Chalkhills Digest Volume 2, Issue 69
Date: Tuesday, 13 February 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 2, Number 69
Tuesday, 13 February 1996
Today's Topics:
Rush, The Justice League, & Another Satillite
Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-66
L'Affaire Louis Trio
There is no such thing as an objective opinion
Jon Brion?
Options to buy
Re: Andy & the Justice League
RUSH
Beefheart, Poms and Fields
This and That
Alanis vs Joni, or something like that
A Most Pleasant Task!
The Swindon Lads Oft-Neglected Gem.
Yacht Dance TAB
M. Newell - his CD in France
Voice of the Beehive
Aimee Mann & Andy (yes, that old story again)
xtc heard in strange places
Andy and Comics
(un)Like Minded Releases
What should I play on my show?
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Dave White" <DWHITE@king.kingsedge.windsor.ns.ca> Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 17:53:29 AST/ADT Subject: Rush, The Justice League, & Another Satillite 1. I have been a Rush fan slightly longer than an XTC fan (15 yrs vs 12 yrs). While there may be others who are fans of both, I must say that the original post on this thread makes a big stretch in trying to compare the two groups. Any similarities are more superficial than anything. 2. >From: DAMIAN FOULGER <SPXDLF@cardiff.ac.uk> >Subject: The interpretation of Another Satellite > >--XTOTX wrote some interpretational rubbish about Another Satellite, >I won't bother to repeat any of it, but talk about seeing things >where there is only darkness, hearing things when there is only >silence. I bet this person is an English Major because that sort of >interpretation is the stuff that I was forced to do in English >classes. I don't wish to be mean XTOTX but I think that you have >gone a little far. I think that it's about Andy and a woman trying >to get some affection, but I do conceed that it might be about >religion. > >Even though I think that the interpretation was a crock it was quite >interesting. :-) Actually, Damien, this kind of bad analysis comes from not paying close enough attention in English class. You see, some interpretations that are real and fit are NOT obvious. Some clearly do not fit no matter how hard it is forced onto the text. This is what is going on here. The defence (likely to be posted soon) is, "Well, that's what it says to ME." Yeah, and Manson thought the Beatles were writing to him. What's your point? Interpretations of lyrics do not gain validity by subjecetive whim. As an English teacher I struggle with this concept with students who sometimes seem to think that either meanings must be on the surface and obvious or else anything goes. There is a middle road. You just have to know where to find it. 3. >From: jh3@cencom.net (JH3) >Subject: Andy & the Justice League > >So, does anybody know about this (for all I know this may have been >discussed already), and if so what edition of Justice League this was in? >Obviously it came out before 1992 and pretty certainly after 1982; probably >some DC comics guy wanted to pay tribute to him for writing "Sgt. Rock." >(That WAS Andy, right?) ... Or maybe this was a tribute based on the line from "Melt The Guns" about the JLA. David White
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 11:12:41 -0700 (MST) From: PARTRIDGE PATRICK <partridg@mscd.edu> Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #2-66 This one's for Mark Fisher on the Q magazine article. XTC is not mentioned at all? That's funny, considering all the flack they took in the States. Perhaps it's 'cuz Q is a Brit mag?... Anyway, check out some of the more comprehensive rock encyclopedias. They almost always mention the fact that "Dear God" became such a hit in the US because it was banned throughout the Bible Belt (the southern states for all of you not initiated in American B.S.). When "college rock" stations picked it up as a B-side novelty and began pushing it, all sorts of religious groups began to protest, and although I'm not sure of this, I think they even had a torching. Albums Are Burning.... At any rate, that's the history of "Dear God" and Skylarking according to the U.S. press. In fact, one of the first times (the third actually) I even heard XTC was during an MTV top 100 videos of all time countdown and the video for "Dear God" was somewhere in the middle of the list :) A word to the Beefhearters: My good friend and XTC fiend, Ian Stewart of "Obscene Collection" fame, put together my first copy of "Rag and Bone" back when it was import only. On that mix he included an interview w/ Andy in his Dukes guise (complete with insanely funny voice effects for all those debating his love of vocal trickery) in which he mentions that Beefheart was a major influence on "25-O'Clock" (as well as various "sweets" and pill-like items, wide flairs, and lots of other Andy-the-campy-hippie things). The Posies said that XTC was one of their biggest influences while recording their album "Dear 23", and I don't think the influence ever left them :) Finding a way to make my own light, Patrick Partridge Song for the Day: "Broomstick Rhythm"
------------------------------ Subject: L'Affaire Louis Trio From: wwilson@mail07.mitre.org (Wesley H. Wilson) Date: Mon, 12 Feb 96 13:39:44 -0500 I just heard the L'Affaire Louis Trio songs that Colin plays bass on...punchy, sophisticated pop tracks (hey...who's the French Paul McCartney?). Colin is such an interesting bass player; knows when _not_ to play notes, too. What's a good English translation of the album title, and the songs Colin plays on? "Le Homme aux Milles Vies" translates to "The Man with a Thousand Lives" in my estimation. Another track Colin plays on is "Ma Vie Etait Si Simple" = "My Life Was Not Easy". (I'm just guessing at the translations here.) Does anyone from France know how this CD is doing in sales? Is it popular? Wes
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 96 14:09:12 EST From: patty@gdb.org (Patty Haley) Subject: There is no such thing as an objective opinion >From Ken: > I like this list, and i like hearing people's likes and dislikes, > whether or not they're different than mine. Even more, i totally > agree with patty's point that appreciating music does *not* require > attention to technique. However, i want to add that "musical > appreciation" is a reflection of a personal experience, and **not** > some kind of objective judgement about what is wrong and right in the > music! > > Maybe this is just one perspective on it, or perhaps it's patently > obvious, or something. But i mention it for a reason - it bothers me > when i see opinion, particularly negative ones, cast as objective > judgements of the quality of the some artwork. [stuff deleted] > chalkhills, where people tend to avoid disdain and condemnation. It's > just that implications that it's "bad" is distinctly insulting *to > me*, because it implies that *i* am wrong for liking it! Pshaw!) Quite honestly, my mouth literally fell open when I read the sentence above. It means nothing of the kind. Anything I have to say is *my* opinion, and if you can't make the distinction between someone saying "I can't stand the artist"and "I can't stand the artist and you're wrong for liking them." then there's a big problem. And what would make you think that I'm casting my opinions as objective judgements? I think Alanis' work is immature raving andthat she can't carry a tune in a Mack truck, but if you like her, once again, asI said in my original post, different strokes for different folks. *Any* opinion is subjective--there is no such thing as an objective opinion, and I can't see how you could imagine there could be. Now, because this is the XTC list, and because XTC is why I sub to this list, I'm not going to reply or respond any further to messages about this. My opinion is just that--*MINE*. I can't remember me saying the words "right" and "wrong" *anywhere* in my posts. If we only had friends who liked the *exact* same artists we did, not too many of us would have any friends, because even those friends with whom I share most of my musical tastes and I differ. I believe that most of us on this list can make the distinction. One of the reasons I mentioned it to begin with is because I knew that Melissa has been on this list for a long time, knows me, and wouldn't take anything as a personal hit. Nice to see that she was able to keep this in the perspective in which it was meant, as were many others on the list. -Patty
------------------------------ From: Ewalther@eworld.com Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 12:09:49 -0800 Subject: Jon Brion? Excuse my ignorance, but who is Jon Brion? Is he a Swindonian Pseudonym or what???
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 18:31:24 -0500 (EST) From: ROMER THOMAS J <romer@cooper.edu> Subject: Options to buy Many of us have been confronted with the options to buy or not to buy. Do I risk getting this new Neil Young album when for me his albums have been either great or just acceptable. When we make a purchase we (at least we here at Chalkhills I would hope) are not buying a record due to an ad or commercial we saw. People do not buy unless they really want something. Of course you could be someone who could take music or leave music, or you let the radio make all the decisions for you. However, I would imagine all the people who take the time to post here at Chalkhills take music quite seriously. I doubt that someone who posts that they enjoy a band or musician is not serious. I have been deeply touched by music in my life. I have opinions too. But in my maturity I have discovered that there really is no such thing as a bad form of music, unfortunately music can only be as good as what people do with it. Whenever I am confronted with someone who is violently opposed to a band or musician I enjoy, I usually discover that the person has a dislike for the entire genre of music. For instance, the person who dislikes Joni Mitchell so strongly probably does not go in for much folk or folk-rock. It is possible that they do and just do not like Joni, but considering her giant influence over folk, and other forms, it seems unlikely. Often people mislead themselves into thinking this sucks or that sucks due to image or presentation. I have been often mistaken about music in the past when I formulate opinions based on one song or without giving a considerable amount of time to listening to a few selections. I hated Zeppelin becuase its so overdone and not my style. But honestly some entire albums are genius. I once hated Rush (not Limbaugh), Lenny Kravitz and others but eventually discovered veins of their work that do grab me. Without opening my mind to these possibilities I would never have known some truly wonderful music. How many of you have ever taken out a Sam Cooke record and played it from start to finish? How many have ever drifted back into musical history to discover who Fats Waller is? Do you dare take out dad's old Nat King Cole records? What about Hank Williams? Is country right out of the Question? I hope some of you could answer yes to at least one of those questions or are at least willing to consider what these radically different forms of music could add to your listening palatte. I'm sure Andy would agree. Do not convince yourself that the brightest stars only burn in your own galaxy. Others burn just as bright elsewhere as well as deep in the past. By the way I happen to think Joni Mitchell is a living legend. Her "Blue" is fantastic and even better is her more recent "Night Ride Home". For those of you who enjoy the Xtc brand of music most, you may even find "Night Ride Home" to be an album worth listening to. Also by the way, how may (formerly) Idiot's Delight fans do we have out there in Xtc land? Sincerely, THOMMHAS RHOMMHER
------------------------------ From: 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk> Subject: Re: Andy & the Justice League Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 23:59:05 +0000 (GMT) # From: jh3@cencom.net (JH3) # Subject: Andy & the Justice League # # Obviously it came out before 1992 and pretty certainly after 1982; probably # some DC comics guy wanted to pay tribute to him for writing "Sgt. Rock." # (That WAS Andy, right?) I confess to knowing nothing about it but... are you sure you don't mean 'Melt The Guns'? Think about it... _ |_)|_ *| | | )|| http://http2.brunel.ac.uk:8080/~ee92pmh/ ========
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 18:09:54 -0600 From: weisrot@cscoe.ac.com (Todd Weisrock - CIS) Subject: RUSH Hail to all other XTC and Rush fans! Count me amongst you. I think it's very interesting to see the variety of people that listen to XTC. A lot of you talk about thousands of bands that I've never heard of in your posts, but there are a few I can relate to, such as Rush. I would even venture to guess that there are a few of you, like myself, that rank Alice in Chains as among your favourites as well!
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 12:38:09 +1100 From: Colin Wright <loopy2@enternet.com.au> Subject: Beefheart, Poms and Fields I can understand when people refer to Captain Beefheart's 'Trout Mask Replica' as 'unlistenable' but I gotta admit, it's my favourite bee-fart album of them all. When I listen to it I am constantly amazed at his genius and that of the band. This album was recorded in 1968 fer chrissakes!! Amazing! Speaking of the Magic Band - did anyone get into the two great albums by Mallard. Mallard were members of the Magic Band that broke away from Beefheart to do their own thing. I hear that the Captain was a bit of a tyrant, so when these guys were allowed to cut loose without him, they came up with two of the most beautifully bent, country blues sounding albums I've ever heard. They folded in the late 70's but the two albums that they left us were just mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!! James (Dignan) - so I'm not the only one that is reminded of 'Trumpton'. Wierd shit hey? Hey James - I always thought that you were a Kiwi - but with memories of Trumpton, you've gotta be a Pom! - (me too). Now for the blatant and loosely XTC related plug. I work here in Sydney as a record producer/engineer and recently had the honour of engineering and producing an album by local band, 'Fields' Both they and I are XTC fans, and, while there is a smattering of influence there, they have been very favourably compared with Crowded House. Here's the plug. I have three copies of their CD 'Crooked Castles on Mountains of Want' to give away. Here's the catch. I'm so confident about the qualities of this album and I really want to see it succeed. I would like the receivers of the freebie to write a brief review of it and post it on this list. That way, others that may like it can see what fellow XTC fans think of it (and maybe order a copy or two) :) The band is currently totally self financed and are signed to a small indie label in Sydney. If you really like it you can email me an extended review, which the band will use in their bio and local ads. If you are interested, please email me privately. The first three mailings get the CD, no charge, no postal costs. Plug over. Sorry to use the list for this type of thing, but I really think that these guys deserve a wider audience and will do anything to get them recognised outside the (very small) Sydney/Melbourne circuit. I have no financial interest in them, just a genuine desire to get them happening on a wider basis. That's all - thanks for listening!! ***************************************************************** * Colin Wright * * * Studio Manager * Partner * * Troy Horse Studios * Loopy Green Digital Studio * * P.O.Box7, Alexandria * P.O.Box 561, Broadway * * NSW 2015 Australia * NSW 2007, Australia * * * * * Ph. 015 240 000 * e-mail- loopy2@enternet.com.au * ***************************************************************** *"If all the world is but a play - be thou the joyful player" * * Incredible String Band * *****************************************************************
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 96 20:39:26 EST From: Matt <R2MCH1@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU> Subject: This and That In 2-68, Drew points out that Dave Blood, bass player for the Dead Milkmen (whose new LP, BTW, was a little disappointing), is wearing an XTC Drums and Wires tee. A couple of years ago, after the Milkmen played at Peabody's in Cleveland, I had the chance to talk to Dave and get his autograph. It just now occurred to me that I should have asked why he was wearing that shirt... ah hindsight. Todd, the songs look good. You don't want to stray too much from the "popular" stuff when introducing somebody to XTC. I made a tape for my previous girl- friend that included "I'll Set Myself On Fire" (which may seem a strange ditty to the uninitiated) and "My Weapon," among others. Needless to say, I didn't hear her playing the tape very often. In case anybody cares, I haven't seem anybody mention "Return of the Rentals" as one of the best LP's of the year, nor the Circle Jerk's "Oddities...," nor Stan Ridgway's "Black Diamond" (which just came out in January - but you should have it by now!!). - Matt P.S. - The Alanis thing, in the name of all that is holy, let it go.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 16:11:54 +1200 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Alanis vs Joni, or something like that Melissa's right folks (there's a first time for everything! ;). Just because we all love the music of three (or four) lads from Wiltshire, this doesn't dictate our other listening delights. I like Joni and Suzanne, can tolerate Alanis, like Sinead and even the Indigo Girls, and have recently tuned into the delights of Liz Phair. I'm also a bigger fan of Robyn Hitchcock than I am of Captain Beefheart, and dare I say it? I even like (gasp) the Crash Test Dummies (although I think they should leave covering XTC well alone). Some of you may find that XTC is the only band lighter than Iron Maiden worth listening to. Others may find XTC is the one moment of noise in a collection ranging from Harold Budd to Gavin Bryars. Some of you will be mainly into techno, others will be fans of Bach. Let's face it, although there's probably a "typical XTC fan" out there somewhere, XTC is the one uniting factor in our otherwise disparate, whirling, twisting, lives. Let's just be amazed that we can agree on one thing - that at some point in their carrers (be it Go2 or Nonsuch, Skylarking or Black Sea), the entity known as XTC has touched our lives in a very special way. But I still can't believe Melissa likes Queen! ;) as for: >"Seagulls Screaming" is a perfect example. Man, I've been there. And let me tell you, she wishes he'd kiss her as much as he does. Doesn't that song just put you right there on that beach in November with no one else around for miles? oh God yes. Been there, done that. --- >(Naturally, I haven't heard XTC's cover of "Ella Guru" :( I can't imagine >them doing it - the work of a profoundly American eccentric being >performed by profoundly British eccentrics just seems really strange to >me. The results must be intriguing.) well, neither have I, but I can imagine it working. In fact, one song I particularly love is the work of an English eccentric being performed by some profoundly American once-were-eccentrics (REM's cover of Richard Thompson's "Wall of Death", from "Beat the Retreat") James
------------------------------ From: BEAULAC MARIO <m246274@er.uqam.ca> Subject: A Most Pleasant Task! Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 01:20:09 -0500 (EST) Hi y'all Chalkhillians, This is in response to Todd Bernhardt's post about "XTC intro tapes", those home-made concoctions by the faithful which are in fact fave lists, with a nod towards converting the Unaffiliated. My own choice cuts, assembled in the distant hope of "converting the philistines", found their way on tape a while back, before the release of "Nonsuch" in fact (yep--the tape *is* getting thin!). I guess my selections are testimonies to my proclivity for the quirky and energetic XTC, albeit it also represents a fair share of the singles (if I were to redo this today, Snowman and Dying would both find their way in though). Sorry, but I didn't abide by Todd's ground rules, the chronological order bit at least. I'm a little dumbfounded by that one, I must admit; isn't the liberty of getting to select your own running order part of the private home-taping fun, especially when it comes to your numero uno band? Anyway, here's the lowdown on my 100 minutes, "XTRA XTC 1978-1989" tape. Side A: Are You Receiving Me?; Radios in Motion; Outside World; Towers of London; Big Day; Yacht Dance; Pink Thing; Shake You Donkey Up; Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me); Statue of Liberty; Ten Feet Tall; King For a Day; Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass [12" mix]; Wait 'Till Your Boat Goes Down Side B: It's Nearly Africa; When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty; Mayor of Simpleton; Washaway; Burning With Optimism's Flames; Grass; Love On a Farmboy's Wages; Scissor Man; I'll Set Myself on Fire; Take This Town; Senses Working Overtime; Dear God; Jumping in Gomorrah; Don't Lose Your Temper; Red Brick Dream (Before signing off--any other french speaking Chalkhillians out here on the list? Just a mite curious.) The Scissor Man
------------------------------ From: Garbarek@aol.com Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 01:56:30 -0500 Subject: The Swindon Lads Oft-Neglected Gem. Long-time (but usually quiet) Chalkhillian here for a brief mention of a song I continue to find astonishing, but have never seen mentioned even in passing here: "It's Nearly Africa". I first heard this beauty on Peter Gabriel's W.O.M.A.D. double album back around 1980 (I think). The song made my jaw drop it was so innovative. Even today, with all the techno-gadgetry and studio trickery around, it still blows me away. And now for something completely different. Does anyone know if the "Urgh: A Music War" collection is still available on C.D.? There's a terrific live version of "Respectable Street" by our dynamic trio as well as some great live tracks from other bands like Devo, The Police, X, Gary Numan, and many others. I stooopudly didn't buy it the one time I did see it in a C.D. shop (USED EVEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!) Ooh flame me, whip me, beat me! Another cool disc to check out is a fairly low-fi tribute album to Todd Rundgren by a bunch of North Carolina Bands. It's really fun stuff. Again, shoot me, I can't remember the name of the label or the album name. So ask around. And finally, RE: Ben Folds Five. If you love early Joe Jackson or early Billy Joel you'll probably worship these guys, as I do. I saw them, live, a few months ago in Atlanta and have to rate the concert as my favorite of last year. They just have so damned much fun onstage. Give 'em a listen. Send questions, comments, smoke signals or diatribes to: Garbarek@aol.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 23:05:50 -0800 From: relph (John Relph) Subject: Yacht Dance TAB Ian Dahlberg <hbmus047@dewey.csun.edu> has graciously submitted guitar tablature for that most difficult of songs "Yacht Dance". You can find it at the Chalkhills website (URL above). Good luck! -- John
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 12:56:27 +0100 From: drouin@dassault-avion.fr (Francois DROUIN) Subject: M. Newell - his CD in France the 13 th February 1996 This is the first time I write to "Chalkhills" !!! I got the new CD from Martin Newell "The off white album", a month ago. It is available, here in France on "Humburg Records". The reference is GIANT CD 1 and is distributed by : Media 7 / Little Giant Records 15 rue des Goulvents Phone +33 1 41 20 90 50 F - 92000 Nanterre Fax +33 1 47 25 00 99 France The CD appears to be a French release, and has very good reviews in magazines about Pop/Rock music. it could become as successful as the first album of David Yazbek. Some tracks are very much influenced by "The Beatles", "The Beach Boys" and "Elvis Costello". The CD is produced by Louis Philip(p)e, French guy living in England I think, and is rather enjoyable, with Dave Gregory playing on some tracks. it should be possible for American people to get it as an import CD, from this address. Last fall, I attended a concert of Louis Philippe and Martin played as the first part. Anything else must have been said on "Chalkhills". All the best. Frangois Drouin, Paris
------------------------------ From: Adrian Dover <DOVERAL@lib.bham.ac.uk> Organization: The University of Birmingham Date: 13 Feb 96 16:51:16 GMT Subject: Voice of the Beehive 'Sex & Misery', the new album from Voice of the Beehive has finally been released in the UK (Monday 12 February). I don't know what the hold up has been since it was reviewed in the November 1995 issue of Q Magazine!. I hope it has previously been noted for Chalkhillians that this album includes an Andy co-writing credit for the track "Blue in Paradise". After a couple of listens, I think "BinP" is the best track on the album, but perhaps I am biased :). S&M (!) is more weighted to the serious than the Beehive's two earlier albums, as befits Tracey and Melissa's life story in the four years since 'Honey lingers', and I miss the puns and general joie de vivre of 'Let it bee' which has to be one of my favourite 80's pop outings, after XTC of course. "Blue in Paradise" has a very Partridgesque line in colour symbolism and imagery and some really great harmonies and is produced with, dare I say it, quite a Beatles feel in places, brilliant harmony singing from the sisters and a beautiful sound like a cross between a harmonium and a string band (there are real strings on it too). Andy doesn't get any production or playing credits, and I find it difficult to assess how much of his input is there, but I can recommend that you get to hear this track, although I can't honestly suggest you fork out for the whole album unless you like Beehive's previous work. Adrian. --- Adrian Dover --- The University of Birmingham, UK a.l.dover@bham.ac.uk --- usual disclaimers apply ---
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 12:31:15 -0500 (EST) From: "Tom X. Chao" <tqc8542@is.nyu.edu> Subject: Aimee Mann & Andy (yes, that old story again) This month's Tower Pulse magazine (given away free at Tower Records) features Ms. Mann on the cover and in the interview, she relates the by-now-familiar story of her coaxing Andy on stage to sing "Collideascope." (p. 31) I don't believe her anecdote contains anything that anyone hasn't heard already. It's not a bad interview, though. (The photographer must have worked overtime to make her look so incredibly bad on the cover--sheesh.) Tom X. Chao
------------------------------ From: review1@panix.com Date: Tue, 13 Feb 96 09:33:31 PST Subject: xtc heard in strange places So last night I went to see Ray Davies at the Westbeth Music Theatre in NYC. For those outside of New York. Ray is playing two weeks worth of solo shows in this theatre that holds about 300 people. In addition to the theatre, they set up "Ray's Pub" where they served ale and pub fare. There was also a piano player in the corner just quietly playing away. I recognized a tune -- it was Earn Enough For Us. Then he played a song from Nonsuch (I can't recall which one). Very cool. BTW -- The Ray show was amazing. If you can, see it! Cheers, Barry
------------------------------ Subject: Andy and Comics From: wwilson@mail07.mitre.org (Wesley H. Wilson) Date: Tue, 13 Feb 96 13:07:12 -0500 RE: John Hedges' (jh3@cencom.net) comment about Andy and the "Justice League" comic: I had heard that Andy was in an issue of Justice League of America, but I never found out which issue number, and never could try to track it down. I have some "Wildstar" comics (published by IMAGE; limited series of four, 1993) with a Partridge-like minor character in them, and various references to XTC (for example, one of the other characters is named "Greg Davory"). No mere coincidence - - I think former DC comicsmeister Dennis O'Neil is somehow involved. Several childrens' alphabet blocks spell out "X T C" in Superman #85 (1993 also, I believe). I don't have this issue. As has been long pointed out, Andy included numerous references to comics in his songs: "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)," "That's Really Super, Supergirl," "Brainiac's Daughter," and in "Melt the Guns" I think he mentions "Justice League of America" in the middle speaking part. How do I know all this? I read my comics from front to back. Now let *me* ask a question - is there a current English psychedelic/electronic band called "Movie..." (something)? Heard they have a #19 indie album on the charts. Wes P.S.Stephen Duffy fans - new CD single, "Needle Mythology" out now! 3 bonus tracks.
------------------------------ From: HFTC@grove.iup.edu Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 15:46:40 -0500 (EST) Subject: (un)Like Minded Releases Organization: Indiana University of Pennsylvania Hey Folks, Been a while since I've posted, but as always have been enjoying all. I always enjoy hearing recommendations for other bands of potential interest to XTC fans. One thing I've noticed of late is that most posts on this topic have been functioning under the assumption that if it sounds similar to XTC, then XTC fans should enjoy it. I won't argue this logic. But let me open a different pathway. It's always been my contention that XTC fans enjoy eclectic tastes and tend to gravitate towards music that, like XTC in spirit, tends to challenge standard preconceptions of just what consititutes rock-n-roll. So, let me forward the notion that a parallel interest needn't sound anything like XTC for us all to be willing to try it, but rather, it should share XTC's willingness to challenge us and experiment with sound/structure/ideas etc. Following this logic, let me recommend three candidates that follow this line of thought. First, check out Pere Ubu "Raygun Suitcase." This band is one of the few I know that have actually been around LONGER than XTC (albeit with a revolving cast of characters) and continued to push both their own and their listeners' boundaries. Next, and my vote for the best album released last year, Tindersticks. This band is sublime. There's no other word. I swear, you can't listen to their latest album (titled, like their first also highly recommended album, "Tindersticks") without feeling like you're sitting in the back of some dark pub, lights low, sound distorted but promising clarity if you could only concentrate. Oblique description, I know, but I guarentee you every time I play this disc my clothes reek of stale tobacco smoke and I quit smoking two years ago. Simply stunning. Finally, let me offer an album I picked up just this saturday: For Squirrels, "Example." Definitely a hard-edged album, but containing beauty. Actually, I went into the shop to buy Ben Folds Five, based on recommendations here. Don't know where/why I changed my mind, but I don't regret it. The lead singer quite literally sound like a cross between Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Kurt Cobain (Nirvana). And I refer not only to the sound he creates but also to the passion behind it. Tragically, two of the band's members were killed in a September car accident, but they left a brilliant, poignant testament to their promise in this album. As I said, none of the above would qualify as "if you love XTC you're guarenteed to like these guys," but if you crave a challenge or a surprise, check them out. - Ed Whitelock
------------------------------ From: JEFFAE@CEDAR.GOSHEN.EDU Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 15:54:23 -0500 (EST) Subject: What should I play on my show? Warning: New poster! Here's the deal, I have a small late night radio show on my college station (WGCS, Goshen Indiana) and I'm trying in my own small way to unleash XTC on my little campus. And so each week, with much fanfare and forewarning to my audience, I play one XTC song from each albulm that I own (all tens albums, Waxsworks, R&BB, Chips... and TD) in chronilogical order. Next show I plan to play "Wait till your boat goes down" from Waxworks but after that I'm not quite sure which song to play from which album. Any suggestions? Here's what I've played so far WA- Statue of Liberty Go2-Supertuff D&W-Making plans for Nigel BS-Travels in Nihilon ES- Senses working overtime.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #2-69 ******************************
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