Chalkhills Digest Volume 5, Issue 99
Date: Tuesday, 23 February 1999
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 5, Number 99
Tuesday, 23 February 1999
Today's Topics:
Bad News
a really high thing
yet another new one!
Re: Cunning Stunt
Re: Electric Light Orchestra
Three days early
A grown man weeps
"I'd Like That" on Ottawa radio
Jam contest & Boston Herald interview
OMIGOD! It's a-comin'!!!
AV 1
sorry to state the obvious but ...
Shirt Stories with Andy
Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow
Re: incomprehensible
Mr. Man
Signal Ad
XT-Sucks?
desperate rap jokes
New Rock vs. New Wave pt.1
No Subject
That radio show.
Sheer bliss
Andy's Afterglow in Chicago
It's here!
Apple V song-by-song
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 17:00:43 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <199902240100.RAA02700@mando.engr.sgi.com> From: John Relph <relph@engr.sgi.com> Subject: Bad News Hey folks, As they say, "when it rains it pours". On this, of all days, Chalkhills had a problem, and all messages sent to the list between midnight PST last night (8am GMT) and 3pm PST (11pm GMT) were lost. Ouch. So if you feel your message was important, please send it in again. On this, of all days. Must be Murphy's Law at work. I am so very very sorry. But at least I got to hear the album this morning... -- John
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990222155022.4528.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "frederick rains" <f_rains@hotmail.com> Subject: a really high thing Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 07:50:21 PST Hello, my name is Fred and I've been a big fan of the band since '86 or so. That's something, considering I was 14 at the time and everybody I knew was either into Robbie Nevil or the Beastie Boys. Anywho, I haven't been this excited for a new album to come out by a band since REM followed up "Green" with "Out of Time". I've been dying to hear the on-line samples, but apart from the liquid audio "I'd like that", my computer at work (and the only computer I have access to) won't play anything. However, the magazine CMJ does include "I'd like That" on a CD sampler. I'm pretty much resolved to go out tonight to my local Wherehouse Records and buy Apple Venus at midnight, even though I have to get up for work at 4:30 am tomorrow. (RRRRGGGHH!)I know it's going to be good (Hell, it's going to be great just to hear new material after so long), and I look forward to any appearance they may make on TV. Any word on if a video has been done or where to catch it? Sure wish Andy could make it up here, but as I do not drive and the San Fran stop is in the middle of the week, that would be high on the unlikely list. Who knows what the future brings? Maybe when Vol.2 rolls around (later this year?)Andy and Colin might pop in at the cities they missed this time around. Well, thanks for reading and good day! Yes sir, yes sir, 3 bags full sir... FLWR
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 04:38:48 -0600 From: Nicole Malmquist <nevina@bresnanlink.net> Subject: yet another new one! Message-ID: <19990222103503.AAA2089@pronell.bresnanlink.net> Another newbie joining in on the madness here. I've actually been reading the digests on the Chalkhills site for the past month or so, but finally decided to take the plunge and actually subscribe. Not that you'll hear from me more than once a month, I'm a lurker by nature. As far as age goes, I will be 25 on the 25th (and what a lovely birthday gift my hubby IS going to buy and give me 2 days early, if he knows what's good for him). Life would be grand if I could somehow be magically be transported to Chicago for my birthday, but alas, Minnesota is an unescapable force. I guess I've been listening to XTC since I was about 8 and my radio station played Making Plans for Nigel all the time. I guess I had good taste even back then, haha. The other singles came and went, I enjoyed them all but I guess my interest reached critical mass with Peter Pumpkinhead. I was a senior in high school and finally said "enough is enough, I've grown up with these guys" and bought Nonsuch. I really got into about half of it, couldn't quite grasp the rest, and bought used copies of Skylarking and O&L that were listened to once or twice before being tossed into the "someday I'll get to these, maybe" pile. Lucky, in mid-1998 either VH1 or MuchMusic ran a marathon of "every" video in their collection. Yeah right. I was personally watching for They Might Be Giants, who of course didn't make an appearance. They reached the letter X and I got to see the video for Dear God for the first time in many years, which led me to pull out Skylarking for another try. I was quietly listening at work when suddenly it HIT me full in the brain, I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing a near thesis for the rest of my shift on the various themes, plots, and connections. I flew home after work and grabbed my other two albums ravenously, and the rest is history. Since then I've purchased copies of Upsy Daisy, Go2, and Waxworks. I've seen several others around town but I'll have to work through the pain of not being able to afford them right now due to my work hours being cut in half and having had surgery recently. It'll be a slow process, but I will own them all. I'm particularly interested in finding English Settlement which doesn't seem to exist in this town, because of the many mentions it received on the "fav albums of all time" poll on the mailing list for The Church to which I also belong. In closing I'll just say that it's physically impossible for me to sit still while listening to Across This Antheap, that my hubby doesn't like XTC but I've had good results getting him to admit he likes bands that he hated at first (Radiohead and Pulp come to mind), and that since I only post once a century I don't feel *quite* as bad about this being so long. Ta, a different Nicole, sorry (now playing: Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen) -- tshirtqueen@geocities.com http://www.geocities.com/wellesley/3925 "And if you must put me in a box, make sure it's a big box with lots of windows, and a door to walk through" (Dan Bern) w.a.s.t.e.r #14946
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <ee156c65.36d14272@aol.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 06:41:38 EST Subject: Re: Cunning Stunt >Oh, and could someone explain what's so damn exciting about that Barenaked >Ladies song? I gather that we're supposed to be impressed by the singer's >verbal dexterity, but since you could pick ANY decent Hip Hop album from >the last six years and find numerous examples of vastly superior vocal >technique, with (it has to be said) immensely superior (and far more >extensive, therefore harder to memorize) lyrics, I was wondering whether >I'd missed some essential ingredient in the BNL listening experience. Any >thoughts? >Moan, moan and thrice moan. >Dom. I just got the album in question and listened to it once; "One Week" is undeniably catchy, but anyone who's been a fan from the beginning(I'm on the periphery; I have and love Gordon, but I found the followup Maybe You Should Drive disappointing, and only heard one song from the third album Born On A Pirate Ship; I found the harder-hitting rock sound of "The Old Apartment" jarring and didn't investigate further)could tell you it's the worst song on the album. It's like judging XTC after just hearing "The Disappointed" or "King For A Day."As for the rest of the album, it's pretty much updated Beatlesque pop-rock, as in Revolver and Yesterday and Today, pretty much. Their famous madcap humor is somewhat muted but the album is still the only top 40 pop product I've enjoyed at all this year(the other being Sheryl Crow's album; I wasn't a fan up until now, but I fell in love with "My Favorite Mistake" and assumed the album was just as good; it's even produced by the dreaded Tchad Blake, a recent contentious subject on this list. It doesn't sound at all like the Finn Bros album, more like a Mitchell Froom pop production, Crowded House, for example.). Chris
------------------------------ From: CCooli9575@aol.com Message-ID: <e18b484e.36d14277@aol.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 06:41:43 EST Subject: Re: Electric Light Orchestra >I will tell you one thing about ELO: >Their song "One summer dream" is as good as anything XTC have EVER done. >(And XTC is my favourite band) It's from one of their early albums, I >can find out if anyone is interested. >joe I was never a huge ELO fan, but they're not entirely worthless, IMO; anybody who used to be a member of both The Move and The Idle Race(whose album The Birthday Party qualified them as the XTC of the mid-60's British pop scene, both musically and lyrically; listen to it and Skylarking back to back and you may see a connection)has to have at least a little talent. Jeff Lynne's problem was he fell victim to the vacuousness of the 70's; consequently most of his material for ELO was musically clever but lacked lyrical depth. Most ELO albums have at least one pretty Beatlesque ballad as good as "One Summer Dream" or "Shangri-La," or at least one rocker as good as "Ma-ma-ma Belle" or "Rockaria!," though. With the possible exception of their last three or four albums on; starting with '79's Discovery they dispensed with the string trio, which was the most original thing about them. Without the strings they were just another catchy pop band with silly lyrics, though I remember hearing a song from their second-to-last album in '83, "Rock And Roll Is King," which was a pretty good Jerry Lee Lewis rip. I think they'd even brought back the strings for that album. I thought Discovery was such a lame album, though, that I didn't pay attention to what they were doing much after that, and their even lamer decision to do a soundtrack album with Olivia Newton-John turned me off even further.(kind of like Robbie Robertson producing a Neil Diamond album in the late 70's'; it was supposed to make Diamond look hip but it made Robertson look like a mercenary) Chris
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36D13F4B.77DC@wxs.nl> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 12:28:11 +0100 From: Ellen von der Linden/Leon Tolboom <elleon@wxs.nl> Organization: World Access Subject: Three days early Dear Chalkers, Our dear friend Mark Strijbos probably has so much influence in the world of XTC, that AV1 was already in our Dutch stores on saturday! You'll all know what a difference it makes to have The Album three days earlier... As usual, the songs I wasn't familiar with had to grow on me and (also as usual) keep growing and growing (like a sunflower...). I sincerely hope that you'll all get your own copies in time and will experience that same sensational feeling of ecstasie! Still dazzled but smiling, Leon Tolboom.
------------------------------ From: "Edward Percival" <epercival@meshplc.co.uk> Subject: A grown man weeps Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 17:32:21 -0000 Message-ID: <001101be5e89$4d79a1e0$4e01a8c0@M60443.mesh.internal> I was due to get a free copy of AV tomorrow, but I couldn't wait so at lunchtime today rushed to Virgin magastore in Brent Cross and paid cold hard cash! I then sat in my car in a multi storey car park and listened to the finished article for the first time. It brought tears to my eyes. Having had the demos for a year or so I did not have high hopes for AV1. How wrong I was. This is a truly stunning record, easily the best they've done on the basis of the first listening. It's smooth and very accessible. I was so involved that I turned up half an hour late for my next meeting, but with a huge grin on my face. Thankyou XTC. It was well worth the wait. PS. The Sunday Times gave AV1 record of the week status and a glowing review.
------------------------------ Message-id: <fc.000f4ca3001e2506000f4ca3001e2506.1e254f@cfrb.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 14:06:02 -0500 Subject: "I'd Like That" on Ottawa radio From: rgreenham@thebear.net (Rich Greenham) Hello all. For everyone in the Ottawa listening area -- "I'd Like That" makes its debut on 106.9 The Bear tonight @ nine o'clock in the "Fresh BearTracks" show. I'd love to take the credit for this -- but our Music Director, Kath Thompson, is an XTC fan as well. Maybe my running around the station in a state of bliss with a perma-grin on my face also had something to do with it as well -- so I'll take a wee bit of credit! This is so cool! Hopefully, this will reach all interested parties in time for tonight's show. Rich ps. Here's a little XTC game I like to play when I have nothing better to do -- it's called "XTC Shoulda Been on the Soundtrack To..." Like XTC shoulda been on the soundtrack to Antz with "Across This Antheap"... Or on the Titanic soundtrack with "Wait 'Til Your Boat Goes Down" -- anything's better than that Celine Dion dreck -- makes me embarassed to be Canadian! Anyways -- that's my contribution for today -- play amongst yourselves...
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36D1A679.AC058376@ci.conover.nc.us> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 13:48:25 -0500 From: erik schlichting <eriks@ci.conover.nc.us> Subject: Jam contest & Boston Herald interview The Boston Herald website has an interview w/ Mr. P.: http://www.bostonherald.com/bostonherald/entr/xtc02181999.htm and the Jam website has a "ask Mr. P. a question" contest: http://www.canoe.ca/JamTrivia/home_xtc.html
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36D1E25D.238@schoollink.net> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 15:03:57 -0800 From: Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> Organization: CIC Subject: OMIGOD! It's a-comin'!!! Hey all!! -- Just went to the CD Universe website to check the status of my XTC order and it said "shipped." I WILL NOW DO THE DANCE OF JOY!!!!! Jeez, this is getting to be TOO exciting, you know? I don't know if I'll get to sleep tonight knowing that the new album is just within my reach! I LOVE IT!!! :-) THIS IS SUCH A GREAT TIME TO BE AN XTC FAN!!! Let the countdown begin!!!!! Later -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ /Dan Phipps <phipps@schoollink.net> "Imagination like a muscle will increase with exercise." (Peter Blegvad)
------------------------------ Subject: AV 1 Message-ID: <19990219.152620.8231.1.nightmusic1@juno.com> From: Steve M Ransom <nightmusic1@juno.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 15:23:10 EST Well, I got my copy of Apple Venus Vol. 1 a day early and it's just beautiful. The vocals lack the immediacy of the demos but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I'm surprised and dissappointed that there are no lyrics included. Enjoy. (The imported vinyl should be available in the US this Thursday) Steve rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
------------------------------ Message-ID: <000101be5ea4$66299040$2139ac3e@default> From: "David McGuinness" <dmcg@btinternet.com> Subject: sorry to state the obvious but ... Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 20:45:34 -0000 I was in a room full of BBC music producers today, and I held up a copy of AV1 and said 'you must buy this - it's out today'. 'Oh yeah - is it good?' replies one. 'Well, it's flawed, but ...' 'Fab?' 'Flawed but fab' - I'd be happy with that on my gravestone. Anyway, as most of you will have realised by now, it's very good indeed. Shame they couldn't have spent more time and money on polishing the orchestral bits a little more, but what a bunch of songs. I'm working with the Kronos Quartet tomorrow (name-dropping) but I'll take a copy with me - I wonder if David Harrington's an XTC fan, he and Andy are both into Raymond Scott ... Sorry if this post is not up to my usual standard of coherence, but I'm so excited at finally hearing this bloody music I'm feeling Frivolous Tonight. -David dmcg@btinternet.com
------------------------------
Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990222141007.00889490@pophost.micron.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 14:10:07 -0700
From: Phil Corless <philco@micron.net>
Subject: Shirt Stories with Andy
I'd like to ask a favor of all who are traveling to see Andy & Colin
and will be wearing your Chalkhills shirts.....
After the event, email me with any comments that they made about
the shirts. Also, any interesting stories about finding other list
members because of the shirt.... Andy and Colin have already seen
the shirts, but I'd like to hear anything they have to say to you
about them.
Thanks!
Phil Corless
philco@micron.net
http://netnow.micron.net/~philco/
See my current eBay auctions:
http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=philkar
"I've seen the future. I can't afford it."
- Martin Fry
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990222210033.4066.rocketmail@web1.rocketmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 13:00:33 -0800 (PST) From: nross <phoenixyellowrose@rocketmail.com> Subject: Tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow By the time anyone reads this, we'll all probably have AV1, but its one more day for me... too long of a wait before I head into towers and buy buy buy. I just wanted to comment on one of my earlier comments about "Talent", especially concerning Duran Duran. Its not that I don't think they are talented at playing their music. Its not that I don't particularly like their songs (which, I do, for the most part). Its that I consider "talent" to be referred to the irreplaceable. Like, I think ANY group of big-haired, British-smoothedvoiced pretty-boys could have been Duran Duran. I don't think just anybody could have been XTC. The group needs both Colin and Andy (not to diss Dave... I think he was great,but I think XTC will still be XTC without him). To me, THAT is talent, to create music that could not have been created without being from that individual or goup of individuals. There is a lot of music out there that comes from TALENT, that I don't like. For instance, Dave Matthews. I don't like most of his songs. I still think he is very talented. Its unique and tightly played or "well executed". I just don't like it. There is a lot of music out there that I DO like, that I don't think comes from talent. That DAMN Natalie Imbruglia song. I like it. Is she talented (ie is she unique, or could it have been anyone)... not in my opinion. Well, I think I've stated my point. Gonna run.-Nicole
------------------------------ Message-Id: <l03110708b2f774b22c0d@[206.173.208.114]> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 13:16:49 -0800 From: Eb <gondola@deltanet.com> Subject: Re: incomprehensible >From: "John Boudreau" <aso1@mocha.ocn.ne.jp> > >Katy my dear, is it really true that you don't like River Of Orchids ? If >it IS, I find this truly incomprehensible . I don't like "River of Orchids" much either, to be honest. It's certainly ambitious and compositionally impressive, but it feels more like a "stunt" to me than an actual song. I'm reminded of a negative Steely Dan review I once read, where the writer griped that SD's songs communicated nothing to him beyond "Hey, get a load of THIS!" I have a similar feeling about "River of Orchids," though I do smile at those "mmmm"'s between lines -- a typical Partridge vocal decoration which defies all logic yet somehow works. (I also think "Fruit Nut" and "The Last Balloon" are notably underwhelming, as well as the lyrical halves of "Your Dictionary" and "I'd Like That." "Greenman", "I Can't Own Her" and a few other tracks are superb, however.) Eb
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990222214942.20812.rocketmail@send103.yahoomail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 13:49:42 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: Mr. Man Re: 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). * --------------------------------- Robyn Hitchcock's Balloon Man could join in, but Black Sabbath's Ironman would kick all their asses...
------------------------------
Message-Id: <199902222200.XAA24502@mail.knoware.nl>
From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl>
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 23:10:42 +0000
Subject: Signal Ad
Dear Chalkers,
Cooking Vinyl told us:
> We are hoping for a prominent UK chart position.
oooh, just thinking about it makes me feel all funny inside
> In a display of crass unchalkhillian commerciality I would like to ask
> for your help in this as it is all down to the number of sales we do in
> the shops next week!
Hear hear!
> What better Christmas present could you give someone than AV1?
> Do your Christmas shoping next week!
Or better still: get _all_ your presents next week, everybody will
love you for it! This album is so bloody fantastic it will convert
all your friends
Just one tiny question: do the copies that were sold through your
mail order devision count ?
PS: yesterday the 'sales rank' for Apple Venus at amazon.com was 62.
That is pretty high for a pre-order cd, and very high compared
to other XTC cd's they have on sale there.
If you add all the media attention, the rush to buy advance copies on
eBay and everything else, i think we can safely predict that this
album is going to have a bit of an impact on both sides of the
Atlantic.
Or am i only dreaming? Is this burning an eternal flame?
yours in xtc,
Mark Strijbos at The Little Lighthouse
http://www.knoware.nl/users/mmello/
or http://come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Message-ID: <001001be5eb0$9d8ad8d0$f06dcec0@t24806009694.DOA.STATE.LA.US> From: "John Voorhees" <griffon@earthling.net> Subject: XT-Sucks? Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 16:13:44 -0600 Paul vented for all of us... >Subj: Re: Show #17 >Date: 2/20/99 5:34:00 PM Eastern Standard Time >From: Xtckinks >To: sceneheard@dallasobserver.com >About your XTC comments, FUCK YOU, assholes! Obviously I agree with the sentiment, Paul, and thanks for getting me off my duff to actually listen to the offending material. Wow, they're a bunch of bitter vengeful pricks with lousy taste, aren't they? So they obviously expect a deluge of angry E-mail, and I didn't want to disappoint. Here's my little contribution to the stack of spleen. I sent it off today. ---------------------- 'Bout that Feb 17 show, guys... Obviously you knew you'd be getting a bit of mail about all the XTC dissing you guys did. And I'll get to my bitch about that soon enough, but first I need to thank you because your show is the first time I got to hear the song Frivolous Tonight all the way through. Likewise the live version of Respectable Street. So, thanks. I appreciate it. Now it's bitch time. First let me clear up any question about who's complaining here. I'm a 30 year old Louisiana native, so no cracks about the stupid Brit with no taste, all right? I swear, you dickweeds treat the word "British" like George Bush treated the word "Liberal". The dreaded "B" word. Of _course_ XTC are British. Duh. How thoroughly observant. And the British sitcoms on Public TV? By golly, they're British too! Two points on THAT observation. And it's obviously _terribly_ funny that XTC don't sound like a "normal" (read "derivative") rock band. You know, like Lynyrd Skynyrd. You guys really buy into the idea that music that sounds different is just plain wrong and laughable, don't you? You're a bunch of pathetic, pitiable freaks. You know that, right? The fact that you program a (fake) radio show in Dallas doesn't lower your LQ (Loser Quotient). Don't worry. I'm not expecting a group of esthetically deficient classic rock pinheads with microphones to appreciate a band with the slightest bit of subtlety. But it might be wiser not to actively bait your primary audience. Just a suggestion. Fact is, the cracks you made about XTC fandom can be easily applied to any discussion of any topic by obssessive fans. Any topic. Science fiction. Movies. Football. Madonna's Tits. Formula 1 Racing. Lynyrd Fucking Skynyrd. Of course, there just isn't that kind of enthusiasm for the work of those geniuses of Southern rock on the internet, is there? People just don't get that worked up over those guys, do they? Hmmm... does that mean that the redneck, cheap-beer-swilling fans of Skynyrd are just generally more reserved in their appreciation of the greatest thing to come out of Dixie? Or maybe whenever they try to express their adoration they keep puking beer onto the keyboard? Or maybe... it's just that no one gets that excited about Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hmmmm... I trust my point has been made. You have insulted me and a lot of other people who listened to you, and you did it in a methodical, conscious way. That's borderline evil, dudes. I sure as hell don't plan to listen to SceneHeard again, and I'm sure that doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to you. You're probably glad to be rid of an XTC lovin' freak like me. Fact is, it's no great sacrifice to me. I'd never listened to SceneHeard before, and wouldn't have known about it to listen, except that one of those fans you insulted pointed out where I could hear the song Frivolous Tonight in its entirety. Again, thanks for that. Great song. So, please pass on a message to your sponsors that you won and lost this listener inside of 10 minutes. I'm sure they'll be thrilled not to have any of my cash. It can't be worth anything. I mean, I listen to fuckin' XTC, fer chrissakes. Thanks for not living anywhere near me, John Voorhees griffon@earthling.net
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36D1D74E.3B679D9D@netwalk.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 17:16:46 -0500 From: Ian C Stewart <stewart@netwalk.com> Organization: http://come.to/autoreverse Subject: desperate rap jokes Willie D doing "Dear God"!?!?!?!? That is fucking priceless! The man who wrote the immortal lines: "I need bitches all kinda bitches to take of my shirt and pull down my britches" is going to use part of an XTC song?!?!?!? What's next....Busta Rhymes sampling "senses working overtime" (or even funnier, Busta covering "Iron Man" with Ozzy singing backup...no, wait.) And to Neal H. Buck, who suggested AP should go on LOVELINE: actually he already did in 1992, when it was still just a radio show in LA. Trust me, you'll wish you'd never heard Andy Partridge giving advice on foreplay to young girls over the phone. I sure as hell wish *I'd* never heard it... eeeeew. irrelevantly, Ian
------------------------------ Message-Id: <199902222232.PAA12997@access.tucson.org> From: "Jeff Smelser" <jsmelser@access.tucson.org> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 15:45:23 -0700 Subject: New Rock vs. New Wave pt.1 Hello Children of the Chalk: Being the day we've all been waiting for, (the release of a new XTC record), I figured it was my duty to post. > > there's nothing on [AV1] really suited to daytime Radio 1 < > which explains why many of us stopped listening to said radio station some > good while ago <sigh> Here, here! This is so true. It's good to see others were with me on this back in 1980. I just started listening to radio again last year to examine all this "New Rock," hooey. A lot of it is bad but most of it is just rehashed classic rock/new wave. There's nothing really NEW or groundbreaking about any of it. Wierd thing is: back in those early eighties, bands like XTC and other, "progressive," groups couldn't get played because there was no radio stations with the kind of format that could allow this music to be played. Now with the "new rock," stations out there, there's STILL no venue for this music because they view the "cutting edge bands of the new wave," as, 'old wave.' Not only did XTC put out a fantastic album this year, but Love and Rockets just did too; and I can't get my local new rock radio station to play songs from either album. And then over at the "classic rock," station, they're still so heavily steeped in their Molly Hatchet and 48 Special groove, that Pink Floyd is even too cerebral these days. Back to lurk mode, J D SMX
------------------------------ From: WWi8064839@aol.com Message-ID: <722dfc34.36d1cac3@aol.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 16:23:15 EST Subject: No Subject RE: xtckinks@aol.com >Here's a letter I sent to them, only moments ago. >... >To: sceneheard@dallasobserver.com >About your XTC comments, FUCK YOU, assholes! Well put! I don't believe the Bard himself could have stated it any better. :-) Yeah, I checked out their Real-blab at sceneheard; I listened as one of them said he plans on playing "Classic Rock" next week. Wow, how novel. I wonder which of his three brain cells he used up to come up with that idea. Listening to them reminded me of what might happen if I were pulled over by the cops and they found a copy of Apple Venus V1 in the car. "What's this? Oh, yeah, I remember when these guys ROCKED. Now they're sissies and they suck. I don't understand the new stuff, so let's go back to the songs from 20 years ago when they were punx!"
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36D1DDF5.5A2EFEB2@geocities.com> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 22:45:09 +0000 From: Robin Holden <rhoblidnen@geocities.com> Organization: RPHolden Software / Pathogen UK Subject: That radio show. Fellows, I listened to the fabled show and realised that these people are so insignificant that they're really not worth getting worked up about. If you hear the comments they make right after dragging XTC through the dirt, you realise that every other show is probably like this one. They just turn up, get stoned and think they're gods just because their voices are broadcast around the world. If they said those same comments at a dinner table, fists would fly. It's only because they're in the sanctuary of the studio that they feel able to say these things: nobody's going to answer back. Therefore, there's no need to pay them any more attention. -- Robin Holden (rhoblidnen@geocities.com) Check out Pathogen's Website: http://listen.to/pathogen
------------------------------ Message-ID: <36D1EA5C.C9B1B5AB@uni-bremen.de> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 00:38:05 +0100 From: Erich Sellheim <sellheim@uni-bremen.de> Subject: Sheer bliss Hello everyone, I've just listened to AV 1 (thanks, Wes!) and am absolutely stunned. So if by the most unlikely coincidence Andy or Colin should be reading these lines, I'd like to give you a million thanks for making an almost impossibly great and beautiful album. It's really fascinating to see the world's best band still getting better. Pushing my car from the road, Erich
------------------------------ Message-Id: <s6d1985c.002@wpo.it.luc.edu> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 17:47:41 -0600 From: "Jerry Kaelin" <JKAELIN@wpo.it.luc.edu> Subject: Andy's Afterglow in Chicago I've made reservations (in Andy's name!) for twenty people at 9PM at Giordano's Pizza 747 N. Rush St. at Superior Ave, two blocks south on MI Ave from Borders and one block west. (NOT east to Gino's Pizza.) I have to order some pizzas by Wednesday night! Email me privately as to your attendance (will we have to get room for more people?) and as to your topping (or stuffing) preference. We'll settle the bill with the meager change from our Borders' purchases. I'll be reading my "Song Stories" by 4PM in the instore cafe. For those driving, there's a Self Park on Superior Ave, two blocks east of MI Ave, right next to Northwestern Hospital.
------------------------------ Message-ID: <19990223003933.23177.qmail@hotmail.com> From: "Duncan Kimball" <dunks58@hotmail.com> Subject: It's here! Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 16:39:33 PST My darling Chalkhillbillies I just got a call from my local record shop and - gasp - swoon - sigh - flutter - my copy of Apple Venus is HERE! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! This is REALLY EXCITING! Yours with engulfing bliss Dunks BTW - thanks to whoever it was who mentioned EBay - I just went there and found a whole bunch of cool stuff for sale by my favourite author, James Branch Cabell - including a book from the library of Rudolf Valentino - for only $20. How cool is that?!
------------------------------
Message-ID: <36D2006C.157E@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1999 20:12:12 -0500
From: Tim Kendrick <tim63@earthlink.net>
Subject: Apple V song-by-song
If you haven't heard APPLE VENUS yet and you
don't want to know anything about it ahead of time,
skip this post (use your PageDown key).
***** APPLE VENUS SPOILER BELOW *************
Tim K's Review:
1. River of Orchids
Wonderful! The song has gone from a "pretty good" demo
to a brilliant work of art. Very weird, rich and complex.
It's amazing how they were able to combine so many
different musical pieces into a complete whole.
RATING: A
2. I'd Like That
I didn't think the demo of this song had much to it,
but the final version is just great. The perfect single!
I especially like the fast guitar bit that suddenly stops (Andy or
Dave???).
RATING: B
3. Easter Theatre
Andy said he was worried that, with so many people
having heard the demos for so long a time, we wouldn't like
the final versions as much. This is the only song on the CD that,
unfortunately, proves Andy right. I just don't think this
is as good as the demo version. I'm not quite sure why - they
are very similar. Maybe it's just that the demo had a little
more passion or something. In any case, it's still a great song.
But it didn't live up to my expectations.
RATING: A- (demo version rating: A+)
4. Knights in Shining Karma
Quite, moody, very similar to the demo, but with a lot
of little extra sound effects/touches that add much.
The double vocals are very haunting.
RATING: B
5. Frivolous Tonight
I love this song. Very English, almost a "Dukes" type piano
playing, but overall not a "Dukes" song at all. The lyrics
are very intelligent and witty, the flourishes just right.
One of Colin's best ever.
RATING: A
6. Greenman
A masterpiece! One of the best songs XTC has ever released!!!
RATING: A+
7. Your Dictionary
This song wins "least changed" from the demo.
But in this case, that's a good thing.
RATING: A
8. Fruit Nut
Another great new one from Colin - he's on a roll!
(A jelly roll!) Fun, fruitful, just peachy.
I had read previously that several people got this
song stuck in their head. At first listen I couldn't
see why, as it doesn't come across as instantly catchy.
But then when I went to bed last night, I too found I couldn't
get the damn thing out of my mind. It REALLY sticks with you.
RATING: B+
9. I Can't Own Her
I never liked the demo of this. Although this final
version is an improvement, I still just don't care for it.
The lyrics are annoying (sexist?) and the music boring. Sorry.
The is the ONLY song on the CD I don't care for - the only one
I would have suggested that they drop.
RATING: C-
10. Harvest Festival
At first listen, I thought this song was "just okay".
However, like many classic XTC tunes, this grows on
you with repeated listens. It is quickly becoming
one of my favorites on the CD. The emotion just builds
and builds. By the time we get to the final drum snaring,
I'm now close to tears. (Okay, so I'm exaggerating a little
- it's still very emotional!)
RATING: A
11. The Last Balloon
The lyrics really are great. The music doesn't quite do
them justice, but it's still not bad. I love where Andy's
long note fades into the trumpet - really cool! Some wonderful
trumpet work overall - who is that guy?
RATING: B-
Overall- a BRILLIANT CD! One of their best ever!
Just my humble opinion.
Tim K.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #5-99 ******************************
Go back to Volume 5.
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