Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 41
Date: Wednesday, 16 December 1998
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 41
Wednesday, 16 December 1998
Today's Topics:
Did I say holidays suck?
Viva Zappata
Over-produced
here come the Nigels!!!
Significant Others
It's all right Sherwood!!!
ES->Mummer
Broken Transistor Blast
RE: Best of 1998?
License Plates, Transistors, etc.
Barenaked Ladies sound like XTC
Poor, poor Pat
Odds and a walrus tap dancing.
The politics of envy
Viva XTC
Bill
Re: Rye Post
AV 1/2 release order
Best of '98
top 5 / news list
Re: Astrophobia
RE: have you got Miss Givings....?
TB: enough for all of us?
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <19981216014949.16467.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Amanda Owens" <daveizgod@hotmail.com> Subject: Did I say holidays suck? Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 17:49:48 PST Boy was I ever wrong. Once again, the Almighty bestowed his gifts upon me, in the form of a book, letter and some pictures of him wearing the shirt I sent him for his birthday. :):):):):):):):):) Amanda C. Owens "People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with welcome written on it."-Andy Partridge
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3676D6D1.3840E57B@erols.com> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 21:38:28 +0000 From: "Neal H. Buck" <nealhbuck@erols.com> Subject: Viva Zappata Chalkies (or Chalkers?), I don't know where the notion came that us sophisticated, musically superior lovers of a band few others have ever heard of, would not like FZ! Well of course there are always some un/mis-informed savages out there (but don't we say that about the Swindonians?), but at least Frank has/had more notoriety/publicity. Maybe if Andy writes some songs about an anal orgy with goats he would be rich and/or (in)famous. What it gets down to is the music (yawn). I've seen FZ 3 times, and have several of his albums. He's written too many great songs to be included here, and many more that are too disgusting/stupid/boring for my tastes. I know, I know - they are all masterful in their challenges to society/music and I probably agree. I just don't like to listen to 'em. Wish he wasn't dead. Prince (as he'll always be to me) I've liked to a much lesser extent. I think it's funny that the last album he did before becoming a "funky, fresh dingbat" (10 pts if you guess where that reference comes from) included a song, "My Name is Prince" extolling his Prince-ly identity. Speaking of Princes, I notice nobody's mentioned that Prairie has been a regular on Todd Rundgren's tours. He's been on just about every one since Utopia disbanded. Not that it should surprise any of us given the Tubes "Remote Control" -> "Skylarking" connection. I've never disliked an XTC song because of bad drumming. You know, every time someone sends a post requesting a certain theme be stopped, they are just perpetuating that theme. If you want to move on, move on! All for now, ta-ta, Neal
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3676D57D.E96A5E97@fastlink.com.au> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 08:32:48 +1100 From: "Joseph J. Ierano" <chierano@fastlink.com.au> Organization: chiropractic ierano Subject: Over-produced May I point out that "over production" may be a poor choice of words. Some bands record and think that the music doesn't sound live enough, or like it does on stage. Is this over or under-production? Getting a live sound entails more than just putting a microphone in front and pressing play. It is good production that acheives a good lively sound. I like Skylarking, but feel that the sound lacks depth. English settlement is much thicker and smooth. Listen to The Church's Blurred Crusade, produced by Bob Clearmountain...real solid sound with depth. Production may entail producing a "live feel", which an incompetent producer may not acheive. Now if a band acheives a certain sound on an album, that is probably how they wanted it. Sometimes it's not. What I am trying to say is that when people complain about "over production", such as has been the alleged case with O & L, they may find that it is poor production that does not acheive the adequate "feel" of the music for them. just a thought, joe -- Joseph J Ierano BSc DC chiropractic ierano PO Box 108 Camden NSW Australia 2570 Ph: +61 2 4655 4010 email: chierano@fastlink.com.au
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000701be28b5$3b0186e0$82706420@oemcomputer> From: "timothys" <timothys@gateway.net> Subject: here come the Nigels!!! Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 00:30:42 -0500 in 1993, there was a NY band called the Nigels. the only music they played was that of XTC. The band have taken a long hiatus to take care of some business, and would like to hit the road again. Timothy O"Byrne, the Andy of the band, says"If people want us back, we're there!..there's nothing in the world like playing the music of the best band in the world. Just let us know where you want us!!.."let us know if you want live XTC music and we'll come knock your knickers off!! [Attachment omitted, unknown MIME type or encoding (text/html)]
------------------------------ From: SeamusII@webtv.net (Nanette & Phil Smith) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 23:39:58 -0600 (CST) Subject: Significant Others Message-ID: <6599-367747AE-4613@mailtod-221.iap.bryant.webtv.net> I don't know how many regular Chalkhills readers are married, or have 'significant others' (as=A0opposed to 'insignificant others?') but I have to believe others out there have faced this situation: My wife doesn't like XTC. Well, at least she doesn't like XTC like I LIKE XTC; I don't think she understands what about them appeals to me so much. So I'm appealing to my fellow XTC fans for the answers to two questions: 1.) How would you explain why you enjoy the music of XTC, to a non-fan? 2.) What songs/albums would you suggest as most likely to interest her (before you say 'how should I know?' see more details below.) (Reply privately to me, or via Chalkhills - I don't know the etiquette; this may or may not be a subject of general interest.) I would characterize my wife's musical tastes as more diverse than the average listener; she is heavily into classical music (all periods,) lighter jazz (GRP, etc.,) lighter rock (Kenny Loggins, the infamous PC, etc.) and as a holdover from childhood, some art rock (Yes, ELP, Mody Blues, etc.) Definitely nothing harder rock than that, so for example "Reign of Blows" is right out! Her reactions to hearing XTC in the car have been negative to non-commital - the two comments I remember are "His (AP's) voice sounds generic - nothing special" and "He (AP) reminds me of Anthony Phillips." (We're both Anthony Phillips fans, but frankly, comparing any singer to Anthony Phillips is like comparing one to Steve Howe ; or William Shatner, for that matter; or like saying 'your keyboard playing reminds me of Eddie Van Halen's.') I wonder if other couples have experienced what I call our diametrically opposite approaches to listening to music. My main focus in listening is on the songwriting, perhaps because I dabble in songwriting myself. This is what intrigues me about XTC: I think the songwriting is at a much higher level than the average band's today. (I also feel that songwriting is way down the list of priorities for most labels signing bands nowadays - in the same way that screenwriting seems to be unimportant in movie deals - but that's another story...) As for my wife, she listens to the performance more than the writing. Perhaps this comes from her classically trained background. Still, she can appreciate a wonderful performance of a banal song in the same way I can appreciate a fantastic song in a mediocre performance. Are we just strange, or is this common in relationships? BTW - this is not to say that XTC records mediocre performances of great songs; on the contrary, the musicianship on XTC albums is second to none. But is it possible that my love for the songs isn't letting me hear the vocals as 'mundane' or rough? I'm beginning to wonder. Help me out here! I'll end this ramble for now; sometime I'd also like to ask about whether XTC possibly appeals more to males than females (and don't tell me there aren't gender gaps in music - or why is the ratio of men to women so high at Jean Luc Ponty or Pat Metheny concerts?) Any suggestions appreciated...thank you! PHIL
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19981216084420.8409.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "James Campbell" <jquatz@hotmail.com> Subject: It's all right Sherwood!!! Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 00:44:19 PST The wonderfully eloquent, and always delightfully exuberent Sherwood (and knowingly easily to make drink the cheap wine that the highly respected Todd B. can attest to from last digest) said...... >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. Y'now Sherwood.....I've thought about this for the few editions that have progressed and it finally hit me today as I hit the tape recorder out that had "Goosey Goosey" playing and landed on Phil's "Two Hearts". People are begrudgingly jealous!! That's all it is. The bottom line is that while Partridge is clearly the best all around songwriter that I've ever been privileged to lay ears upon... ....he has never been able to capture that silly, albeit cheezzy moment in time that people are able to focus thir ears upon and swallow in one grape syrupy gulp. Now, there is no defense for either party involved in this note. And....I really despise those few moments that I hear the disgustingly repugnant Collins boy.....but I will always maintain that there is an unquestionable tug in our throats that says that our favorite group of this millennium should be the one and only thing played on hit radio stations. Despite our best intentions, we unknowingly question our faiths in the great Black Sea above why they aren't. Hence, I offer the preceding... Don't blame Phil for the groups inability to reach the mainstream.... ....just turn the station!! Like the Cure.....he's bound to have one or two good songs...if you play everything off of the album right?!?! With only the best for those lay in Chalk for the holidays, and looking forward to '99.....(why didn't Andy/Colin write '1999' for Mummer!!!) Cheers, -- James In the CD Player: San Diego's Wise Monkey Orchestra!! See 'em or buy' em damnit! Especially Amanda!!!
------------------------------ From: "Joe Odukoya" <joe.odukoya@bsf.alcatel.fr> Subject: ES->Mummer Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:44:24 +0100 Message-ID: <000001be28d0$49494600$bc1e849b@col000019053a.art.alcatel.fr> >To anyone who was already an XTC fan in 1983.... >Was there a lot of surprise among listeners when the >ornately arranged and >produced "Mummer" came out after the guitar-bass-drums "English >Settlement"? Well I have to say that I was initially very very dissapointed with Mummer mainly because I thought that each album Go2 -> D&W -> BS -> ES (I wasn't into them when White Music came out) had been an improvement on the last. When I heard ES I was blown away and still am whenever I play it (far too often - it is my second fave album of all time!). As much as I love synths and Drum machines I felt that the music XTC made did not really suit their usage... I still feel that Mummer is weak for an XTC album (although that still puts it well above most other peoples best efforts). Also while ES comes across as a unified work Mummer sounds disjointed (maybe caused by the multiple produders that worked on it...). The CD in particular suffers because the extra tracks are (again in my opinon) really really weak and are placed in the middle of the album - terrible crime!). However, tracks like Human Alchemy, Wonderland & Funk Pop a Roll are just fab! Much as I now like Mummer and The Big Express I don't think that *for me* XTC had managed to come anywhere near ES until Skylarking (and we all know how painful that experience was for the band). Since then, however, I feel the guys have been on a real roll... My two cents worth... Regards Joe P.S. Just finished "Song Stories" and loved it - sad, funny, enlightening, entertaining. As a musician (of sorts) I would have liked more musical/recording detail but I fully appreciate that this probably would have bored the pants off 95% of the intended audience so...
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04011700b29d5f119bee@[209.86.43.249]> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 08:03:06 -0500 From: Curtiss Hammock <curtiss@desertisle.com> Subject: Broken Transistor Blast Phil Hetherington <phil@emdac.demon.co.uk> wrote: > Well, the packaging of Transistor Blast is lovely, or it was for > about 2 days until I picked it up, tipped the contents all over > the floor and broke one of the silly coloured & printed slimline > CD cases. Fortunately I persuaded the shop I bought it from that > it arrived like that and got a replacement, but I'm not unwrapping > it from its shrinkwrapping until i've invested in a couple of > sturdy elastic bands. You have been warned... Mine really *did* arrive broken. I ordered it directly from TVT, and it came via UPS yesterday. As soon as I got the shrinkwrap off, little colored shards of plastic spilled out of the box. In each of the four cases, the "hub clip" that is supposed to hold the CD in was broken. I've e-mailed TVT, and I hope they will replace it. Man, does this stink! Curtiss Curtiss R. Hammock II Atlanta, GA, USA Online Portfolio http://www.desertisle.com/curtiss/ The Cavedogs http://www.desertisle.com/cavedogs/ Funk Pop A Roll http://www.desertisle.com/funkpoparoll/
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3677B342.E2B189B8@bellatlantic.net> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 08:18:58 -0500 From: Jim Slade <castells@bellatlantic.net> Subject: RE: Best of 1998? Please don't shoot me if one of my "best of 1998" picks technically came out, say, this time in 1997. My CD-buying year was pretty good. (In no particular order) Neil Finn, Try Whistling This: Since the last Crowded House album, Finn has picked up where XTC left off years ago - seamlessly melding disparate styles and unusual production for a sound that is still well within the boundaries of pop rock. Fountains of Wayne (eponymous): More pure punk-pop fun than anything since Cheap Trick, The Cars, or The Buzzcocks. Nixon's Head, Gourmet: I liked this adult bubblegum CD so much that I bought 1000 copies:-) Sloan, Navy Blues: Although the '70s concert pop (eg, Wings, Queen, Kiss, Thin Lizzy) leanings on this follow-up to the excellent, '60-based One Chord to Another scare me (what's next, an album that sounds like late-70s "geography rock" like Boston and Kansas?), the execution is flawless! Is there a better solo Beatles release than Band on the Run? Buy this CD and grow a shag! Apples in Stereo, Tone Soul Evolution: The five or six brilliant songs save this CD from its strict reliance on ripping off *nothing but* riffs from the Velvet Underground's Loaded, Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and The Kinks late-60s work. Very cool production (for fans of the Dukes of Stratosphear). Pop Goes the World (compilation): An extremely solid collection of power pop bands from around the globe. Frankenslade's "X-Ray" is worth the price of admission. Sleater-Kinney, Dig Me Out: This is what punk rock promised so many moons ago - cool beats and guitar riffs, spirited vocals, immediate satisfaction. Oh, a little more XTC content: If comparing CDs, songs, and drummers from the long career of our favorite Swindonians are not appropriate Chalkhills activities, as some seem to believe any time a few fires break out, how 'bout comparing album covers? What beats the text-heavy cover of Go 2 for making a stance against the star-making machinery of rock? What better representation of why XTC never reached the commercial appeal of, say, The Police! Jim http://www.groovedisques.com
------------------------------ Message-ID: <C4D3F9980FD4D111892B00805FBBF5D1012A22E0@MAILSVR1> From: "Lieman, Ira" <ilieman@lernerny.com> Subject: License Plates, Transistors, etc. Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:04:46 -0500 Hey folk... While we are on the topic of license plates, I had seen one outside Baltimore, MD last summer -- I think it was a Pennsylvania plate "U2 XTC" -- anyone here know this person? It's gotta be a vanity plate...but it's OK to be vain, really. Incidentally, my plate is "NGRYNGMN" (New York) -- taken originally because of Billy Joel but glad it's an XTC reference as well. Got Transistor Blast in the mail (gotta love Amazon) -- gift-wrapped and everything. Haven't listened to it yet but in time all things will happen. :) The flimsy neon cd-cases are very cheezy though. One would expect slightly sturdier construction for $40+, but I'm glad I have it nonetheless. (Anyone here have "Costello & Nieve?" That 5-CD set has much better packaging.) -ira, slurping yukky coffee at work
------------------------------ Message-ID: <3677B695.672B@bhip.infi.net> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 09:33:17 -0400 From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Barenaked Ladies sound like XTC Tschalkgerz! Hey, boys and girls, I've been spending the past week getting into the Barenaked Ladies album 'Stunt', and there's a song on there called "Alcohol" that you just imagine XTC doing. The whole album is pretty cool, too. -- 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: <3677C8EC.63C201BB@connectexpress.com> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 06:51:24 -0800 From: Jon Davis <jon@connectexpress.com> Subject: Poor, poor Pat Not long ago I had the pleasure of seeing an incredible live show: ProjeKct 4. This band is a King Crimson spin-off featuring Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, Tony Levin, and Pat Mastelotto. They performed an entire evening of mostly improvised music, which could be a disaster waiting to happen, but given the strength and good sense of the musicians involved turned out to be something completely amazing. To go on too long about this would be decidedly off-list, so I'll confine my comments to Pat Mastelotto's playing. He is an incredible drummer: tight, accurate, inventive, and sensitive to what the others were playing (especially given that it wasn't all worked out in rehearsal). I too revile Mr Mister, but I'm quite willing by now to forgive Pat his involvement in that hideous example of misguided 80s pop. His playing with David Sylvian and King Crimson (as well as XTC) has more than redeemed him in my eyes. Long time nonposter, Jon Davis
------------------------------ From: nedrise@MNSi.Net Message-ID: <3677182B.E74AB5CA@mnsi.net> Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 22:17:20 -0400 Subject: Odds and a walrus tap dancing. Chalk - lates: Iain was saying: <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....). Must whole heartedly agree. Bev Bevan in ELO is a great example of terrible drumming. So heavy and plodding. Like a walrus tap dancing. On recommendations read here in Chalkhills, I bought a Sloan album (from One Chord to Another). I do rather like it. What other Sloan is good? Another Canadian band I highly recommend is Odds. Haven't noticed them mentioned here, but they're similar to Sloan (and definitely descendants in the XTC family tree). They had a hit about a year and a half ago (at least here in the Windsor-Detroit area) called "Someone Who's Cool". I'd definitely recommend their albums Bedbugs and Nest to anyone into quirky(!) power pop. Merry Christmas and Happy Harmonica! Michael Stone Windsor, Ontario
------------------------------ From: Huw P T Davies <DaviesHPT@cardiff.ac.uk> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 15:57:20 GMT0BST Subject: The politics of envy Message-ID: <20BDB9F27E2@PARKLA1S.CF.AC.UK> This fair taxation debate has definitely made Chaklhills more lively of late. I just thought I'd make one point. Those who argue against higher tax of the wealthy say that the demand for such taxation is only motivated by envy. I'm sorry, but I find this argument rather weak. Those who argue for higher taxes to pay for such things as a better health service, education etc. are more likely to be motivated by compassion. Clearly compassion is an alien concept to some people. What are the political persuasions of people on this list anyway? I thought fans of XTC would be slightly left leaning, but clearly I was mistaken there. Anyway, for what it's worth, here is my list of the best albums of 98: Find de Siecle- The Divine Comedy Mermaid Avenue- Billy Bragg and Wilco This is Hardcore- Pulp Painted from Memory- Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach Cheers. Huw Davies
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04011703b29d8da7196d@[208.240.250.142]> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 10:20:41 -0600 From: Ken Herbst <ken@bamadvertising.com> Subject: Viva XTC >Perdon por no escribir en ingles. Yo adoro la musica de Zappa, XTC, Split >Enz y Cardiacs. Luis Reynaldo. Ole amigo! Ingles es muy stupido! - K.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v04011704b29d8eb558e9@[208.240.250.142]> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 10:23:12 -0600 From: Ken Herbst <ken@bamadvertising.com> Subject: Bill >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...! Like inhaling. "All we are say-ing, is give weed a chance....."
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 10:29:07 -0600 (CST)
From: Andrea Lynn Rossillon <rossillo@students.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Rye Post
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.96.981216102427.27034E-100000@ux10.cso.uiuc.edu>
> From: Paul@pi-design.com
>
> 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)
Paul, I believe what you mean is "riposte", which looks suspiciously
Italian to me, but the other fencing terms ("epee", "foil") are French so
maybe riposte is as well.
-Andrea
------------------------------ Message-ID: <697A4CA51395D111A658AA00040058069D9EB0@NT6> From: "Wiencek, Dan" <wiencek@aaos.org> Subject: AV 1/2 release order Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 10:36:33 -0600 Jonathon Simmons wrote: 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. Judging from the commentary at the end of Song Stories, Partridge and Moulding are both determined that their "return" to the world of music-making should be as impressive as possible. I think releasing the orchestral songs first will generate a more positive buzz for the album than the more straightforward guitar songs would--it'll get people thinking "So *that's* what they were doing all those years," and make the long delay following Nonsuch seem more justified. No, what concerns me is that, in comparison to Vol 1, Apple Venus Volume 2 is likely to sound pretty darn prosaic. Granted, I haven't heard as many of the demos for Vol 2, so I maybe talking out my backside, but I think critics/listeners who buy Volume 1 will reasonably expect Volume 2 to be somewhat similar, and they may be disappointed. I don't think the albums should have the same name, and the fact that Partridge balked at mixing the "orchoustic" songs with the guitar-rock songs indicates to me he isn't confident that the songs are similar enough to stand together. Fair enough, but why confuse people by releasing them under the same name? This could turn out to be another of Partsy's infamous "uncommercial" decisions ... Enjoying Transistor Blast, Dan * ___________________________ Dan Wiencek American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (847) 384-4125 www.aaos.org
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19981216111620.007d5410@mail.clemson.edu>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 11:16:20 -0500
From: Adam Tyner <ctyner@clemson.edu>
Subject: Best of '98
Most of the albums I've bought this year weren't released in '98, but of
those that were, here are my favorites:
XTC - Transistor Blast (even though I already had Drums & Wireless and the
Live 1980 disc, disc 3 alone was worth the price of purchase, at least as
long as I try not to think about how much I paid. ;-)
Tuscadero - My Way Or The Highway (one of my favorite albums of all time,
actually)
Moxy Fruvous - Live Noise (my favorite live disc until Transistor Blast)
The Giraffes - 13 Other Dimensions (sort of in the same vein as the Dukes
of Stratosphear)
Various Artists - WCBN Naked Too (all live, in studio (and mostly acoustic)
performances by a number of bands)
-Adam
BTW, anyone have any interesting discussions with the cashier when buying
TB? At the independent record store where I got mine, the cashier asked me
if I liked the Dukes and mentioned that he was borrowing Psonic Psunspot on
vinyl from a friend of his. Then, as I was leaving, I walked past the
manager, and he said it was the first copy of the box set that they've sold
and how he was planning on buying a copy for himself.
--
/=---------------- http://www.he-man.org/ctyner/ ----------------=\
http://www.crystal-night.com/~ctyner/tuscadero.html
http://www.awod.com/gallery/rwav/ctyner/
He-Man, Tuscadero, "Weird Al", Yoo-hoo, Killer Tomatoes, & more!
------------------------------
Message-ID: <19981216153925.4456.rocketmail@send105.yahoomail.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 15:39:25 +0000 (GMT)
From: Jeff Langr <jlangr@yahoo.com>
Subject: top 5 / news list
I thought Mr. Stratford's idea of a separate
XTC news digest was great, even if his bilious
political statements are unoriginal party-line
fare. I've been tempted to drop out of this list
a few times, but there have been pieces of very
useful information coming across the wire every
few months. Mr. Relph? Possibilities?
Regarding top X of the year, there sadly won't
be any XTC there for me unless someone shells
out the $40 to get Transistor Blast for me for
Christmas. In lieu of that, then, for 1998:
1. Beck -- Mutations
2. Pulp -- This is Hardcore
3. Belle & Sebastian -- The Boy With The Arab Strap
4. Drugstore -- White Magic for Lovers
5. Kinks' Velvel Reissues (8 so far!)
6. Kinks' Castle Reissues (10)
7. Lyres -- Lyres Lyres (reissue)
8. Pere Ubu -- Pennsylvania
9. Radiohead -- Airbag/How Am I Driving? EP
10. PJ Harvey -- Is This Desire?
Biggest Disappointments of the Year:
1. Liz Phair -- whitechocolatespaceegg
2. Tori Amos -- From the Choirgirl Hotel
3. Garbage -- Version 2.0
Chumbawumba-style one-hit wonder of the year:
Harvey Danger, "Flagpole Sitta"
Best album I didn't buy:
The Best of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Buy it.
Or buy all of the back collection.
Pretty standard stuff. Geez, all white artists...
I guess I should be disappointed in myself
according to the Chalkhills digest arbiters of
taste (you know who you are). I did get hold
of the Atlantic Rhythm & Blues collection (8 CDs)
this year, and it is spectacular... highly
recommended.
Regards,
Jeff L.
[ Possible? Yes. Probable? No. Not unless y'all start
paying my salary :-) -- John ]
------------------------------ Message-Id: <B195726DB50AD2118E880008C7FAA6FC09981F@newman.partech.com> From: Janis VanCourt <Janis_VanCourt@partech.com> Subject: Re: Astrophobia Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 11:59:52 -0500 Harrison writes: <<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?>> How about: "I should be shaking the stars instead of hugging the dirt" - Extrovert and: "Up she rises each and every morning / She blows the stars out of the sky" - Pale and Precious -Janis (an astrophile, I guess) http://members.aol.com/starlingv/starling.htm "My love explodes like the stars up in space for you" -AP
------------------------------ Message-Id: <B195726DB50AD2118E880008C7FAA6FC09981E@newman.partech.com> From: Janis VanCourt <Janis_VanCourt@partech.com> Subject: RE: have you got Miss Givings....? Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 11:43:04 -0500 Jon S. wrote (a lot of interesting stuff which he summarized by asking:) <<Someone please tell me that I am nuts, and that AV1 is going to thrive in the marketplace...>> I've got to say I share your misgivings in some ways. You're probably right that the orchoustic songs on Apple Venus I aren't all that accessible in terms of modern pop(ularity). Yeah, it would be great to hear "I'd Like That" played on the radio, but even that song seems a bit... tame, I guess... for the radio stations who might normally play XTC stuff. (Personally, I'm hoping that "Your Dictionary" gets on the air, naughty words and all; perhaps it will turn out to be their "Dear God II," in that it'll cause just enough controversy to get airplay.) But how important *is* airplay? I'm not talking about financially - of course I want to see Andy and Colin prosper, and it'd be great if they ended up selling mega-units of the new album. And I realize that radio-play is directly linked to sales. But how important is it to us as fans of the group? I guess my own answer would be "somewhat important" (like filling in the middle circle in a survey on a scale of one to five.) I always get very excited when my local "modern rock" station plays XTC (hardly ever) or Elvis Costello or any of my other pet artists... it's a rush, hearing one of your favorite bands on the radio and knowing that thousands of others are listening along. Yet I don't hold high hopes for Apple Venus getting noticed by many radio stations. Like Andy, I don't really know who the audience for this new album will be (apart from the likes of us, of course). All I can say is that I've never anticipated a new album more fervently, by ANY artist. Ever. Yeah, I've already heard most of the demos, but still I long to hear those gorgeous, *brilliant* songs in their finished form. I think Jon also has a point about the timing: it might have been more shrewd to release the "rocking" album first, for the sake of sales, etc. But unfortunately, (or fortunately, if you're like me and these new songs are your equivalent of musical orgasm) this is the direction Andy's writing has taken since Nonsuch. I'm glad he went with his muse rather than trying to manufacture pop songs, or to rewrite the whole Black Sea album, or whatever. Of course, maybe we're worrying for naught; maybe the world will wise up and embrace the new work for what it is: poetic ecstasy and musical genius. -Janis (pretty cocky about an album that hasn't even been released yet, aren't I?) http://members.aol.com/starlingv/starling.htm "Want to walk into London on my hands one day" -AP
------------------------------ Message-ID: <4D91A22F013E0C00@c2smtp.onlc.com> Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 10:10:00 -0500 From: Eric Brittingham <Eric_Brittingham@onlc.com> Organization: Online Consulting, Inc Subject: TB: enough for all of us? Hey. I'm just curious: does it seem as if the initial demand for the Transistor Blast set was underestimated, at least here in the States, or is it that TVT is just having a hell of a time getting them distributed? I have gone online and to local stores, and everyone is preaching the gospel of the 'backorder'. Additionally, I would like to curse each one of you responsible for the Phil Collins thread, as it has revived long-dead memories of songs that I cannot get out of my head. You have caused the blasted "Land of Confusion" to surface every morning as I shower and "Mama" to overwhelm me while I eat my lunch. I have been taking heavy doses of Drums and Wires and Black Sea to ease my pain, but like any virus, there is no direct cure, and I must simply suffer until it passes. As Prince once said in happier house-quaking times, "Shut up already. Damn." But being a vindictive sort, I send this curse to those who are responsible: an REO Speedwagon sound bite, which has the power to infect the vulnerable for weeks. Ye who are innocent, avert your eyes before it's too late. "I heard it from a friend who... heard it from a friend who... heard it from another you been messing around." e
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-41 ******************************
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