Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 133
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 133
Wednesday, 24 May 2000
Topics:
Revenge Of Xux Ek
Play it again Sam
Why Women Love Their Mr. Potato Head
*swoon*
NO WASP STAR FOR ME
Re: Anybody miss Dave?
awesome XTC site
Wasp Star SUCKS!
Sting, Stang, Stung
Wasp Star
Ernie Ernie Ernie
stup-appy
Another TVT SNAFU
More First Impressions
Re: 'Wasp Star' play-by-play
All the List is Football-shaped (and other stuff)
Stupidly Happy? well Mostly...
First Impressions
numma 2
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Wake up!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 14:23:25 -0700 From: "Dane Pereslete" <peresd@tcwgroup.com> Subject: Revenge Of Xux Ek Message-ID: <s92a9461.028@acacia.tcwgroup.com> I can't vouch for our cousins across the pond as far as Cooking Vinyl's packaging goes...but did anybody notice the perfectly framed tiny planet Venus in the jewel case center post? I thought it was a nice little touch!
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 20:04:46 -0400 From: "Cheryl" <mcgregoc@mindspring.com> Subject: Play it again Sam Message-ID: <000101bfc513$ad1ef180$db01f7a5@mcgregocmindspring.com> I'm on listen number 2. Did I tell you I thought this amazing? Gorgeous? Perfect? Screw all you naysayers! I'm in Love...with this album. Thanks Andy and Colin!!!!!!! Another swoon-y part: "Youandtheclouldswillstillbebeautiful....Uhhhhhhhhhhh" Oh yes... Cheryl
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 19:57:07 EDT
From: BlazingApostles@aol.com
Subject: Why Women Love Their Mr. Potato Head
Message-ID: <61.3d001cb.265c74d3@aol.com>
WHY WOMEN * * * LOVE * * * THEIR MR. POTATO HEAD
(you did know this was coming sooner or later, didn't you?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* When Mr. Potato Head hears the "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her,
Kiss Her" and he is torn about whether or not this is the right
thing to do, he shows himself to be a most worthy potato.
* Any Mr. Potato Head who could recognize and write "I Can't Own Her,"
is worthy of having a woman desperately want him to.
* Any potato who could feel as much pain as the Mr. Potato Head
who wrote "Your Dictionary," is capable of feeling and equal amount
of love.
* When Mr. Potato Head sings "Church of Women is made of milk
which their love turns to butter -er -er," she thinks it's the sexiest
euphemism one potato could utter to another.
* Hearing (despite the actual lyrics), "Then she appeared, Ms. Potato
on a half open shell...", it spuds her to the depth of her being.
* Mr. Potato Head's "Pink Thing" produces images of an adorable
Little Tater Tot.
* When he's near us we have difficulty mashing up right.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 19:12:32 -0400 From: "Cheryl" <mcgregoc@mindspring.com> Subject: *swoon* Message-ID: <000101bfc50c$60e282c0$db01f7a5@mcgregocmindspring.com> OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! Its,it's,it's PERFECT! I'm listening to My Brown Guitar right. My head is giddy...light, I can't quite grinning. This is amazing! I love what they have done with this song!!! I LOVE THIS ALBUM!I'm too excited for my own good! Someone fan me...I think I'm going to faint from excitement... Colin is now whispering in my ear... *sigh* quiver...swoon, Cheryl
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 18:18:41 -0700 (PDT) From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com> Subject: NO WASP STAR FOR ME Message-ID: <20000524011841.27913.qmail@web1103.mail.yahoo.com> Well, today- May 23rd, 2000 was supposed to be the day I would cruise on down to the record store and get my hands on the new XTC album "Wasp Star". Let this be a lesson to not live in the giant cow pasture known as rural Nebraska. None of the "major" record store chains in Norfolk Neb. have it today, and may not have for a week! This happened last year with AV1, so I should have known better. I really wanted to spend today- my last day of me being in my twenties, with WASP STAR. Oh well, Omaha isn't that far I guess. Cheers....Travis.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 18:35:04 PDT From: "Gary White" <garwhite@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Anybody miss Dave? Message-ID: <20000524013504.78182.qmail@hotmail.com> Fellow "Star"gazers...(or should that be geezers?!) This is going to sound corny...but when I read, right here in these very 'hills, about Dave's departure from the band almost two years ago, it left a lump in my throat. I know his playing was such an integral part of XTC's sound that I had a hard time imagining what it would or could be like without him. Well...I've been listening to Wasp Star day in and day out for almost a month now, and I wish I could say otherwise, but I don't miss him in the least. What I think I've been learning for the last month is that Andy is a much more technically proficient, and inovative player than I ever gave him credit for. (Check out the www.guitar.com link if you need further evidence!) It's all there...interesting, quirky parts played with just the right amount of presicion or sloppiness, great tone, and a huge pallet of sounds and textures. We're All Light, and the Maypole section of Wheel and the Maypole, in particular, serve as a great examples of Andy's ability to layer guitar sounds and textures to create fascinating soundscapes. BTW...I must have listened to Wheel and the Maypole (along with the rest of WS) about 50 or 60 times now and it's the one song that just keeps getting better and BETTER!!! I'm starting to worry that I'm going to be listening to it under the headphones about a month down the line, and my brain is going to explode. ...off to give the "Star" another stir. - Gary
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 21:45:52 EDT From: WESnLES@aol.com Subject: awesome XTC site Message-ID: <5a.5920ff8.265c8e50@aol.com> Millions: Thought you would all enjoy taking a look at an incredible XTC trade list/site run by possibly the finest man on earth, Wes Long. He's well groomed, non-smelly, not new, not improved (how could you improve on Wes) and although he's more filling he does taste great. He had a copy of Wasp Star months ago and attempted to chat it up to the heavens and back at that time only to be tied to the bitch-slapping post in the middle of Chalktown, his head bruised from repeated thrashings looked not unlike a rotting pumpkin in Partsy's garden. Now that nearly everyone has a copy of the disc Wes informed me that he's now content to keep his mouth shut, or fingers tied (your choice), on the matter. Although he's still quite adamant regarding the splendor of the Church of Women solo. (don't get him started on That Wave) Anyway, he's back from vacation and looking to trade XTC audio/video/etc with some new folks. Make new friends and spread the gospel of XTC is what Wes always says, in fact I do believe it's his motto, or is it his creed? Can't recall. Still, if it's XTC Wes more than likely has a copy of it. Here's a link to his site: http://members.tripod.com/~The_Last_Balloon/index.html wes "I like me, I've never tasted me" LONG
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 18:59:23 -0700 From: "Radiosinmotion" <radiosinmotion@earthlink.net> Subject: Wasp Star SUCKS! Message-ID: <001401bfc523$ba487060$0200a8c0@digitalpc> Yes it really sucks! It sucks every piece of energy out of me listening to the songs over and over again. I get drawn in only wanting to hear it once again. Hopefully you all got that? In other words, I love the fucking album to death! However, there is one thing I don't agree with. When people say its "XTC's best" or that its their favorite XTC album, that I don't agree with. Let me explain. I have had Wasp Star for about a month. I have had AV1 for about a year. I have heard AV1 a few hundred times and have probably heard WS about 50 times or so. Well, I don't know about you all, but I can't say its my favorite XTC album just because of the excitement of them having a new album by XTC until I have had it for a while. However, after a few years, that may change. See, albums like Drums and Wires, Skylarking, Black Sea, English Settlement, O&L (I am not doing this is any particular order folks!) I have heard thousands of times, so I know every detail of the songs. Its like a soundtrack to my life. Compared to 50 listens of Wasp Star, I cant claim its my favorite until it passes the tests of time. When Nonsuch came out I liked it a lot. However, it was my least favorite XTC album. Now its one of my favorites; so as you see, it takes a while to come around to having a favorite XTC album. All this aside, there is not much I can say about WS as I have had it for a few weeks now. I am happy to have the lyrics and the cover art with the real CD. I really hope they do make some money off this album though. One thing I will agree on is that this is their most "commercial" album. Maybe they should have Puffy produce a track? :) It worked for Sting!
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 21:19:31 CDT From: "Paul Vicory" <vicory@hotmail.com> Subject: Sting, Stang, Stung Message-ID: <20000524021931.76057.qmail@hotmail.com> Greetings from the maelstrom of haute-culture that is Sycamore, IL. Having let Wasp Star buzz around in my little living room today, I must say it was not love at first sting; but that is hardly new - I have never *GOT* an XTC album on first listen, or second, or third . . . What is so remarkable to me about this band is how *every* listen gets better, how every song unravels itself into your mind and becomes a part of you, in a way that only great music can. That's what I truly love about this band; it's always a journey to someplace beautiful, bright, joyful, and, [blushing], sexy. A new XTC album is like a rocket launch; slow at first, but building speed, faster and faster, until your heart is pounding and you think you're going to !!! . . . and then it calmly sails out of sight, but not out of mind. BTW, a tasty morsel I'd like to recommend (I hope the recipe isn't too familiar) - The Bears 1st album, which in a bizarre twist of logic is titled *The Bears* - a sweet confection of orangel&lemon biscuits served with a steaming cup of Grande Expresso, with just a little squeeze of crimson for color. Mmmmm. Sincerely, Paul Vicory
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 22:26:28 EDT From: TyphoonPro@aol.com Subject: Wasp Star Message-ID: <29.5831e15.265c97d4@aol.com> Well, I bought my copy of AV2 today (along with the new King Crimson disc)! I must admit to you that I was so hooked by XTC's first three tunes that I've played them repeatedly for more than an hour without hearing the remainder of the disc yet. Crimson got unwrapped. That's about it! LOL. What a music monster opening to grapple with. Bravo Andy and Colin! Tim Longfellow Typhoon Productions Norton, OH
------------------------------ Date: 24 May 00 12:49:32 AES From: Paul.Culnane@dcita.gov.au Subject: Ernie Ernie Ernie Message-ID: <0004amwukcks.0004xnnxjlht@dcita.gov.au> Thanks to Mitch and Paul for alerting us to the wonderful sound and vision of Andy fooling around with his (brown) guitar on guitar.com! Even if you're not particularly into guitars per se, the banter is fun and there's some valuable insight into Andy's songwriting processes. Plus, he does a ripsnorting version of "Any Old Iron". It's great. Remember, there's two parts to the download. ~~p @ u l
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 22:59:40 EDT From: Saints3Den@aol.com Subject: stup-appy Message-ID: <43.52d6d23.265c9f9c@aol.com> hey folks...!!! worst lyric of wasp star--- "Just a couple of lips away is an evolutionary Bean Feast whose insides are jumping" I like ALL these songs. I had only heard the demos of- the man ,the church, and the clouds. only" clouds" isn't really improved over the demos, in my opinion, i think its because of the ending. its still good ,though. Church of women... let me worship there too! Liked the original solo better... but this one sounds like its brother. My 8 year old son was thrilled to hear it. he actually let me turn off the TV and play it through. his comments... "Hey dad, this guy is stupidly happy" " I've heard this on the radio" (itmwml) (i haven't) asking how he liked "maypole"... "it's good but it isn't the bomb" oh, which one is the bomb? " that spiffy one" meaning ... were all light, as it turns out... he pulled me off the couch to dance with him during that one. not a pretty sight. eddie
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 20:31:30 -0700 From: "John Keel" <jbkev1@ev1.net> Subject: Another TVT SNAFU Message-ID: <002b01bfc530$8f184de0$2c525d3f@sony.com> Hi kids, Okay, even though I've had the advance promo on "Wasp Star" for about 6 weeks and I had already ordered a copy from HMV (in order to get the free CD single) I still had to go out and buy a 2nd copy just for the fun of it (and to support the boys, of course). Having read the post in an earlier Chalkhills digest about which stores in the L.A. area would also have the CD single to give away, I dashed over to Moby Disc on my lunch hour only to find . . . TVT HADN'T EVEN SENT THE FUCKING CD SINGLES YET!!! The guy at the store said they didn't even know about it until last night (or maybe this morning - I can't remember now) and that they wouldn't get to the store until around 6 or so tonight. Luckily he put one on hold for me, but now I've got to go all the way back and get it. Plus what about anyone else who bought it today? I've tried to be as supportive as possible of TVT given that they are trying to get the word out, but now it's affected me personally, so, of course, I'm pissed. At any rate, now I have three copies of "Wasp Star" and I still love it. Those of you who don't think it's great, well . . . I just can't figure that out. Thank God the vast majority of us disagree with you!!!! Thanks for listening, John
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 20:45:09 PDT From: "Steve Stearns" <xteve@hotmail.com> Subject: More First Impressions Message-ID: <20000524034509.95094.qmail@hotmail.com> Wow! Certainly the most instantly likeable XTC album ever. I second the sentiment that it sounds like a cousin of Oranges & Lemons. It's nowhere near as heavy or brooding as Black Sea. Andy's guitar sounds great . . . I must respectfully disagree with Mark Strijbos' comments on the guitar solos. Andy more than holds his own as a guitarist. He's not as technically competent as Dave Gregory, but the man plays a mean guitar. It's not really a question of this album is better/worse without Dave, it's simply . . .different. And I like it. So many cuts on this just scream to be played on the radio. Really like ITMWML over the demo version, ditto for My Brown Guitar and You & The Clouds. In fact to my ears You & The Clouds sounds more like a remake of Greenman than anything by Sting. Colin's songs on this are better than the ones on Volume 1, but he needs to find a new beat -- the "Fruit Nut Shuffle" is getting a bit stale. "The Wheel And The Maypole" just might get my vote for best XTC song ever, and I'm not making that statement lightly. That song just flat out blows my mind. Way to go Andy & Colin! I dug Vol. 1, but this album is better.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 23:54:01 -0400
From: "Brian" <mattone@bhip.infi.net>
Subject: Re: 'Wasp Star' play-by-play
Message-ID: <005d01bfc533$b659b6c0$a4e49cd1@Brian>
Tschalkgerz!
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2000.
'Wasp Star' was at the first place I looked tonight.
:-)
As I type this I am listening to "Stupidly Happy"... in fact, it's just now
fading out...
Relentless rhythm, and somewhat Stones-like. Cool. This one has
possibilities...
But back up one: "Playground" has lost the punch it had in the demo.
Oh, here comes Colin... ("In Another Life")...this tune is yet another
example of this new quasi-minimalist XTC that characterizes the first part
of this album. Not a showstopper.
"Brown Guitar" suffers from the same problem as "Playground" - slow and
plodding, and pared down instrumentation as compared to the demo.
"Boarded Up" is still pushing that quasi-minimalist XTC sound, but uses the
tried-and-true XTC penchant for weaving in rhythmic or musical effects
representing the theme of the song (in this case, the clomping boards
sound).
"The Man Who Murdered Love" harkens back to 'Skylarking', 'Oranges & Lemons'
and 'Nonesuch' and gives us a basic but solid feast of the XTC way of
handling little pop gems. The tone of the album takes a turn on this one...
"We're All Light" - I suddenly thought of Bill Nelson in the middle of this
song... I don't know why.
"Standing In For Joe" - I'll get back to ya...
"Wounded Horse"... I can hear the horse plodding along, and the album goes
quasi-minimalist again.
"You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful" must be the one that sounds
like Sting, but then that would mean it's like Phil Collins and then that
means that it would suck, but we know that XTC doesn't suck, so... Sting
BAD!
"Church Of Women" is one I really liked from the demos, and it hasn't lost
it's charm here - fortunately, since I had higher hopes for "Playground".
But I will tell you, when I first heard the demo of "Church", I could hear
the last part of the song building into a huge gospel-style sing-out
complete with church organ and choir... and it would take this song to new
heights.
"The Wheel And The Maypole" on first listen does not live up to the hype
that's been zinging about these hallowed halls, and yet again displays the
pared-down new XTC sound.
In a nutshell: this is all after one listen, and I ALWAYS have to give an
album a chance to click with me, and this XTC offering is going to be one of
them. I'm not able to fall right into this one as I have always been able to
do before with XTC, but I will give it a way-more-than-fair shake. I find
myself of the same opinion that I did with Boingo's last studio album... at
first it was WAY different, then it grew to be one of my faves.
-Brian Matthews
P.S. I heard a bad cutoff in headphones at the tail end of a fade-out on one
of the tunes... ouch.
P.P.S. AV1 was better... at least right now it is. ;-)
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 14:08:32 +1000 From: Iain Murray <iain.murray@looksmart.com.au> Subject: All the List is Football-shaped (and other stuff) Message-ID: <200005240423.OAA02347@send01.start.com.au> >>>From: "Alan Welby" <Alan.Welby@village.uunet.be> >>> >>>(can you follow football >>>in oz?) Yes. We have football over here. We have electricity as well. am still yet to meet a Rotherham United fan - I wonder why?
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 01:36:39 EDT
From: "Seth Frisby" <vagueyear@hotmail.com>
Subject: Stupidly Happy? well Mostly...
Message-ID: <20000524053639.50257.qmail@hotmail.com>
Woh! ...Weird long day....but at the end of the day I now own Wasp Star.
Unfortunately I haven't had much time to listen to all of it with life being
so stupid and all. I did hear my first XTC in a public place. All day long I
had to look for suits(nice suits) for my Grandfather's funeral (he's not
gone...but...soon). King for A day started playing at the Filenes Basement
we were at, which is quite a fun song to try on fancy suits to! Cheered me
up a bit.
It's weird but when I got to my local Cd store ( Not my mine
personally!)I asked for Wasp Star and they didn't have it. Oddly enough the
man working said "hold on" and went to the XTC section and returned with a
used copy of it. Obviously I asked where the heck it came from and he said
it had been there for about two weeks! I don't know where the hell i've been
to miss something like that..been Boarded Up I guess..
speaking of Boarded Up...what a surprising song...I'm so glad Colin
wrote such a unique oddly moving song. Really doesn't sound like anything
you'd expect....which is GREAT!..So people if anything disappoints you on
the album because it doesn't sound like how you think XTC sounds..then be
thankful that at this stage of the game they can still 'play' with that
wonderful "sound" of theirs. I hope they continue to. I agree its a shame
that songs like the Ship trapped in the Ice and Price of Orange didn't make
the cut but after listening to the album I wouldn't have been able to cut
out any of the songs. I guess neither could they.
Hopefully Wasp Star can bring me through these dark ages.. I think
it will..if that doesn't do the trick nothing will. I don't think my
grandfather would like XTC but I think he'd like that they make me happy...I
certainly do.
Seth
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 00:37:22 EDT From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: First Impressions Message-ID: <a9.5f9b6ed.265cb682@aol.com> Before I start - in the 'What was I thinking?" department: I meant FLYERS! Jeez, the effects of festival sleep deprivation (or is it old age?) By the way, just heard that Lindros is playing in game 6 (Hmmm.....) OK. I've listened to WS about a half a dozen times so far, so here's what I'm thinking, feeling and otherwise noticing at this point. Playground - Stupendous, as I thought it would be. Holly's voice is such a natural and perfect finishing touch. I miss the bass fill at the end on the demo, though. Stupidly Happy - I don't like it in this position, and it was one of my least favorite of the demos. However, the buildup and production is a vast improvement, as is PP's drumming over the machine. The interweaving voices and guitars at the end conjure up Beach Boys for me. In Another World - I got to let this one sink in a little more. The harmonica gives it a 'Smokeless Zone" quality on top of that chunky shuffle (what's with Colin and shuffles recently? 2 more on this album!). I sort of like it, but I'll need more listens. My Brown Guitar - If this isn't Band on the Run era McCartney, what is??? Right down to the nonsense lyrics. The dropout of the drums on the verses is interesting - makes it feel like Macca on top of Come Together. The choppy leads are cool, as is the tremelo tube amp guitar on the fade. Boarded Up - This is the strangest thing on the record! It sounds like it belongs on a Greg Brown or some other steamy bluesy modern folk record. I dig it, though. It gives a nice break to all the guitar pop sound. At least it's not another shuffle! ITMWML - Oh, man! Another pop masterpiece! The first I've heard it. Kick ass melisma! It's growing on me fast. Reminds me most of Earn Enough For Us. What's with "What do ya think to that?" Some Swindonian turn of phrase? We're All Light - MUCH better than the demo. I LOVE that major seventh in the vocals on the last "We're ah ah ah ahll ...Liyeeeeeeet". Goosebumps! The theremin sound is a nice touch, well placed in back of the mix. The only thing is I find the techno drum break a little annoying. Standing In For Joe - There's a lot of cool stuff going on here. This is definitely the best Colin song I've heard since Nonsuch. But, there's a major defect (for me). Large sections of the melody sound lifted off of 'Barrytown' by Steely Dan. Even the one rhyme that ends in "...company." The shuffle beat doesn't mask it. Disturbs me. Wounded Horse - another BOTR song. Reminds me a little of Let Me Roll It in it's approach. I like the horse hoof clops in the middle. You And The Clouds... - This is the most signifigantly improved song from the demos. Most especially the drumming. That damn sample he was using in the demo drove me nuts! The solo really helps too. And the brass (who was it talking about the sprinkles on the cupcake?), beautiful subtle touch. I love that repeated half- step drop and return on the fade. Oddly enough, reminds me of Dan Hicks. Church of Women - One of my favorites in the demos, I knew this would be a monster rendition. The cut back on the chorus after the build up is perfect! It amazes me how this song starts with an ambigous key center then goes through 3 key changes by the time it reaches the chorus! And that dominant guitar chord right at "chuuuuurch of women" at the end of the chorus! Oh, yeah! I still like the lead on the demo, but this one is pretty cool. And the a cappella ending was the perfect capper. The Wheel And The Maypole - I don't think I can add much to anything that's already been said about this wonder. It just too brilliant for words. I'll point out two things. One of my favorite moments on the demo was the crazy out of rhythm guitar that cut in and out and fed back right after the first time he sings "everything decays". I like what's going on here, but I'm still stuck on the old fill. The other thing is the splendid walking bass on the tag fade. Colin is just suberb, isn't he? My overall impression is that this is the most cohesive record sound wise since Skylarking, and the most jumpin' since Black Sea and English Settlement. And yet it's unlike any other. There's a clear attempt, at least on Andy's part, to produce a pop rocker as accessible to the public as possible. Unusally guitar based and sparse in arrangement compared to, say, Nonsuch or AVI. While I heard a couple of moments where Dave could have helped, I didn't miss him altogether. Andy's playing is the best I've ever heard! And even though Colin's tunes don't jibe as well as they used to, his presence on the album convinces me they should continue together if they want to keep XTC going. His playing is mind boggling! Easily the most underrated and unnoticed bass player in rock history. Good to hear his voice again in the vocals, too. I'm not aout to rate this album among their others until I've heard many more times (and I will!), but overall I love it. And yes, much better than the demos. The production is superb. I'm finding the damage from hearing the demos is from the songs left out, and overexposure to the music lessened the impact on first hearing. AVI floored me when I heard it! WS didn't, but it should have. Oh well, you don't know until you try. But it made me smile and will continue to do so! Bravo, lads! I'm as proud of them as ever! Tom (my posts are getting shorter, really, they are!) Kingston
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 01:56:10 EDT From: Nudeants@aol.com Subject: numma 2 Message-ID: <aa.57735c2.265cc8fa@aol.com> Well, I bought my copy in a store on SATURDAY. The albums' great. Playground, Church o' Women, and Wheel and Maypole are my faves by far. I like all of them except for In the Man Who..." which I think may be the most boring song Andy has ever written. It seems to me to be the only thing I've ever heard him write that sounds consciously written for airplay almost exclusively. The intro is BY FAR the most interesting thing about it. I LOVE 97% of Andy's songs, but this one I like even less than President Kill and the Loving. Colin's songs are great, especially In Another Life. Andy's guitar playing is fantastic, with lovely solos, etc. Production is the usual step up, beautiful lush, crunchy, vibrant, 'POPPY' yet not idiotic (production is even interesting on 'I'm the Man) My fiancee, a huge XTC fan, does NOT like the record at all. matt mitchell
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-133 *******************************
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