Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 56
Date: Friday, 31 March 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 56
Friday, 31 March 2000
Topics:
Hmmm
Elton looks like Andy?
The new guy
Virgin can just kiss my arse!!!
What's On (WIMP)
I got your prediction
five things from Jill
Re: Crimson
swindon bound
URGH! A List War
of powerpop, kinks & wasps
What's in the tray (no XTC)
The Beatles and the Kinks
?
re Wallace & Gromit
Aimee & Dave... ahem...talking about guitars
Just Peachy
I've Done
Phil Collins/In my CD player
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 08:20:24 -0800 (PST) From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com> Subject: Hmmm Message-ID: <20000330162024.5040.qmail@web1303.mail.yahoo.com> Eddie said: <<Heh...Do you really hope to see us ALL there? I tried several times to get into the English settlement one--ACCESS REFUSED--harumph...please explain>> I have no idea, it could be your server. There is no function on Talk City to lock people out, and why would I want to. I'm not locking you out at all. I picked Talk City, because I thought it was more accessable, because people complained when we had AOL Listening Parties that not everyone could get into it. I also don't do IRC listening parties because people complain because they don't want to download the program. So I'm using Talk City, people have recommended me to use this program. But you do need Java to get into it, but most browsers should have it now. Okay, time to advertise the next listening party. Next week, it's going to be Chips From a Chocolate Fireball. Now I hope none of you have access denied. Go check my site at: http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/xtclisteningparty.html. Oh and if anybody had any suggestions so everyone can get to these chats let me know. I don't know why this person couldn't get in. Are their any other chat programs that don't use Java (except I don't like the HTML ones, because you have to refresh them a lot). Molly Molly's Pages http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 09:07:01 -0800 (PST) From: Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt@yahoo.com> Subject: Elton looks like Andy? Message-ID: <20000330170701.8296.qmail@web2105.mail.yahoo.com> RE: I've just spent a portion of my day listening to Mr. Dwight (Elton John for the musically challenged).........Honky Chateau..Goodbye Yellow Brick Road...Elton John...Capt. Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy. True Confession time: the first album I ever bought was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road when I was 10 years old. Saved my allowance for over a month to afford the two lp set. Loved it, it sparked a very long cycle of using my allowance only to buy albums at a nearby K Mart. Got the bulk of the Elton John catalog this way, and most of the Beatles as well. Ah, the '70's! I guess you always have fond memories for your first, although most of the music I liked as a kid I find really embarassing to listen to as an adult, even if I'm alone when I'm listening. Don't know what's up with that, but as a result I havent replaced any of my Elton vinyl with cd's and I only have two Beatles cd's (Rubber Soul and Revolver).
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 09:15:13 -0800 From: "John Keel" <jbkev1@ev1.net> Subject: The new guy Message-ID: <007001bf9a6b$83d7cf40$3b59d1d1@sony.com> Hi all, My name is John (aka Jonny Quest) and I've been a fan of XTC since "Black Sea" first came out. I just now diving into the world of newsgroups/discussion groups and am joining groups for a few of my favorite bands to try it out. Thanks for having me! So, I'm VERY excited because I'm getting a copy of "Wasp Star (Apple Venus Vol. 2) tonight from a friend of mine in a band here in L.A.. I'm not sure if anyone else has heard the whole disc yet, and if not I'll send in my whole review tomorrow. If so, then I'll just add my overall impression. My friend said it's fantastic. I CAN'T WAIT!! On with the motley, JQ ********************************************* "The world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through." Tom Waits
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 09:56:09 -0800 (PST) From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com> Subject: Virgin can just kiss my arse!!! Message-ID: <20000330175609.2735.qmail@web1302.mail.yahoo.com> Paul wrote <<Andy told me that there's still a lot of crap they're having to take from Virgin over the demo boxed set. Virgin now say that they will retain all rights to all demos handed to them, used or not. And they HAVE to give them the good stuff (Nigel, Towers, Dear God, Peter Pumpkinhead, etc.) as well as unreleased stuff. AND the band are contractually obligated to be "active participants in all aspects of the project". In other words, they're screwed. Andy says they had to agree to this to get out of their contract and release new albums on another label. But to lose the rights to Mayor Of Simpleton? That's criminal! To which Andy says "Yes, exactly.">> Well, maybe we the fans, or is it us the fans should start a writing campaign to Virgin and tell them nicely to screw themselves in the arse. This is so freaking sad. That smarmy Richard Branson can kiss my big fat arse!!!! Molly, nobody messes with XTC and gets away with it Molly's Pages http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 08:32:45 -0800 (PST)
From: John Relph <relph@cthulhu>
Subject: What's On (WIMP)
Message-ID: <200003301632.IAA61732@mando.engr.sgi.com>
C'hills,
First off, I haven't listened to a CD in days. Last weekend I went to
a fiddle contest and got completely musicked out. I played guitar
from 9am to 1am (with short breaks for lunch and dinner). After that,
I didn't want to hear anything. And I haven't had time. So it goes.
But what had I been listening to? you ask...
Owsley: Owsley
Better every time.
Yann Tiersen: Le Phare
European film score Breton influenced modern folk alternative.
(Thanks to Jean-Philippe for the CD.)
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci: Spanish Dance Troupe
And I got to see them live recently. Very strange.
Chris Butler: The Devil Glitch
The world's longest pop song, but the short edit is cool, too.
"Sometimes you can fix something by just being the best,
XTC's the greatest pop band.
Sometimes you CAN'T fix something by being the best,
XTC's still stuck in Swindon."
The Frank And Walters: Beauty Becomes More Than Life
A big step for these guys. Very '90s while their previous were very '80s.
Aimee Mann: Bachelor No. 2
Either that or the Magnolia soundtrack.
And thanks to Phil for the 'Hills logo. It's only temporary.
-- John
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 11:57:43 -0600 From: "Wiencek, Dan" <dwiencek@crateandbarrel.com> Subject: I got your prediction Message-ID: <CCCF24B992E6D311BE670050DA793DE03AD18B@escorp1.crate.barrel.com> Dane wrote: > Swami Dane Bramage here to tell of great things in store for the > Three..er..Two Wise Men from Swindon! I have dealt the cards, > scattered and read the leaves, consulted the Sun...er...stars, > studied the pattern of the dog vomit on the sidewalk (ouch! > sorry about that one) and see a distinct pattern emerging that > shall gaurantee success in the waning days of this coming > decade... > <Recent history of pop music nostalgia/fetching prognostication snipped> Don't know if I exactly buy the "what goes around comes around and people are willing to pay for it" argument, but it has occurred to me that the climate for an XTC breakout hit has probably never been better. Groups like Ben Folds Five and Barenaked Ladies have shown that catchy melodies and geeky lyrics can, in fact, bag you a hit single; and it strikes me that in a world where a catchy (if ultimately deeply annoying) song like BNL's "Seven Days" can be a hit, surely there is room for a song like "We're All Light," which shares similarly driving beats and tongue-twisty lyrics, and is not annoying even after 100 listens? The trouble with this theory, of course, is that the analogy is not perfect: XTC's lyrics do not indulge in cutesy pop-culture references, without which the record-buying public would find them merely confusing. But stranger things have happened, so I bank my hopes on "We're All Light" (or "Playground," which shares similar traits). Who knows--a modest hit might even prompt an invitation from Letterman or Conan. We can dream, can't we? Dan (eagerly awaiting a report on Harrison's dinner, and perhaps even--do I dare to hope?--a midnight snack)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 12:38:06 -0600 From: Jill Oleson <Jill_Oleson@kurion.com> Subject: five things from Jill Message-ID: <81CC73FC2FACD311A2D200508B8B88AA0D6EEF@KURION_EXCH> Thing # 1: In retrospect, it makes perfect sense that Soul Coughing broke up as a band. It happened just after they covered Ricky Martin's "Shake Your Bon-Bon." I know. You don't believe me. Write me for mp3 verification. I'll send you the file--it's hilarious. Thing # 2: I've been pleased to see all the Kinks information that's been in Chalkhills lately. The Kinks' "Lola" was one of the first records I bought. It was a 45. I was 12. My older sister later explained to me what the lyrics meant. I didn't believe her. Now here's my request... After reading "Song Stories" and learning that the Kinks were a big influence on XTC, I've been wondering which songs/albums were the most influential on the band. For whatever reason, I never bought another Kinks record--probably because I was *totally* into the Partridge Family by then. So -- in your opinion -- what songs/albums do you think influenced any member of XTC and most importantly why? Thing # 3 (related to Thing # 2): I know what you're thinking now... What was the *first* 45 you bought, Jill? Well that would be "I Started A Joke" by the Bee Gees. Now those lyrics I completely understood and I was only 9 at the time. Thing # 4 (related to Thing # 3): I'm also pleased to see so many jokes in Chalkhills these days. Okay, well, I guess what I should say is that I'm pleased to see so many jokes that people understand are actually jokes. I know it's hard to know when somebody's trying to be funny when you can't see a face, but *geeze* it's even harder to 'listen' to people gripe about things they've totally misunderstood in the first place. Thing # 5: See, I still know what you're thinking... Jill Oleson Austin, Texas
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 14:02:55 EST From: StucoHomes@aol.com Subject: Re: Crimson Message-ID: <a3.3ff3a43.2614fedf@aol.com> In a message dated 3/30/00 12:38:58 PM US Eastern Standard Time, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: > If you're looking for good studio Crimson to buy, get these: Lark's Tongues > in Aspic, Starless, Red, Discipline. Those are pretty essential, especially > if you like the heavy stuff. Three of a Perfect Pair was certainly the > weakest of the '80's material. Oh, don't worry, I already have all of those albums :) I'm a huge KC fan. - - - Reverend Jody L. Barnes "May the baby Jesus shut your mouth and open your mind." - Don Vliet "Being disabled has never really interested me very much. It's very serious, like plumbing is serious, but I'm also not interested in plumbing." - Robert Wyatt (paraplegic)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 19:30:23 +0100 From: "chris browning" <chris@boodle.fsnet.co.uk> Subject: swindon bound Message-ID: <000201bf9a7f$7a76e6c0$3374883e@pbncomputer> hello people my new job - which is pretty much teh dictionary definition of crap when it comes down to it - has decided i have to go to swindon for a big induction type meeting in may. hopefully the meeting will be fairly quick, so i shall have a little time to frolic around swindon itself - as such has anyone got a list of must see xtc places for a neophyte-swindon bod? woudl like to see as much of the town i can, but also stuff that will make this tragic chalkhillers life worthwhile. any hints most appreciated ta ra chris
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 16:27:55 -0500 From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com> Subject: URGH! A List War Message-ID: <38E3C6DB.47F3FC94@enterworks.com> Organization: Enterworks, Inc. Hi: Doug Swan said: > To Rob: Humor me here. I've just gone through every cd Aimee Mann has ever > recorded (plus a few that none of you have) and have yet to see Dave > Gregory credited with an appearance (not that Aimee wouldn't love to have > him). FYI, Swannee -- she already has. (And loved it, as far as I know.) >From Harrison Surewood: > So instead, I'm going to start a BRAND NEW > THREAD: What are we Chalkhillians eating these days? Great idea! I vote that we take this thread to its logical extreme and ask, "What's in your toilet?" > Richard "And your mother buys her gin" Pedretti-Allen In another life, pal. --Todd "Shredded Wheat" Bernhardt [Attachment omitted, unknown MIME type or encoding (text/x-vcard)]
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 12:33:41 -0800 (PST) From: Thomas Long <thlong@interchange.ubc.ca> Subject: of powerpop, kinks & wasps Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.21.0003301119310.4741-100000@inch.interchange.ubc.ca> Delurked greetings, God, its been about 5 years since I've posted anything here. At the time, the list seemed to be getting rather dumbed down, but since I haven't seen any of HER posting in a while (*grin*), I think it just might be safe to come out of hiding. So did someone really say a while back that Exile on Main St. was overrated? I know these "if-you-don't-like-what-I-like-then-you're-crap" things can get a bit tedious, but to slag Exile is a bit much. To each his own, I 'spose. I recently purged my collection of tons of Beatlesque records that seem to regularly appear in these Chalkhills top ten lists. Without naming band names, I found them all a bit twee... "Ok, you be John, and I'll do the Paul bits, and has anyone seen my Beatle boots?" Many of the bands I'm thinking of have no, erm... cajones. Not that I want testicles in my music, but just where is the "power" in their pop?! That's the very thing I love about XTC - when they decide to play hard, they can. Even their slow stuff has a certain edginess to it. It's a shame they have to wear the Beatle tag (more Colin's fault then Andy's, perhaps), when they have just as much Beefhart as Beatles. And I'd be willing to rate Andy's lyrics with anyone, anytime, anywhere. Wrapped in Grey should go up in next shuttle since it's impossible to imagine a better pop lyric). Conversely, these still nameless Beatlesque bands (I'm such a coward) seem painfully incapable of anything remotely deep. But, I digress.... Great to see the Kinks being discovered. From Face to Face 'til Muswell, they could do no wrong. After that unfortunately, they could do little right. Looking forward to the Wasp. I think a double would have made my nervous system a little better, but I guess pleasures are for the patient. The top ten currently annoying the wife: Ram - Paul McCartney Sugar - Copper Blue Whiskeytown - Strangers Almanac Kinks - Great Lost Kinks Album Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain Beatles - Revolver Smile - Beach Boys Dukes - Chips... Velvet Underground - Fully Loaded Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (just for good measure) thomas
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 13:53:20 -0800 (PST)
From: brown <mb2@deltanet.com>
Subject: What's in the tray (no XTC)
Message-ID: <200003302153.NAA08012@mail2.deltanet.com>
Hi-ho, chicos and chicas!
O.K... if you simply MUST know what's spinning on the music wheel, here goes-
Earth Wind & Fire- Greatest Hits- I needed to get funked up, but good. . .
Lucinda Williams- Car Wheels On A Gravel Road- She's been down that
lonesome highway..and she's got the scars to prove it...crying in your beer
has never sounded sweeter. . .
Joni Mitchell- Court and Spark- an exquisite confession. . . listen and
learn. . .
Crowded House- self titled ALBUM-
and
Crowded House- Woodface
...I am SO in love with these last two albums.....I had forgotten just how
good these were! Intelligent writing, catchy hooks...beautiful
vocals/harmonies... I'm seeing stars, I tells ya...
With all due respect, forget Fountains of Wayne for now, come and drink from
the Fountain of Finn!...real refreshment...
hey, this is fun..let's see what's in my sock drawer-
2 pairs of white socks with the ankle elastic stretched out of shape
5 pairs of white cotton socks (in good condition)
one bar of soap from a Comfort Inn (don't ask)
one pair of black panty-hose (still in package)
one pair of tan panty-hose, inside out, with a rather large run in one of
the legs (any bids?)
one green, one pink, one purple cotton sock (no mates)
an envelope with vacation photos in it (and yes, horizontal stripes DO make
you look heavier!)
a pair of blue and yellow striped baby booties (as cute as they sound)*
...and...well, that's it!...
before I leave you all, please consider taking the Mitchell/Crowded House
challenge...if you pick up any of the above mentioned albums and aren't
completely spellbound....then you didn't really listen....
Back to The Countdown,
(bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
Debora Brown
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 18:02:52 EST From: RMJENN@aol.com Subject: The Beatles and the Kinks Message-ID: <39.30d6ce4.2615371c@aol.com> Before the Kinks thread completely dies out, I just wanted to add that I heard a radio interview that Andy and Colin did when they were in the States promoting AV1. Both agreed that, to them, the Kinks were a far greater influence on their music than the Beatles. Andy singled out "Waterloo Sunset" as an example of the Kinks at their best (it's on "Something Else" by the way). Bob J.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 15:47:33 -0800 (PST) From: Al LaCarte <allacarte@yahoo.com> Subject: ? Message-ID: <20000330234733.11997.qmail@web1601.mail.yahoo.com> All: "Its got more hooks than a tackle-box Its got really loud guitars." - The Late Great Kevin Gilbert Al
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 02:20:06 +0000 From: Jayne Myrone <myrone@tesco.net> Subject: re Wallace & Gromit Message-ID: <38E40B4E.77E216A7@tesco.net> Hi there William Loring wrote in Chalkhills 6-54: I for one love W&G, and am looking forward to Nick's feature film! My G4 Macintosh is named Wallace, and other drives on the system are Gromit and Shaun (with appropriate icons, of course). personally I'm a Shaun Sheep person but they can't get me for that. Nick Park & Co have a site full of fun things to add to your computer, news about what they're doing & so on. http://www.aardman.com -- Jayne Myrone 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 Apples are always inspiring... I have found them so all my life and always shall. Mark Gertler
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:57:55 EST From: JStrole@aol.com Subject: Aimee & Dave... ahem...talking about guitars Message-ID: <aa.325c1ba.26156e33@aol.com> In a message dated 3/29/00 10:42:51 PM, <owner-chalkhills@chalkhills.org> writes: <<Is there something you know that I'm just not getting or are you confusing Jon Brion with Dave Gregory?... Illuminate me, I must be in the dark. Take care all. Doug>> Doug I don't believe Dave actually plays on any Aimee Mann records. However, he did tour with her (I believe it was just before "I'm With Stupid"). It was also reported that they were romantically link at the time, I would imagine they spent lots of time in hotel rooms talking about guitars (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Harry
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 16:11:06 -0800 (PST)
From: nross <PhoenixYellowRose@rocketmail.com>
Subject: Just Peachy
Message-ID: <20000331001106.19235.qmail@web2902.mail.yahoo.com>
A Quick Review of James & the Giant Peach Demos
By, Sarah (3 yrs old)
I like most of the songs.
I don't like that Stinky song so much, why does he talk sometimes and
sing sometimes?
I like "Everything will be alright".
A Synopsis
By, Mommy (29)
While Sarah does not enjoy the Stinking Rich song, she does like
the rest of the James and the Giant Peach Demo songs. It is especially
fun to listen to Sarah sing "Everything will be alright", by far her
favorite Andy Partridge song.
On a related note, Sarah has also been found dancing to Prince of
Orange, chanting "I like this song, oh! I like this song". This author
would like to note that Sarah has very good taste in music. She
frequently makes up her own songs. Readers may recall her first song
"Daddy daddy daddy all day long, daddy daddy daddy, you do like my
daddy song". Her current song is "You can do anything you want to do".
=====
Nicole's internet music station:
http://www.imagineradio.com/mymusiclisten.asp?name=phoenixyellowrose
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 22:37:26 -0800 (PST) From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com> Subject: I've Done Message-ID: <20000331063726.23209.qmail@web1302.mail.yahoo.com> I've got almost all of XTC's albums on CD. I bought White Music and Go2 today. The only one I need is Transistor Blast and Live 1980, even though Transistor Blast has the live album. Maybe after we get through the rest of the albums in the listening parties, we can discuss those two albums. Molly Molly's Pages http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 00:33:46 -0600 From: "David R. Bauman" <drbauman@students.wisc.edu> Subject: Phil Collins/In my CD player Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.20000331003346.007ebec0@students.wisc.edu> Hi all -- I don't post that often, but I have a small point to make, and thought I might as well make it. Regarding "D'Om's" recent post entitled "A Seasoned-Up Hyena Could Not Have Been More Obscener," and specifically his comment about Phil Collins -- >mean, I know it was the 80s, but did we really have to encourage the >ghastly, balding fascist? Now he's suing two members of Earth Wind & >Fire because his company paid them excessive royalties of about >seventy grand. Their (i.e. Phil's company) mistake. Phil is worth >three hundred million quid. Sod the music, the man is scum. In actuality, Mr. Collins is not suing to recover any monetary damages -- he certainly doesn't need them. It is his company, Philip Collins Ltd. that has begun the suit (and quite some time ago, too, I believe), and it is "merely" seeking a determination that excessive royalties had been paid in error, when the performers were credited as appearing on songs that they did not. This ruling is being sought, as far as I can determine, in order to prevent future tax liability against Mr. Collins and excessive royalties from being claimed by the performers' agents. Essentially, the suit should provide Mr. Collins with future legal insulation. That's my perspective as a soon-to-be-attorney. So, for all you Phil-haters, there doesn't seem to be much reason to use this as a reason to get upset. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I don't understand why there is such bitterness towards Phil Collins on this list. So he's more successful than XTC, and some of you don't like his music, and there's a bad perception of him here. That's fine -- but so what? He's a decent human being, and his music appeals to other tastes. There are plenty of other, less talented musicians who have greater success than either XTC or Phil. Why is the venom directed at Phil so frequently, rather than, for example, N'Sync or the Spice Girls? No flames necessary, just honest responses. On to other stuff...I've got the Chalkhills list to thank for a lot of great suggestions for albums to listen to. Not to mention the Genesis list and the Marillion list, which are as enjoyable to me as this list is, even though I usually just lurk there as well. Anyway, here's what I've found interesting the past few weeks... Belle & Sebastian - If You're feeling Sinister Phil Collins - Face Value (terrific debut album) John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Divine Comedy - Casanova (Has unusual melodies, but really catchy) Erasure - Erasure (Much more atmospheric than their "pop" albums) Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (a landmark, of course) Genesis - Wind & Wuthering (In my estimation, their best) Kevin Gilbert - Thud (Thanks to Michael Versaci -- I've had this for almost a year now, and hope to someday be able to afford the real thing!) Steve Hogarth - Ice Cream Genius (I really like this album :)) Aimee Mann - Bachelor No. 2 Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (fantastic album) Moby - Play (Really glad I decided to get this one) Van Morrison - Astral Weeks Traffic - Smiling Phases (a best of compilation) Tom Waits - Rain Dogs XTC - Nonsuch Yo La Tengo - And then Nothing Turned... That's all... Looking forward to Wasp Star like everyone else... David R. Bauman
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-56 ******************************
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