Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 305
Date: Thursday, 28 December 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 305
Thursday, 28 December 2000
Topics:
Hamster Cannons
Re: John Wesley Harding
Chuck Sabo
Who Wants A Free CD?....
Christmas, "Gilmore Girls", etc.
Kirsty MacColl
twenty years ago
A list to fill the stocking with...
Annamarie and CVreeland
Not quite Boarded Up
You're a mean one, Mr Grinch
hello...
And the bells were ringing out on Christmas day!
My list
Best of 2000
Greatings from Fintasia!
hot sauce
More XTC on the WB
RE: The recently-deceased - and the not-so . . .
WS/AV2 Rated #7 in Top 10 of 2000
Post-Holiday
Master and Virgin
I've got the time-
hello...
The Orchid Show is BACK!!!
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 22:01:28 -0800 From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@bazillion.com> Subject: Hamster Cannons Message-ID: <3A443FB7.9A22E1A@bazillion.com> (sorry for the late responce, I've been away)... Ryan Anthony An independent Internet content provider said many moons ago: "P.S.: Please don't take this post as an attack on Randy Hiatt, whose question, albeit weird and unexpected, is honest and fair, or as an invitation to discuss the American presidential election in this forum." I was making a reeeaching joke about a certain gay fetish... Randy (oooh, that tickles) Hiatt
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 2:44:06 -0800 (PST) From: Rose Ellen Auerbach <auerbach@armory.com> Subject: Re: John Wesley Harding Message-ID: <200012230244.aa27264@deepthought.armory.com> Christopher R. Coolidge wrote: > You'll have to correct the guy who reviewed the album in the last issue > of No Depression. He seemed to think it had been eight years since his last > album. I have two of his early 90's albums, The Name Above The Title and > Why We Fight, both of which have good songs but take more getting into. If > you know of any albums he's released between 1992 and 2000, I'd like to > know, especially if they're as good as this year's model. Ooh! Something I can definitively clear up! (Is this all it takes to drag me out of lurkdom?!) "The Confessions of St.Ace" is JWH's first major-label release since 1992. He has, however, been quite busy releasing albums on Rhino (1996's "John Wesley Harding's New Deal") and the dearly departed Zero Hour (1998's "Awake" and 1999's "TradArrJones"), and via various other avenues for the outtakes/live performance Dynablob series and the almost-annual fan club CD singles. "St.Ace" was released on Mammoth, an imprint of Hollywood Records, which means that for the first time since 1992 it's possible to find a new JWH album in most music stores. Meanwhile, Appleseed Records are reissuing "Awake" and "TradArrJones" with bonus tracks... Confused yet? *:) If you are - or even if you're not - or if you're wondering what the heck I'm going on about - you're cordially invited to swing by JWH's web site at http://www.WesWeb.net. In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I run it - but people do seem to like it. The recent tour diary and the free MP3 downloads are especially popular. For what it's worth. ObXTC: "The Wheel and the Maypole" rocks my world. --Rose
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 07:47:23 -0500 From: "Todd and Jennifer Bernhardt" <toddjenn@erols.com> Subject: Chuck Sabo Message-ID: <NABBKDAOLCDJBNEFDNLLGELICFAA.toddjenn@erols.com> Hi: Please indulge me while I indulge myself with a bit of shameless self-promotion here... The issue of Modern Drummer magazine with my (too) short article on Chuck Sabo (the principal drummer on Wasp Star for you non-liner-note-reading readers out there in Chalkhillsland) has just hit the stands. Check out page 25. For the full-length article and then some, check out: http://chalkhills.org/articles/TBChuck000519.html That's all. Sorry to hear about the new fall-out between Andy and Dave, but 'twas ever thus in this most-shitty of all shitty businesses. Sigh. Best wishes to all for a wonderful celebration of whatever it is you celebrate around the time of the winter solstice. Here's to more XTC and less agony in 2001! -Todd
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 08:09:20 -0600 From: "Toby Thomas" <Moonsilver@prodigy.net> Subject: Who Wants A Free CD?.... Message-ID: <004801c06ce9$f92364c0$07f1fc3f@silvermoon> Organization: Prodigy Internet First ten responses to Moonsilver@Prodigy.net get a free copy of: MEET ME ON THE OTHER SIDE: Your Millennium Soundtrack Souvenir CD. After all, as many earnest folks constantly reminded me last year when the CD was first released, the REAL turn of the Millennium is January 1st, 2001! The following Chalkers are aboard this Millennium train: ERIC HESSON / JIM SMART / BECKI DiGREGORIO / MITCH FRIEDMAN (whose clever song transcends the shackles of Time). Also includes tunes by MOOGY KLINGMAN (Original TRs Utopia), Japanese (and big XTC fan) recording star HIROSHI TAKANO in his worldwide debut, two unreleased songs from pop wunderkind DOUG POWELL, Rundgren bandmate JOHN FERENZIK and a sprinkling of others. E-mail me with you address for delivery (hopefully) before New Year's Eve. Deep down inside, where few see, we're all light. Good luck in 2001!... toby www.silvermoonmusic.com MUSIC THAT SHINES!
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 08:32:45 -0600 From: "Jonny Pop" <jbkxtc@mail.ev1.net> Subject: Christmas, "Gilmore Girls", etc. Message-ID: <200012230832.AA554959024@mail.ev1.net> Hi all, First, let me say it's good to be back. I've been out of touch for a while and in spite of the fact that my computer is down due to a virus, I'm on my Dad's computer while I'm home for Christmas and wanted to send out some notes. I haven't seen this week's episode of "Gilmore Girls" yet, but a friend taped it for me and I'll get to see it next week. I was one of the first ones to post the shows first XTC appearance, when they mentioned XTC and "Wasp Star: Apple Venus Volume 2" by name in the third episode before proceeding to play a snippet of "I'm the Man Who Murdered Love". I recently wrote them a letter because I've become a huge fan of the show and asked them straight out who the pop music and XTC fan was. They've also managed to at least mention The Sugarplastic in an episode as a favorite band of Rory's boyfriend. The fact that I'm hearing that they played TWO XTC songs in one episode is going to prompt another letter and hopefully a visit next time I make it over to the Warner Brothers lot. Next, I just want to say how much I've enjoyed being a part of Chalkhills this year as my love for XTC was renewed and strengthened. Thanks so much for the trades I've received (WES LONG - I SWEAR I'll get your "Wasp Star" vinyl out to you as soon as I get back to California. I'M SORRY!!!!) and the friends I've made here (Jayne, love, I'll write soon). The greatest thanks go out to John Relph for his continued support and moderating of our little forum here. Of course, the highlight of the year for me was finally visiting Swindon, on a whirlwind tour this past fall. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the lovely Kay Stracey for driving two strange Yanks around to the XTC historic sites (I would have never made it through the Magic Roundabout alive). I still hope to get photos posted on the web site as early as possible next year. So, I'll close with the warmest of wishes for all of you during this holiday season, no matter which holiday you celebrate - or don't. See you next year in the TRUE new millenium. John Keel
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 09:42:41 -0500 From: Ben Gott <bgott@bowdoin.edu> Subject: Kirsty MacColl Message-ID: <B66A2411.2B5F%bgott@bowdoin.edu> Chalkhillers, Wow. I hadn't heard about Kirsty's death until reading Dunks's post...What a horrible, horrible tragedy. Her voice was so pure and elegant, and she made every song she sung or sung on come alive. I didn't bring any of her CDs home with me this Christmas break, but I did bring Billy Bragg's "Talking with the Taxman..." I'll play "Greetings to the New Brunette" and raise a toast to Kirsty! I have a list, in my head, of the team that would perform on my "dream album," if there should ever come a time when I had unlimited money and resources to make one. I could probably have switched producers around, or had Johnny Marr play guitar on the tracks that Peter Buck or Dave Gregory did not...But Kirsty was irreplaceable. She will be missed. Cheers, -Ben
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 16:17:18 -0600 From: "Jamie Lowe" <jamielowe@email.msn.com> Subject: twenty years ago Message-ID: <007001c06d2e$3bf97020$b7412e3f@unlpm> Chalkholders: Twenty years ago on 12/22/80, Xtc performed in concert at the Hammersmith Palais in which Andy describes his pre -show jitters as "an interesting cocktail, that mixture of fear, defiance, Casanova cockiness and decibels that washes over you up there on stage". The liner notes by Andy describing this live XTC performance are worth the price alone. But it is the music with it's shear live energy that makes this a really special work of art. The band is finally back in England (home) right before Christmas after a long tour and their happiness really shows. You can literally feel it as it gushes out of each tightly played song. It is Christmas time we are home and we rock! Any newbies out there take note. It is well worth the effort to get this album into your collection whether it be through the Transistor Blast Collection, or better yet in its original format as BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert XTC with the aforementioned liner notes. A perfect cd to listen to during the holidays or anytime your spirits need to be lifted a bit higher. Cheers, Jamie Lowe
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2000 22:06:25 EST From: WTDK@aol.com Subject: A list to fill the stocking with... Message-ID: <d1.45af27.2776c231@aol.com> Well, everybody else has been putting together best of lists so I'm going to add to the clutter. 1. Daises of the Galaxy - Eels 2. Tropical Brainstorm - Kristy Maccoll (RIP Kristy) 3. Head First - Badfinger 4. You're the One - Paul Simon 5. Righteous Love - Joan Osborne 6. Wasp Star - Xtc 7. Tunnel into Summer - Kimberly Rew 8. Hanging Out in Heaven - Marty Willson - Piper 9. Bachelor No. 2 - Aimee Mann 10. Transcendental Blues - Steve Earle (just edging out King Crimson) 11. On How Life Is - Macy Gray Reissues: 1.Aerial Pandemonium Ballet - Nilsson 2. Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw 3. Innervisions - Stevie Wonder 4. Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon 5.Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Ian Hunter 6. Best of Badfinger (Yeah, I've got all their stuff and technically it's not a reissue but, hey, this is where it fits) 7. 1 - The Beatles (Had to include it as the sound quality is terrific and blows away the previously issued CDs with the exception of Yellow Submarine) 8. Teaser and the Firecat - Cat Stevens 9. Nilsson Schmilsson - Nilsson (An import title with lots of bonus tracks) 10. Boxed Sets 1. The Blue Horizon Sessions - Fleetwood Mac 2. Flashback - Elo 3. Love, God, Murder - Johnny Cash Now for a wish list of reissued items: 1. All Xtc stuff on Virgin (sounds like my wish will come true)! 2. Xtc Boxed sets (ditto) 3. Then Play On - Fleetwood Mac Long list for which I apologize but couldn't figure out what I could drop. Unfortunately due to a major family illness I haven't been paying a lot of attention to the list (and am still behind on my trades for which I hope you all will forgive me). Now that I'm gotten my self important critical darlings out of the way I'd like to wish everyone a happy holidays and happy new year! Regards, Wayne
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2000 00:22:44 -0800 From: Randy Hiatt <rhiatt@bazillion.com> Subject: Annamarie and CVreeland Message-ID: <3A45B253.3E981EB2@bazillion.com> Annamarie you speak highly of Kevin Gilbert... and I can understand. I just spent a number of months fishing around his ponds. There is a mp3.com Station for music from fans if anyone wants to post one. http://stations.mp3s.com/stations/107/instant_everything.html His Shaming Of The True is great and his web page has 12 mp3's to dwnload of his 1st band (he was 16-17). http://www.kevingilbert.com/ Chris Vreeland said, >XtC content? Not to hex it before we start, but I've scheduled studio time to record two songs for R.P-A's upcoming tribute. You-all have managed to drag me back out of my cave into the world of recording music for the first time in almost 8 years. Thanks for the impetus. What happens when the drums stop? Chris "Very Bad! Bass Solo!" Vreeland< I would love to help keep the drums going, I have very reasionable rates. Randy (well, allright... free) Hiatt happy new year everyone!
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2000 12:01:04 -0600 (CST) From: Brown <i.sundog@verizon.net> Subject: Not quite Boarded Up Message-ID: <200012241801.MAA72567668@smtppop2pub.verizon.net> Hey, Hillians! Last weekend I had the pleasure of sitting in with my brother's band and playing an engagement in beautiful Corona, California. We performed a few original songs, but the bulk of the play list consisted of covers, including a couple three XTC numbers. (Understand that my bro is not an XTC fan.. the added XTC songs were at *my* insistence!) There was one fellow who stood in front of the stage, heckling and spouting off the whole time we played. He appeared to have imbibed just a bit too much, so he was relatively easy to write off.. but not as easy to ignore. Other than this intoxicated fool, the audience reaction was quite positive. Most every number we played was well received, but the XTC covers seemed to elicit the best response. Several people came up to me and shared a fond memory of the first time that they had heard a particular XTC song. It was a very pleasant surprise, I must say. After the gig, as we loaded the equipment into our vehicles, the heckler staggered over to me and attempted to strike up a conversation. He was a little difficult to understand, given his condition, but from what I could surmise, he was actually complimenting me on the quality of our performance. He also said that he had *really* enjoyed hearing 'Ball and Chain' and 'The Mayor Of Simpleton'.. and that "army song.. it rocks!" (I assumed that he meant Generals & Majors).. Suddenly this person didn't seem like such a cur.. Maybe I had been wrong.. Just when I started to feel guilty about misjudging him, he said "yeah, INXS is one of my FAVORITE bands.. I just love INXS!!" Never mind that I had just spent the last five hours in an establishment that was more a glorified outhouse with a license to sell liquor.. or that the ghost of Desi Arnaz was pounding out a crazy Latin rhythm on the top of my skull.. or that I still had a nearly two hour drive ahead of me, one that would put me home sometime after 4:30 a.m... At that moment none of those things seemed to bother me at all.. Why, you ask? The answer should be obvious, my gingersnaps.. None of that mattered because I had been able to share the artistry of our beloved INXS with a small, but appreciative audience.. and one jackass. *That* kind of satisfaction doesn't come along everyday, boys and girls. Innit grand? On an unrelated note- Mr. Vreeland has confessed to being a 'sentimental old fool'. Well, Chris, if you can admit to that then I suppose I can surface long enough to expose my soft, white underbelly. My appreciation for the music of INXS, err..XTC has been greatly enhanced by the information and insight shared on Chalkhills... thanks to all for contributing your intellectual property so generously. I have gotten to know some truly lovely souls through this forum.. far too many to name individually, but you know who you are. This is a strange, wonderful community we belong to.. one presided over by the ever patient, *seemingly* tireless, Mr. Relph. Thanks for putting up with us, John.. Beyond your love of XTC, I don't know how or why you do it.. I'm just glad that you do! The best to all of you in the coming year.. Family, friends, good music, and a generous supply of chocolate.. that's all you'll ever need. Trust me on this one, kids! xox Debora Brown
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 24 Dec 2000 13:26:23 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: You're a mean one, Mr Grinch Message-ID: <l03130300b66beb88eeab@[206.231.24.26]> >2) I've been absolutely overwhelmed by the amounts of lard, sugar and >salt that's been delivered to my office. And I was pleasantly suprised >when our maintenance worker brought in gift certificates for us for the >coffee house next door. Mind you these were for our department. I watch >a woman from a different department swoop in as soon as they were laid >on the table and carry them off! And not just any woman - a woman that >married into obscene amounts of wealth that could probably BUY the >coffee house. And she wasn't even discrete about it! We're talking >blatant grab and run!!! >Why is it that those that have the most "wealth" are the first to take >it from someone else? Grinch #2 > >Does anyone else have any grinch stories to share? I'd feel better if I >wasn't the only one whining, but then again, I'd hope that everyone else >was having such a pleasant time that they wouldn't need to! > >Take Care All! > >- May Some qualified grinching- I'm fed up with perky store clerks chirping "Have a very merry Christmas!" like they're programmed to say it. Once in a while I get someone who really seems to mean it, I can just tell, then I'll respond in kind. Those are the ones who actually take the time to ask how you're doing and actually wait for the answer. Those are the real spirits of Christmas, such as the clerk at Kinney Drugs who giggled when my cell phone set off the store alarm as I walked in. That broke the ice enough that I was able to joke with her about it as I paid for my purchases. I've been so busy planning Christmas that I didn't have time to stop and smell the flowers, until I finally dragged myself out to the local Greek Orthodox church, which I'd never been to before(I'm not Orthodox either), but just sitting there with the smell of incense, the service mostly performed in Greek, watching the little old ladies and men genuflecting and the small children and babies squirming in parents' arms, and I got the meaning. So if you want meaning, even if you don't go to church and aren't particularly religious, take a walk just for the sake of it and observe what's going on, take time to let your mind shut up for a while, just don't do anything important.(And watching TV or surfing the Internet doesn't count- get thy studio tan outdoors already!) Just notice things. I highly recommend going to a church you've never been to before though, one somewhat alien to your usual experience. Break the mold. That's all, I hope I've said something that isn't just the usual cliches. Merry Christmas to all. -My cat's favorite Christmas song: "I Saw Mommy Hiss At Santa Claus." Christopher R. Coolidge Homepage at http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2000 15:04:00 -0500 From: "Danny Phipps" <phipps@schoollink.net> Subject: hello... Message-ID: <web-5431035@schoollink.net> hello, all... my name is dan phipps and i'm from north carolina...home of mashed potatoes, fried chicken, southern comfort, and some of the GREATEST xtc fans in the world!!! i just wanted to let you all know that i've been a fan of this swindon troupe ever since i first experienced their amazing "english settlement" album...and i haven't been the same since!! (just ask my wife...she's the one who actually turned me on to the band!) i was presented this classic album on my 24th birthday and there honestly wasn't a day that went by where i didn't play this release all the way through at least once! i truly wore the grooves slam off this record (remember vinyl?). andy partridge and his masterful way of expressing himself through words and music is UNMATCHED in my book. colin's more melodic approach to songcraft cannot help but draw any listener in...they are both MASTERS at their collective craft. and the simple truth is...they honestly get better with each new release!! i have all their albums now on cd and look forward with eager anticipation for each new successive gift they lay at the fans' feet every few years. it's just like being a kid on christmas morning when i find that a new xtc album is coming out!! therefore, i cannot wait until they decide to release the 6-cd (!!!!!) "fuzzy warbles" boxed set of home demos for our avid ears and hearts to experience! hell, these guys could sing the friggin' phone book and i'd anxiously stand in line to buy my own personal copy! like cheese, they simply get better with age. ...and that's how i feel about xtc! :-) i love talking with other people who enjoy the music of this most talented swindon combo as much as i do. so please feel free to e-mail me at anytime and we'll chat, compare ideas, and possibly even music-trade. i'm open to just about anything when it comes to andy partridge and colin moulding!! thanks for the eyetime... /dan --------------------------------------- "I would have made this instrumental, but the words got in the way." (AP) ---------------------------------------
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2000 22:14:43 EST From: KINGSTUNES@aol.com Subject: And the bells were ringing out on Christmas day! Message-ID: <95.4b54b75.27796723@aol.com> Most Merry Chalkies! Some year end ramblings..... No top ten list - just some thoughts on some discs I bought this year. The Shaming Of The True - Kevin Gilbert. I know I should be screaming hosanna's for our boys, and I do, but this is one the most amazing records I've ever heard! How sad, his loss.... Kevin Gilbert - the rest of his catalogue. Had no choice, had to know. Worth every cent and effort! Special thanks to Joe Funk and my buddy from Florida (who swears he didn't vote) who found a used copy of Toy Matinee for me! Anxiously awaiting more estate releases. Wasp Star - 'nuff said. You were expecting the Spanish Inquisition? Two Against Nature - Steely Dan: I held out for a long time before I bought this. Having heard Cousin Dupree on radio, I thought it was clever but *more of the same*. A friend insisted that it got better on repeated listenings, and offered to buy Wasp Star and Shaming if I bought this. He was right! Oh me of little faith.... You're The One - Paul Simon: I love it! It's wonderful! The hell with you Simon- haters! (Let's hope our boys are doing this well when they hit 59...) Stunt - Bare Naked Ladies: They are good fun. But I don't get the comparisons with XTC. Red Dirt Girl - Emmylou Harris: Wrecking Ball with Attytood! Didn't grab me at first, but I'm loving it more with each listen. Night And Day II - Joe Jackson: I've only heard it twice so far. It's not hitting me as much as Heaven & Hell, but it's decent. Joe's a class act. KonstrucKtion of Light - King Crimson: Impressive, but wouldn't kill me to not hear it again. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell: It may not be most people's cup of tea, but I think she did a marvellous job with those songs. I'm kicking myself I didn't go see her when she was in town with the orchestra. The Hour Before Dawn - Solas: Seamus Eagan & Friends were never in better form! Great CD. I have much catching up to do - I haven't got Aimee Man's or Radio Head's newest , stuff, among others. Most of my purchasing energy has been replacing and archiving my crusty old 60s & 70s vinyls, which has me living in the past for the time being. I'm watching your recommendations, however..... ****************** Kirsty, you were too young! The boys from the NYPD choir are singing for you tonight. We're gonna miss you! Go meith an gaoth ar do shlait! ****************** Ben Folds Five's breakup was disheartening. But Ben's too good to stop now. I think we're going to hear a lot more from him. ************** I agree with Duncan that Mission to Mars, shall we say, bites the big one. But it doesn't hold a candle to that wretched overwrought piece of crap, The Perfect Storm **************! XTC song dedication: "King For A Day", going out to president-annoint GW! *************** And finally, to all of you, Happy Kringle and the Newest of Years, and may all your warbles be warm and fuzzy! "and a pound of Irish Stewwwwww!" Tom K "It's your money, you paid for it!" - G. W. B.
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2000 22:26:09 EST From: OMBEAN1@aol.com Subject: My list Message-ID: <ee.efa9fd4.277969d1@aol.com> Sup? My Top One List: 1. Wasp Star -XTC Thats it. Still listening almost every day. Still getting goose bumps. Is that guy in Barenaked Ladies TRYING to look like Andy? Its working. Squirrelgirl said: Also on the small world topic, this co-worker and her husband are from the same small Pennsylvania town where my husband grew up, and where I met him (Quakertown, anybody?) Is Skippack close enough? Home of Graterford Prison!!! Ho Ho Ho, Roger p.s. Come the millennium, month 12, In the home of greatest power, The village idiot will come forth To be acclaimed the leader. Nostradamus, 1555
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Dec 2000 21:04:57 -0800 (PST) From: John Relph <relph@engr.sgi.com> Subject: Best of 2000 Message-ID: <200012260504.VAA39708@mando.engr.sgi.com> Merry Christmas! Here's my list, please feel free to hit the page down key now. My favorite albums of 2000: I know some of these have been out for some time, but these are the albums I found myself listening to in the last year. (So write me a ticket!) Kevin Gilbert: The Shaming of the True I played this one or twice a day or more for a couple of months this summer. An amazing album made even more poignant because of the circumstances surrounding its completion. Jon Brion: Meaningless This one just came out, but I've been waiting for it for months. Finally! And it's good, very very good. Especially "I Believe She's Lying", the second track, which makes me dance crazily around the living room. And I still can't quite keep up in my attempts to play along with that track on guitar. I'm working on it. Duncan Watt: Six Songs Of Good And Evil Here's the review I wrote for Chalkhills: "Recipe for contemporary adult pop: start with some Randy Newman, add a generous helping of Elvis Costello, flavour with a pinch of Tom Waits, dust lightly with XTC. Et voila!" XTC: Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) This album has some great songs, especially the album closer, "The Wheel and the Maypole". Great and surprising guitar work and the usual excellent lyrics make for a good electric romp. Unfortunately, the album didn't seem to have much staying power. Magnolia (soundtrack) "Save Me" has got to be one of Aimee Mann's best songs in recent history, and her other tracks on this album are also excellent. It's always good to hear a little Supertramp. And of course, there's the album closer, the lovely little theme from Jon Brion. The only loser on this disc is Gabrielle's "Dreams" (and I really wish I didn't have to mention it by name). Stereolab: The First of the Microbe Hunters This, the EP that accompanies the album "Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night", is in fact better than the album itself. I still don't really know how to categorize this group, save to say that it's great working and driving music. Bleeps and bloops, analogue electronica with a lounge music bent, but still obviously modern. David Mead: The Luxury of Time The three minute pop song. That's what it's all about, innit? And yer man here has it. Down. I really like his voice, especially his falsetto. The Wannadies: The Wannadies This album is not new, but I didn't hear it until this year. Very nice Pop pa Svenska, with a couple of standout tracks, especially the moody "Silent People", which, like Nirvana's best, uses dynamics very well, and the long "remix" album closer "That's All", which draws the listener (me) on through its full ten minutes without getting boring. I hear echoes of many bands, including Lemonheads, Beatles, Burt Bacharach, and Blur. Rockin'. Aimee Mann: Bachelor No. 2 Aimee Mann has slowly come to be one of my favorite songwriters and performers. Her show at Bimbo's in San Francisco was one of my favorites this year. And this album is no letdown. Unfortunately, it was somewhat overshadowed by the "Magnolia" soundtrack. But it's an excellent collection of songs in its own right. Why do I like Aimee Mann? Great lyrics, great melodies and harmonies, interesting production, and biting wit and self-deprecation. It hurts so good. The Solipsistics: Whatever Makes You Happy This album alternately annoys me and enthralls me. Which definitely makes it interesting. But then I found that I couldn't stop humming "We Few" (a song which reminds me of an old favorite, Badfinger's "Day After Day). Then "Honey Complain" wormed its way into my subconscious. Overall, this is a very strange album, or perhaps it's just that Jeff McGregor is strange. But very listenable. The Sugarplastic: Resin After the pop perfection of "Bang, The Earth is Round" this album is a bit of a disappointment. Mellow, meandering, and subtle. Too subtle, at times. But The Sugarplastic still come up with some of the best music around. "Dunn the Worm" is a classic track. Hopefully this album will convince people that The Sugarplastic are more than the sum of their influences. Other Honorable Mentions: Stereolab: Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night Rachel Podger: Bach Sonatas & Partitas Vol. 2 Rachel Podger: Bach Sonatas & Partitas Vol. 1 Louis Philippe: Azure Julia Brown: Jubilant Newborn Alien Haze Steve Vai: The Ultra Zone Yann Tiersen: (Tout Est Calme) Anton Barbeau: A Splendid Tray California Guitar Trio: Rocks the West Elliot Smith: Figure 8 Pepperisms Around The Globe Radiohead: Kid A Dan Castellaneta: Two Lips Galactic Cowboys: Let It Go Love, Peace & Poetry - Latin Psych Love, Peace & Poetry - Asian Psych Best live shows this year: Jon Brion (Justice League, 12/7) Stuart Davis (Hotel Utah, 1/22?) Aimee Mann (Bimbo's 365, 1/25) Anton Barbeau / Solipsistics / Loud Family (Hotel Utah, 2/18) California Guitar Trio (Club House, Foster City, 1/31) Gorky's Zygotic Mynci / Aisler Set (Bottom of the Hill, 3/19) I didn't feel like describing the gigs, but I'll say this: if you get a chance to see Jon Brion live, do it. -- John
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Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 19:10:54 -0600
From: "vee tube" <veetube@hotmail.com>
Subject: Greatings from Fintasia!
Message-ID: <F248ZIHd0TlKn4ZHkRQ00008d51@hotmail.com>
'Twas the post before New Years,
And all through the 'Hill.
Not a Chalkster was fighting,
No bile would spill.
The champagne was chilled,
It was cold as a Virgin.
In hopes that we'd soon,
Hear other versions.
The Chalk-kids were nestled,
All snug, in their beds.
While visions of 'Boxed Sets'
Swam through their heads.
When, there! On the web,
Arose such a clatter,
I re-read my digest,
I see what's the matter!
The Moon on the breast,
Of a new fallen Warble.
I pulled Sting out my ass,
And rhymed this with snorkel!
When what to my wondering,
Eyes should appear?
Andy! With eight tiny soldiers,
Shaped like Reindeer.
He was dressed all in fur,
From his head to his feet.
Holding some 'masters,
The titles looked 'neat'
"Now, 'Trapped In Ice',
Next, 'It's Snowing Angels'
With something from Colin,
'A House Full Of Mice'!"
And then, in a twinkling,
From him I did hear.
"Fuzzy,is coming,
2-3,4 discs a year!"
His eyes, how they sparkled,
The songs were so good.
He knew all the real fans,
Would grab all they could.
He spoke not a word,
But went straight to his shed.
Pulled out the old tapes,
And aligned the deck's heads.
Then laying a finger,
Aside of his nose.
Dubbed a few solos,
With nothing but toes!
And when he was finished,
He gave such a whistle.
He knew these songs would,
Give fans, a 'love' missile.
Then I heard him exclaim,
Ere he dropped out of sight...
...FUZZY WARBLES TO ALL,
And too ALL a GOOD-NIGHT!
}---:)
P.S. Happy New Year from Fintasia!
SPAWNONOUT!
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 01:42:27 +0800 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: hot sauce Message-ID: <3A48D883.A275FB57@tesco.net> Can I just say that reading Chalkhills while eating or drinking isn't a good idea. I've nearly fried my imac twice by reading with a mouthful of hot liquid. Giggling at a couple of posts - and you know who you are - has made me have to choose between drowning or spraying the computer. And while I'm on the subject never ever eat Scotch broth - home made or tinned - in any circumstances where you might be made to laugh. Hide yourself away from everything because trying to get a piece of carrot down your nose is an extremely painful thing to do, especially if you can't stop laughing. XTC content? well the pun in Helicopter almost caused another liquid exiting down the nasal passages. Jayne the Worrier Queen who knows what the inside of her nose looks like He Toi Whakairo He Mana Tangata: Where there is artistic excellence there is human dignity - Maori saying Salmagundie can be found at www.stas.net/myrone/shrine.html
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2000 20:19:33 -0600 From: Buzz <buzz@enteract.com> Subject: More XTC on the WB Message-ID: <B66EADD4.2D76%buzz@enteract.com> Hello, Part 2 of the "Gilmore Girls" xmas special ended with "Thanks for Christmas" running over the final scene and the credts. buzz[at]enteract[dot]com --A musician trapped in the body of a couch potato-- http://www.bhtch.com | http://www.secular-johnson.org
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 11:47:37 -0000 From: "Smith, David" <David.Smith@tfeurope.com> Subject: RE: The recently-deceased - and the not-so . . . Message-ID: <4BBE67B71C1DD411A23600508B65F71E01168971@tfsecmsg04.tfseur.co.uk> Happy New Year all First, I just wanted to add my voice to the tributes to Kirsty MacColl. I was aware of her stuff (Chip Shop, New England etc) for years, but was given her "Electric Landlady" album when it was released (mid-90s?). This is a fine album, including the tracks "Walking Down Madison" - the best "New York" song I've ever heard, and "My Affair", a wonderful track and her first real dalliance into the Latin sound that she became more and more interested in as her career progressed. Her passing while researching the Buena Vista Social Club has real poignance. True to "rock star" form, what a way to go! Run over by a speedboat? What's that all about? Just when you thought there were no more ways to go that hadn't already been done by the rock fraternity. (I invite anyone who knows of a musician who was previously demised in similar circumstances to flame me off list). Meanwhile, buy Electric Landlady and think about what might have been. *** And while we're talking about people who died too early, I recently (FINALLY) got Oranges & Lemons on CD. Reading through the sleeve notes I noticed, in the "Thanks to . . ." section, the name River Phoenix. Can anyone shed any light on why the he was credited on this album. I know it was recorded in LA, but that's the best I've got so far. *** And finally, the South London chapter of the Chalkhills web-ring met for their annual general meeting just before Christmas. In a packed agenda, many topics were covered, including music, religion, work, sport and love. Roughly translated, that means me and Rory met for a beer last week. We chatted. I would like to extend my apologies to him for drinking Coke most of the night, having overdone it the previous coupla days. Next time mate :-) *** May 2001 be better than 2000 for us all. Even if 2000 was fine and dandy. Which it wasn't. Smudge "Last post of 2000" Boy EMail: david.smith@tfeurope.com
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 11:33:57 -0700 From: John Wilkens <jwilkens@earthlink.net> Subject: WS/AV2 Rated #7 in Top 10 of 2000 Message-ID: <3A4A3615.1DB6A22C@earthlink.net> A minor victory for the boys... Mark Brown, the music columnist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado), listed Wasp Star/Apple Venus Vol. 2 as one of the top ten recordings (#7) for 2000 in his annual music wrap-up. His top ten listing honors "albums you can put on from start to finish and enjoy, relate to, or learn from." Of WS/AV2 and XTC, Brown briefly writes that "Andy Partridge finally answers all the questions he's been asking for 20 years now -- with school-yard metaphors and emotional resolution such as 'Stupidly Happy.'" The article also shows a photo of Andy and Colin (one of four photos in the layout). That's all the XTC news from the city that's celebrating the scientifically correct millennial marker this Sunday because it was too freaked out by previous Super Bowl riots to make a big show last year. - John
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 15:26:41 -0700 From: Angie Kelson-Packer/Shaun Packer <nick@aros.net> Subject: Post-Holiday Message-ID: <3A4A6CA1.CFE1BB1C@aros.net> I've enjoyed the past 2 digests full of holiday cheer, and lists. This has been an odd year. I quit work this past year to be a full-time mom, and it's been an adjustment, I've always worked and associated with people outside a domestic sphere. Now, it's impossible to find an adult during the day who doesn't want to talk about who's potty training, who's pregnant, and what's going on at church and school. So, I've appreciated this lively roundtable and have been grateful that, thus far, no one has clobbered me for epistle-length posts. A couple of posts back I somehow managed to make hot sauce spurt out my friend's nose without first mentioning, but we were eating Mexican food at the time. I hereby swear, on the Dearest Darling Husband's XTC CD collection to never again, in this group, make anything come out of anyone's nose. Harrison Sherwood's Abstract: Submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine chart had me ROTFL. I'm especially fond of the well-researched causality chart. Harrison has granted me research credit should his findings ever be published. Congrats to Chris Clarke on the birth of Hannah. It's a beautiful name. Welcome to the world of parenthood! Ah, the sleepless nights! Everything sticky and stinky! And the complete conviction, no matter how hard you fight it, of knowing the world revolves around that "shooting star that dropped in my lap." To have a new baby is to fall in love. There is a different, wonderful bond between daddies and daughters. I think AP knows these sentiments and expresses all the wonder and joy of them so thoughtfully and lovingly without going overboard into sappy sentiment. Songs like "Garden of Earthly Delights," "Holly up on Poppy" and "Then She Appeared" take on new meaning when you have kids of your own. I have a photo of Shaun (the hubby) holding our first child about a half hour after her birth. He's asleep in a reclining chair, cradling her in one arm. Chloe is wearing her "tricolor and phrygian cap" Her face is still wet, and she's staring up at her sleeping daddy. Every time I look at that photo, "Then She Appeared" comes to mind. Does anyone have a take on the line: "Then she appeared, Apple Venus on a half-open shell?" I'm afraid my own thoughts are way off base. Mark Strijbos' post about visiting Swindon depressed me for some unknown reason. It's not the apparent feud, although the old harpy gossip that lives inside of me really wants to dish. People are allowed to associate/work with whom they will, and no one ever knows what goes on inside any relationship, sometimes not even the people in the relationship. So, it's impossible, IMHO, to judge or rationalize what others are doing. Although it's a habit of which I'm guilty. Now for post-Christmas damage control. My dad gave the kids one of those ball pits that you inflate and fill with small plastic balls. Now we have 350 baseball-sized, primary-colored, plastic balls strewn about the front room. Aw, I think I'll just go read one of my new books (Ben Elton and Nick Hornby novels) and listen to my new CD's. Happy Holidays all, whatever you celebrate! Kwanza, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, or Revelry in Life. And may 2001 be a good year for us all. Angie
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Dec 2000 17:09:26 -0600 From: "Richard" <rjpa1@home.com> Subject: Master and Virgin Message-ID: <002701c0705a$0f4ac5e0$15ec1718@mckiny1.tx.home.com> Well... since Peter announced that Virgin was remastering things, I guess I can elaborate (I was under the impression that this was not public news). Over the past four or five weeks, Ian Cooper has remastered the entire Virgin XTC catalog. Apparently the older ones required a fair amount of EQ work. Virgin will be releasing them in cardboard sleeves (to mimic the original vinyl) with all of the original artwork. Good luck reading the lyrics! All the "bonus" tracks that have been added in to the past CD releases will appear at the end rather than the middle (Halle-%#@*&$!-lujah) The reissue includes the Dukes CD but Andy's not sure about Explode Together or the Homo Safari series. The scheduled release date for the first few is late spring but there is no information about release order at this time. Not that Fuzzy Warbles and A Coat of Many Cupboards (which should have "Fireball" on it) will not be enough. There are plans to release an instrumental version of Apple Venus Volume One (though not through standard channels) and some low-fi stuff that wasn't "good enough" for Fuzzy Warbles (assemblage title unknown) as well as possibly some other product. So if you are the type of person that has to have EVERYTHING that is released with XTC's name on it, do the math and start saving! A Coat of Many Cupboards (4 discs?) Virgin Reissues (9+ discs) AVv1 Instrumental (1 disc) The Low-Fi discs (disc quantity unknown but probably at least 2) Fuzzy Warbles (possibly up to six discs!) Cheers, Richard (no clever or cryptic parenthetical quip today) Pedretti-Allen p.s. Andy and I were talking about Harrison Sherwood and I said, "Harrison is a kick in the pants!" I then realized and stated that the metaphor might not be common over there and Andy replied, "No... but I understand... Harrison is a bruised buttocks."
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 04:19:55 +0800 From: The Worrier Queen <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: I've got the time- Message-ID: <3A4A4EEB.E85D14B5@tesco.net> After hearing about the inaugural meeting of the Croydon Chapter of Chalkhills, I started pondering. Yes I'm trying to give it up but you know how it is. I appear to be the only Chalkhiller in Scotland - if there are any more of you please let me know off list as it gets a bit lonely up here. Now Rory came up with the idea of all us UK Chalkers maybe getting together somewhere possibly at Easter. Perhaps. As he's a bit busy just now I said I'd take his idea along to the Hill and see what happened. Now misquote one of my favourite bits of WS I have the time, who's got the motion? Jayne the Worrier Queen He Toi Whakairo He Mana Tangata: Where there is artistic excellence there is human dignity - Maori saying Salmagundie can be found at www.stas.net/myrone/shrine.html
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 09:51:10 -0800 From: "Dan Phipps" <phipps@schoollink.net> Subject: hello... Message-ID: <002601c070f6$c42504c0$638c04d8@pavilion> hello again, everyone! anybody heard anything good from the xtc camp or what's happening within the group? things are evidently laying low for a bit...maybe the calm before the storm? let's hope so!! would love to hear from other xtc fans out there...feel free to e-mail anytime. :-) xtc rules!!! /dan ---------------------------------------------------- "all of the answers you seek can be found in the dreams that you dream..." (dan fogelberg) ----------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 2000 11:25:55 -0500
From: np80@columbia.edu
Subject: The Orchid Show is BACK!!!
Message-ID: <3A4B2343.5344.E820307@localhost>
Dear Chalkhillers,
For those who have missed The Orchid Show production last June.
The show is back by popular demand at The Flea Theater in NYC.
Who: The Neta Dance Company
What: The Orchid Show, a unique collaboration between The
Neta Dance Company, and the English rock band, XTC.
When: February 3,4 (Saturday, Sunday) 3pm
February 10, 11 (Sat- Sun.) 3pm
February 17, 18 (Sat- Sun) 3pm
February 19-23, 1pm (Monday-Friday)
February 24, 25 (Sat- Sun.) 3pm
Where: The Flea Theater, 41 White Street, Tribeca, New
York. www.thebat.com
Tickets: $15 General Admission
Reservations: (212)226-2407
Information: The Neta Dance Company <np80@columbia.edu>
The Neta Dance Company brings its critically acclaimed,
production The Orchid Show to the intimate Flea Theater in
Tribeca. The Orchid Show, a unique collaboration between Israeli
choreographer Neta Pulvermacher and the witty, idiosyncratic,
English rock band XTC (Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding), is set
in a whimsical, psychedelic and mirthful swamp, where other
worldly beings, insects and ordinary mortals come to life and
their stories unfold. Collaborating with Pulvermacher on this
work are also, video-artists, Karen Dunn and Katia Moorman, and
costume designer, Maile Okamura.
The Orchid Show "takes Israeli choreographer and
her six immensely appealing dancers into the outer
stratospheres of giddiness-inspired to the heights of
whimsicality" (Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times)
"Wickedly funny- a tantalizing, entertaining
evening of dance theater, in which six performers
transform themselves into orchids, swamp creatures
and an assortment of indefinable otherworldly
beings-snappy music and vibrant costumes-"
(Time Out New York, June 2000)
(In The Orchid Show) Neta gives freedom to her
creative and colorful imagination, set to the unique
sound of XTC, she designs a colorful swamp
inhabited by juicy creatures where each, both insects
and humans, are integrated and interwoven into a
delightful and witty narrative-the atmosphere is
amusingly psychedelic and the integration of video,
costumes and music transforms the stage into a wild
fairy tale" (Maariv America, June 2000)
Conceived as a mock-opera The Orchid Show is a mad
horticultural lecture on the world of orchids and the people who
collect, adore and fetishize them. Company member Jeremy
Laverdure portrays the devout orchidist and soap opera star, Jill
St. John, as she unravels amazing facts, tales and anecdotes
about these dazzling flowers. The company includes: Tracy
Dickson, Maile Okamura, Jeremy Laverdure, Jason Marchant,
Brittany Reese, Tami Stronach and Neta Pulvermacher.
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-305 *******************************
Go back to Volume 6.
28 December 2000 / Feedback