Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 114
Date: Saturday, 13 May 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 114
Saturday, 13 May 2000
Topics:
Pomme de terre d'amour
I am Iron Chef
Kinky Web Sites
Re: The Little Express
various
Re: The Lambrettas
3Tripper's "Waituke"
Underated XTC Albums.
I had a sneakin' suspicion....
And I choose
Random memory of my mom on XTC
Re:Lost Bands
re: Sherwood on Synesthesia
Word games
The Point
Re: Church of Women
More about Andy on Vh1's "The List"
Re: 500 Channels of Radio
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Chalkhills is compiled with Digest 3.7b (John Relph <relph@tmbg.org>).
Time seemed longer than a goods train.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 18:59:14 EDT
From: "Jane Spencer-Davis" <janesunfish@hotmail.com>
Subject: Pomme de terre d'amour
Message-ID: <20000512225914.45519.qmail@hotmail.com>
Chunky Chalks-
I would like to respond to Wes Long's post:
Consider yourself duly prodded, regarding your offer to relate tasty tidbits
of the '89 radio tour!
Consider yourself heartily seconded regarding your adulation of Roads Girdle
the Globe. A truly testosterone-laden tour de force that I simply cannot
control myself when hearing while in my beloved (sorry Andy) car.
Molly- would be happy to transcibe, or simply mail you the tape- as long as
you return it! Warning:My typing is turtle speed. You tell me!
Those who are lucky enough to attend the taping of the "List"- Please relate
the date of airing! Please, please...
*Really*, really pleased about the CDNOW bits. Oh, I can't wait.
Lovin' that pomme de terre,
Jane
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 19:08:18 -0400 (EDT) From: "May O'Mahoney" <may5272@gte.net> Subject: I am Iron Chef Message-ID: <383263332.958172899083.JavaMail.root@web128-wra.mail.com> Wes wrote: Anyone remember when MTV was cool? Is it that MTV was cooler "way back when" or is it because we were younger? I'm not sure myself. Videos definitely seemed more interesting - but is that because they were something new and exciting at the time? I do have to say that at least they SHOWED videos when MTV was new. I think the last time I looked at a schedule for the channel it was all Real World Reunions.....hmmm....funny, could someone tell me how that relates to music other than being background noise for posturing psuedo-adults? Television, I believe, is salvaged ONLY by one channel - THE COOKING CHANNEL - and one of the only shows in the universe that I look forward to is..... *******************THE IRON CHEF*************** The Iron Chef is the best thing since sliced bread - ha ha. It rules, and I say that with full Southern California gusto. Any other Iron Chef fans out there in ChalkLand? Talk about true "metal"! RE: Radio Stations Declining Into Pithy Loops of Fluff That must be a nation-wide trend. I've watched two of my hometown stations turn into mush - which is a shame. One station, KJEE 92.9 started out of someone's bedroom. The first day they were on the air they played non-stop MARCHING MUSIC!!! Marching music ALL DAY! I was tweaking the dial around and I landed on this Sousa-esque march music. I remember exclaiming something to the extent of, "What the hell?!" The next morning I turned it on, still intrigued, and at some point during the night it had kicked into bad ass old school punk (this was back around 1991). As the day progressed, it slid into blues and then in the evening it was a big block of reggae. I started asking people, "What is this????" They then progressed into having actual playlists of some really super stuff. As word caught on and years progressed, however, they've slid into the mush that I could listen to on any station - with a few exceptions. Ah, well. Happy Week-end! - May
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 16:48:33 -0700 From: "Victor Rocha" <wstsidela@mediaone.net> Subject: Kinky Web Sites Message-ID: <012301bfbc6c$952e69c0$4e568218@we.mediaone.net> did you know that Dave Davies has his own web site? http://www.davedavies.com/
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 17:02:43 -0700 (PDT) From: relph (John Relph) Subject: Re: The Little Express Message-ID: <10005121702.ZM91561@mando.engr.sgi.com> travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com> asked: > >Hello Chalk-nymphomaniacs! Has The Little Express >stopped for a final visit at your place yet? I'm >still waiting; glad my subscription doesn't run out >for another three issues ha ha! Yes, I received my copy. Issue 43 - Summer 1999. It also included a one-page "XTC Update", in which Peter & June wrote about the reasons why "The Little Express" "reached its final destination". And also a lovely red herring: Chuck Sabo's last name was spelt "Faybo". No wonder we couldn't figure out who he was. -- John
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 19:38:11 PDT From: "Beverly Cash" <plutomoon@hotmail.com> Subject: various Message-ID: <20000513023812.41940.qmail@hotmail.com> The guys of Tears for fears were in a modish band called The Graduates,I remember the album cover and they looked like a band in Happy Days,or Weezer in the Buddy Holly video LOL.. 'Alternative' radio stations have been awful for a long time.And whoever said the songs all having that same guitar sound and vocals is so right.I can't tell most of them apart.All they are now is top 40 radio combined with rock station radio really,they just exclude the real boppy stuff and ad the popular rock stuff.The one in Seattle even plays Metallica on regular rotation now.In fact,the main difference between most rock stations and 'alt' stations,is that the rock stations ad on say ac/dc,zep,aero etc instead of poppy stuff,while alt stations ad on some cure,d mode,etc,and the rest of their playlists are almost the exactly the same. I started watching The Monkees when I was 5 and have loved them ever since.They played them (in rerun) every morning.At one point,when I was 14 or so,MTV played every episode for their 20th anniversary.I stayed up all night and recorded every single episode LOL.Now I just have their 'videos' on tape :( I first saw monty python when I was about 7,my mom loved them.I had The holy Grail memorized by the time I was 11 LOL.Saw Meaning of life in the theater when it first came out at about that age.The restaurant scene is something else on the big screen!LOL xtc content I have been rounding the radio stations hoping one will play one of the new songs to no avail.All of you who just happen to catch it are driving me mad!LOL...thats what happens when you try!I did hear a 20 or 30 second excerpt online,but it wasn't enough to really tell,especially with these puter speakers...I guess at least it'll all be new and fresh to me when it comes out. I also wish the TVT reps would tell where and what they're doing while they're over here.It's really lame to not update that kind of info so that people can try and make arrangements to try and see them.especailly being it's such special circumstance with them since they don't tour,it's about the only chance anyone has to actually see them. ok,sorry,more than enough..cheers***Beverly
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 21:35:28 EDT From: WWi8064839@aol.com Subject: Re: The Lambrettas Message-ID: <36.5d44a90.264e0b60@aol.com> In the previous fab Chalkhills post it was written: >Sorry I can't help with The Lambrettas album title by the way! It's "Beat Boys in the Jet Age." They were a neo-Mod outfit, circa 1980, coming after the first British Mod movement that included The Who. I have this album on CD and I like it. Picks to hit: "Page 3" I am heavily into Mod music and styles. The Lambrettas were not Joe Jackson-like; they were, well, Mod - tight ensemble songs celebrating youth, criticizing society, and celebrating materialism. Many of these bands ventured into the ska realm. The Jam were, of course, the frontrunners and probably the best of the neo-Mod bands. "In the City, " "This Is the Modern World," "All Mod Cons" and "Sound Affects!" belong in EVERY pop enthusiast's record collection, in my opinion. They've been remastered for CD and have great artwork and sound. But The Lambrettas, The Purple Hearts (named after an amphetamine pill's color and shape), Secret Affair, The Merton Parkas, and Squire also had some bright and shining moments. Recommendations? The first two albums by Secret Affair, on 1 CD, are CLASSICS of the mod stylists: sharp suits, razor haircuts, skinny ties, girls, and snappy, brassy songs celebrating youth and nightlife. Picks to hit: "Time for Action" "Time 4 Truth" Oh yeah, and there's an eight volume CD collection of Mod songs; check out www.sirencd.com for the list. I believe they sell them at their site. I have threee of these and some of the songs are catchy and very good. Others are too "punk" or "ska" to be truly classified as Mod. I have enough material to create a small Mod web site, but I just started a new job and have precious leisure time. (Sigh...SOMEDAY I'll get my stuff up there!) In the meantime, forage around in the trouserpress web site. Wes Wilson
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 21:19:43 -0400 From: mitch friedman <mitchf@mindspring.com> Subject: 3Tripper's "Waituke" Message-ID: <v03007800b5425e0e1229@[165.121.64.65]> Like Jim Smart said . . . BUY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT. Mitch
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 19:00:53 -0700 From: "Radiosinmotion" <radiosinmotion@earthlink.net> Subject: Underated XTC Albums. Message-ID: <001301bfbc7f$129fe340$0200a8c0@digitalpc> I can't personally see how any XTC album could be considered overrated, though I do feel some are underrated. For one thing, White Music and Go 2 are great early new wave albums. Regardless what people think now about their old sound, I still love it. Wonder Stuff > Good Lene Lovich > Good Tippa Irie > Good The Nails > Suck! Did anyone else get sad watching the VH1 story on S.R.V.?
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 23:28:08 -0500 From: "Joe Funk" <twosheds@mindspring.com> Subject: I had a sneakin' suspicion.... Message-ID: <027c01bfbc93$bfcd9940$7721fea9@user> Greeting Chalklings!! Starters: >I hear lots of controversy hear about Black Sea. It's not one I >have, or even have seen. Care to bash a newbie around with some >information as to why this album is so polarized among the fans? >JanCarol Good Night NURSE!!!! You need to do some shoppin', Darlin'!! Controversy? The only controversy I have seen around here about "BS" is the " I love it better than You!!" argument.. From the very first "scratched record" piano chord of "Respectable Street" to the slow "Microphone in the shower" fade-out of "Travels in Nihilon" is a package that is SO full of excruciatingly dynamic guitars/melodies/hooks/wit, that is beyond my little mind to describe with anything other than "IT'S %&%ING AWESOME!!!" buy it.. Anyway, I had an interesting experience last night. I got my hands on a video of an interview with Kevin Gilbert, recorded in January '96, a few months before his untimely demise.. The interviewer, Bill Ricketts, from Ofbmag2, ask the typical questions: "When did you.., Why did you", etc. It got real interesting when he asked "Who?".... Of course he mentioned Gentle Giant & Genesis w/Gabriel, and after a second or two of deep thought he quipped: "...There was an explosion of music in 1981.. All these amazing.. XTC English Settlement, PG 3..... These records that came out were full of sound.. It was a DIFFERENT sound.... People had never made records that sounded like this... I got swept up in that. My project "Giraffe" was influenced directly by these..." Needless to say, that sneakin' suspicion that KG was a fan was indeed true... Joe "Blacksy" Funk
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 May 2000 23:36:11 -0500
From: David Lake <blushift@earthlink.net>
Subject: And I choose
Message-ID: <391CDBBB.4F8B6824@earthlink.net>
Organization: Blushift Productions
Just some musings after a long posting absence.
On the Busboys/Otis Day subject:
If memory serves, one Robert Cray was actually a member of the 'band' in
Animal House (at least according to a VH1 crock-u-mentary). The Busboys
were NOT in the movie.
On the new album demos/studios:
I had gotten a copy of the 96 demos prior to Apple Venus Vol 1, and had
about 8 months to soak it in before getting the real deal. I wasn't
disappointed, but there was a certain mystique missing from that 'First'
listen. Having heard a couple demos from Vol 2, I've been using
extraordinary will power to stay away from the sample sites (sorry Mr.
Strijbos!, no offense) and the songs I haven't heard yet. As for the
Spoiler mails, PAGE DOWN Y'ALL!
Mexican White Horse?...:
Well, last night a gallon of bleach found it's way onto the front lawn
to form the Puffington White Mule (after a few shots of Jack Daniels).
Form a queue to the right, single file, tickets only 3#s a person.
Andy on the List:
God!, what a waste of precious airtime! The List is the ultimate in
self-degradation.
"What's your #2 pick for female video most likely to incite a riot while
mortgage rates climb another half percent?"
"Well Cher, I thought a lot on this one and I'd have to pick 'Brittany
Spears - Oops, I did it again'".
I'll watch Andy's spot anyway.
Albums I must listen from up to down:
Steely Dan - Aja
Albums I bought for one song (and only that song):
Lit - My Own Worst Enemy
(the song just makes me jiggy)
Cheers, David (sometimes goes by Spanky)
--
"Depending on whichever book you read,
Sometimes it takes a lifetime to get what you need"
-- Aimee Mann
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 01:37:08 -0400 From: "Cheryl" <mcgregoc@mindspring.com> Subject: Random memory of my mom on XTC Message-ID: <002801bfbc9d$490c6660$9902f7a5@mcgregocmindspring.com> Hi all, All this talk of XTC and mainstream radio triggered a random memory of my mom from '95. I had a compilation of XTC songs that I had put together on tape that I kept in my car. Well, I plugged this in as we were on the way to the grocery store and I forget what song came on, but my mother asked me who the band was. I explained that this was my favourite band, XTC. "Oh" she says and then thinks a moment. She then responds "well, this stuff sound like what you hear on the radio, it's good". I guess this was a novelty for her. I think she felt I tended to listen to "unlistenable" music. After shopping, we hopped back in the car and I switched it on again. A song came on from one of the earlier albums. I look over to see what her reaction will be and she looks at me with this pained expression on her face and asked, "Who's this?!" I told her it was still XTC. "Oh", she says a little confused. It makes me chuckle now, but I remembered having my feathers ruffled at the whole situation. She just didn't understand. I know it's completely left field but just thought I'd share. Take care, Cheryl
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 01:41:58 EDT From: RiknBkr@aol.com Subject: Re:Lost Bands Message-ID: <48.55952b4.264e4526@aol.com> >Anybody heard of an early eighties band called the Lambrettas? I never >actually saw their album and don't know it's name. My friend had a >cassette someone had taped him. My band back then did a couple of the >songs, and i recall that they were very good. It was a poppy, >mod/Squeeze/Joe jackson sort of thing, as I recall. Probably >British. Anyone? Yep... part of the 1979 mod revival in the UK. I've got all their releases. The first LP "Beat Boys in the Jet Age" (now on CD with a best of) is the best with "Daaance", "Page Three" etc... The rest are hmmmm....oh yeah I should have added one of theirs in the thread "LPs you've kept because of one song", which in this case would be "Ambience", with the song "Decent Town". And no, Roland and Curt from TFF were not in the band. You can add another four excellent bands from this Mod revival period. "The Purple Hearts", "Secret Affair" and "Squire". The best though and almost on even keel with the Jam were "The Chords". Run to your nearest shop and pick up the just released re-issue of "So Far Away". Excellent stuff, especially for those who are after a little slashing, power chording electric guitar. Now this was truly a "lost band". Phil Cusimano (the other Phil C.)
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 00:33:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Kurt M <kurtmuehlner@yahoo.com> Subject: re: Sherwood on Synesthesia Message-ID: <20000513073341.12264.rocketmail@web220.mail.yahoo.com> Having read Sherwood on Synesthesia, and other Sherwoodisms, I would just like to say (that it is my conviction) that if Mr. Sherwood does not write professionally for a living, or at least an occasional source of income, well, it's a crying shame. That comment added nothing to discussions of XTC or synesthesia, just had to be said. XTC? Hmmm, well, oh yeah, the guitar solo in Church of Women is one of the best moments in all of Wasp Star. That, and all the other moments. Especially Wounded Horse. Yeah. I mean those comments sincerely. How can so many folks' opinions about these things differ so strongly from mine? Shouldn't be allowed! Kurt 'hey, have you read the latest hbsherwood?' M
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 13:33:28 +0100 (BST) From: Rory Wilsher <rory_wilsher@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: Word games Message-ID: <20000513123328.19083.qmail@web1503.mail.yahoo.com> I find that adding a single letter to the names of artists who are pretentious enough to call themselves by something other than their given name helps to stress my utter contempt for this practice. Hence "String", "Bonio", "The Hedge". "Slash" is funny enough on it's own not to need any addition. Rory "212 hours to go" Wilsher
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 07:46:31 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: The Point
Message-ID: <l03130300b542fcb226ce@[208.13.202.94]>
>"I just don't think its going to be marketable to the 90's-2000 radio..."
>How can I argue with that, given that from what I can tell (demos, samples)
>I'm going to love this album, and the radio situation is so horribly dire?
>What the hell ever happened to the original "AAA" format ("Adult Album
>Alternative" or something like that, as I recall), that was supposed to
>(supposedly) allow aging alterna-types to hear half decent music on the
>radio, without being expected to settle for the "Phil Collins retirement
>home" format of most "soft" or "mature" stations?
The AAA format is alive and well in Montpelier, VT, where WNCS aka The
Point has played ITMWML several times when I've been listening, and gave
"Green Man" and "I'd Like That" several spins when vol 1 came out. They
play a fair amount of Kinks and Richard Thompson too, two others who are
otherwise criminally ignored by commercial radio. On the other hand they
play a lot of aging baby boomer crap too, like too much Dreadful Grate for
my taste. But if I have to listen to commercial radio, WNCS is usually
tolerable, and sometimes great.
They've been plugging the hell out of Jules Shear's new album, for example,
which sounds great on the basis of the one song they've been playing. When
they're good they sound like they've been sneaking into my condo and
raiding my record/CD/cassette collection. I gotta check and see if
anything's missing.
Now playing: The Dead Milkmen- Death Rides A Pale Cow
Christopher R. Coolidge
Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html
"A Great law protects me from the government. The Bill of rights has
10 GREAT laws. A Good law protects me from you. Laws against murder,
theft, assault and the like are good laws. A Poor law attempts to
protect me from myself." - Unknown
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 11:01:21 -0500
From: "Paul Averitt" <paveritt@dallas.net>
Subject: Re: Church of Women
Message-ID: <000d01bfbcf4$7cacba40$22292cd1@louie>
Steve Young wrote:
>I heard the solo from "Church of Women". It helped to have diminished
expectations (thanks, demo folks!) - it kicks my butt. It seems so sparse,
restrained, lots of breathing room. Like a lion tiptoeing around a church.
Or a woman. I want to worship at the Church of Women too. I think I
already do... till my head goes spinning around (or falls off)...<
I'm used to the solo on the demo version, so when Andy played me the new
version, I was also very pleased at how sparse the new solo was, creating
space as it were, and told him so. He said "I did the Van Halen solo on the
demo because I didn't know what I should do, so I just filled it up with as
many notes as I could play. My chance to be Eddie!"
Paul Averitt
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the doublepluspop website at
www.doublepluspop.com
and the Volares website, found at
www.thevolares.com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 08:25:15 -0700 From: "Jeannie" <venusnvy@earthlink.net> Subject: More about Andy on Vh1's "The List" Message-ID: <200005131533.IAA11492@gull.prod.itd.earthlink.net> Said Ray, > As much as I would love to see Andy on TV, I completely hate "The > List". I've watched it a few times on VH1 and was completely disgusted > with the guests, their choices, and their pandering to the moronic > audience. I have a bad picture in my head of Andy sitting on stage with > Adam Sandler, or "Chip" from the Backstreet Boys. All his witty jokes > will fall flat on the audience and all his music choices will be met > with befuddled looks from the panelists. They probably vote out all > his choices and the experience will sour Andy from ever appearing on > American TV again. > > Or am I just being paranoid? No, just realistic. The first time I heard Andy was going to be on this pointless show I thought to myself, 'does he realize how asinine and tasteless this show is?' I mean, c'mon! I've been lured in to watch it a few times, (not unkike a traffic accident on the freeway), because the format appears to promise some interesting and stimulating discussion. (what was I thinking?) Instead, of course, we get mostly a mediocrity fest. I might attend the taping. I don't know, maybe I just want to lend some moral support. I wouldn't worry about Andy--he can take care of himself. &, he's bright enough to pick up on his moronic surroundings, should that be the case. The hell with them anyway! jeannie
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 13 May 2000 13:51:47 EDT From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: Re: 500 Channels of Radio Message-ID: <79.4019c4a.264ef033@aol.com> In a message dated 5/13/00 12:04:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Brian Matthews writes: > > Radio is where television was before the advent of cable.< > > Are you trying to suggest that radio will 'expand it horizons' in the > future? > Yeah, right... cable is _almost_ nothing more than extra channels of > shit to watch. I can see Brian's point-- I am happy that Kfog makes the attempt to play "true variety", but even with the occasional Xtc song (and their support), it all sounds the same to me. I still tune on on occasion (just to see if things have changed) but they haven't. Love the parody of Ms. McLaughlin's tune, though. I believe you may have a second career ( Weird Al can be great but some of his targets of late haven't been as great as in the past...). I agree about cable, but my point was that radio is still acting as if there are no alternatives to what they offer. There are a lot of alternatives but with the concentration of power and micromarketing that exists, it's unlikely that anyone is going to branch out and try something different. I suppose my point was that with so many channels to choose from sooner or later someone breaks the mold if only for a moment. I've noticed great television programs and films that might otherwise be lost in the priceable world being revived. That the benefit. The downside is always going to be quantity over quality. Unfortunately, there is no practical solution. With more and more power in less and less hands (witness the recent merger mania), the truly original will be consigned to the back burner. Even the indie world (for film, television and music) has its little click that deems what is worthy and is not. Sorry to be so pessimistic but I don't see much light at the end of the tunnel. That's why I've chosen to take music, film and television recommendations from other sources (this list is a good example). The niche marketing that (or micromarketing) that they've attempted has only put music into smaller and smaller music ghettos. Only those with marketing muscle break out. Usually most of the effort is spent on Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan or Brittany Spears. They all have something to offer unfortunately most of it never rises above the mediocre. I always think back to Sturgeon's law (Ted Sturgeon for those who don't know was a highly acclaimed science fiction and fantasy writer) that 99% of everything is crap. That law has always applied but it seems as if the more choices we've been given the less quality choices we've been given. This isn't a recent problem. Crap has always risen to the top its just that it happens more quickly now than 200 years ago. Think of all the artist's hailed in their lifetime who are now forgotten. Now let's look at all the artist's that deserved kudos that died in poverty only to be rediscovered. It's a cliche that hasn't lost much of its truth. Luckily these folks now have an option. The cult following has supplemented obscurity for a lot of these bands and artists. Xtc is just an example of this trend. Artist's taking control of their art has allowed this to flourish more than in the past. On that long winded note, I'll give you all break.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-114 *******************************
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