Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 62
Date: Tuesday, 4 April 2000

          Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 62

                  Tuesday, 4 April 2000

Topics:

                    Lest we forget...
                       Sounding off
                 XTC is where you find it
            Aardman & Dreamworks "Chicken Run"
                      MST3K (no xtc)
                        Kinks/XTC
                   What's on the Telly?
          Who knew J. Jackson covers XTC? Not I
               Who put the "X" into "XTC"?
                     Holy Cow, Batman
                 Not fat bottom (no xtc)
                    lists and nonsense
                 Terry and other drummers
        WASP STAR-LET'S GET IT ON THE RADIO!!!!!!
          History of Rock and Roll(a little XTC)
                     Scam Alert Pt.2

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I can take humiliation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 12:34:27 -0400
From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com>
Subject: Lest we forget...
Message-ID: <38E8C813.FC971E58@enterworks.com>
Organization: Enterworks, Inc.

Hi:

If you're looking for insight and comedy from one of England's foremost
eccentrics, you can do a lot worse than Robert Fripp's diary, which he
regularly posts on:

http://www.disciplineglobalmobile.com/diary/diary.htm

Check out this entry about his Japanese fan club:

>When the Fan Club was being formed in the early 1980s they wrote to
me. I remember sitting in World HQ at the desk of the Edwardian
secretaire, acquired from my father's furniture saleroom not long
before, and writing back asking them to disband. I had no wish to be
the nominal focus of fan attention then, and am today even less
enthusiastic. But, let's accept, the Club has nothing to do with Fripp
(that most ungrateful of artistes) - he is only an excuse for a number
of good people to meet socially. And what a lesson there is here: we
so often place ourselves at the centre of events and believe ourselves
to be the cause. The RFFC in Japan has nothing to do with Fripp: it
has everything to do with the people who use it to meet each other.<

-Todd

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 12:59:12 -0400
From: "Todd Bernhardt" <todd.bernhardt@enterworks.com>
Subject: Sounding off
Message-ID: <38E8CDE0.3C67B28E@enterworks.com>
Organization: Enterworks, Inc.

Hi:

First of all, I'd like to remind Day Video Productions' publicist that
my preferred nom d'amour for all film-related press releases is "T.
Bonehard." Check the contract, pal.

As for killing off sacred cows, IMO you can't do much better than "Pet
Sounds." I bought it about two years ago because so many artists I like
have cited it as an influence.

I listened to it. A lot. I *tried* to like it -- really, I did. But I
didn't. I ended up giving it to my brother, who's a fan.

In fact, I've never really understood the whole Beach Boys/Brian
Wilson-as-icon thing. Yeah, they've got good vocals and a defined style,
but IMO none of their stuff Rocks. If I'm going to listen to the Beach
Boys, I preferred them filtered through the genius of Andy Partridge.

-Todd
[who at least remembered to turn off that annoying v-card this time
round]
[Attachment omitted, unknown MIME type or encoding (text/x-vcard)]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 10:50:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: brown <mb2@deltanet.com>
Subject: XTC is where you find it
Message-ID: <200004031750.KAA00978@mail2.deltanet.com>

Greetings Chalkbabies!

Yesterday my Mr. and I shuffled our boys into the Brownmobile and made our
way out of the ant farm.  We headed back into the San Gorgonio wilderness,
in search of a river.  If you are from or are familiar with Southern
California you can appreciate how ludicrous it is to call anything here a
'river'.  What we have are concrete-lined storm channels, and those are dry
most of the year.....
Thirty miles into the mountains, and nearly a mile above sea level, the
melting snow runs down into a canyon and forms the headwaters of the Santa
Ana river.  Under a canopy of incense cedar and Jeffrey pines, we hiked and
then lunched next to the water.  There wasn't another living soul around, or
so we thought.  From somewhere very nearby I could hear a man singing.  I
tuned in and listened closely and I recognized the melody in a flash, here's
what I heard..."I can take humiliation...And hurtful comments from the
Boss"...humming-humming...."by the weekend, I can earn enough for us".... I
nearly soiled myself!...Sure he was painfully off-key here and there, but
his sincerity was unquestionable...I had to meet this person.  I followed
his voice through the tall grass, where I came upon this young man reclining
against his camping gear, wearing only his ginch and his headphones...I
immediately regretted intruding on this scantily-clad stranger and attempted
to backpeddle through the underbrush...of course he noticed me and sat up
with a robust "Halo!"  I managed to mumble through an apology...to which
this fellow responded most graciously....
Turns out that Henning is from Stuttgart and is a huge fan of XTC...his
Tante Renata played him many of their tapes while he was growing up...he
nodded politely while I butchered his native tongue, where upon we agreed to
finish our conversation in English.  Henning wasn't aware that XTC had put
out anything since Nonsuch, so I tried to convey the shimmer of AV1..I hope
I did it justice.... We chattered on about Partridge and the boys..and all
the while I couldn't keep my eyes off a tatoo of three perfect little
mermaids that appeared to be swimming in a circle around Henning's left
nipple...he said it always reminded him of Mermaid Smiled.... By this time
my husband and our boys had joined us, and soon we decided it was time to
press on...we said our goodbyes and Henning promised to pick up AV1 and WS
when he returned home to Germany...
On the drive home I babbled on and on about the beautiful day and how
absurdly wonderful it was to meet another XTC fan in the flesh (only my
second), and in such an unlikely place!.....and all my husband kept saying
was, "yeah, but did you see the head of hair on that kid!"....
.....life is grand, ain't it?.....

Back to watching my vain darling's hairline recede,

Debora Brown

. . . and to the charming Lady Jill, if I may be so bold as to inquire . . .
        . . . how's that sock drawer coming along? . . .

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 10:53:47 -0700
From: "John Keel" <jbkev1@ev1.net>
Subject: Aardman & Dreamworks "Chicken Run"
Message-ID: <00da01bf9d95$907c0cc0$b75bd1d1@sony.com>

Hi kids,

For Jayne & William and any other W&G fans, I just wanted to let you know
that Dreamworks has just put up the official "Chicken Run" website to begin
promoting the new film.

The clips I've seen look just wonderful.  If you go see "The Road to
Eldorado" you'll see the official first preview or "The Prince of Egypt"
DVD has a few advance clips.

Check out the website at www.reel.com/chickenrun.

Oh, and since I'm here, the more I listen to "Wasp Star" the more I'm
convinced that "Stupidly Happy" could be a great single.  This could be a
breakthrough album for the band and let's hope TVT can push as many singles
out as possible so that Andy & Colin can actually make some money!!

Thanks for listening,

John

*********************************************
"The world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through."
Tom Waits

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 10:54:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: brown <mb2@deltanet.com>
Subject: MST3K (no xtc)
Message-ID: <200004031754.KAA02784@mail2.deltanet.com>

In a recent digest someone mentioned MST3K .... for those of you who
remember Joel Hodgson a.k.a. Joel Robinson, you may want to check out
www.gizmonics.com.  You can find out what Joel and his brother Jim have been
cooking up in the last few years.  There is even a downloadable coloring
book...neat!

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 16:33:19 EDT
From: Tomgriffin100276@aol.com
Subject: Kinks/XTC
Message-ID: <cb.3d11d3e.261a5a0f@aol.com>

Herne wrote:

I've finally gotten around to exploring the Kinks and I must say that
Village Green Preservation Society is one of the greatest albums I have
ever bought.

I agree completely.  As I said, I just got the ALBUM based on
recommendations found on Chalkhills.  Last night, it finally "clicked" (on
the 4th or 5th listen).  It takes me 4 or 5 listens to a new XTC album
before it clicks too.

Amazing album!  I recommend it very, very highly!

-Tom

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 13:55:36 -0700
From: "Dane Pereslete" <peresd@tcwgroup.com>
Subject: What's on the Telly?
Message-ID: <s8e8a2ed.086@acacia.tcwgroup.com>

I quote from the XTC article in Allstar of 22 March:

"XTC is also expected to be in the States for some TV
appearances sometime in April."

(Large spit-take)  Wuh?? Where? When?

Someone "in the loop" please let us peons know!!!!

"looks like a penguin!"

-Dane

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 17:41:16 -0500
From: Mark Newberg <mhnewberg@home.com>
Subject: Who knew J. Jackson covers XTC? Not I
Message-ID: <38E91E0B.E30E1D6A@home.com>
Organization: @Home Network

Hello Chalkies,

This is Mark N. and I was the one who asked about the preferences to
J. Jackson and E. Costello. Recently, I was compiling a customized a
CD at towerrecords.com and ran across Joe's version of Statue of
Liberty'. Joe has just gone up a rung! (not that this is a competition
or anything) I had known that there was a cover album of XTC stuff,
but the only song I had heard was Sarah M.'s version of 'Dear God'.

If Joe is on the list (It could happen!) all I want to say is your
'Jumping Jive' album is terrific and 'Is She Really Going out With
Him?' is a classic.

I just received my customized cd from Tower.  The tracks:

	1. Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
	2. Baby, Now That I've Found You - ibid.
	3. Temptation Eyes - Grass Roots
	4. I'd Wait a Million Years - ibid.
	5. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
	6. Billy, Don't Be a Hero - ibid.
	7. Worst Thing That Could Happen - Brooklyn Bridge
	8. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass

Till next time,

Mark N
--
Don't you look at my girlfriend, she's the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend, never seem to get alot

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 16:51:30 CDT
From: "Joseph Perez" <sendto_joe@hotmail.com>
Subject: Who put the "X" into "XTC"?
Message-ID: <20000403215130.50566.qmail@hotmail.com>

Apparently our friend PhoenixYellowRose did while contributing to 6-61!

>Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 06:11:28 -0700 (PDT)
>From: nross <PhoenixYellowRose@rocketmail.com>
>Subject: chewles schmewels
>Message-ID: <20000403131128.18755.qmail@web2901.mail.yahoo.com>
>
>Dude... I think the first bursting gum was Freshen Up.
>
>It was greenish... the center was sickeningly sweet.
>It tasted nothing like cum, mind you.

Stupidly Happy,
Joe

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 18:12:08 -0400
From: "Diamond" <arnos@nantucket.net>
Subject: Holy Cow, Batman
Message-ID: <200004032214.SAA25241@nantucket.net>

>Just finished re-reading Elephant Bangs Train, a short
>story collection by William Kotzwinkle (read his Dr.
>Rat, it's truly AMAZING).

Oh man, another Kotzwinkle fan... I haven't read that collection, but I've
read almost everything I've been able to find by him, including some hard
ones, like Jack In The Box, re-named "Book Of Love" when it was turned into
a movie. My favorites are The Exile, Dr Rat, and The Bear Went Over The
Mountain. My top 3 authors are Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, and
Kotzwinkle... what a terrific writting style he has... if you wanna talk
more about him, e-mail me off-list.

WHat am I reading? Well, right now, I'm starting up a new play, The
Complete History of America (abridged) which is hilarious, and I'm reading
through that a lot... I've been reading Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume
since fall, I just don't have time to read anymore... it's kinda sad... I
always turn to my music or the internet instead of picking up a book.

The new Eels album is rocking me silly, standouts: Flyswater, Tiger in My
Tank, Sounds of Fear, Daisy through Concrete... I like the slow ones too,
but I'm in a more "loud" -ish mood. I'm hoping Wasp Star will quench that
thirst...

OK, the stones... out of all the "classic" bands that I've bought albums by
(keeping in mind that I'm only 16, and have been huridly trying to catch up
on all the classics, ie: beatles, kinks, santana, chicago, etc) the one
band I have NEVER had ANY desire to buy anthing by is the Stones... I mean,
I just don't understand how there could have been ANY debate at ANY time
about who was better, the beatles vs. the stones... I mean, when you get
right down to the bare bones of it, the stones were just plane messy... in
a bad way, though. I mean, messyness isn't necisarily a detractin quality
for music, but they just seemed like they weren't even trying. I rarely
have heard a tune by them that I've actually liked. Keep in mind that I
wasn't around during the time when they were popular, so any feelings
towards them that I have accumulated, I have gained from classic rock
radio, and VH1.

So here's my Cheesy list of Musical "Holy Cows" that I have a beef with.
(come on, let me keep MILKing this joke, before I'm GROUNDed)

The Grateful Dead - I've never been able to tell this to my dad, but I just
don't get it... it seems like it's all second-rate blues crap... i can't
get into it at all

Southern Rock - uhh, I'm not sure how this will fare with you guys... but
it doesn't appeal to me at all... Lynard Skynard, etc. The Alman Bros. I
can hadel, that's about it.

Techno - Well, I'll admit it, some techno can be really good... but I don't
understand how someone could listen to ONLY techno for any period of
time...

Nirvana - I saw no talent in this band... how could they be the #1 band of
teh ninties? the foo fighters look mighty interesting, though, and I'm
planing on buying something by them.

Prince - Honostly, I always thought this was a women... but, I really don't
think he's all that great. Sorry.

I have a question for those who own both versions of Blue Berret... which
version do you like better? Personally, I think it's one of the best songs
Andy's ever written, and am surprised that it was never recorded for
real...  but I really, REALLY, am in love with the live accoustic version,
if only for the new lines he came up with... Time is sometimes punishment
for crimes... especially if you're guilty of killing time... great stuff,
man...

ALSO, in the demo version of Standing In For Joe, the guitar part that's
just four notes, each one on the off beat, as in 1, note, 3, note, 1, note,
3, note it reminds me of another song, perhaps by the beatles? I think on
the white album... I can't remember...

Well, that is all for now... carry on, carry on...

Kevin Diamond
listen to my music, or I while cry:
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/79/the_french_electric_all-st.html
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/84/bass-cleff.html
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/85/starving_artists.html
--
"The universe does not have laws, it has habits, and habits can be broken."
            -Tom Robbins

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 15:41:33 -0700 (PDT)
From: brown <mb2@deltanet.com>
Subject: Not fat bottom (no xtc)
Message-ID: <200004032241.PAA22585@mail2.deltanet.com>

...to anyone who gives a rat's rump, and you just know that you do....
h-i-p-p-i-e is the preferred spelling, not h-i-p-p-y....
to call someone a hippy would imply that they have a rather expansive 'wrap
around back porch'...in other words, broad in the beam if she's a she...and
if the 'hippy' is a man then you may say that he's a cello-shaped fellow...

On the subject of Mr. Dunks choice of Todd's albums, I prefer his follow-up
to 'Second Wind'...I believe it was titled, 'Breaking Wind'...  don't quote
me on this, I could be horribly wrong...

uh-oh, SOMEONE needs a nap....

;O

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 19:01:29 EDT
From: Robeach11@aol.com
Subject: lists and nonsense
Message-ID: <5b.401ebad.261a7cc9@aol.com>

Been enjoying the lists of cd's that people are listening to. Please
indulge me......

In no particular order-

Beach Boys- Pet Sounds (my fave)
Beach Boys- Smile  (possibly would be my fave had Brian been able
                   to finish it... cobbled togther from the box set &
bootlegs...
                   amazing stuff, never heard anything like it)
Beach Boys-  Good Vibrations: 30 Years of the Beach Boys (see a
                     pattern here? best box set I ever bought)
Replacements-  Let It Be (overrated??? nah. but i think the Stones
                       are)
Aphex Twin-  Richard D. James Album
Yellow Magic Orchestra-  BGM
KInks  (all of the Castle reissues w/ bonus trax)
Steely Dan-  Two Against Nature  (they really pulled it off. wow)
Prefab Sprout-  Jordan: The Comeback
Fountains Of Wayne-  Fountains Of Wayne  (check out "You Curse At
                            Girls" & "Joe Rey" amongst others)
Randy Newman-  Sail Away
Sloan- Twice Removed
Frank Sinatra-  Come Swing With Me  (with the great Billy May)
Peter Holsapple/Chris Stamey-  Mavericks
Stereolab-  Transient Random Noise Bursts With Announcements
various artists- Nova Bossa: Red Hot On Verve  (bitchin' Brazilian
                        music
Autechre-  Tri Repetae++
Elliott Smith-  Either/Or  (can't wait for his new one)
Horace Silver- Songs For My Father
XTC- Apple Venus Volume 1

Love the name "Wasp Star" as it is not something you'd expect from XTC.
Isn't that the whole idea?

There you have it.... thanks for reading.

Rob
Carson, Ca

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 19:56:38 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: Terry and other drummers
Message-ID: <l03130300b50eeb7bb69d@[208.13.202.98]>

>> If Andy had  left XTC in 1982, and Terry Chambers had taken over the
>> singing with a solo career in the pipeline,
>now there's a thought!
>A very unusual and hightly unlikely thought but worse things have
>happened at sea and to Genesis
>
>> would any of us be here???
>i would!
>I'm sure that with our man Terry at the helm we would've had some
>decent tunes and none of that arty-partsy stuff like Mummer or
>Sylarking.
>
>yours in xtc,
>
>Mark S. @ the Little Lighthouse  www.come.to/xtc

  In all seriousness, now that April Fools Day is over, Terry fronting XTC,
the best I could say about that is that everybody would probably drink more
beer and XTC would turn into The Faces. Besides that, Terry's had exactly
one writing credit and one vocal credit with XTC(an accidental backup vocal
when he almost lost his place during the bridge). I'd sooner have seen Dave
take over the writing, he might have even turned the band into something
resembling Genesis(considering his having recorded with Gabriel, as well as
Marillion frontman Hogarth).
  Besides, most drummers are basically tubthumpers not real interested in
fronting bands. Drummers known for their taste and intelligence and
songwriting skills are not real common, there's Phil Collins, Will Birch of
The Records, Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, Chris Mars of The Replacements,
Grant Hart of Husker Du...I'm running out of names. There's so many others
like Terry and Mick Avory and Ringo Starr who are content to keep the beat
and just play the drums and if they do record solo albums(like Starr)keep
it simple.

Q: How do you know when the stage is level?
A: The drummer drools out of both sides of his mouth.

Christopher R. Coolidge

Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html

"A Great law protects me from the government. The Bill of rights has
10 GREAT laws.  A Good law protects me from you.  Laws against murder,
theft, assault and the like are good laws.  A Poor law attempts to
protect me from myself."  - Unknown

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 17:40:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com>
Subject: WASP STAR-LET'S GET IT ON THE RADIO!!!!!!
Message-ID: <20000404004048.12601.qmail@web1103.mail.yahoo.com>

Hello fellow Chalk-geeks!  Just wondering if anyone is
hearing the new XTC on the radio, and whoever posted
the message about bugging your radio station to play
it is 100% right. About a month before an album comes
out is a real good time to start requesting songs. I
can tell you first hand that requests, whether it's
from the phones, or email (or through the postal
service) are strong factors for airplay. The station I
work for, although super small in market size, will
add songs if the requests are there. So after you're
done reading your Chalkhills list, find a station to
bug.  The buzz about the new XTC has been fantastic on
all of the various lists I'm subsribed to- now if
MTV/VH1 and radio could take notice.....

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 19:39:29 -0500
From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net>
Subject: History of Rock and Roll(a little XTC)
Message-ID: <l03130302b50e3c5d45be@[208.13.202.98]>

Thanks for taking the leap, if nothing else this makes me take stock of
exactly why I like what I like. You'll get no flames here.

>1.) Patti Smith---she allegedly screwed Mick Jagger, her near OD
>inspired "Wild Horses".  She wrote Dancing Barefoot but...so?

  I find Patti frustratingly uneven. Horses is one of the brilliant fusions
of rock and poetry, Easter is one of the great rock albums by a person with
breasts, but Wave, except for "Dancing Barefoot," and maybe the title track
and "Frederick," is a confused mess, and I never quite got into Radio
Ethiopia for some reason. Her overlooked 80's comeback album Dream Of Life
has two or three gorgeous pop songs on it though, the likes of which I
never thought her capable. And her real comeback album Gone Again from a
few years ago is her best ever. If you're still cautious about her, get
that one first.

>2.)Big Star...their unexpected reunion a few years back was met with the
>kind of  praise we  usually reserve strictly for obscure XTC demos.  SAT
>answer:  Critic Fave is to Big Star as Chalkhill denizen is to Down A
>Peg.  I know it's abstract but it's 2:51 am so what do you want?

  Never heard the reunion but Radio City and Third are flawed masterpieces.
Maybe not deserving of the hype surrounding them, but you'll probably
understand once you listen a few times. Radio City I didn't get at first
because the arrangements sound rather skewed in places(especially the lead
track "O My Soul"), like upside down horn charts played on guitar, kind of.
And if you still don't grok them, that's OK, I'll still understand.

>3.)Pearl Jam---Seems like a no brainer given that they're "popular" but
>still...what do the critics
>    see that I do not?  Great musicians but...I don't know.

  I'm with you on that one. They seemed to be onto something with their
second album, then they kind of lost their focus somehow. Never liked them
enough to get any of their albums.

>4.)Jim Morrison as poet...Look I like Doors and everything but, and
>pardon the misquote... "Petition the Lord with Prayer!!!  I will not
>Petition the Lord With Prayerrrr!!!!"
>
> I say Pants!

  I just finished rereading No One Here Gets Out Alive. I find Jim Morrison
even more fascinating than Elvis as an icon to read about, but The Doors
were a band of which Jim was the lead singer. As a poet, he was hit and
miss; one line would be brilliant and the next would set my teeth on edge.
As a frontman and writer of the Doors' lyrics, he was an irreplaceable
fourth member, even though he didn't play any instruments besides a bit of
harmonica. However, The Doors had a chemistry unrivaled by any bands of
their time besides The Velvet Underground. I might even get the box set,
even though I sold my Doors LPs years ago.

>5.)Velvet Underground---see above

  Again, Lou Reed is one of the greatest lyricists in rock, up there with
Bob Dylan, Andy Partridge and Ray Davies. The Velvets also had an uncanny
chemistry best represented by the Velvet Underground and Nico album, and to
a lesser degree by the self-titled third album(founding member John Cale
was gone, and replacement Doug Yule was adequate as a player and had a nice
boyish voice for backup vocals, but it wasn't quite the same). In contrast,
their second album White Light White Heat could have been the pioneering
horrible noise punk album of the late 60's but they got producer Tom Wilson
to make the album sound like it was recorded in a cardboard box and slopped
up the performances of some great songs, as evidenced by the more coherent
performance of the same material on the 1993 live reunion album. I don't
know whether it's Lou Reed being bloody-minded or the producer didn't know
what he was doing, but White Light White Heat is aesthetically a great
album nobody in their right mind is going to want to listen to more than a
couple of times, except for "The Gift" and "Sister Ray." For a much better
pioneering protopunk album, I highly recommend The Stooges second album
from 1970, Funhouse. Recommended to anyone who think The Sex Pistols were
too mellow. Best played loud while the neighbors are out.

>6.)Husker Du---can't really explain why.  Just all sounds like sludge to
>me.

  An acquired taste, I prefer Bob Mould's solo material and his work with
Sugar myself. Candy Apple Grey, their first major label album, is both
their most melodic and their most bummed out. Really depressing lyrics for
a major label debut. Start with that one, and work your way backwards. I
don't own much of their stuff, just a posthumous live album I don't listen
to much, but most of their studio stuff grows on you if you give it a
chance, I just never bothered getting their stuff because I had friends who
listened to them incessantly; I enjoyed hearing them but not enough that I
had to have them in my collection. Maybe someday if I find one of their
albums used.

>7.)The Replacements---People whose taste I admire are/have been fans.  I
>remain unmoved.

  The 'Placemats had a great album in them somewhere and due to severe
alcohol abuse and hubris never quite got there, with the exception of Let
It Be, which is one of the most varied, intelligent and just plain great
American punk/hardcore albums, and even has some melodic and catchy stuff
without sounding like they were selling out. After that Tim and Pleased To
Meet Me are near classics in which they set up all these great hooks then
find a way to trip over them, Don't Tell A Soul is a little too polished
sounding, and All Shook Down is a ragged but interesting Paul Westerberg
solo album under the Replacements name(members of the rest of the band play
on at most half the tracks, the whole band maybe on one). If a tree falls
on The Replacements in the forest, will anybody but the critics hear? And
were they drunk at the time? Drummer Chris Mars two solo albums are
supposed to be quite good, BTW, keep meaning to get them. I got Tommy
Stinson's album Fast and Loud; don't bother, it's not fast and loud, it
sounds more like Ron Wood, only with even worse vocals. If that appeals,
you're welcome to my copy.

>8.)The Greatful Dead---if you're not high...why?

One great Dead album- Blues For Allah. Especially the title track. One
great song on Workingman's Dead, "Black Peter," which sounds more like it
belongs on a Band album, with Richard Manuel singing, it's about an old man
on his deathbed. Chilling stuff. Otherwise, I tolerate 'em, if I'm in the
mood I can appreciate the musicianship of their drummers at the very least.
Jerry Garcia, OVERRATED! to quote Iron Prostate's "Bring Me The Head Of
Jerry Garcia:" "He's dumb as an ox and a ton overweight/That's why they
call him The Dreadful Grate!" HUH!

>9.)Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd,  Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac and Peter
>Gabriel era Genesis.

Best Pink Floyd in my opinion, neither the band nor Barrett(obviously)were
the same since. In Peter Green's case you have to get past the straight
blues stuff that dominates the early Fleetwood albums and check more potent
stuff like "The Green Mahlithini." Perhaps an acquired taste though; I
found Then Play On and their live album of the period for a couple of
dollars each. As for Genesis, the same person who turned me onto XTC in the
early 80's also turned me onto Genesis, after I'd merely tolerated them in
high school. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway is more creepy and scary than a
crateload of Ozzy Osbourne albums, and the best work they ever did. Their
albums up until that point are uneven but also have their share of powerful
and menacing stuff, though there's also great dollops of dungeons and
dragon lyrics that betray their youth and private school origins.

>I suspect that I will come to like many of those listed above.  Some I'm
>already starting to explore or re-appraise.  But why do I feel that I
>HAVE to take the time?
>
>Okay here's the big question...which given the way we all talk and think
>in this venue...and given the threads we've had here, may sound like the
>dumbest question in the world.  The kind of question that Molly would
>have asked in the past and been scorched for.  Maybe deservedly...who
>knows...but here goes.  I'm making the great leap....
>
>If they're so brilliant...why haven't I ever heard them on the radio?
>
>There I said it.  And in a weird way I meant it.  Though perhaps I
>should specify "college" or "art radio".

  Dunno; how much XTC have you heard on the radio lately, college or
commercial? Much of the music I listen to you don't hear on the radio
anymore. When do you hear Procol Harum on the radio, aside from maybe "A
Whiter Shade Of Pale" or "Conquistador?" But I'm probably the one who's out
of step, I listen to what I want, and for the first time in my life I have
little interest in being hip. I like what I like, and I try to stay
current, but for the first time I can understand why my parents didn't
understand my music. With all the boy bands, rappers and doomy death-metal
bands around, my taste in music is conservative for the first time in my
life. I feel old.
  Actually, I'm lucky, the local AAA station played Apple Venus a lot when
it first came out, and even last week I heard "I'd Like That." I can't help
noticing; XTC has practically no Velvet Underground influences whatsoever.

Christopher R. Coolidge

Homepage at
http://homepages.together.net/~cauldron/homepage.html

"A Great law protects me from the government. The Bill of rights has
10 GREAT laws.  A Good law protects me from you.  Laws against murder,
theft, assault and the like are good laws.  A Poor law attempts to
protect me from myself."  - Unknown

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 03 Apr 2000 21:37:22 CDT
From: "vee tube" <veetube@hotmail.com>
Subject: Scam Alert Pt.2
Message-ID: <20000404023722.41045.qmail@hotmail.com>

    If you're going to pay 'Big Bucks' on e-blow for an advance
        copy of 'Wasp' please read the following posts.

1.Vol.6 # 52 RE: Don't be fooled....
               (thanx Richard!)

2.Vol.6 # 59 RE: Scam Alert!  (and)
              RE: WS TVT CD-R (thanx Russ)

3.Check out 'What's new' on Chalkhills, in the upper right
   hand corner you'll see a picture that is very CLOSE to the
   one I have but, mine doesn't have the BIG white XTC on top,
         and has no print inside the apple.

4.On the data side of the disc you should see this #

           wea mfg Y11379 4R TVT 3260-2 01

5.As always,buyer beware! Thanx again Richard & Russ.

                    }---:)

P.S. DOM! I hope you understand this one!

P.P.S. If you don't have 'Acoustic Tales' you can download it at...

           http://www.idrive.com/swindon

                  It's MP3s

                   }---:)

------------------------------

End of Chalkhills Digest #6-62
******************************

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4 April 2000 / Feedback