Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 95
Date: Saturday, 20 February 1999

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 95

                Saturday, 20 February 1999

Today's Topics:

                         No Macs?
               listen to Frivolous Tonight
               DC Area XTC Listening Party?
                     A HELLUVA WEEK !
                Re: Spoonman vs. Greenman
        Another Inspired Headline - Boston Herald
       "Apple Venus" countdown at cookingvinyl.com
                  Random remarks, again
                   AUGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
                     XTC on the radio
                  Don't Diss Duran Duran
           we're the kids in America, whoa-oa.
  I feel like Frivilous Tonight, like Frivilous Tonight!
                    New Publicity Pix
                    apple venus vol 1
                        AV review
                   Remember when. . . ?
                 Andy in Buffalo/Toronto
                   Andy in Boston!?!?!
                     LA Times review
     Questioningly...Philadelphia? Andy Live? Radio?
                       Colins voice
                Wall of Sound, Feb. 18/98
                        Chicago 99
                        In my Shed
             I Am Weeping As I Write This...

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Soon my darling, soon my darling.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message-Id: <36CB8FD8.F3CE0835@bowdoin.edu>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 22:58:21 -0500
From: Ben Gott/Loquacious Music <bgott@bowdoin.edu>
Organization: http://listen.to/loquacious
Subject: No Macs?

Hillers,

Not to be outdone by the imaginitive person who made a Windoze "English
Settlement" theme, I created a very exciting desktop picture for my
PowerBook.  It involves the Go2 map of Swindon, a recent promo picture, the
feather from AV1, and a program called "MacTown," which provides cool
town-ish icons for folders.  Have a look if you'd like:

http://www3.bowdoin.edu/~bgott/desktop.jpg

Only a few more days!  I can hardly stand it!

-Ben

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
    Benjamin Gott :: Bowdoin College :: Brunswick, Maine 04011
AOL Plan4Nigel :: Telephone (207) 721-5513 :: Mobile (207) 798-1859
   Just like a mad dog / You're chasing your tail in a circle...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <19990218043100.10307.qmail@www0v.netaddress.usa.net>
Date: 17 Feb 99 20:30:59 PST
From: Brian Wysolmierski <bwysol@netscape.net>
Subject: listen to Frivolous Tonight

Listen to Frivolous Tonight in its entirity on SceneHeard(an online radio
show) at: http://www.dallasobserver.com/sceneheard/radio/playlist/index.html

Jump forward 21:45 into the radio program. You'll hear the DJs banter about
XTC, saying lame things like, "XTC is as sexy as computer programming." Then
they play 2 XTC songs (the other one being Respectable Street).
After they play Frivolous Tonight, the talk about how lame XTC is and their
"geeky XTC websites"
Oh, yeah... they also do lame English accents. Boy, is that witty or what?
They're fucking idiots.

Re:Greenman vs Spoonman
Man, you all had me cracking up with your responses. I think I may get fired
from my job!

Brian Wysol

------------------------------

Message-Id: <199902180453.WAA00359@smtp2.gte.net>
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 21:19:44 -0500
Subject: DC Area XTC Listening Party?
From: "Steve Dockery" <sdockery@gte.net>

Hi folks-

I'm finally de-lurking after reading the digest for over a year.
What's inspired me to come out of the shadows? Why, Apple Venus Vol. 1, of
course! I've got mine on pre-order at Amazon.com, and can't wait. I somehow
managed to resist the temptation to beg, borrow or steal any demos, so it'll
all be fresh to me. Of course, I couldn't resist listening to "I'd Like
That" off the TVT website. Darn song's been stuck in my head for DAYS.

Ok, getting to the point now:
Any chalkhillians in the Washington DC Area interested in having a listening
party sometime during the weekend of Feb. 27-28? (Todd!) I hope my copy of
AV-1 arrives by then!

-Stevo

------------------------------

Message-ID: <000b01be5b28$68c65380$745791d2@johnboud>
From: "John Boudreau" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp>
Subject: A HELLUVA WEEK !
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 19:20:06 +0900

To all ,

On Sunday , two vintage snare drums I purchased from the great Dave
Mattacks arrived ... On Monday , my copy of " Song Stories " ( sent surface
mail from England, hence the delay ) was sitting in my mailbox when I
arrived home from work ... And this morning my APPLE VENUS 1 order arrived
!!!  A BLESSED week indeed ...

LATER ...

Outside it is twilight time ... the room is dark , the house quiet ... I
insert AV1 into the mouth of my Onkyo player and then sit down on tatami mat
floor with a glass of Japanese rice wine ... " River Of Orchids " reaches
the first chorus and goosebumps pop out all over my body and I laugh out
loud like a crazyman as tears of joy fall from my eyes ...

John in Japan

------------------------------

Message-ID: <36CC2552.7F02345A@biocomp.unl.edu>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 08:36:02 -0600
From: Peter Mullin <pmullin@biocomp.unl.edu>
Subject: Re: Spoonman vs. Greenman

Brian wrote:

> Who do you think would win in a fight: Soundgarden's "Spoonman" or XTC's
> "Greenman"?

TMBG's Triangle Man, of course (he always wins).

Peter Mullin
Department of Plant Pathology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

------------------------------

Message-Id: <B195726DB50AD2118E880008C7FAA6FC430E0F@newman.partech.com>
From: Janis VanCourt <Janis_VanCourt@partech.com>
Subject: Another Inspired Headline - Boston Herald
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 09:55:49 -0500

At http://www.bostonherald.com/bostonherald/entr/xtc02181999.htm ,
there's an article called "From agony to XTC".  Those clever BH
journalists <yawn>.

No news here, really, but there are a few delicious Andy quotes,
including further justification for refusing to play live:  "I feel no
more attraction to standing onstage and having people see my flab.  I'd
much rather have a slice of my soul to put on their record player."
-Janis (envying all of you going to view the flab next week)

------------------------------

Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.19990218151105.0098bce0@pop-server.ucl.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:11:05 +0000
From: Daniel Spaniel <webmaster@cookingvinyl.com>
Subject: "Apple Venus" countdown at cookingvinyl.com

Hi all,

As you are probably aware, the Cooking Vinyl website
(http://www.cookingvinyl.com/xtc) is offering clips from each track
on "Apple Venus" every day from Feb 12 through to release day.

Something which you might be amused to hear is that we also offer the
facility for interested parties to mail each other "Apple Venus" digital
postcards, from the page: http://www.cookingvinyl.com/postcard/index01.html

And finally, any constructive commentary which you might have to offer
about the still-evolving CV site, and its XTC coverage (there's a lot of
fine XTC stuff out there on the Web, which we would like to compliment, not
supplant), will be welcome. There's an applevenus message board at
http://www.cookingvinyl.com/xtcboard/applevenus.mv

There's an associated
e-mail discussion which can be joined as follows:

Send an e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject
               field DIRECTLY to:
        applevenus-request@cookingvinyl.com

DS of CV

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 19:21:36 +0100 (MET)
From: Martin van Rappard <rappard@dds.nl>
Subject: Random remarks, again
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.90.990218190910.13335D-100000@fatima.dds.nl>

Hi all,

I don't think I made one single coherent worthwhile contribution to the
list yet, but that never stopped me! Besides, we wouldn't want Mark to
feel alone, now would we? Perhaps he gets all warm and fuzzy knowing that
there is another Dutchmen on this list...:)
  Enough rambling. Andrea Lynn Rossillon <rossillo@students.uiuc.edu>
wrote:
>> Disqualifying "yonic" because it has a suffix from a different
language isn't valid; there are lots of words in English that combine
words from more than one language to create a new English word;
unfortunately, I can't think of one right now, which might seem to
invalidate my defense, but believe me, they do exist! <<
To quote Churchill (I think): "Television - the word is half Greek, half
Latin, so nothing good can come of it."
Andrea also wrote:
>> But just to make me a true hypocrite, I really, really hate "impact" as a
verb.  It's "affect", dammit! <<
To quote Calvin (from Calvin & Hobbes): "Verbing weirds language."
  Which neatly brings me to another point: strange band names. A friend's
band was once called Weirdos From Another Planet! (the title of one of the
Calvin & Hobbes comic books) - reading it as I type it, it's probably
been the name of a Thomas Dolby song already. The abbreviation WFAP! is
lovely onomatopeeic (spelling?), though.
  And finally thanks to Mitch Friedman for the info on Fuzzy Warbles and
kudos to Derek for his lovely ES desktop theme.

Back to lurking,

Martin

------------------------------

Message-ID: <19990218182320.27136.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "Amanda Owens" <daveizgod@hotmail.com>
Subject: AUGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 12:23:20 CST

New Orleans? Did you say New Orleans?!?!?!?!?!? Be still my heart!
That's it, I'm calling in sick to work and I am scouring the town!

Tis all for now,
Amanda C. Owens
"People will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with
welcome written on it."-Andy Partridge
XTC song of the day-Dear Madum Barnum
non-XTC song-New York Minute-Don Henley

------------------------------

Message-ID: <36CC2CE1.4F2B@bhip.infi.net>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:08:40 +0000
From: Brian <mattone@bhip.infi.net>
Subject: XTC on the radio

Tschalkgerz!

>From the number of posts lately about Tschalkgfolkgs
hearing new XTC on various radio stations around the country, you'd
think (considering that it's XTC) that something interesting is bubbling
below the surface and is getting ready to boil over... is it possible
that the story of the saga of XTC over the last seven years has gotten
around and has been noticed and reacted to (positively) by the radio
powers-that-be?

I'm gonna have to get on my local 'alternative' station's case and find
out if they have any plans to play XTC.

--
 BRIAN THOMAS MATTHEWS
* Digital & traditional illustration/animation
* Caricaturist-for-hire
* RENDERMAN ~ One-Man Band Ordinaire
SAPRINGER CENTRAL ~ http://www.angelfire.com/fl/sapringer
mailto:mattone@bhip.infi.net

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 12:02:28 -0800 (PST)
From: Recreational Evil <jemiah@q7.com>
Subject: Don't Diss Duran Duran
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.990218115353.21045H-100000@q7.q7.com>

On Thu, 18 Feb 1999 Nicole wrote:

> >An excellent idea, inserting that Duran Duran get-out clause. Covered
> yourself nicely there...<
>
> To reitterate what Molly said a while back:
> Some of us like Duran Duran. Okay... so they are not that talented
> or cerebral... for me, its more nostalgia. That is was played when I
> was young... It doesn't mean I hold the belief that you are not aloud
> to think they totally suck shit. I just thought I'd play antagonist
> to you.

Er, may I play the devil's advocate and put forth the notion that Duran
actually ARE talented?  I don't just like them because of nostalgia -- I
like them because they write interesting songs and play them expertly.
Kind of the same way I feel about XTC, actually.

> Ah... well. Let's be Mollyfied and please not generalize.
> Metal is about as bad as your beloved hip-hop.

Ouch!  You wound me!  Not that I'm not used to supposedly open-minded,
erudite music fans dismissing one of the most varied and fantastic genres
around today.  that's like saying "all music with a guitar solo in it
sucks".  Yes, a lot of it does -- but almost all music available in your
average store does.  Don't diss it, don't dismiss it.  If you don't like
it, OK -- but try some first, and see how it feels on your palate.  I used
to hate all rap/hip-hop, then I found some that I like.  See?  It's easy!

GW wanted to know:
> Anyone know where I can obtain a copy of this Harold Budd/Andy Partridge
> collaboration released in 1994 on Gyroscope Records?  Kindly reply directly
> to me.

Try Gyroscope's web page?  BTW that album is excellent and every
Chalkhiller should own it -- unless you think that all music that contains
piano and spoken-word poetry is no good.  Trust me, it's at least as good
as heavy metal.

I only post to Chalkhills about three times a year, I've been on this list
for seven years (eight years...?  John?...) and I seem to write the same
post every time.  One of these days I'll stop getting my knickers in a
bunch when people put down Duran Duran and/or hip-hop (usually in the same
post).  OK, so I'm weird.  But close-mindedness has never really helped
anyone, as far as I can tell.

	----------------------------------------------------------------
Alizarine          jemiah@q7.com     jemiah@netnoir.net      ICQ:24726572
    I am human and I need to be loved just like everybody else does

------------------------------

Message-ID: <19990218202413.25063.qmail@hotmail.com>
From: "David Pardue" <davidpardue@hotmail.com>
Subject: we're the kids in America, whoa-oa.
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:24:12 EST

>From Richard Pedretti-Allen (spelt as you please):
>p.s. Lame-ass Lyric of the Moment:  "Just a small town boy, born and
>raised in South Detroit..."  (THERE IS NO "SOUTH" DETROIT!!

I'm reminded of mine own favorite lame-ass geographical reference, from
Kim Wilde ("Kids in America"): "From New York to East California..."

Kim is clearly pinpointing a major youth uprising eminating from the
sprawling urbanity of Death Valley and the Mohave desert.

Yours, relaxing in the undertow of Boston's East End,

David, glub, glub.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s6cc39ba.062@dineout.org>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 16:02:56 -0500
From: "Jason Hauser" <JHAUSER@dineout.org>
Subject: I feel like Frivilous Tonight, like Frivilous Tonight!

Richard Penske-Andretti Allen said:  p.s. Lame-ass Lyric of the Moment:
"Just a small town boy, born and raised in South Detroit..." (THERE IS NO
"SOUTH" DETROIT!! SOUTH OF DETROIT IS WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA!!) -who else
would ejaculate such drivel but Journey - "Don't Stop Believing" (or some
such hooey)
This is the same song that had the classic lyric, simply wailed,
"Streetlight Peopullll ull ull ULLLLLLLL"

Dan Wiencek said:  "Day of release" ... God, I hope that isn't some punning
Freudian slip ...
That's just funny, and deserves repeating.  Funny with a ph.

Francis Heaney about "Greenman":
Maybe it will be the "Kashmir" of the '90s.
You, sir, are simply irrisistible.  But I'd settle for "I'd Like That" being
the "Mayor of Simpleton" of the 90's.

And Harrison mentioned gorse surrounding the Horse at Uffington.  Can't be
bad!  I love my gorse down pillows.  The sound of the trickling stream of
blood is ever so idyllic.

As for the survey, I put my vote in for the updated song book.  Maybe an
illustrated one, like the one I used to have of all the Beatles songs.  Alan
something or other had different artists do their portrayal of what the song
means to them.  That would be excellent.

And finally, Greenman, purveyor of all things clover colored, has the power
of money, forestation, pea soup, Kermit the Frog, and Michael Stipe's
mascara at his disposal.  The coke addled, 50 state collectible, child
beating (wooden), and post coital bliss symbol Spoonman stands no chance.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <199902182119.WAA10806@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 22:30:40 +0000
Subject: New Publicity Pix

Dear Chalkers,

Just a short message to let you all know that i've put a set of
three large, full-colour and beautiful new AV1 publicity shots in the
Picture Gallery on my site (see below for the URL )

yours in xtc,

Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
 http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
     or http://come.to/xtc

------------------------------

Message-ID: <i+UG7BAAxHz2Iw3g@coopefamily.demon.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 20:46:56 +0000
From: KT <Katy@coopefamily.demon.co.uk>
Subject: apple venus vol 1

Just like to grin insanely and say..
"I got a copy of it! BWAHAHAHAH!!!"
A very VERY good mate got a copy off a reviewer freind, so mine is not
such great recoding quality. I've only listened to it once, but I will
again VERY soon, because I like all of it (except 'river of orchids')
and it's sure to really grow on me..
I'm very happy now, just need a CD copy....
--
Katy Coope      YAY!!!!!

------------------------------

Message-Id: <l03110704b2f2366f91ad@[206.173.241.126]>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 13:52:37 -0800
From: Eb <gondola@deltanet.com>
Subject: AV review

There's an Apple Venus review at the AllStar/Music Boulevard site at
http://www5.rocktropolis.com/main/allstar/reviews.asp?artid=5627. The
reviewer gives it a 6/10...perhaps a bit stingy. (I'd give it a 7 or 8,
myself.)

Eb

PS  BNL: possibly THE most repulsive band on gawd's green earth. As ever, I
love to quote the brilliantly pithy BNL description in the new Trouser
Press Guide: "as cute as a baby, and as appealing as a loaded diaper."
Perfect.

------------------------------

From: Jdmack01@aol.com
Message-ID: <49c4e65e.36cc8e7a@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 17:04:42 EST
Subject: Remember when. . . ?

Remember when a lot of people on this list got excited about the idea of
directly sending the lads some money to help them through their difficult
times?  For those of you who were in favor of this, now is your chance!!
Simply buy multiple copies of "AV1" when it comes out next week.  You will
definitely help fatten their thin wallets, and you will also be helping to
insure that "AV1" has as high a chart position as possible.

As I've said before, I'm fairly certain that if we all buy it the first week
it comes out, we can push this album into the upper reaches of the charts,
which will attract attention, and probably lead to more sales than they would
have had otherwise.

	CHARGE!!!!

J. D.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s6cc4daf.027@gwia.nwf.org>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 17:01:08 -0500
From: "TOM GRIFFIN" <GRIFFIN@nwf.org>
Subject: Andy in Buffalo/Toronto

This message is to the person who was bemoaning the fact that AP will be in
Toronto, but not Buffalo:  I remember reading somewhere here that Andy will
be in Buffalo on the 27th (the same date that you say he is to be in
Toronto).  In fact, I wrote it on my calendar.  Perhaps he will be in one
city in the afternoon and the other in the evening.  They're not that far
away from eachother.

    All I know is that if he is in those places I plan to be there.  Looks
like I'll be seeing him in Chicago on the 25th and (if it is true) in
Toronto & Buffalo on the 27th.

     So who doesn't think XTC fans are like Deadheads.  If I didn't have a
job I'd follow the who signing tour.  I'll probably the the next twisted fan
that Andy fears (Another Satellite 2 perhaps?).  Just kidding.

     Recently herd Blue Beret for the first time & can't get it out of my
head!  Only 4 days!   -Tom

------------------------------

From: SLEDZNH@aol.com
Message-ID: <4e43d956.36ccdeb1@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 22:46:57 EST
Subject: Andy in Boston!?!?!

Fellow Chalkhilians,

I just saw that Andy will be at Tower Records in Boston on 2/24!   This is
awesome news, I expect to be clearing my schedule and traveling down from NH
then and hope other New England-area friends from this list will too.   Good
opportunity to wear my Chalkhills t-shirt (thanks, Phil C).

I haven't posted in a while but just want to say a quick note of thanks to
some very cool people out there on this list.  Reading all the posts lately
leading up to AV1's release date is pretty exciting.

See ya,
~Jim

------------------------------

Message-ID: <36CCE5FA.4B44@heraldonline.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 23:18:02 -0500
From: BPeschel@heraldonline.com (Bill Peschel)
Organization: The Herald
Subject: LA Times review

Greetings Chalkers;

The L.A. Times weighed in on your favorite album of the year. Their
Record Rack review is short, so here it is in its entirety:

XTC ``Apple Venus Volume 1'' (TVT) 3 1/2 stars.
	After a seven-year hiatus, English pop eccentrics Andy Partridge and
Colin Moulding return with an acoustic-orchestral collection (due
Tuesday) that recalls XTC's many pastoral moments. Lush, complex
melodies color moods ranging from giddy (``I'd Like That'') to pensive
(``I Can't Own Her''), but Partridge's wicked wordplay fails him on the
sour ``Your Dictionary.'' Coming from the author of such double-edged
pop gems as ``Dear God,'' this pointed rebuke of an unfaithful wife is
surprisingly flat-footed.
Natalie Nichols

Sincerely,

-- Bill Peschel
Book page editor, Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald

------------------------------

Message-Id: <199902190426.UAA07445@f25.hotmail.com>
From: "Bob Crain" <bobcrain@hotmail.com>
Subject: Questioningly...Philadelphia? Andy Live? Radio?
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 20:26:15 PST

Greenwomen and Greenmen,

Man, the dedication of those on the list to XTC has got me in tears!

<img src="watersquirtingoutofmyeyesinajetlikethatofawaterpik.gif">

Question 1:  Please answer quickly, where and what time
             in Philadelphia on Monday, February 22??

Question 2:  If everyone stops asking Andy if he will play live,
             might he eventually feel like doing it on his own?

Question 3:  Do I now feel, after having listened to it more than
             a few times, that "I'd Like That" has a chance on
             US radio?

The only question I have an answer for is #3, and the answer is
"very much yes".

<img src="grinninglikeadroolingsockmonkeyoncrack.gif">

-Bob Crain

------------------------------

From: OMBEAN1@aol.com
Message-ID: <feeed7c8.36ccedbc@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 23:51:08 EST
Subject: Colins voice

Greetings Chalkheads,
  Colins gruffy voice is a highlight on AV1. It makes "Frivolous" so much
better. It definitely is one of the better songs.Although I am kind of
offended by the hairy back comment. I am a human being!
 Anyone have more info on the Philly appearance? There last appearance had a
line two blocks long.
 Down in the cockpit, Roger

------------------------------

From: "Neil Oliver" <lizneil@netcom.ca>
Subject: Wall of Sound, Feb. 18/98
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 22:29:52 -0800
Message-ID: <000001be5bd1$4322d000$6949b5cf@default>

XTC Singer Discusses Public Appearances

As its long-frustrated fans well know, the British group XTC doesn't tour -
at least not in the conventional sense. But to support Apple Venus Volume 1,
its first album of new material in seven years, the group's Andy Partridge
and Colin Moulding are coming across the pond for two weeks of promotion and
personal appearances.
Don't, however, expect to actually hear them play any songs.
"It's not going to be anything performance-wise," says Partridge, who
expects to do several in-store autograph sessions, and perhaps read some
passages from the book XTC: The Exclusive Authorized Story Behind the Music.
"There's not going to be any acoustic guitars in evidence or anything like
that. It's just a visitation; we're gonna be descending from Olympus to cure
the odd leper. But, really, it's just us talking to radio stations and that
type of thing."
It'll be a pretty full slate, though. The duo arrives Thursday (Feb. 18) in
Atlanta, where the next day it will film an episode of the cable TV show
Space Ghost Coast to Coast. The only public appearance set so far is an
in-store at Tower Records in New York City on Feb. 23, the day the album is
released. The visit also has the group hitting New Orleans, Philadelphia,
Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Buffalo, Denver, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
In other XTC news, Partridge has given permission to rapper Willie D,
formerly of the Geto Boys, to reinterpret the first verse (the part the
little girl sings) of XTC's 1987 hit "Dear God" on his upcoming solo
album. - Gary Graff
XTC promotional appearances
February
Feb. 18 - Atlanta, Ga.
Feb. 21 - New Orleans, La.
Feb. 22 - Philadelphia, Pa.
Feb. 23 - New York, N.Y.
Feb. 24 - Boston, Mass.
Feb. 25 - Chicago, Ill.
Feb. 26 - Toronoto, Canada
Feb. 27 - Buffalo, N.Y.
Feb. 28 - Denver, Colo.
March
March 2 - San Francisco, Calif.
March 3 - Los Angeles, Calif.
March 4 - Los Angeles, Calif.
March 5 - Los Angeles, Calif.

------------------------------

Message-ID: <36CD327F.43B8938F@theramp.net>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 03:44:31 -0600
From: Jeff Day <sebdoh@theramp.net>
Organization: Wyanet,  IL.  61379
Subject: Chicago 99

Hi everyone!
I hate to admit it but I haven't been the devoted XTC that I once was
the last few years. Since the new album is coming out I am back to
spending hours at the computer trying to find out all I can about the
boys. I was really sad to see Dave leaving the group but should have
known it was only a matter of time. Anyhow to get on to the  reason Why
I am writing this. Myself and a couple of friends of mind (Jim and
Virginia Lovejoy) hosted the 1993 XTC Music and Friends Convention. We
will be coming to Chicago to see Andy and would like to do as a few
people have already said, meet up somewhere after the Event! I would
love to see some of the 93 attendees. I can't think of anywhere good to
go so I am hoping someone from Chicago could suggest a pub local to the
Event location that we could all meet. The only place I can think of at
the moment is a place called Pippin's. It is a couple of blocks off of
Michigan and has nothing to do with Scotty. (du Bulls) I did good there
so far. I got to meet Joe Jackson and talk to him there. It would be a
great place but if there are any Chicago people on the list that can
suggest some place better I am open to suggestions. Hope to see you in
Chicago!!
Jeff Day

------------------------------

Message-Id: <199902190953.JAA18525@mailhost.dircon.co.uk>
Subject: In my Shed
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 99 09:56:49 +0000
From: John Morrish <morrish@dircon.co.uk>

Re: the Taj Mahal/Shed controversy

>>> In other words, why The Taj Mahal first, and the garden shed later?

>>Exactly! I've wondered about this myself and i think it just might
>>have something to do with the age and content of the material.

>>Most of the AV1 material is quite old by now and it was written
>>during difficult times. my guess is that Andy wanted to get this
>>lot out of the way and off his chest first.

Mark Strijbos' supposition is exactly right. Andy told me just the other
week that the new record represents material written and conceived in
1992-94. The next one will be made up of songs written between 1994-96.

We all tend to see Partridge as a wildly fizzing  Catherine wheel of
inspiration, but he is actually quite careful about using as much of his
material as he can and in a coherent fashion. He also said that the current
albums has several songs pertaining to his divorce. The next one is supposed
to go beyond that to represent the subsequent "Stupidly Happy" phase in his
life (and love-life).

It would be wrong to run away with the idea that the orchestral style of the
thing was vastly expensive. Although he would have liked more time, Andy
only got one day in Abbey Road with his orchestra. But he had spent many
months before that arranging it (and commissioning and discarding
arrangements) and would spend many more months afterwards rejigging it all
in Haydn Bendall's Mac.

I gather the day in question cost #12,500, which only represents about a
fortnight in the studio fiddling with ProTools. And in terms of tone colour,
it was definitely worth it, even though the orchestra were unable to
replicate the original sequencer riff in River of Orchid or Greenman: for
those parts, it ends up being used as a very expensive sample.

Ted Harms said:
>>>Thanks to a kind soul for tipping us to Andy's in-store appearances.
It's
>>>too bad Colin isn't coming along - love to ask him knob-dweeb questions
>>>about strings and amps...
Sadly, I don't think you'd get much joy out of Colin about all that. In the
early days he was notorious for his lack of interest in equipment. Really,
Dave's your man for that stuff (sigh...) Anyway, he is currently putting
together a website which will cater quite nicely for those of us who like
that kind of thing. It will also have the definitive

Francis Heaney said:
>>>it's particularly unfortunate they
>>didn't do the electric album first, because there would've been more for
>>Dave to do and he might not have quit the band.

This is very astute. Partridge seems to be in denial about it all now, but
they used to have a great deal of fun making their records, even as late as
Nonsuch. Indeed, humour was probably the most important thing with them,
with music a close second. Despite the "stage fright", Andy is the kind of
person who puts on a show when the fridge door opens, and their earlier
records gained immeasurably from him performing with Dave and Colin as the
appreciative, if sceptical, audience.

>> But you never know --
>>maybe Colin will talk some sense into those two irascible fellows.  If
>>Bruce Thomas would work with Elvis Costello again after Elvis wrote the
>>scathing "How to Be Dumb" about him, anything is possible.
Also, Bruce Thomas wrote a rude little *roman a cle* about their life on the
road, in which Costello is caricatured as The Singer. So a lot of the
simmering resentment was brought out into the open.

But I wouldn't be holding my breath about Andy and Dave, if I were you.
There are a lot of contractual loose ends not tied yet, for a start. And
Andy is doing a month of interviews in the States, each of which will give
him another chance to explain precisely why he now thinks Dave was negative,
uncreative and "a panic buy with no guarantee".

This last comes from an exhaustive piece in the current Mojo. Well worth a
read, if only to discover a little bit more about the notorious Swindon
managerial Liarbird...

John Morrish

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s6cd479a.080@parliament.uk>
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 11:13:40 +0000
From: Dominic Lawson <LAWSOND@parliament.uk>
Subject: I Am Weeping As I Write This...

>>You are making a mistake that I'm surprised someone of your obvious
worldliness and intelligence should.

You charmer! Go on then, I can take it....

>>You seem to be judging the band
based on one song!

Nope, just judging one song, but carry on....

>>Barenaked Ladies have an extensive catalog of
music... four studio albums, a fantastic live CD, a couple of EP's and
some singles, most of which, IMHO are exceptional in quality.

Sigh. OK, I was just saying that I can't see what's so good about that song
which they've got out at the moment. I've heard other BNL stuff before, and
although it struck me as a bit inane for my tastes (IMHO, yeah, whatever) I
can totally understand their appeal. The relentless chirpiness is a bit
sickening, and not a little contrived, but the world needs more bands who
smile occasionally so no harm done there. The specific song I referred to,
on the other hand, is desperately unoriginal and far less infectious than
they obviously think it is.  And it's on the radio CONSTANTLY.....I don't
want to diss one of your favourite bands, but they just don't caress my
plums in the required manner.

>>Additionally, they are a funny bunch of gents and some of their stories
and interviews remind me a little of our own Mr. Partridge.

Hmmmm. I heard them being interviewed on Radio 1 and they were "mildly
amusing" at best, but I'll take your word for it.

>>It doesn't mean I hold the belief that you are not aloud
to think they (Duran Duran) totally suck shit

Which they do. By the way, did that mean that I'm allowed to think, aloud
to think, or allowed to think aloud? Mummy!

>>Metal is about as bad as your beloved hip-hop.

Right, who wants a fight? Come on!! COME ON!!!!!!!

(Yes, I think you may have missed the point there.)

I don't know, it's like discussing irony with that Morrissette bloke. Only
harder.

On a more interesting note, BLOODY FANTASTIC OR WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to the dazzling gorgeousness of our very own Jill Oleson, I had my
first listen to AV1 last night. That's the end of those underpants then.
Seriously, anyone who finds themselves disappointed with AV1 should do the
decent thing and take a Haliborange overdose, because despite only having
heard the complete thing twice, I can predict with some confidence that
this is the best XTC album since "Skylarking" and easily the best pop album
I've heard for years. In the words of our Lord, FUCK YEAH!!!!!

More later, when I've played it a hundred times and irritated the lovely
Deborah to the point of madness.....

Salut!

Dom.

------------------------------

End of Chalkhills Digest #5-95
******************************

Go back to Volume 5.

20 February 1999 / Feedback