Chalkhills Digest Volume 3, Issue 98
Date: Monday, 14 April 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 3, Number 98
Monday, 14 April 1997
Today's Topics:
Tokyo Chalkhills Party Details
Good to be Bach
Top 5 Albums Survey!!!!
Misheard lyrics and Ben Folds Five
I need a vacation.
More Andy Meets Lloyd
Raymond and Robyn
Cool collaboration, moving Mummer, regarding Roches, and ?
The XTCatalog according to Jim
Roches, Ants and Rants
The Roches and Lloyd are Peachy.
more Beatles
Chalk up another for Mummer!
New York Concert, Friday
Nurds and more
New baby
Enthusiast Ltd.
Death to the Roches (demos + non-XTC)
Britain and cars
Roches, Mummer
Well that was a short vacation!
Atlanta Bash
A little XTC in everyday life
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I never felt like crying oceans before.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: nihilon@crisscross.com
Message-Id: <v03007802af727738617f@[202.217.215.120]>
Subject: Tokyo Chalkhills Party Details
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 10:52:29 +0800
Greetings,
The response to the Tokyo Party suggestion has been pretty good, and it
looks like it will go ahead on the 19th April in Shinjuku at about 7 p.m.
I'm still waiting to hear from afew people, though. Please get back to me
as soon as possible.
If there is anyone else lurking out there that would like to join us -
please do not hesitate - e-mail me now. If you are worried because your
English is not so strong, don't worry. I'm the only Gaijin coming to the
party, everyone else is Japanese.
Looking forward to meeting you all.
Steve (MGV)
Minna san,
XTC no Party wa Shinjuku de April 19 (7 p.m.) kamo shirimasen. Nihon-go
dake hasanakutemoii, Watashi dake wa gaijin desukara Minna-san wa Nihon-go
hanasemasu.
Watashi ni e-mail shite kudasai.
Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu
Steve (MGV)
--
Don't ask me how I feel - I might really tell you.
(Terry Scott Taylor)
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970410025453.0067d2ec@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 21:54:53 -0500 From: Mark Rushton <rushton@mindspring.com> Subject: Good to be Bach I'm back to Chalkhills after moving towns. Have the lads from Swindon released a new record? (Of course not!) Please remember I handle things over at the Bill Nelson web site, so all you new subscribers who are fans of Be Bop Deluxe, Red Noise (heavily inspired by early XTC!), and Channel Light Vessel also may want to check it out at the following URL: http://soli.inav.net/~rushton/nelson.html Fans of Andy's bud, Harold Budd, may be happy to know that Budd and John Foxx (the original lead singer of Ultravox) recorded an album called Translucence that will be out either later this year/early 98. This may not be news to some, but ya never know who's out there! "It's good to be Bach! Very good to be Bach..." - Colin Moulding on XTC's "BBC Radio One Live in Concert"
------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 97 00:20:40 EDT From: DaveKGold <70673.317@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Top 5 Albums Survey!!!! Message-ID: <970410042039_70673.317_FHP41-1@CompuServe.COM> Hi Chalkies- I don't know if John published my last letter asking for forgiveness for the sin of asking for a participation back in December and then never tabulating the results. There are a variety of personal reasons for that. Much apologies again. But in any event, here's the results of the survey of the Top 5 Artists in Your Collection (i.e., who's albums do you have the most of....). It was very difficult to tabulate the results in any sort of mathematical way, so here's my eyeballing-it results: 1. XTC 2. Beatles 3. Elvis Costello 4. REM 5. King Crimson Honorable mention goes to (in no particular order): Kinks U2 Peter Gabriel Genesis Kate Bush Jethro Tull The Replacements Theloneous Monk Hope you enjoy this exciting information! Long live XTC! All hail Marx and Lennon! Dave Gold
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:06:51 -0600 (MDT) From: Miles or Gigi Coleman <coleman@cougarnet.byu.edu> Subject: Misheard lyrics and Ben Folds Five Message-id: <0E8EOVEEY00EDY@ACS2.BYU.EDU> Okay, chalkpeople: You thought it was bad when there was the misunderstanding of the background vocals to "The Loving!" Just found out that a friend had another buddy give him a copy of O&L without any titles on it and has loved the album for years now. He didn't even know what the solo words were. He was positive that "The Love Van's coming!" I was sick from laughing so hard! And again... Thanks to all for the recommendations that come up. Ben Folds Five came to Salt Lake City, Utah last and we caught the show. Fantastically talented musicians. We were so close we could see the spittle fly! Got a chance to talk with them afterward. I was wearing my Chalkhills tee and Ben piped up that he got a chance to meet Andy and Colin when his friend (Richard Dougherty, or something like that.) who was playing drums for them invited him down. Basically said he was tongue tied. In fact I was stopped and complimented by two others about the tee shirt and ended up defending the boys when one of them declared that there would never be another album. Can you believe the audacity? Anyway, Miles ] 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
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 09:00:41 -0500 (CDT) From: AMANDA CARYL OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: I need a vacation. Message-id: <01IHJ9E2Y9GU8XPID8@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> So you can all rejoice, I'm not posting anymore for awhile. This whole mess has gotten out of hand, I agree we should stick to XTC, I'm sick of everything pointing at me, and I'll be back later. (So Rojer and Stephanie and whoever, you can start popping the champagne.) See y'all in a few weeks, and to all my tradees, keep up with me and my progress, I'll still be online. (And one more thing....I need to get this all done before next month, because I'll lose my net access when school's over, more cause for celebration, I'm sure. So send me your addresses as soon as possible, please.) Peace and love to you all, no ill will harboured, Amanda C. Owens Je me souviens Chalkhills
------------------------------ From: Bob Thomas <BobT@cait.wustl.edu> Subject: More Andy Meets Lloyd Date: Thu, 10 Apr 97 09:30:00 CDT Message-ID: <334CF9E2@msgw.cait.wustl.edu> Hello Chalkhills: Here's more from the Lloyd Cole list (Bad Vibes) regarding the Andy Partridge/Lloyd Cole collaboration. >Update- >Apparently the Lloyd and Andy hit it off great: they've come up with >ideas for 9 songs and are going into the in the UK studio to record 2 of >them for Lloyd's record. May have wormed an invite to the NY studio to >hear a couple played "rough." Will keep y'all posted. This is really great news, and the Lloyd fans are reeling. One or more are Chalkhills subscribers as well, and a good percentage are XTC fans. I am looking forward to your thoughts on how this collaboration will work out. The prospect for gorgeous melodies and just great pop are enormous. I am glad that XTC fans have the chance to discover an underappreciated singer/songwriter if they're unaware of LC. I know you're going to buy the disc for the AP tunes. Perhaps our friends in Scotland can fill everyone in on their countryman's (Cole's) career. I'll watch for a release date unless you're sick of hearing about this. Its just that this could be momentous. Really. Seriously. No kidding. Big. You agree? Bob
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 11:02:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: Natalie Jane Jacobs <gnat@umich.edu>
Subject: Raymond and Robyn
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.95.970410104012.18493D-100000@qbert.rs.itd.umich.edu>
I think this may have been mentioned before, but I found this on the
Raymond Scott Web Archive site (http://users.aol.com/DevilDrums/RS.html):
"What can you say about a man who inspired cartoon melodies
and bebop, invented Frank Zappa and electronic music,
and still found time to work for Motown?"
-Andy Partridge (songwriter & leader of XTC)
Andy's quote appears amid a slew of other praise from folks ranging from
Henry Rollins to Leonard Maltin... and all of it richly deserved. For
those of you who don't know, Raymond Scott is the composer whose "screwy
pseudo-jazz" provided raw material for the soundtracks of those old Warner
Brothers cartoons. Most people don't know his name, but they instantly
recognize his music when they hear it. Like Harry Partch and Joe Meek,
he's the sort of maverick that Andy seems to admire - a raving
perfectionist, ludicrously inventive, and a creator of music like no-one
else's. His music is collected on several anthologies - I think you'd
have to check the discography on the website to learn more; my anthology
is a home-made sampler that my friend made for me, so I don't have a title
at hand.
And while I'm going on about non-XTC artists that sort of have a
vague relation to XTC, I am currently re-discovering Robyn Hitchcock, who,
along with Andy, was one of my big heroes back in my teenage years. I
just bought "Element of Light" and find it quite enjoyable. Further
recommendations (by e-mail, please) would be appreciated.
Natalie Jacobs
Perdix: The Andy Partridge Appreciation Page
That Andy, he's a bad mother... shut your mouth!
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~gnat/perdix.html
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199704101606.JAA23609@sgi.sgi.com> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 11:51:31 EDT From: "Todd Bernhardt" <tbernha@columbiaenergy.e-mail.com> Subject: Cool collaboration, moving Mummer, regarding Roches, and ? Hiya, Chalkies: Bob Thomas spake about a collaboration between Lloyd Cole and our guy Andy: > This will be interesting, don't you think?< I do. Phil Hetherington gushed: > What I love so much about Mummer is that it doesn't *need* all of the high-energy musical all-out attack of some of the other albums; it can be whimsical and at times infuriatingly simple on the face of it, and yet still carry so much emotion. Perhaps it helps to have been brought up in rural England, but I can't see how anyone prepared to be patient with Mummer and devote some serious repeated listening time to it can fail to be moved eventually. And once it grabs you, it won't let go.< I couldn't agree more, gushed I, who am living evidence that you don't have to have been brought up in rural England to appreciate the album's beauty and subtlety. Gene "the dancing machine" Yoon asked: > I do have to ask everyone-- are there any fans or appreciators of The Roches amongst you's? They are quite unlike XTC, unless you count a truly gifted sense of melody as something in common. <snip> They think I'm listening to a bunch of James Taylor wannabes. Someone tell me that this is not true. That the Roches are a trio of extremely talented, creative songwriters and masterful musicians. That I haven't mellowed into a bland pile of mush at the ripe old age of 21.< Gene, you're not alone. The Roches are Grrrrreat! Like XTC, their songs are smart, funny, melodic and, while sounding straightforward, are actually quite musically complex. I have every one of their albums (XTC is the only other band I can say this about), and only 1985's "Another World" is to be avoided -- every other disc is a gem, esp. the Fripp-produced ones. And, oh! -- their harmonies ... always beautifully and unusually arranged, sometimes surprisingly dissonant and aggressive. What's more, they are astounding live -- their musical skill and their sense of humor really shines through in their songs and monologues/segues. Now, the bad news: they've just recently broken up, at least for the time being, to pursue other projects. If you want to find out more about them, got to http://www.kurtzman.com/Roches/ where there's a nifty little site centered around them. If you want suggestions on albums, etc., send me a note, Gene. And to Simon and Cheryl: > And to Simon-< >>And, Cheryl my friend, I enjoyed your company immensely.<< >*Blush* Thank you! I much enjoyed yours as well. So glad to have a chalkhills friend like you! By-the-way(she says in a whisper) the check is in the mail.< What HAVE you two been doing? And why is money being exchanged for it? :^) ByeBye!
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 06:42:15 -1000 (HST)
Message-Id: <v03007800af712d53deb9@[204.188.80.122]>
From: Jim Smart <jimsmart@hula.net>
Subject: The XTCatalog according to Jim
My XTC Voyage
I'm not sure if anyone will be interested in the following. It may be long,
tedious, and uninformed, but I can promise one thing: it is 100% XTC
content!
Briefly: for years I was happy owning the last 3 XTC albums. They fit with
my other few hundred CDs, and I didn't think much about them, and I didn't
explore their older stuff. (To this day I know very little about the band,
so I'm always afraid on Chalkhills of saying something really stupid.) Then
I joined Chalkhills, got curious and a little bit informed, and decided to
acquire the entire catalog. As I've stated, I did this in backwards order,
owning each one for a few weeks before "preceding" to the next album.
It was like watching a beautiful, ornate flower turn back into a seed in
slow motion.
If you did this little exercise with the Beatles, you'd find Love Me Do
waiting at the end. If it was the Kinks, you'd receive you Really Got Me.
But was totally surprised to find All Along the Watchtower waiting for me
at the dawn of XTC. That was pretty unexpected.
Anyway, a few thoughts, unasked for, about each album, now that
I've had a go at the whole catalog...
NONSUCH
fave: My bird Performs
I feel that each album is better than the one before it. This album stands
lik a monument. Could any other group do this?
ORANGES AND LEMONS
fave: Mayor of Simpleton (Even though I like the Kinks and beatles better
than XTC (gasp!), this song will be my choice as best song when I get asked
about it by Musician magazine).
; - )
Also, I'm partial to the album because it was my first, and I had a newborn
son in 1989, so a lot of the songs were very eaningful to me.
SKYLARKING
fave: Earn Enough For Us
For its exquisite pacing and sequencing alone, this album belongs in any
sane person's top 5.
THE BIG EXPRESS
fave: All You Pretty Girls
a great album.
MUMMER
fave: Funk Pop A Roll
A pretty uneven album, with some real gems...
As noted before, they always end their albums with a doozy, a la
Revolver by the Beatles. The last song of most XTC albums makes me say
"Whoa", none more than this.
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT
a very solid album. Holds together well, all songs are great. The Village
Green Preservation Society of XTC.
fave: Snowman
BLACK SEA
fave: Towers of London
Whoa, where did the acoustic guitars go? This album is amazingly
consistent. I love the guitar sound here, semi distorted and awesome. This
must have been THE time to see them in concert...or am I showing my
ignorance again?
DRUMS AND WIRES
fave: Nigel
Probably need to give this album more listens...
GO2
fave: Battery Brides
Whoa, where did that keyboard come from? This is the album where it
suddenly dawned on me that Andy is not only a great songwriter/singer, but
an awesome guitarist, since it's all him here. This has caused me to
reevaluate the whole rest of the catalog, and to raise my estimation of his
mana.
WHITE MUSIC
fave: This Is Pop
I was surprised by how well I like this album. One thing I noticed was that
they really started out with fairly standard chord choices, and evolved
later into their own tonalities. The keyboard's not really my thing here,
but these are fun songs.
We've talked about how to group the albums here before. For me, the
first 5 albums, with Terry as the drummer, are a group where they were in
step with the trends of the time. The last 5, with 5 different drummers,
represent pursuits totally independent of musical trends of the time. The
next 5....maybe I'll write about the next 5 once they are all released, in
the year 2012.
Till then,
humbly,
Jim
PS: I like the Dukes and Rag and Bone Buffet a lot, too.
Jimsmart@hula.net Honolulu, Hawaii USA
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*Anotherwords*
I feel like I'm walking 'round ten feet tall
XTC
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------
Message-Id: <v03007800af7287e61ebe@[198.53.7.53]>
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 14:04:52 +0100
From: Erich Walther <enrico@fox.nstn.ca>
Subject: Roches, Ants and Rants
You're right on re the Roches, Gene! Their first two albums are gems of
harmony, clever lyrics and some great Fripp solos ('Hammond Song' in
particular). I'd recommend them to any Chalkhillian out there.
The TMBG thread was so typical of how rumour-mongering spreads on this
medium; in cyber-space, no one can see you wink ;->
Could we please stop ganging up on each other? Perhaps we ought to think
about starting an AMANDA group for these discussions (but what to call
it?). No, I will not moderate.
XTC content: Put me on the list of Mummerphiles. I've always preferred the
quiet side of the lads and Mummer's like a cold winter's evening huddled
around a fire with a significant other: Skylarking is a summers day. Does
anyone else get a general 'feeling' from a particular album? (Oh, yeah, ES
is a foggy day on the moor, and BS is that first day in Spring when you
open all the windows).
Take care all!
Erich, where the windows are still frozen shut, but Black Sea is blasting.
------------------------------ From: Hedblade@aol.com Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 14:41:40 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970410144036_-402317184@emout06.mail.aol.com> Subject: The Roches and Lloyd are Peachy. Chalkingtons, Gene Yoon <Gene_Yoon@brown.edu> wrote: << I do have to ask everyone-- are there any fans or appreciators of The Roches amongst you's? They are quite unlike XTC, unless you count a truly gifted sense of melody as something in common. <snip> Anyway, I've really started to get into them as of late, and most of my kewl college friends think I've gone looney. They think I'm listening to a bunch of James Taylor wannabes. Someone tell me that this is not true. That the Roches are a trio of extremely talented, creative songwriters and masterful musicians. That I haven't mellowed into a bland pile of mush at the ripe old age of 21. >> No, Gene, you haven't mellowed into a bland pile of mush. The Roches ARE talented and they do have a gifted sense of melody (good enough to stand company with XTC, IMHO). As for your "kewl" college friends, tell them there is more to music than "Lump" and "Stupid Girl." OK, so I'm 30 years old and to many I probably AM a mellowed bland pile of mush. But I was listening to The Roches when I was 16 while the rest of my school chums were listening to "Footloose" and "Flashdance." (BTW- I was also listening to The Teardrop Explodes, Echo & The Bunnymen, and our beloved boys, so don't go thinking I was some sort of pansy or something! I owned The Cure's "Pornograpy" AND listened to The Roches- 'nuff said). Last words on the topic- anyone who wrote The Roches off after say 1987 or so (I won't argue with you) should check out their last album "Can We Go Home Now?" A nice return to form! As for the Lloyd Cole / Andy colaboration, a dolly bird over on the Lloyd pages keeps dropping little bits of info on us. She's ligit, so here's the latest: <<Update- Apparently Lloyd and Andy hit it off great: they've come up with ideas for 9 songs and are going into the in the UK studio to record 2 of them for Lloyd's record. May have wormed an invite to the NY studio to hear a couple played "rough." Will keep y'all posted.>> So there you have it. Can anyone help me get a copy of the James And The Giant Peach demos? Sincerely, Jay
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 09:15:32 -1000 (HST)
Message-Id: <v03007801af725f891213@[204.188.80.69]>
From: Jim Smart <jimsmart@hula.net>
Subject: more Beatles
100% non-XTC content:
I play "Paul" in an all beatle tribute band, so I could resist a few
contributions:
1. The only problem with the White album is that it's way too short. It's
much better with the Anthology 3 Disc one outtakes factored in. Even then,
it's much too short. Sir Paul has spoken eloquently against the folly of
boiling it down to one record, as suggested by George Martin at the time:
"Psssh! It sold! It worked!It's the bloody Beatles White album! Shut up!"
or whatever he actually said.
and
2.
>I find your choice of 'Back in the USSR' and 'Dear Prudence' as
>the best tracks rather remarkable considering that their are soooo many
>great songs
Well, yeah! But I find those two choices remarkable because sir Paul played
the drums on them both (it was during Ringo's flame out). Kinda puts Dear
Pru in a whole new light, yeah?
now back to your regular programming,
Jim
Jimsmart@hula.net Honolulu, Hawaii USA
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*Anotherwords*
I feel like I'm walking 'round ten feet tall
XTC
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 15:32:12 -0500 (CDT)
From: LaShawn Taylor <shonnie@zeus.anet-chi.com>
Subject: Chalk up another for Mummer!
Message-ID: <Pine.BSI.3.95.970410152252.9684A-100000@zeus.anet-chi.com>
I'm stepping out of La-la lurking land to add my praise for Mummer. Not
only does it have the coolest songs on it, but through it the Swindon boys
gained themselves a new listener!
I'm notoriously known for playing XTC in my car. One day, I was driving
to a restarant with my friends Brian (also an XTC freak) and Jacob. Coming
back, Jacob asked, "who's this playing on the radio?"
"XTC," I replied (Love on a Farmboy's Wages was playing at the time).
He asked if I could turn up the volume, and I was happy to comply. The
week afterwards, when I saw him again, he told me he couldn't get that
song out of his head. I thought "Cool!" and made him an mix tape of songs
from White Music to Nonsuch so he could hear how much they have changed
over the years.
I am now happy to say Jacob is now completely and utterly hooked on XTC.
Brian and I are ecstatic, to say the least.
Now, if we can only get him hooked onto Shonen Knife...
*----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/===\ LaShawn M. Taylor (shonnie@zeus.anet-chi.com)
|^ ^|\ Tsuki ni kawatte, oshioki yo!--Sailor Moon
\v/\| When Miss Moon lays down and Sir Sun stands up, me, I'm found
|\ floating round and round like a bug in brandy in this big bronze cup,
\| drowning here in summer's cauldron.--XTC
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 14:36:45 -0700 (PDT)
Message-Id: <199704102136.OAA07484@mx.seanet.com>
From: Scott Kennedy <scottk@axcelis.com>
Subject: New York Concert, Friday
Chalkhillians:
A fantastic band is playing in New York this Friday called JIGSAW
MAN. I saw them last time I was in NY, but I 'm pissed I can't make this
gig. Had a great talk with front man Andrew Baum, who is one of the biggest
XTC fans I have ever met. He sounds a little like Elvis, and writes a killer
power-pop tune. They are playing with THE ROOKS, another incredible hard pop
band with a growing and dedicated following. If anyone out there can make it
to the show (4/11/97 9:30pm at ARLENE GROCERY, 95 Stanton St. in NYC) please
tell me how it went. It could easily be one of those "I saw them when they
were just... " shows you talk about. And tell Mr. Baum you heard about the
gig on the Chalkhills Digest... that will get him going!
-Scott
------------------------------
From: nihilon@crisscross.com
Message-Id: <v03007802af733af72bb4@[202.217.215.163]>
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 07:21:17 +0800
Subject: Nurds and more
Hi everyone,
Gene mentioned the Roches.
I love them - have done since 1980 or thereabouts when I bought the first
album, then "Nurds" then Seductive Reasoning by Maggie and Terre.
Brilliant - I think I have them all now. Do you have any Roches on video>?
I saw them live on TV once, but that was years before I had a VCR.
>From Todd,
> "Let me put this into perspective," I said, "On XTC's second last
recording they used TMBG's drummer."<
If you mean Pat Mastellotto, don't you mean (one of) King Crimson's
drummer(s)? :^)
Nice try, Todd - Second last recording, not album.
Last recording - The good things for the Testimonial dinner.
Second last - Cherry in your tree - with Brian Doherty.
Regards,
Steve (MGV)
--
Don't ask me how I feel - I might really tell you.
(Terry Scott Taylor)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 17:34:59 -0500 (CDT) From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu> Subject: New baby Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.970410172443.27069E-100000@Joyce-Perkins.tenet.edu> Chalkheads: This is the youngster speaking. I'm fairly new to the list, and I'm sixteen. Now I'm curious to know who the oldest list member is. Anyway, I have to disagree about Nonsvch. Someone said it was just a good pop album, not a valid example of real craftsmanship (something like that anyway). I personally think the album (and the band collectively) contains some of the most original music I've ever heard. It's all a personal thing, though. But seriously, there IS a point to this message. Can anyone tell me more about this '98 world tour that someone refered to? It quietly excites me to to think about it, though most of my favorite bands hardly ever even come close to Texas. -Mark gotts@tenet.edu Yes, Ben, the first part of my last name is your last name. It means "God" you know.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199704102335.BAA26064@utrecht.knoware.nl> From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Organization: The Little Lighthouse Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 00:41:12 +0000 Subject: Enthusiast Ltd. Chalkers, Stormy Monday said: > [...] everyone has access to "The Beatles", XTC is still relatively > unknown. SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! For Pete's sake, do we really have to go through the whole George Martin/Beatles/Jeff Lynne thread AGAIN ? Then I will start posting my XTC dreams - and Beatle nightmares :) And to my surprise Phil (i think) wrote: > Mark Strijbos (I think) wrote: > >Phil Hetherington and Dylan > > > > As a limited enthusiast of the man > > Who, me or Dylan? :-) I wouldn't know, Phil - it wasn't me... I'm sure I would like you more than I like Dylan and I'm only enthusiastic about XTC of course; you should know that by now :) Anyone else planning to go to Christie's for the auction? Email me - might be fun/wise to meet... bye, Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse http://utopia.knoware.nl/~mmello ===> Mark's Random XTC Quote <=== All of the riches that shine will turn sour
------------------------------ Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.19970411002735.00670ea8@pop.mindspring.com> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 20:27:35 -0400 From: "Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith" <jnesmith@mindspring.com> Subject: Death to the Roches (demos + non-XTC) Just a warning to the sensitive ones. Not only am I going to discuss the demos, I'm also going to discuss a band other than XTC. Double taboo. >From: Gene Yoon <Gene_Yoon@brown.edu> >I do have to ask everyone-- are there any fans or appreciators of The >Roches amongst you's? <snip> >and most of my kewl college friends think I've gone looney. They think I'm >listening to a bunch of James Taylor wannabes. Someone tell me that this >is not true. That the Roches are a trio of extremely talented, creative >songwriters and masterful musicians. That I haven't mellowed into a bland >pile of mush at the ripe old age of 21. Well, at the ripe old age of 25, I'm not qualified to judge wether you're still hip, but my 19 yr. old sister would agree with you, too, when you say the Roches are bitchen. My favorite tune is "Steady with the Maestro" Almost clever enough to give Andy a run for his money. There's a lot I haven't heard, however. Any big fans of Mummer and black humor maybe ought to check out their stuff. Finally got a tape of the 'recent demos', and GEE-ZEUS! they're terrific. The orchestral arrangement for Easter Theatre is incredible. It seens to evoke 'Rites of Spring' musically in it's dissonances (I don't know if there are direct refferences). I noticed that first, and then when I listened to the lyrics I realized the two works share the same themes of sexuality and sacrifice. Creepy. "I'd Like That"s harmonies on the word 'sunflower' always make me think of Van Gogh. Cliche, I know, but Andy put an extra big dose of color on that word, just like His Earlessness did. Just about every damn song on the tape is a winner, and it just makes that much more frustrated that the next album is so far away. Well, gotta go play drums. Bye bye. love and pudding pops, Buffy rendom lyric of the week: 'I drank a cat!' - the Soft Boys, "Wading Through Your Ventilator" visit the Orange Hat Cyberhose Page, or you won't have any fun! http://www.mindspring.com/~jnesmith
------------------------------ From: artsy@sprynet.com Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 20:34:55 -0700 Message-Id: <199704110334.UAA17187@m7.sprynet.com> Subject: Britain and cars Folx - I was just catching up on a few previous 'hills, and I'm sorry, this is off-topic, but I had to comment: someone said something like this - "what is it about England that makes people think they don't have to drive?", and Mark Fisher wrote a great, intelligent, eloquent response. And I'd just like to add that it should be looked at the other way around: what is it about the USA that makes people think they absolutely, MUST, always, be in their own damn car, no matter if we spend stupendous amounts of money on building and maintaining roadways, live in many many cities where the air quality is below the EPA's acceptable rating, and cover an area equal to the size of Georgia (!) with roads? Three cheers to Britain, Holland, Germany, France and other European countries who not only have far superior public/mass transit, but also have a growing number of cities with 'pedestrian zones', high parking charges for cars, etc. "Roads Circle the Globe" DeWitt Henderson
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03020900af7362ca27bb@[207.103.18.231]> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 00:12:16 -0400 From: "Kevin P. Kelly" <kevkelly@voicenet.com> Subject: Roches, Mummer >I do have to ask everyone-- are there any fans or appreciators of The >Roches amongst you Hell yes! I consider the Roches one of the seminal eighties experiences. Their songs provided a witty and musically rich look at relationships and human experiences, and their harmonies looked backwards and forwards simultaneously. For those who haven't heard 'em, try "The Roches" or "Nurds", or Maggie and Terre's mid seventies album "Seductive Reasoning", produced by Paul Simon. Truly wonderful in concert as well. I personally had a love affair with Terre for a couple of years. Even met her :) Re Mummer: slightly disappointing to me when it came out, expecting another English Settlement. I think my disappointment stemmed from the fact that Chambers left the group during the period. My love for the album grew quickly, and it is one of my favorites. Can anyone name a better song by a white man about slavery than Human Alchemy? Kev -------- If you go flying back through time and you see somebody else flying forward into the future, it's probably best to avoid eye contact.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:51:56 -0500 (CDT) From: AMANDA CARYL OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: Well that was a short vacation! Message-id: <01IHKN59E0YW8XSGES@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Sorry to bust anyone's bubble, but I'm not going anywhere!!!! And now, for a few responses...... >From Phil Hetherington.... >When the choice is between some intelligent discussion of something only very >vaguely related, or something along the lines of "I just heard XTC on the >radio" or whatever, I'd opt for the former every time. Amen! >At the same time, sometimes we do go too far and it's good that people >occasionally slap each other on the wrist for it. Agreed, but I tend to get slapped across the face for it. >From Gene Yoon.... >I do have to ask everyone--are there any fans or appreciators of The Roches >amongst you's? I've heard of them via My Other Favorite Band's keyboardist, but I've never listened to them before. A friend of mine has "Keep On Doing", though. I'll just have to ask her if I can borrow it. >From Rojer, who everyone should know is the nicest guy I've ever met! ;) >I mean we're all mature adults (except amanda) That's unnecessary potshot number one.... >Hang in there, Stephanie-don't let her break you! Unneccesary cheerleading.... >I'm sure you weren't as dozy as amanda when you were 19 (not many people are thank the lord!) Haven't you ever heard of a shift key, you know the thing that turns lower case letters into THESE GREAT BIG ONES? You oughta try it sometimes. >She's just the precocious child whose parents couldn't find a sitter on the >eve of the rag and bone buffet. Was that the "obligatory XTC reference"? >So we all have to sit and smile as she eats with her fingers and burps >occasionally Sorry to disappoint you, but I was raised a little better than that. It's my Souther Proper upbringing. >-not that I've got anything against her or anything Really?!?!?!?! You think not? I never would've guessed that from the tone of your postings, which, as I stated earlier, only seem to pop up when it comes to throwing insults in my direction. (Such as the time you wrote, and I quote, "Not only are you a bitch, but you're an American bitch as well.") I guess we Americans aren't up to par of your lofty standards, eh? >Anybody wanna start a flamewar? Well my friend, it seems to me that your interest in riling people up is paramount to your interest in XTC. Go ahead, I'll just be standing by with my trusty fire extinguisher. >RogerfromOz We represent the lollipop guild, the lollipop guild, the lollipop guild.... >From Todd Bernhardt.... >May I remind you that stuff like this only perpetuates off-topic nonsense? Agreed, as usual. >There's no need to be mean. Once again, AGREED, and thank you for saying that. >There's a key on your keyboard marked "Page Down": use it if you don't like an >individual's--ANY individual's--posting. And thanks for saying THAT too! >Be your own filler instead of trying to censor others. And a great big sloppy loud AMEN to that! Onto the topic of standouts on Mummer.....Human Alchemy is oe of the band's most dynamic songs, musically and lyrically. It was the first song from Mummer to catch my attention whilst I listened to it. (Had to go through 11 songs to find a really meaningful one.) While Mummer does rank among the XTC albums I listen to the least, it's not an entire disappointment. We have to keep in mind the frame of mind Andy was in when he wrote most of the album....... >From the Angle On My Shoulder (Mark Strijbos).... (And that should say Angel! Damn typos!) >No waonder Andy et al. felt _very_ uncomfortable at the "gala premiere" !!! Well Mark, what do you expect from Robert Stigwood? I recall Andy saying that as the movie progressed, he and Colin slid further and further down in their seats out of embarrasment. >From DeWitt Henderson.... Whew! Didn't recognize the email address! >I see Amanda and others are still taking jabs at each other, so little has >changed in the last 6 weeks or so. :^) Well, all I can say is good to have you back! As long as people have opinions and other people disagree with those opinions, I fear that nothing is ever going to change...... Ciao for now, peace, love, oranges, and lemons, Amanda XTC song of the day-Where Did the Ordinary People Go? non-XTC song of the day: The Freshman (The Verve Pipe-beautiful song) Quote of the day "I'd have to say that my favorite record of all time is 'Oranges and Lemons' by XTC"-Brad Roberts.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <334E8359.257C@sprintmail.com> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 14:30:49 -0400 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: Atlanta Bash Folxtc, If anyone living in the Atlanta GA. area would be interested in having an XTC listening party, please e-mail me privately. Kind Regards, Stormy Monday
------------------------------ From: BraincsDtr@aol.com Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 20:42:38 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <970411204237_775192584@emout03.mail.aol.com> Subject: A little XTC in everyday life XTC in everyday life: The simple things I do - besides playing a lot of XTC on my radio at work, my marquee screen saver almost always a quote from an XTC song. Currently scrolling across my screen - "Where the ocean, wears the shore down". Applying a totally different meaning to the lyric, I like to think of it when work gets too unbearable. Another good one for work "Senses Working Overtime" I own a PC running MS software and am a member of AOL...I'm such a sell out. Much as I hate corporations that seem to have a controlling interest in the universe at large, I am guilty of patronage. I'd love to see Andy online, though. I love O&L. My first XTC album....you know what they say about your first. I do tend to skip pass 'President Kill' though. I liked the song a lot originally, but doesn't hold my interest as much as some of the other tracks. The run from 'Hold Me My Daddy' to 'Chalkhill and Children' is quite wonderful a set of songs. And finally, I have no opinion of Amanda Posioned by this industry, Laurie
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