consigned to huddling in sweaty gyms, munching on moldy ham sandwiches in between sparring practice. > It seems to me that Harrison is himself the biggest Hip victim - he > seems to be saying that he won't touch anything peddled by "desperate > greedhead marketeers", that anything so peddled ain't "hip". I say: > "lighten up, old chap, don't take things so seriously". Agreed, although I think the point of his rant was recognizing that the "greedhead marketeers" were not "hip", but then neither is anybody else. Or, at least, it's not important. > If you want to subvert society, join the Socialist Worker Party > or an anarchist cell or hole up in the woods and start mailing > people home made bombs, or something. Ha ha ha. Humour and point well-taken. However, since when did "hip" and social subversion get mixed together in this debate? I thought we were talking about fads and trends being manipulated so craftily by big business that even those who believe they are "in the know" are actually not. The Orwellian-ness of your comment renders it a little suspect -- are people really so naive as to believe that not listening to the music big business puts out is a subversive action that might be frowned upon by society-at-large? > ...judging from the torrent of contributions agreeing wholeheartedly > with your opinions but ruing the fact they can't express themselves > like you... Well, if I were forced at gunpoint to take sides between Dom and Harrison, it wouldn't be a hard choice. > I'm probably the only person on this list who doesn't agree with you. > Anyway this is a free list (isn't it?). YES!!! YES!!! The beauty of it is that the sides are not clearly defined! This is not a Socratic debate! Simon, I found your comments refreshing. After all, if Harrison's opinions were to become the new orthodoxy, then this list would lose its appeal for me. I've gone on far too long, please forgive me. I shall respectfully go back into re-lurk mode. Cheers, Don
------------------------------ Message-ID: <00a401bd96ef$8790b600$d6965ed1@nate> From: "Gineen" <natalia@javanet.com> Subject: hi Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 13:20:13 -0400 Subject: "All your friends are Tissue Tigers" Hello All, Went to the record store today........I always do, thinking perhaps I will look under X and see something new jump out of XTC's that I do not already own. No such luck........Hmmmm, would love some new stuff by them. Someone was kind enough to send me an Andy demo but when I received the tape I realized it was one I already own, the only one in fact......"the firework demos." I am going to have to make a point of contacting some folks about getting some XTC videos. I see many listings. Must begin writing out those checks. About all the XTC conventions I hear of........such as the gathering in Boston.........How does one get to go to one of those get togethers? I am very interested......and I am also wondering,Is there a mailing I can receive related to XTC? I would love to get a mailer. I will be in the UK right near Swindon in August.........so frustrating. Why cant I meet Andy for a drink? What I would not do for such a pleasurable experience....In this life time? Hope so.......... Bye All............Gineen. http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Arena/9501/
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 14:34:02 -0400 Subject: Statistics Thingy Message-ID: <19980613.143402.3590.0.skybar80@juno.com> From: skybar80@juno.com (Formerly Known as Smileypants) Hiya Chalkies I've been lurking for 3 months and haven't posted in ages. You might rememeber me as "Smiley Pants" but I've gotten rid of that ame because well, the girl who gave me that nickname dumped me and I had to get a new addy so I could hide from her vitriol...but that's another story... Anyhoo, I'd like to give this here statistics thingy a shot. Religion: Roman Catholic, but haven't been to church since my Junior ring mass in 1997. Political Party: I choose not to involve myself with politics Drugs: The only edge I live on is the *straight*edge Job: College student. That's it. Hopefully a Rite-Aid employee Dream: To be able to fucking find the Dub Experiments! Well, enough outta me. I'm beat. I just got home from having to stay overnight at college for Freshman orientation. I think I'll just rest my head on the keyboard... Buh byee ZZZZZZ Ken XTC Song of the day: "The Rhythm" (How *dare* I like Go2?!!!!????) Non-XTC Song of the Day: "Texture" by Catherine Wheel
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19980614064430.21282.rocketmail@attach1.rocketmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 1998 23:44:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Cheryl <cxtc@rocketmail.com> Subject: re-cycle of XTC Hello again! I'm inspired to write yet again! A few people mentioned that they cycle through the different albums of XTC ....listening to only XTC. I too, did this in the beginning, but I have found, for me, that if I take a break from them every once in a while I rediscover this terrific band all over. I love that feeling, that revelation that says, " Yes! This is it! This is what music is all about!" Having become a fan of XTC has changed my tastes in music some what. Well, maybe that's not it. I search for more in the other bands I listen too. I pay closer attention to the lyrics to see if I can find...something that catches my imagination and attention the way XTC does. It's rare when I do find something, but it's great to have a diverse group of muscians to listen to. I search for that intensity of emotion that Mr. P and Colin seem to serve up so effortlessly. That most certainly is a hard thing to find in today's bands. And I'm only speaking for my tastes here. Perhaps what strikes me would make another chalkhiller go, "WHAT THE...?!" Just to ramble a bit more here. One of my most favourite memories attached to an XTC song is my train ride up North in England. On both trips to Edinburgh and Newcastle I had brought 'The Big Express'. Now when I hear those songs I'm suddenly looking out the window at big puffy clouds as the train speeds through the countryside. That feeling of excitment at seeing friends [ Hi Simon! :) ] and being far, far away from 'my world'. Makes me feeling all warm and squishy inside. I'm sure this question has been asked ,maybe recently? But since there seems to be a bunch of new people posting to the list, What is your most favourite memory attached to an XTC song? My nephew skipped in here a while ago and on hearing Mr. P belting out "River of Orchids" asks me, " Is he singing in English?" Why I oughta... "Yes, he is." This stuff is weird he tells me then walks out of the room. This coming from an 11 year old who listens to Weird Al. *sigh* Need to work on him. Ramblingly yours, Cheryl
------------------------------ From: "Kev" <kev@m0ahn.demon.co.uk> Subject: Local Swindon Newspaper Interview Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1998 19:02:44 +0100 Message-ID: <01bd9887$cbe91920$LocalHost@default> Hi all , This is a copy a interview with a Andy in the Swindon Gazette and Herald and it was printed around the time that Oranges and Lemons was released. I hope that it is of some interest. Bye for now Kevin L. (NR. Swindon) kev@m0ahn.demon.co.uk Andy's working overtime on XTC, A musical paradox "HELLO " said Andy Partridge. "It's been a hectic day. This is my eleventh interview. " Eleven interviews Things are certainly looking up for XTC - Swindon and England's seemingly forgotten band. A new album in the US charts, selling at more than 5,000 copies a day; best selling foreign band in Japan (pipping Elvis Costello); and even an appearance with stars such as Sting on Spirit Of the Forest - the latest conscience-prodding disc with proceeds going to save the rain forests. There's a small matter of repaying a #750,000 advance from Virgin Records, but Andy's not fussed. "It's so stupidly large I don't care about it," he said. The same attitude applies to a lack of commercial success, or even recognition, in England. "The only place we don't sell records is in Britain. It's frustrating because it's my home country but I'm not going to ram XTC down their throats. You make it here for two or three weeks and then you're a has-been." And Swindon? Andy snorts. "Swindon is it law unto itself. The people are not bothered about anything. They are so apathetic. I am not interested at all in being accepted in, Swindon. It's just a town where we live. "It could be a good place but unfortunately it took a wrong turn in the '50s - down the concrete road," said Andy, bred in Penhill but now living in Old Town. If this makes XTC's front man sound cynical 35-year-old then maybe he has good reason to be. Perhaps they deserve a higher profile instead of, as Andy says, being recognised more on the streets of L, A. That is certainly where the band's market is now - among the college kids of America. "I don't mind, we'll have dollars," beams. Not that money's important of course. "It never was just money otherwise we would not have sounded like XTC. Instead would have sounded like (Long pause) the Thompson Twins. You have to please yourself as an artist first." This motive was certainly true with the Dukes of Stratosphear XTC's psychedelic alter ego - which has now been killed of after two albums. "They were 1967 and how many times can a tell the same story? It was something had to get off our chests" And the future, bearing in mind the success of Oranges and Lemons, an album even Andy agrees is their best since Black Sea in 1980. "I don't know. I don't even know what I'm doing tomorrow. I never knew I would still be doing this back in 1977 when we started recording. It's good fun. That's all. "I never thought we would be as ignored and, by the same token, as accepted as we have been" he adds, summing up the musical paradox that is XTC. "I don't know how to write a big hit song," sings Andy on the recent single Mayor of Simpleton, perhaps carrying with it a dig at the superficial pop values which make XTC so unpalatable to British mainstream music. "Perhaps. But as Andy - a family man now with a little boy and girl - might say: "Who Cares?".
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-94 ******************************
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