Chalkhills Digest Volume 7, Issue 11
Date: Thursday, 1 March 2001
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 11
Thursday, 1 March 2001
Topics:
Strange...
Re: Nonsuch a disappointment
They're baa-aack!!
What's up with that?
three videos
Re:Andaleandalearribaarriba
Bargain Bin
Re: church of women
Re: Bizkit
Bones to pick
Any drummers out there?
Talkin' trash 'bout my XTC!
Ollie Halsall
Vanishing songs
Any takers?
a hook laden mini-classic
The renaissance of Star Park!!
Hello (again)
Portmeirion video / Polls
Stuck in the middle without you
ES font?
Rocky Mountain XTC Addicts
Oh no, Dear God
Bungalow has moved.
Message from ? with tribute questions
Blegvad & Partridge collaboration
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 18:29:40 -0000 From: "Dan YEn" <pogoyen@hotmail.com> Subject: Strange... Message-ID: <F126kfzDskqC5EtrUVY00007b60@hotmail.com> To be fairly honest, I haven't been an XTC fan for very long, but when I found and played vinyl copies of 'White Music' and 'Go+' that were gathering dust, I started to accumulate most of their back catalogue. My latest addition, was the Partridge / Budd collaboration, 'Through The Hill'. I don't know very much about this, and because it is so dramatically different to anything else I have heard, I don't really know what to make of it. I'm interested to know what other XTC fans think of it. Dan YEn
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 15:43:29 -0500 From: Sylvan <psiogen@mindspring.com> Subject: Re: Nonsuch a disappointment Message-ID: <3A9579F5.25D074C9@mindspring.com> Organization: Mpath 'Honest' Dave wrote: > I read quite a few of the interviews with Andy on the Chalkhills website > (is he a splendid interviewee or what!!) and he seemed to rate tracks off > Nonsuch highly. It was with some expectation that I listened properly to > the album this weekend. Have to say 'The Disappointed' was an apt title. > He doesn't write trash - but these songs don't have any oomph to me. Or > real emotional weight. The artist is so often not the best judge of their > own material. I think I remember reading in a recent interview with Andy this phrase regarding Nonsuch: "At the time, we thought it was our best work" (Or something like that, I'm muffing the quote.) It would seem that, looking back, he has revised his viewpoint. I agree that Nonsuch is a relatively weak album. It would have been better, I think, if they'd chopped it down to LP length. There's just a few too many skippers for me. Imagine how good it would have been snipped down to a more reasonable length. I give you my ideal Nonsuch (if you weren't alienated before, prepare to be): 1. Peter Pumpkinhead 2. My Bird Performs 3. Wrapped In Grey 4. Ugly Underneath 5. Then She Appeared 6. Dear Madam Barnum 7. The Disappointed 8. Holly up on Poppy 9. War Dance 10. Crocodile 11. The Smartest Monkeys 12. Books Are Burning Running Time: 46:16 Before you attack me, try programming it that way on your CD player. I'm not saying that the other songs are bad, but they just don't belong. Rook suffers a bit from weak lyrics and vocals. Humble Daisy just doesn't do much for me. Same for That Wave. Omnibus needs some sort of radically different arrangement. Bungalow comes off as just a silly throwaway. That's just my opinion, of course. I'm interested to hear other people's thoughts on this. > My mate also reckons TBE is an uninspiring collection of songs too. What > do you say Chalksters? The Big Express is a great album, whatever anyone says. ;) By the way, does anyone else hear "farting" whenever Andy sings "far too many" in Reign of Blows? I can't help it! I guess I just have a dirty mind... Finally, the prize for Andy song that is most Colinesque goes to: Respectable Street. The most Andyesque Colin song: Sacrificial Bonfire. -- Sylvan What's that burning smell?
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 23:10:29 From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: They're baa-aack!! Message-ID: <F1541N8BB8iP2jHY2To00014ef9@hotmail.com> Well it's been an interesting few weeks, despite the chalk shortage. I missed you guys! (really ... no, really!) First: >"california tumbles in to the sea, >that'll be the day i go back to annandale..." Where is Annandale exactly? I assume it's somewhere on the US east coast, near where DF and WB went to uni? The main reason I ask is that there is actually an inner-city suburb of Sydney called Annandale. Now I don't actually think they're referring to THAT Annandale, but stranger things have happened ... such as in "Black Friday": "When Black Friday comes I'll go down to Muswellbrook" This always tickles me, because Muswellbrook is a country town north-west of Sydney. Apparently they chose it because (A) they liked the sound of it (B) they needed something to rhyme with ""little black book" and (C) they needed an Australian place name to enable the character to be someplace where he could have "nothing to do but feed all the kangaroos" Cute, eh? As far as I know this is the ONLY reference to an Australian town in any American song. (On the other hand, Vanda and Young made a whole career out of dropping American place names: "It's a long long way to Pasadena", "Show me the way to St Louis" ...) >From: Dewi Thompson <dewi@dewi1.demon.co.uk> >Subject: Hello there >When I got into Frank Zappa a few years ago, I would go weeks on end >without listening to anything else. I know EXACTLY what you mean. Fortunately my wife has gradually got to like Frank (wouldn't say LOVE) and put up with my endless repeats of "Big Swifty" and "Heavy Duty Judy". >From: "Iain Murray" <halfmanhalflager@hotmail.com> >Subject: What decade are we in again? >Best Album Grammy: Steely Dan, "Two Against Nature". >Scratch my original question - what *planet* are we on? >There is a God (Donald be thy name). Evidently, Iain, we have finally reached a decade -- or a planet -- where true talent is being recognised. I am absobloodylutely delighted that the Grammy voters could see past all that Eminem nonsense and see fit to reward what was clearly the best record of the year. And on that subject -- I have no interest in him per se, but I can't help wondering if Eminem is suffering from the same kind of idiocy that beset Randy Newman with "Short People" or Mark Knopfler with "Money For Nothing". (i.e. people not twigging to the fact that he is writing as a character)? Oh by the way - Richard Thompson was just over here for a concert tour. Jesus christ that guy is SO brilliant. And I had no idea how funny he is. He did a side-splitting little song about Kenny G. called "I Agree with Pat Metheny": "I agree with Pat Metheny Kenny's talents are too teeny" Hilarious. And what a bitchin' guitarist. Phew! Lastly: I recently joined the Powell'n'Pressburger list, devoted to England's most 'English' film-makers, The Archers (aka Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger). Being another quintessentially English cultural producer, I just wondered if anyone has spotted any PnP references in XTC's lyrics? I can't think of any myself, but I'm sure there are Chalkers out there who know the lyrics WAAAAY better than I do. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 11:46:48 -0800 (PST) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: What's up with that? Message-ID: <20010222194648.24269.qmail@web121.yahoomail.com> In his message entitled "Biting the Hand" "Jason Phelan" <phelander@hotmail.com> belched out a little ditty: > >Liiiiiiiiife >is pathetic in the Chalkhouse Why is is that people need to post a message full of vitriol saying they are leaving when they go? Particularly if they didn't like the place they were leaving? It baffles me, truly. Never even heard of the guy before, just baffling. Wow, Mole
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 18:02:39 -0800 From: "Wesley Hanks" <whanks1@earthlink.net@earthlink.net> Subject: three videos Message-ID: <000601c09d3c$c0dd48a0$010000c0@default> ...are stored in the bowels (ewww) of Launch.com of "The Disappointed", "Wonderland", and "Mayor of Simpleton" for streaming viewing pleasure. Search xtc at the site and you will eventually find them. Suggest view The Disappointed first, it is IMHO the best done of the three. After the first view (first one's, free kid) there is registration required. Now go waste some time, Wesley Paul Hanks
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 18:36:48 -0800 (PST) From: pancho artecona <partecona@yahoo.com> Subject: Re:Andaleandalearribaarriba Message-ID: <20010223023648.20851.qmail@web10415.mail.yahoo.com> Hey all thanks for the large number of answers to the annandale question....little did I know it was a musical answer although I knew I could count on Chalknhills. I'll let you know if I win the 2002 edition of The Tarascon Pharmacopeia, a very handy pocketbook. Last years question, for the trivia-minded, was 'what town has 4 elements of the periodic table named after it?' Anyway, XTC is great and if I were a mayor of a town I'd name it after them. Pancho XPRXTCFAN
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 07:19:28 -0000 From: "pop boy" <powerpopboy67@hotmail.com> Subject: Bargain Bin Message-ID: <F180PGZlPZRPtaldZ4Z00010f45@hotmail.com> Dear Everyone, A few people have written in recently about the fact that Wasp Star has been seen rather too often in the bargain bins. I might just have a reason for this.............. I have three friends who are xtc fans, not xtc fans to the extent of being members of this list and having every b-side-demo-bootleg of Rip Van Ruben, but fans in the sense of having all the albums and a good appreciation of the band. Unfortunately they all think (and I have to agree) that Wasp Star was a big disappointment and they hardly ever listen to it anymore. Another friend who only has Skylarking and English Settlement saw a few reviews of Wasp Star and decided to go ahead and purchase it. He has since said that he cant understand what all the fuss is about and that 'it's very very average'. Now of course it's all personal opinion and blah blah blah but I tend to think that outside Chalkhills and associated 'fanzines' that Wasp Star did not set the world alight not because people dont understand xtc but because it simply wasnt one of XTC's better offerings. Every band/artist/actor/director/writer have blips in their careers and Wasp Star might be the 'blip' for the band. Another reason might be that i cant remember seeing Wasp Star in any best of the year lists either and that includes musicians best of's and not just journo's opinions. Ho hum
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 02:24:50 EST From: Telehead@aol.com Subject: Re: church of women Message-ID: <aa.117dea44.27c76a42@aol.com> In a message dated 2/22/01 9:24:45 AM, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: >obligatory xtc content: >i like(d) the song "church of women" but i got sick of it so fast that >now i >always skip over it. OHMIGAWD .... I just LIVE for the guitar solo! Andy is a guitar god! Still in awe, Warren Bishop
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 02:32:16 EST From: Telehead@aol.com Subject: Re: Bizkit Message-ID: <75.10a76049.27c76c00@aol.com> In a message dated 2/22/01 9:24:45 AM, SKYLAR KING writes: >Even I >could've got >better talk >from the "Bizkit" list...... Uhhhh .... 'K .... have fun storming the castle .... Warren Bishop
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 06:08:24 -0800 (PST) From: Ira Lieman <ilieman@yahoo.com> Subject: Bones to pick Message-ID: <20010223140824.13330.qmail@web217.mail.yahoo.com> Chalkaholics, I use Yahoo Player for my MP3 collection at work. Napster is great. :) I happened to download the latest version of it and it has this "now playing" button that, when pressed, gives a little bio of the artist or a link to purchase the album the song is on. Note the following bio of XTC: http://musicfinder.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800236699&cf=11 Yahoo gets their information from a company called Muze. How many factual errors can YOU spot? Starting with AP's birthplace listed as Swindon, the "high-quality songwriting" of "Sgt. Rock" (ok, that might be subjective), and this gem: "After finally showing a profit the band decided to move from Virgin in 1996 and signed with Cooking Vinyl Records in late 1997." It's really a glowing piece -- XTC are wonderful songwriters that never got their due -- but come on! I could have written a better piece than they did. <sigh> Digging out, -ira
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 18:50:23 -0800 From: "Long's" <wlong2@carolina.rr.com> Subject: Any drummers out there? Message-ID: <000f01c09e0c$88b91140$31941a42@q6s2h0.carolina.rr.com> Hiya folks, I need some help. I'm going to be chatting with a famous (at least to us) part time drummer soon and I know very little of the techie side of drumming. The ideal candidate? A studio experienced drummer with extensive knowledge of the Dukes' catalog. hint hint, nudge nudge Drop me a line if you're interested in participating, wesLONG
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 01:20:03 EST
From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com
Subject: Talkin' trash 'bout my XTC!
Message-ID: <65.104abf3c.27c8ac93@aol.com>
>What Colin Moulding song sounds most like an Andy
>Partridge song?--
I say Wake Up. First I heard it I thought it actually was Andy!
**********************
>Quite simply, I need your XTC cassettes.
I don't have any, as I was one never to buy pre-recorded casettes. But I
would be interested in seeing a list of what was officially released on
cassette in the States.
And, I know this is a long shot, but any chance the early ones found their
way onto 8-track? I don't know when 8 track was phased out, but '77 (White
Music) is cutting it close.
***********************
>Sorry for the rant, but everyone else I mention the band to respond
>with "XTC, aren't they dead or something".
Isn't this a sad state of affairs! Oh, and welcome Dewi! You've found a
home with us addicts.
*********************
>Have to say 'The Disappointed' was an apt title.
>He doesn't write trash - but these songs don't have any oomph to me. Or
>real emotional weight. The artist is so often not the best judge of their
>own material.
And who is? You know, the reactions to Nonsuch are probably the most curious
thing I see on this list. I found the album to be like most of XTC's
efforts, different in it's own way, consistently good with a couple of not so
hot entries that don't suck altogether. But the curious thing to me about
this comment is point about lack of real emotional content. What constitutes
that? For me, the most lyrically powerful and emotional song Andy ever wrote
is Rook. The passionate intensity with which he writes and sings over his
existential angst is matchless. It stirs me to no end! And yet it's on
Nonsuch. I also feel that many of the songs carry emotional wallop, such as
Wrapped In Grey, That Wave, The Ugly Underneath, Books Are Burning. I dunno,
whatever floats your boat. As for Andy and Colin's judgement, I myself am
thrilled that these songs were released, given the joy they have brought me!
Just a thought.
Back to sleep. TK.
"Facts are stupid things."
-Ronald Reagan
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 09:37:59 -0800 From: "Long's" <wlong2@carolina.rr.com> Subject: Ollie Halsall Message-ID: <000701c09e88$87b1ef20$31941a42@q6s2h0.carolina.rr.com> Okay, not only does Andy say he's one of the all time great guitarists, so does Dave. Anyone actually heard of Ollie? A quick search on Google and I found a lot about the man and his often Andy-mentioned band Patto. Also, there was an album in 1972 called Ollie & the Blue Trafs which also included Robert Fripp in the lineup. Anybody got some of this audio? wes
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 21:43:30 EST From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: Vanishing songs Message-ID: <9d.11b022b1.27c9cb52@aol.com> > I was shocked looking at the Dukes "Chips..." that 'Vanishing Girl' Is a Red > Curtain (CM) song! > My reasoning goes: > 1) It's up-tempo, CM's songs tend to be slower. > b.] It's more a 'guitar' than a 'bass' song. > III.} Comic Book theme. All of the other 'comic book' songs are AP songs > (Brainiac's Daughter, Sgt. Rock, That's Really Super, Supergirl) > Dave "The Disappointed" Davis I see someone agrees with me (or maybe I agree with him). I've always thought it was the most Andyish sounding but not for any of the above reasons. It just sounds like the type of tune Andy would write. I never really thought of it as being comic book inspired at all. There are bits of the melody that remind me of Earn Enough For Us from Skylarking. Andy songs that remind me of Colin....that's a tougher one... Wayne
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 22:41:33 EST From: OMBEAN1@aol.com Subject: Any takers? Message-ID: <f5.78cebcb.27c9d8ed@aol.com> For sale, real cheap (HA HA) Not really for sale. [ http://chalkhills.org/img.cgi?images/misc/OMBEANTIX.jpg ]
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 18:20:40 -0500 From: mitch friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: a hook laden mini-classic Message-ID: <v03007804b6be200d53e8@[165.247.43.109]> Hi, I just heard a great new cd by a band called Big Fresh. It's called "Yes, Nice, Please, Thanks". It's filled with intelligent, extremely catchy, hook loaded, sometimes quirky Beatlesqueishesque pop. Sounding at times like The Sugarplastic and other times a little like Jason Faulkner with fewer guitars, you can't really go wrong with the disc. Dave Gregory told me about it and he's the one who called it a "hook laden mini-classic". I have to agree. If you're interested in purchasing one, head to www.aquapop.com. Big Fresh have one other cd and you can hear most of the tracks from that at www.mp3.com/bigfresh. Check it out and enjoy! Mitch
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 12:02:47 +1100 From: "Culnane, Paul" <Paul.Culnane@DCITA.GOV.AU> Subject: The renaissance of Star Park!! Message-ID: <17E19E6D5085D41196240000E896881D146CBD@g5dccbr0ms01.dcita.gov.au> G'day Chalk-talkers Some of you may know that I conducted an interview with Terry Chambers in late 1998 [see http://come.to/xtc but do it quickly before the redoubtable Mark Strijbos takes his website down... vale The Little Lighthouse and thanks forever Mark]. Well then, the interview took place after a series of extremely congenial phone-chats Terry and I had after I tracked him down at his place in Newcastle, Australia. After the interview I promised Terry that he would be left alone, at least by me (he expressed the wish to be allowed to get on with his life without being unduly harassed). Imagine my pleasurable surprise then, to discover that his son, Kai, rang me at work and (me being out) left a message to call!! So, I returned the call and was greeted enthusiastically by the great man, Terry, himself. But more about that presently... Kai called me because, remembering a chat he and I had had two years ago, he wanted me to be among the first to hear his new demo CD, and to check my address to send it to. Kai, now 18, plays drums (of course) with a band called - wait for it - STAR PARK. The trio, completed by Jesse Delaney on guitar and vocals, and the band's resident comedian Andy Phillis on bass, have recorded six tunes that they have written and arranged themselves, called "Band For Sale". Apart from just allowing me to hear their music, for some reason they seemed to think that I might have some contacts in "the industry", to pass the disc onto. Well, this I indeed do, and I intend to alert certain figures whom I know, to the CD. The guys are sending me a coupla copies with their bio and photos, etc. It will be interesting to see how Kai resembles his Dad, 'cos he sure sounds like him!... just some of the turns of phrases he uses; he has an Aussie accent, unlike his Dad's undepleted Wiltshire burr! Anyway, when I rang back tonight (this is being written PM 26/2/01), the band was rehearsing at Terry's place for an upcoming gig. Terry was preparing dinner for the family and just put the phone up against the door of the practice room. Gor blimey, what a wonderful racket! It sounded thru the phone like it "went up to 11" and Terry explained that the guitarist, Jesse, was using a vintage Orange amp set-up (which Jesse gleefully hinted in our later convo was a former belonging of one of The Angels). Song rehearsal finished, Terry handed the phone over to the blokes who arranged a 3-way "conference" hook-up, with Kai, Jesse, Andy and I having a fantastic half-hour, or probably more, haha, conversation. We spoke and shared ideas, and it was clear that these three musicians are really keen to give it a go. Er, during the chat, there was mention made to bass-playing chick-magnet Andy Phillis' penchant for humungous mutton-chops and purple flares. 'Nuff sed. We all laffed! I asked not wot the Chamberboys were wearing. Jesse impressed me considerably. Is he the creative pivot of STAR PARK? Mind you, it's only through an initial phone conversation, nothing more. They're sending me the CD and when I cop it I'll report back. I'm sure looking forward to it! But, I'll tell you what: three nicer young blokes you're not likely to encounter. Look out for the second major 3-piece outta Newcastle NSW [geddit?] with, as Jesse Delaney reveals "a mixture of David Bowie and Cream" - a comparison made by their recording engineer. The whole three of them pitched it as a very creative collective, with everybody getting the chance to contribute ideas to songs. The guys explained that their first CD of demos was only the tip of the iceberg. So many new compositions individually & collectively from the band have emerged. While I was speaking to the guys, they seemed sure-fire that their newer stuff is even better. Well: my chat with Terence Chambers... You know, it's pretty amazing how great it was talking to Terry again. He was so "up" and enthusiastic. I will be calling him again soon and I'll let you know what transpires. But when we talked this time, he said that he had spoken recently with Andy. The news is that the Virgin box set is scheduled for a September release. Apparently former Police drummer, Stewart Copeland had some XtC tapes that Hugh Padgham gave him, including the notorious "Drunk & Wired" sessions. Copeland gave these masters to Andy, and apparently he and Colin are in the process of remixing tracks like "Shaving Brush Boogie" and "Whole Lotta Age" for inclusion in the box set. If you haven't heard these sessions before, brace yerselves. They will be a revelation! Terry himself is fine and well, the family is grooving, and he quipped that now, with some back-royalties coming in, he's "almost in the red". He is helping Kai with his band - not so much as a manager (major swear-word around Terry) but as a kind of mentor. I sensed from the young fellas that they respect Terry and admire his work with XtC. They even do a cover of "Complicated Game" which sounds like a pretty heavy choice. Much to my chagrin, Terry told me that last May he and Kai were in Canberra (where I live) to arrange a passport so he could visit his ailing father back in Swindon. He tried to get in touch with me, but alas, I wasn't on the phone then! There went my chance to have a beer or two with one of my heroes. Dang, I'm kicking myself now! But there is every chance that we'll meet up soon, and I hope to hear Star Park on stage too. Kai told me that he got to meet Colin, Dave and Andy when in Swindon and he says they are all really great guys. Kai is now the proud owner of his Dad's old Slingerland drum heads (that Owen Gregory gave to Terry), which he has been giving a right old thrashing! Well, a nice encounter with some lovely people. I just wanted to share this with all of you. And when you see Star Park at the toppermost of the poppermost, remember where you heard about 'em first! ~~p@ul
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 21:54:16 -0500 From: "Chris" <chris@compudrivel.com> Subject: Hello (again) Message-ID: <000801c0a068$938e66c0$8e3a0040@compudrivel.com> Greetings Chalkheads. I was a list member back in August of 97. What a long, strange trip it's been to get back here. But it's like coming home in a way. Great to be back, Chris
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 09:57:41 -0000 From: Dewi Thompson <dewi@dewi1.demon.co.uk> Subject: Portmeirion video / Polls Message-ID: <01C0A0A3.D07F7020@dewi1.demon.co.uk> Hello, Ages (and I mean AGES) ago I saw an XTC video on the TV. I think it was on The Tube (an ancient UK music programme) and it was set in Portmeirion. I wasn't interested in the band at the time, and I only paid attention because it was Portmeirion and I was a fan of the Prisoner. Does anyone know what the video was for? Is it quite a well known one? Listening to Mummer at the moment. I can't say Gold does a lot for me. And does anyone like Procession Towards Learning Land? It sounds too much like an outtake from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway for my liking. As I'm a newcomer, I'm interested if Mummer is generally rated as one of the best albums, or somewhere down the list? As someone who can relate all-too-well to the film "Hi Fidelity" I am always interested in polls. Best album, worst album, best song, best hairdo, best song about Andy's genitalia, you name it. Has anyone ever organised such a thing on Chalkhills? Have I asked too many questions? Oh blimey, there's another one. Dewi
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 23:00:46 -0800 From: "Will Smith" <willdolfan@hotmail.com> Subject: Stuck in the middle without you Message-ID: <OE2OFxgqyR1D8g2hFAI00004f1a@hotmail.com> Organization: My Own Business Richard queried "I noticed that there are copies of Wasp Star on half.com (no endorsement... first time I ever wandered onto the site) that list the condition of the CD as "...hole in barcode..." Has Wasp Star hit the "cut-out" bin already?!" Actually I believe those hole punches are signifiers of promotional copies. Record labels typically dispense such to industry insiders - radio stations, retail stores and the ilk. The bar code is targeted to halt attempts at selling the "promos". Neil Young is famous for taking any and all he finds of his releases being offered in used record stores claiming they are his property not those of the original holder. Cheers, Will Smith My Own Business www.myownbiz.org Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 18:01:58 +0800 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: ES font? Message-ID: <3A9B7B17.56D147EC@tesco.net> Organization: AppleOnline does anyone know if there's a font based on ES or where the type face came from? Jayne the Worrier Queen He Toi Whakairo He Mana Tangata: Where there is artistic excellence there is human dignity - Maori saying Salmagundie can be found at www.stas.net/myrone/shrine.html
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 09:15:38 -0700 From: "Angie Kelson Packer & Shaun Packer" <nick@aros.net> Subject: Rocky Mountain XTC Addicts Message-ID: <001301c0a1a1$b106e6c0$1919adcf@packer> Selected Minutes from the Rocky Mountain XTC Addicts 12-Step Day Retreat: Commence in an institutional meeting room. The walls are beige, without decor. A dozen or so people of varying ages and genders sit on hard, molded chairs engineered not to support the human frame, but to force people into painfully fantastic, or fantastically painful contortions. "I'm Angie, and I'm an XTC addict." A bespectacled woman in her 30's, with ash-blond hair pulled back into a ponytail stands and speaks in a trembling voice. She rolls her eyes to the ceiling, as if looking for divine assistance, or perhaps she is merely counting ceiling tiles. "It all started so innocently, so slowly, and so many years ago, back in '86. My husband, well, we weren't married then, but Shaun really liked XTC. I thought they were okay, you know. Well, except I really liked 'English Settlement.' We went through 3 cassettes and 1 LP before getting the CD. Oh, and the same with 'Skylarking," except only 2 tapes, after that we were getting everything straight on CD. Well, no, we had 'Big Express' on tape. Okay, so I hid the tapes sometimes so I could listen to them in my 'bug, but I really didn't like XTC that much." Other addicts, or recovering XTC addicts for XTC addicts are always in the *process* of recovery, never in a *state* of recovery, shake their heads. "Denial!" accuses one. "No, really, it was my husband. I bought more XTC CD's for him because I knew he liked them. I went to import stores, and CD exchanges. I impulsively spent my paycheck on a "Collector's Edition" import boxed set for Shaun. Just a spontaneous little gift. Almost imperceptibly our, I mean Shaun's collection, technically every single XTC CD we have is his, grew and grew." She begins weeping openly. "I mean, I never suspected a problem. I just passed it off as casual XTC listening, nothing out of control, nothing I couldn't stop at any time. Then, in the past year, things have gotten so much worse. My 5-year old son worries about Andy Partridge. The other day, while listening to 'Wasp Star' my son said, "That guy needs a mommy. Or a woman." My husband sneaks XTC CDs into his car, then denies that he has a problem. 'She's the fan, not me,' he tells people." Sympathetic tongue-clicking circles the room. Someone hands the speaker a box of cheap tissue, as the sobbing increases in strength. "And now...now my brother's new girlfriend turns out to be an XTC fan. It's just..I don't know...it's too much." She shakes her head, and blows her nose. "At my daughter's family birthday party, she turned 7, my mom met the girlfriend for the first time. I knew Kay liked XTC, so after she met my mom, I took Kay up to the master bedroom to show her the Look! video I just got, a really crappy bootleg I paid way too much for, you know to sort of soften the whole meet-the-insane mother thing. I don 't know how much time we spent watching the video and giggling. We finally stopped when my husband came to tell us dinner was ready. I just...I don't know if I need help...or if this is normal...or if I'm having some sort of obsessive break-down...I...I...I..and now, no Fuzzy Warbles," she ends on a wail. As if on cue, the women all rise and enfold the crying woman in a group hug. The men stand, hands in pockets, toeing the tortuously paisley carpet, lingering on the perimeter of the circle of weeping women. Cue 'Church of Women.' No! Don't! It's a *recovery* group! Stop! Stop it, I say! Next Episode: -XTC: The cure (not to be confused with The Cure) workshops. -William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy sing your favorite show tunes, new and old, accompanied on piano by John Tesch. Sharlene Welles Hawkes on harp. And finally...the Escape. Angie "Oops, I did it again." <G>
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 18:14:11 +0800 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: Oh no, Dear God Message-ID: <3A9CCF73.73F24BB3@tesco.net> Organization: AppleOnline Listen to the children of the night. What music they make. Pity they're all tone deaf and singing Dear God. Nicole asked > What is your least favorite XTC song, and why? As many of you may have gathered mine's Dear God. It just puts my teeth on edge. The child's voice is enough to make me take up Herod's child care methods. While I can appreciate the points the song makes, I just find it makes me reach for my battle axe. Also the thought that my copy of Skylarking could have had Dear God instead Mermaid Smiled on is enough to make me want to go and lie down for a while. Now where did I leave that packet of Hell Hound choc-drops. Jayne the Worrier Queen He Toi Whakairo He Mana Tangata: Where there is artistic excellence there is human dignity - Maori saying Salmagundie can be found at www.stas.net/myrone/shrine.html
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 20:15:18 -0000 From: "Simon Sleightholm" <ssleightholm@lineone.net> Subject: Bungalow has moved. Message-ID: <000101c0a1c3$4d62f740$923e7bd5@bungalow> Hello, Just to let you all know that my largely-dormant XTC site, Bungalow, has moved to a new address. It can now be found at http://website.lineone.net/~ssleightholm I'd be grateful if anyone with a weblink to the page would change the link to suit. Cheers, Simon
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 11:18:02 -0600 From: "Richard" <rjpa1@home.com> Subject: Message from ? with tribute questions Message-ID: <006c01c0a273$9278c160$02081fac@mckiny1.tx.home.com> I received an email message on Wednesday, February 28 from someone named "Edward" (if memory serves). He was expressing interest in having his band contribute to the King For A Day XTC tribute. Unfortunately, the system crashed (I blame Bill Gates) before I replied and the message is no longer there. If you know who sent this, please let me know! (rjpa1@home.com) The tribute project is going great and I have some wonderful covers. I will be publishing a list of contributors soon. Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 19:07:41 +0000 From: Mark Fisher <fisher@easynet.co.uk> Subject: Blegvad & Partridge collaboration Message-ID: <a05010400b6c44c6490ff@[194.128.83.69]> Hi, There's a new Peter Blegvad album imminently out (I've got a review copy, and I don't know the release date) called Choices Under Pressure: An Acoustic Retrospective (Resurgence RES143 CD). It's Blegvad covering his own songs, most of them released before. But two of them are 'God Detector' and 'Inside A Gigantic Eye' credited to Blegvad/Partridge. I don't remember hearing of either of these before. Does anyone else? Also included is the Blegvad/Partridge King Strut (which I always think of as a precursor to The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead - anyone agree?) Everyone should also own a copy of Blegvad's cartoon book The Book of Leviathan, by the way. Mark
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #7-11 ******************************
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