Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 81
Date: Tuesday, 18 April 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 81
Tuesday, 18 April 2000
Topics:
AV Cover Art Analysis (among other things that don't sound as dry)
Les Rita and Favourite Tracks.
the boatniks
Nab'sta!
Record Label Sues MP3.
Re: Stupidly Happy
why are we waiting?
Orange and Lemon exiles to a White Star
Master of my ...
Deep breath.....
Metallica vs Napster
What it is, what it was and what it shall be
Radio Royalty Rates
another fragment from the life of love
A few things...
Smells like Lawyers
There's a message in Milwaukee?
Plug It In
Wasp Star Thoughts
xtc airplay
WOO! WOO! SPOILER ALERT! WOO! WOO!
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 22:42:26 -0400 (EDT) From: Jonathan Rosenberg <jrosenbe@astro.ocis.temple.edu> Subject: AV Cover Art Analysis (among other things that don't sound as dry) Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.20.0004152201500.28435-100000@tempest.ocis.temple.edu> Hey all, I'm a longtime reader of chalkhills, but only a third time poster I believe. Don't bother looking up my other posts, they are not particularly noteworthy. By the way, my apologies to fellow chalkhiller Jon Rosenberger for having an entirely-too-similar name. I'll try to remedy that in the future. (place smiley here) Anyway, a number of issues here: First off, I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting WS, obsessively so. I have heard over half the demos at least once, and I did find the album on napster and got as far as downloading ITMWML, because it is the single, before that part of me that wants to hear it first on May 23rd took over and I stopped myself. I erased what I downloaded too (boy am I strong!) but not before listening to it once (not that strong apparently). And aside from stumbling into the Princeton Record exchange a couple of weeks ago and hearing to my complete shock and surprise the fading remnants of Standing In For Joe unfold into the pop bliss of the last four tracks of the album, I haven't really heard it. Wait, I guess that I have heard quite a bit of it then! By the way, if anyone who works at that store is on this list, THANK YOU for playing the promo. I love you deeply. Yes, in THAT way... Anyway, the real crux of this post lies here: While waiting for the album, I have been reflecting on the now revealed album art, as well as the art of AV1 and its singles. Forgive me if the following theories have already been discussed, I've been reading Chalkhills sporadically lately. Everyone get out their copy of AV1. We've already discussed how the center of the feather resembles an apple, lending further power to the brilliant Apple Venus title, and we've probably discussed how the cover of Wasp Star is a closeup of this section of the feather, solarized for our protection of course. Imagine this image of an apple, if you will, as representing XTC at its most basic: pure undiluted pop. Now, look at AV1. You see how that core apple center (the apple core perhaps?) is surrounded by this frilly, natural beauty? That perfectly captures the essence of AV1. It's XTC yes, but it is dressed up in its most beautiful clothing, a peacock on display. That means that Wasp Star, which displays ONLY the apple center, truly is XTC stripped-down to its corest elements. Our Shiny Heart indeed. Taking this philosophy to the single art, we see on both Easter Theater and I'd Like That a simple element of nature (an egg or a sunflower) in the center of this feather, again ensconced in this lacey web of musical splendor. At the heart of each song is a simple timeless sentiment, even if the final product seems deceptively complex. Now, to really drive this heart concept in, I'd like to see the single art of I'm The Man Who Murdered Love to have a heart on it, placed over the apple cover art, perhaps with a lit fuse running out of it to illustrate the 'murdered' bit. Then again, this image may be a tad to blatant for the usually majestically subtle XTC, but then yet again, this is a blatant, unabashed pop single, is it not? Okay, there it is. Hopefully I'll spark some sort of a discussion, even if it's a "man, he's an idiot" thread. Thanks everyone! Jonathan Rosenberg
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 21:06:39 +0100 From: "David Valentine" <david@valentined.freeserve.co.uk> Subject: Les Rita and Favourite Tracks. Message-ID: <000a01bfa7e2$be95d080$4b37883e@default> Hi All, Les Rita Mitsuko are well known to me via various collaborations with Sparks. Singing in the Shower being the most well known. Like the Wait till your boat Comes Down, on hearing Nonsuch again and again, it amazes me why Books are Burning was not released as a single. Then again my dreams of seeing at No1 would have bit the dust. It was amazing at the time however to see The Disappointed video on the Chart Show. Finally, it is always interesting to hear music journos talk of Xtc's decline beginning with Mummer. It started before with English Settlement. A superb album, but punters buying Senses had not got the patience to listen to a double LP with the intelligence it deserved. Don.
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 16:02:29 -0700 From: "Wes Hanks" <wes@iolvegas.com> Subject: the boatniks Message-ID: <000501bfa7f7$db3668c0$37b59fce@default> Legionnaires, Aw shoot! I wore my Chalkhills shirt while boating on Lake Mead this past weekend, and no one noticed. With Clanging Diving Bell, Wes Hanks
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 20:59:58 CDT
From: "vee tube" <veetube@hotmail.com>
Subject: Nab'sta!
Message-ID: <20000417015958.66556.qmail@hotmail.com>
Nab'sta!
Remember, just because you can do something,
doesn't mean you should.
This is why you don't see cheese flavored Jello!
}---:)
P.S. I added two songs to the Kinks' 'Did Ya?' site.
http://www.idrive.com/kinkyfish
TROUT!OUT!
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 19:08:20 -0700 From: "Digitalmaster" <digitalmaster@earthlink.net> Subject: Record Label Sues MP3. Message-ID: <000901bfa811$cdda2800$0200a8c0@digitalpc> Molly says: I just read that Metalica is suing Napster. What do you think about it? I think they're doing the right thing. I say the following: Not at all! This is what I was afraid of. This means that more legislation will pass and MP3 use will become a legal thing. Instead, the labels should contact the companies server and have the stuff removed. As soon as this kind of things goes to court, it gets all messy and we lose a little more freedom each day. Metallica are just doing what the label told them to do. Its "Hard working artists against evil MP3" that is really what this is about. Oh, maybe I am alone in this, but didn't Heavy Metal really suck? I mean, all of it. I just could not stand it. The closest I came to metal was Billy Idol and The Cult. Anyway, that's all, move along now...
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 18:11:46 -0700 From: Rich Bunnell <richbunnell@home.com> Subject: Re: Stupidly Happy Message-ID: <38FA64D2.4DD64329@home.com> Organization: @Home Network > and the aptly titled "Stupidly Happy" sounds like a B-side > from Genesis' Abacab album (honest to God). What the hell? Abacab is full of synthy dark pop, Stupidly Happy is a rolling riff-rocker (and a really good one at that). Was that just randomness due to lack of an actual comparison? Rich Bunnell
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 02:31:24 +0000 From: Jayne Myrone <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: why are we waiting? Message-ID: <38FA7714.E3538B89@tesco.net> Hi there Can someone tell me (preferably off list) just why there are such big differences in the release dates for Wasp Star? still counting the days and beginning to shake a bit Jayne (the Shaun Sheep worshipper) Apples are always inspiring... I have found them so all my life and always shall. Mark Gertler
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 22:23:24 EDT From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: Orange and Lemon exiles to a White Star Message-ID: <ae.3d3a495.262bcf9c@aol.com> > Does anyone know when the "add date" for "The Man Who Murdered Love" is? I > want to play it on my radio show, but I don't want to be too early. You > know how it is... What the hell, add it now! Create some buzz for the album. Well, OK, you might get in trouble but probably not. I'm sure there would be a lot of gratitude from the fans. >From Wayne: >Exile--it is both overrated and could easily be >reduced to one good album much like the White Album >I've put up with the bashing of "Exile," Jerry, and >even Eric Clapton. >"It's the bloody Beatles' 'White Album.' Shut up!" The truth hurts. Paul's made his share of mistakes. The "White Album" has some great stuff on it but I happen to agree with George Martin's assessment of it--it should have been pared down one album. There's nothing bad on it (well with the exception of No. 9). Just a lot of good stuff bumping heads with great stuff. After Pepper I prefer the sound of The Beatles (or White Album). It's been a while but I believe (if memory serves) it preceded Beggar's Banquet by quite a few months (seems to have been an influence on the Stones back to basics sound). Exiles-well what can I say? I took it for a spin around the block again recently and am sticking to my guns. We can agree to disagree. Even my brother (a fan from 1964 and if I may toot his horn for him a great guitar player and arranger) agrees with me. Exiles has got its share of great moments but, again, great stuff bumps heads with good stuff (and a couple of downright bad songs like Ventilator Blues). It's not their best album. Period. >In my opinion, listening to it for the >first time, I thought that it would have done more for both albums if WS was >first and what we have come to know as AV1 was second. I too, would be interested in finding out everyone's opinion. First impressions are so often mixed with so much anticipation that it makes it difficult to separate one's expectations from the quality of the work. I found listening to Elton John's Caribou as a kid after having experienced GBYBR profound disappointment. I've learned to love the quirky album for what it is--the anti-GBYBR. Will I feel that way about Wasp Star? Hard to say. I know that initially I thought that Oranges and Lemons was a better album than Skylarking. Time has changed my perception. O&L would have benefited from a bit of editing as well. It's still better than 90% of the crap that's out there though. What I really loved about O&L is the merging of the Dukes with Xtc--it created an interesting look into what might have been if Xtc had existed in 67-68 (Chips also does this but with tongue more firmly planted in cheek. Actually, Chips is the perfect companion piece to the Nuggets box set that came out on Rhino a couple of years ago. God, I'd forgotten how much I loved a lot of these one hit wonders). Wayne
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 09:06:43 -0500 From: "Wiencek, Dan" <dwiencek@crateandbarrel.com> Subject: Master of my ... Message-ID: <CCCF24B992E6D311BE670050DA793DE03AD1E6@escorp1.crate.barrel.com> Richard asked: > Who else do we know that owns their own master tapes and music publishing? The only other recording artist I know who owns his master tapes is George Carlin. At least, he owns the masters to his Little David albums; he bought them when the label went under (a fringe benefit of recording for a small label). I don't know if he owns his Atlantic masters. Dan (too tired to think of anything witty) Wiencek
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 15:24:55 +0100 From: Adrian Ransome <Adrian.Ransome@tsi-ltd.co.uk> Subject: Deep breath..... Message-ID: <497FEA72C392D3118AE700508B731177070315@NT4SERVER03> The most over-rated XTC album for me is Nonsuch. It was a big comedown after the psychedelic powerpop of O&L, but even listening to it today with the hindsight granted by AV1 doesn't help. The lowest point of the album is Rook, a song in which Andy Partridge paraphrases Rik from the Young Ones; "Rik, Rik, stop having a pervy dream...." and sings like a constipated John Major. It moved AP to tears and it does the same for me but in a different way. There are high points; My Bird Performs, Humble Daisy, The Ugly Underneath, Omnibus & Crocodile amongst others, but they are outnumbered by less good songs. I don't even like Wrapped In Grey all that much. And why does Peter Pumpkinhead go on for sooo long?!?!??? I've loved XTC's music ever since Drums & Wires, I love Mummer with a passion and think President Kill Again is a very good song. In my opinion Nonsuch is the most over-rated album here on Chalkhills. Flame away..... Adrian "Nomex pants" Ransome
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 08:16:25 -0500 From: Dark Rabbit <dark_rabbit@mindless.com> Subject: Metallica vs Napster Message-ID: <38FB0EA9.77C33F97@mindless.com> Organization: Dark Rabbit Publishing Molly, too tired to type anymore: > I just read that Metalica is suing Napster. What do > you think about it? I think they're doing the right > thing. I think they are tilting at windmills. Since the siege against Napster began three other applications have sprung up which do almost the same thing. The concept of Napster has been realized on the internet and is being duplicated at 'internet speeds'. Even if Metallica is succesful in their suit is doesn't really matter as their will be a dozen other programs by then doing the same thing except more efficiently and non-reliant upon central servers. Hell, people have been trading mp3's via powwow, ICQ, and IRC for years now and in fact the inefficiency of doing it via these methods is what inspired Napster in the first place. I think Napster, mp3's, and the internet are going to destroy music distribution as we know it. Artists will have to find a different way to get income from their music as any songs they release will be instantly replicated and disseminated throughout the world. Maybe they will be forced to tour and sell t-shirts and posters (knock on wood). Glenn dark_rabbit@mindless.com
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 20:10:06 PDT From: "Edward Sizzorhends" <skylar_king@hotmail.com> Subject: What it is, what it was and what it shall be Message-ID: <20000417031006.52149.qmail@hotmail.com> Chalkerds, What is all this talk of the picture on WASP STAR being "an x-ray of an apple" ? Can't anyone see the forest throught the trees? It is a close up of the center of the damned Peacock feather from AVI that has been solarized. There is a little stem, stemmy-looking-thing that maight make it seem like an apple but that's the "joke." I got a copy. Not from Napster. A legit review copy finally and I am not at a good point to say anything about it cuz I have only listened once. But gosh, I can't resist. **********SPOILER****************************** With "STANDING IN FOR JOE" people now have something to fight about when they say "WAR DANCE" is Colin's worst song. I don't think my opinion will change on that one. Sorry. ********END OF SPOILER************************** Anyway, I will join the discussions when more people have it. In the meantime if you would like to discuss off list, write skylar_king at hotmail dot com (that's the way to get around that e-mail address censor which I thank god Relph incorporated) Love, The Skylar King
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 07:55:02 -0400 From: "Duncan Watt" <dwatt@fastestmanintheworld.com> Subject: Radio Royalty Rates Message-ID: <200004171159.HAA29242@gilgamesh.nh.ultra.net> Mr. "X" Joe Hartley <jh@xxxxxxxx.xxx> assumed, re: radio airplay: >The royalties paid for this are minimal. I believe they are less than >$10 per year for even the biggest hits. I believe Tom Verlaine (Television) >gets payed something like 96 cents per year for Television's classic >Marquee Moon record. What happens is that radio stations pay ASCAP/BMI, >and this money is distributed to the artists. It isn't based on how >often it gets played, because I've never heard of a radio station reporting >its playlist to either of the two companies. >The MP3 and artist compensation issues are valid, but not from the >point of view of radio play royalties! Sorry, Joe, but you're just plain wrong on this one. Radio royalties *do* add up to quite a substantial honeypot over time. In a nutshell, songs earn 12 cents/play from the top 25% of radio stations, and 6 cents/play from the others. Doesn't sound like much until you multiply it by over 4000 radio stations x 5-9 plays/day x each single x 'bonus levels' of royalties for high performance x year after year. Like Madonna, or Springsteen. Or McCartney. BMI's going after the online radio webcasters, as well. Why not? I'm really surprised at your comment about stations not reporting playlists. Whoever told you that is pullin' your chain, man. That's just the tip of the iceberg. More information at: http://www.bmi.com/about/library/brochures/royalty/radio.asp Your pal Duncan Watt -- email me: dwatt@fastestmanintheworld.com surf me: http://www.fastestmanintheworld.com
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 20:25:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: another fragment from the life of love Message-ID: <20000417032540.14076.qmail@web2102.mail.yahoo.com> RE: Love survived the bizarre attack and went on to garner a kind of elder statesman respect in the pop world. In the eighties Chryssie Hynde stridently demanded that "when Love walks in the room, everybody stand up!" --- Of course, the first sign of a newfound respect for Love (indeed, his entire family) was Nick Lowe's (What's So Funny About) Peace, Love & Understanding, which, as we all should be aware, appeard on Elvis Cosello's Armed Forces album in 1979.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 21:57:49 EDT From: "garret harkawik" <funktaisia@hotmail.com> Subject: A few things... Message-ID: <20000415015749.58410.qmail@hotmail.com> Does anyone know where I can buy A School Guide to XTC? I've been searching for it for a while know and can't seem to find a place that sells it. Also, are there any set dates for the US signing tour, or any TV appearences? "What? Theres no tooth fairy?!? Does that mean that theres no Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, or Jesus either?"-South Park
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 14:24:20 PDT From: "Ralph Simpson DeMarco" <sawpit@hotmail.com> Subject: Smells like Lawyers Message-ID: <20000417212420.62883.qmail@hotmail.com> Greetings: Molly posted: <<I just read that Metalica is suing Napster. What do you think about it? I think they're doing the right thing.>> It seems to me that it's only a matter of time before all these types of websites are shut down. Damn good thing too.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 15:45:14 -0500 From: maggie jungwirth <mmjungwi@facstaff.wisc.edu> Subject: There's a message in Milwaukee? Message-ID: <v04003a01b521242bf6ea@[144.92.182.117]> Chalkers, What song is that from? I can't believe Andy knows about Milwaukee, altho I guess he played there back in the 80's... how embarrasing if it made that much of an impression on him that he remembered it to a lyric. Sorry if I'm offending any Milwaukeeans on the list but this Madisonian is usally more than slightly embarrassed by Milwaukee... Maybe my fear is unfounded- it could be another Milwaukee...(please)? maggie (whose husband had tickets to the XTC gig in Madison, which turned out to be the first cancelled show of the rest of the cancelled tour...) (did anybody else here miss seeing them on the "unfinished" tour?)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 23:51:39 +0200 From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Subject: Plug It In Message-ID: <20000417214739.5AFDFA6CE6@mail.knoware.nl> Dear Chalkers, If you, like me, find that there's something missing in today's music you should perhaps consider to buy Black River Falls, the lastest album by Cathal Coughal - ex Microdisney & Fatima Mansions - on Cooking Vinyl Why? Because it has that secret ingredient; a generous helping of Dave Gregory playing his guitars on most of the songs. And Dave himself reckons this is some of the best stuff he's ever recorded outside of you-know-who... yours in xtc, Mark S. @ the Little Lighthouse www.come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 00:11:08 GMT From: "Jake Bryson" <bigtuffguy82@hotmail.com> Subject: Wasp Star Thoughts Message-ID: <20000418001108.82539.qmail@hotmail.com> I don't see the need for a spoiler warning - i live in a small rural australian town and normally can't get a new XTC release until about four weeks after everyone else has been talking about it. It's coming out, some of us will have it before others, so let's talk about it! It's definitely the most accessible XTC album yet, and should have no trouble picking up radio play. It's also the most uncluttered album of theirs, production wise, with a lot of space in the mixes... due to the lack of Dave perhaps? It's not quite the electric blast it was touted as, which was slightly disappointing. I would have gone for "We're all light" as the first single... the track is chock full of excitement which seems to be lacking in a few other tracks... most noticeably "Some Lovely" which is probably the only song other than REM's "What's the frequency Kenneth?" that seems to get slower and slower the further along it goes. Other highlights are "The Wheel and the Maypole" (love that buzzing rhythm) and "In another life" (romantic and sweetly affecting). Lowlights are "Wounded Horse" (a bland and generic bore, could have been written by *anyone*) and "You and the clouds" (one Sting is bad enough). It's a good enough album, i just think compared to the depth and quality of Volume One it seems a little lightweight. It's also nowhere near as challenging as usual, which is the reason *why* i listen to XTC rather than Brittany Spears. I love the fact you can usually listen to an XTC record for months and still discover new and interesting things. Dump Wounded Horse and Clouds, add Prince of Orange, Bumper Cars, The Ship Trapped in the Ice, I don't want to be here and Wonder Annual and the album would have been a classic.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 17:39:48 -0700 From: Alan Perry <aperry@zayante.com> Subject: xtc airplay Message-ID: <E715EF9280AAD211B8060090273A8AD45A1D2B@SVX1> I am not sure if this is happening everywhere, but "I'm The Man Who Murdered Love" was getting airplay in Seattle yesterday (16 April). I was in LA and my wife called me to tell me. The song didn't sound so great on the cell phone, though :-) alan
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 20:58:36 PDT From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: WOO! WOO! SPOILER ALERT! WOO! WOO! Message-ID: <20000418035836.67641.qmail@hotmail.com> OK so I've got an advance copy of AVII, thanks to a mystery benefactor, and I can brag and skite, so if anyone is still waiting to get their mitts on WASP STAR - hit page down. * * * * It's bloody great!!! The first skreeling notes of "Playground" send a shiver up the spine and put a smile on the face. Instant classic. So many great songs. It's fun, it rocks. My son Lucas (5) adores it already. He sauntered in yesterday while "You & The Clouds..." was playing; he stopped and listened for a bit, then asked "Who is this, Daddy?". "This is XTC, Lucas; this is their new CD." [pause] "This is the man who sings 'Greenman'. What a good boy! But what has possessed TVT? It MUST be either be "Playground" or "You and the clouds..." as the new single? Surely??? And speaking of The Two Against Nature ... "You & The Clouds" surely has Steely Dan smeared all over it? (The best solo Denny Diaz never played). Dunks
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-81 ******************************
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