Chalkhills Digest Volume 1, Issue 369
Date: Thursday, 18 August 1994
Chalkhills, Number 369
Thursday, 18 August 1994
Today's Topics:
Re: Wire
XTC Cover By, Uh, Primus?
Blur and Budd
On Age & Nothingness
Another newbie!
Re: Go2
What Melinda believes Andy believes
Re: pulling apart music, Toad review
another doddering oldster
Through The Hill
Who Knows Italian?
Implode Together
introduction
Andy singing on "Change My World"
Little Express anyone?
Introducing myself as instructed
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sun, 7 Aug 1994 19:33:00 -0400 (EDT) From: terry kroetsch f <tkroetsc@mach1.wlu.ca> Subject: Re: Wire Sorry for the slightly off-topic post but I've heard about so many great bands because of this list (Toad, Grays, Jellyfish - ooooo found a $1 5CD of Jellyfish Live doing one original and the rest covers of Badfinger and McCartney tunes, Blur)... Are there any fans of Wire? Please contact me if you are. Is there a club? An address? Anything? Perhaps Wir new recording? I'm desparate. Thanks
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Subject: XTC Cover By, Uh, Primus? Date: Sun, 14 Aug 1994 22:43:20 -0400 (EDT) From: Damon Z Cassell <dcassell@lynx.dac.neu.edu> I am sure that most of you have heard the cover of XTC's "Making Plans For Nigel" by Primus. Well I just heard it for the first time on the radio here and I was surprised. I had heard such a cover existed, but I never expected to hear it on the radio. Primus actually did quite a dignified job on this song. It's the perfect mix between the XTC sound and Primus' warped, bass heavy, sound. I watched some parts of the Woodstock 94 festival hoping to see Primus actually do "Making Plans For Nigel", but Pay Per View apparently thought Crosby Stills And Nash were more important, so I could only settle for a few bits of the Primus act. Well, it was a long shot. Does anyone else know of any bands that have had a major release and done an XTC cover? Damon "Yes, I guess I am pretty young around here (18)" Cassell Boston MA
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: vince@mpd.tandem.com (Vince Layton) Subject: Blur and Budd Date: Mon, 15 Aug 94 9:51:14 CDT After reading the raves about the "XTC-ish" sound of Blur, I picked up the cd. I got home and popped it into the player. The first song starts up and...it's this awful disco song I've been hearing on the local "alternative" radio station. You've probably heard it too. "boys who love girls that do sheep that eat fish". Ugh! I change the station whenever this song comes on. I felt like a first class idiot for purchasing this cd(and I'm sure many of you will think I'm a first class idiot for slagging the song). I just thought I should warn people that don't like disco that this song could cause cancer in laboratory animals. This is my opinion so don't kill me if you don't agree. I lived through the original disco fad and have held a prejudice against this type of music ever since, so many of you may really enjoy this cd. Yes, some of the other songs do remind me of XTC. Regarding a previous post about the Partridge/Budd cd. The writer was slagging Budd's poem about "coins with genitals...". I believe that the poems were actually written by Partidge and only read by Budd. vince tandem-austin
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Mon, 15 Aug 94 11:50:53 PDT From: Steve Schechter <sschech@157.133.43.4> Subject: On Age & Nothingness In Chalkhills #368, regalvin writes; >To Kiwi, who was 4yrs old in '79: >ppllllbbbhhtt!! :P > >Undoubtably (I hope), I am not the oldest subscriber to this list (I'm 30). >But, thanks anyway for making me feel like petrified dino-droppings. :) I'm 40. (But I think of this as an exhibition, not a competition.) But inside, where it counts, I'm still 14. I've been listening to XTC from the first album. I'm a fairly new subscriber to the list, just wanted to say 'hi' to everyone and mention that I'm really enjoying the information being passed along here. S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steve Schechter | Sybase Professional Services New York 212-596-1156 | "In all matters of opinion, our adversaries sschech@sybase.com | are insane." -- Oscar Wilde ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: KenVT@aol.com Date: Mon, 15 Aug 94 23:58:31 EDT Subject: Another newbie! Hi All! My name is Ken VanTassell and I've been an XTC fan since Drums and Wires".My first favorite song was "Helicopter" and of course "Making plans for Nigel" which was also the first XTC video I taped off of the tube. I used to play XTC on the air all the time at WCWP, the FM station that I worked at during my years at college. Anyway, does anyone out there in cyberspace collect XTC audio and video? I have several live concert tapes, the skylarking demos and a few video tapes. I also have two extra XTC 45s for trade. I have American promo 45's of "Making plans for Nigel" and "Ten feet Tall" Both have picture sleeves, promo labels, and are mono/stereo "a" side only.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Fshbwlhead@aol.com Date: Tue, 16 Aug 94 02:56:39 EDT Subject: Re: Go2 Steve Krause writes: "To my mind, Andrews' playing fit in with the way XTC was for the first two albums. If you look at his further work in Shriekback, you'll see quite a bit of evolution away from the wacky-organ bit. He would have been an interesting factor in some of XTC's later stuff. And even his songwriting improved greatly over time (which shouldn't have been too hard, given the baseline was his abysmal Go2 contributions)." Abysmal Go 2 contributions? I really really like both My Weapon and Super Tuff. They fit the character of Go 2 perfectly -- herky jerky dissonance and heavily accented lyrics. That album is FUN from start to finish. As far as Shriekback are concerned, there was certainly an evolution over a few albums there before Barry polished/neo-commercialized his sound. "Tench" and to an extent, "Care" back way off into minimalism -- miles away from what XTC were doing concurrently. -- Joe
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Fshbwlhead@aol.com Date: Tue, 16 Aug 94 03:05:07 EDT Subject: What Melinda believes Andy believes Regarding Melinda's recent Chalkhills #367 posting regarding Andy's belief of the things he writes: Don't you just find him a little bit pedantic sometimes? I mean, Books Are Burning has got to be one of the most pointless songs to write. Why make the obvious so grandiose and overstated? Think about XTC's audience -- generally at least 20-something college graduates based mostly in America. Are we supposed to be enlightened? Moved? I find that song unlisteneable. -- Joe
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Sun, 14 Aug 1994 15:24:50 GMT From: Ashley@apowell.demon.co.uk (Ashley Powell) Subject: Re: pulling apart music, Toad review Marshall Pierce <piercem@cs.itc.hp.com> writes: > >> From: Ashley@apowell.demon.co.uk (Ashley Powell) > >> ...Music is there to be heard, not pulled apart, ... but I couldn't really >> say why [one likes certain songs] ....I compose a lot of my own music, > >This is kind of a non-sequitor, no? Yes, music is to be heard but here are >2 reasons why it should be pulled apart: > > 1 - what is it that makes it so good for you - what things do your > favorites have in common? eg I like lots of harmony, from stuff like > B52s (when the ladies sing), to XTC - but also lyrics that are really > saying something > > 2 - what is it about the song technically that makes it better than other, > especially since this information can be used by the composer. This > also gets into how you hear something new everytime you listen to > certain tunes. > >> meaningless twaddle > >This is not a really a tactful thing to say when one joins a mailing list >*devoted* to one group. You've rather missed the point. As you state in your reply, what makes it so good for _you_, it gets into how _you_ hear something. That's fine for the individual, and I personally have great fun listening to music, and sorting it out in my own mind. BUT, I wouldn't dream of offloading all that crap onto someone else - not unless I wanted to make a point or, as seems all too prevalent, to reach out for confirmation that my feelings about (whatever the subject is) are the right ones. Having read a couple of issues of Chalkhills, I realise that much of it _is_ concerned with pulling music apart, and yes, much of it _is_ meaningless twaddle. The interviews are great, for I actually get to find out facts about how pieces of music came about, what motivated the group to write certain things in certain ways, and while 9 times out of 10 it doesn't particularly add anything to a piece of music (occasionally it can ruin your own perceptions), it is at least 'from the horses mouth' and not just speculation. What I object to is wasted space about why X disagrees with Y about how snare Z ruined song W three minutes into the track, especially when Y then writes back and reiterates that he still believes what he said in first place, so there :-'. If I've heard the track myself I already have an opinion one way or the other, and if I haven't then it really _is_ meaningless twaddle to me. I'll preempt a possible reponse to this by agreeing wholwheatedly that what I write now is complete twaddle which benefits nobody, but it will just go to make up the usual 50%. Not a tactful thing to say, I know, but I'm not here to be tactful; I'm here because I like XTC. Besides, tact has no place on a mailing list where I am (presumably) quite welcome to voice an opinion that XTC are shit :( , and people are equally welcome to write back in droves and argue how wrong I am :). I don't know about anyone else (opinions welcome), but if I see such articles coming I'll skip through them to the interesting stuff. And like everybody else who reads and writes to this list, I have my own opinions which are only my own. If I ever doubt those opinions. you'll hear from me. Otherwise, lets just speak when there's something to say. -- Ashley Powell
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: seanbe@microsoft.com Date: Tue, 16 Aug 94 11:31:17 PDT Subject: another doddering oldster CurtissH@aol.com writes: Steve, In answer to your question, I for one, am 31. But I don't think that age matters. I've only been a fan of XTC for a little over a year, myself, even though they started out while I was in high school. And my other favorite band, the Beatles, were recording their first album on the night that I was born. It's all relative, man. Music is eternal. |||||||| indeed it is -- you whippersnappers :) i'm a whopping 40. i was born the week that Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" was released. I didn't start buying records until i was 14 and the psychedelic era was in full swing in 1968-- and even i was too young to go to bloody Woodstock!! I didn't really get into "new wave" music until 1981, well after i had graduated from college, and shortly therafter glommed inextricably onto XTC. I am now also heavily into cool jazz of the late '40s and '50s. Music is indeed eternal. After all, Andy is into medieval madrigals etc. yet produces some fantastic pop music. i find it amazing that XTC has been in existsence for a period of time equivalent to that between Elvis Presley's first recordings and Emerson, Lake and Palmer's (for an absurd example), or between the first Beatles recording and the end of The Seventies. Whoa, oldtimers.
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Date: Tue, 16 Aug 94 15:23:25 PDT
From: John Relph <relph@presto.ig.com>
Subject: Through The Hill
According to a catalog I've seen, there is a Japanese release of
_Through the Hill_ that has two bonus tracks. Has anybody seen or
bought this version? If so, send in the details now! Thanks,
-- John
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: d.zemel@genie.geis.com Date: Tue, 16 Aug 94 23:42:00 UTC Subject: Who Knows Italian? On a recent vacation to Philadelphia, I happened upon a book about XTC. It's a 1992 book and was published in Italy. The cover says "XTC: Testi Con Traduzione A Fronte". It starts out with about 40 pages of text, all in Italian except for song titles, and continues with the lyrics to about 60 songs, through Nonsuch and in both English and Italian. It concludes with a discography, again in Italian except for the song titles. Has anyone else seen this book or, better yet, has anyone seen it and had the Italian translated into English? Is there anyone out there, fluent in Italian, who would be willing to translate a photocopy of the Italian text? The recognizable song titles and names in the text makes me want to know what the whole thing says! Dean
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From: KyleSk@aol.com
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 94 21:31:01 EDT
Subject: Implode Together
In the two responses to my attack on G.L.E., both writers agreed that the
songwriting is the strongest point of the albums. Yes, indeed. Sadly, it is
Andy's contribution to the album which hinders it. Yea, it's better than a
lot of stuff being released now, but that doesn't count for so much. 20/80
rule of gems to garbage has always been in effect. G.L.E.'s OK within that
20%. But, it's not what I expect from Andy. Perhaps favoring strong
production colors me as slight, the suggestion of which doesn't offend me,
(thank you Curtiss for the curtesy) but there's a bigger point that has been
bothering me:
The implosion of Andy Partridge
To wit: are we all witnessing the painfully slow unraveling of Andy
Partridge?
Consider:
* Since English Settlement, there hasn't been one producer who has had an
effective and cooperative relationship with Andy. The consequences
haven't been favorable.
* Andy's absolute refusal to tour. His arguement that the Beatles didn't
tour is lame. Apples to oranges. (Yea, yea, orangles to lemons...) Their
refusal to tour creates an Elvis-like situation, where us fans are
reduced to discussing Andy sightings. Please don't get me wrong, I love
reading about people's personal meetings, but why must we be left
scrounging for such rare tidbits?
* My most subjective point--Andy isn't challenging himself as much as he
used to, creatively speaking. While I enjoy their later works, the
tension of XTC's earlier works--one of making artful pop, is lost, now
that Andy has resigned himself to that of an artrock icon.
They don't tour, they're too easy on themselves, and they take their fans for
granted. Net effect: Good bye, XTC. Oh well, It was fun while it lasted.
One other point about drummers. Live drummers simply rule over a drum
machine. It's that simple. I don't agree that Andy has a hard time with
drummers, I think he fancies his own drumming talents are more worthy than
another contributor to the band. Or at least his vision. As for economics,
try to convince me there isn't a drummer nearby that wouldn't kill to have
recorded on that album for peanuts, if not free.
I suppose Andy could prove me wrong with the next album, here's to hoping;
Kyle
"What's the blue thing doing here?"--TMBG
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Date: Tue, 16 Aug 1994 20:47:54 -0700 (PDT)
From: Greenwich Library <dwaring@CLASS.ORG>
Subject: introduction
Hi y'all
As a long term XTC devotee, I'm pleased to find a forum such as
"Chalkhills" for the exchange of ideas, opinions etc. regarding what is
my favorite band. My first exposure to Swindon's finest came about as a
result of borrowing the "Drums and Wires" LP from the library that
empolyed me at the time. I was impressed, and subsequently bought a copy
for myself on the the strength of the musicianship and general cleverness
displayed in the lyrics. "English Settlement", however, was the real eye
opener for me. Unfortunately, this album coincided with AP's decision to
forego touring...So, in the absence of any flesh and blood XTC, I've
contented myself with buying every recording I can get my hands on.
I'm looking forward to all the tidbits to be gleaned from "Chalkhills".
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 02:22:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Steve Johnson <steve-j@teleport.com> Subject: Andy singing on "Change My World" Neil Oliver said: "Even though the band has a jokey name, the credits identify all the musicians and they're basically the people who play on the other tracks." However, did you notice on the credits to "Change My World" that there is NO vocal credit? Though it is quite debatable whether John Linnell sings on it, Andy most definitely does. Although I don't have the source, Andy was quoted as saying he was doing "a little more than one song" for the Carmen Sandiego album. This is possibly the same thing with people like Robin Williams and even David Letterman doing acting without any credits (or under pseudonyms anyway) -- so that they can do 'favors' for people by working for less money than they'd normally get if they got full credit for the work. Andy sang on "Change My World" for either FREE or for pay as a 'regular' studio musician, not for pay AS Andy Partridge. Favors like this happen all the time in the entertainment industry.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] From: Mike.Gervasi@f1.n3658.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Gervasi) Date: 16 Aug 94 20:05:43 -0500 Subject: Little Express anyone? Organization: FidoNet Nameserver/Gateway I remember about 4 months ago I recieved my copy of Little Express (The one with Dave in blue with guitar on it). I had sent them quite a bit thinking my subscription had run out (as I've heard many people did). I received with the aforementioned issue, 10 or so back issues. I'm still waiting for the new issue. I'm beginning to think that maybe they packed it up and sent me the back issues to clean house/give me my "Refund". Anyone know what's really going on? I would hate to find out it's gone. ------------------------------------------------ Mike * Wave Rider 1.20 # 367 * ... Bashir Burger: (Just a burger, but thinks it's a Big Mac.) --- Blue Wave/Maximus
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Date: Thu, 18 Aug 94 14:15:21 BST
From: C.Wright@sheffield.ac.uk (Chris Wright)
Subject: Introducing myself as instructed
Hello all-
I've just discovered Chalkhills about 3 weeks before I leave my job and
my account, with no garauntee of access in the future- but there you go.
I discovered Chalkhills more or less by accident, can't remember exactly
how, probably through roaming around on the WWW.
I've liked XTC since I was a young 'un- I used to have the Sgt Rock single
with the poster, but I don't know what's happened to it now- it's either
lost, or it's in my mother's cellar. Now I'm just a big fan who follows
them with typical devotion.
I've read a few of the digests and, I must say, it's given me quite a laugh.
People getting their knickers in a twist trying to interpret Andy Partridge's
lyrics. I suppose I'm just a bit too old for that kind of thing (27). You
can appreciate lyrics without knowing what they mean. The only medium we
have available to discuss, for example, poetry is words, but poems are writ-
ten in words, so what's the point of analysing them using more words?
Hope Colin Moulding doesn't read this, but for me it's only Andy's songs I'm
interested in. I don't listen to a lot of contemporary music and I'm sure
Colin's songs are better than most ("I should be so lucky, lucky lucky lucky
etc....") but they don't do much for me, with one or two notable exceptions.
So my visit to Chalkhills will be short, but perhaps I'll pop up again some-
time in the future.
All the best,
Chris Wright
Leaving his job on 31/8/1994
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][] HOW TO USE RINGO: Send an e-mail to ringo@media.mit.edu, with only the word 'join' in the body. It will then send you a list of 125 artists. You rate the artists that you are familiar with. Send it back. You will then receive a 'help' file describing how to use all the features of Ringo. To unsubscribe from the list, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> For all other administrative issues, send a message to: <chalkhills-request@chalkhills.org> The Chalkhills archives were once available using FTP from "net.bio.net". The Chalkhills home page is available at "http://chalkhills.org/". The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors. I think about your warm white sheets unfolding.
Go back to Volume 1.
18 August 1994 / Feedback