Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 30
Date: Thursday, 14 November 1996
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 30
Thursday, 14 November 1996
Today's Topics:
Re: Andy's Rhyming
Music in general
Of Posts and Partridge
Mmm: Bee Like All
Bad jokes indeed.
B (for bollocks) sides
Gear Dod
Re: God's Away
Okay, so I fibbed.
XTC in Alternative Press
My first post
odds and sods
Then She Appeared
Then She Appeared, pt.2
Chalkhills' Children Tape format
hello
Christmas drums on parole
Thank you Ekrem and message to Ira
Re: Peace
Thoroughly Annoying
sticking up for "Dear God"
Sesame Street
The Prisoner
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Message-Id: <s28af0c3.032@DICTAPHONE.COM>
Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 10:12:45 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <TKEN@DICTAPHONE.COM>
Subject: Re: Andy's Rhyming
The only song where Andy's rhymes
truly bother me is "Goodbye Humanosaurus".
"Don't go near that exit Doris" ????
It's such a great song, but I hope if it
makes it onto the BOOTLEG CD that Andy comes
up with some better rhymes with Humanosaurus.
(Forest ? Walrus ? Taurus ?)
Tim K.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 08:20:43 -0700 (MST) From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> Subject: Music in general Message-id: <0E0V9AGHS00CUZ@ACS2.BYU.EDU> As someone else had mentioned, it is also my anniversary for subscribing to Chalkhills and I have enjoyed it very much. One of the best things has been the exposure to some new music that I have really come to like. Examples are...Peter Blegved, Martin Newell, King Crimson (still getting used to it!), The Sugarplastic and Yazbek. In fact, these have become regularly listened to. So, not only do we get to share bits o knowledge about XTC, but it is a great way to share musical interests. Other exciting news. While doing some homework the other day I had R&BB on and was in the middle of "Sisscor Man" when my next door neighbor came by to show me his latest purchase, the "Fossil Fuel" limited edition! I was excited to see it but was not overly impressed. What he told me next had me quite agitated (in a good way). He said that he had been flipping through the XTC bio by Twomey but decided not to buy it! I have had a terrible time trying to find that book! So I called up and had them hold it for me and was there in a matter of minutes! While there I found that they also has _Drums and Wireless_ which I hadn't ever been able to locate. Not only that but the guy who I dealt with was into XTC and had a lot of other suggestions for me like the Harold Budd and Martin Newell albums. Even though I have those already I was quite pleased to be able to have a resource. Needless to say, I had quite the heady day. I came home, left the homework for another time, put on my new CD and read. BTW, they also had, I believe two, of the GO2, BS, D&W picture disc box set. If anyone is interested in me picking it up for them I would be happy to. Miles "RRRRRRRRRRRRRYAAAAAAAAAAA" --No Thugs in Our House Miles and Gigi Coleman Provo, Utah http://www.byu.edu/~coleman Family Home Page http://www.byu.edu/~coleman/guatenor Guatemala City North Mission Alumni Page http://www.mission.net Index for Alumni of LDS Missions
------------------------------ From: bernie.mcmaken@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu Date: Thu, 14 Nov 96 09:31:00 CST Message-Id: <9610148479.AA847992840@in2.mcmail.vanderbilt.edu> Subject: Of Posts and Partridge Warm Salutations to all Chalkchilds, First of all I would like to say Hi, as I am a long time lurker and I haven't posted in a long time. Second I need to you to know that the e-mail address to respond to me is PPumpkinH@aol.com and NOT the one you see at the top here. I am using someone's e-mail account at work. Now, onto business. Hasn't anyone heard Andy Partridge on last week's "Rock Over London" syndicated radio show. Yes. One whole hour including demos of "Easter Theatre"(beautiful and quite charming) and "Playground"(catching as a flu in grade school), "Papersnow" (HYYA-NI-NAA-NAA), a thumping track by Partridge friend Martin Newell(When the Damsans(sic)are down -The Off-White Album) and of course Andy P's quick and quicker witted humor. I would be happy to transcribe it if Mr. Relph would like me to. It was the highlight of my sunday night and I got so excited I had to call the radio station three times before it was on to make sure I got the time right. I am trying not to bring up anything from the last 8 weeks of posts as they are all WORN-OUT. I won't even comment except to say I won't even comment. I notice for all the songs that are bickered about on 'Nonsuch', there are a few that don't seem to ever get mentioned. One track that I thought was extremely beautiful and still stays with me is one of those. It is 'Humble Daisy' What a delicate piece of music that is. Who, but Mr. Partridge, could make such an incredible song out of a small subject as this. "I'll sing about you if nobody else will" Indeed! The swell of the music, the cutting off, the doo-wopish bridge, it is possibly the most over-looked song on that album by us as a group and in a way. that might be fitting. Compare the subtle and image-invoking lyrics of this tune to any song we've been bicker(babble)ing about and you might just find a little gem that reminds you why you like XTC in the first place and that's (I finally get to use it) IMH(daisy)O. In fact, I think I have hit upon a new turn for the group. Let's try - at least for a while - to talk about only the things we LIKE about XTC. I mean we know we all like them, but I want to know why AMANDA likes them (just an example).What is that little spark that sets her Great Fire Burning for this band. It might be something I or you had never thought of before. Thus we will constantly be refreshed in our joy of this band while we wait for the new ( Or possibly two according to Andy on R.O.L) album to come out. Good idea? Bad idea? Think about it. Thanks all and remember Send replies to PPumpkinH@aol.com (Jason Phelan) Nashville, TN (By the way I used to be Sowsij@aol.com but got a new account) "Ruled by the Masters and Bruised by the Bullies" A.P. P.S. I know it's an old demo and I don't want to get anyone who hasn't heard it mad or anything but I still want to talk about how amazing the song "Everything" by them is. Anyone else feel free to include it or respond privately.
------------------------------ From: gbbglgim@ibmmail.com Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 10:41:45 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199611141541.KAA03138@Arl-Mail-Svc-1.compuserve.com> Subject: Mmm: Bee Like All Ekrem did say on AP's rhymes: "...the way he pronounces umbilical in season cycle. (Is this the standard pronunciation in England?)..." As an Englishman through and through (why does the bastard spellcheck on my PC insist on attempting to correct my spelling of words like flavour and computerise) my biology teacher taught me to say "um-bill-lick-all" with the stress on the "bill" part, however, I have heard many people pronounce the word, as does AP, "um-bill-like-all" with the stress on the "like" bit. If only English had nice simple grammatical ways like Spanish, then we would all know! Such is the way of our mixed up language! Luv Gary "What do you mean you've run out of vodka?!" - me talking to the barman at about 3.00 am this morning PS: Personally, I say "um-bill-lick-all"
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:55:40 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Bad jokes indeed. Message-id: <01IBTYHOMTEG908Y5A@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Alright, last post for awhile. I'll be venting my spleen elsewhere. All for today is...Andy does the best impersonation of Robert Smith I've ever heard. Let's see...what I meant about the being 28....somebody said maybe ten years down the road I would look back and say I made a mistake for leaving the Elvis concert. Well I'm 18 now, that would make me 28 in ten years. I got into XTC long after I got into CTD. (A good 4 years to be precise.) Anyways, ENOUGH OF THAT, DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree, everyone has different tastes, so no more knocking anyone else for their tastes, no more knocking other bands, and so forth and so on. Much later, maybe never again, Amanda
------------------------------ From: gbbglgim@ibmmail.com Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 11:03:46 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199611141603.LAA04825@Arl-Mail-Svc-1.compuserve.com> Subject: B (for bollocks) sides Something struck me the other day: no, not my girlfriend... Whatever happened to XTC b-sides? In the old days, when I started buying the singles, you used to get proper tunes on the flip such as Blame the Weather, Heaven is Paved, Tissue Tigers, Toys (I like that one), Jump (I like that one as well) and so on. All songs that had not been released before. Recently, well as recently as is possible for a band that's been on strike for 4 times longer than British Coal was, we just got stuff that was on the album. Dear God and Extrovert were the last newies I can remember and Virgin made up for that by swapping the A and B on the seven inch and releasing the same two songs again a few weeks later. Will the new label, whoever they may be, treat us to something more than a few demos on the flip? Whadyafink? Gary "Lots of hot chilli sauce please" - me speaking to the man serving me in the kebab shop at about 3.30 am this morning
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b00aeb0f13cedab@[144.58.3.44]> Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:17:02 -0700 From: kevinc@boardwalk.net (Kevin Collins) Subject: Gear Dod Careful with this Dear God thing- it's dangerous. About a year ago a massive war erupted on Chalkhills over this with a few people declaring to leave altogether. There were people whose religious sentiments were severely flamed by other members, people putting words and thoughts into AP's mouth and mind, and, ... echh. It got ugly! Some chiding from: "VanAbbe, Dominic" <dominic.vanabbe@faulding.com.au>: >For Chrissakes Hillsians, > Is this the official *XtC* mailing list or not???? I'm beginning to >wonder. <*snip*> > However, to fill your entire mail with discussion of another >band/matter and then throw in your "Obligatory XtC reference" at the end is >an exercise in cynicism to say the least. Dominic's right- Chalkhills signal to noise ratio is getting pretty far away from xtc.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199611141632.JAA00715@access.tucson.org> From: "Jeff Smelser" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Organization: Access Tucson Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 09:55:27 -0700 Subject: Re: God's Away Greetings Chalkhillians: > I was distressed when the record was changed to include > "Dear God" instead of "Mermaid Smiled". I don't believe > that the song belongs on "Skylarking", but I > think that the song is as good as any other XTC track. Yes-I would've prefered including Dear God over any of the Colin Moulding cut on Skylarking, IMHO I think it's the body of Colin's worst work and the jazzyness of Mermaid fit so well w/TMHSAHS. Had Colin contributed Miniature Sun for that LP, I think I would've let it stay as it's jazzyness fits as well. Great 3-pack, if you're making a car tape. I thank God every day that we got Mermaid Smiled back on Rag and Bone Buffet. Now that's production! > Really, I believe that the song is much more an indictment of mankind > than it is of God. > REM is an above average rock band But they don't rule. > They serve. >They seem > infantile and amateurish to my XTC aware musical palate. > Stormy Monday Stormy---these and the other comments you made showed you are a very enlightened listener of music. Your intellegent input was most welcome on my screen this day. > I hope whoever replies to this gets their message > in the top half of the digest or I won't see it. I have the same problem will REPLYing to the list. Its so long that I can't load it all and can only "quote," the top half of the list. Which leads to my other comment about Adam and the Ants: At the time Kings of the wild Frontier was out (1980) Adam and the Ants had 3-count'm three- hit singles in the TOP 10....AT THE SAME TIME! Not even XTC has reached this commercial acclaim. We all know this doesn't make A&t/Ants better than XTC but it's a fact that can't be ignored. Let me have it, Jeff S. Jeff Smelser Video Engineer Access Tucson jsmelser@access.tucson.org
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 11:14:53 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Okay, so I fibbed. Message-id: <01IBU19DXDUA908Y5A@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> That was my NEXT-TO-LAST post..... Even though it might have been a joke, I'm thinking that I sort of like the idea of having some little awards thing for us akin to our postings. I haven't gotten a challenge on my postaholic thing yet, so I'd probably be top for that award. This is my personal ward for myself: THE NUMBER ONE POSTAHOLIC/DAVE GREGORY/ COLIN MOULDING WORSHIPPING AMERICAN. There. That about sums it up. Adieu, Amanda "Oh look I've got my lips cut off and I don't know where to put my lipstick! Oh no!"-Andy's impression of Robert Smith on Live 105.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199611141752.MAA16298@gate3.fmr.com> Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 12:44 -0500 (EST) From: "Sawyer, Keith" <Keith.Sawyer@FMR.Com> Subject: XTC in Alternative Press To celebrate the 100th issue of Alternative Press, their writers created a list of "100 Underground Inspirations of the Past 20 Years." The article does not state these are the *best* or *most* influential, though the field they do cover is quite comprehensive. XTC is included (though curiously Kate Bush is missing...), even though the magazine tends to have a anti-XTC bias (I remember their Testimonial Dinner review said something to the effect that most of the artists improved upon the XTC originals). The text (written by James Santo) follows: ___________ "XTC Andy Partridge just wanted to be David Johansen. Instead, he would up fronting one of the new wave's most beloved and respected bands. Their truimphant trio of mid-career gems - Drums and Wires, Black Sea and the sprawling, brilliant English Settlement - crackled with sarcasm and nervous energy. Detonated by an explosive ska beat, XTC's irresistible melodies taught a lesson long forgotten: Pop could be smart, cool and kick your ass, all in the same three-minute song. Partridge's 1980 collapse in Paris killed their touring career (and, some argue, their muse), but it didn't matter. They'd proved their point. Suggested Listening Drums and Wires (Virgin, 1979) English Settlement (Virgin, 1982)" ___________ just barely, keith "I broke my promise that I wouldn't write another song about you" - American Music Club
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 12:54:23 -0500 Message-Id: <9611141754.AA21125@notesgw2.cc.bellcore.com> From: "Michael D. Myers" <mmyers@notes.cc.bellcore.com> Subject: My first post Hello! I've been lurking for quite a while; I didn't join because I was traveling quite a bit and didn't want to have reams of messages lying about upon my return... Anyway, I'll give the usual required info. When I worked in a record store part-time as an income supplement in the late 70's, we used to play certain records to demo stereo equipment, and it seems that White Music was on quite a bit. I was just starting to enjoy the then-new punk explosion because having enjoyed 60's music, I found early 70's to be sterile for the most part. I was enjoying the heck out of the Clash, Elvis C. and Joe Jackson but found XTC a little too quirky to take seriously at first. Fortunately, some of their 45's such as "Nigel" changed my opinion and I started buying their stuff. I've been a fan for a long time. What I appreciate most about them are their song craftsmanship and use of orchestration. As many have pointed out in previous posts, many of their songs have very involved chord patterns and melodies. They also make great use of dynamics, textures and feel. Because of that, I find I can enjoy listening very closely to pick up subleties, or I can have XTC music on in the background or in the car and receive equal enjoyment. As a musician and songwriter myself, I would give an extremity to channel such incredible music such as they do. On the topic of orchestration, have you ever noticed that their releases seldom (if ever) get stuck in a rut where song after song uses blaring guitars and thumping, too-loud drums (as many other artists do)? I really appreciate the fact that they blend acoustic guitars with electric 6- and 12-string, pianos, other keyboards, strings, horns, etc. to create a mood and contribute to the finished product. As I said, CRAFTMANSHIP. And all of this on limited budgets most of the time..... As for ideas on producers, I have been playing the Posies "Dear 23" quite a bit; those guys have a great way with melodies and harmonies, and John Leckie did a hell of a job on production there. Also, I haven't seen much of a buzz on this list for Jim Dickinson of the late, great Big Star who has some impressive credentials with power pop bands who feature melodies and such. Well, I'll keep this modestly short. I want to complement the members of this list because I find your postings to be well-thought-out for the most part, reflective of the passion that we all feel for XTC, and you all seem like real nice people. I'm glad to be on board. Mike
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 16:20:03 -0500 (EST) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: odds and sods Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.961112194732.24036A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> Not to confuse anbody with the Who reference there, but a few things on my mind... 1) I noticed that the CD's of Drums and Wires and Mummer both contain bonus tracks. Is this Virgin's last gasp to squeeze a few pence from the guys or what? Does anybody know if other CD's have bonus tracks added to them? And here's hoping that the lads sign with somebody like Ryko who have a good history of re-releasing old albums with plenty o' extra tracks (a la Elvis Costello). 2) Vote for worst song: '(Don't you dare call me) Chickenhead' from the Golden Guts tape. This song has NO redeeming value (and I've looked for it). 3) On the Andy/Colin thread: Did anybody else notice two of Colin's four songs from Nonsuch barely feature Andy? Could this be revenge for Colin's absence on Rook? On War Dance, Andy plays shaker and on Bungalow Andy is given the dubious task of playing the oh-so difficult instrument, the bell tree...Does anybody know how Andy and Colin get along re: whose songs make the album. 4) Could some of the elders on this list (Mr. Relph?) give a history on how this list got started? I saw the first Chalkhill digest and it seemed that there must've been some form of interaction before the list was born. Anybody care to mention how y'all met? Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "Cat's yawn because they realize that there's nothing to do." - Jack Kerouac
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:02:25 -0500 (EST) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: Then She Appeared Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.961114163838.29450A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> This is my free-associaton session on the song 'Then She Appeared' (an utterly beautiful song from the much maligned album, Nonsuch): The line 'Venus on a half-opened shell' is a reference to painting by Sandro Botticelli, the title of which I forget. But don't go looking for the painting but rent the movie 'The Adventure of Baron Munchhausen', directed by ex-Monty Python animator Terry Gilliam. This is one of Uma Thurman's first movies and she plays Venus, the wife of Vulcan, the god of fire. Her appearance in the movie is just like the line in song and the painting - this huge clam shell rises out of the water and opens up with (a nude) Uma Thurman standing there, with her arm covering both breasts. The two blatantly fake chereibim (sp?) fly around her and wrap is in this silk type material until it magically forms a dress (not sure how those angels got a sewing machine in there..). Vulcan is the filthy, soot-covered guy and he tries to impress his delicate wife by taking a hunk of coal and, using his amazing powers, converts it into diamond. She takes it graciously, but then throws it on this huge pile of diamonds that Vulcan has already given her. But her eyes fall on the good Baron and they proceed to dance up a storm and end up levitating, allthewhile dancing with angels in tow. Vulcan gets a little upset, throws out the Baron and his crew (which includes Eric Idle) out of the volcano where they live. The other thing I think of when I hear the song is that there's a book I've never read called 'Venus on the half-shell'. The book is authored by Kilgore Trout but it's really a alias for Kurt Vonnegut. Trout is a character that Vonnegut has used in a few novels and is usually portrayed as a writer of really bad science fiction. I hope I win the award for 'Best Non-sequiter' as I've haven't follwed any thread at all in posting this. Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "Cat's yawn because they realize that there's nothing to do." - Jack Kerouac
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:14:49 -0500 (EST) From: Ted Harms <tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca> Subject: Then She Appeared, pt.2 Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.961114170718.1975A-100000@library.uwaterloo.ca> The third free associaton I have is the line about 'Catherine Wheel'. Yes, it's a British shoe-gazer band but it's also a reference to St. Catherine. I don't quite have my hagiography down but she was being tortured for her Christian beliefs and was placed on the wheel. The wheel was device where somebody had there wrists affixed to it and there feet shackled to the floor; the wheel was rotated several degrees every time the tortures got a wrong answer. (It's like a circular version of the Rack.) Anyways, Cathy maintains her faith so well that God intervenes by blowing up the wheel, which kills everybody in the room except for Catherine. Lucky her. Not quite sure what happened to her after then. Because of the explosion of the wheel, Catherine Wheel is also the name given to those fireworks that spin round and round, propelled by several roman candles. I bet you all think I'm wierd. Ted Harms Library, Univ. of Waterloo tmharms@library.uwaterloo.ca 519.888.4567 x3761 "Cat's yawn because they realize that there's nothing to do." - Jack Kerouac
------------------------------ From: richard.pedretti-allen@octel.com Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 14:19:22 -0800 Message-Id: <28B9B4D0.@corp.octel.com> Subject: Chalkhills' Children Tape format There is three ways I could format the tape to be on a standard 90 minute cassette. I wan't your opinion. o = "music" - = silence b = beginning e = end FORMAT 1) (36 minute program+36 minute program) Side A boooooooooooooooooo-----e Side B e-----oooooooooooooooooob This would leave approximately 9 minutes to record whatever you like at the end of each side. The negative is that you always have to fast forward or, if you record something in that space, you lose the tapes continuity. (That is under the premise that the tape actually has "continuity") FORMAT 2) (36 minute program+36 minute program) Side A boooooooooooooooooo-----e Side B eoooooooooooooooooo-----b This would mean you could flip the tape when Side A finished and be at or near the beginning of Side B. This would leave approximately 9 minutes to record whatever you like at the end of Side A and the beginning of Side B. The downside is that if you screw up the recording on the beginning of Side B and record too long, you would record over part of Chalkhills' Children. FORMAT 3) (36 minute program+36 minute program) Side A boooooooooooooooooooooooe Side B e----------ooooooooooooob This would mean that Side A is as full as it can be with the remainder on Side B. This would leave about 25 minutes at the end of Side B where you could record whatever you like. The downside is that you have a long way to fast forward to the beginning. Fling me a message and let me know your preference. (Don't email me with "I don't care.") I can make cases for each format so I'll put it to our panel of esteemed judges and buckle to peer pressure. Just let me know FORMAT 1, FORMAT 2 or FORMAT 3 unless you have some wisdom to impart about this process. I have received notice of plans to order 101 tapes. I'll probably get 200 made and make a fool of myself trying to peddle the rest on Chalkhills (my wife isn't real keen on me financing this vaporous venture!). I very optimistic that the traffic generated by this tape will instigate more sales. Once they're gone, they're gone and if you want one you'll have to get a noisy dub from someone's analog cassette. No longer... "as clear as children's chalklines on the pavement." Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ From: Rich.Wayne@cor.dowjones.com Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:55:48 -0500 Message-Id: <858*/PN=Rich.Wayne/OU=sb1/O=dowcor/PRMD=dj/ADMD=mci/C=US/@MHS> Subject: hello Hello, you wonderful people. I am a long-time XTC fan and have perused Chalkhills for a few months. Any information on "Young Cleopatra" would be appreciated. It is on my top five list of Andy songs. Someone said they have a studio version of it but that it wasn't very good. Do other folks think this? When was the demo made? Why oh why didnt it makeit to a record? I have an extra (original) copy of the "Bull with the Golden Guts" and "Window Box" tapes available if anyone has the Young Cleopatra tape....if anyone Don't know if anyone mentioned this before but I think XTC fans might dig the Cardinal record released a few years ago on Flydaddy Records. Orch-pop genius that is, in my opinion, the best record of the past five years. Oh yeah, to any Chalkhillian who lives btwn Pittsburgh and the middle of Ohio: i could really use a spot to crash for one night only. Im driving to Milwaukee Fri night to see a show and... Also, ive been noticing some major similarities in old,obscure, super-trippy pop stuff from the late 60's and some XTC stuff. Anyone else into this stuff notice this? Burning with... Rich rich.wayne@cor.dowjones.com "Aren't you aware of the gravity?"
------------------------------ From: Floopyglop@aol.com Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 17:56:13 -0500 Message-ID: <961114175612_1715587342@emout18.mail.aol.com> Subject: Christmas drums on parole Joshua Hall-Bachner spoke out against Drums and Wireless: > I dunno...I've heard about half of it, and IMHO most of the tracks are > either too similar to the album versions to be worthwhile, or just > poor attempts to reach what they did on the album. Sorry. prompting this surprising response: >>Don't you think you really should get the CD and listen to it for a >>couple of weeks before you start putting it down in public? >>I mean, this is a mailing list for those who like XTC although the >>recent flurry of posts re. "really kewl groups you will like" does >>make me wonder :) I'm sure Josh has heard the studio versions of these tracks many times before, Mark, which means he had presumably formed his opinion of those songs before listening to Drums and Wireless. Given the note-for-note similarities of the live versions to the studio versions, what is there to discover with repeated listenings? Nothing much. You only need listen once to tell whether or not a live recording bears a strong resemblance to the corresponding studio work. I also don't understand why you lump Josh's comments with the "other really cool groups" discussions as somehow being unrelated to thus mailing list. Drums and Wireless is an XTC album, is it not? There has been a fair amount of non-XTC discussion going on, enough to make me wonder if this list hadn't mutated into the Beatles mailing list overnight. I don't mind these non-list related topics, though, as long as they're minor diversions and die out in a matter of three or four issues. Countdown to Christmas Party Time: I like it. This song better represents the fun spirit of Christmas more than the Thanks for Christmas, which is a rather pedestrian take on a decidedly un-pedestrian holiday. Now, the big question: does anyone else out there like Mantis on Parole, or am I all alone in my praise? I like the unsettling use of strings, the way the tension of the song increases throughout the song before coming to a sudden halt at the end. Andy sees to hate it, though. Dave O'Connell York PA
------------------------------ Message-ID: <328BACE4.6DB2@paonline.com> Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 18:36:04 -0500 From: Patrick Adamek <Padamek9@paonline.com> Subject: Thank you Ekrem and message to Ira Wanted to take this opportunity to thank "Ekrem Soylemez" for his\her comments regarding CTD. Can we get on with our lives? (I'd love to see that jacket Amanda won by the way!) Also had a comment about the following (as Ekrem writes): "And now for one of my own minor pet peeves. I think Andy occasionally really forces his rhymes. It seems like he goes way out of his way just to make things rhyme." I appreciated the comments regarding "Heaven is Paved with Broken Glass," and while Ekrem's whole submission was filled with apologies, I think there is truth in it. I've recognized these facts for years but I can think of no other writer who works harder at actually HAVING a point than Andy, and I guess you take the good with the bad. By the way, I absolutely love the way he pronounces "umbilical" in "Season Cycle," and furthermore don't think it really fits into the rest of what you were saying. On one hand you establish that Andy fills many of his songs with lines meant to rhyme, but in the case of Season Cycle, Andy's choice of words is the most appropriate for the song but it's the delivery which is (possibly) altered to fit his needs. I not only think this is allowable, but when compared to the mounds and mounds of bubble gum songs out there, it is genius. Ira...I've been an XTC fan since 1978's GO2 (I thank my older brothers at every chance for introducing them to me), and I first heard of the Crash Test Dummies when "Superman" came out in 1991. I wasn't told at the time that liking both bands was mutually exclusive, but I guess you have. Patrick -- MZ
------------------------------ Message-Id: <v01540b02aeb15ea62122@[199.171.191.87]> Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 16:56:13 -0700 From: gondola@deltanet.com (E.B.) Subject: Re: Peace >From: Michael Versaci <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> > >Has anyone ever heard "Peace of Mind" from around the Sgt. Pepper era? It >isn't even listed in the "Beatle's Recording Sessions". I have a really >hissy version of it. Kind of "Trippy" like "Tomorrow Never Knows", but >very different then any other track. I believe it has been determined that this song is actually by some other group. Right?? Re Kate Bush metaphors: The rather stodgy previous version of the Rolling Stone Record Guide says Bush sounds like the "consequence of mating Patti Smith with a Hoover vacuum cleaner." Whatever that means. And yes, I'm a big Kate Bush fan, though her last two albums weren't too impressive. EB np (in my head): Beck's boffo appearance on Jay Leno last night! :)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 19:08:45 -0500 (EST) From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <ccoolidg@zoo.uvm.edu> Subject: Thoroughly Annoying Message-ID: <Pine.A32.3.91.961114190533.164506E@elk.uvm.edu> XTC songs I find thoroughly annoying(the very few!): All Along The Watchtower Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down My Weapon Dear God That's about it.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 18:00:49 -0700 From: loughman@air.atmo.arizona.edu (Rob Loughman) Message-Id: <9611150100.AA10390@air.atmo.arizona.edu> Subject: sticking up for "Dear God" First of all, I must stress that I am no great lover of "Skylarking" or of TR's "continuity concept", and that I purchased "Skylarking" long after "Mermaid Smiled" had been replaced by "Dear God" (here in the USA, anyway). However, several recent posts that bemoan the loss of "Mermaid Smiled" by suggesting that "Dear God" doesn't really fit where it was hastily stuck have left me completely baffled. Am I the only one who thinks that "Dear God" rests much more comfortably between "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" & "Dying" than "Mermaid Smiled" did? By any continuity criteria that I can think of (musical style, lyrical content, mood), "Dear God" comes out ahead. Having said that, I sympathize with those who got to know & love the album as it was originally released, or those who think that "Dear God" should've remained a B-side for whatever reason, or those who simply dislike the crass reasons for which "Mermaid Smiled" was unceremoniously dumped. I simply disagree with the assertion that "Mermaid Smiled" fits better, & wanted to go on record. Disagreements are what make this digest interesting, as long as they're civil, so I hope that I've offended no one. Rob Loughman loughman@air.atmo.arizona.edu
------------------------------ Message-ID: <c=AU%a=_%p=JDEAUNZ%l=MEL_SERVER-961115013702Z-25@mel_server.jde.com.au> From: Paul Haines <Hainesp@melbourne.jde.com.au> Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 11:37:02 +1000 Subject: Sesame Street In answer to Marshall Joseph Armintor : >Really, I always thought that "Ball and Chain" was a rewrite of >"Getting Better"...there's the same two chord opening vamp...kuh-chink- >chink-chink-chink[ -S get -ting bet-ter all the tiiiime] Have you heard the theme for Sesame Street? As a total aside, I'm another big REM fan, and like pretty much all they've done. Having said that I can't remember the last time I played 'Out Of Time' though.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199611142222.JAA11700@warchives.riv.csu.edu.au.> From: "Simon Knight" <sknight@warchivegw.riv.csu.edu.au> Date: Fri, 15 Nov 1996 08:32:08 +0000 Subject: The Prisoner I finally just saw the videos for "The meeting place" and "The man who sailed around his soul" and was quite intrigued. What was this "Prisoner" show? What's the significance of the blazers? What does the chessboard mean? Where can i see it? Why did XTC do two Prisoner videos? Is that Dave's brother drumming again? Could someone fill me in? Mail me direct so we don't bore everyone else on the list.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-30 ******************************
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15 November 1996 / Feedback