Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 40
Date: Tuesday, 15 December 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 40
Tuesday, 15 December 1998
Today's Topics:
Gold CDs
clarification
zappa is the best
Re: 100 best...
Prince Mastelloto
Last Wurd on Drummahs (or mine, anyway)
TB comments
Re: Don't Shoot! I'm Only Talking Bollocks!
Best of 98?
PRESIDENT BILL
Louisiana sucks!
Happy Holidays
have you got Miss Givings...
Neon scuffle
belated blessings on the way
No Vibration Without Pulse Modulation!
News only list, Blur, Taxation, number plates and demo delight.
More On Drummers
Re : Fair Taxation
RE David Oh
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 01:32:11 -0500 (EST) From: Brian Whitman <bwhitman@WPI.EDU> Subject: Gold CDs Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.05.9812150128230.23431-100000@wpi.WPI.EDU> I've got Skylarking on Gold CD. I love it. The packaging is inane and annoying (I'm talking about that cd-holder device that immediately broke on mine). I'm no audiophile, but when I pop in this one in headphones, yes, there is a big difference. The instruments seem to have more space around them. Hard to explain. True, if I'm listening to it in my car or as background music while wokring, I can't tell. But XTC deserves better than 'background music,' and I am glad to have this clearer copy of Skylarking to cherish and listen to. I really wish they would have not screwed with the song order, it's got Dear God on there (American version I guess...) -brian, mermaid smiled (and go2) fan Brian Whitman - bwhitman@wpi.edu http://www.netspace.org/users/bwhitman Crudites - sound _is_ information. http://www.netspace.org/crudites
------------------------------ From: Nudeants@aol.com Message-ID: <a45b2f14.367626eb@aol.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 04:07:55 EST Subject: clarification I just wanted to clarify about what I said about the keyboard on Go2. It's not Barry's playing, but the timbre, the SOUND of the keyboard itself I find annoying. I like Barry's playing and sensibility, and it certainly is not discordance that I have a problem with. In fact, during younger days my criteria in listening to music involved it somewhat. it's simply that particular sound used so much that I find excessive and a little grating. Even that particular sound used more sparingly would be fine, but it simply is too 'cheesy,' for the lack of a better word for my taste, especially considering innovations going on around that time (Weather Report's Black market and Heavy Weather - Zawinul is still one of the all-time masters of keyboard textures - and other 'prog' things, like the Genesis stuff with Tony Banks [like it or not]) I almost forgot to shout out to fellow fans of Japanese noise rock that spoke a few issues back. I LOVE Boredoms, Ruins and Melt Banana (the latter a recent discovery. A question for those who brought up the subject: what other bands might I like if I like those? You can email me separately if you like at NUDEANTS @aol.com Thanks! matt mitchell PS Listened to Mummer again tonight. Fucking brilliant! Of the outtakes, I like Gold the best. The albums is really a seamless progression (mostly considering what was on the original album, of course)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000901be280c$1f52ef00$d08319d4@10.0.1.1.inf> From: "Hall of Fame Records" <halloffame@ctv.es> Subject: zappa is the best Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 21:10:50 +0100 Perdon por no escribir en ingles. Yo adoro la musica de Zappa, XTC, Split Enz y Cardiacs. Luis Reynaldo. Hall of Fame Records. halloffame@ctv.es
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:55:03 +0000 (GMT) From: Chris Clee <cmc@sanger.ac.uk> Subject: Re: 100 best... Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.00.9812150951250.5337-100000@piranha> wild i seem to have just about all of the 1960's, 1970's stuff (even faust 4 on original and reissue) about 60% of the 80's stuff......no fall though and I reckon steroelab and calvin party deserve mentions in the 1990's......looks like as far as this list are concerned i had more taste when i was younger.......damn i must be getting old and out of touch (hehe) ttfn chris ****************************************** Chris Clee Team 55 The Sanger Centre
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <aecdf3ee.36764c5f@aol.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 06:47:43 EST Subject: Prince Mastelloto OK, I'll concede that Terry was the drummer that fit best with XTC's style; when he was with them they sounded like a band, and after he left XTC was in great danger of turning into the British Steely Dan(not to dis Fagan & Becker, who I respect greatly as songwriters and musicians), a studio project that sounds like one. Thankfully, the good-to-great drummers XTC hired for each subsequent album helped give at least some of the tracks the necessary kick. The notable exception, ironically, is on O&L. Technically speaking, Mastelloto is the flashiest drummer XTC has hired, and for the kind of album they were clearly trying to make, he's pretty much appropriate. I'd even go as far as to say he's technically the best drummer they've hired. That would arguably be true if they hired Phil Collins, who I agree should shut up and play them drums already. Peter Gabriel's overdue for a new album, maybe he could use a drummer; besides Tony Levin on bass, Dave Gregory could probably use some work about now. However, most of the other drummers on XTC's albums were more precision and feel drummers, and in a way it takes a really great drummer to play a really simple and repetitive part and not sound bored or boring. Both Terry and Dave(Mattacks)are really good at that. Check Mattacks' drumming on Richard Thompson's "Shoot Out The Lights," for example. The song's tempo can best be described as grindingly slow, yet Mattacks grinds along with it and actually propells it; without him it would be an excruciating drone like Chinese water torture. No wonder Thompson rarely plays the song solo. A quick comment about Prince; I'm a huge fan of him as an all around talent. The very first thing I heard from him was a live video of a song from 1980's Dirty Mind that featured the confused young man leaping around the stage in a dress pealing off these jaw-dropping Hendrix-meets-Santana guitar licks(and practically making love to his guitar in the process). I was intrigued. I wasn't interested enough to get one of his albums, though I enjoyed some of the hits I heard. His lyrics are often infantile, but so were Brian Wilson's at times, and he's a genius too. Later in the 80's he didn't have as many hits(maybe one per album rather than three or four)but his music got more interesting. For the most good songs per album, get '87's Sign Of The Times; the title track alone is one of the most chilling slices of ghetto funk since Sly and the Family Stone's There's A Riot Going On album over twenty-five years ago, and the rest of the album is his most musically varied work ever. A little known more recent gem is the Chaos And Disorder album, an album recorded in the early '90's his record company released against his wishes to satisfy contractual obligations(and exacerbated the problems he had with his record company that I'm sure XTC fans can relate to), but it's surprisingly good; several good Prince rock songs with loads of mad guitar, some more R&B influenced stuff but more hard-edged than usual, even a blues. Supposedly he's got an entire album's worth of blues material in the can. Well, guess that wasn't a quick note. Damn. Chris
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19981215070815.006a199c@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 07:08:15 -0500 From: "Todd E. Jones" <toddjones@mindspring.com> Subject: Last Wurd on Drummahs (or mine, anyway) Chalkheads, I know, I know, I was one of the ones who jumped into the rate-the-drummers fray. It is a silly little exercise, with little value other than amusement (like those 1-900-PSYCHIC services). Allow me to put Pat M. bashing into perspective. 1) Pat M. is a very good drummer - no doubt the guy can play, is inventive and is a long-time XTC phan. 2) Pat M. played with Mr. Mister - one of the most justifiably maligned bands of the late 80's. "Take these Beatles lyrics and learn to make a mint." Gimme a freaking break. That band was so lame it totally taints our view of poor Pat. 3) O&L was produced very differently from other XTC albums. Some love it, some hate it, I find it works wonderfully on some tunes (Simpleton, C&C) not well on others (Prez Kill). Regardless, it is starkly atypical XTC sound. I think these three factoids conspire to create a havoc-filled dialog regarding Mr. Mastelloto (sp?). I'm as happy to listen to him play as any other XTC drummer. Peace, Todd Jones Manager, Producer, Insect Massage Therapist, Janitor HUGE sound generation and capture facility Cape Fear River Basin, NC http://www.mindspring.com/~toddjones
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36767A8E.E1D41CB6@ix.netcom.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:04:47 -0600 From: Greg Mascioli <mascioli@ix.netcom.com> Subject: TB comments Just received my copy of TB and isn't it nice to have a very cool box set of XTC for the holidays. Haven't listened to all of the discs just yet, but from what I have heard, the audio quality is excellent and the guitar playing is superb! After reading the liner notes (only minor complaint, for a box set the liner notes are weak - wish there were more info on the tracks and any background info on the actual recordings), listened a little more closely to the drums. I think I understand Andy's comments about Terry - he was rock solid and a perfect anchor for the band at that time. I can't imagine any of the XTC drummers who could have been a better addition at that point in time and playing live. Also, didn't realize that TVT was the new label for the upcoming Apple Venus release. Will this new label provide any more financial stability to the Andy and Colin? Hate to think XTC is taking day jobs. But you know what? The music industry is a pretty scummy industry. A lot of very worthwhile bands have been left on the asphalt as fresh roadkill for any number of reasons, but many reasons stem from mis-management and poor promotion. Not sure about the former, but the later certainly applies to XTC. Happy holidays to all. Greg
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s6766cc1.011@parliament.uk> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 14:05:08 +0000 From: Dominic Lawson <LAWSOND@parliament.uk> Subject: Re: Don't Shoot! I'm Only Talking Bollocks! OK, before I get a severe slapping from every apologist for capitalism in the western hemisphere..... Yeah, I can imagine what many of you will say about taxes.. In fact, I will probably agree with most of it. Unfortunately I think I've shot myself in the foot again by not clarifying exactly what I mean. My comments were meant to be over the top, not least as a reaction to the pro-Phil Collins lobby, and an exaggeration of what I really think, but I thought that would come across. Oops. I live in a country where the views I expressed are fairly common (albeit in a milder form!), and where "socialism" still has many supporters (most of whom can probably explain their beliefs a lot better than I) and isn't yet a dirty word. It's not at all the same as communism, in case anyone thinks I'm some sort of pinko subversive. I guess that America, with its two main parties occupying pretty much the same political ground (give or take a few welfare cuts and a dash of religious fanaticism), has a lot less tolerance for left-wing economics, and I suppose that's understandable. I wouldn't want my money "confiscated" either, but then I earn a feeble amount. I wouldn't say no to twenty or thirty thousand pounds a year, but that's hardly comparable to the earnings of major rock stars. I just don't see how anyone can justify having so much money when it could be put to so much good use - it's not as if losing 50% of millions is going to leave you on the poverty line! Personally I think the problem is this anti-tax culture that had developed alongside global capitalism. There was a time, in this country at least, when people accepted taxes as a necessary way to ensure that public services were maintained and that the "have-nots" were provided for. Unfortunately, these days we are all too concerned with protecting what we have , getting more and **** everyone else. That's contrary to the whole notion of society, and definitely contrary to the spirit of XTC (and I needed a crowbar to get that one in...). Also, I think the idea that anyone can achieve wealth if they want, or that all it takes is motivation and a positive attitude to succeed in life, is a bit dubious. It may be true for the educated, intelligent or well-off, but for many people these opportunities are largely mythical and so the only immediate alternatives are crime or destitution. Many of us are lucky in that we have the requisite intelligence and abilities to (usually) ensure that we are earning enough (for us), and are thus approaching "comfortable" (which is not the same as obscenely wealthy, which is the thing I have a problem with) but millions of people don't have that luxury. Saying "go for it" doesn't really help when your mother's a crack addict and the neighbourhood's full of people with guns and inner demons! Some people get a shit deal - that's how life is. So just to set the record straight, I don't think anyone should be taxed more than 33% unless they earn SHITLOADS OF MONEY, i.e. the sort of obscene amounts of money "earned" by major baseball stars, company bosses and the biggest of rock stars. I don't want us all to wear grey, eat gruel and march single file, reading the thoughts of Mao. (Mind you, maybe for some people.....) Once we've collected all that tax, we can give it to Andy & Colin so we don't have to wait seven cocking years for the next album... I hope that clears it up, in case anyone's planning to slag me off for still believing in socialist principles. Oh, and the "up against the ****ing wall" remark was so obviously meant to be a joke that I am beginning to wonder if there's some bad acid in circulation. Honestly, I know it's hard to tell sometimes if people are joking or not, but credit me with some humanity at least! Apologies for the lack of XTC content.....(although here's a thought - why not respond to my XTC-related comments for a change? There's a few more Cardiacs fans on the block from what I can gather so I'm obviously not completely wasting my time...) Oh, and my copy of Song Stories is waiting for me at the Post Office (thanks Sue!), but I finish work too late to pick it up! AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! It's a stitch-up! Anyway, I'm off for a couple of weeks of heavy drinking and intensive music-listening. A very merry Ozzmas to you all! Be seeing you! Dom. "Sod the Third Way - we haven't tried the second one yet!"
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36767849.73B5@bellatlantic.net> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:55:05 -0500 From: John Irvine <jirvine@bellatlantic.net> Subject: Best of 98? Winter is here, end of the season, and it's time to hear from y'all about your fave releases of 1998. It was a lousy year for music buying for me- haven't been too inspired by anything to go out and buy it. This is probably due to there being no decent college radio in Baltimore and being burned by OK Computer last year. (ONE good song - yeeps) Here are the discs I bough that I actually like: Transistor Blast (duh) Stereolab - Aluminum Tunes Komeda - What Makes it Go? Beck - Mutations ...and that's about it. I bought some stuff that sucked, but I won't go into that here. What did y'all buy that floated yer boats? Obligatory Phil Collins content: anagram: Chillin' Slop -John Irvine
------------------------------ Message-ID: <367672EC.6E0E@bhip.infi.net> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 10:32:23 -0400 From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: PRESIDENT BILL Tschalkgerz! >Jesus! You express one thought in this digest and the whole place turns into an impeachment hearing!< I wonder if this is how President Bill feels right about now...! -- BRIAN THOMAS MATTHEWS * Digital & traditional illustration/animation * Caricaturist-for-hire * RENDERMAN ~ One-Man Band Ordinaire SAPRINGER CENTRAL ~ http://www.angelfire.com/fl/sapringer mailto:mattone@bhip.infi.net
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19981215155625.2288.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Amanda Owens" <daveizgod@hotmail.com> Subject: Louisiana sucks! Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 07:56:25 PST I put Transistor Blast on my Christmas list, seeing as that my new job is not the best-paying one, and sent my mother off on the mission to find it. Of course, living in Blues-Jazz-Rap Central, it's hard to come across anything decent in the record stores. After trying the smaller, mall-type stores like Sam Goody and Camelot, mom hitched over to Tower Records and the Virgin Megastore, yet STILL came up empty-handed!!! Even worse, she refuses to order it online. So my Christmas is blown. And how was YOUR day, everyone??? Tis all for now, Amanda C. Owens "People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with welcome written on it."-Andy Partridge XTC song of the day-Shiny Cage non XTC song-Don't Let Me Down-The Beatles (I have been on an incredible Beatles kick since the anniversary of John's death passed. "It was 18 years ago today, that fucking Chapman took a genius away.....")
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19981215071334.5433.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Molly Fanton" <mollyfa@hotmail.com>
Subject: Happy Holidays
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 23:13:34 PST
Chalkers,
I just wanted to wish all of you in Chalkhilland a very Happy
Holiday season. I'm hoping to get Transistor Blast for X-Mas if not
I'll buy it with my money I get.
Molly
http://www.angelfire.com/mo/mollyfa/index.html
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199812151441.GAA00241@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:40:43 -0500 From: "Simmons, Jonathan S." <jonathan_simmons@merck.com> Subject: have you got Miss Givings... Hi all. Long-time lurker, very infrequent post-er... Regarding Apple Venus (Volume 1)...does anyone else out there share my misgivings that XTC may be making another in a series of tactical mistakes (marketing-wise) by taking the orchestral rather than the electric tack on the FIRST of the new CDs? I have listened to two different disks o'AV demos, and while a majority of the new songs have definitely set the XTC excitement meter soaring, the ones about which I feel the most "enh" are the ones that will make up the bulk of AV1. I realize that I am just one person, and that my preferences are nothing on which to base sweeping generalizations (is there another kind?). And I may well be the only one who feels that songs like "The Last Balloon," "Easter Theater," and "River of Orchids" may not be as immediately accessible as, say, songs like "Prince of Orange," "Dame Fortune," or even "Ship Trapped in the Ice." There is certainly nothing wrong with songs that require a little patience or even work to "get," but I fear that "second-tier" XTC fans (fans who may not be rabid enough to follow the goings-on here at Chalkhills, but who would perk up when the new album hits the stores) and the uninitiated may jump at AV1 then recoil a bit when they hear a collection of songs that are largely...grand and ponderous. I know, I know...some people will LOVE the majesty of these songs. Maybe even MOST people will. But I feel that XTC's commercial interests would best be served by having a couple of catchy, radio-friendly tunes on their first CD in several years. As it stands, the only one I could POSSIBLY see getting any radio play at all is "I'd Like That" (I haven't heard "Frivolous Tonight" yet, so maybe there's help there). One hates to think that XTC should ever have to put such priorities ahead of other considerations in plying their craft...but the harsh reality seems to be that they desperately need to generate some dough (d'oh!) to keep the music train chugging. >From what I can gather (please set me straight, those in the know), the commercial success of AV1 may well dictate the fate (existence?) of AV2--ergo, I want AV1 to do as well as possible. I wish I felt better about that... Someone please tell me that I am nuts, and that AV1 is going to thrive in the marketplace... -Jon S.
------------------------------ From: Melsta@aol.com Message-ID: <bb542a3.3676b951@aol.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 14:32:33 EST Subject: Neon scuffle Liebe Kreidehuegler und Kreidehueglerinnen-- Dom sez: >>Personally I firmly believe that NO ONE needs to earn the sort of >>money that "fat cats" and the likes of Mr Collins earn. The "they earned >>it" argument is, of course, bollocks - making records and travelling >>extensively is hardly comparable to being a nurse, for instance. Bob sez: >You can hardly blame Phil for being willing to simply take the money >that hordes of people are willing to give him. The real problem is the >desires of the masses - they actually take joy in laying piles of money >in Phil's hands, even while superior groups like XTC struggle to make a >living. I sez: So redistributing the wealth won't do any good, because the masses will still spend it on crap, right? Everyone, just send all your money to me, and I'll personally make sure it goes to those who deserve it. OK? OK. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ While I'm here, let me tell you how great TB is. I love the neon colors, the bright, lively sounds, hearing new versions of old songs, old friends of mine. I looked for it at the Borders the other day, and tho it wasn't there, I could picture it, sticking out among the drab black packaging of the other boxed sets much as I did when I used to go dancing in my fluorescent green or hot pink sweaters, matching tights and white-blond hair (natural, I might add) twirling madly in a sea of black clothes, black lipstick and black hair dye. --Melissa "finding a way to make her own light" Reaves
------------------------------ Message-ID: <618F91505D89D21185330001FA6A4954082241@HFD-EXCH008> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: belated blessings on the way Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 16:05:11 -0500 After much prodding, my wife has phone-ordered XistorBlast for my birthday. And I'm a Scorpio yet. Odd behavior from a woman who has Lands End and LL Bean on speed dial. Dawn French (yum) and SCTV in the same digest? You folks amaze me with your great taste! "My only son wants to be a cantor! Oh, the shame", Karl
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3676CBF1.110AB8E9@intermetrics.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 16:52:02 -0400
From: Harrison Sherwood <sherwood@intermetrics.com>
Organization: Intermetrics, Inc.
Subject: No Vibration Without Pulse Modulation!
> From: Michael Roden <mroden@vistar.ca>
> Subject: Fair Taxation or confiscation?
> >From Dominic Lawson <LAWSOND@parliament.uk>:
> >you are somewhat naive about how capitalism works.
>
> That is idiotic. I suggest that it is YOU who is naive about how
> capitalism works.
Kids:
May I just point out that it is not without reason that countless generations
have passed down to us the shining wisdom that one does not discuss religion
or politics at table? And may I further suggest that Chalkhills is the very
table that they meant? The Phil Collins "thing"--a complete house of mirrors
by this time--has gone way beyond tiresome and is now veering dangerously
close to the ludicrous. Please, for everyone's sake: Take it private.
Michael, the wine stands by you, sir.
In the spirit of Moving On, I offer a few observations from my second reading
of Song Stories:
1) Page 22, Science Friction. I'm amazed no one has commented on this yet:
ASTROPHOBIA? Boy, that Partsy--even his childhood neuroses are cool! A web
search for the term reveals that it does appear on those long lists of
phobias that get emailed around (you know, the ones that always proudly
include "triskadekaphobia"--the fear of the number thirteen*), but these are
of pretty dubious medical value. "Legitimate" mental health and
anxiety-disorder sites seem to be silent on the topic, as far as I can
find. I did find a rare book for sale called "Phobia" (1931) by an
illustrator named John Vassos. The information is sketchy, but one
illustration, entitled "Astrophobia," is reproduced at the web site:
http://www.dreamscape.com/pdverhey/vassos/phobia.gif. Poor geezer in the pic
looks just like Partridge running home from a Cub Scout meeting. (Suggested
caption: "Astrophobia: the fear of huge Art Deco shower curtains")
The astrophobia revelation might also shed light on the emotion he invests
in the line "And the stars are laughing at us" from "Across this Antheap."
Can anybody think of any others?
Remember, from "Chalkhills and Children," Andy's mum's use of the word
"disabells" (from _deshabille_) for her knockers (p. 10)? Well, at
http://www.sonic.net/~fredd/reverse.html I found "[Fear of] undressing in
front of someone- Dishabillophobia."
Any mental health professionals out there care to comment?
("Yes--Sherwood, please turn yourself in at the nearest drooling academy."
"Thank you.")
2) Page 124, photo: Andy blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. Look
carefully at the cake and you'll see a lovely Bronze Age equine decoration
that might jog your memory. Although the happy occasion purports to be
taking place during the recording of English Settlement, careful counting of
the candles on the cake reveals it to be only his sixteenth or seventeenth
birthday. Do we need any more evidence that the Walrus was in fact Colin, or
can we put this to bed now?
3) Page 180, discussion of the title for "Skylarking": "...[named] after the
skylarks in England's summer skies and the minor naval misdemeanor of
playing tag in a ship's rigging." Please refer to Chalkhills Digest #3-162,
a post by the very midshipman whose teeth I brush every morning. You're
welcome, Neville.
4) Page 203, illustration: Just under the lovely (and lovingly rendered!)
Delta of Venus in the upper right-hand corner, there appears a handwritten
list of candidate album titles for "Skylarking," some good, some terrible
("All Day Life"?!?); most notable among them, scribbled on the end like an
afterthought: "Pink Things Sing."
Harrison "And Sometimes Type" Sherwood
-----
*This would be a good time to mention my particular favorite, my old friend
"Anatidaphobia," fear of ducks (!)
Pee Est: Interestingly, quite a lot of pork makes me want to music.
------------------------------ From: Paul@pi-design.com Message-ID: <7792192DE506D2119A6100A024F0274A15850E@PIMAIL> Subject: News only list, Blur, Taxation, number plates and demo delight. Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 21:23:54 -0000 Ben Gott mentioned that Blur were in the "Top 100 list of albums you blah-de-blah"... has Damon AllBran ever admitted that "Stereotypes" was a blatant rip-off, no, er, I mean (he lives just round the corner may be I should ask him), er, tribute to "Respectable Street?" Regarding Dom and hitting Page Down: It would be awfully nice if some of the more verbal posters restricted themselves a bit. I don't have to pay for my bandwidth but other do - okay a few K aren't going to make too much difference but over time... May be it would be worth setting up another list of XTC news? I've got so much info to wade through already it would be nice to be able to drop out of the list every so often and yet remain safe in the knowledge that, if something actually happened I'd get told about it. If I missed everybody's verbiage then I could rejoin the main list as and when I want. TAXATION & MICHAEL RODEN THREAD SECTION - LOOK FOR THE ASTERISKS TO FIND THE END! This taxation topic's getting out of hand... Michael Roden mailto:mroden@vistar.ca was having a go at Domonic Lawson: DL: Personally I firmly believe that NO ONE needs to earn the sort of money... etc MR: I thought that this would be the LAST place that I would read such utter nonsense. After three digests of your garbage, I have had enough. Actually, this *is* the place that I'd expect to hear from people with this world-view. (Although ,I too am a little fed up with hearing about taxation and government.) In an ideal world wouldn't you prefer to see a maximum wage of **some sort**, or would you prefer to accumulate as much money as possible, hanging onto it for as long as you can? What are you going to do with it all?!! The problem with the capitalism thing is that there are too many people only interested in the cumulative side and there aren't enough philanthropists - "I earned the money, why shouldn't I keep it?" No problem, as long as you're earning less than 2 mill per year and spending a healthy amount of it. It's the people like smilin' Bill Gates that should have some kind of reigns put on their fiscal wotsits. He's got enough money to pay off several third-world style debts and still have a goodly few million left over... so what does he do? Give a few pennies to the WHO to help with their vaccination program. Ooh, now you can be healthy and die of starvation! MR: I don't know which is more infuriating... your preposterous <!!!!!> views on politics and economics ...blah..blah.... having anything to do with XTC. Oh shut up, you twat. (Sometimes eloquence just isn't needed) Fair enough about the non-XTC content but you're just as bad. DL: Re-distributing that wealth. MR: This is the oldest of socialist dogma... confiscate the wealth of the successful to buy the support of the envious... Huh???? Suddenly I'm envious rather than wanting to provide a better standard of living for the people at the bottom of the heap? I don't want the money, I don't want a government to have the money. Get the idea? I don't think that you will. Some of your reposts are sound a little trite, is this a hobby of yours? (BTW: That's repost as in fencing and conversation not re-post as in NNTP) "To buy the support of the envious?" Ooh, get her. Maybe there's a right-wing version of Billy Bragg. (Bob Roberts?) Ha! That's it Michael is really Bob Roberts! What'da'ya'mean you didn't see the film? Dominic: ...maximum wage...blah...blah...Wealthy scumbags, one and all, up against the ****ing wall, as we used to say at primary school. MRoden: You shouted a slogan like THAT in primary school? No wonder you hold such extreme leftist views I'm afraid Dominic's views aren't that extreme, but then you're so far right you haven't got a clue. Anyway, I think the "up against the wall thing" was a joke. Dominic: Yeah, I know, I'm full of it. MRoden: Well, at least you admit it. ME: And you don't. *********************************** *********************************** MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH... Cheryl noticed an XTC number (license) plate... I did too... Epsom, Surrey, UK. Er, it's a number plate with XTC on it! Huzzah! Just recently got the demos that seem to be "packaged" as "Knights in Shining Karma" and so I'm just peachy! I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to listen properly to anything but the first few tracks - oooh "Wonder Annual" It's late, unlike some of you I haven't got the time to refine my prose so I'm going to leave it unpolished. Any bad grammar is either on purpose or due to shear laziness. Bye. ________________________________________________ I'm Paul Stratford, don't listen to me. xtc content to: XTC@pi-design.com abuse and work: paul@pi-design.com
------------------------------ From: Iain.Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au Message-Id: <4A2566DB.00045727.00@mta.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 10:55:26 +1000 Subject: More On Drummers Moron drummers? I had to have another listen to "Drums & Wires" after all the recent drummer discussions. I'd never really paid attention to the drums before (not just on XTC albums, but in general) - now I can see that, especially on "Roads Girdle The Globe" and "Reel By Real", Terry Chambers' playing almost has a melody (at least, to my ears, it's more than just a matter of keeping the rhythm). I'll be listening a lot more closely in future to what's going on "in the background". As far as other drummers are concerned, have a listen to "Hello Susie" by The Move. At one point, Bev Bevan makes the drums sound like a motorbike starting up - nifty in the extreme (which is almost enough to forgive him for his later ELO involvement....). Iain "I rail against God because I was told to stop eating paste in Sunday school" - P.J.O'Rourke.
------------------------------ From: Iain.Murray@hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au Message-Id: <4A2566DB.0007AE73.00@mta.hr-m.b-m.defence.gov.au> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 11:35:58 +1000 Subject: Re : Fair Taxation (Warning : No XTC Content) In Chalkhills #5-38, Dom Lawson posed this question regarding the introduction of a consumption tax : >> can you imagine what sort of vile, extremist ideology would lurk behind any government committed to such a scheme? I don't need to imagine it - Australia has just such a right-wing government committed to exactly this sort of scheme....and they've just been re-elected. By the way, Pauline Hanson is one of the early front-runners for the "Australian Of The Year" award. Would the last person to leave the country please turn off the lights? Iain "This is exactly how Nazi Germany started!" - Basil Fawlty.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <006501be2876$72b6ff00$441017d4@default> From: "Steve Jackson" <smj@zen.co.uk> Subject: RE David Oh Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 21:47:16 -0000 David wrote... <we all have different tastes, some broader than other's. does this make any> one's opinion "better" than another's, or is anyone's opinion right & another's is wrong? puh-lease! another point is this; does our loving, & listening to, xtc make us "better" than others? no, it doesn't! more enlightened, perhaps, but not "better".> What do you suggest we should be using this forum for then...? It'd be a very dull newgroup indeed. David continues<yes, prairie's playing was very good, especially on "tmwsahs", but listen to pat's playing on "poor skeleton" against the drum machine, or on "chalkhills" or even on "scarecrow people". pat, prairie, dave, terry, whoever, they r all talented drummers & they r all unique in their styles. is any one "better" than the other? > Errr yes. Billie (UK only) is 'unique in (her) style' therefore, your logic dictates that she is as good as a songwriter as AP. Cher is unique in her style also...it doesn't make her any good. <i saw xtc twice in 1980. terry's drumming was very interesting indeed. again, "meat & potatoes"; > Which album is that one on? ;-) <during both "nigel" & "generals & majors", terry used his left hand 2 play the "peasoup - peasoup" part on the hi-hats, while the right hand either played the tom-toms and/or snare drum. think about that! it was very unusual 2 c that in a right-handed drummer, it almost looked backwards!> left handed hi-hat on Nigel....not on Generals and Majors. Is "Peasoup" on the same album as "Meat and Potatoes"? (Actually the "Pea" is the closing hi-hat and the s"Soup" is the bass drum beat which follows it) <during recording of his 3rd album & is technically known as the "gated drum" sound. the sound signal is run thru an electronic device call a gate,> Called a gated reverb actually (BTW I'm a bit of a smart-arse) "Dumb all over, a little ugly on the side"
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-40 ******************************
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