Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 151
Date: Monday, 5 June 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 151
Monday, 5 June 2000
Topics:
Couldn't Resist
Why oh why?
Wasp & the Mermaid
Advanced XTC Analysis 201 Questionairre
USA Today
Mother Oeuf
Re: Ask the Kids
v is for spring
Colin Interview
What the youngsters think
enter easter
Maypole
Gimme Sugar and XTC
greetings from Nihilon
Advice For Andy
Re: Ask The Kids
no Videos?
Double Standard
axis mundi explained
My take on Wasp Star
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Just a casual thing / Not really worth a mention.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 00:31:59 EDT From: WESnLES@aol.com Subject: Couldn't Resist Message-ID: <b0.5fc77da.266b35bf@aol.com> John Boudreau probed: "Ask The Kids" My 12 year old daughter says that " Stupidly Happy " is her fave track from WS , and that she hopes my band will cover it ! Which tune is your kid's favorite ? Anna, my 3.5 year old crumb snatcher, is actually more than a bit obsessed with XTC these days. A few months back she latched on to Cherry In Your Tree, which she sings incessantly at the top of her mini lungs. She seems to relish, shouting out to everyone who will listen (not that she minds telling you if you aren't), that her favorite band is XTC. (her poor mother__and then there were two) In the last few weeks she's latched on to Poor Skeleton Steps Out, calling it Poor Skelekon Steps Out. She also loves Hold Me My Daddy. I know this isn't quite what you asked John, can't get her to listen to the new one yet. Still, I couldn't resist. Now, if you'll all come over here and sit with me on the couch I'll show you some slides of Anna I took on our summer vacation. (wes, upon returning from the attic with the slide projector) "Where did they go? Those not so ordinary people." wesLONG http://members.tripod.com/~The_Last_Balloon/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2000 21:44:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com> Subject: Why oh why? Message-ID: <20000604044458.22299.qmail@web1301.mail.yahoo.com> wesSOLong said: <<WARNING: I just got off the phone with Mark Strijbos and he told me, and I quote: "XTC are the most abominable piece of crap band on this God forsaken planet!" He actually HATES XTC!!!!! I found out that he created his Little Lighthouse site only to attract women! Apparently he's under the misconception that chicks dig a man with a big website. (Hey, it's not the size of the website, it's what you do with it!) All his incessant talk about the band over the years was no more than an attempt to supply "Mr. Horny" with some all too eager XTC babes. That's right folks, he's a wolf in Partridge's clothing. Ladies, avert your gaze from his strangely hypnotic site. Don't be lured into Mark's saccharine sweet lair of debauchery!>> I can't believe I'm reading this crap. Wes, if you have something personal against Mark take it off e-mail okay. I highly doubt Mark would just have a site to get women. Then why does he have all of XTC's stuff if he doesn't like them, huh? Maybe you're the one who hates XTC. Why don't you leave poor Mark alone? Molly ===== Molly's Pages: http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html My Tribute to Talk Talk & .O.Rang: http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/talktalkorang.html [ It was a joke. I got it. So should you be too. -- John ]
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2000 21:40:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Thomas Long <thlong@interchange.ubc.ca> Subject: Wasp & the Mermaid Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.21.0006032043560.1536-100000@inch.interchange.ubc.ca> Pink Things, It's hilarious reading all the different reactions to WS. I dislike SIFJ & WAL, and others see 'em as singles! There definitely seems to be two camps where XTC is concerned: the Drums & Wires/English Settlement/Big Express esotaric pop fans vs the Skylarking/Oranges & Lemons/Nonsuch melodic pop fans. Not to say the two paths don't cross, but it often appears as if we're talking about different bands. Is it any wonder the same people who embraced AVI are having trouble with AVII? I played AVI to death, but find the lighter approach of AVII a little more difficult to embrace so far. Not to say I dislike it, just that it doesn't HIT me on the same emotional level... nor was it intended to, judged by what Andy & Colin have said in recent interviews. It IS a summer album in every sense of the word. By way of ridiculous comparison, the week after WS came out, the latest installment of Bragg/Wilco's Mermaid Avenue was released. That album DOES hit me, and I've since listened to nothing else. Though I'll no doubt return to WS with fresh ears soon enough. It's obviously too early to place WS in the XTC canon, and many disagree with "judging" it at all (and will "judge" you for doing it!). But it's all a game now isn't it? Who actually gives a toss what we think accept us? So why not revel in the chance to express yourself yea or nay, and piss on all those who rain on your parade. Democracy is messy, so let's keep up our end of the bargain here in Chalkhills Land. Thomas
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 00:57:49 -0500 From: "Joe Funk" <twosheds@mindspring.com> Subject: Advanced XTC Analysis 201 Questionairre Message-ID: <001f01bfcdea$2ef7db20$7721fea9@user> Dear Chalklings: C.U. (Chalkhills University) would like your feedback on yesterday's lecture by Prof. Sherwood. There seems to be some controversy surrounding his closing statements: >First there is no mountain. >Then there are two mountains. >Then there is. >Harrison "Then there is the urge to put the face between the mountains and >go BRRRRRRRRR" Sherwood It seems that a number of students were seen falling out of their chairs, laughing uncontrollably; unable to finish the rest of their digest lessons. As this is a safety issue, the C.H.U.M.P.S. (Chalkhills Hazard Underwriters Monitoring Personal Safety) unit may have to called in, and Prof. Sherwood may be banned from any further "live" demonstrations of the "Two Mountains". Please address any comments or concerns to: <chalkhills@chalkhills.org> Thanks You for you time and attention, Joe Funk-C.H.A.P. (Chalkhills Horse's Ass Personified)
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 02:45:45 -0700 From: "Drew MacDonald" <drewmacdonald@mediaone.net> Subject: USA Today Message-ID: <002c01bfce09$a7c81b40$ac841818@we.mediaone.net> Veronica Kyle Robertson, commenting on Michael D. Myers' report that WASP STAR got a 3 1/2-out-of-4 stars review in USA Today: > I rely on USA Today as a news source as much as > I do People and the Today Show, which means not > at all. It's News Lite for people who like everything > to explained to them in pie charts and public opinion > polls. While it's true that USA Today is a piece of crap compared to any *real* newspaper, it is a popular, high-circulation piece of crap with a national readership. Let's not go slagging the messenger when the message itself -- that WS is a terrific album -- is reaching a huge number of folks who might otherwise never hear of the record. A positive WS mention in People magazine or the Today Show would be equally welcome. Good press is good press. Drew
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2000 10:44:40 +0100 From: Belinda Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: Mother Oeuf Message-ID: <393A2507.89410BC@which.net> Damn - the kids will be so annoyed Wes Long enlightened us thus: "I found out that he created his Little Lighthouse site only to attract women! Apparently he's under the misconception that chicks dig a man with a big website. (Hey, it's not the size of the website, it's what you do with it!) All his incessant talk about the band over the years was no more than an attempt to supply "Mr. Horny" with some all too eager XTC babes." Well it worked on me - we live together in domestic hiss with our three kids in sunny Canterbury - he told me he works away a lot. You don't think he's got othr happy families do you? Yours (and his) Belinda Great chat uplines and put downs of the century: "How do you like your eggs?" "Unfertilised thanks - fuck off"
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 11:28:31 EDT From: RiknBkr@aol.com Subject: Re: Ask the Kids Message-ID: <46.6395526.266bcf9f@aol.com> > Which tune is your kid's favorite ? My seven and four year old both give a thumbs up to ITMWML.
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 7:11:21 -0500 From: "William Sherlock" <bdsherlock@earthlink.net> Subject: v is for spring Message-ID: <412000604121121770@earthlink.net> Thinking of the yin/yang aspects of AV I and II. Wasp Star = Winter Summer, Apple Venus - Autumn...uh, can anyone can think of a word for Spring that starts with V? How about vernal, as in vernal equinox, or "verdant spiral" Hope to see all of the Chicago Chalkhillers at the Red Lion on Weds. Bill Sherlock "I should be in bed, I need my 11 hours. I'm a real sleep addict. I started off just napping. Then I got into the harder stuff...siestas. Before I knew what was happening I was a sleep junkie." Andy Partridge, Melody Maker, 8-18-79
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 13:36:15 +0200 (MET DST) From: rappard@dds.nl Subject: Colin Interview Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.90.1000604133500.28443H-100000@fatima.dds.nl> There's an interview with Colin (not by me, unfortunately) in a zine I occasionally write for: http://www.kindamuzik.net/features/xtc.shtml Cheers, Mart http://members.xoom.com/rappard
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 09:46:23 -0700 (PDT) From: brown <mb2@deltanet.com> Subject: What the youngsters think Message-ID: <200006041646.JAA23128@mail2.deltanet.com> Sushiman asked- <<Which tune is your kid's favorite?>> ..well, our 14 yr. old, James, says he likes 'Playground' and 'Stupidly Happy' equally... but I think he leans towards SH... he's constantly imitating the opening riff, (over and over again)... You know the kind of guitar you often 'played' as a kid? Lips pursed, teeth clenched, forcing the air out, spittle flying.. Come to think of it, I still do that myself, oh well.. Rock on, young dude! Debora Brown
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 11:33:04 -0600 From: "Joseph Easter" <easter2000@earthlink.net> Subject: enter easter Message-ID: <001701bfce4a$f3b52520$95821c3f@default> It seems to me that this newsletter could better serve us if we were more sensitive to it's content. XTC is not only a band to me, but serves as a milepost to certain events in my life. I don't think any of you have feelings to the contrary otherwise why would you bother subscribing to Chalkhills? Perhaps we could relate what the band means to us here and relate how each song or album punctuated, changed or marked an experience (other than rehash the same tired critiques or thoughts on what would make the best single. I think there is more here than that.) I'll start. Everyone remembers 120 minutes and the Dear God single. I was pretty young when that came out but recall the effect it had on me and many others. The band leapt into my collection and I've been hooked since. During the hiatus, I had forgotten about XTC, except on rare occasions when I was looking for something "new" to listen to. XTC never got old. I remember listening to "Big Day" from Skylarking on a long drive prior to my wedding, wondering if I was doing the right thing. Thinking I knew it all. When I heard Easter Theatre on the college station, I was mesmerized. It was prior to Spring and I was planning a trip to Paris with my wife. The song haunted me and halted my speech and thoughts when it played. It was the soundtrack to my life. I was an actor and Easter was the Marathon de Paris and I believed the song was about me. Still do. It was April 4, 1999, when Easter struck. Without a CD player, I could here AV1 play over and over in my mind, adding a flourish to our trip abroad. Running the race through the streets of Paris, each word rang as soundly as the bells of Notre Dame in my head. It was a cosmic date. The time changed, it was the death day of MLK, the marathon, my one and a half year anniversary, my best friend's birthday and Easter, dressed in yellow. Worlds colliding. I had a problem with my leg toward the end of the race. I couldn't walk. Looked to the heavens and wondered after all this work if this is what it ca me to. Being paralyzed and cold alone in France. I asked for help. In an instant, I was relieved of the pain. Kept running. Thanked God. More pain, but this time, marital. Something was wrong. Couldn't put my finger on it. Couldn't get her to talk about it. That evening, confrontation. Marriage be undone. Easter struck. Can one see God twice in a day? Once, I saw the devil in Nevada, but that was over an entire summer. Throughout that miserable summer of divorce, AV1 was a sweet, but dark solace for me and my confusion. I was convinced that Easter was my death day and my birthday. Something new. The son had died so the father could be born. I believed that the reason the song grabbed me so intensely prior to the event was because there was some invisible knowledge encoded inside me that knew the future. Spider Sense. Time sprints. I make decisions. I change my life. I become Easter. I modify and move my life to marvelous Montana. I wait for Wasp Star. I no longer wait. Wasp Star's contrast to AV 1 is like a thumbs up for me. AV 1 can be a terrifying album, but WS says everything is alright. It is a sweet respite. It is diificult for me to say anything negative about it because it offers such happiness and positive energy. The last year was hell. I made sure that this Easter would be a 180 on the last. A promise to myself. Wasp Star is like a reward. You've done good work, take the rest of the week off. You may think this is cheesy and ridiculous. After all, XTC is just a pop band. But certain things occupy a precious place within us all and I think it would be a positive alteration to share some of these experiences. It's interesting to see what another peron sees in a piece of art. Sometimes, it helps you see a darker side (or lighter side) of yourself. I'm sure you all understand. Hey, I could have had a cosmic experience to Britney Spears or BananaRama. I feel blessed to be tied to something respectable. OK, let me have it. I'm waiting... Joseph Easter
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 14:55:43 EDT From: BrainiacsDaughtr@aol.com Subject: Maypole Message-ID: <a9.66ef978.266c002f@aol.com> In a message dated 6/2/00 11:01:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: << Anyway, I'm intrigued that with all the mention of the "Everything decays" section of TWAT(M) that sets everyone a-shiver (hmmm, wonder if there's a connection between the acronym and the response?) no posts that I've seen have commented that the music in this part sounds a lot like Fly on the Wall. That was my first thought when I heard it. >> I think it sounds like "Fly" and "Take this Town" personally. LC
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 14:06:46 -0400 From: arthur james virgin <audio@one.net> Subject: Gimme Sugar and XTC Message-ID: <B560134B.34EE%audio@one.net> Chalkies, 2 things... Sugarplastic and XTC content... let's start with Sugarplastic.... i ordered "Radio Jejune" and LOVE it, much more rockin' than "Bang..." with some absolutely fabulous moments. hey this album was made BEFORE "Bang..." it is labeled 1995. i don't mind, cause' its a solid album, but i thought this was a *new* release like some people here have suggested. what's the deal? did they get dropped from DGC? someone here mentioned that they know them... what's going on? k, now on to Wasp Star... first off, i like it, BUT there's something about it that i can't put my finger on. i think the production is fine, but it doesn't seem "deep" enough. all of the instruments sound ace, yet the way they were committed to tape seems thin. i'm kind of mixed on the songs. the last 3 could quite possibly be my favorite 3 back-to-back by XTC, yet i've got some reservations about some of the other ones. i admit, the demos ruined it for me. perhaps if the songs had a deeper, more raw sound. bah, who knows. this'll stay in my changer for a while... i'm happy to have it :-) regards, aj
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 12:46:14 -0700 (PDT) From: James Reimer <halo_sugar@yahoo.com> Subject: greetings from Nihilon Message-ID: <20000604194614.8161.qmail@web1601.mail.yahoo.com> I live near Dallas, TX, which is probably one of the last places on a list of possible places an XTC fan would ever want to live (though there are quite a few here). Still, with our radiowaves mostly cluttered by what clutters it, I find it interesting that I am starting to get glimpses of Wasp Star. On a local station, they are playing the hell out of "I'm The Man Who Murdered Love". And while watching the Stars/Devils game, I noticed it playing in a time stoppage. I find it rather interesting that it's that song they're playing; I think there are more commercially viable songs than that one. But I'll take what I can get. About "Standing In For Joe": every time I hear this song I can't help but think that it's the prequel to Hendrix's "Hey Joe". and in Dallas there's a great pop band with some serious XTC influence. They're called Chomsky: check them out at www.chomsky.com there's a song called "Sigmund" on it that sounds like a song that was left off of Drums and Wires; it made me freak the first time I heard it. That's All James
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 22:44:30 +0100 (BST) From: Rory Wilsher <rory_wilsher@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Advice For Andy Message-ID: <20000604214430.27558.qmail@web1505.mail.yahoo.com> "Furthermore (last rant), what's with people giving Andy "advice" via the list? My god, what arrogance. Tell you what -- write, record and release some songs that even approach XTC's worst, and maybe I'll listen, eh? Something tells me Andy won't, though. Thank goodness." My advice to Andy and Colin: Write some more songs. Record them in a studio or a shed. Make them available to the public via circular, shiny plastic/metallic thingies called "CDs". Do this in your own sweet time. Chances are, we'll like them. Harrison Sherwood (6-149): Hold that thought . . . and what's on either side of it! Rory "Hmmmm. . . looks like a torched cinder to me" Wilsher
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2000 15:15:47 -0700
From: "Elena F. Sirignano" <nycelena@napanet.net>
Subject: Re: Ask The Kids
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.20000604151547.00724468@pop.napanet.net>
Good Day Folks,
I haven't posted in about a year but my 9-1/2 year old son's
reaction to WS has inspired me. After KFOG in San Francisco had The Man Who
Murdered Love on their battle of the bands nightly for 5 evenings
running,(the boys won each night) my son Garret made sure he phoned in
every night to vote for them (me too seperately of course).He LOVED the new
song. Then on the day of the album release when he saw the CD case by the
stereo, he promtly grabbed it, locked himself in his room and played it
over and over again. I should probably buy him his own copy, but until then
we shall share. Thanks
nycelena
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 14:38:09 -0700 (PDT) From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com> Subject: no Videos? Message-ID: <20000604213809.1233.qmail@web1105.mail.yahoo.com> Someone posted here recently that our band aint making any videos for the new album. Granted MTV might only play an XTC video once, but couldn't TVT sell it on cassette to us fans? Wouldn't they make jack n jillion bucks doing this? Dear God never got played a lot, but today it's a cult classic. Just a thought.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 00:33:10 +0200 From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Subject: Double Standard Message-ID: <20000604222838.16412A6CEF@mail.knoware.nl> Dear Chalkers, Like I told my guests at the W.S. launch party: there's nothing in the world like a new XTC LP - that factory-fresh smell, the static noise as you carefully pry the heavy platter out of the sleeve with liner notes you can actually read without a microscope... pure bliss! Wasp Star is by no means an exception: the sleeve design looks much much better at full-size for instance; you can actually see instead of merely guess that it is an apple. When i finally received my copies yesterday morning, i thought: mmm yes, nice foldout sleeve but i soon discovered why it was there: they've actually done another English Settlement jobbie and pressed it on two "wide groove" platters. Yep, it's a double album, only their 3rd after E.S. and O&L A pity that i will never actually play these discs because i'm pretty sure that the Wasp Star tracks are very well suited for the warm, analog medium of vinyl. Yes, to be honest all the rare limited edition gold-plated stone- washed hand-carved Peruvian CD's in my collection pale into insignificance next to something plain and simple as this... Happiness is a warm slab of XTC vinyl. yours in xtc, Mark S. @ the Little Lighthouse www.come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 23:51:54 -0400 From: mitch friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: axis mundi explained Message-ID: <v03007802b560d428bbf7@[165.121.74.178]> Axis Mundi - "Axle of the World". Ancient cosmologies pictured the earth as a globe spinning on a shaft with the ends fastened at the celestial poles. The axis mundi penetrated the earth at its center, hence it was usually associated with the cosmic lingam or male principle. Each nation placed this hub at the center of its own territory (This is from a most obvious place. Barbara Walker's 'The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets", which happens to be Andy's favorite book, discovered in Erica's apartment when he was first dating her). Mitch
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 23:22:37 EDT From: Stroo@aol.com Subject: My take on Wasp Star Message-ID: <c6.613c94c.266c76fd@aol.com> I promised myself that I wouldn't, so I'll make this shorta| PLAYGROUND-my favorite song on WS. Maintains a sense of intelligence while being catchy at the same time. STUPIDLY HAPPY-not bad. I am surprisingly finding out that this is the favorite of the non-Chalkers that I have let borrow WS, that I am trying to convert. IN ANOTHER LIFE/BOARDED UP/STANDING IN FOR JOE/FRIVOLOUS TONIGHT/FRUIT NUT-is it me, or are these as similar as I think they are? Doesn't mean I don't like 'em though. MY BROWN GUITAR/CHURCH OF WOMEN-these two deserve to be reviewed together. I like it! I'M THE MAN WHO MURDERED LOVE-you would think this is catchy enough to get substantial airplay here in the States, but then again, this is XTCa| WE'RE ALL LIGHT-this should have been the best song on the CD. The drums fit in fantastically, and I can never seem to get this song out of my head. But the fade seems to ramble on, and the pause after "read that someplacea|" is so long it almost reminds me of someone who forgot the next line. But still, this is a great song, right up there with Playground. WOUNDED HORSE-I will resist completing the joke about what we do with wounded horses. My life would be no less complete if this song had been omitted. Actually, it would have fit in terrifically on the CD if it was retitled, "The Ship Trapped In the Ice." YOU AND THE CLOUDS-I agree with recent posts stating that this song does not receive the credit it deserves. The finished product sounds a lot less like Sting than the demo. THE WHEEL AND THE MAYPOLE-OK, it may not be their "A Day in the Life," but it doesn't matter, this song puts the perfect finishing touch to WS. In summary, on a contemporary radio scale, this rates an A (sorry Rolling Stone). On an XTC scale I give it a B. There. Didn't hurt a bit, did it? Bob
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-151 *******************************
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