Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 206
Date: Wednesday, 26 July 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 206
Wednesday, 26 July 2000
Topics:
Rumblings & Ramblings
Shut that Door(s)
Wasp Star Or Bust
Re: Kevin Gilbert: Where to start?
Nick Drake & Aliens
The Pinnacle
Is this a good find?
Eyes, Doors, and a reminder
XTC cover
Please Slag Something Slaggable
Get a towel! (no XTC content)
George . . . you naughty, naughty boy . . .
is this an 80s revival or is it just me?
Welcoming Pagan Alyssa with a Story
It's a Monster!
Kosher Lamb
dropped back by for five more
a gentle jibe; extra-planetary picks
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:52:05 -0500 From: "David" <peeng1@email.msn.com> Subject: Rumblings & Ramblings Message-ID: <000801bff52a$ebea5de0$fb6f243f@6914cqcqa015> Seventh Grade says: 1. What do you call a boomerang that won't return? A Styx. I need to go dust my Aerosmith shrine, Senor Martin
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 09:41:31 +0100 From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@tfeurope.com> Subject: Shut that Door(s) Message-ID: <4BBE67B71C1DD411A23600508B65F71E686048@tfsecmsg04.tfseur.co.uk> Hey Dunks Just in answer to your question from 6-201 "Alright people, can someone -- in a reasoned and reasonable fashion - please explain to me why this band are routinely excoriated on this list?" It's probably not reasoned and/or reasonable, but it's pretty simple in my case. I simply think they're over-hyped pretentious tripe. For me, Jim Morrison was the Michael Hutchence of his age - no real talent except a mediocre voice, "broody good looks (TM)" and a talent for posing and posturing. Sorry - this isn't designed to wind you up, but it's how I feel. Whenever I hear a Doors track I'm immediately in "ohhhhh jeez, here we go again" mode. However - as always - I resolutely defend your right to love them and try and get them mentioned on the list. Which is a courtesy you don't seem to want to extend to the guy who said he's not into Beck or Nick Drake. Apparently this makes him a "nong". Nice piece of music fascism there mate! Smudgeboy E-Mail: david.smith@tfeurope.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 02:51:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Radios In Motion <radiosinmotion@iwon.com> Subject: Wasp Star Or Bust Message-ID: <383021210.964421500372.JavaMail.root@web186-iw> I know I will get some flames, but please be gentle. Now that all the wrapping paper is off the Christmas gift, its getting dusty. What I mean is... Wasp Star is old already! I hate to have a negative attitude and in NO WAY am I saying the album is not good. In fact, I still hear it all the time. Almost just as much as when I first got it. What I am saying is, I think the press it got, is the only press it will get. I see it slowly fading into obscurity like the past few albums. I don't expect any hit singles beyond a few misc adult charts and I think if we expect any more then what we got, we are kidding ourselves. (Feeling the tension of your responses, I gasp for breadth and clear my head... ahhh, ok, I will continue) Of course we all love XTC and know the album is great and I am not disputing that. I just think its going to be like AV1 and I don't expect it to make much more of a buzz then it already has. I just hope they keep up and start working on more material instead of throwing in the towel which is what I am scared of happening. I just feel that because there is no video, it has possibly hurt the promotion. Maybe, and hopefully, I am wrong. Maybe I will eat my words and within the next few months Wasp Star will get the press it deserves. But lets be honest folks, how many of you see that happening?
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:44:22 -0500 From: "Joe Funk" <twosheds@mindspring.com> Subject: Re: Kevin Gilbert: Where to start? Message-ID: <004901bff529$d70d4aa0$7721fea9@user> Greetings, Chalklings!! First, my apologies for the spelling blunder on my last post. For some reason, my spell checker doesn't like "Colin", and if I am not careful (like..hitting "change" instead of "ignore!), it will default to "Colleen"!!.. ...No, this is not Andy's new Irish songwriting partner! Anyway, Ryan "I Am the Hamster From the Ministry" Anthony asked: >Gotta question for you people. I've run across enough >references to Kevin Gilbert to become curious. At his >eponymic website, three albums are available: *Kevin >Gilbert & Thud Live*, *Giraffe*, and *The Shaming of >the True*. Which would you recommend to start? Gotta start out with "The Shaming".... I have given my reasons for this purchase so many times, I will let someone else on this list be the salesman... also..The studio "Thud" is still available on Amazon & CDnow, Highly Recommended! >I don't know if I really read this here, or whether >I'd done too many Diet Mountain Dews that day, but did >Gilbert and his band really rip through most or all of >*The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway*, and is that >performance available on CD, eight-track tape, or >Edison cylinder? Yes, they did.. At Prog Fest '94 in CA.... It is not available for purchase, but there are boots (excellent ones!) floating around... Kevin took the role of Rael, and assembled his Genesis freak musician buddies which included Nick DiVirgilio: Spock's Beard's Drummer, Keyboardist Dave Kerszner (sp?), with only vintage Lamb-era keyboards, Guitarist and Steve Hackett look-alike (and sound-alike!): Dan Hancock, and Stan Cotey: Giraffe Guitarist who played Mike Rutherford's role. Amazing performance from a band who did very little rehearsing, because, from what I read, they all knew it so well from heart! XTC content: Does anyone have any background about the recording of the "Bull With Golden Guts"? Joe "And on the eighth day..There was music!" Funk
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 22:44:26 +0100
From: "Rory Wilsher" <rory_wilsher@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Nick Drake & Aliens
Message-ID: <001001bff5b8$92b84280$dfa4073e@oemcomputer>
Hillions
Nick Drake has featured a lot on people's alien lists, and previously here
on the Hill. I confess to complete ignorance on this artist. However, I
trust your judgment implicitly as people of like mind - can someone give me
a good jumping-off point?
Rory "What a game, he's hiding all the cards" Wilsher
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 08:58:19 -0400 From: "Michael Versaci" <stormymonday@sprintmail.com> Subject: The Pinnacle Message-ID: <000201bff56e$d7b4a0d0$6948d23f@mtwe50004> Folxtc, "Abbey Road" is the pinnacle of popular music in the 20th century. There is a passage in "You Never Give Me Your Money" - the part that immediately follows: "Oh that magic feeling Nowhere to go / nowhere to go" that is absolutely stunning. Paul (I think) playing a beautiful lead guitar part, George chiming his subtle rhythm guitar through a Leslie and the three of them singing "ahhhhhs" surpasses anything on any pop/rock record. Ever. And the reprise of the theme in the "Golden Slumbers" medley? Magnificent. Michael Versaci Nothing is ever perfect. I would have replaced "Octopus's Garden" with a full-blown, Martin produced version of "All Things Must Pass." "...You missed a Spot!"
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 06:34:11 -0700 From: "John Keel" <jbkev1@ev1.net> Subject: Is this a good find? Message-ID: <004401bff573$dac43880$1d525d3f@sony.com> Hey all, Really quick note, but yesterday I found a used CD of Andy Partridge and Harold Budd and I can't remember the name of it and I can't look it up 'cause it's in my car but I'm sure it's the only one and I hear it's some sort of ambient album and is it any good 'cause I paid over $20 for it and does anyone want to trade for it if I don't like it and what's a good price for Fossil Fuel 'cause they had that too and I gotta run talk to you later. John ********************************************* "The world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through." Tom Waits
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 09:17:57 -0400 From: erik schlichting <eriks@ci.conover.nc.us> Subject: Eyes, Doors, and a reminder Message-ID: <397C4205.607A4823@ci.conover.nc.us> Chalkers, Smudgeboy wrote of finding the original (he thought) '50's version of "I only Have Eyes for You." Dig a little deeper, you'll find the song was written in 1934, thus, it's not the original. It's been covered by the likes of Al Jolson, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and, of course, Frank Sinatra, just to name a few. Not that I've heard all of these versions, but if you really like the song, it might be worth your while to check some of these out. Look on cdnow.com or allmusic.com for info on Harry Warren; you'll see a lot of other songs you know. The Doors were taking potshots: For about a year in my younger days, the Doors were the best band in the world (even though Morrison was already years in the ground). Each album purchase was a revelation, a delight that got played over & over for weeks. Hearing the no-airplay cuts for the fisrt time was like discovering gold. Songs like Moonlight Drive, Spanish Caravan, Wild Child (ever seen the video?), the Spy, Queen of the Highway, and the WASP expanded my musical horizons. The Doors got me into Them, and John Lee Hooker, and made me look more closely to discover the blues background that other bands like Led Zeppelin, even the Beatles, were riding. As a snot-nosed 13-year old, I had no idea these great bands were borrowing from somewhere else, but it was the Doors that got me started looking at the roots of rock & roll. I don't listen to the Doors very much lately, but once in a while I get a hankerin' to spin Morrison Hotel, or the Soft Parade, or L.A Woman.... (Shout): "You CANNOT petition the Lord with prayer!" Just a reminder: Let me know where you are so I can put you on the map! Good response so far, but we need more. There are some places that are being obviously under-represented- for example, only one response for all of Great Britain. Come on folks, what do you think this is, an American election? Get your coordinates at one of these sites: http://www.astro.com/atlas/aq_e.htm (this ones the best) http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001769.html http://www.bcca.org/misc/qiblih/latlong.html Send your location to: eschlichting@xtremeol.com mailto:eschlichting@xtremeol.com Erik
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 14:33:51 +0100 From: Warren Butson <Warren.Butson@getty-images.com> Subject: XTC cover Message-ID: <917A9E311021D411ABDF00508B605A470F1D4E@LONEXCHG01> I was in Weymouth, Dorset at the weekend for a little seaside break and they had a band on the beach playing some great 60' psychedelic covers. Imagine my shock when they launched into a blistering performance of Your Gold Dress! by the Dukes. I'd love to know if they knew it was a fake 60's song or thought it was the genuine thing, whatever it got me thinking that Andy always says what's the point in playing live anymore, the truth is I'd love to hear how they would interpret the older stuff today, that to me is one very good reason and ofcourse hear songs they have never performed live before. I would also like to comment on the fact that it seems very hard to find a band on this list that has no merit whatsoever. ELP Chicago, Roy Wood, Todd Rundgren, etc there is always one person here to defend them. All these artists have bee around for many years which usually means they have something that interests the public just enough to keep them going.I think also we should be careful of being hypocritical about what we say is shit. I for one don't remember hearing anyone slag off "If you leave me now" by Chicago when it came out in 76 or whenever it was. I don't know how old you lot are but I would have been 10 to me it was just a nice tune for Christ sake. it's only when you grow up you become so subjective about what is good and what is shit and we find peter cetera is synonymous with MOR sugary lightweight music, when in fact it is totally harmless fluff that should not bother anyone except for the fans of the first generation Chicago. However, I must agree with whoever mentioned that swath of lipstick metal bands of the 80's I hated them then and Can't even remember anything they did now, surely there can't be anyone to defend that genre, or can there?
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 10:16:50 -0600 From: KirK.Gill@equifax.com Subject: Please Slag Something Slaggable Message-ID: <85256926.00593402.00@noteswetc15.fin.equifax.com> One of the dangers of getting older is you broaden your focus, you start to see all the things that you ignored earlier in your life when you "knew it all." The inevitable result is the dilution of enthusiasms, the introduction of all that previously done "stuff" into your world view. It's worse for musical groups, who use that youthfully narrow perspective to generate truly original music which then gets watered down by age and experience. Add to that the fact that you're talking about several people all learning and growing in different directions at the same time, and it's inevitable that the music starts to sound like it's being done by committee. Sometimes it works, like with XTC, who have, I think, aged gracefully. As did, contrary to numerous Chalkiller postings, The Beatles. Slagging on Abbey Road is asinine. Come Together? Something? Here Comes the Sun? Are you insane? Someone said something like "If they'd made another album, I'm darn near sure their stature would be diminished in my eyes." Please. All the sh**ty records in the world, including virtually all of their post-Beatle output shouldn't be able to do that. In fact, can someone describe to me why one record should have any effect on whether or not you like another record? Is there some reason why Sting's laughable current output should somehow make me like The Police any less? Can someone explain this to me? k A "I'm Bugged"
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 11:39:16 -0500 From: "Richard" <rjpa1@home.com> Subject: Get a towel! (no XTC content) Message-ID: <001801bff58d$b5612660$15ec1718@mckiny1.tx.home.com> The name "10cc" comes from the statistical data that the average amount of semen in a human ejaculation is 9cc. The band wryly assumed that they were better than everyone else and called themselves "10cc." To take it one step further, their "Best of" release was entitled "100cc." Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:15:03 +0100 From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@tfeurope.com> Subject: George . . . you naughty, naughty boy . . . Message-ID: <4BBE67B71C1DD411A23600508B65F71E686059@tfsecmsg04.tfseur.co.uk> Urban myth alert . . . On the thread of the Beatles/Jeff Lynne biz, Dan said; The story I heard was rather more touchy. I remember a quote from George Martin to the effect of "They didn't ask me, and if they had, I wouldn't have done it." Meaning he didn't think the new tracks were such a hot idea. I suspect Jeff Lynne was brought in for the same reason XTC uses producers: diplomacy. OK, here's what I heard - from a mate in the second hand/collectors record biz (yeah, I know, we've all got a mate in the biz . . .) who I would trust with the life of at least two of my fish to get a semblance of a correct story. Forgive me if you've heard it before, or it's an old muzik biz myth, or (in particular) if YOU know better . . . ahem, ahem . . . Apparently, towards the end of the Beatles, George was getting more and more hacked off at Paul and John over what he saw as them not giving him enough credit and not letting him have more tracks on the albums. The "hack" festered for years after the split . . . and then, as we all know, he was stiffed by his accountant over Handmade Films. So, Georgy was a bit brassic right around the time Macca said "oh, what about milking the cash cow by releasing an anthology". Fair do's said the others (well they would, wouldn't they?) and said anthology project took off. Macca then decided that a coupla new songs would be kind of spiffing. Let's get George Martin and the old crew in etc. George - sensing an opportunity - went along with it . . . and along with it . . . and, indeed, along with it, until the very last minute, when he said to Paul (adopts Scouse accent) "sorry mate, I've changed me mind, I'm not doing it". A delightfully apoplectic Sir Paul went, well, apoplectic obviously. He then uttered the fateful words "what would it take for you to do it" at which point George said "I'll only do it if you get my mate Jeff Lynne in to do the production". Cue further blue fits of rage from the Macca camp - especially with the realisation that he had been backed into a corner. Cue smug grins around Chez Harrison. And cue The Beatles sounding like ELO, rather than ELO sounding like the Beatles. Funny old world innit? Smudgeboy E-Mail: david.smith@tfeurope.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:43:55 +0000 From: Jayne Myrone <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: is this an 80s revival or is it just me? Message-ID: <397C8E60.57924670@tesco.net> Dunks wrote And who'd have thought King Trigger would pop up in the discussion. Geez, what next? Rip Rig & Panic? Don't get me startedV What about Kissing the Pink or Jimmy the Hoover All together: "woa woa wee yeah yeah" Jayne the Worrier Queen please take a minute & visit the site below. By clicking on the donate button money is given to the UN's World Food Programme. http://www.thehungersite.com/index.html "Nothing is meaningless if one likes to do it" Gertrude Stein
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 12:26:21 -0500 From: Jill Oleson <Jill_Oleson@kurion.com> Subject: Welcoming Pagan Alyssa with a Story Message-ID: <81CC73FC2FACD311A2D200508B8B88AA1C8FCF@KURION_EXCH> Greetings Chalkers, As a way of welcoming our new pagan friend Alyssa, who introduced herself in digest #6-175, I'd like to share with you this story: Several weeks ago, I planned on meeting a few friends for lunch at an Italian restaurant near my office. Either I arrived early or they arrived late because I found myself waiting on a bench near the front door for quite a long time. As I sat there, alone, waiting, I got a chance to do a little people watching. I find people so interesting... what they say, what they think, how they dress, how they interact with each other... So as I am sitting there looking around, a guy walks in, and not finding the person he's supposed to meet for lunch, takes a seat on the bench just opposite of me. We exchange innocuous glances and I continue to look around. But he keeps staring. He's staring at me! I look back casually wondering what about me could have caught his attention. Then I remember... on my forest green shirt, I am wearing a silver pin of the Uffington Horse, just like the horse on the cover of XTC's English Settlement album. He is clearly staring at the pin. Oh, I think, he must be another Chalker and he's waiting to get up his nerve to ask me about it. How fun it will be to meet another Chalker... I've met so many already! "I like your pin," he says. "Where did you get it?" "It was a gift," I reply. "It's the Uffington Horse, you know." "What's that?" "Well, it's a horse that has been carved into the chalk hills somewhere near Swindon, England." (hint, hint, buddy!) "Is it pagan?" "I don't think anyone really knows for sure," I answer. "But given the time period in which it was created, yes, it quite likely is pagan." "Are you into paganism?" (Okay, well, this conversation isn't going where I thought it would go...) "I like a band called, XTC, and they use this image on one of their albums, so I wear this pin. One of the members of the band, Andy Partridge, seems to be into paganism in some of his lyrics and on some of the album covers." "I knew it!" he exclaimed. "You *are* a pagan, aren't you?" "What makes you think that I am pagan?" "I can always spot a pagan in a crowd." "Really? How is that?" He grabs a leather strap from around his neck and pulls a small medallion from under his t-shirt. It's a black metal pentacle within a circle. He says, with his eyes shining hopefully, "Because I'm a pagan too!" This, dear Chalkers, was the most unusual pick-up line this girl has ever heard. Now that you know about it, use it carefully and in good health. And remember, do what you will, but harm none. Sincerely, Jill Oleson Austin, Texas (No, it didn't work.)
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:28:15 +0100 From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@tfeurope.com> Subject: It's a Monster! Message-ID: <4BBE67B71C1DD411A23600508B65F71E68605A@tfsecmsg04.tfseur.co.uk> Still here, haven't gone, more rambling responses to 6-202 . . . Steve Pitts' monster posting had some veeeeeery good points. Witness: Thankfully not. Given that I was born in 1960, I guess that the 70s encapsulates my youth, and I have very little fondness for anything prior to 'punk'. This applies especially to the glam stuff, but there was a whole bunch of other dreadful stuff populating the charts at the time (anyone remember David Dundas, for example??) I assume you know you're speaking about a "Real life Lord of the Manor"? In his blue jeans 'n all - with a tiger in his tank, no less. Did any sone ever make you less inclined to ride a motorbike than that one? In the days when I used to buy/listen to singles (started in about 1977 and gave up on them roughly five years later) I would always listen to both sides. The Jam were especially good at hiding gems on B-sides, with Butterfly Collector my favourite, and one of my fave Jam tracks of all time Steve, looks like we're gonna be trading b-sides for days mate. I'll take Liza Radley (b-side of Start) for my Jam gem. In return I'll give you "Down In The Park (Instr)" - the b-side of "I Die You Die" by Gary Numan. "If that Gary Numan comes in 'ere givin it the old 'I fink I'll try a bit o' classical' I'll tell 'im . . .OOOYYYY, Numan, Noooooooooooooooooooo!" Oh and Dom - Transistor Blast? You little cheater! And you sure you weren't servicing badgers and . . . oh, never mind. More doo-wop classics - The Way You Look Tonight, by the Jaguars. Sigh. Smudgeboy E-Mail: david.smith@tfeurope.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 12:55:46 -0700 From: "Hiatt, Randy" <Randy.Hiatt@fsbti.com> Subject: Kosher Lamb Message-ID: <F34536084B78D311AF53009027B0D7EAE3DA64@FSBEX01> >From: Ryan Anthony Gotta question for you people. I've run across enoughreferences to Kevin Gilbert to become curious. At hiseponymic website, three albums are available: *KevinGilbert & Thud Live*, *Giraffe*, and *The Shaming ofthe True*. Which would you recommend to start?< The Shaming is a mini Lamb, only about the "music industry". Satisfying performances and production w/muscle. Then Thud Live.... Other releases are planned from his estate.>I don't know if I really read this here, or whetherI'd done too many Diet Mountain Dews that day, but didGilbert and his band really rip through most or all of*The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway*,< Ooooh Yaaaaa (less only a few tunes/jams), It has moments that beat the orig live Genesis version. Done at Progfest 94 (20 year anniversary of the Lamb). There is a CD and once was on a video (I have yet to see). for an encore they did Musical Box. Randy (on my knees butt dancing) Hiatt
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 15:57:44 -0500
From: chris vreeland <vreecave@realtime.com>
Subject: dropped back by for five more
Message-ID: <397CAD88.518CF759@realtime.com>
Just a quick note....
I've been off to the Fantastic Planet of Love since last week, but
finally convinced the aliens (all huge Marshall Crenshaw fans, by the
way) that we needed to zip back in for five more. Actually any excuse
they can find to "do up" a little spice, and "fold some major space" is
alright by them. It's only three days from the Dog Star these days, and
hell, half of that I spent on standby at the spaceport... anyway, I'll
be relieving you-all of these:
1. Mozart's Requiem, Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin of
the Fields
2. Kiko, Los Lobos
3. The Soft Bulletin, The Flaming Lips
4. Babylon by Bus, Bob Marley
5. Blue Sky Mining, Midnight Oil
That aughta keep me for a while.
I took along a couple magazines for the trip, and found some
pertinent articles.
Harper's saw fit to reproduce Pat Metheny's entire Kenny G. diatribe in
the Readings section of their most recent issue. Glad to see Mr. Lame
Ass Psuedo-Bluesy Noodling get his comeuppance in such a prominent way.
Anybody privy to any reactions from Mr.G?
Along side it was a pretty good David Eggers short on the concept of
"selling out." For those of you debating bands who were once good, but
now suck, this article is instructive. He has nothing but good things to
say therein about the Flaming Lips, a band held up as the epitome of NOT
selling out. Perhaps it's on the Harper's website, although I don't
know, but it's worth checking out.
Lastly, The Nation takes an interesting editorial stance about
Napster. The writer didn't seem to find anything wrong with the whole
idea, and seemed to think that the industry just needed to adjust. He
was coming from the "you can't stop the technology" stance, and while
that's a good point, I just can't get off the fence. (Napster as a
populist movement?) I at least thought the article stated it's case
somewhat intelligently, although a tad dismissively.
To get off the good bands gone bad thread, why not try this one?
What bands started out sucking, but then got good later in their
careers? Or on a tangent, what bands did you hate at first then later
learn to like in the end?
For example, The Beach Boys started out sucking, but got really,
really good.
Two people I really hated, but later had to admit greatly improved after
making a few albums: John Mellencamp (alright, his career is kind of a
bell curve) and Melissa Etheridge. Your Little Secret RAWKS!
That should keep y'all talking till I'm safely out of the atmosphere,
Chris "whose musical career would resemble a flatline on a cardiac
machine" Vreeland
XTC content? Austin radio has completely ignored Wasp Star. Oh, well,
I've completely ignored Austin radio, except for our new and improved
pirate station, which played Dear God last friday, and is playing Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap right now. Buncha damn communists!
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 16:48:38 -0400 From: "Stephanie Takeshita" <edsxt@huber.com> Subject: a gentle jibe; extra-planetary picks Message-ID: <s97c7373.072@gwia.huber.com> Hi, my fellow musical Flemings, In Digest 6-198, Randy had written, >...Crimson meets Gentile Giant...> What is that, a goyisch Golem? 8 > **************** My "Close Encounters" Top 5 list [in no order]: Abbey Road, English Settlement, King Crimson Live in Argentina (two-disc compilations O.K.? 2 if not, then Thrak or Discipline); Repercussion [by The dBs], and John Barry's soundtrack to OHMSS [that's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" to the non-Bond-freaks]. Although for the sake of interstellar goodwill, you might want to include some Man or Astro-Man? or Spacemen 3 in there somewhere.... Other great choices: The Damned's "The Light at the End of the Tunnel" compilation [esp. Disc One]; The Golden Palominos [pick just about anything of theirs; I'd go with "Blast of Silence" for Bernie Worrell's coolly understated solo on "Strong, Simple Silences"]; any early Talking Heads [I'd take '77 or "Fear..."]; Blur's "Parklife," Firehose [but I'd be at a loss to chose one], My Drug Hell's "My Drug Hell," and maybe REM's "Automatic for the People". That's.... seven more. Acch-ptooey! I hate drawing up these sorts of lists! What am I, the Rob Fleming character from "High Fidelity"? Which reminds me, I left out Roky Erickson/The 13th Floor Elevators and The Beta Band (their compiled "Three EPs" is good).... And for those still searching for something good, add my voice to those who've endorsed The Eels [all three LPs], Gomez [esp. "Bring It On"]; The Flaming Lips' "The Soft Bulletin," Madder Rose [esp. "Tragic Magic"]; and, going way-y-y back, Love's box set "Love Story," and The Modern Lovers' eponymous LP. And when I feel like it, Richard Hell & the Voidoids [anyone else addicted to Robert Quine's guitar riffs?], The Contortions, and The Birthday Party. And playing these over and over just might persuade the aliens to release you from their slimy, tentacled, purple clutches.... Killing 'em softly with my song, Stephanie Takeshita A couple of queries of my own: anyone here familiar with The Minus 5, and esp. their latest, with Peter Buck? Is it as good as the critics say it is? [or, to coin yet another awkward 'Net acronym, IIAGATCSII?] And can anyone establish what exactly makes the "Ravenous" original score (by Michael Nyman, with Damon Albarn of Blur) so eerie-sounding? Is it, as one 'net poster claimed, in 13/8, grouped in 6's and 7's? Or is it that damned banjo/squeezebox instrumentation? Or, not to overlook the obvious, is it simply that the flick is all about CANNIBALISM? Write me privately... Stephanie Takeshita
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-206 *******************************
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