Chalkhills Digest, Volume 12, Number 3

                 Tuesday, 17 January 2006

Topics:

                      The Essentials
                        Lion fool
         Puffy Thanks / Archer Prewitt / XTC EP?
                Wrapped in Grey CD single
        Best XTC fan friendly "record" of the year
                  How the ordinary fall
        Time for another Dukes of Simpleton show.

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Paper, iron, won't buy Eden.

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Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2006 18:43:34 -0800
From: Wesley Hanks <whanks1@earthlink.net>
Subject: The Essentials
Message-ID: <2073E262-BB62-492C-BDAD-8385CE6FEB10@earthlink.net>

Apple's iTunes Music Store has given XTC the "Essentials" treatment.
A three tier playlist overview/introduction to the band. Turn your
crank to the Essentials section of the store, left hand side, and all
will be explained.

Brushing away cigar ash,
Wes

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 15:36:38 +0100
From: jeffrey.thomas@bayercropscience.com
Subject: Lion fool
Message-ID: <OF00D999DE.6272EC32-ONC12570F2.0051A36C@bayer.de>

Hi people of the collines de craie,

I haven't really participated much here in the past few months but I've been
meaning to for awhile and if I don't now, the thought will be gone forever.
Walking through town (Lyon) today, I saw one remnant of the many lions that
had decorated the town last year and -- despite the fact that it didn't talk
to me -- was reminded of this: I finally bought "Wonderfalls", and I have to
say, it is truly fabulous.  Of course, we know the theme song is excellent
(and it was great to hear Andy talking about it on the DVD), but the *show*
-- well, it really is a pity they killed it.  I actually wish there were a
way to convince someone else, maybe HBO, to take it over.  I think it would
do well with them, they don't have anything like it but are very good at
developing shows with a certain special something.  This would be one.

It is exceptionally well-written -- particularly after the central stories
start to develop fully, about episode 5 onwards -- and wonderfully,
tremendously acted.  Who are these actors?!?  I had only ever knowingly seen
Diana Scarwid before, the rest seem to be quite new, but all of the actors
in the 7 key roles, especially the women, were just amazing!  The comic
timing of Caroline Dhavernas is incredible.  If you don't know the show yet,
I highly recommend it.

Interesting too to read Mark's comments in #2 about the Guardian's "work
songs" poll.  I am actually very surprised to see "Farmboy" in there,
because while it is also my personal favorite of XTC's work-related songs, I
think that both "Earn Enough For Us" and "Paper and Iron" have more
"contemporary" lyrics.  I was also surprised that other songs addressing the
issue openly were not included.  While I suppose "Wichita Lineman" and
"River Guard" have their merits, I think "Working in a Coalmine" (by Devo
among others) is more "quotidien" in its feel, and though "Manic Monday" is
good, the opening verse of "Taking Care of Business" (BTO) is the best
description ever of the drudgery of getting to work every day of the week.

Anyway, I will now return to that work drudgery.  Au revoir!

- Jeff

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 16:49:03 +1100
From: "Simon Knight" <homefrontradio@hotmail.com>
Subject: Puffy Thanks / Archer Prewitt / XTC EP?
Message-ID: <BAY109-F187156928257BA26B3B980D0270@phx.gbl>

Thanks everyone for the Puffy information.  Although I can't say they're my
cup of tea in the slightest, even with the Jellyfish connection, they seem
to be quiet popular on the list so guess i'm glad the fans have had a chance
to stand up and voice your approval.

I couldn't let Dave In Detroit's comment pass however:

>LOL That is just really, really  bad... I guess what
>else can we expect from a country that loves
>bukkake...

I had the exact same thought while watching it, so at least I know I'm not
the only complete pervert on the list.

Thanks to Wesley Hanks for mentioning Archer Prewitt.  Given his abilities
in both songwriting and orchestration I'm surprised his name hasn't come up
more often on the list.  His earlier albums are full of sweet Apple Venus
style orch-pop, and his later works like 'Three' and "Wilderness' are
heading more in a complex Jason Falkner style direction - songs composed of
'movements' that are almost too clever for their own good.  Highly
enjoyable, if you like to put in a fair bit of listening time to reap the
rewards.

I'm also disappointed 'Ordinary People' seems to be an I-Tunes exclusive,
for those of us who are unlikely to become Pod People.  How about an EP:
Ordinary People / Spiral / Say It / Wonderfalls?  Throw on 'Human Beans' if
the charity record has gone out of print and anything else laying around.

Cheers,
Simon

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 16:27:28 -0000
From: "Mark Grabiec" <mark.grabiec@ntlworld.com>
Subject: Wrapped in Grey CD single
Message-ID: <00bb01c61795$15e2aa20$58af0256@main>

Hello all, just to say that I'm selling my copy of the legendary "single
that never was" (by which I mean "Wrapped in Grey", of course) on ebay, if
anyone's interested.  Go to:

 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4820684891

Mark Grabiec, Nottingham England

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 14:18:16 +0000
From: "Matt Tiegler" <tiegler@hotmail.com>
Subject: Best XTC fan friendly "record" of the year
Message-ID: <BAY106-F1814E7B324A2A6E8F4E4A2AB260@phx.gbl>

I've had several months to listen and re-listen and I think the best record
that an XTC fan would love (but that doesn't ape them the way Dogs Die . . .
and the Futureheads do) is The Dottet Line by Scott Bennett.  Scott plays
and sings in Brian Wilson's current band and played on Smile.  Brian Wilson
also appears on The Dotted Line and co-wrote a tune.

This record reveals layers of brilliance with each listen.  Ever After is a
tribute to Andy's favorite Beatle and this is a record you must buy.
www.notlamerecords.com and probably amazon.com

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 06:16:24 +0000 (GMT)
From: Paul Culnane <paulculnane@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: How the ordinary fall
Message-ID: <20060114061624.12160.qmail@web86904.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>

1) This afternoon (it's just gone 5.00pm Sat arvo here), I stumbled on
the fact that the Nine Network is playing "Wonderfalls" as we speak.
Yes, the one with Andy's theme tune!  What serendipity, I was just
listening to the song via CD.  The show is fairly typical North
American sitcom, nothing particularly special in my opinion, but next
Sat I'll make sure to watch to getter idea.  Mind you, those of us
here in Oz who know how the Nine Network operates, wouldn't be
suprised to find that they've used this show purely as a stop-gap
measure while the wretchedly ubiquitous bloody cricket is in recess...

  2) Really enjoying the new version of "Where Do The Ordinary People
Go?"  I've always liked this song of Colin's - thought it should have
been a serious contender for Nonsuch, but Andy, by his own admission,
jettisoned it in favour of (what?) something much more slight of his
own, like "Omnibus" or "That Wave".  The new version of WDTOPG
benefits by a ramped-up almost funky tempo, due in no small part to (I
think) Lee Moulding's drumming and those crisp handclaps.  And isn't
Colin singing well?  All leading to: Pull yer fingers out guys!  More
REAL new stuff please, I know you got it inya!

  Paul

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 18:51:11 -0600
From: Chris Vreeland <CVREELAND@austin.rr.com>
Subject: Time for another Dukes of Simpleton show.
Message-ID: <2B1E52DB-820A-40F2-A583-87EE330D20EA@austin.rr.com>

Hill-folk,
	I'm not giving up yet -- there's gotta be some Chalkhillians in
Texas besides the lovely and talented Oleson Family. Our Nov. show at
Threadgill's was quite a smashing success, despite the fact that nary
a Chalkhillian was to be found. Perhaps y'all were hiding back by the
Freebird Pit? Well, here we go again, with a few new songs this time.
We play from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 25th, at Momo's
Club, 618 W. 6th St (they promised we were really booked there, this
time) here in Austin, Texas.

Hope to see you there, and while I'm at it, we've got a few pix from
the Nov. gig on our website now, and hopefully, some video will
follow in the next couple of weeks. http://dukesofsimpleton.com/
Gallery.html

Chris "Mr. Big Idea" Vreeland

PS-- no best-of list from me this year--it was too chaotic for me to
even remember what I bought-- but I would like to recommend a
fabulous band I discovered called The Letterpress Opry. they have a
website at, surprisingly enough, http://www.theletterpressopry.com/
where you can download a few songs, and order a CD. They're for sale
at the ITMS, too.* Any band that can work the Wapsipinicon into a
lyric can't be all bad, right?

*I am not affiliated in any way with the band. I just like 'em. A lot.

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End of Chalkhills Digest #12-3
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