Chalkhills Digest Volume 6, Issue 66
Date: Friday, 7 April 2000
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 6, Number 66
Friday, 7 April 2000
Topics:
UK promo CD
The Karma doesn't shine, it glows
Re: Pet Sounds
Sorry, I can't help it...
Re: Smith, Hell, etc.
Deja Vu
Brian Wilson... he's not just for breakfast anymore
Re: Even CDs can have spoilers
Garbo's Celluloid Heroes
Re: Wasp + Star = Amazing
middle of the song
Please don't spoil
the butler did it
He Said, "You Don't Understand What I Said"
Re: Rita Mitsouko...
Did You See His Name?
very little in the way of things actually related to XTC
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 08:08:49 -0700 From: Peter Fitzpatrick <peterfit@MICROSOFT.com> Subject: UK promo CD Message-ID: <B9B4268C8F87D11195DC0000F840FABE12AF72AD@DUB-MSG-02> Andy sent me a CD a couple of days ago, it arrived in Dublin today. I've had only one chance to listen to the album and will reserve comment until I've had a chance to really listen to it. This is *not* Apple Venus 1 revisited nor is it Nonsvch part two... ..this is closer to 'Black Sea with a few years under our belts, older and wiser' for the collectors among you (Hi Mark !) it is a 'real' CD (not a CD-R) with a full colour label and cardboard sleeve. The cover is black (none more black !!! geddit ?) with what looks like a coloured x-ray of an apple....Andy drew a face in it "hope you like it" (as if !) Does anyone (Mark ?) want me to scan this and put it online ? I don't know if it's available to view for those who care. Let me know. Peter, Dublin, Ireland http://www.shabbyroad.com - a label http://www.shabbyroad.com/peter - some stuff (xtc included)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 08:59:41 -0700 (PDT) From: brown <mb2@deltanet.com> Subject: The Karma doesn't shine, it glows Message-ID: <200004061559.IAA15416@mail2.deltanet.com> If I may refer to a portion of Jill's musings on Knights In Shining Karma- <..Although I had possessed the album for several months at that point, I think I truly heard the song for the first time that night. It stood out from the rest as a thing of beauty, a few minutes of sublime perfection. It washed over me and I reveled in the bathing.> Yes, absolutely... Knights In Shining Karma is THE slow burn track on AV1. No bells and whistles...just a quiet grace about it...It doesn't demand your attention, it whispers softly in your ear, inviting you to discover its subtle charms. Ending the piece with an unanswered question fits the melancholy mood of the song, and leaves you with a feeling of longing... It's just so right! Debora Brown -Some of you Hillies may be interested in an upcoming All-Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell. It airs on TNT (telly) on April 16. I'm not much for tribute shows, but it is Joni...k.d. Lang and Richard Thompson are among the artists slated to perform.---
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 17:32:32 GMT From: "Dominique Leone" <d_leone@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Pet Sounds Message-ID: <20000406173233.51869.qmail@hotmail.com> HbSherwood: >A-and look at the word that introduces the long-awaited cadence! This is pretty neat. I bet it's news to Brian Wilson. Maybe that's another reason to believe he is a genius. It's true, though. You can always find out cool stuff like that when you look at the really great music. It does seem, however, that you usually only find this kind of advanced harmony in classical music. Maybe that's why Brian Wilson isn't as 'cool' as, say, Bono or Beck. I think his method of writing music is closer to classical composition, with so much attention to detail and timbre. Not to mention form and tradition. Of course, he didn't actually notate any music, but then again, he didn't study under Nadia Boulanger either. Dominique
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 18:59:20 +0100 From: Lawson Dominic <LawsonD@parliament.uk> Subject: Sorry, I can't help it... Message-ID: <4782AD6ADDBDD2119B570008C75DD5C1BD4BB3@mgmtm02.parliament.uk> >>PLEASE NO ANTI-WEBER COMMENTS Yeah, but his view of objectivity really ****ing sucks......
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 14:16:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Joe Hartley <jh@brainiac.com>
Subject: Re: Smith, Hell, etc.
Message-ID: <200004061816.OAA21083@metheny.brainiac.com>
> You're thinking of the Patti Smith who married ex-Soft Boys bassist Richard
> Hell, with whom they formed the original, pre-Bono U2 and had an
> international hit with "Stop! in the Name of Love," produced by (Hey! XTC
> connection!) Elton John's drummer Gus Dudgeon. After Hell's death in 1992,
> the peripatetic Patti, daughter of early-television pioneer "Buffalo Bob"
> Smith, wrote several episodes of the Star Wars sequel, Babylon-5. She can be
> seen nowadays as the center square in the New Hollywood Squares, making
> scathing puns and reciting off-the-cuff free verse. She last used heroin in
> 1986, but since has been going "clean for Gene" (Simmons, her new paramour).
Omigod, this almost made my head explode. Coming as it did right after
the brilliant analysis of "God Only Knows," this one paragraph of mis-
information is mind-boggling,
> Harrison "Go on--ask me another one!" Sherwood
I don't dare!
======================================================================
Joe Hartley - UNIX/network Consultant - jh@brainiac.com
Without deviation from the norm, "progress" is not possible. - FZappa
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 19:59:16 +0100 From: "David Seddon" <D.Seddon@btinternet.com> Subject: Deja Vu Message-ID: <003501bf9ffa$4d74bdc0$8b4d01d5@default> Diamond said: "Nirvana - I saw no talent in this band... how could they be the #1 band of the nineties? " Ah, shucks, don't start me on that one again! P.S. Re word play ...Apple Venus/Wasp Star. People have been going on about the Venus and Star connection and that's the second of the two words in the two titles, fair enough...but what about the Wasp and Apple connection? Is this album the stinger that comes out of the apple to bite a few Virgin bums! Let's hope so.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 15:56:26 EDT From: KingJeffe@aol.com Subject: Brian Wilson... he's not just for breakfast anymore Message-ID: <7c.3d75b80.261e45ea@aol.com> In regards to Mr. Harrison Sherwood's eloquent defense of Brian Wilson as artist/ genius in Chalkhills 6-64. Thank you sir, I could not have said it better myself.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 15:53:31 -0400 From: "Brian" <mattone@bhip.infi.net> Subject: Re: Even CDs can have spoilers Message-ID: <005b01bfa0ca$f4e74b60$1a0affd1@Brian> Tschalkgerz! >> As the >>song goes into its middle eight Andy screams "IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE SONG!" >Gosh, thanks for ruining the surprise for the rest of us.< I agree. You people with the album already... Shut the hell up, would ya? As if it wasn't bad enough... -Brian Matthews http://www.angelfire.com/fl/sapringer
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 20:05:21 +0100 From: "David Seddon" <D.Seddon@btinternet.com> Subject: Garbo's Celluloid Heroes Message-ID: <004201bf9ffb$2889f240$8b4d01d5@default> I can't see it. Such a beautiful song, one that would be more appropriate to play at a wedding than a suicide(as evidenced by the gorgeous boy's choir treatment at Saphy's wedding in Absolutely Fabulous.) More appropriate "suicide music" Suicide Song- Loudon Wainwright III The End Of The Rainbow- Richard Thompson Suicide Solution- Ozzy Ozbourne Anything by Joy Division or Nirvana No Presents For Vivian- yours truly Well there was a double A-side in the late 70's that I guess few have heard of, but which was a laugh... Won't You Come to My Funeral/Only Death is Fatal, by Garbo's Celluloid Heroes. Don't know who they were or what became of them, but it was quite good stuff from the punk era.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 13:20:54 -0700 From: Kerry Chicoine <kchicoine@mailorder.com> Subject: Re: Wasp + Star = Amazing Message-ID: <38ECF1A6.A1848522@mailorder.com> Organization: American Computer Group Just a few comments on the new xTc album! I think it's fantastic! FANTASTIC! Andy's voice and backing harmonies are wonderful, and very Macca-esque in places (ala AV1's 'I'd Like That'). There are so many choruses that just stick in your head as if crazy-glued there! The overall tone of the LP is upbeat, silly, goofy, yet optimistic. There are quite a bit of blues-based songs, which is very un-xTc in many ways. The production is deliberately understated, yet still very ornate, with touches of brass, strings and lots of electric guitar everywhere and not a piano in sight. There are incredible layered backing vocals throughout with many spine-tingling moments scattered here and there, gemstones awaiting your ears. I can see how one might find this album very simple and un-xTc, but, put it this way: if this were a debut from a new band, you'd be going absolutely crazy for them! xTc fans have such high standards (we've been spoiled!) but I, personally, find this to be a great, inspired collection of songs regardless of the simplicity or production. Definitely my spring 2000 soundtrack. The album opens with the fantastic Playground; a catchy, repeating guitar riff wraps around Andy's voice, followed by an amazing chorus. Tons of cool changes happening here. This gives me goosebumps! I get a general late '60's buzz from this one. Wonderfully layered backing vocals (as found throughout this album). Man do these guys know how to open an album. Stupidly Happy is the best goofy love song since Macca's Silly Love Longs. Nothing more than a repeating riff, it gets under your skin and builds, builds, builds! Playful, restrained bass, busting loose in places. Love the descending guitar riff that comes in halfway into the tune. Closes with descending 'doo doo doo' vocals that are reminiscent of those that close AV1's Easter Theater. Yummy. In Another Life. A 'typical' Colin Moulding tune, thank you very much. Opens with harmonica, and a bouncy bouncy feel. Clever lyrics sung in that endearing english accent of his. Features a cool bridge and a very nice arrangement complemented by a building horn section. Tub-thumping drums! Very nice. My Brown Guitar. One of my many fave tracks at this point. Great non-traditional, non-droning arrangement. Damn, that chorus is catchy in a '70's way! I love it. Kinda Beatle-y in an 'Octopus' Garden' kind of way. Fantastic backing vocals and guitar stabs throughout. Boarded Up. I call it Bored Up. Another Colin song, evocative in a '70's kind of way, semi-bluesy. The arrangement doesn't seem to go anywhere, and it's very, very sparse in a John Entwistle way. Is this where Dave would've worked some magic? Definitely the least realized song on the album, IMHO, but so different from everything else that it seems to fit perfectly. An inspired decision at the very least. I'm The Man Who Murdered Love. Gotta love the psychedelic Hendrix wah-wah opening! A *standout* track, extremely upbeat music with kind of twisted lyrics. A simple arrangement with a 'Dear Madame Barnum' type of rhythmic feel. This is definitely a great choice for a single. The chorus is sooooo hooky! Features a cool mid-eastern minor key guitar solo/bridge. Dave who? We're All Light. God, I love this song. The lyrics are amazing, the music is great, and I love the feelings these chords evoke in me. A toe-tapper for certain. It's a real 'riffy' song, based on a repeating guitar/banjo-y part that builds accordingly as the song progresses. Some neat guitar parts interwoven in places and even a theramin! Again, those dissonant, spine-tingling trademark vocal harmonies that I cherish in my very soul. Standing in for Joe. Vintage upbeat Moody Blues-y feel (sort of), and a *very* cool Beatle-esqe arrangement! Hooray for Colin, I love this song! This is his best since 'King for a Day', IMHO. Very traditional pop for purists. Wounded Horse. God, does this remind me of White Album-era Beatles. Again, a blues-based motif with a vintage late 60's production vibe. Provocative lyrics, too. This is so *very* John Lennon in much the same way the Dukes of Stratosphear's Collideascope is. This is the most un-xTc of the songs presented here, at least musically. Funny, I hated this on the demo, but I love this version. You and the Clouds. Another 'We're All Light' except more Sting-y. I could definitely hear this on the radio if radio still played actual music. Fantastically whimsical lyrics based on another simple repeating, rhythmic riff coupled with a great hook of a chorus. There are bluesy elements to the vocals as well. Cool Andy guitar solo! Closes with supercool vocal harmonies, very Brian Wilson-esque. Church of Women. An amazing song that starts out with the lyric 'A lie for a lie, but a truth for the truth'. Fantastic lyrics and great guitar-heavy production. This could've fit nicely on AV1, IMHO. I love the lackadaisical pace of this song. Another vocal performance to die for (interlocking parts galore) and lyrics that every he-man should be forced to digest. Vintage Andy. One beef: I absolutely freaking adored the guitar solo on the demo; that solo was so amazing it moved me to tears. Repeatedly. This almost-solo is simpler, and nearly as effective. The Wheel and the Maypole. Oh my jesus. Amazing. This is the most xTc-like song of the bunch; it, too, would've fit very nicely on AV1. This song is composed of two very different sections. I like the whole thing, but the end of the second section is spine-chilling, my favorite moment of the album. The transition from the first part to the second is absolutely perfect. The fade-out guitars are just incredible. Note: the aggressive snare fill near the end officially marks the place where my mind loses it and I explode into absolute infinity as this incredibly timeless music works its way effortlessly through every fiber of my soul. I actually get tears from this. True ecstasy. Man, do these guys know how to close an album. In summary, Wasp Star a wonderful, mature-yet-youthful pop recording. Granted, it's not 'typical' xTc, but what the hell is? There's no comparing this to anything they've previously recorded and it wouldn't be fair to do so. I, for one, am glad that they released these songs separately from those on AV1. They could be two totally different bands in a sense. This is *so* worth the wait. Get it, get it, get it, get it, get it. Kerry Kompost NP: Wasp Star MP3's (Note: While noting the potential legal issues surrounding Napster, I couldn't resist downloading Wasp Star in its entirety. However, I fully intend to purchase the CD as soon as it's available!)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 16:35:23 EDT From: Saints3Den@aol.com Subject: middle of the song Message-ID: <9c.2bc58ce.261e4f0b@aol.com> << > As the > song goes into its middle eight Andy screams "IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE SONG!" Gosh, thanks for ruining the surprise for the rest of us. -- Francis >> YES... this is a downside to getting chalkhills. You want inside stuff, you may get too much of it. But I bet now I'll get goosebumps the first time I hear it. eddie P S ; could the choice of this song as single be trouble for XTC? This was one of the Andy demos from way back in the Virgin years. With the recent demo/warbles/virgin S.N.A.F.U.,might virgin see it as xtc using one of "their" songs? Weren't we told they gave rights of their back catalogue to virgin, including the stuff they didn't use? again,eddie
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 12:22:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Molly Fanton <mfanton99@yahoo.com> Subject: Please don't spoil Message-ID: <20000406192237.1136.qmail@web1301.mail.yahoo.com> I don't want to sound like a wet blanket, but for those who have gotten their copies of Wasp Star already NOT spoil it for us. Can't you wait for the reviewing until the actual release date? It's all I'm asking? I don't want it ruined before I get it. My fingers are getting tired from hitting the scroll button. Or if you are going to spoil put the word "SPOILERS" in your subject line, then I'll know to avoid the post. Am I in the minority here? Molly "Listening to "Vanishing Girl" right now. :) Molly's Pages http://www.angelfire.com/mn/mollyfa99/index.html
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 15:45:51 CDT From: "Megan Heller" <hellerm@hotmail.com> Subject: the butler did it Message-ID: <20000406204551.98976.qmail@hotmail.com> Francis laments the spoiling of Wasp Star surprises-- >Gosh, thanks for ruining the surprise for the rest of us. um, you know, when you complain about spoilers, it's, um, a good idea NOT to quote said spoiler. (Yeah, I'd missed that one before. Not that it's *that* big a deal. Just a suggestion.) No, I do not have the finished Wasp Star yet. I have the demos, but I'm leaving them alone for now. I'm in no huge rush to get it before May-- I really want it, mind you, but I'm kind of looking forward to the Christmas-morning feeling I had with AV1. I wish people wouldn't go into great detail over the album, of course, because I don't want it spoiled but, well, it's an XTC list. It would be ridiculous if everyone were polite and didn't post on it. If everyone planned their actions so as to avoid treading on my toes, well....... okay, sorry, slipped into a beautiful dream there. But it's not going to happen. So I scroll past the epics and back to more lists of cd player listings, sacred hamburger meat, and what Harrison ate for breakfast. (Although I'm thinking of starting a mailing list based around Harrison's eating habits. I figure between meals we could talk about XTC.) back to shredding 1997 W-2 forms. m.
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 13:54:36 -0700 (PDT) From: Al LaCarte <allacarte@yahoo.com> Subject: He Said, "You Don't Understand What I Said" Message-ID: <20000406205436.27341.qmail@web1611.mail.yahoo.com> All: Harrison said: >Even the Beatles were not in this league >in 1966. I said, "No no no, you're wrong!" Al
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 16:07:07 -0600 From: William Loring <bloring@tirerack.com> Subject: Re: Rita Mitsouko... Message-ID: <B51266AB.1EC9%bloring@tirerack.com> Fredo fat Bassman: Ouch! I committed a major faux pas, no? Like asking "Which one's Pink Floyd?" Sorry! I hadn't realized that the name was the band, and not the vocalist! I used to work at a TV station that also owned two radio stations. On occasion they would make available all the records that there was no chance in hell that they'd ever play on the air. This is a top-40 pop station, and they aren't known for taking risks. I picked up this LP, and numerous others over a few years, purely by chance. I just grabbed stuff with interesting cover art. Anyway, the album I have is "The No Comprendo" and I remember liking it quite a bit, although I haven't heard it in many years. All of my vinyl LP's are stored away in the basement. Someday, I'll get them all back out. I hope you're enjoying your advance copy of Wasp Star! I'm very jealous of all you lucky ones... ...bill
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 18:33:14 EDT From: Xtckinks@aol.com Subject: Did You See His Name? Message-ID: <ac.36882d4.261e6aaa@aol.com> C'hillers, What's all this talk about Kinks? Who or what are they? Ahem! :-)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 12:38:24 -1000
From: "Jim Smart" <jismart@ksbe.edu>
Subject: very little in the way of things actually related to XTC
Message-ID: <38ED11DE.6D383655@ksbe.edu>
Organization: 3Tripper
As usual, Mr. Sherwood has written a witty and informative post. I
like the chord by chord analysis. I might also point out that the
verse's progression is used at the "lead" (all vocals) which follows
the brilliant instrumental break after the second chorus. EXCEPT:
Brian moves the whole amazing progression up a fourth, does the chorus
in that key, and then very nicely slips back into the original key
when the second verse is repeated. Double wow. At his most inspired
H.S. wrote:
>Wilson's amazing talents were evident long before Pet Sounds, and if
>you analyze even the "dumb surf music" that most people associate with the
>Beach Boys you'll find chord changes and harmonic settings that twist the
>usual Brill Building/Spector formulas of the time into these amazing,
>intricate, glowing pretzels.
Which reminds me that Phil Spector is the guy whose high esteem I just
don't get. What's the big deal here? He seems a strange and
unpleasant character, and his work is crap. ("Captain! Photon torpedos
from Quadrant Lovin' Feeling! Shall we put up the shields??") And the
awful work he did with the Beatles and the ex Beatles (All Things Must
Pass is great, but could have been 12 times better with George Martin,
or even my grandmother at the helm). Brian Wilson worships Phil. Why?
Wait, don't answer that. I think we've all had our fill of Phils here
for awhile.
and Molly wrote: (PLEASE NO ANTI-WEBER COMMENTS)...um, is there an
anti-Weber digest I could join? There's a topic I could really get
into!...ooops, sorry Molly.
Thanks Toby for mentioning my band...I really appreciate that....the
new album is not quite done....
xtc content:
"I SHOULD BE IN BED, I NEED MY 11 HOURS. I'M A REAL SLEEP ADDICT. I
STARTED OFF JUST NAPPING. THEN I GOT INTO THE HARDER STUFF... SIESTAS.
BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING I WAS A SLEEP JUNKIE."
~ ANDY PARTRIDGE, MELODY MAKER 18.8.79
Jim "shields up" Smart
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #6-66 ******************************
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