Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 108
Date: Monday, 5 May 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 108
Monday, 5 May 1997
Today's Topics:
Dave Marsh on XTC (historical)
new songs and a little smut
Chains of thoughts to snare you with...
Making Plans For Nigel, Robbie and George
Another desperate fan
Second Hand Dance (since you asked)
ChalkTape Status
May I suggest Prozac
Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere...
TransPacific Chalkhills visit!
Re: XTCers in Florida!
XTC spotting
Demo Tapes of New Stuff
Welcome to the gaaaaaarrrrrden....
Catching up
Re: Andy Demos
XTC is here
Matrix of Reality
Ice Cream for Partridge
XTC vs A.A. (A Question)
The Opposite of Cloying
Talking Heads, white horses and politics
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Sitting in the family trees and eating all the best fruits.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Martin_Monkman@fincc04.fin.gov.bc.ca
Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 09:25:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dave Marsh on XTC (historical)
Message-id: <9704018625.AA862503826@FINSMTP1.FIN.GOV.BC.CA>
Other contributors have offered analyses of Dave Marsh's approach to
rock criticism. Here's another telling bit - his blurb on XTC from
the 1983 book "The New Rolling Stone Record Guide".
*** White Music (1978)
*** Go Two [sic] (1978)
**** Drums and Wires (1979)
**** Black Sea (1980)
[note that it's a 5-star system, and the book went to press
before the release of English Settlement]
Anglo art-pop's 1978 debuts were less than impressive, perhaps
because the punkish competition was a bit stiff [did he intend
the pun?] that year. As Andy Partridge's sense of twisted pop
began to dominate Colin Moulding's penchant for skewed art,
however, XTC became more and more one of the highlights of the
contemporary British scene. That is, this is one of the few arty
avant-gardists of the post-punk moment that can really rock out,
which means that it sweats enough to earn its pretensions (and
maybe even its nihilism).
Elsewhere in the book Marsh raves about the first 4 Elvis Costello
albums (4 stars except for the 5 star Armed Forces) but laments his
subsequent loss of focus. He didn't get to write the Kinks or Robert
Fripp and King Crimson entries.
And, as support those who said that Marsh is something of a
Springsteen fan, here's brief extract from Marsh's entry in "The
Guide": "He is the most brilliant American rock & roll performer to
emerge in the last decade, with a truly remarkable verbal facility.
But Springsteen's lyrical talent is only the equal of his strengths as
a composer, as a live performer and as a guitarist. ... If there had
been any doubt [Nebraska, the new album when the book was published]
firmly and finally placed Bruce Springsteen among the greatest, most
ambitious artists rock has produced."
Marsh has written 2 Springsteen biographies, the titles of which
escape me. The first appeared in the early '80s, in the period around
The River and Nebraska. A second was whipped together in about 1985
or '86 to capitalize on the astonishing success of Born In The USA and
the bloated live album that followed.
BTW: I think that Springsteen has produced (and continues to produce)
some great music, but I think that the degree of Dave Marsh's
enthusiasm is unjustified. Re-phrased, Springsteen's music is good
but I have a hard time placing him in the pantheon of rock demi-gods.
Martin
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970501121948.0abfaffa@mail.utexas.edu> Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 12:19:48 From: "Jason \"Freak\" Garcia" <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: new songs and a little smut Well well well. I've finally heard the New Demos, and I have to say there really are a number of songs that just jump out at you and say, "Hi, we're great songs! Listen to us over and over!!" The first one that fit this category was "Easter Theater". One of Andy's best melodies, methinks. "You And The Clouds" has been sneaking into my head as of late (my pick for the first single), and recently "Prince of Orange" and "I Can't Own Her" have joined the ranks of great new songs, with more to follow as I have more time to listen to the tape. I have two words for Ben Folds Five: piano masturbation. I really don't like groups whose sole purpose seems to back some virtuoso (Bruce Hornsby and The Range, anyone?), but at least his melodies are decent. Must go botch my SECOND test today, now. This is the last Thursday of my college career! Whoo-hoo!! Jason
------------------------------ From: Cheryl <McGREGOC@regents.ac.uk> Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 21:24:28 GMT Subject: Chains of thoughts to snare you with... Message-ID: <396D261475@asdf011.regents.ac.uk> Hi there chalk-people! I had this urge to listen to 'Ladybird', though I don't know why... Anyway as I was listening, I found myself waiting for the place in the song where you can barely hear an audible HOO! in the background. It happens at about 3:01, I think. I just love that bit! As if the HOO-ing could not be contained. Any ideas as to who might be doing the hoo-ing? This made me think of... 'Rocket from a Bottle'- I had included this on a compilation tape I had made for walking. As I would come across the playground on my route, this song would come on. Walking along, I heard a shriek, "WOO!" The first time I heard it I thought someone was in distress. Wide-eyed, I scanned the playground to find no one there. The next few times I heard it I figured someone was being cheeky and I would just glare out across the playground knowing....THEY were there. Well, it wasn't until one night while lying in bed, that it happened..."WOO!" As I had a minor heart attack, I realized that the "WOO!" was in the song. It sounds very female. Who the heck is that? It occurs at about 2:24 on the CD. And turning a left turn here... What ever happen to the group Sparks? You've got angst in your pants.... Cheryl
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199705012059.WAA09619@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 22:05:06 +0000 Subject: Making Plans For Nigel, Robbie and George Chalkies, Mark Fisher alerted us all : > Just got the Robbie Williams CD single (Old Before I Die) with his > cover of Making Plans for Nigel on the b-side (remember b-sides?). I got it too - I thought: "nobody could possible ruin a song like 'Nigel' "... But guess what? Robbie Williams did - he really _murdered_ it. He doesn't even make an attempt to actually sing the song; he just blares out the words - more or less! ;) Anyway, I _did_ however notice that the producer for all the tracks on the CD single (and presumably the whole album ) is one G.Chambers I think this is the same person as George Chambers who operated the tape recorder on the original Nigel and Drums And Wires sessions. So that (IMVHO!) is how Dave G. must have gotten involved in this very mediocre "project"... Mr Chambers probably called his ol' buddy to rescue the sesssions And could it not have been _their_ idea instead of Robbie's to record 'that Nigel song' ? This would explain Mr. Williams less than inspired performance and we all know XTC could do with some royalties :) PS: I really don't like the way things are going 'here' lately. Too much hatred and bigotry IMHO. Let's clean up our acts, folks... knuckle down! Or else all the decent people will go into lurk mode (or just leave) and this digest that used to be quite interesting to fans and casual admirers of that great band XTC will just be spammed to death. yours ecstatically, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <=== We all need a big reduction in the amount of tears
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 01 May 97 17:15:22 EST
From: "GUY RIDDIHOUGH" <G.RIDDIHOUGH@NATURENY.COM>
Message-Id: <9704018625.AA862532160@GATEWAY.natureny.com>
Subject: Another desperate fan
In response to Peter Wright's post:
Me too. All this waffle is all well and good (and even slightly
diverting). But where is the music? I don't want to hear the demos. I
want the surprise and enchantment of hearing the final versions as
intended by Dave, Andy and Colin. (I'll want to hear the demos after
I've heard the originals to see how they evolved).
Five years is too long - I'm going nuts listening to the old stuff.
I'll end up disappearing up my own CD player if I'm not careful. What
is happening? I'd feel a little better if there was some more concrete
news about how things were going (maybe that isn't the function of
this list?). I can't (don't want to) believe that record company execs
would view XTC as such a liability. Are ALL labels so commercial that
they would not risk a non-touring band (the answer is no, surely).
Therefore, is Andy really such a difficult customer? Somebody must
have the scoop.
Guy
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v03020900af8ec74d611a@[132.236.115.83]> Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 17:35:44 -0500 From: Tom Cole <tec2@cornell.edu> Subject: Second Hand Dance (since you asked) Simon said: >I recently got an email from a performance art group, Second Hand Dance >(website at http://www.worlddesign.com/secondhand), who are fans of XTC and >who wanted me to foward their details to the band with a view to possible >collaboration. Oh, man. I can add a couple of cents to this topic. Second Hand Dance is based in my neck of the woods (well, Binghamton, NY, which is just 45 mins. down Interstate 81) and I've seen them a number of times. Dance is not my thing, either, but these three guys are unbelievable. Their athleticism is incredible and their pieces are beautiful, funny and amazing. My words will not do justice, nor will the pictures on their web page, but they'll give you a bit of an idea. I've seen them do a similar collaboration to the one their proposing with the music of the Horse Flies, a local band that I also can't recommend enough (their "demented post-modern mountain music" is as if David Byrne and Talking Heads had grown up in Appalachia rather than East Coast art school), and it was "something wild" indeed. If anyone can encourage this idea, please do so. If anyone is interested in checking out both the Horse Flies and Second Hand Dance, I recommend you check out the Fingerlakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, July 17-20 in Trumansburg, NY (http://www.grassrootsfest.org/) -- this annual event can't be beat with a stick, believe you me. Over and out. --Tom
------------------------------ From: Richard.PedrettiAllen@octel.com Message-Id: <c=US%a=_%p=Octel%l=EX-CAMPUS1-970502001104Z-3593@ex-campus2.corp.octel.com> Subject: ChalkTape Status Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 17:11:04 -0700 Richard Pedretti-Allen is: a) a charlatan b) a loser c) in over his head d) full of excuses in an attempt cover his laziness e) a victim f) thoroughly apologetic and profusely embarassed g) all of the above Pick One (but I don't think I want to know the answer) Terribly sorry (OH MY GOD!! HE'S DOING IT AGAIN!) for the delay. I have exercised a money-back offer with the dubbing service (the good news is that it didn't involve Small Claims Court) and sent the master to another dubber. It really, truly is happening folks, please, please, please believe me and have another couple of weeks of faith before you hand down a guilty verdict and throw a rope over a tree limb. I got jerked around too much and had to draw back from the dubbing deal I had orchestrated. The owner was a... (how do I put this delicately?) ...a diplomatic, inbred scumbag. His last line was "Look, this whole thing went bad and I should have known it would be a problem from the start... I'll give you your money back (hence "diplomat") if you'll not spread my name around... I have a business to run here and I don't want bullshit sour grapes hurting me." "Sour grapes" is not how I viewed things but I was money out, so I politely thanked him for being "understanding" and drove to HIS BANK to cash the check. I don't want to sound like I'm whining about this (especially while holding other peoples money) but I attempted to work a deal through a recording industry acquaintance for the dubbing under the guise of "If you give me good price, you can run this job when you have some slack time in production." The deal went sour when the final dubs didn't match the proof copy that was sent. I sent them all back and he was furious. This got worse when (he felt) I started "bugging" him about when they would be done. In the future, I will just do a straight business deal like any old shmuck off the street and not attempt to swing a "deal." The difference between what it would have cost and what it will cost turns my Chalkhills' Children CD into a VERY EXPENSIVE DIPLOMA. On top of all this, a good, solid business acquaintance (one that has brought me business and positive exposure in the past) has been caught in the middle of this and is giving me SERIOUS STINK-EYE. I don't think he hates me but this is the type of thing that makes people refuse to do favors. He is a kind-hearted soul and very understanding and I look forward to this whole thing blowing over and fading away. This entire headache would have been avoided with a tape-tree... but I still don't like the idea just because of the diminished audio quality. My only sanctuary is that, after publishing my address below, the Unabomber has been caught. I promise to celebrate the shipment in a couple weeks. Here is the schedule: The dubber will have the proof copy to me by May 9. IF all is okay, he will have the copies shipped by the 23rd (I am pushing to HAVE them by the 23rd to load packages over the holiday weekend). Then the rest is up to the acoustic mail service. I will post periodic (AND SHORTER) updates every step of the way. Cheers, Richard p.s. If I don't do another tribute tape, someone will, so GET RECORDING! p.p.s. Okay, okay, send me your answer to the multiple choice question if it will save you a trip to the therapist. Richard Pedretti-Allen Manager, GBS Phrase Development Octel Communications Corp. 1001 Murphy Ranch Rd. MS C1-2N Milpitas, CA 95035-7912 phone 408.324.4516 fax 408.324.6170
------------------------------ Message-Id: <3.0.1.16.19970501212126.2c17aa68@mail.utexas.edu> Date: Thu, 01 May 1997 21:21:26 From: "Jason \"Freak\" Garcia" <h.h.name@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: May I suggest Prozac Dear Chalkhills, To Peter Wright-- settle down there buddy! It's not as bleak as all that! There'll be new XTC albums. The guys aren't dead. Andy hasn't lost it. It's just taking a little time, that's all, no sense working yourself up over something you can't change, you know? Just put on the new demos, like everyone else, and think, "wow, these will sound good when recorded for real". And speaking of that, there was some debate earlier as to whether the songs will sound much different when finally recorded "for real". I have to hold to my position that they will change in significant ways when the other guys in the band and / or the producer gets ahold of them. They may be complete songs but many of the arrangements really need to be (and most likely will be) fleshed out some- what. What's the rush? XTC will deliver when it's time. In the Spirit of the New Demos, Jason "I'm open to new ideas, as long as they're my own." -Jon Cartwright (friend and partner in musical crime)
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 00:06:18 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199705020406.AAA17429@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: Monkeys, monkeys, everywhere... >Not _another_ monkey thread! You know, it amazes me that the turnover rate on this list is low enough that people still remember these things. >Why was the XTC Fans vs. The Ben Folds Five Fans baseball game canceled? >To have a proper baseball game, you need at least 18 people in the same >place. Thank you, Stormy. <insert bad stormy/sunny day joke here> AMA-- I mean, amanda: >I finally got my name out of those friggin' caps! HURRAH! Awww. Ain't that sweet? Our little amanda is <sniff> growing up. Josh Valiantly throwing good humor after bad... :) >many of you have written in w/ your raves about jason falkner. <snip> >i just read that he's playing at a club in san jose called "the agenda" >on first street Hmmm. Isn't he the one who died? Or am I completely off-base here? /-------------Joshua Hall-Bachner-------------Chaos Harlequin-------------\ | particle@servtech.com http://www.servtech.com/public/particle/ | |"We all have our idiosyncracies -- maybe thinning hair, or gum disease." | \---- Kowanko, "Will You Come To?" ------ Thank You, And Goodnight. ------/
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00af903331fdf3@[139.80.100.142]> Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 16:17:56 -0800 From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: TransPacific Chalkhills visit! Thought I'd tell you all that yesterday I had the peasure of meeting San Diego Chalkhiller Bob Estus and his wife Cary, here in New Zealand on their honeymoon. It must be one of the longest-distance meetings between two Chalkhillers. Whether it is or not, it was wonderful to finally meet a fellow XTC fan that I'd only previously known through the list. Suitable XTC related (and other musical) gifts were exchanged (I'm currently listening to a tape of "The Greatest Living Englishman" and wearing a Chalkhills T-shirt, Bob and Cary are probably driving around the South Island listening to a tape of the Chills or the Muttonbirds). We spent an enjoyable day (well, it was enjoyable for me, I hope it was for them, too!) "doing the touristy thing" and seeing the sights of Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. Bob - by the time you read this you'll be back in SD - I hope that the rest of the trip was blessed with the same fine weather and pleasant travelling as you had up until Dunedin - hope to see you both again someday! James
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00af8f1c483e99@[132.170.24.23]> Date: Thu, 1 May 1997 23:33:32 -0500 From: dcm80229@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu (Derek Miner) Subject: Re: XTCers in Florida! In Chalkhills #3-107, Jeremy Witt wrote: >I am wondering if there are any TASTEFUL (XTC influenced) musicians in the >Orlando-Daytona beach area - Florida I am thinking that I must be the only >one <wry laugh> with good taste here seeing as how this is the state that >brought us Marylin Manson and Seven Mary Three <shudder> I would like to direct Jeremy (and other curious onlookers) to www.ghostbeat.com. Ghostbeat is a band out of Melbourne/Orlando who cover XTC songs regularly and write their own material with a similar feel. The band's tastes are quite eclectic, and so is their website. They named their fictional album producer Todd Lillyfox as a tribute to XTC's producers. Also on the website, you can read a bit about the guitarist's study with Robert Fripp (I know there have to be fans of his lingering about here as well). I often wonder about the music scene in Florida myself! I was happy to discover these guys. = Derek Miner = http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~dcm80229/
------------------------------
From: nihilon@crisscross.com
Message-Id: <v03007801af8fa90d9e8f@[202.217.215.169]>
Subject: XTC spotting
Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 14:24:29 +0800
Hi y'all,
Just a few quick finds. (for the trainspotters)
In Tower record here in Tokyo, I found a new CD release of the "Miniatures"
album, which of course has Andy's History of Rock And Roll on it. We of
course already have this on Rag And Bone Buffet, but thought you might like
to knw.
The new Mojo magazine also mentions XTC in passing, in a list of people
that have worked with Hugh Padgham.
Regards from Tokyo,
Steve (MGV)
* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know I said I loved you, but I lied.
(Go-Bangs)
------------------------------
Subject: Demo Tapes of New Stuff
From: wwilson@mail07.mitre.org (Wesley H. Wilson)
Message-Id: <970502085647.30539@mail07.mitre.org.0>
Date: Fri, 2 May 97 08:56:48 -0400
First and foremost...if someone knows where to get demo tapes of new XTC
songs, please e-mail me. I have lots of XTC stuff to trade and I am an honest
trader.
- ---
Someone at AM 68.0 WRKO's "Howie Carr" show (which airs in the Boston area
between 3 and 7 PM, M-F) must like XTC. I've heard "Making Plans for Nigel"
used as fill-in music...
- ---
Speaking of radio, I'll bet a lot of folks in the Boston area would enjoy
listening to "Gull's Window Circus" on FM 90.3 (Boston College radio), Monday
morning from 7 to 9 AM. This guy is my age (38) and he plays a lot of obscure
stuff from "our era" (Mod revival, New Wave, Punk).
- ---
Finally listened to Peter Blegvad's "Just Woke Up" all the way through
yesterday. Initial impression is that this is a good album indeed! Will
probably be in my changer for the next few weeks at least. This one works on
several levels and I suspect it'll take a while for me to appreciate all of
them.
- ---
I, too, am depressed that five years have gone by without an album. And I'm
afraid that when one DOES come out, no one will care. Virgin's "Fossil Fuel"
and this "Upsy Daisy" thing ("best of" packages) seem to herald the end of a
band in many people's eyes. The band should make it a goal to get a new album
out by the end of the year.
Wes
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 08:48:11 -0500 (CDT) From: amanda caryl owens <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Welcome to the gaaaaaarrrrrden.... Message-id: <01IIDYW5ZLS88XZKCZ@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Watched the election last night....Blair's got spunk, I must admit....hope he can do a good job..... And now for the customary responses..... Peter Wright enlightened us all.... >The amount of real XTC comtent is almost non-existent nowadays. This is because the amount of XTC output has been nonexistent for five years, Fossil Fuel notwithstanding. >So who IS to blame? Much as I hate to say it-and we all know its true, don't >we? It's XTC. Hey, I don't disagree. Life without XTC is mundane indeed! >4) Andy is, let's face it, a cantankerous, self-opinionated guy who likes his >own way and leaves producers-not to mention Dave and Colin-tearing their hair >out in frustration. I'm glad someone said that before I did, because I am in full agreement with you on that note. We do have to remember that Colin DID quit the band for a short time during the making of Skylarking, due to Andy's need to dominate everything and everyone. XTC is a three-man band, and even though Andy is responsible for the majority of the output, Colin and Dave contribute to the sound as well. But if you've read Chalkhills and Children,, you'll know that Andy was spoiled from the days he was a wee lad on the Penhill Estate. I guess that part of him just never left as he got older..... >From Dave Gershman... >Rolling Stone won't be back in any of its detractor's graces by exluding XTC >from its new list of the top 200 essential rock CDs. Yeah...but I'll bet the likes of Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alannis Morrissette, and other non-musicians of their genres are in there, huh? Good jokes, Stormy Monday, but I'd have used a different Canadian in the M&M joke..someone I despise more than my most despised enemy...CELINE DION! >From Keith Sawyer: >I'd just like to thank all involved for making Chalkhills #3-106 the most surly and sarcastic digest I've ever read. Call it a hunch, but I just get the feeling that with our itching for new material, they're just gonna get worse!!!!! >From Simon Sleightholm: >I am useless Oh I wouldn't go that far...slightly used but at a good price sound better :) As to the recent sarcastic tone of the digest, better be sarcastic than for me to have to think up a controversial topic and start a flamewar! ;) Ciao, Amanda Je me souviens du soleil XTC song of the day-Blue Overall non XTC song of the day-When I Fall-Barenaked Ladies
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199705021444.HAA11858@sgi.sgi.com>
Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 10:38:27 EDT
From: "Todd Bernhardt" <tbernha@columbiaenergy.e-mail.com>
Subject: Catching up
Can I Chalk to You?
Let me add my voice (as if that matters to YOU :^) to the chorus praising
Becki Digregorio's CD -- it's really a fine album in everyway. The songs are
dreamy, aggressive, emotional, thoughtful and well-written. The production
is great, the mix is really great and the design/packaging is really, really
great. Oh, and the playing (including that of Mr. G)? Well, put a lot of
reallys in front of great, and you'll be close.
Becki also hasn't forgotten the cardinal rule of pop -- always leave 'em
wanting more. None of the songs are too long (a mistake I've heard a lot of
musicians make) and, given the level of playing here, it would have been
easy to extend each lead, throw in another chorus, whatever. (This is the
only point on which I disagree with Dean Martucci's otherwise spot-on review
of the CD.) Plus, the woman knows how to write a bridge, also an
all-too-often neglected aspect of pop writing.
So, in other words, contact Becki! Buy this CD! Support yer local (um, in an
electronic sense, I mean) musicians!
A couple more things:
To Rob Cumberland: Gee, I thought I was the only one who "got" the
"savagely ironic pastiche of some other lists" that was going on here! ;^)
Can't wait to see the List of Everything, BTW.
To Simon: Actually, I'm rather offended by the retraction of your apology to
those offended by you being offended. I think I deserve an apology, mate.
;^)
Oh, and you said: >I was going to include a Shockwave toy that would cause
Dave Gregory to leap out of the monitor to perform peerless guitar work on
request (and _only_ guitar work, Amanda),<
Whatever do you mean, Simon? What else WOULD he do? The possibilities boggle
the mind. If you figure it out, I'll help you market it. We'll be stinking,
stinking, stinking, stinking RICH!
To Dave G, who said, about "jokes" and other topix: >Sorry for the lack of
XTC content, folks, but I wanted to get that off my
chest on the list, hoping that I might be speaking for a lot of you out
there.<
You were, for me anyway.
To Mike Myers: I understand your concern about your song, but -- and I'm no
lawyer -- from my experience as a songwriter, if it is indeed copyrighted,
you have nothing to worry about, as far as I know. That's the whole point
of copyrighting a piece, right?
Also, I know a lot of people have been burned by the videotape tree thang,
but I actually received my tape, and except for rather poor quality (due to
the many generations involved in making it, I guess), I have no complaints.
I wonder if something bad really happened to the guy who was making them --
I mean, if you're going to fleece some sheep, there are a lot of better ways
of doing it than running a $13 tape-tree scam. That's not to say, of course,
that the people who are out their money shouldn't be pissed, but there might
be a legitimate reason.
Ed said: > Isn't Multi-level marketing wonderful?<
Sure it is -- just ask the Albanians!
To Peter Wright: Good for you for speaking up -- you have some good points
and should get some meaty discussion happening (I hope). I think your
argument is valid as far as the majors are concerned, but I still hope that
a smaller label with a good distribution deal *will* be willing to take a
chance on the band. Despite their bad track record (bad pun intended) with
bad-label Virgin, the next hit is always just around the corner. And,
remember, an album doesn't have to be top-40 popular to make money for the
label or the band.
>From Jason: > I am afraid too many
of you did not sense the subtle signs of sarcasm<
Subtle? What did you end with, "remember to ask me about the bridge I have
for sale"? You're too nice, guy.
BTW, what do people on the list think of Dave Marsh (I'm JUST KIDDING!!)
ByeBye!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <336A12A8.479E@nlm.nih.gov> Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 11:13:28 -0500 From: Don Lindbergh <dabl2@nlm.nih.gov> Organization: National Library of Medicine Subject: Re: Andy Demos Regarding any existing *real* Andy/XTC demos, please please please someone encode these in a high quality sound file and put 'em on the net! See below links for fans who have are seriously clued in on this concept and how to do it etc. If you have a good sounding tape of the demos and can't get it together, please email me about sending the tape and I'll do it! Be sure to check out this stuff and know what you're talking about before emailing me about huge sound files, crappy sound etc. The short answer is MPEG Layer 3. The filesizes are small (approx 1 megabyte per stereo minute) and they can sound AMAZINGLY good if you know what you're doing. Yes, I'm aware that all the people who don't have a soundcard can't use them etc etc. I figure anyone reading this has a pretty good chance of making use of this idea. Streaming audio is another option and has the benefit of instant gratification. Doesn't sound nearly as good (curently) though. I include a link for a clever hack to offer these up if you want using RealAudio. It is also possible to stream MPEG, though I've found this doesn't (currently) seem to work too well. Anyway, just my two cents. I have found this is a fantastic mechanism to make unlreleased music available to fans and an alternative to tape trading (which is fine too). The morality issues of doing all this are another matter and suffice it to say that if Andy personally does not want stuff like this to happen I have no problem respecting that. I would hope he'd like these fans here who have stuck it out waiting to be able to hear some if his stuff. --Don dabl2@nlm.nih.gov Smashing Pumpkins Audio Archive - http://spaa.simplenet.com/ MPEG Layer 3 encoder/decoder - http://www.iis.fhg.de/departs/amm/layer3/index.html#share Zap's MUSIC-ON-THE-NET Tutorial Streaming RealAudio 3.0 files with a normal WWW server - http://www.lysator.liu.se/~zap/tutorial/ra.html
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Message-ID: <336A6D51.5F2@ns1.mindmagic.com>
Date: Fri, 02 May 1997 17:40:30 -0500
From: Brian Matthews <btm@ns1.mindmagic.com>
Organization: Ringling Multimedia Corporation
Subject: XTC is here
Chalkhillians!
Hello! I'm new to the Chalkhills, and I've read enough postings to get a
feel for what to say in my first, so here goes...
We all know that XTC is going to produce, it's just going to be a matter
of time. And every day that goes by puts us closer to the new album,
certainly. And, as every single thing they've put out since the
beginning, it's going to be great in it's own little quirky, brilliant,
metaphorically XTC way. And I, for one, can('t!) wait. A talent of Andy
Partridge's caliber will not be able to stay down long. We're lucky - my
other favorite band of all time (Oingo Boingo) has gone the way of the
dinosaurs, and I haven't read about any asteroids hitting Swindon yet.
On a different note...
I have been engaged in producing a (vast, comparably speaking) library
of MIDI files of Oingo Boingo music (are there any other Boingo/XTC fans
out there?), and when I get burned out on doing those, I plan on
tackling XTC - as much of their stuff as I can do (if this gives you a
visual, I completed ten (10) Boingo files in one (1) month's time - I've
been prolific, and I am enough of an XTC freak to do the same with them.
I'm also a perfectionist to a degree that makes my stuff whip most stuff
on the Net... ask anyone at any of the MIDI sites who has my files). And
these will be FREE for the asking and taking. I hope hearts skipped
beats out there... this WILL happen, unless I get mail from the right
kind of people that would suggest that it would be in my best interests
not to pursue this activity. Let me hear from you!
Brian Matthews
btm@ns1.mindmagic.com
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 2 May 1997 22:26:32 -0700 From: becki digregorio <ziglain@cruzio.com> Subject: Matrix of Reality Message-ID: <9705022212.aa16310@mail.cruzio.com> dearest simon, thought you'd care to see what sort of missives i get from my neighbor and fellow worthy sir jeffrey. don't worry if you can't understand it, i often have the same problem w/ his emails... >Date: 02 May 97 16:25:26 EDT >From: Jeff Ramos <75543.3125@CompuServe.COM> > >Hi Becki-san: > >This is the matrix of the reality theory I am creating. Hope You enjoy it. > Sir Jeffrey > >Reality is broken up into 4 parts. X-reality, Animal reality, Social >Reality and Personal Reality. The last two are broken into subparts. >Reality of White, Gray and Black. The matrix used would be X-reality at >the top. Branching off of it would be Animal reality and Socail reality. >Combining into the two would be personal reality. A sub part of Social >reality and personal reality would be the white, gray, black scale of >reality.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 May 1997 14:34:25 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <v01510100af90f86a1992@[206.15.68.83]> From: mf@well.com (Mitch Friedman) Subject: Ice Cream for Partridge So let's say someone like Ben and Jerry's was going to name an ice cream flavor after XTC. What would they call it? How about: Lime Lite Pink Thing Humble Dairy Chocolate and Children It's Nearly Apricot Me and the Mint Officer Blueberry Carton of Earthly Delights Grape Fire Neon Truffle Dessert Island Miniature Sundae Yumnibus . . .
------------------------------ Message-ID: <336C7A96.229D@mclink.it> Date: Sun, 04 May 1997 14:01:26 +0200 From: Alberto Castagna <mc4950@mclink.it> Subject: XTC vs A.A. (A Question) Hallo Chalkills, is there anyone who have transcribed the words of "XTC vs. Adam Ant" (They Might Be Giants) in a past Chalkills Digest? If not, could someone make it for me (I' don't understand english very well) and for all us? Please, answers in the Chalkhills Digest 'cause I think is a problem of public (???) interest. Alberto
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From: Combray2@aol.com
Date: Sun, 4 May 1997 19:17:41 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: <970504191740_-1132350367@emout04.mail.aol.com>
Subject: The Opposite of Cloying
I'm just an amateur French translator, but the time I'm spending reading
Proust ("Remembrance of Things Past" is the best book ever!) has helped, so
may I translate the Inrockuptibles review of "Oranges and Lemons"? This
French website picked O&L as the 99th best album of the 1980's.
"Quintessentially English, (foldingue), and eccentric, brewing in the same
heady rush tight-lipped dadaistic humor, social conscience, and dazzling
melodies savoring strongly of muffins and tea with milk."
Oranges and lemons, jam and strychnine, XTC transforms what they had only
sketched in the Dukes of Stratosphere. An exceptional Side One contains at
least two worldwide hits ("Mayor of Simpleton" and its lyrics in the style of
"Wonderful World", and "King For a Day" with its dizzying melodic line), some
peppery words nestled cleverly in cotton candy [candy floss to you in
England], an incessant shimmer of sonorous ideas...enough to make you
nostalgic for the England of Penny Lane and the image of Epinal's that one
recalls when leafing through "The Dark Island", chewing on Quality Street
toffees and listening to XTC."
What do you think Dave Marsh would make of this review?!
If anyone knows what "foldingue" means or Epinal is, would you E-mail me
privately?
Also, I'd like to add that I enjoy the off-topic ramblings of this group. I
especially enjoy the reviews. I've discovered DOZENS of good albums that I
would have left in the racks (and cut-out bins) if it hadn't been for you
folks.
Anyway, just think what it's going to be like on this group when XTC finally
releases its magnum opus! For weeks on end we'll be dissecting every song.
Until then, we should be allowed to digress a bit....
My recent discoveries: "Misfits" by Sara Hickman (if you liked her previous
albums, you'll love this new one); "Nothing to Lose" by the Skeletons (a
midwestern NRBQ whose albums seem to be uniformly excellent) and, yes,
"Whatever and Ever Amen" by the Ben Folds Five. Who was it that said this
band is "cloying"? Maybe a little on the first album, but not this time
around. The ballads are quite moving, though they take a little time to sink
in. They're the opposite of cloying!
Bye now,
John
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Message-Id: <v01540b05af93228fbd4c@[139.80.100.164]>
Date: Mon, 5 May 1997 17:37:51 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)
Subject: Talking Heads, white horses and politics
>>Have you noticed that "Wonderland" on Mummer is about as Talking Heads as
>>you can get?
>Really?! What Talking Heads have you been listening to?
maybe a little like some of TH's older stuff. But if you really want a
Talking Heads sound-alike, try Bruce Cockburn's song "Hoop Dancer", off
"The trouble with normal". Very "Remain in Light".
Chris Clee <cmc@sanger.ac.uk> said:
>Making Plans for Nigel seemed somewhat appropriate in the early 80's when
>the Conservative government of Margret Thatcher decided to destroy
>Liverpool and Merseyside...myself and a lot of mates spent some time on
>the dole when she had finished .."Making Plans...." <
I've noticed that there are songs by XTC which have lyrics which could be
taken as political comments on Thatcherism if you read between the lines.
Most of XTC's "political" songs are pretty blatant (e.g., President Kill,
Melt the Guns), but what of the following lyric from "Blue Overall" (which
would have been written deep in the heart of Thatcher's reign):
"I tried to lose myself in labour/The more I push the mirth/I'm giving
birth to a baby turning/blue overall..."
Is there a subtle political double meaning here? Should labour be spelt
with a capital L?
>I may have to put on my asbestos suit from the subsequent flames but feel
>I must bring this up. My girlfriend is a big XTC fan and a new age type.
>She was reading a book "The Sun and the Serpent" by Paul Broadhurst and
>Hamish Miller about the ley (electromagnetic)lines in England and they
>believe that the chalk horse is actually a dragon. The dragon was the
>symbol of the ley lines that runs through many of the churchs in England
>and there is a Dragon Hill nearby where it is believed that St. George
>killed a dragon.<
It's usually regarded as being a tribute to Epona, the horse goddess. Epona
was 'patron deit' of the Dobunni, the Celtic tribe which lived in the area
in Roman and immediately-pre-Roman times, ca.100 BC, and built the nearby
hill fort. However, there is a locale not far from the horse (further along
the Ridgeway Path) called Dragon Hill, which is linked by legend with the
legend of St. George and the dragon. ("Saint George" is almost certainly a
christian reinterpretation of a pre-Christian legend). Epona is also linked
in legend with the Norse/Celtic mythical character Wayland/Hwyland the
blacksmith. The ancient tomb known as Wayland's Smithy (dating to ca.3500
BC) lies only a few miles from Uffington.
BTW, on this subject, I found a rather wonderful photo of the Uffington
White Horse (and also of Dragon Hill) in David Bellingham's book "An
Introduction to Celtic Mythology" (Grange Books, London, 1995).
James
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-108 *******************************
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