Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 174
Date: Tuesday, 27 June 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 174
Tuesday, 27 June 2000
Topics:
TVT- read this! XTC Kicks The Crap Out Of STP!
A Dog of a Question
You Are Not Alone
Japs vote for XTC videos
Molly ...i LOVE YOU
All The World Is Football Shaped
The Laughing Prisoner?
Re: Case for "Stupidly Happy" single
Re: perspective
Dissenting Opinons "R" Us
mysterious whispers and WS popularity
Wild Kingdom
Pony Up Canadians!
The Love is coming...
Re: Limited Edition Single
Re: WORST BAND IN THE WORLD?
The bonus CD dances on...
XTC #12 With a Bullet
RE; Richard Thompson &c
goin' to Graceland
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Setting fire to the night.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 21:07:23 -0700 (PDT) From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com> Subject: TVT- read this! XTC Kicks The Crap Out Of STP! Message-ID: <20000617040723.27328.qmail@web1101.mail.yahoo.com> Hey friends of Chalk!! Looks like I'm The Man Who Murdered Love is a huge success for our boys. The Adult Alternative chart (which is becoming a more valid chart every day) has XTC as the biggest mover on it, up from #19 to #12. They may not catch Matchbox 20 at #1 (but who cares, they're lame), but some big names may not catch XTC either....Stone Temple Pilots have been in their forever with the song Sour Girl which climbs one notch to 22. Sting, The Counting Crows, the Goo Goo Dolls among others have their top 40 songs atop the Adult Alternative heap- so will XTC have a big hit song finally? Should TVT start sending copies to the "big Boys" now and try their luck at going top 40? I say why not. A good song is a good song, even if it sits alongside No Doubt (who are new and active this week adult-alternative wise; and I love their new song I have to admit). Open for discussion.....Travis.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 21:54:31 -0700 From: "May O'Mahoney" <may5272@gte.net> Subject: A Dog of a Question Message-ID: <394B0488.5D5C@gte.net> Debora wrote: "Ms. (lovely morning in) May (Why, thank you!) wondered if the lads had dogs, and if so, what kind..." I can see where you're coming from with the German Shepherd for Colin. But I actually see Andy owning a Golden Retriever or an Irish Setter. Someone HAS to have some information on their canine ownership or lack thereof. Either that or I've truly sunk to an all-time-low when it comes to asking questions on the 'hill. Sincerely, May "Can I make you a Jello pudding pie?" O'Mahoney
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 00:20:29 -0700
From: Jim Allen <karnevil9@loop.com>
Subject: You Are Not Alone
Message-ID: <3.0.32.20000617002027.006daa48@pop.loop.com>
Hello:
Lurker Jim here to offer support to Warren:
>Subject: Worst band in the world: Emerson Lake and Palmer
>
>I'm afraid I have to admit that I am possibly the only ELP and XTC fan on
>this website.
Chin up, don't be afraid to admit it Warren. As my e-mail address
indicates I'm a huge ELP fan. A more restrained fan of XTC's work from
"Black Sea" to "Skylarking", not really interested in the other stuff.
>I'm aware of all the bad press they got for being overblown,
>pompous, over-long instrumentals and ruining the "Classics", but the worst
>band in the world??!!!! COME ON!!!
Here here. Frankly, a case--probably not one that would stick on this
particular list---could be made that "Greenman" or "Garden of Earthly
Delights" are overblown, "Melt the Guns" or "Reign of Blows" are pompous,
that "Travels in Nihilon" contains an over-long instrumental section.
Warren, you forgot to mention the tediously typical charge of "pretentious"
thrown at ELP. It's the ELP equivalent of XTC's "quirky". Pretentious XTC
song: "Living Through Another Cuba"? All IMHO and by the by, I love all the
songs mentioned.
>If you remove all the pre-conceptions (and instrumental solos!) and just
>listen to the music, some of it is fantastic
Their first five ELP albums ARE fantastic. After that, well, they're
merely OK. For me personally, it's similar to how I feel about XTC: that
they have become increasingly dull since "Skylarking". Bands tend to have
a period of inspiration then it goes. Possibly, of the major bands only The
Beatles escaped that, mainly by conveniently breaking up.
>and Greg Lake did some beautiful ballads.
Especially "Closer to Believing" off of Works 1.
>Most of all they were a fantastic live band to watch,
>with terrific showmanship and musical ability.
>From '71 to '74 I'd say that ELP were one of the top 5 live bands in the
world. I suspect that "musical ability" i.e. virtuoso playing of one's
instrument, is not a quality most on this list will have much interest in
or sympathy with, but I like the fact that the prog bands in their heyday
('71-'74 I'd say) basically said "There's more to rock music than 3 1/2
minute verse/chorus/middle 8/verse/chorus things". Or alternately: "We
didn't spend years learning to play our instruments only to have some silly
lead singer get all the attention and drugs and chicks". Sure, it got out
of hand around 1974-75, but so what? It doesn't diminish what had gone
before.
>Surely if you're going to site a really rotten band it would have to be ones
>that don't play thier own instruments,or write their own songs and sang
>crappy songs say Boney M or Boyzone or Racey etc.
I was a little disappointed that Dunks, whose contributions continually
amaze and delight, took the bait of such an easy target. A bit lazy there.
Hmmm...is Dunks losing it? Has he peaked, done his "Skylarking" and now
it's the inevitable decline in to self-parody and rehash? :-) :-)
My personal choice would be the American Hair Guitar Bands of the 80's:
Ratt, Warrant, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Winger the list is depressingly long.
Most of them were based here in Los Angeles and they killed the local
music scene for years. Luckily, Nirvana came along and put them out of
business virtually overnight.
Regards,
Jim
NP: Belle and Sebastian: Fold Your Hands Child.....
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 16:28:29 +0900
From: nishimatu <new_sphere_@mbb.nifty.ne.jp>
Subject: Japs vote for XTC videos
Message-ID: <v04210a00b570cc225386@[210.131.81.119]>
Hi, from Hokkaido (Nouth end of Japan).
Japanese "Sound & Recording Magazine" has Andy on the cover of July issue.
http://www.ips.co.jp/items/RM230007/RM230007.htm
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
There's a company named "tanomi.com".
(tanomikomu means "do request" in Japanese)
If you want something which is not commercialized yet or out of inventory,
you can make a voting page on the .com to make your wish come true.
When the requesting vote comes out be a certain amount, the .com will move
for commodification.
On 11th June, I made these pages on "tanomi.com".
1. Please reissue "Look Look".
http://www.tanomi.com/metoo/naiyou.php?op=961010785&id=6006&catid=37
2. Please commercialize promotional videos of XTC (after "Look Look").
http://www.tanomi.com/metoo/naiyou.php?op=961010785&id=6007&catid=37
"Look Look" got 59 votes. (#26 in the music category)
After "Look Look" got 83 votes. (#20 in the music category)
(17th June)
Most voting pages in the music category are about Japanese music. A
foreign music goes #20 in a week, isn't it pretty astounding?
Is there any company like "tanomi.com" in English web?
Won't anybody make some English voting pages to make the video-wish come true?
P.S. You can see Japanese web pages
with Japanese letters via "Open Japan".
<http://209.201.3.99/>
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 18:43:50 EDT From: Qprduggan@aol.com Subject: Molly ...i LOVE YOU Message-ID: <92.634ea3e.267c07a6@aol.com> 'ere Molls me old china... i too love Squeeze... i remember thet hard times you got there. Talk Talk/ O-rang....you've asked Lee aquestion or two as i have...(oooh) JoBoxers...well i've got ALL their records and i dare say lots of other things.. listen lets get the small talk out of the way.. GRAB YER COAT LUV ...YOU'VE PULLED... 'lets multiply..the loaves and fishes..'till we have enough to lo love and eat forvere' liam 'it's gone 11 and the bar is shut' 'i won't ever go drinking again'
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 01:42:03 +0200 From: "Mark Strijbos" <mmello@knoware.nl> Subject: All The World Is Football Shaped Message-ID: <20000616233659.9D9F8A6D3E@mail.knoware.nl> Dear Chalkers, Iain Murray rose to my challenge: > ><snip> Think again: which crime would be almost perfectly > > shielded by an all-consuming passion for all things related to > > XTC ? > > Holy shit! You're Phil Collins!!! No I'm not! First of all i couldn't play the drums if my life depended on it... some people can, most can't Secondly: i do not have a receding hairline BTW: i don't think that "being Phil Collins" is actually considered a crime by the powers that be here in Gomorrah. No, you will have to do better than this before i give out more hints Meanwhile, the lovely Cheryl said: > Wishing desperately to be one of Mark's conquests... ???... i don't understand You had your chance but let it pass so i didn't think you were interested. > but I have been bad, havent' I Mark. Oh yes... and you know what happens to a girl when she's been bad, don't you? yours in xtc, Mark S. @ the Little Lighthouse www.come.to/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 05:42:41 -0700 (PDT) From: andrew sneddon <andrew_sneddon@yahoo.com> Subject: The Laughing Prisoner? Message-ID: <20000617124241.29683.qmail@web614.mail.yahoo.com> Greetings Chalkchums from a sunny Londinium! Being relatively new to the digest I'm sure that this question has been answered before... What song did XTC play on the Jools Holland Prisoner spoof "The Laughing Prisoner? Other stuff. I went to the Strawberry Fair in Cambridge a few weeks ago and got to see some real mummers. The did a short play called "The Derby Tup" which was most entertaining. Much fun and many an olde English knob gag to boot too! If anyone is curious about this, email me offline and I'll send a piccy. Right, time to shake hands with the unemployed.. Have a better one! Andrew
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 10:38:29 -0400 From: "Brian" <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Re: Case for "Stupidly Happy" single Message-ID: <006901bfd869$b5ba14a0$9be49cd1@Brian> Tschalkgerz! >A lot of people have been saying that "Stupidly Happy" should be the next single. Well, here's a little story that should help prove that...< I agree. If "Stupidly Happy" was to get a little airplay, it'd be a runaway. It's relentless, but XTC does a great job on the build-up. My barometer? I was walking around the house singing "...I'm stupidly happy..." and the wife says "I hate that!" So I KNOW it's a good song. -Brian Matthews
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 10:45:15 -0400 From: "Brian" <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Re: perspective Message-ID: <006f01bfd86a$a7804e80$9be49cd1@Brian> Tschalkgerz! I agree with the comments about the XTC smorgasbord. You can't please everybody... anyone should know this. Sometimes it's just your turn to be the one who thinks something sucks. I for one am EXTREMELY happy with the fact that XTC is back in business. There were really only two bands that I could call my absolute faves, those being Oingo Boingo and XTC. Oingo Boingo is gone. Three years later and there is still an empty spot right here... But the really great thing is that XTC is back and puts out this remarkable album, and I can look forward to more. More guitar! -Brian Matthews
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 11:51:02 -0500 From: JH3 <jh3@winco.net> Subject: Dissenting Opinons "R" Us Message-ID: <006001bfd87c$3a9d60c0$adf190cf@JH3.alternatech.net> Brett Reeves wrote: >I'm attempting to ignore the fact that I imagined someone once posted >that "Go2" was the best album ever recorded. Must get more sleep. News flash: It ain't your imagination, insomnia-boy! The truth is out! Ed K.: >I'll just say that I disagree, and that I'm not some blindered non- >critical fanboy; if I was as disappointed as you, I'd say so, but I'm >not. I love this album. I love the album too; I just wanted to say that the fact that some of us fanboys are "non-critical" doesn't necessarily mean we're also "blindered." I prefer to think that we're just looking at the big picture. (What's more, I myself sometimes even go to the trouble of wearing contact lenses...) Harry Strole: >"Arabesque" is actually a term describing a dance move in ballet. >It can be used to describe a guitar playing style that could accompany >such a move. I work for Arabesque Recordings; a jazz & classical >music label. I happen to know the company was not named for the >cruelty inside Middle Eastern prisons. Y'know, I'd always *suspected* that all words had only one possible meaning, but I could never get anyone to support the idea - until NOW! And nobody would even back me up on the idea that the single meaning of each word *must* be the particular one that has the most significant personal connection to... Harry Strole! I just thank goodness that Harry's out there, protecting the English language from the awful, terrifying ambiguities of multiple usage! Way to go, man! :^) (<--for Molly) And speaking of goodness, Dorothy Spirito writes: >Giving credit where credit is due, it is *not* the fault of Christianity >that scientific discovery was squelched during the times of which >Brian Matthews speaks. One of the exhortations of Christianity is >to *obtain* "learning", "knowledge", and "wisdom". Nowhere did >Christ say that if someone disagrees with you, beat the sh*t out >of him. No; not the rise of Christianity, but the spread of Roman >Catholicism, which at the top was a political movement used as a >cudgel on the masses. I'm not Catholic or even religious, but this sort of thing *seriously* bothers me. Have you ever heard of the Visigoths, Dorothy? The Huns? The Magyars, Hittites, Mongols, Vikings, or Ottomans? Do the words "Black Plague" mean anything to you? Do you know how hard it is to maintain laboratories and universities when mounted barbarians with scimitars and pole-axes are looting and pillaging your towns and cities? Or when half your population is dying of a horrible pestilence? I take it we're to believe those things were either irrelevant, or perhaps just the machinations of early Vatican "politicians"? I recommend you read Alan Cromer's "Uncommon Sense: The Heretical Nature of Science." It won't convince you that Roman Catholicism was a good thing - after all, it was *probably* the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I who ordered the Great Library at Alexandria to be put to the torch - but it might help you see that the origins of the Dark Ages can be traced back to a time long before Roman Catholicism even came into existence. John H. Hedges XTCware: http://www.alternatech.net/jh3/xtc
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 11:45:50 EDT From: RblTrouser@aol.com Subject: mysterious whispers and WS popularity Message-ID: <5b.74d7c35.267cf72e@aol.com> Greetings all: since I'm sending this on the 17th, it probably won't see the light of day for another week, but oh well, neither will I... I'm just wondering if anyone else has any clue on earth what the odd whisper is in the middle of Boarded Up. It's not in the lyrics, and it sounds like maybe "2 by 4", but I have funny hearing (funny to eveyone else, that is!), so I can't tell. Please enlighten me, oh learned ones. Also, for some reason, my boyfriend and all his friends, who are the types who listen to Matchbox 20 and similar suck-rock ALL THE TIME, have developed a strange liking for WS and.... ...hold your breath, remove all edible objects from your mouths... Nonsuch. Don't ask me why, but the facts remain. They've burnt themselves all copies and rave to me about them whenever I see them. However, none of them like Rook, so I guess it's back to the drawing board. Also, in regards to the highly, er, suggestive lyrics of Nonsuch.....Then She Appeared is also subject to inquiry, since having the sun relocated into one's optic centers can hardly be beneficial, nor could having the moon shining out of one's smile have any positive side effects. Currently listening to Wasp Star and Robyn Hitchcock's "Gotta Let This Hen Out!", Sarah Desborough
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 16:38:26 -0700 From: "M. Perkins" <gondola@deltanet.com> Subject: Wild Kingdom Message-ID: <f04310101b571bc0497e4@[206.173.241.38]> >Anyway, I should give it more time, but it seems that "Wasp Star" is not >going to be the big seller I predicted..... >Let's face it folks.... This brand of sophisticated Pop is just not for >everybody. The masses out there "Just Don't Get It!!" Crouched in the brush amidst the Chalkhillians' natural habitat, Jim and I observed the classic, revisionist switch...from "This album is so good, it'll sell huge!!" to "This album is so good, few people will appreciate it!!" Marlin
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 17:01:18 -0700 From: Gregory Sandoval <greg@drbeat.com> Subject: Pony Up Canadians! Message-ID: <B5715F5D.231B%greg@drbeat.com> Chalkies, I've been in the market for a Canadian pressing of Nonsuch, you know with the color booklet and castle jewel case. Anyone out there have one they're interested in selling or perhaps trading for? Yours in chalky repose, dr. beat
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 16:53:31 -0400 From: "Duncan Watt" <dwatt@fastestmanintheworld.com> Subject: The Love is coming... Message-ID: <200006182054.QAA22924@gilgamesh.nh.ultra.net> Okay so Courtney Love is my new spiritual leader. Believe it or not, she covers every cogent point re: why XTC isn't selling in her sassy little speech that "me mine" <it_girl00@xxxxx.xxx> so directed us to in Salon mag. Read it here and Stand Clear: http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2000/06/14/love/index.html ... Did she write it all by her lonesome? Who knows? Who cares! It's brilliant. Duncan "sisters are doin' it for themselves" Watt ps of course, *I* thought of it first, and *I* had to edit it down to four paragraphs. Frickin' West-coasters. -- email me: dwatt@fastestmanintheworld.com surf me: http://www.fastestmanintheworld.com
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 12:40:06 -0700 From: Don Pennington <mrp@telus.net> Subject: Re: Limited Edition Single Message-ID: <394D2593.9CDD5563@telus.net> I'm in somewhat in accord with David Smith's view of the TVT bonus single. I tried to order the set from TVT but was told that they couldn't ship to Canada...more Southpark fall-out? At any rate I'd still like a copy and having ponied up for the Japanese and domestic releases it'd be nice to have that opportunity. The True North Strong and Free...with the bonus single of course! MrP
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 13:40:42 +0100 From: Richard Horrocks <champie@fat.compulink.co.uk> Subject: Re: WORST BAND IN THE WORLD? Message-ID: <VA.000006bb.010deb01@fat.compulink.co.uk> Warren Butson wrote: > I'm afraid I have to admit that I am possibly the only ELP and XTC fan on > this website. Whilst I wouldn't call myself a fan of ELP in the same way that I'm a fan of XTC, I do like them, I have several of their CDs and, for example, listened to Tarkus fairly recently. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't others on the list with the same opinion (even if they don't voice it). OTOH, I'm not sure that "not playing your instruments" makes you the worst band either. I wouldn't be surprised if you could find more people who'd prefer Boney M to XTC. I suppose I'd say the worst band, is one that no-one likes, and thus we probably don't even know about them. Richard (Also playing; King Crimson - The ConstruKction of Light)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 09:49:07 -0400 From: Paul Burgess <pburgess@tvtrecords.com> Subject: The bonus CD dances on... Message-ID: <v04220802b573d15679d5@[38.149.92.114]> (reference From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@tfeurope.com> Subject: TVT and the mysterious bonus CD) Allright Chalkie Ones The week of the release of Wasp Star we announced the promotion in which lucky fans could buy a bonus CD of demos with the purchase of the album CD. Only a few thousand of these babies were available. Twice that week we posted detailed instructions on how to buy Wasp Star and get the bonus disc. The promotion was offered to all independent retailers. Those that accepted and participated in the promotion were listed in our posts to the chalkhills list. For the unlucky who couldn't get to one of these shops we made the same offer through TVTrecords.com. We still have some. I would suspect your retailer didn't mention the bonus CD because they didn't participate in the promotion or they had sold out. Speaking of dancing (?)... The dance "River Of Orchids" was performed this week at legendary performance space The Kitchen in NYC. Choreagrapher Neta Pulvermacher was inspired to create this magical piece from listening to Apple Venus Voume One. The dance used most of the albums collection of songs in the two act performance. It also used the "Wardance." For those who love XTC it was magical to see this ingenious and athletic piece built around Andy and Colin's tunes. We hope to be able to post video from the shows at TVTrecords.com.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 10:45:43 -0400 From: "DuBray, Dan" <Dan.DuBray@mail.house.gov> Subject: XTC #12 With a Bullet Message-ID: <435A5CEEACA6D211BEEA0008C75DA88506D3F597@hrm12.house.gov> Radio and Records, a premier publication of the U.S. radio industry, continues to move XTC's "I'm the Man Who Murdered Love" up it's Adult Alternative chart. For the week ending June 16th, the tune has moved up from #19 to #12 with a bullet. Dan DuBray Washington DC
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 09:07:21 +0100 From: James.McRae@enron.com Subject: RE; Richard Thompson &c Message-ID: <OFE8F2F1FB.E8EFD67A-ON80256903.002BEB0F@nt.enron.co.uk> K wrote re RT albums.... > there are an awful lot of good ones out there..... "Rumour and Sigh"....... Ed K should try "Daring Adventures"... which I found to be very good introduction to his music.... Incidentally I was very fortunate to have seen RT playing solo in High Wycombe (of all places) last night. That man is a F**@ing genius... If only Andy would give live another go.... James
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 21:13:16 -0500 From: "William Sherlock" <bdsherlock@earthlink.net> Subject: goin' to Graceland Message-ID: <412000611921316190@earthlink.net> As I drove to that palace of bad taste in Memphis with my family (actually would never set foot in the place!, but would highly recommend the Rock and Soul museum in the Gibson Guitar Factory) I had WS cranking on the CD player in the car. As the album drew to a close here is how the conversation went: Wife: "What are they saying in that song?" Me: "Maypole. Why?' Wife: "I was wondering why they would write such a happy song about napalm." How am I ever going to listen to this instant classic again? Thanks to Jamie Lowe for the Chgo. get together and looking forward to the next. Bill Sherlock "I should be in bed, I need my 11 hours. I'm a real sleep addict. I started off just napping. Then I got into the harder stuff...siestas. Before I knew what was happening I was a sleep junkie." Andy Partridge, Melody Maker, 8-18-79
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-174 *******************************
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