Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 67
Date: Sunday, 24 January 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 67
Sunday, 24 January 1999
Today's Topics:
It's all too much...
just being tacky (again)
Alan Sillitoe
'Voyage Of Discovery'
Good news from a local radio station!
Up Your Sleeve
Cooks In The Kitchen
Bull With Golden Discs?
That Sound, Lurkers de-Lurk!
Z discrepancy
XTC show
XTC on KMTT 103.7 Seattle
KMTT
Best and worst of 1998&1999 with and w/o EC and XTC etc...
Apple Venus, Gold discs and so on
Recent Threading
Andy Colin & Dave interview : Raygun
No, Seriously. Shut Up.
All Zep, All The Time
Apple Venus on Vinyl, ain't it nice ?
Easter Theatre
Sex (implied) and drugs and...swing?
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Chalkhills is compiled using Digest 3.6b (by John Relph <relph@sgi.com>).
In the crowded room I won't touch too much.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <36A673AC.6916@schoollink.net> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 16:24:12 -0800 From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> Organization: CIC Subject: It's all too much... Hey all -- delurking for uno momento: Has anyone else out there yet developed the feeling that all this information going back and forth via Relph's Chalkhills about XTC is simply "too much"?? I swear, as much as I try, I cannot keep up with it all! ...AND I LOVE IT!!!!!! :-) Where else can a like-minded group of fans gets together and discuss the ramifications of XTC-dom, but Chalkhills? Keep up the good work, gang...and you, too, JR! Peace -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> "I would have made this instrumental, but the words got in the way." (Andy Partridge)
------------------------------
Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C2F3D0A@EINSTEIN>
From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com>
Subject: just being tacky (again)
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 14:26:03 -0600
Oh Chalkers, please forgive me, I can't help myself...
When DavidOh said he was digit-impaired,
it never occurred to me that he meant his finger!
(Sorry David, I couldn't resist.) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 14:54:26 -0600 (CST) From: Andrea Lynn Rossillon <rossillo@students.uiuc.edu> Subject: Alan Sillitoe Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.96.990120143732.29924A-100000@ux9.cso.uiuc.edu> > From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: Travels in Nihilon-meaning > > Travels in Nihilon is a novel by British writer Alan Sillitoe. Apperantly > the song is based on/inspired by the book, I seem to recall reading an > interview with Andy Partridge years ago where he mentioned it. I checked > this book out of the library once about 15 years ago, and found it too dull > to read. I recall it being sort of post-apacopyptic or something. There were > maps of this imaginary land of Nihilon, too. Can't really remember much > else. I'm glad that someone took the time to mention the origins of "Travels"; I had never thought to ask about it before, as I haven't read or heard of the Sillitoe book that Tyler mentions. I have read another one, however, entitled _The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner_. It's a collection of short stories, and the title story at least is mind-blowing. It's about a kid in Borstal who runs for them in competition, and what he does in the end. It was so good. Maybe it was just me, having run cross-country and really thinking, "Yeah! That's IT!" But someone else thought it was good too, because I know they made a movie of it (tho' I don't know if that movie is any good.) So, Travels in Nihilon might suck, but the other stuff of his that I've read is good. XTC content: I read the article in RayGun, and I thought about buying it and typing it in, but the article really, really makes Andy sound somethig of a prick, which of course he might be. He was really down on Dave in the article, saying that Dave was free to contribute, and that Dave was so unhappy for reasons that Andy couldn't fathom, and that Andy just couldn't work with his bad energy anymore,and that he was just thankful that Dave got mad and left before he (Andy) had to ask him to leave. I read the article, agape and aghast, understanding exactly why Dave split. Boy, Partridge just doesn't have a clue sometime. Anyway, I decided not to contribute the article for wider dissemination because it got me down, and I didn't want to spread the bad energy. I mean, no one likes to find out that the artist whose work she really digs is a jerk. I like the myth of the understanding, tortured artist, not the reality of an obdurate and impolitic one. -Andrea
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 16:30:43 -0500
From: Steve Pitts <Steve_Pitts@compuserve.com>
Subject: 'Voyage Of Discovery'
Message-ID: <199901201630_MC2-6765-5621@compuserve.com>
Chalkfolks,
In 5-61 Debora Brown wrote:
> ...my question is which one to buy first (or next)? I want to savor each
new purchase, and i'd like some guidance to enhance my 'voyage of
discovery'... <
If 'Upsy Daisy' is all you have, then why not simply proceed
chronologically from the very beginning ('White Music')?? That way you get
to follow the same voyage that those of us that are old enough to go back
that far, undertook all those years ago when punk and XTC were both taking
their first faltering steps, and we 'had no compass, guide or chart' :)
Cheers, Steve
(Using OzWIN in Hemel Hempstead, England on 20-Jan-99 at 21:26:39)
------------------------------
Message-ID: <900822C71730D2118D8C00805F65765C2F3D18@EINSTEIN>
From: Jill Oleson <oleson@moneystar.com>
Subject: Good news from a local radio station!
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 16:04:46 -0600
I took my fellow Chalkers' advice and sent an email to my
favorite local radio station about "Transistor Blast" and
"Apple Venus." I was delighted with the reply I received.
Here's how the e-conversation went:
Jill's note:
----------------
> Hi Jody,
>
> I noticed that your website mentions XTC's latest release
> "Transistor Blast," a four-disc album I can't seem to take
> out of my CD player. You might also want to mention their
> upcoming release "Apple Venus." Last I heard, it is coming
> out mid-February (Feb. 17th, I think).
>
> When will KGSR play a single off of either album? I've read
> that 103.7 in Seattle (aka "The Mountain") has already been
> playing "I'd Like That..." from "Apple Venus."
>
> I apologize if you've been playing something off either
> "Apple Venus" or "Transistor Blast" and I've somehow
> missed it. If you haven't played anything yet... I know you
> will soon, since you seem to enjoy their music.
>
> Thank you so much!
>
> Jill Oleson
> oleson@moneystar.com
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Reply from Jody Denberg
KGSR Program Director, Austin, Texas, USA
* -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jill,
Hi!
Funny you should write. I spoke with Andy of XTC today for 15
minutes for an interview that will run on the Sunday Night News
before the release of the new CD (3/2/99) and in a magazine.
I have the new CD and we WILL play "I'd Like That" regularly
soon...however we try not to play stuff too far in advance of the
release. I'll probably premiere the tune on the Sunday Night News
this weekend.
Andy will be in the US next month; we are trying to arrange a
KGSR visit - we'll keep you posted!
Jody
P.S. The new CD is great...
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
** Hey, Jody AND ANDY... I'd like that, too!**
Jill
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199901202348.AAA05477@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:57:43 +0000
Subject: Up Your Sleeve
Dear Chalkers,
John Voorhees rightly stated that:
> the wait would be nicer if _someone_ had cover art
> for Apple Venus that could be put up at Chalkhills. Are you telling
> me that _none_ of you terribly connected people can supply that?
I guess so... problem is, the advance cd comes in a special cardboard
sleeve and doesn't give you any idea about the final album sleeve.
Maybe this is Andy's way of getting back at us shameless bootleggers.
"if you're not going to wait nicely for the songs to come out, you're
going to wait for the sleeve!" ;)
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199901202348.AAA05474@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:57:43 +0000
Subject: Cooks In The Kitchen
Dear Chalkers,
Thanks to the good folk at Cooking Vinyl for all the information
but i'm particularily thrilled by the news that AV1 will be released
on vinyl. YES! Can't even begin to explain how happy this makes me
Not that i will ever play it of course... Perish the thought!
Also thanks for putting some of our pipedreams into their proper
perspective:
> Singles are a very expensive marketing tool (#30,000 to #100,000 a
> go) for major record companies aimed at radio 1. We only do them if
> radio 1 (top 40 radio/chr for not brits) - is interested otherwise
> we try to find other ways to promote our artists.
You see, we may not like it, but music is a product that must be
shifted so the laws of economics do apply. And do we really need a
single? Is XTC still aiming for Top Of The Pops ?
Or should they ? I think not...
Oh yes.. one more thing:
> >Actually I think your attack is a little groundless as Mark is one
> >of the better guitarists to emerge from the 70's/80's rock era.
Thank you, thank you...you are being too kind
BTW: i play a mean ukelele too!
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199901202348.AAA05487@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:57:43 +0000
Subject: Bull With Golden Discs?
Dear Chalkers,
Robert Wood stated that a so-called Gold Disc cd doesn't offer
anything other that the standard "silver" discs.
> You are a victim of the marketing man. (Actually *anyone* who
> buys a CD is a victim of the marketing man, but you're a double
> victim.) Ask for your money back!
What a load of bull!
The gold disc Skylarking does sound slightly better (just) but the
O&L gold disc is actually a vast improvement over the lacklustre
regular cd release.
You say that the stream of 0's and 1's, the data is identical so the
music must be exactly the same.
But these discs were both remastered from the original recordings!
In other words: the data on the discs isn't identical at all.
Of course these differences are very small and
almost insignificant but if you add it all up the overall sound
quality is much much better in the case of O&L, in particular in the
higher regions like tiny percussion sounds.
You think O&L is over-produced? Get a load of the gold disc version
at full blast on decent headphones. You won't believe your ears
because suddenly you are hearing sounds you never picked up before
from that oh so familiar album.
BTW: I guess the reason why Skylarking didn't benefit that much from
the gold disc treatment is the relatively "lo-fi", heavily compressed
mastertape Todd R. produced
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199901202305.SAA24135@fs.IConNet.NET> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 18:05:34 -0500 Subject: That Sound, Lurkers de-Lurk! From: "John Irvine" <jirvine@bellatlantic.net> A question for the gearheads: There is a sound, best heard on the middle eight of "Baby, I Can't Please You", played on and produced by Colin on Sam Phillips' Martinis and Bikinis LP, that I can only describe as a high fluttery vaguely tape-loopish sound. It also turns up on various Dukes tracks. What is it? It sounds like some sort of guitar played through a melotron backwards. It is cool as penguin poop, and I wanna be able to duplicate it. Anyone? Oops: Thanks to those who pointed out that it was Valium and not Speed that Andy was downing. I stand corrected. I never did get an answer to my 5 XTC Myteries post from last year re. drug use by the band. Was this covered in Song Stories? I really must learn to read. Obligatory whine: Is it me, or are the posts from long-time-lurkers, first-time-posters generally more interesting and content-filled than those by self-absorbed blabbermouth frequent posters? Folks, it ain't about you, it's about the music. Bring on the lurkers. John Irvine
------------------------------ From: Adamette1@aol.com Message-ID: <aac828a4.36a6635f@aol.com> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 18:14:39 EST Subject: Z discrepancy David Oh writes: ^^i'm not looking 4 an audience, just voicing my thoughtz on xtc... ^^u can read it or u can uze the page down key... whatever... hey, there isn't even a "z" sound at the end of the word "thoughts," what gives? Then, it happened again.... ^^but it'z not 'artistic expression' again...no "z" sound in the word "it's" If you are expecting us to endure this immature manner of communication, at least stay consisitent! "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> writes: Why should Sarth Effrica be any different from the rest of the world, Michael? It's been like that in Sydney for decades. agreed, as well as communities in the 10 United States in which I've lived over the past 3 years...I check every CD store I ever go into for XTC content (sort of a litmus test) and if they have anything but maybe O&L and Skylarking I'm amazed. It was even worse about 5 years ago, with some large independent owned stores not even having an XTC section. I used to think to myself that this is how the world would be without XTC. I didn't like that thought, though. Patrick
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36A6737B.4C7F7502@gate.net> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 19:23:23 -0500 From: "Mark D. Irvin" <mdirvin@gate.net> Subject: XTC show Greetings from Florida! Well......I finally picked up Transistor Blast. I really enjoy the live material......the sounds really created a deep desire to see them in concert...the way the crowd was singing along during the "Respectable Street" intro...whew. The wait is almost over.......almost over.....almost over. I figure we'll get a new chalkhills on a daily basis once Apple Venus is finally in our grubby little hands. I've been playing the demos lately just trying to prepare myself for this spectacularly historical event. And for bassakward David....had fun reading your backwards post, but then the thrill quickly diminished.....LOL.......cool though..... That's all for now......... *XTC song of the day: "Respectable Street" (Live) *nonXTC song of the day: "Pack Yr Romantic Mind" by Stereolab Happy cuz I got a new job, Mark
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:12:46 -0800 (PST) From: Benjamin Lukoff <blukoff@alvord.com> Subject: XTC on KMTT 103.7 Seattle Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.96.990120231151.32757B-100000@locutus.alvord.com> Misty and I were so excited to hear that The Mountain had played "I'd Like That" last night that we e-mailed them asking for more! Looks like we're going to get what we asked for: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 22:41:11 -0800 From: Studio -- On the Air at The Mountain <studio@kmtt.com> To: blukoff@alvord.com Subject: Re: XTC - Apple Venus Vol. 1 You will hear more XTC. I guarantee it. Dave
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:00:44 -0800 (PST) From: Misty Shock <mccrtny@u.washington.edu> Subject: KMTT Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.05.9901202353020.24784-100000@saul3.u.washington.edu> Okay, Seattlites, get your typing hands ready. Write into KMTT the Mountain at studio@kmtt.com requesting MORE XTC!! My boyfriend (Ben Lukoff) and I wrote in, and they played "Your Dictionary," only one night after playing "I'd Like That." The DJ said that he had gotten 5 e-mails that night requesting new XTC cuts, so maybe if we keep this going, we can get through the entire album. They played it at 11:45 pm, so tune in your radios at that time to 103.7. Listening to it (on cassette) right now, and all I can think is...How can the idiots from Costello-l really think that Andy's voice is *whiny*? Misty Shock "No round of drinks can extinguish this feeling of love and engulfing bliss." --Andy Partridge
------------------------------
Message-ID: <36A6D9B6.B42C3463@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 23:39:35 -0800
From: KenL <herne@earthlink.net>
Subject: Best and worst of 1998&1999 with and w/o EC and XTC etc...
Greetings and Happy New Years music fans. Ken aka Herne here. I know
this is a little on the late frame since it's already Jan 21st... but
I've been away awhile. So Here Goes:
Best and Worst of 1998
Notable albums:
I say notable because these are albums that made an impression on me
last year even though they may have not come out last year.
Komeda---What Makes it Go---Not as great as their previous album the
Genius of Komeda (one of my favorites of the 90's) but cool nonetheless.
Beck---Odelay---I'm a little late to this party but I really like it a
lot.
PJ Harvey---Is this Desire?---No album of hers ever seems to hit me with
the impact of her first but still it is great. I don't know where all
her passion comes from but I'd love to find out.
Various---Nuggets Vol 3---The last cd comp. before they put out the box
set which I am going to be getting in the next couple of days as a late
birthday present. The pyschadelic garage one hit wonders on this and
the other discs are all great. It's made me want to explore these lost
bands like The Cyrcle, the Knickerbockers and whoever else. Kenny
Rogers' Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition Was In alone
is worth the price of admission.
Ron Sexsmith---This guy's first album is simply a masterpiece. Mellow
guitar stuff mostly but there are a few mid tempo rockers. I've spent
half a year listening to it and I haven't even gotten around to his
second one(Other Songs I think it's called). And he's got a third on
the way. Highly recommended.
Belle and Sebastian---If You're Feeling Sinister---This album is far and
away the best album I got in the last year. I know there are Kinks fans
on these lists who would get a real kick out of this reclusive
Scottish(?)nine piece outfit. There stuff vaguely recalls Sunny
Afternoonish type material. A must have.
Belle and Sebastian---Boy With the Arab Strap---Not at the same level as
Sinister but still a great album. Probably would have been stronger if
they hadn't put out some of the great songs that would have been here on
to their eps. These guys put an ep every few months and an album every
year. Does anybody remember what that was like?
Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach---Painted From Memory---"A dream to
some...a NIGHTMARE to others!!!" As for me, the jury's still out. I'll
have to go back and give it a few more spins. Back when it came out it
just left me cold...which is something an EC record has NEVER done.
The Poseidon Adventure---sdtrk---available only by mail from Film Score
monthly but definitely worth it. Now if they'll just do the Towering
Inferno.
Rediscovery of the Year---Out of Our Idiot by EC and his various
aliases. I never really played it a lot when I first got it but I've
heard it lot this year and I've really gotten into it.
Especially the Flirting Kind and People's Limousine.
Best Concert---PJ Harvey at the Wiltern theater
Random Concert Moments of the Year:
Backstage at EC/BB---I tell Burt Bacharach it's cool he recorded with
EC. He asks if I bought the album. I say yes and then he disappears.
At PJ Harvey---I see this guy I think I recognise from work but I don't
remember his name. We make eye contact, I stare for a moment and then
turn away wondering why I couldn't remember his name. Then I saw these
girls I could swear were from work also They looked familiar but I
couldn't place the names. Later I found out they weren't from work at
all. They were Beck, and Hole, respectively. Duh! on my part.
At Dick Dale---Dick is playing something. He walks off stage. the
music continues. Suddenly I realise he's standing right next to me on
the floor playing away. He walked amongst the crowd for a while before
returning to the stage.
Fremont Street in Las Vegas---where Missing Persons and Berlin played
sets to a huge street crowd. Definite 80's flashback time. Berlin did
a surprisingly ripping version of Metro. Go figure.
Lyric of the year:"Like Harrison Ford I'm getting frantic..." Bare
Naked Ladies aren't the most brilliant band ever but to access an
obscure bad Harrison Ford film in a song was definitely a humorous move.
Musical tragedies of the Year:
Dave Gregory leaves XTC
Lush breaks up
Best Movies I Saw...there's far too many I haven't seen but from what I
did...
The Opposite of Sex
Pleasantville
Star Wars Ep.1 Trailer---I know it's not a movie but it's one of the few
moments of cinematic excitement from last year.
The Worst--
Star Trek: Insurrection---yawn. TNG just never does it for me. Bring
on the DS9 cast.
The Avengers---it looked good on paper. Thurman, Fiennes, Connery.
Andy Partridge song on the soundtrack...but then....
The Big Hit---supposed to be a joke I think. Not funny.
Armageddon---this is one of the biggest piles ever! Director Michael
Bay must die.
Godzilla---a huge disappointment. A horrendous film. Just thinking of
it makes me mad. Worse than Armageddon, which is no easy feat, because
Armaggeddon was supposed to suck...I gotta stop. I'm getting riled up.
Most Overrated:Saving Private Ryan---the landing is amazing but the rest
is just WWII S.O.S. IMHO.
Guilty pleasure: Deep Impact
Things to look forward to in 1999:
Apple venus 1 & 2---XTC
A new Sugarplastic album(allegedly...according to my friend who asked
them at a recent Poptopia appearence)
Elvis Costello/Steve Nieve---that album he promised before the new
millenium...times running out boys.
new Ron Sexsmith
REM's IRS stuff being remastered...hopefully with bonus tracks.
Belle and Sebastian's Tigermilk reissue
Things to finally buy: Transistor Blast---XTC
Nuggets Box Set
Punch the Clock CD reissue---thought I
had it. I didn't.
Thanks to everyone on the Costello List and Chalkhills for all the
stimulating debates in the past year. Here's to more fun in '99(already
in progress)
Cheers
KL
------------------------------ From: Holger.Loeschner@mkjff.rlp.de Message-ID: <048208B9F651D21192EA0000F877AAD604CD0B@ns3.mbk.rpl> Subject: Apple Venus, Gold discs and so on Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 09:34:20 +0100 Hi all! I am a subscriber of the Mojo magazine and yesterday I got my February issue including the subscribers bonus CD and that includes - yeah! - Easter Theatre! It is track 15, the ultimate track on this CD. I haven't listened to the other tracks. I think my player went mad because of a steady repeat. It sounds familiar because of AP`s voice but strange and new because of the orchestra. Well it doesn't only give an appetite for the album, it's a feeling of starving to death. You can't polish a turd! describes Robert Wood in 5/63. I do agree. I got the Skylarking gold disc first and there's not so much difference. But I think the O&L gold is worth the money. Starting off with Gardens and the volume/treble I normally used to listen to it nearly boosts my speakers. There is much more bass. About the discussion of Japanese discs: I can't understand the release policy. But I know that the Japanese handle their catalogue with more care. Their range of CD, their back catalogue is much wider than in Europe. Lots of records are available which you'll never find here. A booklet with all lyrics, band history a.o. seems to be obligatory. It has fomerly been the same with the Japanese vinyl records, including obi and lyric sheets. Compare the poor US-only Waxworks CD with the Japan-only Beeswax, or the paltry UK Rag'n'Bone with the Japanese edition. It's not only a problem with XTC records, it is customary that the companies treat their products with unkindness. For the 25th anniversary of Queen records had been re-issued: standard jewel cases in Europe but miniature FOC in Japan -WHY? Booklets and lyrics maybe more useful in Japan because of the total different language. Maybe it's a question of the budget in case of covers, booklets and boxes - but that doesn't justify the omission of bonus tracks which aren't always just demoes. Holger
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36A6E8DE.C4B904DD@earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 00:44:15 -0800 From: KenL <herne@earthlink.net> Subject: Recent Threading Hi folks...more from me... ON recent threads... What this list should be about...just kidding. On the Belle and Sebastian list they have one big rule. You can't talk about the list itself or what you can and can't talk about. If you break this rule, you get kicked off. The logic being that the list becomes obsessed with itself and self destructs so no talking about the list. I don't recommend that here but enough with the "this is about XTC not blah blah blah" stuff. Please. "95% crap"---? Huh? I don't remember who posted that but I hardly think that 95% of Chalkhills is crap. That post seems to me less a complaint than cry for help. There's a few people on this list who seem to be emotionally troubled but it's all part of the fun. Harrison Sherwood and the green Marker---Harrison you cheeky bastard. No Vinyl nostalgia for you I take it. Incidentally ever since you posted your epic treatise on side one of Skylarking, I can't listen to it without thinking of it. I don't know if that's good or not. XTC vs. EC---Somebody on the Costello list asked some advice about what XTC to buy and it started a thread both pro and con. Oddly the one thing that people who didn't care for the band have in common is that they had problems with Andy's voice...which is odd given the Elvis's voice is a bit out there. It also seemed that the pro-XTC people fell into the same clusters as they do here. Skylarking is best or Drums and Wires or ES. You get the idea. I was pleased to see XTC pop up on that list though the debate was pretty low key. Even the fans weren't as passionate about it. Maybe if Andy started wearing dark sunglasses. Pajama Slave Dancers???!!!!---Boy I didn't see that reference coming. Whoever posted that one must be from New England.(Like me) I actually have their album less than three feet away from me. You never know when you'll feel like hearing Defreeze Walt Disney or Homo Truck Driving Man. Neighborhoods---another New England legend. Their first 45 Prettiest Girl/No Place Like Home is a classic. And they do a great cover of If I Had A Hammer. Glad to her Dave Minehan has a job. REM---Don't know what I feel about them anymore. My favorite albums are from the IRS years but they've put out a lot of good stuff since. In the new issue of The Big Takeover, XTC comes up in a Michael Stipe interview when the subject of touring is addressed. Stipe makes some joke about Partridge "peeing his pants" at the thought of going on stage or something to that effect. I don't have it with me cause it's my brother's. If someone does maybe they can post it. Incidentally, the tone of the passage suggested that Stipe was a fan but there wasn't much detail. Rush Limbaugh---Oh-kay. So if Hitler had a radio show and he used "Generals and Majors" as a bumper...oh never mind. I am so disappointed in you people. I walked away from talk radio two years ago. I was dismayed to see it rear it's ugly head here. Since I am not one to say what can and not be discussed on this list, I won't try to stop it. BUT since some of you people have come out with your love for old fashioned bigotry and prejudice wrapped up in homespun country aw-shucks demeanor, a price must be paid. You must now hear my rant about....Ally McBeal. What is the Deal with that show? It's so well written and acted but it is so damn annoying. Producer David Kelley's musical tastes are so MOR it's sick making. I think that's what kills me the most. If he was into XTC or something but Christ. When that girl sings those sappy 70's covers, I want to run for the hills. But I can't. Because that show is like a car crash. You just can't turn away. And you never know what the hell is going to happen. Bruce Willis randomly appeared this week as a shrink. Zowie! Suck on that dittoheads. I gotta go. I hear there's a KKK rally coming up. Normally I wouldn't go but I hear that someone there might sing "Yacht Dance". All apologies, KL in the cd changer... Rolling Stones-Exile on Main Street, Elastica, Pizzicato 5, Kojak Variety, Neil Young-Decade (disc two).
------------------------------ Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE08387369@DUB-MSG-02> From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: Andy Colin & Dave interview : Raygun Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 11:10:46 -0000 I expect someone else posted this already....but I might have missed it among the , uh, discussion.... Issue of Raygun, January, features interview and photos. Andy & Colin. Dave too ! Interesting reading. Peter Fitzpatrick Multimedia Production Manager Microsoft European Product Development Centre, Dublin.
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s6a71c42.020@parliament.uk> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 12:22:12 +0000 From: Dominic Lawson <LAWSOND@parliament.uk> Subject: No, Seriously. Shut Up. >>again, i really laft me arse off! great 2 c humour 4 a change! L-A-F-T Is that how you spell 'laughed' in your dictionary? Well, your dictionary's shite. >>that'z hillarious, ian, i laft me arse off! good on yer, mate! Nicely done. Deflect that criticism by assuming that it was meant in jest. A classic juvenile schoolboy error. >>thank u 4 having an open mind, but it'z not 'artistic expression' that i'm aiming 4, just expression, pure & simple! Note the cunning way "David" tries to make us sound like fascists because some of us find his writing style feeble and pretentious. Aren't we just the most blinkered reactionaries you ever heard of? Sorry, dick-weed, this has nothing to do with freedom of expression. As has been said on several occasions, the content of your posts is generally cool (with the possible exception of your bizarre surprise that XTC weren't included in Q's top 100 singles....duh!). Unfortunately you come across increasingly as a cocky git, with precious little to be cocky about. No one wants to be writing or reading about your desperate attempts to convince us of your individuality (this post included - apologies to everyone else!), and responding with "hey, why can't I just be me?"-type remarks is a very thin way of justifying your lack of originality. Apart from anything else, your quest for "expression, pure & simple" seems somewhat at odds with the way you present yourself. Of course you don't care what we think! Why should you? Er,...because that's the whole fucking point of the digest, Davey baby. We don't have to agree with each other (which is kinda handy for hot-heads like myself) but if you completely reject the wishes of other subscribers then you forfeit any credibility you might have gained with your alleged "content". Yes, of course we can scroll down and ignore you, but we'd rather not have to. I'd much rather read your posts without having to cringe at your contrived "style". Since you're not saying anything controversial or offensive, we have no other reason to criticize you, so why bother? Do you really, sincerely want people to think you're an idiot? No, of course, you "don't care". Yeah, right. On the other hand, you've done wonders for my public image! Thanks. Keep up the bad work. Dom.
------------------------------ From: RickBuist2@aol.com Message-ID: <5f650153.36a7220e@aol.com> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 07:48:14 EST Subject: All Zep, All The Time Johan Ekdahl wrote >I might be totally wrong here (has happened before...) but isn't Jim Page >(Led Zeppelin and more) be in the league mentioned above. As I recall it he >lost one of his index-fingers somewhere around "Houses of the Holy" or >"Physical Grafitti". Or is this something I have dreamed up? If you listen to his solo on "Hot Dog", it sounds like he lost ALL his fingers. Heroin - the wonder drug.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36A7351F.1A279730@geocities.com> Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 15:09:35 +0100 From: dieling <lemoncurry@geocities.com> Subject: Apple Venus on Vinyl, ain't it nice ? Hello, Hello, Dear Fellows and Fellowines of The Holy XTC ! Today I'm in a REALLY GOOD mood, and that's not only because I should have gone to the dentist for the first time in three years but did not go, so instead of sweating with pain on a strangely formed chair I'm now here with the latest digest and a reply from Cooking Vinyl, who have earned the right to their name right back, as Apple Venus will be released on Vinyl and as I will be able to get it in Germany. So, it's a pity for me that the Japanese CD does not contain any extra songs, as I would otherwise have bought the regular album on Vinyl and the Japanese CD, but, now I'll be glad with the LP and maybe the regular CD a bit later, before the Vinyl gets too fucked up by EXCESSIVE PLAYING !!!! One word to the track I made containing a Dukes' sample (it's NOT a Dukes remix!): I managed to get it into MP3 format, but Geocities still won't upload it, saying: "Now, sonny, that's way to big for us" though it's only 5.76 MB and I still have over 9 MB of diskspace left there. But I already sent a help request to the folks there and now patiently waiting for reply and also patiently waiting for Apple Venus (God am I glad I don't know a single tone from that album. Poor demo-seeking fellows, you miss something right now !), and also patiently waiting for summer (but then that's a song by Thought Industry and so it's off topic). Cheers to all of you and don't fight, unite ! We all have enemies in common, like Mean Virgin Managers and Ignorant Musiczine Journalists. (Speaking of which, Transistor Blast was quite well covered in German Zines, to my astonishment.)
------------------------------ Message-ID: <003601be4550$bb3d2780$695791d2@johnboud> From: "John Boudreau" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp> Subject: Easter Theatre Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 00:03:00 +0900 Chalksters , The Feb. issue of MOJO arrived today and included with it was a " specially compiled " subscriber only CD of 15 tracks of which EASTER THEATRE is one . Appropriately , they saved the best track for last . If Easter Theatre is any indication , we are in for a masterpiece of epic proportions with the arrival of APPLE VENUS . Having heard the demos and now ET I am prepared to go out on a limb and predict that AV is going to be their biggest selling album ever . John in Japan
------------------------------ Message-ID: <618F91505D89D21185330001FA6A495408231A@HFD-EXCH008> From: "Witter, Karl F" <WitterKF@aetna.com> Subject: Sex (implied) and drugs and...swing? Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1999 10:09:32 -0500 Andy's prescription-drugs-and-stagefright remind me of a story about the Benny Goodman Orchestra. One of the stars (I think Harry James) was given a very new and experimental sulfa antibiotic. During a big show at the NYC Paramount, the side-effects really freaked him out, topping off during "Sing, Sing, Sing". So, for eons after that, whenever he heard the rollicking drum intro to that song, he had a physical, pit-of-the-stomach reaction to it in varying degrees. I guess there's no way of cleaning out all your memories. Giving 110% for the fans is one thing, but who here really wants to live, even for a day, the virtual reality "nightmare" of those experiences? Count me out. >I believe an interested observer can always tell the difference >between people who make music out of passion and those who do it >to become pop/rock stars. Ah, but you're forgetting the Ed Wood Factor: Those who do it with passion, conviction and no skill, and end up not even with a work of dull, me-too craft, let alone art. >an unhealthy over-familiarity with the comic opera genre Are you telling me I was the only one who had to define and give three examples of leitmotif before I was allowed to join? Wagner me no Wagners, Sondheim me no Sondheims, Karl
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-67 ******************************
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