Chalkhills Digest Volume 7, Issue 57
Date: Wednesday, 14 November 2001
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 7, Number 57
Wednesday, 14 November 2001
Topics:
Best XTC song "for beginners"
sucker
Echo, Ben and Jazz
XTC books for sale...
XTC French words
BFF, KC, RPM, BE, RIP
It's a small [square] world
Review of Black Sea?
Oh Wow
Sightings on VH1 Classic
What the Faun Told Lucy
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Selling guns to simpletons / To shoot 'em in the abdomen.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 17:41:10 EST From: GnXn282@aol.com Subject: Best XTC song "for beginners" Message-ID: <76.125033fd.29171e06@aol.com> Today I was trying to get my friend into XTC by recommending some songs for her to download, and then I drew a total blank. I thought to myself "What song would be the most accessible for newcomers?" and I just couldn't figure out. She ended up getting "Senses Working Overtime" and loved it, but I can't help but wonder what is the best song to use to lure people in without misleading them as to what XTC is about. So I turn to you guys, what do you all think? Justin Lee (first time poster, short time reader) PS: Am I the only one who thinks "Go 2" is a really good album? Maybe its just my sick sense of humor...
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 16:25:03 -0800 (PST) From: Jeff Eby <jeffaeb@yahoo.com> Subject: sucker Message-ID: <20011105002503.18369.qmail@web11608.mail.yahoo.com> Thomas Vest wrote >>1) Is Goodnight, Sucker really a B side that was not included on my copy of the EP or is this misprinted on the website as a track on 3D-EP?<< It's there, just listen a little more closely. and since we've brought up the subject of vinyl, I feel I must share in the joy I felt when I finally found 25 o'clock AND Psonic Psunspot at a local record shop. OH JOY! I'm not actually one of those rabid fans that has to have everything but these beautifully over the top psychedelic album covers have to be seen to believed. It was truly a shame to discard the artwork for Chips from the Chocolate Fireball CD. 25 o'clock is now proudly displayed for all to see, above my clock. It also provided me with a new e-mail signature. Sir Jeff Jeffs == The DUKES say it's time... it's time to visit the planet smile... it's time the love bomb was dropped... it's time to kiss the sun... it's time to drown yourself in SOUNDGASM... and it's time to dance through the mirror. The Duke's declare it's 25 O'CLOCK.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2001 02:18:05 From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: Echo, Ben and Jazz Message-ID: <F218TVn2AI3F5Y0ZwBt00000ed3@hotmail.com> Thanks to everyone who kindly responded to my Echo & The Bunnymen query - the feedback was much appreciated. I actually saw another live clip of EATB last night in that marvellous film "Urgh! A Music War" which screened last night on cable here in Oz. Damn, but there were some good bands back then ... and what a stonking version of "Respectable Street" our lads turned in. Hadn't seen that in a donkey's age and it sure brought a much-needed smile to my face. * * * >From: DanAbnrml9@aol.com >Subject: Re: Ben Folds >For the record, the bass player on Ben Folds' tour right now is Millard >Powers, who is EXTREMELY talented himself. He (along with the equally Jason, by NO means was I dissing Millard or Snuzz or whoever the drummer is (who is a shit-hot player IMO, impressed me greatly when I saw Ben recently at his fabbo Newtown RSL gig in Sydney). I guess I was just trying to say that there was a certain 'frisson' with the combination of Ben, Darren and Robert's voices that differs from the blend of the current lineup, great as they are. I meant no disrespect! * * * >From: The Colonel <captainextraneous@yahoo.com> >Subject: Re: Ben Folds >I'm pretty sure that when he said "shouldn't he call >himself Ben Folds Three" that is was a JOKE. > >Duh. > >The Colonel Ohhhh, is THAT what he was doing? * * * Johnny hates jazz? Strewth -- what's not to like????? My heart goes out to you. Imagine never knowing the nutty joy of Thelonious Monk ... the breakneck phaselocked riffing of Diz & Bird ... the sheer immaculate perfection of Satch and 'Fatha' Hines duetting on 'Weatherbird' ... the majesty of The Duke ... ... 'Kind of Blue', fer crissakes?!?! Someone take this person under their wing and enlighten them! Chris's suggestions were a good start. Maybe also Weather Report's "Heavy Weather" might be an accessible entree, via the fusion scene? And seriously ... try Miles Davis, 'Kind of Blue'. If you can't find *something* in that record, there's no hope for you! Turn on your radio - find a jazz station. Look for some mp3's. Give it a chance. Listen. You might surprise yourself. Try some classic swing -- maybe Benny Goodman, or Archie Shaw? Try some original 20s jazz, some of the Armstrong Hot Five and Hot Seven sides. The Goodman small groups projects with Charlie Christian. The Hot Club of France. You have a whole century of riches out there waiting. It's not going to stop you liking pop, and it might even broaden your mind. Go get it!! * * * I'm going to conclude with a brief off-topic conclusion for overseas readers, if I may? I'd REALLY like to recommend a fantastic new TV series that is currently screening here on the ABC. It's called "Changi". It was written by John Doyle, who is very well known here in Oz for his long-running satirical alter-ego, Rampaging Roy Slaven, half of the famous "This Sporting Life" team with Greig Pickheiver, aka "HG Nelson". If this series comes your way, I BEG you to watch it. John has written an exemplary six-part drama about the experiences of Australian soldiers imprisoned in the notorious Changi POW camp in Singapore. Each episode examines the experiences of one of six men, part of a group of mates who call themselves "The Secret Nine", with flashbacks to and from the character as a old man and as a young soldier in the camp. The cast is absolutely fantastic, with some of our best young actors in the prison scenes, and some of the great veterans of the Aussie screen as the older characters (including Charles "Bud" Tingwell, who will be well-known to many British Chalkers for his roles in "Catweazle" and the Miss Marple films). "Outstanding" barely comes close, and last night's episode was one of the most moving, powerful, harrowing, rewarding hours of TV I have ever seen. It dramatised the plight of Curley, a happy go-lucky, illiterate Aussie country boy who is thrown into "The Hole" for six weeks after being caught stealing food. The terible ordeal he goes through, and the almost inconceivable cruelty he endures at the hands of his Japanese captors -- who urinate on him, throw rats, snakes, even a dead dog into the Hole with him -- was almost too much to watch, even in a 'fictional' setting. Mark Priestley as Curley gave one of the most heart-rending performances I've ever seen in my life, and I'm not ashamed to say that I was in tears by the time it finished. ***Please*** watch it if you get the chance. Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 22:40:57 -0500 From: "Tom Paluzzi" <tmp@tmp.mv.com> Subject: XTC books for sale... Message-ID: <001c01c165ab$aecbf660$420416cf@akoury> Hello... I have the following XTC books for sale: XTC: Song Stories by XTC & Neville Farmer XTC: Chalkhills and Children by Chris Twomey $10 each plus shipping...Both are in excellent shape... Thanks, Tom
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2001 17:27:33 +0100 From: art et affiche <art.affiche@wanadoo.fr> Subject: XTC French words Message-ID: <3BE6BDF1.497DC726@wanadoo.fr> Bonjour! In the last digest, Dan (?) wrote: "does anyone else feel that fall is the best season for XTC-listening? I only discovered them two years ago this autumn and each autumn since I've gotten the bug to put all my XTC cds (well, cept the first two) in the changer." Oh dear, you've been listening to XTC since only two autumns? Let me count mine... errrr... 14, 15, 16 falls with XTC!! Anyway each season is the best for XTClistening, in my opinion... But I think Autumn is the very best time for Apple Venus listening. Can't help me grinning, because I remember my first listen of this album. You remember it has no booklet, so no printed lyrics, so the french listener that I am was very disappointed and a little lost. Even if Andy is a rather articulate singer, I had some problems to understand all the lyrics. And what a surprise : the very first time I listened to "Your dictionary", I heard a french word in Andy's mouth... So I pushed "replay" a few times, and I really heard "And now that I can talk, all your conneries"... pronounced as "con-a-ry", or as Sean Connery, as you want (without saying the "s", wich just indicates plural). You know, even for a non-anglophone stranger like me, this song is so well written and interpreted that even if you don't really understand the lyrics, you can immediatly grasp its significance, its bitterness and bite. So this particular french word sticked in the verse made sense, in the context of the song. Oh, I must say to you that "conneries" means... bullshits. Of course, I realised that he couldn't use that word. But after all, why not! He've already used a french word in "Shining Karma", "Vichyssoise". Same thing for that song. They were some obscure lyrics in it, and I though "But why is he talking of a cold soup?". I was convinced that French Gastronomy was not the main subject of the song, so... Anyway, thanks to the cool "XTC Ware" site and its AV1 pdf file, I've got the answers to all my questions, eventually ! And thanks to the magnificent Worrier Queen and the brilliant Mr H. Sherwood, Beanfeast and lips (on all levels) holds no secrets for me! Merci a tous. Dear Chalkhillers, do you hear any other french words in EEKS TE SE songs? Marie "Je vais partout" Omnibus.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2001 14:56:15 -0500 From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com> Subject: BFF, KC, RPM, BE, RIP Message-ID: <3BE6EEDF.3FDF295E@enterworks.com> Organization: Enterworks, Inc. Hi: Jason (DanAbnrml9@aol.com) said: > For the record, the bass player on Ben Folds' tour right now is Millard > Powers, who is EXTREMELY talented himself. He (along with the equally > talented Will Owsley) fronted a long-forgotten early-90s memphis band called > the Semantics. The lineup was actually rounded out by none other than Zak > Starkey, Ringo Starr's son, and Folds himself was an early member (he played > only on the demos, though). Anyway, they released one album called > "Powerbill" that is a sought-after collectors item and it is probably some of > the best rocking pop music to come out of the 90s. Powers also released a > solo album available only through www.mp3.com, and if you're a Folds fan > you'd definitely enjoy this as its in the same vein. --Jason Yeah, baby! Powers has created a wonderful album full of excellent songwriting, playing and singing ... and, for the recording heads out there, it *sounds* great, too. I heartily second Jason's recommendation. In fact, I'm going to be getting some Ben Folds soon because of the Powers/Owsley connection... Chris Coolidge said: > Check > Miles Davis' Bitches Brew or Agharta or Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner > Mounting Flame; the only thing I can think that's similar on the rock side > of the fence is King Crimson circa Larks Tongues in Aspic and Red. Still not > four minute pop songs, but structured compositions with a beginning and end > and fiery instrumental interplay. Very apt comparison, that. The 1973-74 incarnation of Crimson were *very* jazz-oriented, with anywhere from a third to half of their live repertoire comprising free-form improv. Sometimes they stumbled, but when they clicked -- and they did often -- they were a frighteningly powerful, tight, melodic and gloriously dissonant force. Hell, even Dom likes them! Scott Barnard said: > Replace clever verse with irresistible rhythms and you might have been > talking about Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in the '40's, who always > said what they had to in three minutes or less. As did almost all of the popular/recording musicians in the '40s and before -- the 10", 78 rpm records of the day only ran about 3 minutes ... hence the "standard length" for a pop song that we've all grown accustomed to. Thomas Vest is: > on to Big Express which is also one of my least played in the XTC > catalog. Finding it difficult to digest but giving it a try. Keeping trying. It's worth it. -Todd "Actually, it's 78.26086957 rpm when using a 60-hertz synchronous motor and a simple worm-gear drive" Bernhardt P.S. I'm starting a new job soon and so this e-mail address will be dead and gone in less than a week. Something tells me I'll be posting sometime relatively soon from my new work address; in the meantime, anyone who wants to can reach me at toddjenn@erols.com. Thanks.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 11:58:27 +0000 From: Steve.Pitts@i-tcs.com Subject: It's a small [square] world Message-ID: <OFF7F5309C.503CDC63-ON80256AFC.003E43E0@i-tcs.com> Chalkfolks, Not really sure why, but I was amused to read the following snippet in the 'Longdean Link', a weekly newsletter that my son brings home from the secondary school that he moved up to in September, under the heading 'Past Students': "Dominic Lawson, who completed a degree at Lancaster University, is now news editor of "Kerrang!" (one for the 'metal heads')" (Oh, and Dom, if you're reading this, how did your editor enjoy his appearance on Never Mind The Buzzcocks?? Mark Lamarr seemed to be having fun with those gadgets!!) In #7-55 Cathryn Myers proffered: > The bass track that ends the mayor of simpleton has evolved to be my favorite part of the track and turns what could have been the "suffering through the single" part of the album a much more pleasant experience < This comment intrigues me because I've never had a 'suffering through the single' moment with XTC, and arguably not with anyone else that I listen to regularly. Is this a function of listening to a lot of radio (I rarely do that), buying singles (something that I haven't done since 1981ish) or is there some intrinsic 'singleness' that invokes this emotion?? I can't imagine that Andy sets out to write 'singles', so I just don't get it in an XTC context. SOlsen stated: > I think Mummer is a great album, but without Toys, Jump, or Desert Island, I'm sure I'd feel differently < But if you'd heard it that way from the get-go you'd probably still think it was a great album, it all seems to be a question of what you're used to. My children complain about the remastered version of Mummer because they've never heard it any other way than with the extra tracks in the middle, but I prefer it with them at the end. On the other hand, I can't seem get to grips with The Big Express because I originally purchased that one on cassette, with the bonus tracks at the end of side one, and the new Skylarking really grates because Dear God feels like it doesn't belong there at all. On the gripping hand, English Settlement is probably my favourite of all the remasters, which may have something to do with it having the tracks in the same order in all the versions that I own <shrug> and Lord Seds noted: > someone cruelly proposed the passing of Haley's comet as GO2 day! < I wonder whether those who dislike Go2 (and to a lesser extent White Music) are primarily folk who came to XTC later in their careers and have then worked their way through the back catalogue?? To me there is a palpable flow to XTC's work, especially up to Skylarking, and having taken that journey along with the band I still feel comfortable with all the stops that they made on the way. In #7-56 Wayne opined: > but would like to have booklets included like The Who reissues with liner notes about the making of each album < Is the lack of better supporting material the price we pay for Virgin and the lads having fallen out or simply Virgin attempting to reissue the remasters on the cheap?? The booklets for the UK remasters are simply horrible. If I'd bought the Japanese versions I'd have been happy with just the reproduction of the original artwork in the smaller format, but it just looks awful in the normal CD booklets. What a shame they didn't do a proper job. Cheers, Steve NP: Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Laughter
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 19:26:10 -0800 (PST) From: John Relph <relph@sgi.com> Subject: Review of Black Sea? Message-ID: <200111070326.TAA77602@mando.engr.sgi.com> Hey folks, I chanced upon what appears to be a review of "Black Sea", but it's in Japanese, and I don't read or speak it. Anybody care to translate? http://www.aurora.dti.ne.jp/~tetto/heavy/h9903.html -- John np: New Order, "Get Ready"
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 16:04:22 -0500 From: MollyFa <mollyfa0000@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Oh Wow Message-ID: <3BEAF356.71B5754E@worldnet.att.net> Organization: AT&T Worldnet I just got the "limited edition" versions of XTC's "Black Sea", "Skylarking" and "Drums and Wires". OMG, right now I'm listening to "Skylarking", and it's amazing. I already have the gold plated CD copy of "Skylarking", but I think the remastered version sounds so much better. It's clearer and the music sounds a lot fuller. I got these CDs at http://www.hmv.com, and it was a heck of lot cheaper than buying it on CDnow or Amazon, since HMV is a Canadian site. All together the CDs were about $70 (CDN), which is about $30-$40 (US). This is including shipping and handling. I'm now going to get their other albums, because I'm very impressed. Molly
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 10:19:32 -0000 From: "Mcrae, James" <james.mcrae@enron.com> Subject: Sightings on VH1 Classic Message-ID: <57147DA2EF37F7419186EF2232CAE0A86F782C@EULON-MSMBX01V.corp.enron.com> Hello all! I have only flicked through VH1 Classic twice in the last month. Weirdly, both times the next track has been XTC... The first time, I got "Nigel" with a very 70's/80's video and last week, was greeted by the horse of Uffington and "Senses" coming out of the speakers.Loved every minute of it. Maybe we get a better version of VH1 Classic than the States here in Blighty. Cheerz Jamez
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 05:38:52 -0800 (PST) From: cake <eggusmajorus@yahoo.com> Subject: What the Faun Told Lucy Message-ID: <20011112133852.50423.qmail@web20810.mail.yahoo.com> I recently visited the kids section of the bookstore where I purchased my old favorite, C.S. Lewis' *Chronicles of Narnia* series. I have finished re-reading book one, and have begun book two. To my happy suprise I read as the Faun told young Lucy of the White Witch who has enchanted Narnia, making the whole country "always winter, and never Christmas"! Later, Lucy tells Peter of the White Witch's deed, repeating the line "always winter, and never Christmas". Furthermore, even the kindly and brave He-Beaver repeats the phrase as he feeds the children hot marmalade rolls with tea in the kitchen of his cozy dam! How great is this? What are the children going to do? Why, figure a way to "warm it up!", that's what! Hope this finds everyone well and happy! -Laura
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