Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 65
Date: Monday, 6 January 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 65
Monday, 6 January 1997
Today's Topics:
I'm baaaaaaack! (2 x Semi-XTC Content!)
I'm somebody! I've been JHB'd!
He came with free drinks
Fossil Fuel
1996 Year in Review Addendum
Happy 1997!/ Videos In Motion
Todd'n'Tubes
Psychedelic Rock: Book
Re: Todd Productions
Post-structuralism hits Chalkhills!
SKYLACKING update
(none)
Radio Play Everyday!
The Wondermits
Thanks for Christmas
Faves of '96
Partridge Way and the clouds will still be in a Kodak Moment
Year-End Disc review (No XtC)
The Devil Glitch
Re: Todd's Grand Funk LP productions
Can anybody help me here??
A contribute for discography
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Deep under winter snow.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Melsta@aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 13:42:35 -0500 Message-ID: <970102134234_1156440879@emout14.mail.aol.com> Subject: I'm baaaaaaack! (2 x Semi-XTC Content!) Hey Chalksters! Y'all have been so prolific and I have been so busy over the past months that I, like many others, have been profoundly unable to keep up at all with the wonderful Chalkhills that have been inundating my l'il ol' mailbox here. But I'm trying. I skipped at least a month's worth and am reading about in mid-December, but I'm getting there. Just wanted to say I love you all, I hope 1997 will be the year for our guys and for all of us. One thing I did manage to pick up was the wonderful suggestion to put the word NEWS prominently in our subject lines if we actually have such a thing. I, of course, do not, but those who do, please remember this courtesy. I'll keep this mercifully short. Everyone please note my new e-address. I'm the same Melissa I was before, Melissa Reaves in Kent, Ohio. Am I the _only_ Melissa? Inconceivable!! (pronounced in-con-THEVE-able) Semi-XTC content: Saw whilst listening to the Cranes at a Borders listening station a CD with a sticker that said (something like) "For people who like intelligent lyrics a la Matthew Sweet, the Gin Blossoms, XTC and Todd Rundgren". Wish I could tell you who it was, but I didn't write it down and it's gone from my head. If I see it again, I'll let you know so you can all rush out and buy it. But I thought that was an interesting group of artists. I mean I like the first two ok, but they're not the first things I think of when I'm thinking of intelligent lyrics. But then, all I know is what they play on the radio. More semi-XTC content: Am I the only one who's been fooled by the ratchet-sounding intro to REM's Mulholland Drive or whatever it's called? I thought sure we were going to hear Crocodile. This has happened to me too many times. The thing is, my station is one of the rare gems on the airwaves who actually do play XTC with some frequency, so it's not just fantasy on my part. WAPS, Akron's public radio. My heroes. Did I say I'd keep it short? I tried. Love y'all. --Da Melsta I'm merely a [wo]man and I've got plenty of love for you!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 2 Jan 97 19:33 EST
From: Trent Turner <0005727836@mcimail.com>
Subject: I'm somebody! I've been JHB'd!
Message-Id: <55970103003355/0005727836ND2EM@MCIMAIL.COM>
Mr. Joshua wrote:
All I'm trying to say here is that the enjoyment or non-enjoyment of
music is a symbiotic thing between the art itself and the person
experiencing it -- you can't put the "responsibility" on either party.
tt> Symbiotic relationships involve a change to both/all parties involved.
I see art as a catalyst (my chem metaphor will be shattered here
I'm sure!), it causes the reaction, but remains unchanged itself.
Actually, I put the responsibility on both parties, the artist
and the recipient. People like Shakespeare, Maplethorpe, Tarentino,
and our own Mr. Partridge are responsible for how they express
their reaction/view/emotions to reality, and we are responsible
for how we react.
For all the folks who dislike/hate a particular song, or react
vehemently when it is played or discussed, they must be responsible
for their emotions and actions.
I don't think this discussion is about good or bad music, or listening
hard enough, I think it's about recognizing when art has touched
a raw nerve and being able to look within to determine why.
When we expose ourselves to art, we must be responsible for what
that art reveals to us about ourselves, e.g. the ugly underneath,
the freezing not pleasing, etc.
p.s. Thanks for noticing! ;-)
Trent Turner
"I'm not the sole fool"
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 23:22:58 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199701030422.XAA05702@cyber1.servtech.com> From: Joshua Hall-Bachner <particle@servtech.com> Subject: He came with free drinks >The "Lyrics By Ernest Noyes Brookings" album that has AP on it (one track, >credited to XTC but really just Andy in the potting shed) Hmmmm. What song would that be? My immediate guess would be "It's Snowing Angels..." >"But some people put out singles that are terrible. R.E.M! "E-Bow The >Letter" E-Bow Shite!." :( I thought Andy had more taste than that. Regarding this truly fascinating thread about metaphors in XTC's lyrics. Hmmm. As Phillip says, some of XTC's metaphors from ES, Mummer, and Skylarking are truly amazing. "Another Satellite" combines lyrics and music to create an otherworldly whole that encapsulates the relationship and perfectly accentuates the narrator's desire not to get "caught up" -- with just a hint of whimsy added. Jason and the Argonauts weaves a virtual tapestry of life as seen through tour-colored glasses. And Great Fire crackles and sparks with the pure exuberance of love. Andy's metaphors, especially, often provide a better insight into his subject than any straight lyrics could ever provide. However, I have to disagree with some of his points. First, I do think the band haven't abandoned the metaphor. Songs like "My Bird Performs," "Miniature Sun," "Then She Appeared," "Across This Antheap," and "Wrapped In Grey" are all rich with the kind of metaphorical genius we've all come to love. Lines like "Shakespeare sonnets leave me cold" and "Your heart is the big box of paints, and others the canvas we're dealt" are enough to prove to me that our lads haven't lost it yet. And it looks like there's even more on the horizon: in Andy's new demos, songs like "Wonder Annual," "Knights In Shining Karma," "You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful," and "Your Dictionary" all drip metaphorical images with a certain "richness" I don't think we've ever seen in Andy's lyrics before. Also, I don't just look for metaphors when I read XTC's lyrics. Clever turns of phrase, strong imagery, subtlety, and many other things can all make for a good lyric. Look at songs like "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her." The only metaphors are in the imagery ... but what imagery it is. Rather than just tell us what's going through this guy's head, Andy paints a portrait of where it's taking place and makes his predicament all the more compelling. Or "The Everyday Story Of Smalltown" (can you tell I'm listening to TBE right now?) where lines like "It's not that you're repulsive to see in your brand-new catalog nylon nightie/you're too fast for little old me, next you'll be telling me it's 1990!" make you feel a little nostalgic for that small town idea even if you logically know you'd hate it. What I'm saying is that metaphor is a great thing, but it's not the only thing. I wish to bring up a point related to XTC, but also to music as a whole, here. Give me any band with at least six albums, who have been around for at least ten years, and I'll find you people who will say "Their new stuff sucks." With some bands, it's a huge thing, pitting large factions of fans against each other. With others (like XTC) it's much more polite and unintrusive. But you can always find it. But there rarely seems to be anyone who'll say "Those first albums, hoo boy, were they bad" (well, we have that with White Music, but nothing after that) or "Those middle years, they really lost it for a while." Does anyone have any theories why the latest albums are always the ones we accuse in this way? Is it because we just assume that artists only have so long they can create original work before they peter out? Is it that we compare the new work to the older and, finding it different, also somehow find it lacking? Or is it just that the band really does start to suck after a certain period of time? Josh You can read it in your Bible /---------------------------Joshua Hall-Bachner---------------------------\ | 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: <3.0.32.19970102232934.006adc88@popd.ix.netcom.com> Date: Thu, 02 Jan 1997 23:29:37 -0500 From: Evan Chakroff <chakroff@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Fossil Fuel (speak, newbie, speak! good newbie!) Okay. I've got Skylarking and Drums And Wires. I want to get Fossil Fuel, but I can't find it anywhere in the United States (or, to be more specific, the central ohio area). Is this only in British release? (I could get waxworks, but I understand that all that is on Fossil Fuel anyway, so why have overlapping in my yet-to-be XTC collection?) -- Evan Chakroff The Internet Mystery Spot http://spot.home.ml.org Bullshit makes the flowers grow & that's beautiful.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32CCB1EB.27C3@earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 02 Jan 1997 23:14:51 -0800 From: Herne <herne@earthlink.net> Subject: 1996 Year in Review Addendum Oops... A few corrections... Steve Segal not Sagal John Sayles not Sayle Other things I forgot to mention... Favorite List Aliases (aliai? plural?)---Nicole the Wonder Nerd,Kilroy, Queen Sneepy, Grimley Fiendish (aka Crissy Monster). Favorite List Quote after signature...The "computers are sophisticated idiots" quote from Dr. Who (Robot Pt.4). Can't remember who puts that one there but bravo. Other favorite album of the 90's... LUSH---GALA and Spooky---although gala is actually a collection of the first eps and singles it still ranks and as Spooky tends to blend together with it in my memory I write them down together. Also Matt James inquired as to why I left TRAINSPOTTING off my movie list...well apparently I forgot about it. So I guess that would be #10. Best music Magazine you probably haven't heard of but should...THE BIG TAKEOVER---published approximately two to four times a year by alternative/indie music fanatic Jack Rabid. He has such good taste and writes so well and enthusiastically. the mag has exhaustive interviews and reviews of everything. the first issue I ever got had an XTC interview which dropped shocking news about truly poor they are. They were doing odd jobs to get by!!!...If memory serves. Can't recommend this magazine enough. Hard to find at newstands...in fact almost impossible unless you're in NYC...at least until now. there is a web page. Check it out at: http://members.aol.com/bigtake/late.html. Incidentally I met Jack rabid at the Mercury Lounge a few years back. He was a really cool guy. He was genuinely enthused to meet me and my brother since we had similar musical tastes. He even made tapes for my brother. Jack also has more knowledge of the Chameleons than anyone else on earth. He contributes to the trouser Press Record Guide which for those of you who are unaware...is THE BIBLE. New edition of that masterpiece rumored to be coming out any time now. Okay. I think that's everything. Herne p.s. Oh and I'm not Dave Simpson
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 16:17:01 +0900 (JST) Message-Id: <199701030717.QAA04093@japan.co.jp> From: mikewix@japan.co.jp (Michael Wicks) Subject: Happy 1997!/ Videos In Motion Dear Fellow Chalkies! DrBeat1@aol.com said: >I'm catching up on, honest, no less than 31 Chalkhills digests. I'm on >sabbatical from work and I have nothing to do for awhile...can you think >of a better way to spend your weekend? I think not! Same here! I'm catching up on a few dozen myself, and am enjoying it immensely, esp since it is , like , 38 degrees here in Osaka and quite blustery! A hot cup of coffee to my left, and a heater to my right is keeping me company, along with my wife reading our New Years cards. I want to thank each and every one of you for making this list possible (as for mr. Relph, it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyways-thanks!) As I was watching some XTC videos this past week, it dawned on me that I'd love to have all my videos on one tape (I have them scattered on four as it is) Then I started to think about editing them down, compiling them into one 120 m tape, at SP, meaning I could squeeze 5-6 hours on one tape. My editing equipment consists of four VCR's and a Hi8 Camcorder, but one can do wonders with those. Then, I looked over at my Beatles Anthology, and started to get this crazy idea of producing this homemade "XTC Anthology", from the hours of audio tape interviews and live performances and video performances and interviews.... The thought just can't get out of my head! ;-) Unfortunately, I don't really have enough video footage (a lot of 1982- 1989 stuff I already have) to put together a really good compilation. If any of you out there have some early interviews on audio/video (I know a couple kind souls that have already done some trading with me-thanks guys!). Also, I'm looking for some early photos/interviews of the band (1976-1979). Additionally, if any of you have interviews with Dave, Colin, Terry or yes, even Barry, then feel free and e-mail me. I'll pay any/all of the cost for these items. As for the audio/video stuff, I'll gladly trade with you some stuff I have.If you already have what I have, I'll look for other CD's or pay for the items. Anyone out there interested in this video compilation, e-mail me and I'll reserve you a copy! Granted, it is going to take the better part of '97 to complete this, so I'll let you know when I've finished it. Finally, if any of you have done something similar, please feel free and e-mail me! Perhaps we can put our footage together and make a more comprehensive compilation. Looking forward to hearing from you! Michael W mikewix@japan.co.jp
------------------------------ From: Drum <Drum@netmail.co.uk> Subject: Todd'n'Tubes Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 10:16:13 +0000 Message-Id: <10161337103399@netmail.co.uk> Todd worked with The Tubes for two albums but they were recorded and diverse times in the bands career. Remote Control was their first album to break more into the mainstream & gave the band their only real UK hit (and an appearance on TOTP!), but was not well received least of all by the band themselves! I read Fee Waybill commenting at the time that the vocals were swamped and the whole production was a bit dodgy. (paraphrased!) Love Bomb was their last studio album (until Genius of America was released this year) and was quite superb and very different. Again released to an indifferent public and without the usual sense of humour (rumour has it that Fee Waybill used much of it up on his solo project Read My Lips) it failed to achieve real success and the band split. But this is one of the few Todd produced albums I really like (Skylarking is the other!). I was mates and occaisionally roadied for a band called Zerra 1 whose first album was produced by Todd. It stank, it sank and they rapidly sank with it. Sad! So maybe I have a bias point of view! This is a first time post by the way. I tend to watch, but at last came a comment I knew something about! Tubes fans of the world etc etc... and Prarie Prince is on the new Tubes album too, yippee!!!
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 08:24:01 -0600
Message-Id: <2cd169c0@burntas1.bvc.frco.com>
From: chrikas@burntas1.frco.com (Christopher Kasic)
Subject: Psychedelic Rock: Book
Well, it's not really a review, but for those of you interested in
Psychedelia, there's a new book out by Jim DeRogatis called
"Kaleidoscope Eyes: History of Psychedelia from the 60s to the 90s". I
haven't read it, but I'm sure the Dukes figure in.
I heard an interview on NPR here in Minneapolis a few days ago, and I
was waiting for the reference to the Dukes, which of course came up
when the subject turned to the motif of bicycles, and I kept
encouraging the radio-- Bike Ride to the Moon, BIKE RIDE TO THE MOON!
They played another snippet about White Bicycles from a Dutch group
instead, but the Dukes did get a mention.
Check it out if that's your quest.
chris
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199701031434.JAA02667@nlm.nih.gov> Date: Fri, 03 Jan 97 09:34:29 EST From: dabl2@nlm.nih.gov (Don Lindbergh) Subject: Re: Todd Productions >> that worked twice with Todd never worked w/him a second time." >> Sorry to disagree, but Grand Funk did indeed record two albums >> with him. "We're An American Band" and then the album >> that came immediately afterward, which had their massive hit >> "Loco-motion." The title escapes me. > >This is the kind of great information I was looking for! Well then I should have pointed you here awhile ago http://www.roadkill.com/todd/prod.pl >BUT, If the album was called Good Singin, Good Playin I always thought >that it was produced by Frank Zappa. Sounds wierd, eh? The second production was the _Shinin' On_ album. He also produced Mark Farner's eponymous solo album. The above link is off the main fan site http://www.roadkill.com/todd/trconn Todd's own official web page is at http://www.tr-i.com/ >> Also, if I'm not heinously mistaken, Todd was responsible for the first >>two The Pursuit Of Happiness albums. > >Yes, I've heard this a few times now. Now, I'd like to see the list >of bands that only worked with him once and compare the lengths. There are certainly more that worked with him once than twice or more. Besides TPOH and Grand Funk, the ones that come to mind are Jesse Winchester, Badfinger and a Japanese artist named Takano. However, I'm not sure that the meaning of this is that significant. I've found that part of Todd's appeal is the diversity of his work both on his own and in his productions. The Pursuit albums were definately an exception in his history. They both sound very similar whereas his other productions (though often criticized for being 'Toddlike') are in fact quite varied sounding. Take the Rubinoos album versus something like the Patti Smith record he did or even Bat Out of Hell. Note that I'm not talking up Todd's engineering prowess, I do think he gets particularly funky (funny) sounds most of the time. They are defiantely unique though. It seems to me most bands don't make the kind of radical swings of style and sound that are Todd's modus operandi. Sure George Martin produced like what, seven America albums (besides that other little band he worked with), but I'm not sure this means much other than they seemed to like working with each other. I guess this might not be the greatest example for me to cull however as clearly Martin could produce some of the most varied and creative records ever made. To be honest, I don't know if he did with America or not. Anyway, sorry for the non-XTC content. For the record, I bought every XTC record after I heard _Skylarking_ --Don dabl2@nlm.nih.gov >From: Keith Hanlon <khanlon@frognet.net> >Subject: Re: Nu muzak and Todd-devolution >On a side-Todd note, I heard an interview with Todd when his Nearly >Human album came out. He said that his productions had been following a >natural evolution, starting with Skylarking. That album was heavily >overdubbed. Somewhere in the middle of the evolutionary scale was TPOH, >which he said was 80% live in the studio; just vocal and guitar >overdubs. Nearly Human was all live in the studio, no overdubs. After >that, he did "2nd Wind," all live in front of am audience that had to >keep quiet (a la Joe Jackson's classic Big World). Unfortunately, the >songs blew - I gave up on my hero after that one! Yeah, but Todd's version of evolution still has it's cyclical tendencies. For instance his last album was another solo overdubbed affair, the focus actually being somewhat on the extra non musical content afforded by the enhanced "CD-E" format. It's definately a tour de fource in those terms. It's rumoured that he *may* be working on a _Something/Anything_ for the 90's. That would be cool in my book. I'm sure you can't tell I'm a Todd fan :) --Don dabl2@nlm.nih.gov
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 12:20:01 -0500 (EST)
From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu>
Subject: Post-structuralism hits Chalkhills!
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.95.970103110633.11821A-100000@gorf.rs.itd.umich.edu>
Philip Adamek, I hereby declare you the Jacques Derrida of Chalkhills. Go
on with your bad self.
I am very, very, very tired at the moment so I will have to be brief, and
hope that my sentences are grammatical. From your second post, I glean
the following... The thing about the Dukes that you value is not escapism
but metaphor - not disengagement but distancing via imagery and
imagination. Is that a good summary? I hope so. I hope so, because I
still disagree with you, I think. I don't think the level of
metaphoricity (?) in song lyrics is much of a way to judge a band. I also
like XTC's elaborate use of metaphor, but that's not what makes them
special - it's the fact that the metaphors are meaningful. The Dukes'
metaphors don't point towards heartbreak ("1000 Umbrellas") or joy
("Rocket from a Bottle" - that's a simile, actually :) or lust
("Omnibus"), they're just attempts at evoking the absurdity of 1960's
psychedelia. "You're My Drug" - oooh, drugs! "My Love Explodes" -
whoooah, heaveeee! "Collideascope" - huh? And so on and so forth.
(I really hope I'm making sense here.)
At any rate, I'm still not sure why you seem to value metaphor /
"metaphorical distance" so highly. Yes, XTC are wonderful at using
metaphor, and do it like no-one else, but they also do songs that are
equally wonderful in their plain-spokenness, in their lack of
"distancing." "Dying," for instance, offers up a tiny encapsulated story,
rich with meaning, emotion, and imagery, without a metaphor in sight. Is
it somehow not as good as, say, "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul," just
because it's lyrically simpler?
Anyway, I should stop before I say anything even more stupid. I will wish
you all a happy New Year, and I'm sure you'll share in my New Year's
resolution - to be listening to a new XTC album by the time the year is
out.
forsooth,
Natalie Jacobs
Visit the Land of Do-As-You-Please!
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32CD71D8.2BFB@netwalk.com> Date: Fri, 03 Jan 1997 12:53:44 -0800 From: Ian C Stewart <stewart@netwalk.com> Subject: SKYLACKING update Copies remain! Act now! The XTC Fans' Tribute to SKYLARKING: SKYLACKING. Insane versions of every song on the album (and a few B-sides as well) performed by XTC fans: Summer's Cauldron: John Neil of Bacchus Jihad (members.aol.com/~bcchsjihad/). Grass: Franco Turra's version, sung in Italian (making it "Erba"). The Meeting Place: Chris Dodge of legendary SF bands Spazz and Bjorn Again. That's Really Super, Supergirl: The Pop-Up Book (Brian Marchese's old band) Ballet For A Rainy Day: Dave Stafford 1000 Umbrellas: Nortons Orchestraville (Keith Hanlon's band) Season Cycle: Top 40 (Jason Garcia) Terrorism: Useless Let's Make A Den + Find The Fox: Star*Pillow The Troubles: Dave Gershman Earn Enough For Us: sung in German by Martin Fuchs Big Day: John Neil's Burning Futon Another Satellite: John Relph Mermaid Smiled: Samarkand The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul: Daniel Prendiville (Daniel's Den: indigo.ie/~modjp/) Dear God: Chris Spillios Dying: Daniel Prendiville Sacrificial Bonfire: Samarkand Bonus track: Grass: Big City Orchestra SKYLACKING is available for $5 usa. Checks to Ian C Stewart. Outside the US- please inquire about trades. "THE BEST XTC homage ever." --John Pinto Also, as previously threatened, AUTOreverse is now on the web, in a skeletal version, featuring interviews and reviews of self-released, home-made audio recordings. NEW MUSIC STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE, featuring many SKYLACKING and CHALKHILLS contributors... www.netwalk.com/~stewart/index.htm Is it just me or is the presence of Mark Isham on a record the true sign of quality? To wit: David Sylvian, Mark Eitzel, David Torn's Cloud About Mercury project... everything he's on (except Tanita Tikaram's records) are totally brilliant. I think having him on your album is like getting the keys to the executive washroom. For now, Ian
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 16:30:39 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <v03007801aef24d6e096e@[207.77.26.27]> From: Ira Lieman <ira@myself.com> Simon Knight (OZ) wrote: >Did anyone notice there's a new movie out called "Dear God"? It was out in the states over the summer. With Greg Kinnear, right? I didn't see it, but it's about a mailman who responds to letters addressed "Dear God" -- the XTC song would DEFINITELY be good for it, wonder if they contacted Andy? The other Simon (UK) posted an AP interview: >All that bollocks about "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" >being LSD. No it's not, it's LITSWD! That's Welsh lavatory cleaner. That is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. It's 6 am here in New York and I hope I'm not laughing too hard to wake up the rest of the world. :) :) Maybe I should go back to sleep then. -ira
------------------------------
From: parrish.wilkinson@firewall.ipctechinc.com
Date: Fri, 03 Jan 97 16:04:02 CST
Message-Id: <9700038523.AA852336242@ccmail.ipctechinc.com>
Subject: Radio Play Everyday!
Hola Chalker's,
I have known since I moved here in 1978 that Austin was one of the
coolest places to live. Here's one more reason! KGSR 107.1 FM, and
their most excellent DJ Mr. Jody Denberg (sp?). Jody did the interview
in the studio at KLBJ-FM in 1989 with XTC on the O&L Radio Tour. KLBJ
is now a little too "hard rock" oriented. Anyway, Jody is the
afternoon DJ at KGSR and for the last 6 months I have enjoyed 1 XTC
song (as well as an Elvis Costello song) every afternoon.
Cheers to you Jody!!!
Parrish
------------------------------ From: Hedblade@aol.com Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 22:49:27 -0500 Message-ID: <970103224926_1458562584@emout12.mail.aol.com> Subject: The Wondermits Hey folks! Here's the review for The Wondermints, who I mentioned a couple of posts ago. You'll see why it's of interest ;) Sincerely, Jay THE WONDERMINTS The Wondermints (Big Deal) The past couple of years have seen a handful of "little" records that embrace an alarmingly un-trendy passion for pure pop rock. Put it down to post-grunge bewilderment, the stagnation of low-fi aesthetics, or the fact that XTC haven't released a record in, what, 20 years? Whatever the reason, folks you might not have heard of like Yazbek, The High Llamas, and The Sugarplastic are creating their own little pop renaissance... even if it is only in their minds. Add to that list The Wondermints. With their debut, this California quartet whip up glittering sonic gems like so much cotton candy. Chiming guitars, sweet melodies, and Beach Boys harmonies collide to create a disc of head bopping bliss. Heard through crappy speakers, one might just relive those AM radio days that were drenched with The Raspberries and The Cyrcle. The Wondermints know their shit. Whirling within this disc are splendidly catchy tunes such as "She Opens Heaven's Door" (a discarded Andy Partridge demo by any other name would sound as sweet), "Libbyland" (broad strokes of "Yellow Submarine" filtered through Brian May and Queen), and "Tracy Hide" (perhaps the best Beach Boys copy ever). The Wondermints really hit it, though, when the influences merely shade, rather than colour the proceedings. "Shine" melds psychedelic pop with a late '80s Manchester groove to produce something wholly new, while "Global Village Idiot" drops in a slight hint of The Byrds and then disjoints it with an interesting and unexpected bridge and chorus. The crown of this approach goes to "Proto-pretty;" a song so damn fresh, hook laden, and original it defies categorization or complimentary adjectives. There's a slight catch, of course, in that records as such have a blaring beacon on them that cries, "spot the influence." Whereas the erstwhile XTC created an alter-ego for their psychedelic frolicking in The Dukes Of Stratoshpear, The Wondermints and their ilk are in danger turning homage into a restricting security blanket if it is to be the benchmark for their career. By no means is this meant as a slam on the band or their record; there is far too much inspiration and diversity here to write them off as a "nostalgia act." However, there is a point at which substance is sacrificed for flavor. Like your mother used to say, sweets are fine... but only after dinner. (7 out of 10) -Jay Hedblade
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32CE0846.16B0@zed.com.au> Date: Sat, 04 Jan 1997 17:35:34 +1000 From: Colin Wright <evernow@zed.com.au> Subject: Thanks for Christmas Hiya Chalkies Just thought I'd make you Northern Hemisphere dwellers jealous - The guy on the local news radio reports that we've just had the hottest Christmas in Sydney for 13 years - WAHOO!! - here we go off to the beach again. Got F.F., Testimonial Dinner and the remastered Skylarking as pressies. And 1997 may mean a new album for us all - (we hope) HAPPY 1997 CHALKIES!!! Lotsa lurv Colin http://www.zed.com.au/~evernow/ Home Sweet Page!!
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jan 1997 11:08:46 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <v01550100aef3ea5d6e57@[205.198.116.83]> From: keeptru@bway.net (Irene Trudel/Peter Keepnews) Subject: Faves of '96 In the spirit of presenting a "Best recordings of '96", I submit the playlist from my weekly show on WFMU. I know it's a bit long, but I always have trouble narrowing lists down to a top 10. These reflect some of the recordings I've enjoyed over the past year, not including my all-time faves. >>>>>Playlist for December 30, 1996<<<<< (My faves of '96, with a few holes, in no particular order of importance) *Denotes something from my collection/Album titles in [] *Rabih Abu-Khalil/Balanescu Quartet - "The Pain After..." [Arabian Waltz] Jean-Claude Chapuis - "Luminescence" [Gravicords, Whirlies and Pyrophones] Isaac Ouannounou - "Achir Bemecharin [Morocco: Crossroads of Time] Udi Hrandt - "Nihavent taksim" [The Early Recordings Vol.II] Bron - "Melide" [Bron] ----- *Mark Eitzel - "Saved" [60 Watt Silver Lining] The For Carnation - "Winter Lair" [Marshmallows] *Cat Power - "Good, Clean Fun" [What Would the Community Think?] *East River Pipe - "Beautiful, Worn-Out Love" [Mel] *Mark Eitzel - "Take Courage" (Live on WFMU 7/1/96) ----- Rasputina - "Mr. E. Leon Rauis" [Thanks for the Either] Rachel's - "Family Portrait" [Music for Egon Schiele] The Dirty Three - "Sue's Last Ride" [Horse Stories] *Lazy Boy - "Curb Urchin" [Amnesia] *The Mermen - "A Heart with Paper Walls" [Songs of the Cows] ----- *Phillip Johnston's Transparent Quartet - "Memory" (Live on WFMU 2/19/96) *Eric Matthews - "Fried Out Broken Girl" [It's Heavy in Here] *Richard Davies - "Jubilee" [There's Never Been a Crowd Like This] *The Humphries - "Patois" [The Humphries] Dama - "Volasoa" [The Moon and the Banana Tree: Madagasgar Guitar] ----- *Robyn Hitchcock - "Filthy Bird" [Moss Elixir] *Linda Thompson - "Pavanne" [Dreams Fly Away] Kirsten BratenBerg & Halvard T.Bjorgum - "Su Ru Rudde" / Knut Riersrud & Paolo Vinaccia - "Train Song" [The Sweet Sunny North Vol.2: Henry Kaiser and David Lindley in Norway] *The Spinanes - "Punch Line Loser [Strand] *Richard Thompson Band - "Ghosts in the Wind" [two letter words: live 1994] ----- *Jason Faulkner - "Don't Show Me Heaven" [...presents Author Unknown] *The Beatles - "I'm Only Sleeping" [Anthology II] *Phil Krauth - "I'm Finding Me in You" [Silver Eyes] Neutral Milk Hotel - "You've Passed"/ "Someone is Waiting" [On Avery Island] *Dots Will Echo - "Within You, Without You" (++note-best version I've ever heard!) [Keep Your Hands Off My Modem, You Weasel] ----- *Kenny Young and The Eggplants - "Fishcakes and Spaghetti" [Even One is Quite a Few] *Jade Warrior - "River Song" [Elements: The Island Anthology] (I would add to this list something from The Chills [Sunburnt], but I ran out of time on my actual show) HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!! keeptru@bway.net http://www.wfmu.org/~irene
------------------------------ From: box@linux.nemesis.com.au Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 19:39:56 +1100 Subject: Partridge Way and the clouds will still be in a Kodak Moment Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9701051957.A30374-0100000@linux.nemesis.com.au> I'm posting blind here, having not read Chalkhills in about six weeks due to various holidays and christmas and stuff... Here's a lyric I misheard from 'Cherry In Your Tree': I've got toys like the other boys For making love with you Hmm, exciting. One more thing: Yesterday I was driving home and listening to 'You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful'. I looked up and saw snow white clouds with flat grey bases floating in a deep blue sky, and I couldn't resist the temptation to take a photo. I pulled the car up at a sidestreet and got out, the street I stopped in was Partridge Way! HOW INCREDIBLE IS THAT?!?? This couldn't be coincidence, could it? Could it? Or... could it? [It's in Mooroolbark for Melbourne readers...] 'Nuff from me. Adam
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199701042153.QAA11078@mule1.mindspring.com>
Date: Sat, 04 Jan 1997 16:51:52 -0500
From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@atl.mindspring.com>
Subject: Year-End Disc review (No XtC)
This is a LIST OF MY FAVORITE RECORDS THIS YEAR. This writing is
the INTRODUCTION to the list. The INTRODUCTION is to explain what the
list is about. I hope to keep your attention long enough to encourage you
to read it.
so here it goes...
I can't keep up with new releases, but here are my favorite albums
that I purchased in 1996:
the Cardigans: 'First Band on the Moon'--heavenly pop music, interesting
production and beautiful vocals more than make up for the lyrics
Captain Beefheart: 'Ice Cream for Crow' -- the title track and "Evening Bell"
are some of the absolute best music ever put on a cracker.
Nick Lowe: 'The Impossible Bird'-- actually given to me by a friend. Classic
Americana music by =gasp!= a brit!
Stereolab: 'Emperor Tomato Ketchup'-- Progress at last! Somehow, they
use the driest philosophy and political theory to great emotional
effect.
Flaming Lips: 'Clouds Taste Metallic' -- imagine someone making that
deflating-balooon-squeak noise with guitars over John Bohnam's
disturbed ghost and a glockenspiel, all compressed to hell with
lyrics written by Yoda, but it's POP music.
Les Paul with Mary Ford: 'The Best of the Capitol Masters' --Hard to believe
that sounds as otherworldly as these were on jukeboxes nationwide
during the 50's. One of the true innovators in audio technology who
also happens to be a wicked guitar player. His wife posesses a
voice like eucalyptus.
And the most-listened-to album I taped last year: Bobby and Betty Go To
the Moon: 'A Boy and a Girl Take a Recorded LUNAR SPACE
ADVENTURE'-- A real children's record from the late 60's, I think.
(no date on the sleeve) They don't make kid's records like this anymore.
Thanks to Dave Dault for sharing this one with me.
Best Concerts of 1996:
Eugene Chadbourne
Silver Apples
Robyn Hitchcock/ Billy Bragg
the Geraldine Fibbers
Dissapointments of 1996:
De La Soul: 'Stakes is High' They almost tried to be hard. I bet their
next record is a winner, though.
Mono Puff/ TMBG: They sound a little tired. I hope their comi-tradgedy glands
begin to work again in '97.
Negativland: 'Sex Dirt' -- This concept should have been their best album,
but it's just not very good.
surprises of 1996:
Cake: 'Fashion Nugget'
Frank Black 'The Cult of Ray' -- He did it again. Like the last one, I
hated this album at first, but it crept into my head and showed me its
catchy parts.
Olivia Tremor Control: 'Music from the Unrealised Film Script DUSK AT CUBIST
CASTLE'-- Like finding a fully decked-out xmas tree in your back
yard one day out of the blue.
Kenny Howes' Second Album-- He just moved up to Atlanta from Florida. I liked
the album so much I joined the band.
Zappa: 'We're Only in it for the Money'-- See how much difference a good master
can make? This is one of my all-time favorite albums. Get the '95
reissue or nothing.
Steve Wynn: 'Melting in the Dark' -- Tom Petty meets Nick Cave.
His Name is Alive: 'Stars on ESP'-- From the moment I put this album on it did
exactly what I wanted it to do: Dazzle me with dub mumble.
Songs that have been in my head since May:
Sebadoh "Soul and Fire"; Big Star "Big Black Car"; Cardigans "Your New
Cuckoo";
Beatles "Because" (A3); Beck! "Devil's Haircut"; LMNOP "Unnatural Interest in
Excretory Functions"; MSR "Jimmy Carter Says Yes"; Les Paul and Mary Ford
"Smoke Rings"; XTC "Dear Madum Barnum"; Jonathan Richman "Vampire Girl";
Dr. Octagon "Earth People"
Runners-up
Latin Playboys; Boredoms: "Chocolate Synthesiser"; DQE and Jad Fair; Paul
Lansky: "More than Idle Chatter" (which wins the award for worst album cover
art); the Multiple Cat: "'Territory' Shall Mean the Universe"; Negativland:
"Rototiller Singalong"; Neu! (1st album); Rasputina "Thanks for the Ether";
Throwing Muses: "Limbo"; Slim Gaillard: "Laughing in Rhythm: the Best of the
Verve Years"
Everyone have a big, fat, smelly, happy new year!!
Buffy
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna record all the noise."
--Negativland
visit the Orange Hat web site, or you won't have any fun
http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith
------------------------------ From: Combray2@aol.com Date: Sun, 5 Jan 1997 10:32:48 -0500 Message-ID: <970105103247_1190426462@emout16.mail.aol.com> Subject: The Devil Glitch In 1996, Chris Butler (best known as a member of the Waitresses) released a maddeningly catchy 70-minute pop song with 550 amusing verses called "The Devil Glitch". About 60 minutes into the song the following verse appears: "Sometimes you can fix something by just being the best, XTC's the greatest pop band. Sometimes you can fix something by being the best, XTC's still stuck in Swindon." Read into it what you like. But go ahead and add a notch to the ammonite tally-stick of XTC admirers.... Bye for now, John
------------------------------
Message-ID: <32D1F310.58B5@3rddoor.com>
Date: Mon, 06 Jan 1997 22:54:09 -0800
From: Daniel Ray Phipps <phipps@3rddoor.com>
Subject: Re: Todd's Grand Funk LP productions
Hello residents of the Chalkhill! --
In regards to Todd's production of two Grand Funk albums, --
> Sorry to disagree, but Grand Funk did indeed record two albums
> with him. "We're An American Band" and then the album
> that came immediately afterward, which had their massive hit
> "Loco-motion." The title escapes me.
This is the kind of great information I was looking for! BUT, If the
album was called Good Singin, Good Playin I always thought that it
was produced by Frank Zappa. Sounds wierd, eh?
-- the title of the follow-up to their "American Band" LP was
"Shinin' On." I used to LOVE looking at the cover to this record
as it came with a pair of 3-D glasses and the images through the
lens was mind-boggling (back then anyway!).
And yeah, Zappa did produce their "Good Singin', Good Playin'"
album! (Cool memory, dude!) Man, oh man!! I'd just about KILL
to possess this fabulous album again! Anybody out there got some
kind of dub to this or can you direct me on where I might possibly
find a used copy on CD? ("Needle in a haystack" time, eh???)
In the famous words of Robert Fripp, "Continue..."
/ Dan Phipps <phipps@3rddoor.com>
My XTC quote of the week:
"Would not our world turn cold if the sun refused to shine?" (CM)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32D1F519.3817@3rddoor.com> Date: Mon, 06 Jan 1997 23:02:49 -0800 From: Daniel Ray Phipps <phipps@3rddoor.com> Subject: Can anybody help me here?? Hello (again) to all you Chalkies on the hill! -- I know that this may not be the proper place or forum to ask this question, but while my last post referred in a way to old albums and such, can anybody tell me where I might be able to find a record that came out in the '70s entitled "All This And World War II"? I used to have this a long, long, long, long, long time ago and recall that it was 2-LPs with a THICK book inside and all the songs were by various artists singing Beatles tracks. One in particular stands out which is Peter Gabriel singing "Strawberry Fields Forever." Does any of this twitch certain memory banks out there? I'm waiting to hear responses and theories...Thanks! / Dan Phipps <phipps@3rddoor.com> P.S. -- Have you guys all heard the new Beatles comp that's available through Jarmusic in Germany? It features Colin's Hermits and Martin Newell, many others! Cool damn disc!!! And not a bad deal for $25.00 American, either. (You get A LOT of stuff!!!) Just thought I'd ask...
------------------------------ Message-ID: <32D0E571.7091@mclink.it> Date: Mon, 06 Jan 1997 12:43:45 +0100 From: Alberto Castagna <mc4950@mclink.it> Subject: A contribute for discography Hallo! I'm an italian XTC fan. I want to signal to John Relph a record I have that I have not found in the Discography. I've got a copy of "Black Sea" printed in Italy where the name of the band is printed wrong. On the high right corner of the front sleeve you can read "XCT" (sic) and the same on the spin. I've got also a brasilian compilation on Virgin Records (Julian Lennon, XTC etc.) with "Mayor of Simpleton" (I will send you more informations about that). Thank you and happy new year!
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #3-65 ******************************
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