Chalkhills Digest Volume 4, Issue 25
Date: Tuesday, 11 November 1997
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 4, Number 25
Tuesday, 11 November 1997
Today's Topics:
rebels without a clue
Zoot Allures
Terry Chambers
Gel-ignite
We have a situation here
Ramblings
JHB returns...
Yazbek/Stills
The Gregory Report: 11-10-97 . . . plus more!!
You too, Shushy!
Re: Graceland Productions, Inc. (tm)
Pearl diving
Jimi, Bob & Bazza
I'm back and I'm longwinded
'Dear' musings.
All Along
It's a beautiful morning......
XTC Knows Best
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Chalkhills is digested with Digest 3.5b (John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).
Can't find the wound from where I'm bleeding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 14:43:39 -0500 (EST) From: Dave Seaman <SEAMAN@A1.ISD.UPMC.EDU> Subject: rebels without a clue Message-id: <C397ZXCLKG7XZ*/R=EDISON/R=A1/U=SEAMAN/@MHS> i think buffy and others made some good points in response to my earlier post about "positive" vs "negative" music. i agree, i wasn't being fair to label rap/techno/death metal/grunge as "negative" and "nonmusical". first, i was generalizing and stereotyping, and i hate it when i do that! i have heard rap and grunge that i think is positive, and at least somewhat "musical". there are rap and grunge songs that i can appreciate in terms of texture, rhythmic creativity, groove, and energy, as well as message. what i think i meant to say is that most of the music i've heard that falls somewhere into these different categories has less (often considerably less) melody, harmony, dynamics and range of rhythm than most other Western music of the past several decades. and most, but certainly not ALL, of it is more negative than positive in terms of lyrics. so to my ears, it's less interesting and engaging, and certainly less uplifting. and i hate to be bored and/or depressed by music! and i also can't say that i don't like music that may have a "negative" message - there are a number of songs - from the aforementioned xtc and beatles to blues, hard rock, punk, etc. that are dark in nature, yet reside in my record collection. i guess my point was that so MUCH of what is popular now falls into the "negative" category, and there is so little else that is "positive" music on the radio airwaves. and it makes me uneasy to think that so many teens relate so much to the "negative" stuff - in fact, it saddens me as well. is our society becoming more and more jaded, isolated, cold? or am i just getting older and less in touch with youth? i wonder about this a lot. granted, i guess the suburban/rural embrace of rap and techno and metal and grunge has a lot to do with teen rebellion. and maybe i'm showing my age (i'm over 30, but you knew that, didn't you? :) ... the kids these days!" and all that stuff!). well, i think rebellion can be healthy - it's good to question authority, and don't follow the norm, and express yourself, etc. but the rebellion of listening to elvis and the beatles in the 50s/60s, and new wave and punk in the late 70s/early 80s is quite a bit different, and not nearly as destructive/anti-society as some of the "kill the police/abuse women/worship the devil" messages in gangsta rap and/or death metal. but enough of that. i love xtc music, as do you, or we wouldn't be here, and i'm wasting posting space by beating ears on a tangent that is not relevent to xtc. so, back to the scheduled program in progress...
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 11:07:48 -0500 Message-Id: <v01510103b08c9a69d6ce@[128.122.161.36]> From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen) Subject: Zoot Allures Hi all Rick Mealey<rickmealey@hotmail.com> wrote: >James also insists: >>Eagerly awaiting Zoot... > >I came in late, in fact I just came in, so this may be an FAQ. >Apologies in advance. However-- Zoot? I guess we're referring to the >forthcoming gem from Messrs Partridge, Moulding, and Gregory (yes, and >Prince), but-- *Zoot*? As in Zoot the sax player from Dr Teeth and the >Electric Mayhem on The Muppet Show? Zoot as in Zoot Sims the sax >player? Zoot as in Bad Wicked Naughty Zoot in Monty Python and the >Holy Grail? Straighten me, 'cause I'm ready.... Or could it be Zoot Horn Rollo, guitarist from Captain Beefheart's Magic Band? If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people this is no obstacle to work. -- J.G. Bennett Catch "Forever Knight" on the Sci-Fi Channel every Mon-Thurs at 9PM and 1AM EDT. -- Lucien LaCroix
------------------------------ From: kraig olmstead <kraigo@netcommcorp.com> Subject: Terry Chambers Date: Mon, 10 Nov 97 10:08:00 PST Message-ID: <34674DB6@msmail.netcommcorp.com> I'd like to second the appreciation for Terry's drumming. I think that his contributions are being glossed over in a big way. Listen again to English Settlement - the whole damn thing. On "All of a Sudden" listen for the little high hat "chick" on the three - it's subtle, but oh-so-fine (and difficult to do). There are alot of great drum moments on that album, and do you know what? I'm sure that Terry came up with alot of them. Listen to the BBC Live album - that's a powerhouse of a drummer as well. I think that if he'd stuck with it he could have kept up with the band through the years. I also don't blame him for leaving. If you're a drummer in a band that doesn't tour, what do you do once your drum tracks are down on the album? It'd be a pretty boring existance. KO
------------------------------
From: Matt_Kaden/CAM/Lotus@lotus.com
Message-Id: <8525654B.0066CBC3.00@mta2.lotus.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 15:32:47 -0500
Subject: Gel-ignite
I'd like to start by thanks Sir John Relph for titling my last post for me.
I had neglected to find a name for it, thus he dubbed it "Finger Spew".
Aptly titled, I admit it, but I would never choose a name like this as I
have too much respect for words to use "spew" in anything (unless I'm
quoting someone)
I concur with 'fstolzenbach' about The Pet Sounds Sessions box set. For all
you fools content on waiting for 8 months for the new XTC record, why don't
you get the most out of TODAY
TODAY
TODAY
the instrumental tracks will tear you to shreds!
Jason 'Buffy' NeSmith projected:
>I also think you're over-generalizing when you call 'Techno/rap/death
>metal/grunge' all forms of 'negative' music. Listen to De La Soul, for
>crying out loud!!!
I've got to say 'Buhloone Mind State' is the most lively, imaginative album
since... What was that psychedelic record from the 60's? The Dukes or
something?
I'll give a shout out to Del da Funky Homosapien, Black Sheep, The
Pharcyde, Freestyle Fellowship and The Leaders of the New School. The best
thing about all these guys is that they re-introduced the idea that it's
possible to have fun in the studio again. Aside from that their lyrics have
creative rhyme schemes, original phrasing and phantastic imagery; the
samples are mind candy and the beats and textures are chewy and elastic.
Good stuff -- especially De La Soul.
The Ever-Popular Amanda shared with us her list of worst... Let's see what
hilarious results will arise.
>1.-I'll Set Myself On Fire-Diction is a GOOD thing, my dear Mr. Moulding.
>In the early days, Colin's voice sounded like his tongue was too big for his
>mouth and was just sort of flapping in the way of everything.
True... That's exactly what it sounds like. 'Spect you don't like Colin's
singing on some of my favorite songs from GO2 and *Beezwax (*I'll go into
more detail on this album in future). No, I wouldn't pick on this one if
were to narrow it down to 10. In its place I'd place:
The World is Full of Angry Young Men --
First of all, who told the man that the way is to be absolutely spineless?
He's pronouncing the words clearly alright but this only brings out out the
lyric which addresses the issue that he was only vaguely inspired when he
wrote this thing. What bugs me the most is that it is driven by formula
alone and this will not do.
>2.-Super Tuff-Too many songwriters spoil the broth.
i.e. Too Many Cooks In the Kitchen, which would happily join for the ride
if were a legitimate XTC song. But it was not to be. One hesitation here is
the ending to Super Tuff; a fragment of music which towers high in the
history of studio achievements.
Still, I love Barry's keys but his songs just didn't gel with Andy's and
Colin's flavor... at all.
>3.-Limelight-Was a nice fanzine, but as a song, it wasn't one of Colin's
>better ones.
No it wasn't one of Colin's better ones, but I confess -- I get off on
those alternating guitar changs; I like his singing too, and Dave's melodic
hammering for "give it to someone else". So I'm afraid I'll have to replace
this with
MERELY A MAN --
Let me see... A large robot masturbating on the back of a garbage truck.
This is no substitute for a drum set. In writing this, Andy made sure to
leave every section devoid of substance. In that way it's an
accomplishment.
>4.-Don't Lose Your Temper-Dunno why, just could never get into it.
Agreed.
>5.-English Roundabout-See above answer.
I don't know, those tinker-toy guitars dancing around each other for the
last verse... Very edible indeed. As a song, it is lacking. Since this is
now my list, I'll put
X WIRES -- I like the energy, but the song is not really there.
>6.-Gold-Once again, see above answer.
Again, there are others I'd choose before this poor song. I think the demo
is better, for it's just guitars, drums, bass and lead vocals. One of the
few outtakes that actually deserve that status. It is not good enough to
include on an album.
>7.-Washaway-I think Colin hit a bit of writer's block with this one.
Thanks, Amanda. There's another one!
>8.-Big Day-Although I do plan on hearing this one at my wedding, whenever
>that day comes, once again, I don't think it's one of his better songs.
Not my favorite song, and it did take some growing, but I would never put
this on the worst XTC song list. I think
THE SMARTEST MONKEYS would go nicely here.
Sounds like it was co-written & produced by Todd Rundgren on a life support
system while Andy was locked in a closet down the hall.
>9.-Here Comes President Kill Again-Ths is probably the only song on Oranges
>& Lemons I don't listen to when I play the cd. I always program it out.
What comes to mind is the heroically dissonant brass notes that creep up
during the 2nd verse, and the way it builds in general. Not one of Andy's
100 masterpieces, but not one of the 10 worst either. Since we're reaching
the end and
WAR DANCE has not been mentioned yet, I feel it is my job to gently relieve
this song from its position on Nonsvch and from XTC repertoire altogether.
If only it were possible.
>10.-Bungalow-Many of you like it, I don't. Yet again, I just can't get into
>it damnit!
Consider yourself fortunate. It's HELL in there!
Thank you for your time.
Kaden
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 14:55:16 -0600 (CST) From: The Gottschalks <gotts@tenet.edu> Subject: We have a situation here Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.96.971110144541.30587B-100000@Joyce-Perkins.tenet.edu> in which our boys are coming back from what will be a six year "break." They can't simply name the new album XTC, for they might as well name it "We're not quite dead yet." Self-titling your first album is one thing, but if you don't do it then, just forget it. In regards to who the better songwriter is, AP or CM, I say they're tied. It's one of those things where I'd probably favor one if I was listening to one of his song, but the other when listening to one of his songs. I think of Bungalow and Runaways and want to say Colin, but then Andy has Easter Theater and Mermaid Smiled. Well this is paragraph has gone on too long. As for my least favorite XTC song- Miniature Sun. -Mark, who will be blown away by They Might Be Giants tonight.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 97 12:56:58 PST
From: "Sean Robison" <sean_robison@freya.CP.Disney.com>
Message-Id: <9710108791.AA879195963@cpsmtp.cp.disney.com>
Subject: Ramblings
From the delurker files...
I have at my desk a can of XTC. I thought I'd share with you a quote
on the can: "Please note XTC's stimulating effect if consumed in the
evening". Amen to that.
I refuse to drink said can. Reason one: in my opinion, it's cooler if
the can is left unopened. Reason two: Guarana sound too much like
Guano.
Am I in the extreme minority of folks who don't want to hear the demos
so as not to spoil the album? While I'm like everyone in needing a hit
of new XTC, I feel listening to the demos will lessen the excitement
that has built up over six years. I want to get the album, rip open
the wrapper, pop the shiny disc in the player and have my mind blown
out.
On the worst songs list - I have only one - "Sonambulist". Don't care
for the monotonous droning. It's the only song that has fallen victim
to the "Skip >|" button.
With all the Andy demos floating around, has anyone heard anything
Colin is working on? Obviously, there's no way "Zoot" is going to be
100% AP. And... will there ever be a chance that Dave will pen some
songs??
That's enough disjointed questions for this session.
Sean
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34611C64.74A8@tmbg.org> Date: Wed, 05 Nov 1997 17:24:52 -0800 From: Chaos Harlequin <harlequin@tmbg.org> Organization: Nil Subject: JHB returns... >Drummer Prarie Prince flies to Sussex at the end of next month to record a >long-awaited album with XTC. Hmmm. Safe and effective. Prarie is a good choice -- he's someone the band has worked with before, so there won't be any problems in that department, and his previous work on XTC records has been very nice -- I'm thinking more of TBE, where it's a little more evident than on Skylarking. >Third Eye Blind? Hanson? Toad the Wet Sprocket (as much as I like them)? >What the hell? They all sound the same! I blame the producers. "MMMBop" is pretty much designed to fit into the alt-pop genre. As for Third Eye Blind, the song is *damn* catchy, but again, the production is at least half of that. Every cliche of the genre is in that song somewhere, from the break-into-ballad middle chorus to the R.E.M.-esque arpeggio at the end. Jangle-pop artists are notoriously hard to tell apart. Amanda: >Howzabout we talk about the best song to listen to while driving on a really >dark, deserted road late at night. I pick either The Somnambulist, cranked >as high as it will go, or Travels In Nihilon, also at maximum volume. Are we driving through the country? Depending on the song, I'd either mesmerize the cows or give them all heart attacks. >And all the grownups try to drag her down. John, what would we ever do without you? (Uh, flame each other a lot?) >I recently got a CD in the mail with Andy's 4 songs on Hello Records, and I >was wondering what all of you think about them. :) "Prince of Orange" is a nice trippy little number, with the fun cacaphonous piano and "soft" guitar chords and everything. I *hope* it doesn't get re-recorded -- Andy's demo version is just right. "Some Lovely" falls on its face with a really poorly placed innuendo and an annoying melody. "Candymine," OTOH, succeeds better in the innuendo department with its wonderfully naughty little entendre -- though it's not very subtle, is it? And "It's Snowing Angels" could have been on PP if it had been written five years earlier. >Hey, maybe the band should dump Prarie Prince and bring on Bill Berry >instead... And R.E.M. can pick up Terry Chambers. Although somehow I don't see their respective drumming styles working out very well... >I still think I get the award for youngest member on the list: 15 when I >first joined and posted, 16 now. I'm still younger. >I just can't "get" techno I stand by my conviction that the best techno music is that found in video games. >10. Dear God- I still have trouble with this one, but more because I don't >think the lyrics came out quite the way Andy intended. If Andy doesn't >believe in God, then who does he think he's addressing? I think Dear God is less the "atheist anthem" that some have claimed and more the "Brainwashed child of Christian fundamentalists doesn't want to believe but can't quite manage to stop anthem." >Any element of REM that would sneak its way into XTC would make me sick to >death. In several ways, R.E.M. and XTC are mirror images of each other: all the bizzare coincidences just drive home the huge left brain/right brain rift between their lyrical styles. If you put them in a room together, they would either produce some of the most brilliant music ever or kill each other in a fit of mad rage. >I've also picked up a few "edits" on Respectable Street from same UDA CD. This version is also on _Rag and Bone Buffet._ Andy refers to it as the "old people's, pre-chewed version." Virgin, of course, made 'em do it. -- Joshua Hall-Bachner Chaos Harlequin harlequin@tmbg.org http://www.servtech.com/public/particle
------------------------------ Message-ID: <50229BB8BA20D111AB6C0080D87004F3036BB3@EXCHANGE> From: "McDonnell, Frank" <fmcdonnell@findsvp.com> Subject: Yazbek/Stills Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 16:53:56 -0500 David Yazbek will be playing at Brownies in NYC on November 18th with Chris Stills, Steven Stills' son. If just Yazbeck alone won't draw you to the city, Chris is quite a musician (he used to have a band with Leonard Cohen's son Adam creatively called ... Stills/Cohen) and should put on a good show. Brownies usually runs $6-$7 and is nice and cozy. Hope to see you there ....
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 21:51:37 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <v03007802b08d2b5ec228@[209.86.62.34]> From: Mitch Friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: The Gregory Report: 11-10-97 . . . plus more!! Howdy Hillbillies and Jillies, It's me again but this time I'm living in Brooklyn, NY instead of in San Francisco. Not that you could ever tell where these messages came from but now I have a new email address as well so don't send anything to mf@well.com anymore since I'll never get it. I just got off the phone with Dave Gregory (yes, I know but I know him too). He tells me that 'tape is running' which is Swindonian for 'they have started recording!' He is very happy and excited and all is going smoothly so far. At the moment he is busily still trying to notate Andy's string parts and guitar chords from his demos since he sometimes cannot remember what he did originally. Everyone is very pleased to be standing around Prairie Prince and his pounding. In an attempt to find out what songs were being recorded, I only got so far as finding out which ones were still being rehearsed and which ones will remain forever as demos. Brace yourselves, this may be ugly! There are A list song and B list songs and I still know nothing about Colin's songs but first the bad news. The following songs will not even be rehearsed: <gulp> Dame Fortune, Prince of Orange, The Ship Trapped in the Ice, I Don't Want to Be Here, Bumper Cars. The following songs are being rehearsed but are now on the B list which means they may or may not make it: You and The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (Dave has come up with a great solo for it), Wounded Horse, The Green Man. The following songs are definitely being considered for the album(s): River of Orchids, Easter Theater, Church of Women, My Brown Guitar (Dave says Colin has come up with an amazing bass line for it), I Can't Own Her (turning out beautifully and suprisingly strong), Knights in Shining Karma (Andy will keep the original demo guitar part but they'll add new stuff to it; same with lots of Easter Theater too), Playground, Harvest Festival, We're All Light, Stupidly Happy, Your Dictionary. I didn't get a chance to ask about the rest but I may be speaking with Andy soon so I'll do my best to complete the list for all of you. They have been working at Hayden's studio so far and next week they will be packing everything up and heading to Chris Difford's home studio to finish the album. I passed on the opinion of some of you that the album should simply be titled "XTC" but that's not gonna happen. So far the working title is "Firework" which refers to the fact that tape first started running on November 5th which is some British holiday of note on which fireworks are involved in the celebration. The cover concept is simply some type of Chinese character over a solid color; and no I don't mean Charlie Chan, I mean a Chinese letter/symbol. On an unrelated note, when my friend Doug and I were driving cross-country on my move back east the first week in October, we got a chance to stop by Adrian Belew's house (I can hear the death threats already!) near Nashville, TN. I got to know him through trying to get he and Andy to work together a few months back but this is the first time I've ever met him in person. Besides being a very nice and funny guy with a beautiful house and incredible digital recording studio on his bottom floor which looks out on his several acres of backyard woods and stream, he mentioned that as much as he wanted to produce the new XTC album he was too busy. I asked if he had discussed with Andy the idea of doing that 'send an ADAT back and forth through the mail' project and he said they did discuss it and will be doing something once all of his projects and the new XTC album and promotion tidalwave has passed. He thinks that he may want to get Mike Keneally involved in the project too. Well I've got to go unpack some more but stay tuned for further updates! Mitch p.s. Happy Birthday to Sir John Johns!!
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199711110406.UAA28739@mail.eskimo.com> From: "Matt Keeley" <mrme@eskimo.com> Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 20:05:25 +0000 Subject: You too, Shushy! Hello... I can listen to XTC again! Yay! Anyway.... > From: BobCrain@aol.com > >From Matt Keeley: > >9. Mermaid Smiled- I have nothing against the song, but whenever I play > >skylarking, I never notice it. I can't recall a single note of it. > Wow. This is one of my favorites. The moment when the congas or bongos come > galloping in gets me every time. I love "Dear God" also, but I wish it had > been simply added to the running order after "Mermaid", rather than > substituted for it. Actually, that was a quote from the original list, although I did have the same problem with it on Rag and Bone... I do like Mermaid Smiled a lot, though... just too short and quiet, y'know... I do remember a few bits, though...8) > Also from Matt Keeley: > >I really wish XTC would let Mark Mothersbaugh do an EZ Listening Disc of > >their songs, > Maybe this would be a good Chalkhills' Children sort of project? I get dibs > on the bossa version of "Are You Receiving Me?" 8^) Hmm... that would be interesting, actually... Hmm, providing I can actually get it together, can I have "All of a Sudden"? 8) > From: "J & J Greaves" <jgreaves@rapidnet.net> > Certain songs do connect with the "masses" in my experience. Many of my > friends who otherwise aren't too excited by the band really thought Dear > Madam Barnum was a great song, and should have been a "single". And thanks I agree, I love Madam Barnum (and my parody was a travesty to the original, but whatchagonnado...8) and it was a promo single, I remember from the discography, but alas, it wasn't a actual single-single... I say, either release 4 from Nonsuch (AND DON'T RECALL ANY!), or if Virgin had it's heart set on 3, replace Disappointed, I guess, but that's a pity, since that truely is a great song... > From: Wesley Hanks <whanks@earthlink.net> > Hmmm... songs that you once hated but now enjoy. > How about that weird middle stage of that transition -- where during the > opening of the song you immediately think, "nope, don't like this one, > never did." but as the song progresses, your thinking changes to, "am I > nuts, this [rocks, is beautiful, has awsome lyrics, how did they do that > bit, etc.]"? The next phase is "wow, this cd has THAT song on it, can't > wait". Well, it happened that way with me and "All of a Sudden," actually... first time I heard it on the Look Look and More tape, I thought, "OK, now why did they make a video of this? I can see why it wasn't a single," although after 2 or 3 listenings to LL&M, I realised what a great song it is, and it turned out to be the reason I bought English Settlement... getting songs stuck in your head from albums you don't already have while in a record store with money can be a bad thing. In this case, however, it wasn't... I love ES. > From: "Mitch H. McGlothlin" <mhmcglot@icdc.delcoelect.com> > Hey fellow Chalkies, > Have you checked out our moderator's cool Rag-n-Bone Buffet cd booklet > supplement? It can be found on the Chalkhills' web page under the > 'products and merchandise' section. > It's a great addition to your Rag-n-Bone Buffet cd with a lot of > detailed track info and lyrics. Highly recommended. > ps. The booklet is a postscript file. If you're a pc user > without a postscript program, 'Printfile' located at > http://hem1.passagen.se/ptlerup/prfile20.zip might help. > Your printer has to be postscript capable, though. Yes, and I just want to use this opportunity to say that John Relph is the MAN for making that... Well, not that he wasn't already, but still... anyway, if you want to print it out, but don't have a PostScript compatible printer, you can download "GhostScript", and that'll print it out... but is it just me, or does the icon look a bit like a Klansman with glasses? Just me, I guess...8) > From: CCooli9575@aol.com > I have my reservations about "My Weapon," in > fact it almost made my ten worst list, but its catchiness almost mitigates > the offensive lyrics. I still say the catchiness is the worst thing about the song... why did it have to be so good musically, but so bad lyrically! Agh! > From: "Don Rogalski" <tonikuo@ms10.hinet.net> > 4. Black Sea --> > Hedgerows on the Starboard Side > Does this really need any explanation? I like it, but I still kinda like the original title "Work Under Pressure" a bit better... But yours is a close second... > 9. Oranges and Lemons --> > Limey... Limes!!! > Oranges may have a distinctive taste, but > they're a bit commonplace, don't you think? > I like the campy 1960's feel to my prospective > album title much better. I have to admit, this is a bit amusing, and I think XTC might be willing to poke some fun at themselves in this manner... although, during the times I'm not wishing I was Japanese or Australian, I wish I was in the UK, so...8) > "To wit: we are here" > A gentle reminder to those who may have become distracted > by the preponderance of grunge and commercial rap in the years > since 1992. I really like that title... It's got a ring to it... > From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> > > >4. All Along The Watchtower- One of the worst Dylan > > > covers I've ever heard. > > [JR] One of the most original covers I've ever heard. One of the few > > [JR] things worth listening to on _White Music_. > I think I have to agree with John Relph here... > And I don't think it's actually a Dylan cover at all ( yes, I know > he has written the original - no need to flame! ) > IMHO the XTC interpretation is much more based on / related to the > Jimi Hendrix version of this song. While I still don't like the XTC cover of it, I still think a cover of the XTC cover of the Hendrix cover of the Dylan song would be interesting to hear/perform... But that's getting into the realm of meta-meta-covers, so... Hmm... had something else to say, but can't remember it right now... I hate when that happens... Ah well, that's this world over, Matt PS: At least, I don't think it was anything important, like the world exploding, XTC releasing a new album tomorrow or setting things on fire... might of had to do with DEVO, though... Ah well... oh yeah, think it might have been that the cover of "Satisfaction" is one of the best covers I've heard... it even outperforms the original... (/me refuses to don flame-bait suit again by stating what he thinks of the Stones, even though he does like their version of Satisfaction.. the original, that is... especially on my dissing of Dylan... hopefully there won't be much reprocussions from that... at least I said I still respected him, I think... I mean, some of the Dylan covers I've heard are pretty good, notably the Simon and Garfunkel version of "The times they are a-changin"... ah well, this post script is becoming almost longer than the post... sort of like one of Hofstadter's post scripts in _Metamagical Themas_... oh yeah, one last thing, I urge all of you to get some/all of Hofstadter's books... he, like Mr. Relph, is also the MAN. Ah well, that's this post script over... Matt) Living Through | (ICQ UIN: 1455267, Name: MrMe) Another | http://www.eskimo.com/~mrme Cuba -- XTC | I used to be temporarily insane! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I'm just stupid! -- Brak Yeah.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 21:28:23 -0800 (PST)
From: relph (John Relph)
Message-Id: <9711102128.ZM99135@mando.engr.sgi.com>
Subject: Re: Graceland Productions, Inc. (tm)
David Gershman <dgershmn@ametsoc.org> said:
>
>I've got to agree with the illustrious Mr. Relph.
Illustrious? I think not.
>Paul Simon also happens to be a master songwriter...his attempts at
>incorporating various ethnic styles in his music aren't meant to be held up
>as an example of that style, any more than the Police could have tried to
>pass off their music as actual reggae.
Perhaps that is the case, but Mr. Simon's recent long-players leave me
cold. I know he started which he was still half of Simon and
Garfunkel ("El Condor Pasa" and others), but since then I think his
lyrics have become more separated from the atmosphere the music
invokes. The music is interesting by itself, and the lyrics are good
by themselves, but put the two together and all I get is discord.
But I digress. Isn't this the XTC list?
Speaking of which, I was thinking about putting together a _Fossil
Fuel_ CD insert, but 1) I don't think it would fit in the jewel box
along with the lyrics booklet, and 2) I don't have the time.
Actually, 2) I'm just lazy about it. I suppose I'll get to it at some
point. Don't hold your breath, it will make you blue.
-- John
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34680B0F.6D3F@umich.edu> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 02:36:47 -0500 From: Rob Hill <rhill@umich.edu> Subject: Pearl diving Having been recently introduced to Andy's "Pearl", I'm curious to know if anyone has any info on this charming little ditty--such as when was it written, for which album. And please explain to me why the HELL it was discarded by the band. Wesley Hanks <whanks@earthlink.net> pleads us to reveal: >songs that you once hated but now enjoy. "English Roundabout" I never cared much for until I picked up on the complimentary guitars--fluid Dave can be heard to the left against spasmodic Andy to the right. Now I love to thrust my head lewdly between the speakers and bask in the off-kilter rhythm. Come to think of it, XTC has (in the past) had a tendency to push the guitars so far back in the mix the listener needs a stethoscope to hear them. Why is this? What are they ashamed of? Rob (of the Baskervilles)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <840C6065282CD111A6B400805FEA5AC50E25ED@BENEXCHG> From: Gary Minns <Gary.Minns@benfield.co.uk> Subject: Jimi, Bob & Bazza Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 10:24:54 -0000 All Along The Watchtower: >...I don't think it's actually a Dylan cover at all... >...the XTC interpretation is much more based on/related to >the Jimi Hendrix version... I agree. The Hendrix and XTC versions are relatively similar in comparison to Dylan's recording. I also have to agree that XTC's worst recording moments were their versions of other people's songs (Watchtower and Ella Guru). Barry Andrews: He left XTC at the right time in that his musical traits would never have lasted within the band through Drums & Wires and beyond. However, his playing contribution to White Music and Go2 and his two songs on Go2 fitted nicely. They were both pretty raw and loud albums and Barry's style fitted quite well at this early XTC stage. Gary
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34683907.5D31@earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 02:52:55 -0800 From: Kenneth Leicht <herne@earthlink.net> Subject: I'm back and I'm longwinded Greetings Chalkpeople, I haven't posted since I don't even know when. Computer problems kept me off the net from April to September and surgery kept me off the rest of the time. Been catching up on some recent digests and thought I'd chime in on some recent threads... 1.)The bottom 10 or bad XTC songs/albums---I've usually found that with bands I worship that even the songs I dislike I kind of love in some way. Some songs I start out hating but develop some liking for later or come to love. Some songs fall in and out of favor. Etc. As for the ones mentioned: Watchtower---Kind of fond of it but I'm not sure why. I'm just a sucker for those first two albums although many including Andy himself seem to be less fond of them. Strange tails, Strange tales---Am I the only person alive who liked this and Officer Blue? Maybe it's because back when I bought the single for Respectable Street and found these two songs I had never heard of on the back that were early XTC sounding I just took them to heart. (boy how's that for a run on sentence) I don't know. It's Nearly Africa---always liked this but then English Settlement is my favorite album so I like everyting on it even... Down in the Cockpit---Yes it is the dumbest song on the record, the chink in the armor, the monkey in the wrench...And yes the remix is even dumber but it doesn't bother me that much. This World Over---My first Chalkhills post ever teed off on Andy's political songs. I still consider many of them to be his lesser efforts. This World Over reminds me of that annoying Sting song Russians. And although it's not as trite as that number there's just something about it that rubs me the wrong way and bores me in general. I wonder if perhaps it's just that I have a personal problem when political songs are delivered in a...how shall I say it...softish..."why can't we all just get along?" manner. Because technically Reign of Blows is more preachy and downright hamfisted. "By the halflight of burning republics, Joe Stalin looks just like Uncle Sam" Talk about the sledgehammer. But I've always liked that one a lot. The guitar just rips! It's just too catchy for the pomposity to bother me. Here Comes President Kill Again---the strange musical turns this song takes...notably the "ain't democracy wonderful" portion...help this one slip by. Because Blatant Reagan/Bush bashing...which was tired already at the time...to the tune of a drum march alone would have been deadly. Shake You Donkey Up---I didn't know what to make of this one at first. but then again I didn't know what to make of the whole album when I first heard it so there you go. Later I loved it. Super tuff/My Weapon---Yes these songs are fucking stupid but I I've always liked them and everything else on Go2. And for all you out there who seem to have it in for Go2 and White Music all I have to say is you better shut up or I am turning tis car around and we are going back home! Mermaid Smiled/Dear god---the first version of Skylarking I ever owned was the original import and that's the one I prefer. But I must agree that Mermaid Smiled is a weak track and if it wasn't on the album it wouldn't be missed...in theory. But I find I prefer that it remain rather than being replaced by Dear God. I run hot and cold on Dear God. On one hand it's kind of obvious and suffers from the same flaw as many of Andy's political songs BUT I do so agree with him and his delivery is so scathing and furious and emotionally harrowing to me personally at times. In the end I conclude it is brilliant but I don't need it to be on Skylarking. I have it on my Grass single, my Dear God ep and wherever else. I prefer it there where it doesn't interfere with the original "season cycle". I know it's a strange thing to prefer a better song not be included...maybe if it was put at the end of the order. but as it stands both my vinyl and cd's of the album are the original import versions and that's just what I prefer. Love at first Sight---My friend Graham in high school loved this song so much that he literally played it over and over again for hours on end. One time I was at his house and he just kept playing it over and over. That didn't bother me but the song never really thrilled me. I'm ambivalent about it. Same with Living Through Another Cuba. As for the ones that bother or have bothered me... This World Over---See above Wonderland---One day I hate it. the next I appreciate it. Then I found it to clever for it's own good, then I...ah to hell with it. Sonambulist---Went from hating this to finding it brilliant. Sounds like a fugitive from Talking Heads' Fear of Music. Blue Overall---A lumbering bore, fitting that it should be the b-side of This World Over. Funk Pop a Roll---CON:There should be a law against musicians singing about how bitter they are about the record business. Life's a bitch when the A&R guy cares more about the band that sells more records but a little subtlety can help sometimes. For example: "I bought myself a Liarbird" or "Starry Eyes" by the Records. Save it for the interviews. Keep it "off the record." PRO:Given where he and the band were at the time I suppose it's not fair to be so bothered. Peter Pumpkinhead---Currently my least favorite. So much so that I commit the cardinal sin of...gasp...skipping it when I play the album. It just really feels like an empty tacked on "single". Okay...other matters in brief... 27 songs verses 20....Um guys...I don't know how you spend your money but I just can't figure out why you can't afford it. Maybe if you rehearsed a few that you could just do in one take without 17000 overdubs and what have you. Bring on the bootleg album! Calling the new album simply XTC...In a word NO. I always hate that. IMHO you should only be allowed to do that on your first one. It always seems pompous to me after that...not to mention less fun or creative. And to the person who said English Settlement would be better without side 3 I say it would better if it added Side 5...namely the b-sides Blame the Weather/tissue Tigers/Punch & Judy/Heaven is Paved...One annoying thing about Rag and Bone Buffet is that these songs are presented out of order. I much prefer the Beeswax chronological order-style. I wish they would redo Rag & Bone that way but hey I'm anal. And on that note... ADIOS KL aka Herne p.s. please excuse the typos. It's 3 am PST. Yeah I know excuses, excuses.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199711111436.GAA06412@sgi.sgi.com> From: "Dr. Foulger" <Damian.Foulger@astro.cf.ac.uk> Organization: Cutting Edge Optronics, Inc. Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 08:32:24 -0600 Subject: 'Dear' musings. Well here I am again, a regular poster, infrequent maybe but regular as clockwork, with enough things to say to make it worthwhile to post. Anyway, has anyone else, short of SIR (damn he needs a Knighthood) John Relph, been on this list for 8 years? (Private responses please.) I have and it seems weird that we've only seen one new album in that time! Certainly, we've seen new stuff from them but only in dribs and drabs and in collaborations. It's amazing that this list has grown in that time. I don't know what the subscription level was in those days, 8 years ago, but it can't have been much more than a few hundred. There was a lot less flaming then too. At least there seemed to be. It just struck me that Andy has written two songs as letters to someone; Dear God and Dear Madam Barnam. And finally, I've been listening to the Beatles a lot of late and it struck me how wonderful The Dukes of Stratophere's pastiches actually are. I used to love them for their brilliance, but now I realise how clever the songs are being both original, and fabulous tributes to music gone by. How blessed we are to understand the talent of songwriting geniuses Andy and Colin! Dames tWd * -------------------------------------------------- Dr. Damian Foulger 3753 Pennridge Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044 Tel. (314) 344-9135, Fax. (314) 344-0908
------------------------------
From: Matt_Kaden/CAM/Lotus@lotus.com
Message-Id: <8525654C.0053E4F9.00@mta2.lotus.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 10:39:29 -0500
Subject: All Along
My apologies to Chris Coolidge for my poor taste, and no personal offense
was intended. I was reacting over-zealously to your statement about "All
Along the Watchtower". I've always been mesmerized by Andy's vocal approach
on this one, the elasticity of the bass/drums and the anarchic keyboards. I
have a hard time swallowing the idea of someone hating this song. I agree
with John Relph that it's one of the best covers he's ever heard, and I
agree with Dave Gershman about its similarities to DEVO's version of
"Satisfaction". Both of these covers have confirmed in my mind that if
you're going to try to play a song that is already perfect in its original
form, a good method is to mutate the arrangement so extremely that it
becomes another song. I'm a big Dylan fan, and XTC's All Along the
Watchtower is one of the only Dylan covers I can stand listening to.
All Along, I was never a violent sort.
Matt Keeley, on the note about Mark Mothersbaugh's EZ Listening project -
You might get into the experimental records by Raymond Scott from the early
60's, entitled Soothing Sounds For Baby.
With it, stay on stay on
-- Matt
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 09:46:39 -0600 (CST) From: AMANDA CARYL OWENS <ACOEA@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Subject: It's a beautiful morning...... Message-id: <01IPVNFQ3SO28ZUW01@jazz.ucc.uno.edu> Cause it was a beautiful weekend, wanna know why? You don't? TOUGH! ;) Whilst at work on Sunday I was shoved onto a large set of headphones on the pretext of showing restless diners to their tables. Fortunately for moi, my MANager was joining me. Boring minutes flew by, until all of the sudden in my left ear, I heard VERY faintly, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5...senses working overtime." At which opint I looked over at my MANager, who had a huge, dumb grin on his face. (and I need a spell checker damnit!!!!!!) Later on that day as I was preparing to leave, I pulled my LE issue from the pantry. My MANager looked at the cover and said "Oh God I thought that was Melissa Etheridge." Guess who just so happened to be on the cover that particular issue. I think I left a bruise on his arm for that remark. And now, onto reponses and various tidbits...... Tony-I dunno, Wake Up confuses the crap out of me till the drums/piano kick in. I can never get the tempo right. (Same thing with Millions, Shake You Donkey Up, and Train Running Low On Soul Coal.)0 What's wrong with It's Nearly Africa? For quite some time this stood out of my favorite ES song. As far as rap goes, Ice-T is an XTC fan. 'Nuff said. As far as death metal goes, I only listen to it when I'm in one of those "I wish the world would explode" moods. Slight somewhat related to XTC content-Richard Branson was named on of the sexiest men alive in the latest issue of People. (Calm down stomach, stop twitching.) I KNOW you guys are getting sick of my rounds of Name That Tune, but this is the last time will ask for your hel in identifying a song, I swear by the name of Lord Cornelius Plum....... I heard a beautiful version of Todd Rundgren's "I Saw the Light" the other day. It was done almost ballad-style, and a woman was singing. It was really great... That's all for now, till next time, try to avoid the daylight. Ciao, Amanda XTC song of the day-Melt the Guns non XTC-Rose Tint My World-Janet, Dr. Scott, Brad, Rocky, Columbia, and Dr. Frank-n-Furter OH MY GOD, THEY KILLED KENNY!!!!!!!!!
------------------------------ Message-ID: <34688482.3537@sprintmail.com> Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 11:14:58 -0500 From: Stormy Monday <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: XTC Knows Best Folxtc, Don't forget to send me your e-mail address if you want to attend the next XTC Bash in Atlanta GA. We will most likely schedule the party for early January, as people are very busy between now and the end of the year. Cottard@aol.com posted: > This is an important exercise, because a question hangs in the balance -- > what kind of sound do we want Andy, Colin, and Dave to pursue? More of the > 60's sound, like "Some Lovely"? Something deliberately offbeat, like > "Bumper Cars"? Something experimental like "River of Orchids" or "Prince of > Orange"? Something folky, borrowed and blue (like recent Fairport > Convention), such as "I'd Like That"? > > Let me know! I want them to sound how they think they should sound. I want them to record the songs that they want to record. They've made a career of doing as they pleased, and this has always pleased me. Having said that, I almost wish that I couldn't have heard the demos until after the release of the new record, (I refuse to call it "Zoot", because in my world that has a very negative connotation. Since the seventies, in my small circle of friends, we've used the word "Zoot" like this: "I hope he doesn't bring his girlfriend! She is such a Zoot!" or "XTC is tired of being Zooted by Virgin, so they are on strike!") because I can't help but anticipate how great "The Green Man" and "River Of Orchids" would sound once properly performed and produced. Stormy Monday
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #4-25 ******************************
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