Chalkhills Digest Volume 7, Issue 31
Date: Wednesday, 16 May 2001
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 31
Wednesday, 16 May 2001
Topics:
A coat of many comments
Slom - di barthrop RRRRRRRRuppppppp ding!!!!!!!
Patrisk Asked...
Atlanta eXTCtravaganza
Re: XTC at the Armadillo
We're All US
no more oil (midnight, that is)
Re: Orgone Box
Jurassic Byrne
A coupla things
Re-issue Tigers
Theremin-ty Fresh
WINGSPAN
Re: Psonic Psunspot on CD
Free download from "Homegrown"
ah.....life is good!
Now why stop there?
Oh No The Radio
Klaatu Barada Nikto
Minutes Of Meeting 12/05/2001
Homegrown - Japanese style
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I think I preferred it when your hair was in a mess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 01:46:54 EDT From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: A coat of many comments Message-ID: <bf.e1ecb23.2828e24e@aol.com> In a message dated 5/7/01 9:52:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: > And the AllMusic database is down, so I can't check the authorship of "Cry > for a Shadow," but I thought it was credited jointly to all the Beatles. > Can't be sure so I'll grant you that one. I've always loved George's playing > on that ... that and the solo for "My Bonnie." That eighteen-year-old kid > could COOK. Actually, Cry is a Lennon-Harrison composition. From Warren -has anyone noticed on the reissue of drums and wires, that at the beginning of "ten feet tall" there is some mumbled words before the song actually starts, that wasn't on the original, what's all that about? has anyone else spotted any little additions to the re-releases? or was my record player so crap that i never heard this before? a confused warren from surrey. I noticed that as well. I don't believe it was on the previous CDs (and I don't own the vinyl anymore so couldn't compare the two). I'll have to do an AB comparison between the Geffen CD and the Japanese remaster. It sounds glorious! I haven't noticed anything similar yet but Black Sea has never sounded better. ES doesn't sound as dramatically different but then I'm comparing it to the UK version (vs. the Geffen version). Still, the production doesn't sound as thin. I'm really looking forward to The Big Express and Mummer. Patrick asks -My question: does the Japanese version have more songs and comes out a whole month eariler? Yep. >Oh yeah, we went to the Crissy Field opening day ceremonies today. >I wore my Chalkhills Horse hat. I got no comments on it. Oh well. > > -- John John, that's because all the cool folks (besides you) couldn't attend. I was busy mending my fence. Oh, a belated congrads on the fiddle competition win! Wayne
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 09:06:00 EDT
From: JackJacovides@aol.com
Subject: Slom - di barthrop RRRRRRRRuppppppp ding!!!!!!!
Message-ID: <30.1467aba7.28294938@aol.com>
Hello from Sunny England,
minerr (Chalkhills #7-30) wrote:
Everything else I've seen or heard from him suggests that he's the most
articulate musician on the planet.
This reminded me of an interview said AP gave on British TV, it must have
been late 1987. The show was some Saturday morning thing for kids, you know
the sort of thing - a cartoon, a bit of slapstick and a competition. Anyway,
there is our Andy doing his thing to push You're a Good Man Albert Brown,
being very convivial but hating the fact he's had to sell his soul to get the
video shown (a strange puppet show effort if I remember correctly).
So AP is doing his 'the Dukes are our alter-ego' blarney, when he gets
confronted by a phone call from some poor child in Netherwallop whose
birthday it just happens to be. This little scene has been skilfully set up
by the shows producer to put AP on the spot, as he is cheerfully asked to
sing Happy Birthday to the spoilt brat. Choices need to be made. Does he, a)
sing the damn song and look a complete arse to the rest of the music world,
or b) tell 'em to stick it where the sun don't shine?
True to form, The Man comes up with option c - sung to the tune of Happy
Birthday-
' Slom - di barthrop RRRRRuppp ding,
Slom - di barthrop RRRRRuppp ding,
Slom - di barthrop dear (enter poor childs name),
Slom - di barthrop RRRRRRRRRRRuPPPPPPPP ding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Leaving presenter, child and studio audience in stunned silence. A piece
of pure magic! Yes, not only the most articulate musician on the planet, but
a damn good escapologist, too!!!
Hope this little ditty has sparked a few memories for those of you in
dear 'ole blighty. I've no idea how well known this little episode is to
those of you upon distant shores, but can I suggest you try using the
alternative version the next time a loved one clocks up another notch. Much
more interesting than the traditional version, I find!
And in winter, when you draw the wine, let there be in your heart a song
for each cup
(Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet)
JJ
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 06:18:32 -0700 (PDT) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: Patrisk Asked... Message-ID: <20010508131832.28044.qmail@web13406.mail.yahoo.com> My question: does the Japanese version have more songs and comes out a whole month eariler *********************************************************************** Yes, Cheers Mole
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 07:23:30 -0700 From: "Michael Versaci" <mwversaci@att.net> Subject: Atlanta eXTCtravaganza Message-ID: <000201c0d7ca$75712990$aa27500c@tornbmv> Folxtc, Pete Roberts was visiting my home this weekend, and he suggested that we have another "XTC Summer Celebration" here in the Atlanta area. If anyone is interested, please e-mail me privately. Michael Versaci
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 12:07:13 -0500 From: "Bill O'Leary" <boleary@alltel.net> Subject: Re: XTC at the Armadillo Message-ID: <000901c0d7e1$5594c340$0200000a@General.alltel.net> Steve Oleson's suppositions are correct: XTC played the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin (with Wazmo Nariz) on Feb. 15, 1980. I know--I was there, too. Twenty-one years on, the memory is pretty shaky, but I do remember: 1--Wazmo Nariz wasn't too good--played his "hit" Checkin' Out the Checkout Girl and wore about 12 ties. 2--XTC were great--the show was focused on Drums and Wires material, along with the classics from Go2 (Battery Brides, Meccanic Dancing, Are You Receiving Me) and White Noise (This is Pop, Statue of Liberty). The long jam at the beginning of Battery Brides was accompanied by a scratch film projected on the stage, while a static black and white grid (not unlike graph paper) was projected during other portions of the show. (Steve, does this match what you remember?....) 3--If you've got access to the Japanese bootleg XTC Live (Extatic EX006), that show was recorded Jan 30, 1980 in Boston--two weeks before the Austin show, so it's a good representation of what XTC sounded like during that period. 4--The Armadillo was not sold out, maybe 1/2 to 3/5 full. Most everyone stood from the stage back to the sound board, dancing and singing our heads off. 5--I believe the Daily Texan (UTexas student newspaper) printed a review, but I've checked my archives and I can't locate the copy I thought I saved--anyone else with Texan archive access want to give it a shot? 6--Finally, attached is a scan of my ticket stub from the Feb. 15, 1980 Austin show, which Mr. Relph may wish to place in the appropriate Chalkhills section... Bill O'Leary [ see http://chalkhills.org/img.cgi?images/misc/Ticket800215.jpg ]
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 12:23:20 -0600 From: Kirk.Gill@equifax.com Subject: We're All US Message-ID: <OF60297276.6BE2A348-ON87256A46.00558203@fin.equifax.com> For those of us in the US, why pay more? I ordered the Japanese paper-sleeve remasters from Amazon.co.uk, and paid a total of $13.50 each with shipping cost of less than $5 for the lot. Shipping took exactly one week from the UK to Denver. And all are right, Drums and Wires sounds AMAZING. One thing that had previously escaped me, though. "Complicated Game" is a Colin Moulding song? Andy obviously sings that one, but the original paper sleeve lists Mr. Moulding as the architect. Forgive my ignorance, but is that the only example of either a: Andy singing a Colin song, or b: the song credits being screwed up on an XTC release? Well, other than the Upsy Daisy assortment, where the track listings on the packaging are completely schizo.............. I did just note that the new paper sleeve (the one with all the Japanese characters on it) lists the song as Andy's, which, I guess, settles that. Also, in my current attempt to bankrupt myself by snagging on Xtc-trius, I've obtained the Oranges and Lemons Demo CD. What really impresses me is the "completeness" of these demos. The sound quality is shite (probably more the fault of the heels who released this disc than the demos themselves), but on songs like "Here Comes President Kill Again" the tune is already so close to being "there," that I'm moved. And on the "Mayor of Simpleton" demo, the machine-drums are annoying, but the bass part is already almost exactly as recorded for the commercial release. Does anyone know if Andy created and recorded that bass part himself, or did he get Colin to stop in and do it on the demo? An additional note: on the CD label itself the disc is titled CHALKHILLS. And my question for the guys from TVT is, why remove "Didn't Hurt a Bit" and "Bumper Cars" from the non-Japanese versions of "Homegrown?" I just totally don't understand that. It's stupid, it's irresponsible. Am I missing something? What, I'm gonna have to kick out the bucks for the recording twice just because you are twits? I think not. I'll just have to get those songs some other way... XTC Content? Are you kidding me? k? "I grow old, I grow old............I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled..."
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 17:21:02 -0400 From: hiner1@uakron.edu Subject: no more oil (midnight, that is) Message-ID: <3AF8633D.7B2168DB@uakron.edu> Went to buy my tickets for Midnight Oil, INXS, and Men at Work today, only to find that they had canceled all shows in the U.S. There was no explanation given - has anybody heard what happened here? Will these bands tour separately? I'm intensely disappointed, as I missed the Oils (the only band I really wanted to see) when they came through Ohio last time. I did see They Might Be Giants this weekend - always a fun show. And they did not play "25 O'Clock" nor "XTC vs. Adam Ant." That was my XTC content for this post. Muckafergason opened for TMBG. Very funny and talented band. Anybody heard of these guys? -- - Matt Hiner, Part-time Faculty University of Akron Lakeland Community College Email: hiner1@uakron.edu . . "No one will vote for a flattened out rabbit carcass, I always say."
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 8 May 2001 22:12:10 +0100
From: "John Bartlett" <john@bartlett132.screaming.net>
Subject: Re: Orgone Box
Message-ID: <00ce01c0d803$a6ab0060$109f403e@bartlett132>
Hello all,
"Jonny Pop" <jbkxtc@mail.ev1.net> wrote:
>
> Okay, I just heard a new record that has blown me completely away, and
> I think XTC - and especially Dukes fans - would love it. It's called
> "The Orgone Box" and it's by this guy Rick Corcoran from the UK. He
> was in a band called Orange that released an EP in '94 and then they
> broke up. Then in '96 Rick recorded "The Orgone Box" and it was only
> released in Japan. Well, Bill Forsythe of Minus Zero records in London
> tracked Rick down and convinced him to let Minus Zero re-release it.
> Bill says he believes it is one of the finest albums to come out of
> England in the last 20 years!
>
> I've only heard it twice and it may already be one of my favorite
> albums of all time (and I in no way, shape or form work for Bill or
> Minus Zero). Go to www.minuszerorecords.com and check it out.
I can echo this recommendation. It has the Dukes written all over it. For
those of the American persuasion, I believe it can be obtained there via
www.notlame.com , who are based in Colorado.
Cheers,
John
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 00:29:09 -0400
From: "Benjamin A. Gott" <bgott@bowdoin.edu>
Subject: Jurassic Byrne
Message-ID: <B71E3FD5.4394%bgott@bowdoin.edu>
Gang,
I just bought David Byrne's newest, "Look into the Eyeball," and I am
thoroughly impressed. Although our pal David has gone completely gray (the
portrait on the cover is particularly striking!), he's still got "it,"
whatever "it" is. I also picked up Jurassic 5's first EP and, if you're in
the mood for good, old-school, West coast rap as it was meant to be, I'd
recommend both this album and their recent full-length. I saw J5 in concert
a few weekends ago, and I was impressed. They're amazing.
I had a really weird moment tonight while watching M-TV2. We had turned it
on in the living room as background, and were wandering in and out (although
I was stationed by the T.V. for most of the 10-12 shift -- I *am* a senior,
after all!) In any case, someone requested "Jeremy" and I decided to stick
around to watch it, even though I'd seen it any number of times between '91
and now. What struck me was that the video (and song) was, as it turns out,
eerily prophetic -- perhaps more so than any other video (or song) from that
period. The final cut, with Eddie Furlong (right?) returning to kill his
classmates, and that frightening shot of all of them frozen in fear, white
shirts stained with blood, actually gave me goosebumps. Sure, it was
downright disturbing when it was released, but recent high-profile tragedies
across our country make it even more so now. That's one aural/visual
package that has never lost its punch -- from the violence at the end of the
song to the mundane references to the weather ("64 degrees and cloudy") that
bookend the video. When Pearl Jam had it, they had it, didn't they? (And
when they don't have it, God, they're awful!)
Oblig XTC: waiting patiently for "...Warbles"!
-Ben
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 11:08:55 +0930 From: "Van Abbe, Dominic" <dominic.vanabbe@au.faulding.com> Subject: A coupla things Message-ID: <45C458C0C9C7D2119F790000F87A42A40269C81B@s-mulgrave6.faulding.com.au> Hi all, A couple of quickies (ooh...err....missus...) Firstly, is it just me or does Andy's early demo recording of "The Pot Won't Hold Our Love" (from "Homegrown") bring to mind Bob Mould. The timbre of the guitar, and the vocal inflections (particularly the Arabic-esque yodelling after each chorus) recall tracks such as Thumbtack and even the couple of acoustic numbers on the last Husker Du album, IMO. Mr. Mole Esq, being a Du fan, has this occurred for you?? Secondly, someone asked "Does anyone here like Radiohead?". To use a good Australian-ism "Bloody Oath!!!". Their most recent stuff, in particular, is fascinating. It might not always work, but at least they're trying something different. You can't say the same about Travis, Coldplay, Muse etc. and all the other Radiohead-wannabes out there... Whilst we're on the subject, can anyone work out the time signature on "Pyramid Song"- it's got me buggered..... Cheers, Dom
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 May 2001 01:40:37 EDT From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: Re-issue Tigers Message-ID: <4f.b5ca2ee.282a3255@aol.com> >On the subject of reissues...two of the most professional treatments have >got to be the Elvis Costello series bested only by the Kinks catalogue. The >latter is a study in how old albums can be re-born in the digital age with >complete images, information and excellent sound. Hear, hear! The Costello discs are superb, with the acoustic and live versions among the bonus tracks. What a thrill! And great info. I also thought the Byrds reissues were excellent, with the bonus tracks including various remixes and, in the case of 5D, a bizarre but fascinating one-sided radio interview (you don't hear the interviewer, just the answers by the band - mostly McGuinn and Crosby, being rebellious and enlightened kids in the sixties). Tons of extra history and pix, and the remastered sound is *fabulous*. Haven't heard any of the XTC remasters yet - I'm groaning as I blew a load getting everything replaced on disc 2 years ago. Argy bargy! TK %-) "When I want your opinion, I'll give it to you." - Samuel Goldwyn
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 21:24:50 -0500 From: David Lake <blushift1@home.com> Subject: Theremin-ty Fresh Message-ID: <3AF9FBF2.E09FAB2F@home.com> Organization: Blushift Productions Out of the murky depths go I.... Just couldn't help but notice all the hoop-la about the our old sci-fi soundtrack friend 'The Theremin'. Ran across this site a bit ago and thought some of you might enjoy having your own Warbly-Warbly from our good old pals at the BBC. Much regrets if this has been posted before. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/playground/theremin1.shtml Have fun and don't stay up too late 'ya goofball! David On the platter: Stabilizers - One Simple Thing
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 11:25:25 -0700 From: "Benjamin Adams" <jazzbutchr@worldnet.att.net> Subject: WINGSPAN Message-ID: <LDEEKKAODFNCJGEKECFIKEJGCAAA.jazzbutchr@worldnet.att.net> Been over a year since my last posting, but I've been lurking! I picked up the new McCartney anthology, WINGSPAN, a couple days ago. All in all a noble effort, hardly spoilt by non-sequential programming and the inclusion of a few '80's solo tunes that should be placed on a separate disc. (Paul! I love ya but "Tug of War," "Coming Up," "Waterfalls," "Take It Away," "No More Lonely Nights," and "Pipes of Peace" are SERIOUSLY out of place on what is nominally a 1970's / Wings collection!) However, this non-sequential programming allowed me to hear "Pipes of Peace" and "C Moon" consecutively, which startled the hell out of me. Both of these songs are SO Partridgesque that it's frightening. I can imagine XTC covering both of them, which does NOT hold true for the majority of McCartney's output. The tune "Pipes of Peace" in particular (surprisingly enough, considering how the album it's from is held to be one of Macca's worst efforts) seems responsible for inspiring the majority of Andy's McCartneyish tendencies on Apple Venus Vol. 1. Finally, let me just say that if I never, ever hear "No More Lonely Nights" again in ANY version it'll be too soon, so why was it necessary to put BOTH versions on this anthology? But at least this thang ain't got the beyond twee "Ebony and Ivory" on it, and that makes it miles better than ALL THE BEST.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 00:23:03 +0100 From: "Pledge" <Pledge7@btinternet.com> Subject: Re: Psonic Psunspot on CD Message-ID: <003401c0d9a8$29f921e0$ab837ad5@oemcomputer> John Went and had a look at Cdnow.com and realised that although it claims to be Psonic Psunspot the track times relate to the track times from Chips From The Chocolate Fireball. So it's probably another mistake like Amazon.co.uk offering a 108 track (or whatever it was) box set for #10.99 a couple of weeks back. Did anyone order one? I was going to and demand they supply it but decided against it as they are generally quite good... Pledge John Relph wrote: >Well, now, that's odd. I just surfed CDNOW and they have a listing >for "Psonic Psunspot" on CD. No, not "Chips From The Chocolate >Fireball". The track listing begins with "Vanishing Girl" and the >cover picture is in fact "Psonic Psunspot". From Geffen. > >http://cdnow.com/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/from=sr-131222-1/itemid=298649 > >Does anybody own this item?
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:07:32 -0700 From: Kris Chen <kris@tvtrecords.com> Subject: Free download from "Homegrown" Message-ID: <B7219493.2ED4%kris@tvtrecords.com> Hello It's Kris again- from TVT. Hopefully everyone will be going out to pick up Homegrown when it hits stores in the US on May 22nd, but in the meantime if you'd like - we are offering a free download of "I'm the man who murdered love". Here's the link http://license.reciprocalrights.com/ISIS10/entry.asp?content_guid=C0CF58797FCC4AD683BF85A8D966BB4F&nopopup=true Spread it around and enjoy! Kind Regards, Kris Chen TVT Records
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:34:08 -0700
From: "Dan Phipps" <phipps@schoollink.net>
Subject: ah.....life is good!
Message-ID: <001001c0da59$bb348620$b58c04d8@pavilion>
hi all on the 'Hill of Chalk!
i'm out of lurking mode for a moment to share a thought
on something special --
i got my "homegrown" cd from cduniverse.com today that
i recently ordered and am listening to it now for the first time!!
it's so cool that all this new music which i ordered has arrived
today...and on a friday on top of that!! (icing on the cake, gang!)
(dan is actually "stupidly happy" right now!! LOL)
i honestly had no idea that this japan-imported disc has bonus tracks
on it!! and it has a total of 22 tracks altogether, too!! i immediately
scanned the disc and it comes up to over 70 minutes of XTC demos!
man, i love this!! and it really is a nice package all around, too. very
informative and all. god, if i'd known before it was gonna be all this,
i'd have ordered this treasure a hell of a lot sooner! ;-)
do yourself (and the swindon boys) a favor...treat yourself to
something really, really nice and GET THIS DISC!! it's a bit pricy,
but it's imported from japan (the sound quality is out of this world!!)
and it's worth every cent you pay. you will NOT be disappointed,
that's for damned sure!
and besides, this is XTC we're talkin' about here!! come on!!
EXCELLENT job, boys!!! now let's see something of the "fuzzy
warbles" boxed set!! :-)
later, all --
/danny (who like exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!)
(back to lurking mode)
--
"all of the answers you seek can be found
in the dreams that you dream..."
(dan fogelberg)
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 11:27:47 -0700 From: "Macdonald, Robert " <RMacdonald@bcbc.bc.ca> Subject: Now why stop there? Message-ID: <46C2D3D3D981D41187E300508B6670347612AB@bcbcmail.bcbc.bc.ca> Hey wacky fanatic friends As about twenty other hillers are writing in right now..... at the start of Ten Feet Tall on the newly remastered discs you can hear Dave Gregory talking. You hear a guitar string plucked and then it sounds to me like him saying, "now why stop there?"...and the song begins. Oh it's all in the details...the small things in life! I bought Drums and Wires and Black Sea last week for the cheap price of $16.69 Canadian dollars. Great sound, great packaging! It's my first cd's other than Nonsuch. I'm glad I waited. I showed my wife the great detail that had gone into replicating the original lp's. She gave me a worried look and said, "you're really into this thing aren't you". Of course we listened to them back to back and she loved it. I caught her bopping around to the chorus of That Is The Way! As for all you artists out there who are represented on Chalkheads on MP3.com I am in awe and extremely jealous of you all. In another life that is what I should be doing. I even mentioned to my wife a few weeks ago that we should chuck it all, move somewhere where it's cheap to live and I'd take an audio engineering course and build a home studio. I'm positive that given the chance I'd be a great untrained dabbler...just like eno! Anyway great work, I have enjoyed the songs I have heard immensely. Ah well back to the real world. My job is flying me to a conference in Chicago next month. I'll be there from June 17th - 21st. NeoCon at the Merchandise Mart for you locals. I'd love to hear from any of you living in those parts with recommendations on places to hit....restaurants, record and book stores and the like. I will be travelling with my wife and baby so as much as I would like to hear that my favourite band (who still tours) is playing I'm afraid that I won't be able to make it. Thanks in advance! Hope life is treating you all well. Cheers Rob Macdonald Victoria BC Canada
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 13:51:27 -0400 From: "Michael Versaci" <mwversaci@att.net> Subject: Oh No The Radio Message-ID: <000201c0db0c$2e901960$44364d0c@tornbmv> Folxtc, I was grinding through my day-gig this week on a road trip in Long Beach CA. LA radio sucks like Atlanta radio sucks like New York radio sucks like a broken window eight miles high sucks like Kevin Gilbert "offing" himself 5 years ago this month sucks like ELO's version of "Roll Over Beethoven" sucks like an Electrolux in a sales demo sucks like a hole in a spacesuit sucks like everyone-knows-who-in-the-hell-Destiny's-Child-is-but-XTC-remain-an-asterisk sucks! I'm on the plane jonesin' for the Owsley CD. Fortunately, I packed "Free Hand" but I have to say that "On Reflection" burning up the headphones at 28,000 feet "allaroundallaroundallaroundallaroundallaround" isn't exactly conducive to writing. I think that we are in the midst of a genuine conspiracy perpetrated by the power brokers in the music business, and I'm not one to believe all the paranoid bullshit conspiracy theories out there, partly because the evidence is usually overwhelmingly for the popular position, but, mainly because most of us are too fucking stupid to manage a fly in a mason jar let alone fake a moon landing and keep it a secret for more than a day or two. Girls with big hair, curvaceous asses and gravity-defying silicon tits are easy enough to find. They don't need to have an abundance of singing talent (like the incredible Annie Lenox for example.) Talent has been rendered unnecessary (some would go further and say that it has become a liability) by the electronic gadgetry available in the studios these days. If you want to make records in the twenty-something century, hire some soulless jaded Berkley graduate who wanted to be the next Miles or Coltrane or Metheny (but can't get anyone to listen) to "compose" their TV commercials and weave a few sexual innuendoes into the lyrics and then mix it up with a dash of reverb, a smattering of digital drum tracks and a murder of slick tape loops. Next, bring in the bimbos, give them some coke and watch them meow and bark into the mics and don't worry about the fact that the concept of pitch is as alien to them as integral calculus is to a pygmy. Mutt Lang or Jimmy Jam or whomever-the-fuck's turn it is this week will put it all together and make it sound like all the other manufactured muzik that oozes like napalm from the speakers and grill of your radio, the glass teat, the movie theaters, the malls and the grocery stores lickety-fucking-split NEXT! "Oh no the radio is playing the song AGAIN!" Yeah, it is way easier to do what they are doing today than to find Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding and Dave Gregory or Kevin Gilbert or Owsley. Genuine artistic talent is hard to find and harder to manage. If Andy wants to sing about melting the guns down he ain't gonna let no under-assistant-west-coast-promo man tell him that he can't because it might offend some bible-thumping right-wing pro-life-pro-death-penalty-gun-loving-god-fearing American. Funny isn't it though that the suits don't mind offending gays and women and other minorities with that shite that spews out of Eminem like stink from a cornered skunk under the guise of "artistic expression," "free speech" and "pushing the envelope?" The only envelope that no-talent puppet is pushing is the one which contains the profits that he's reaping for the corporate engine that is powered by greed, corruption and cynicism. (Permit me to digress for just a moment-Tonight on the plane, they were featuring the mildly entertaining "Miss Congeniality" and they showed the usual disclaimer about how the movie had been modified for the oh-so-sensitive people on the plane. The censors deemed it appropriate to replace the word "ass" with "butt" but judged the slaughter of human beings as acceptable fodder for the airline traveler. You know, wisecrack about the lieutenant, drink of latte, smoke a cigarette, pump a few rounds into the bad guys all in a days work. The people on the plane might complain because Sandra Bullock refers to her oh-so-cute derriere as an "ass" but shit we're ok with the guns blazing and people dying on the screen because it happens everyday so no big deal right? Long live the gun lobby, god bless them. Fuck me.) So it is a damned conspiracy. They've got us believing that the free market drives the business and that they are only giving the people what they've asked for. You know what? I used to believe that too. I used to think, "of course they're gonna play that repetitive banal tripe that sounds like all the other repetitive banal tripe because people like it." Never mind that it makes me want to rush into the crapper and fed-ex my dinner to its final destination eight hours ahead of its scheduled departure time. So why then do my kids love XTC, Kevin Gilbert and now Owsley? Why did my eleven-year-old daughter play "River of Orchids" for her best friend telling her that it is one of her favorite songs? If this arcane and sublime music is so difficult to appreciate that only discerning adults with an educated musical palate such as ourselves can actually want to listen to it, then why do my offspring ask me if they can borrow my CD's? Seems to me that if the radio played "We're All Light" twenty times a day (shit do I really want THAT?) that it would be number one instead of that cacophonous "I'm a Survivor" rubbish. The criminals who pull the strings of the music business are ignoring the real artists and promoting talent-less zombies with plastic-crafted mannequin tits, sculpted bodies and pretty faces because they can make them do what they want and when the public grows tired of them they can just go pluck 3 more from the queue and start all over again. Or at least that is how I've been feeling this week. Michael Versaci
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 20:12:34 +0200 From: "Mark Strijbos" <mark.strijbos@hccnet.nl> Subject: Klaatu Barada Nikto Message-ID: <200105141801.UAA19114@smtp.hccnet.nl> Dear Chalkers, > 'We're All Light?' > (Because of the 'Theremin' - I wonder if that's really what it is). well, correct me if i'm wrong but it is nearly impossible to actually play a real Theremin in tune like in the WAL 'solo'. Think about it: it is not unlike playing a guitar without a fretboard; you literally have to play it by ear as you go along without any easy reference points like frets or keys. On the other hand it is fairly easy to set up any decent synthesizer to produce the kind of sounds associated with Theremins. If you listen closely to WAL you can also hear that the sound itself is fairly static; all the notes have more or less the same character. Compare this to the Theremin bits from Good Vibrations for instance or to the soundtrack of The Day The Earth Stood Still. Different kettle of fish IMHO. But i'd love to be proven wrong though! I like Theremins and all other electronic noise makers and would love to know our Heroes actually used one. anyone know more? yours in xtc, Mark Strijbos
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 21:12:56 +0100 From: "Rory Wilsher" <rory.wilsher@lineone.net> Subject: Minutes Of Meeting 12/05/2001 Message-ID: <002101c0dcb2$5d841300$514b7bd5@oemcomputer> Meeting held Oxford, UK, 12/13 May 2001 Attendees: Belinda Blanchard (BB) Mick Casey (MC) Richard Horrocks (RH) Jayne The Worrier Queen (JTWQ) David Smith (DS) Rory Wilsher (RWi) Robert Wood (RWo) Apologies: Everyone Else Convened at: Wig & Pen, Oxford Chairman's Remarks: The Chairman would like to thank all attendees for their attendance and prompt arrival. Introductions: As most of the attendees had not previously met, introductions were expedited by the means of sporting "Pie Trap" and "Stupidly Happy" t-shirts. Item 1. RH proposed a visit to the bar. Purpose: to purchase intoxicating licquor. The proposal was seconded by RWi and carried unamimously. The motion was re-proposed and carried several times. Item 2. RWi proposed lunch. The motion was seconded by DS. The proposal was carried by a majority vote, with no abstentions. Item 3. RH proposed the taking of photographs. The motion was second by RWo. The motion was carried by majority vote, with 2 abstentions (BB & JTWQ) who covered their faces and ducked. At this stage, the meeting split up into syndicate groups. Group 1: Investigated the continued effects of intoxicating licquor, whilst observing a televisual exhibition of Association Football. Group 2: Investigated the city of Oxford, with particular emphasis on its architecture, parks, and River Isis. At 5:00 pm, the syndicate groups reconvened to discuss their findings. (That's enough of the minutes. Ed) Ah, to hell with this! Look, we all went up, down, or sideways to Oxford on Saturday. It was really warm and sunny, and we went to a few pubs, sat around talking about XTC and related subjects, got to know each other a bit, went to another pub, talked a lot about XTC, had dinner, went to another pub, talked about XTC, swore undying love, etc etc. On Sunday morning we drove out to Uffington. Sadly, the horse was out of bounds due to foot'n'mouth. We were able to see it, but only from a distance and from a poor perspective. so shortly you'll have the inestimable pleasure of seeing some photos with a very feint and faraway white horse in the background. Well, would you Adam'n'Eve it? There's a pub nearby called The White Horse Inn. So, with the help of Richard's stereo, and Mick's geetar, we spent a happy couple of hours in the beer garden listening to, playing, and occasionally singing along to Swindon's finest. Andy and Colin turned up as well and did an impromptu acoustic concert in the garden, showcasing new material and playing requests. Much info was swapped. Videos, CDs, t-shirts and stories were exchanged. And a good time was had by all. Rory Wilsher
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 12:50:54 +0200 From: "Clinton, Martin" <martin.clinton@dnb.no> Subject: Homegrown - Japanese style Message-ID: <F70DE9BB2D68D311B9030001FA44D3F069B095@sm34372.dnb.no> Hi everyone, Got the Japanese Homegrown from Amazon.com yesterday, and very nice it is. Interesting point in the sleeve notes to one song Andy writes 'Another song written around this time was "Prince of Orange", but I'll see you on Fuzzy Warbles for that'. For those interested, despite the Amazon site listing the Japanese Homegrown as a 'special order' I placed my order April 18th, it was posted May 8th, and I received it here in England May 15th. not bad all in all. Martin
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #7-31 ******************************
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