Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 207
Date: Wednesday, 1 April 1992
Chalkhills, Number 207
Wednesday, 1 April 1992
The April Fool Issue
Today's Topics:
XTC Videos
Re: Chalkhills #206
cow-n shaped box
A quick review of _Nonsuch_
Oranges and Lemons 3-inch CDs 4 Sale!
I need convincing
Ye Olde Mailbagge
Nonesuch
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 26 Mar 92 23:05:12 EST From: Eric Singer <70323.3013@compuserve.com> Subject: XTC Videos Hey, how about a "videography" for XTC? Would someone out there, more knowledgeable on the subject than I, volunteer to compile one? The only one I have info for is "Look Look", the Virgin 11-XTV-videos compilation. But it would be great to know what else is out there (as in, individual titles that they have made videos for, as well as any known forms that they are available in.) -Eric
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Date: 27 Mar 92 09:43:04 EST
From: Mark Hessman <72241.366@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Chalkhills #206
Thanks for posting all the *Non(e)such* info, folks... from the track
listing, it seems like the album is AT LEAST an hour in length. Is this
another *Oranges & Lemons*-style extravaganza? Will it be a double album
on vinyl? (Oh, silly me, I forgot that nobody cares about vinyl anymore.
Perhaps this is one effect of the cassette- and CD-ifying of modern music?)
And by the way: Shonen Knife's "Baka Guy" song is about a seashell.
-- Mark
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sun, 29 Mar 92 04:13:51 -0800 From: BaileyLounge1987 <ukevc@mcl.mcl.ucsb.edu> Subject: cow-n shaped box Maybe it was my O&L t-shirt, maybe the fates were just with me, but I found the King for a DAy crown-shaped box at the Mountain View CA Tower Records today. The two demo tracks sound great, and I'm gonna stick them, the Meeting Place tracks, the Mayor of Simpleton tracks, and Blue Beret onto a tape...its like a whole other album... and its an XTC product with more Colins than Andys! Kevin
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Subject: A quick review of _Nonsuch_
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 92 17:20:13 -0800
From: bmacdona@bonnie.ics.uci.edu
Well, a friend of mine at Moby Disc gave me an advanced cassette
of the new XTC release so happily I put it in my car stereo....
Well, I have good news and bad news. First the bad news.
BAD NEWS: Well, after all this wait, I listen to it and think
"This sounds a lot like Oranges and Lemons, except not as colorful."
Then I somehow get this urge to letterbomb Gus Dudgeon for basically
doing yet another example of over-production. I thought his job left
a lot of the songs a bit dry with primitively commercial sounding
horns and other accompaniment. I also never got a vivid imprint of
the songs my first few listens to the album, but by the third listen
...and hence the good news,...
GOOD NEWS: ....somehow I felt better about the album. Perhaps the initial
shock of hardly any change disappointed me a bit. But once I got used to
it, the songs are pretty cool after all. Though I still have the
occasional WINCE at some hints of over-production (like eating a cake
with some overly sweet spots) similar to _Oranges_and_Lemons_.
Some of my favorites are "The Smartest Monkeys" (one of two
Moulding tunes on the album, assuming XTC are still enforcing the
whovever-writes-it-sings-it rule), "The Disappointed" (the UK single),
"That Wave" (my CLEAR FAVORITE!), and perhaps "Bungalow" (the other
Moulding tune which at times really sounds a bit lame when he sings
"..fly awaaaaaaaaaay..." but overall a cool tune."
Overall synopsis: DON'T EXPECT ANY PROGRESSION. Listen to _Oranges_
and_Lemons_ and you might not be as disappointed as you would otherwise.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVE SOME PATIENCE. Force yourself to listen to
it all the way through a few times, and you'll enjoy the pleasure of
these songs dilly-dallying in your head in no time (and without
force). It's not a terrible album but NOTHING compared to the
brilliant _The_Big_Express_ or D.O.S.'s _Psonic_Psunblast/25_O'Clock_.
If _O&L_ is your favorite, you'll like it. Though I tell ya, this
will be a HUGE COMMERCIAL release, perhaps even in the easy-listening
genre of airwaves (for really overdone songs like "Omnibus" and "My Bird
Performs").
There ARE a few theories however on why the production isn't so hot:
1: It's partly Gus's fault and XTC's fault. Perhaps Gus produced it in
a particular way so when he MIXED IT, then it would sound wondrous.
Though, Gus was a bit anal about having Andy and the boys present
during this stage, so he forbid them. Of course, Andy didn't
want another Todd Rundgren Part 2 so they kicked Gus's behind out of
the studio pure and clean and mixed it themselves, without knowing
what magic touch Gus would have finally put.
2: Gus just sucks. The man has no vision into what XTC wants and
what XTC listeners might not want. The man's musical instincts is
that of a bloated sack of protoplasm (Excuse the Ren and Stimpy line).
3: XTC are getting a bit too old.
I hope it's number 2 for XTC's sake.
But until the NEXT album in 1995....
K!z!K
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
From: wilson@psylo.enet.dec.com
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 92 05:14:20 PST
Subject: Oranges and Lemons 3-inch CDs 4 Sale!
Hello,
This past weekend I happened to be in Tower Recorss in Hahvard Square,
and lo and behold they had the Oranges and Lemons set in 3-inch CDs!
I pondered and pondered, and decided finally to get two sets of this:
one for my collection, and one to sell to an XTC fan...hope someone
out there is interested!
It's in a box. The artwork is the same as the regular O&L release, and
so are the songs - but ACROSS THIS ANTHEAP comes before CYNICAL DAYS.
It sounds better than the U.S. release, I feel. and certainly it is a
novel item.
Flip-top box, with three CD slots. it's not shrinkwrapped (UK CDs
usually aren't), but it's in very good condition indeed (no tears
or rips). Magnetic strip on back of box.
This is the version of O&L I've always wanted. So, if you'd like a
copy, it's $25.00 (includes U.S. first-class postage [overseas may be higher!]
Drop me a note if you're interested.
* * * * *
Also picked up Shonen Knife's SPACE CHRISTMAS. This is the one with
"Bear Up, Bison" on it ("We're only making plans for bison."). Um,
it's interesting...but not a cover version! I like it! :-)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 92 11:57:32 +0200
From: frob@sh.alcbel.be (F. Robben)
Subject: I need convincing
Hi,
To be quite honest, I don't know much about XTC. I'm actualy subscribing
for a friend who hasn't got access net. But I'm always willing to learn.
My friend says XTC is great, he especially likes 'English settlement'.
Maybe he and you can convince me to become a die-hard XTC fan too.
frank.
___ ___ ________ __ _ _ _________ ___ ___
\ \/ _/ -------- |_ |) |_| |\| |/ |) /\ |) |) |_ |\| --------- \_ \/ /
\ \/o\ ======== | |\ | | | | |\ |\ \/ |) |) |_ | | ========= /o\/ /
_\ \ >SH35 Alcatel Bell, F. Wellesplein 1, B-2018 Antwerpen< / /_
\_ / e-mail : frob@sh.alcbel.be PHONE : (32) 3 240 7570 \ _/
\__/ &&&& I'm a fool in search of wisdom (Queensryche) &&&&& \__/
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 92 9:13:39 PST
From: "John M. Relph" <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Ye Olde Mailbagge
Steve Levenstein <70750.1117@compuserve.com> writes:
> Lastly, I bought a music magazine called "Alternative Press"
>the other day. I was happy to fill out their reader survey 'cuz
>the prize was a "free Geffen/DGC compilation CD featuring Nirvana,
>Teenage Fanclub, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nitzer Ebb, Northside,
>the Nymphs, Stan Ridgway, XTC and more". In good company, eh?
This is the same CD that _Tower Records' Pulse!_ magazine was offering
free with your subscription. The CD is called _Earphoria_ (Geffen USA
(DGC), PRO-CD-4335, September 1991) and includes "The World Is Full Of
Angry Young Men". It also includes "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by
Nirvana, "Roadblock" by Stan Ridgway, and a mess o' other stuff..
. . .
Toby Howard <toby@computer-science.manchester.ac.uk> writes:
>Picked up the UK CD single yesterday (Virgin VSCDG 1404) today.
The CD single says the new album NONSUCH (V 2699) will be available
soon (note spelling).
. . .
A new album called _A Man Called (E)_ has been garnering positive
reviews from pure pop fans. I found a copy of this CD (used, of
course) and it sounds good, nice pure pop. 'E plays a toy piano on
some of the tracks! The album was produced by Parthenon Huxley, who
released a reportedly decent pop album a few years back. Mr Huxley
also gets a thanks in the credits of _Oranges and Lemons_ "for his
friendship, fun and fruit".
. . .
_Q_ magazine reports that a new collection featuring XTC has been
released. It's called _The History of Punk Volume 1_, on Perspective
Records in the UK (catalog number 3301), and it features, of all
things, "Life Begins At The Hop". Wow! I didn't know that was a punk
song!
. . .
I had an XTC dream last night, I had an XTC dream. I dreamt I was in
England, in a record shoppe, and I had looked through all of the 12"
singles. I found a couple of singles by Joolz and took them up to the
counter, but they were badly warped so I took them back to the racks.
It was a very small shoppe, and I don't know how I missed the rack of
CD singles on the other wall, but I had. And there on that rack was
the newest XTC CD single, never even than "The Disappointed". It came
in a three-piece hard plastic case, which enclosed a number of items
besides the CD itself, including a raincoat and this strange round
sponge. The instructions told one to get the sponge wet and rub it on
the inside of the raincoat until the raincoat was all evenly yellow on
the inside and the sponge had turned yellow as well. So I did. It
took a long time and I still hadn't finished when I woke up.
Oh, and London had flooded terribly.
-- John
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: 01 Apr 92 11:26:44 EST From: Joseph Holmes <76216.663@compuserve.com> Subject: Nonesuch I've got a cassette copy of Nonesuch here in front of me. A local store found two promo copies, and I bought one. Some quick reactions: Perhaps the band's choice of producer was a mistake. The production is clean, but unimaginative and uninspired. There seems to be no chemistry between the producer and the band. It pales, for example, in comparison with Andy's production work on Peter Blegvad's albums. There are none of those wonderfully striking sounds like "Poor Skeleton" or "Satellite." (Frankly, I still miss Todd.) Another disappointment...Andy's infatuation with Brian Wilson, and to a lesser extent The Beach Boys, seems to have reached a new high. I've always thought that the Beatles influence produced some absolutely classic XTC tunes, like "Earn Enough for Us" and "Mole from the Ministry," but I've never cared for the sound of Brian-Wilsonesque tunes like "Chalkhills and Children," which, while good, is as good as that style gets. On the other hand, the best tunes on the album are already ingrained on my brain after just two or three listenings. There is no "Senses Working Overtime" here, but Andy and Colin just can't help writing great melodies peppered with memorable hooks. The album mostly reminds me of Mummer, though it's better than Mummer. "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead," "Books Are Burning," "Then She Appeared." Someone remind me -- were any of these slated to be the album's single? And Dave Gregory's guitar just keeps getting better and better. Nonesuch ends with a long, absolutely incredible guitar solo at the close of the five minute "Books Are Burning." It's the first time I can think of that XTC has sounded like a Stadium Band Playing Great Anthem Rock! Dave should be let loose like this more often. (Actually it sounds like two guitarists trading solos -- but there are no credits on the promo label.) All in all, Nonesuch will keep us happy for the time being, but it's not the breakthrough album I've been expecting. -=-Joe Holmes (76216.663@@compuserve.com)
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Say hello to newest subscriber Frank Robben! For all administrative issues, such as change of address, withdrawal from the list, fan club addresses, discography requests (last update 31 March), back issues, etc., send a message to the following address: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> The Chalkhills archives are available at "http://chalkhills.org/". All views expressed in Chalkhills are those of the individual contributors only. Woe.
Go back to Volume 1.
2 April 1992 / Feedback