Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 183
Date: Thursday, 13 July 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 183
Thursday, 13 July 2000
Topics:
More post-holiday catching up
A word on Wasp Star
..and they call the whim....Mariah!
A band by any other name...
more in defense of "Sometime in NYC"
XTC pops up in some of the most unexpected places lately.....
Re: Listening parties
The Anti-Lennon
Be there or else!
Credit where credit's due
Overpowered By Funk
yet another "Stupidly Happy" sighting
Various Ramblings
10CC 3rd rate?
make mine the biggest pouch
No need to be so rude!
WOODY!
XTC and Keneally
Rude boy
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 17:29:25 -0700 From: Ed Kedzierski <ed.kedzierski@blvdmedia.com> Subject: More post-holiday catching up Message-ID: <08B5DDC2BABCD311BFC6005004A884B013B731@mgcservices.com> Well, it wasn't my holiday, obviously (if anything, it was an extra-nasty work week), but these are mostly things I would have posted had the hill not been closed the past week or so... First of all, in yet another "where has this band been all my life" revelation, I finally "discovered" the Move! Saw a "best of" CD in a used rack, recalled reading various bits here and there that seemed to indicate that I might like them, and decided to pick it up... Spent the next week playing it repeatedly. Love that feeling of finding another little treasure trove that's somehow eluded me all this time. Incredible psychedelic pop; fun, hooky, and jamless, three essential ingredients! Wasn't quite as into some of the "heavier" later tracks, though "Brontosaurus" is a total riot, and had me banging my head and laughing at the same time. Since a lot of the praise of this band that I've read has been on this list, well, thanks everyone. So... which Wizzard albums are worth checking out? And did Lynne elbow Wood out of ELO, or did he go of his own accord? "Skrotem" - shouldn't there be an umlaut over the "o"? I've been reading "Lords of the Horizons: a History of the Ottoman Empire", after a long search for a book on this topic. Got started when I went through a binge of reading up on WW1 (not easy, when WW2 books seem to dominate the history shelves, not to mention the History Channel's heavy diet of WW2 and scarcity of Great War programming), and became fascinated by the various empires that sputtered out in that particular war. Now I'm obsessed with the whole Roman-to-Eastern empire, Byzantine-to-Ottoman, Byzantium-Constantinople-Istanbul thing generally. Anybody into this kind of stuff have any recommendations? Bad albums by major artists: Rolling Stones, Dirty Work. True, picking on Stones albums by that point in their career is shooting fish in a barrel, but this one was definitely the very last straw for me (after giving them repeated last chances with the mediocre stuff they'd been putting out), and that's being incredibly charitable as far as I'm concerned. Almost any artist's "Unplugged" album: the stench of contrivance that emanates from these coldly calculated attempts to sound "natural" and homey just lingers in my nostrils like the vapors from a skid row dumpster. I admit that I've seen one or two that I've enjoyed (including the one the Cure did, oddly enough), but for the most part (particularly the really "successful" ones) they're just cringe-inducing. Miles Davis, the Man With the Horn. What the f**k happened here? Have I ever mentioned that I can't stand Joe Cocker, and consider his version of "Little Help from My Friends" one of the worst covers ever? When I first saw Belushi's Cocker impression, I didn't know he was doing a real person; I thought that the only reason anyone would do such a wankishly bluesed-up and "heavy-ized" version of such a great pop song would be for a total joke (this was before the time he did it right next to Cocker while he was singing; on that occasion, Cocker seemed less than delighted, and it was hilarious). The same goes for people whose vocal style seems influenced by his, like Eddie Vedder. That whole low, moaning, comically over-emotive grunt approach just turns me right off: Cocker, Vedder, and Micheal Bolton all fall into the same category for me. Just needed to get that off my chest, it doesn't really relate to anything... XTC content: Glad to see that reviews of WS are still trickling in from various magazines & papers, and that there's actually the odd bit of encouraging chart info regarding the single. This shows that there's still a chance, and that it wasn't all over after the sales bump we fans provided in the first week. Of course, I think the AV volumes should sell steadily & quietly pretty much indefinitely, just like the back catalog has, as more people discover/are turned onto XTC over time. I hope that TVT (and the other labels) bear this fact in mind. This band makes stuff for the long haul, as opposed to the quick fix. Not that I'd have a problem with them breaking through to greater success; I'm just saying there's still reason for optimism... (I'm sure I'm not the first to say something along these lines) Iiin my car! Iiiiiin my car! (that, of course, is the first line of a verse to "My Brown Guitar" that Andy would never, ever write.) Done for now, Ed K.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 18:37:28 EDT From: JamieCFC1@aol.com Subject: A word on Wasp Star Message-ID: <27.807eaf6.269cfba8@aol.com> Hi Chalkie types Just to say I bought Wasp Star on vinyl and (in my humble opinion, which is worth a lot, to me at least) its the best thing they have done in absolutely YEARS, since... well since the last best one, which rules out AV1, Nonsuch and quite a few others since probably Black Sea. Feel free to disagree but as they say you are quite entitled to yours (as lon as it doesnt differ from mine). Jamie
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 23:23:40 -0500 From: "Joe Funk" <twosheds@mindspring.com> Subject: ..and they call the whim....Mariah! Message-ID: <027301bfebb8$f5eb1f80$7721fea9@user> >Though I quite like the whole of "Wasp Star", I can't see how it can >stand up well next to "Crybaby" by Mariah Cary w/ Snoop Dogg. That >masterpiece took eight of the most talented songwriters in pop today >to write it. Indeed. >Harry I sure hope that was tongue-in-cheek..... Joe "Who is that man behind the curtain?" Funk
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 23:59:40 EDT
From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com
Subject: A band by any other name...
Message-ID: <f4.c3badc.269d472c@aol.com>
Oh, hills; hills full of chalk!
Here's my dormant band name list (thanks to Martin Baker, madman
extraordinaire):
STARK RAVING DOCILE
christmonkey
Radish Hats
WAX LIPS
THE ULNAS
MOTHER TONGUE
THE YACHTING SPANIELS
YES, OFFICER
Connie Sewer and the Maggot-Eating Shitheads
One Hit Wonder
Toe Bone and the Beau Tones
URBAN HAYSEEDS
The Spatulas
THE KNOBS
PHUQUEFAISSE
Fochfaiisse
The Aztec Nazis
The Grubs
SATAN'S NIPPLES
BLOODBOOGER
Wish We Were Black
GIDEON'S BICEP
Spank Your Mom
Wormbath
Mole Russe
Insurance Muskrats
Milkin' the Chuck (must include guitar player who does too many Chuck
Berry rifs)
Surrealestate
The Day Jobs
Jay Dobbs and the Day Jobs
The Freckle-Faced Fuckheads from Maine
There's more lying around here somewhere.
(All: NO! STOP! YaaaaaahhhhhhHHH!!)
What I'd like to see is ANDY's list. You KNOW he's got one! Inquiring
minds want to know......(ObXTC)
Oh, and by the way; that bumper sticker was "My KARMA ran over my DOGMA".
Sorry, I'm frone to pits of poonersisms.
Tom (You must mean Nancy!) Kingston
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 18:14:07 -0700
From: Ed Kedzierski <ed.kedzierski@blvdmedia.com>
Subject: more in defense of "Sometime in NYC"
Message-ID: <08B5DDC2BABCD311BFC6005004A884B013B732@mgcservices.com>
Just thought I'd mention that while it doesn't exactly contain John's
greatest work, "Sometime in NYC" includes some of my favourite Yoko songs.
Now, I'm not going to start making blanket accusations that people are just
being Yoko haters & skipping all her tracks, but I really like her songs
here; much easier ("catchy" even?) to get into than the denser, more "Yoko
howl" oriented stuff on her "Plastic Ono Band", and harder than her Double
Fantasy and widow-period stuff. You may consider "Sisters Oh Sisters" an
obvious, preachy feminist anthem, but I don't know of any other obvious,
preachy feminist anthems that are this much fun to dance and bop around to.
And it sounds great; the guitar solo on this song is something you could
reach out and grab in your hands (generally, I much prefer the production on
this album to, say Double Fantasy; Spector kicks Jack Douglas' ass any day
of the week). I've always had a fondness for "Born in a Prison"; almost a
protest song against the world itself, rather than being specifically
political. And the last track on the album, "We're All Water" just KICKS
ASS! There's no difference! There's no difference!
Sorry, that song almost makes me start bouncing off the walls by just
playing it in my head. I have to go home and play it really loud right now.
(Another Yoko album I like is "Approximately Infinite Universe")
Right on, sistah!
Ed K.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 18:05:56 EDT From: SLEDZNH@aol.com Subject: XTC pops up in some of the most unexpected places lately..... Message-ID: <26.7ec8d1c.269cf444@aol.com> Fellow Chalkheads, In the latest USAirways in-flight magazine there is an article on various radio stations that the authors recommend because their 'coolness' (or whatever you call it these days....). Once of the stations noted is WRNR in Annapolis, Maryland and they note that one of the bands that is often played is XTC! Not a big deal, but I just was real surprised to see the band listed in the context of the article. Carry on, ~~Jim
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 19:36:06 +0100 From: "Pledge" <PLEDGE7@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: Listening parties Message-ID: <002f01bfeb66$e071a900$679301d5@PLEDGE> Molly Sorry to be a bit of a div, but what exactly is a listening party? I guess we go to a chat room whilst listening to a particular album, is that right? If so count me out as my CD rom drive packed up 1/2 way through the Kings For A Day bootleg about 2 weeks ago and the other nearby CD players can only be used when I'm the only person in and/ or at reasonable times for the neighbours as they (the players not the neighbours) are in different rooms to my computer. Like you I try to spread the word and so far I reckon I've caused the sales of at least two Fossil Fuels, three Apple Venus Volume 1s and two Wasp Stars. Now you may think that is nothing, but I'm in England where Andy thinks there are NO XTC fans. Besides, by the time i get told by the police to turn my car stereo down and or close my windows the entire population of my area (300,000 people) will have heard AV1 and WS whether they like it or not! Don't worry too much about us converts, it's the luddites of the world that need to hear this music, because as we all know a fair percentage of those that actually hear XTC like what they hear. Stick with it. Pledge
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 16:17:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Al LaCarte <allacarte@yahoo.com> Subject: The Anti-Lennon Message-ID: <20000711231730.2720.qmail@web1606.mail.yahoo.com> All: WTDK shared my personal nightmare with the following: >On the other hand, I played English Settlement for one of my brothers and he commented on the "off key dreck" we were listening to. Then again, he thinks Jeff Lynne should have replaced John Lennon in the Beatles < KEY RICED O'MIGHTY! I'm still recovering from the Elo-ified renditions of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" erroneously attributed to "The Bealtes" and placed on the "The Anthology" collections. What next? Bob Seger singing "Imagine" on a remixed record with Lennon? Steve Miller trading licks with Hendrix on a "new and improved" "Voodoo Chile?" Kenny G. releasing his "lame-ass, jive, pseudo bluesy, out-of-tune, noodling, wimped out, fucked up playing all over" one of Louis Armstrong's tracks!!!!!! Play him some Journey. Al
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 13:19:09 -0500 From: "Rick Buist" <rbuist@tedist.com> Subject: Be there or else! Message-ID: <005101bfeb64$9e752ec0$320e98cf@tedist> There will be a pity listening party this weekend. The link is www.aaaaahhh The following songs are on the schedule: The Disappointed This World Over Reign of Blows Complicated Game Wounded Horse Cynical Days Senses Working Overtime Travels In Nihilon The World is Full of Angry Young Men Dying Vanishing Girl Don't Lose Your Temper Are You Receiving Me Burning with Optimism's Flames (sorry, scratch that last one) If for whatever reason you don't show up, regardless if you like listening parties or not, I will take it as a personal affront. Hope to see you there. >:( Rick Buist ofcourseitis@tedist.com
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 17:44:04 -0400 From: "Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt" <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: Credit where credit's due Message-ID: <NABBKDAOLCDJBNEFDNLLMEGBCDAA.toddjenn@erols.com> Hi: Catching up on digests, and this from #178 caught my eye: Randy Hiatt responded to RIM's request for band names with a long list of suggestions, without attribution. That list came from http://www.papabear.com/bandname.htm -Todd
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 16:39:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Al LaCarte <allacarte@yahoo.com> Subject: Overpowered By Funk Message-ID: <20000711233928.5327.qmail@web1606.mail.yahoo.com> All: Joe Funk shed: >My band is/was named Two Sheds..but I found out there already is a TWO SHEDS in Sweden!!! < And then he posed: >Any one else got any ideas for me?< How about "Joe Funk?" Al
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 09:00:40 -0500
From: Paul.Allen@cancer.org
Subject: yet another "Stupidly Happy" sighting
Message-ID: <OF8280B4C5.36A43ECC-ON86256919.004CE2A7@cancer.org>
Hello all!
A long-time lurker, first-time poster from Minneapolis, MN writes:
Last night I was out with some friends in Loring Park near downtown
Minneapolis for a free outdoor showing of the Vincent Price "House on
Haunted Hill". There were about 250 people gathered out on blankets before
the movie and the sound system was pumping out tunes. Well, guess what
comes on? Doo doo doo do do "I'm stupidly happy..."
I pointed speechlessly at the stage for a bit (to the bewilderment of
my friends), and then turned to them and said: "Look at this! Look at all
these people being exposed to such wonderful music!" There were more than
a few bobbing heads in the sea of people around us.
As I turned my attention back to the stage and mouthed the lyrics
silently, one of my friends said to the other: "Look how happy Paul is."
Make that Stupidly Happy,
Paul
P.S. Just out of curiousity, are there any other Twin Cities chalkhillers
out there?
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 23:42:00 +0100 (BST) From: Rory Wilsher <rory_wilsher@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Various Ramblings Message-ID: <20000711224200.27754.qmail@web1506.mail.yahoo.com> Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! OK, I stand corrected. Roy Wood is a talented musician. I still do not consider Wizzard (I'll spell it right this time damn you (red barrel) Bill's "Autocorrect" feature) to be his finest moment, however. Also, Slade were, well, just Slade, really. (Who Yahoo! categorise as "metal", incidentally. Discuss.) If they didn't exist it would be necessary to invent them. I guess I just can't stand that hardy perennial "Merry Xmas Everbody!" As for Pilot...well...hmmm. Jury's still out. And the confession? OK, I like (The) Sweet (they seemed to drop the "The" after a few records. Hey, great name for a band tho', "The The". I just thought of that. Dang, did someone beat me to it?) They did, however, record some of the most god-awful tripe ever committed to vinyl (enter exhibits A-F: "Little Willy" (ooh-er, missus), "Alexander Graham Bell", "Poppa Joe", "Co-Co", "Funny Funny", "Chop Chop". Exhibit G: the word of your choice, repeated). And when one of the current crop of talent-free boy bands gets around to covering one of these songs we'll all moan "yeah, but it's not as good as the original"! They did record some good stuff in their middle period "Fox On The Run" stands out and even had a minor come-back with "Love Is Like Oxygen" (recently covered, I believe, by the band so good they named it twice). But this is getting away from the point. No matter how bad a band may be considered at the time, we all remember with nostalgia the bands of our youth. In twenty years time, people on the (insert Westlife's fans' list here) will be hotly debating the merits (or otherwise) of the talentless nobodies performing "pop" music today, whilst noting the towering genius of, say, B*witched. It could happen! Plus ca change...As someone once said, "This Is POP!" I'm sure I had a point when I started this...OK, nurse, time for my medication. Rory "Successfully unwadded underwear" Wilsher
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 20:10:37 +0100 From: Belinda Blanchard <b.blanchard@which.net> Subject: 10CC 3rd rate? Message-ID: <396B712D.95A99C2C@which.net> Hey all: Dunks wrote: "I think various members turned up later on playing for 3rd rate club acts like Paul McCartney and 10CC. Obviously no good." Dunks - 10CC were 1st rate musicians and wordsmiths and their "Original Soundtrack" was my Sgt Pepper. They prepared me for what was to come with the beauty and wit of XTC. Please tell me how you would wish me to kill you. I assume you would like me to crucify you (yes I did read your entire posting - have you read Tony Curtis's biography? It's funnier). Molly: I didn't go to your listening party because a) I'm a Brit and the timezone would be crap b) I'm a Brit and pay for local calls c) I don't like cyber listening parties I think they're a bit nerdy BUT d) I would consider attending one in person if Dunks hosted it and I was allowed to bring my gun. BUT a) and b) and c) still applies! Love from BELINDA
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 13:39:43 -0600 From: "Joseph Easter" <easter2000@earthlink.net> Subject: make mine the biggest pouch Message-ID: <002701bfeb6f$c461bc60$ba730a3f@default> Dan DuBray wrote: I feel like ****ing Case Kasem... Well, here, here, Danny Boy. I've felt like ****ing Casey Kasem for about 15 years ever since the first sprouts on my little Chippendale bureau erected. I don't know if it's an attraction to shorter older men with Amazon wives or what, but I still fantasize at least four times a week before sleepytime about that fab head of hair of his (say five times fast.) Reach for the stars nothin', you know what I'm reaching for! I'm just glad that someone had the cojones to say so. Let's start a club... On a heavier note, I can't believe noone has listed the band Chicago as a worst of. They easily hold the record (pun?) as far as the quantity of releases, and with each new evolution, they progressively get worse. Quantity over quality, oui? They should have named themselves Wisconsin. (Insert Cheesey pun here, thank you.) I don't think anyone else's suggestion can hold any merit whatsoever when taking into consideration this smooth rock crap.I would rather get kicked in the stomach for a fortnight by Ringo Starr and a babbling Sir Paul than listen to a track off any of Chicago's fledgling albums. And that goes for Peter "Karate Kid" Cetera, too. Can I get an Amen? ***In closing, I am very dissappointed that noone has traveled to Montana to come visit me. I thought that you Chalkhillers were a decent bunch, but I guess I was wrong. Thanks a lot.*** Send your hate mail to, Joseph Easter I'll be waiting. XtC Rocks! Except for White Music, which Rocks! but isn't in my coda. Erleichda.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 13:21:39 +0100 From: Lawson Dominic <LawsonD@parliament.uk> Subject: No need to be so rude! Message-ID: <4782AD6ADDBDD2119B570008C75DD5C1BD50E4@mgmtm02.parliament.uk> >>Let's think . . . don't like the album, doing something else, don't like listening parties per se, out of town, forgot about it, living in a different time zone (that one to be sung to the tune of "Living In Another Cuba"), can't really afford to be on-line that long, might run into Dom in mid-rant. The list is endless. Outrageous! Mid-rant??? I'm deeply hurt by this callous slur. Shame on you. Actually, I don't even know what a listening party is. Ain't I just a dimwit?! Dom "too mouthy to lurk, too busy to post" Lawson
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 14:01:15 +0100 From: Warren Butson <Warren.Butson@getty-images.com> Subject: WOODY! Message-ID: <917A9E311021D411ABDF00508B605A470F1D27@LONEXCHG01> I have to agree with those who commented on Roy Wood he was an absolute pop genius. For every "are you ready to rock" there was a "dear elaine" or "fire brigade" or "forever". Also regarding Wizzard check out the b-sides they were on the whole amazing instrumentals and the b-side of "ball park incident" (carlsberg special)is perhaps the greatest mix of ska and bach you're ever likely to hear! XTC comment: we all seemed to be fairly agreed that Stupidly Happy could be a stupidly sure fire hit, but surely this won't be released for another 6 months by which time the album will be dead and buried as far as future sales. They should pull the ITMWML which I have to say is a little sugary (despite the acidic lyric) in favour of this real chance at a real hit. One other thing. I know the greenman video was pulled but how many others of their singles don't have videos. I've only ever seen grass and peterpumpkinhead since senses, have I missed out?
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 10:32:16 EDT From: "Brian Young" <raggedglory57@hotmail.com> Subject: XTC and Keneally Message-ID: <20000711143217.20450.qmail@hotmail.com> Hello my fine Chalk Art, I recently purchased Mike Keneally's 1992 album Hat (for $2.95 at Rasputin's, a SF Bay area treasure trove), and in addition to the expected fine guitar work and clever songs (Eno and the Actor, for one), there was a credit saying "This recording embodies a portion of the composition THE MAYOR OF SIMPLETON written by Andy Partridge, published by EMI Virgin Music Ltd." Does anyone know what song uses the portion of TMOS? Thanks, Brian
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 08:40:12 +0100 From: Adrian Ransome <Adrian.Ransome@tsi-ltd.co.uk> Subject: Rude boy Message-ID: <497FEA72C392D3118AE700508B731177273DE4@NT4SERVER03> Dan DuBray admitted: >I feel like ****ing Casey Kasem: That's fine, but do we have to watch? Adrian
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-183 *******************************
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