Chalkhills Digest Volume 9, Issue 28
Date: Wednesday, 4 June 2003
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 28
Wednesday, 4 June 2003
Topics:
Techno XTC?
Re: Paulo's great idea
101 Justifications
John Martyn
Dear God Cover by Tricky
Cheshire Cousin Debut
Sugar-coated Iceberg
Master This!
Spank The Monkey!
Packing For Prov
Colin Singles Out
I am a poseur and I don't care
Am I the Kinda Girl?
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What about her car? E type is the latest!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 21:06:11 -0500 From: "eriC draveS" <zoom98@mindspring.com> Subject: Techno XTC? Message-ID: <000d01c32586$e1ced5e0$496256d1@XLZOOM> To me, the closest equivalent to a techno version of XTC is Level 42, or at least it was until they split up. Now they're back together and working on a new album. It's been what, 8 or 9 years since the last one? I think that beats the pause between Nonsuch and Apple Venus Vol. 1. Of course this doesn't come close to the 14 years we had to wait for a new Madness album, but it's definitely a Pink Floyd-length inter-album void. Does anyone have a different example of a band they might call "techno XTC"?
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 20:47:21 -0700 From: "WAYNE KLEIN" <wtdk12@msn.com> Subject: Re: Paulo's great idea Message-ID: <BAY3-DAV105Af0Mjkat00008b96@hotmail.com> Responding to Paulo's great idea.. >>Speaking of which, I was wondering, which records in your collection would you play to your fellow Chalkhillians in that same hypothetical party (other than those rare XTC demos compilations)? I'm assuming that these aren't obscure bands just to mystify folks but stuff we actually like so-- My Ride's Here - Warren Zevon After Everything Now This - The Church Gimme Five - Soundtrack of Our Lives Anything by Judee Sill Free as a Bird EP - The Beatles (hey, I'd argue for its merits beyond being a quasi-ELOish Beatlified knock off by The Threatles) One All - Neil Finn Something by our Becki Something by Freedy Johnston and, finally, the perfect party inspired album: Another Green World -Eno To close the evening-- Badfinger- Wish You Were Here (Nothing like Power Pop--it's like coffee for the ear and mind) We'd also need to have some mindless T-Rex thrown in for good measure. When it's time to clear the room Saint Just's La Casa Del Lago would probably do the trick. >From Kevin >>I've tried to make it a self-imposed rule that I collect only *ONE* copy of everything, but record labels remastering albums with upgraded sound always nips that rule in the bud. I never believed that Bowie sucked until he and Capitol (or Virgin) decided to re-release the earlier stuff minus the bonus stuff. I'm all in favor of two disc sets for his "classic" albums (although I've always felt that Ziggy was over rated and that Aladdin was a better album minus pretense). I'm really surprised no one has ever released a Warren Zevon tribute CD. Given his grave condition, it's overdue.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 04:47:54 +0000
From: "*Hobbes *" <hazchem25@hotmail.com>
Subject: 101 Justifications
Message-ID: <BAY2-F173mZ49w4HHvV00024d0c@hotmail.com>
Thanks to Dom Lawson for bringing this xtc-related memory of mine up:
>Poison - Look What The Cat Dragged In...yes, they do
>all look like (very ugly) ladies on the cover. And no,
>I didn't fancy any of them. Honestly. Cough. F**king
>dreadful sack of rancid aural poop, mind...
High School - 1987. My Year 10 Music class assignment was to bring in our
favourite albums for discussion.
My choices: REM - Life's Rich Pageant, XTC - Skylarking, Kate Bush - Hounds
of Love and Talking Heads - Little Creatures.
Every other male in the class: Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet, Europe - The
Final Countdown, Poison - Look What The Cat Dragged In.
Classmate's assessment of my choices based on the covers: Gay. "You're
dead after class".
My assessment of the Poison cover: Sweet Transvestites from Transexual,
Transylvania.
The Evidence:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS805122218&sql=A6ae67uy0h0jw
First confused thought: Is that *thing* in the bottom right hand corner
actually female?
Second confused thought: And you think *my bands* are gay?
What they didn't know: Michael Stipe and I were!
Album even I knew was too gay to bring in: Pet Shop Boys - Actually
Best discovery of the day: The cool girl with the Swing Out Sister dyed
black bob cut who brought in the Suzanne Vega album and made 14 metalheads
sit through 'The Queen and the Soldier'.
Assessment of said albums in 2003: My choices - still hold up well,
displayed proudly in my record collection.
Their choices - Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaa
-------
All that being said, i still have some howlers in my record collection that
I haven't removed. The joy of being older is you can intellectualise some
of your poor choices and make excuses for earlier dodgy taste. For example:
Seven Madonna albums (justified to myself because she's apparantly some kind
of post-modern musical icon slash goddess or somesuch, which seems to excuse
the farty synths and lyrics like 'dance and sing, get up and do your thing')
Two David Bowie albums (you know the two i mean, justified to myself because
the quality of his 70's catalogue forgives any musical sins, and 'Loving the
Alien' is interesting)
Three Belinda Carlisle solo albums (justified to myself because of the Redd
Kross related tracks)
Two Betty Boo albums (justified to myself due to tracks produced with Anne
Dudley, Richard Niles string arrangements and sampling "Lady Madonna")
One Hanson album (justified to myself due to their continuing the bubblegum
tradition, and since i own albums by the Banana Splits, Josie and The
Pussycats, the Archies and the Brady Bunch).
One Sonny and Cher album: (justified to myself due to Sonny learning his
production techniques from Phil Spector and continuing the "wall-of-sound"
tradition)
If all else fails, and someone zooms in on a secret guilty pleasure in your
your record collection, just pretend it's a recent 'ironic' purchase and
change the subject to something less embarrassing. ("Yes, Quiet Riot's "Cum
on feel the noize"... isn't that awful? $1 at a used record shop, how could
I *not* buy it for the camp value? Can't you imagine Guided By Voices'
'Glad Girls' done in that style?")
See? It's easy if you try.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 07:21:00 -0500 From: "Christopher R. Coolidge" <cauldron@together.net> Subject: John Martyn Message-ID: <BAFCB6DC.9107%cauldron@together.net> on 5/28/03 3:40 PM, John wrote: > Anyway, I guess I just wanted to ask if anyone knew of any > connections, however slight, between Martyn and XTC. Has Andy ever > mentioned being a fan or being influenced by him, anyone? I believe Dave Mattacks has recorded with him at one point or another, being that both are associated with the British folk scene of the late 60's/early 70's, Mattacks through his long association with Fairport Convention(which he recently left, apparently for good, to set up a career for himself as a session musician in Boston, MA of all places) and Martyn through the early more acoustic phase of his singer/songwriter career.
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 21:36:18 +0000 From: "*Hobbes *" <hazchem25@hotmail.com> Subject: Dear God Cover by Tricky Message-ID: <BAY2-F107xArGvnCjnZ000031c2@hotmail.com> The new Tricky album "Vulnerable" features a cover of XTC's "Dear God". If you've ever heard anything by him you know what to expect: a weak lead vocal by his latest female discovery singing karaoke, supported by him murmuring the lyrics in a 'ooh scary' voice over a programmed drum beat with only two chords from the song used as adds a few notes on the synth every so often between tokes. It's so unobtrusive and underdeveloped that by the time it floats to a close you've forgotten you were even trying to listen to it. Skip through the track to remind yourself... be amazed that wherever you land sounds *exactly* like wherever you started. Buy at your own risk, since the artist deliberately set out to lose his 'not-cool-enough' Maxinquaye fan base with a few tuneless art school droning albums, then has tried a couple of patronising 'comebacks' since the drug money ran out and he realised how he much dosh the 'coffeeshop poseurs' gave to his bank account.
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 31 May 2003 11:08:58 -0700 From: Ian Dahlberg <idahlberg@socal.rr.com> Subject: Cheshire Cousin Debut Message-ID: <F3271530-9392-11D7-BAE0-000393696C30@socal.rr.com> Hey Chalkfolk, We'd like to thank all who came out last night for our first gig. We had a blast, and it looks like we got a good crowd. Here's what we played: Respectable Street Generals And Majors Towers Of London Senses Working Overtime All Of A Sudden Jason And The Argonauts No Language In Our Lungs Melt The Guns We had more prepared, but we ran out of time. We'll back though, with more stuff, so stay tuned! Check for future concert dates: http://www.cheshirecousin.com/
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 01 Jun 2003 07:39:53 +0000 From: "Paul Culnane" <paulculnane@hotmail.com> Subject: Sugar-coated Iceberg Message-ID: <BAY7-F43zjdDFswWfX60000a0f4@hotmail.com> Friends and fiends Music in its various forms can be like wallpaper to some. Something to put on in the background as an adjunct to canapes and discussion about the footy results or the movie you saw last night. Or maybe to tap your foot or shake your booty to, with not much more than a cursory thought as to what the music itself represents, be it "good" or "bad". And that's okay... But I don't understand that dismissive mentality about music, I really don't. For me, ever since I saw Brian Jones on TV with his perfect blond moptop and his otherworldly white Vox Teardrop guitar, music is at the utmost FOREFRONT of my life. "I want some of that!", methought at the time. There is absolutely no other stimulus that moves me quite like a good tune does. Fast forward to the era of the worldwide web. The first thing I searched for was something about my all-time favourite pop group, XTC. Since joining the Chalkhills discussion list, my life has changed radically. Making contact with such splendid like-minded souls, I've not only copped and swapped some fab rarities on tape, video and CD, but I have been privileged to establish some treasured, beautiful friendships all over the world. I would be bold enough to credit the simple act of searching for XTC on the web as leading to a multitude of wonderful events that I feel may not have happened otherwise. So thank you JOHN RELPH for enabling this for all of us. Wow! What fabulous friends I've made through this forum. And one bummer (sorry for everything bad, SK, I still care about you though, and I fondly recall the good times). You people out there know who you are, in terms of being my friends. Too many to list! I love you all. So, with this current interesting thread about "embarrassing records you might hide from your mates", I will decline listing mine. Everything I own and have kept are items that I do like very much. What does it matter that nestled alongside a Miles Davis CD (that I don't play very much) might be my complete Culture Club collection (selections from which I play quite often)? It's all relative innit? One man's bad medicine might be another's poison (heavy reference to 80s poodle-hair-bands there). Oh, speaking of Bon Jovi, which we really weren't, here are the alternative highbrow lyrics to their hit "Bad Medicine": "Thoreau is like Ralph Emerson Ralph Emerson is what I read" Sorry, oops! But that's why I love reading Dom Lawson's diatribes f'rinstance. My colostomy bag is put under consistent pressure when I read Dom's hilarious raves! He'll probably just tell me to eat shit, but that's fine too. I am also a faeces connoisseur. Oh, no don't go there... Ummm, hafta make honourable mention to the *other* and most magnificent Dom in Melbourne, also Todd, Jon-The-Mole, Dunks, Nick, ooohhh, heaps others. You guys helped me thru difficult times. Thank you. If I never get completely better, after your consolations and brilliant support, at least you'll know I can put on, say, "Skylarking" at any time and feel alright!!! Oh, here's something I'm really excited about, Chalkies: mid-July, Terry's son Kai Chambers will be coming down here to perform as part of his band TONE ORANGE's tour to promote their new EP. I will have both Chambers boys (and I *do* mean Terry, formerly drummer from some cock-a-mamie Swindon pop outfit) as my guests. Now, how cool is that? Better clean up the place a bit then and, erm, start stocking my fridge, ha ha!!!! ...I'll report back. Thanks for reading. Give peace a chance. And love and stuff... p@ul Canberra, Australia
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 10:26:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: Master This! Message-ID: <20030601172651.47646.qmail@web14914.mail.yahoo.com> Brief note - in case you weren't aware... XTC had no input at all in the remastering process of the Virgin releases. I've spoken with Andy and Dave about the discs, and each had mixed views on the results. I agree that in some cases it seems as if the sound stage has been reinvented instead of merely enhanced. While I've not noticed the specific differences in Oranges & Lemons, I find that I can't listen to it much with headphones because it's so freakin' busy. There's just way too much going on there, much of which (IMO) should have been pushed more to the background. Without input from the band I fail to see how anyone, no matter how talented, could pull off an accurate job of remastering. But then - I'm an idiot. wesLONG http://optimismsflames.com
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 14:23:20 +1000 (EST) From: syn <synonymyau@yahoo.com.au> Subject: Spank The Monkey! Message-ID: <20030602042320.85485.qmail@web20304.mail.yahoo.com> Just surfing through this site and all it's associated links, nooks and crannys, I thought this activity was relevant when I saw that big ape head. Hehe. Apparently it relieves stress or somesuch... I found it good for about 1 minute. http://www.vectorlounge.com/04_amsterdam/jam/flamjam.html Others have said: This is the best, the most fun...........roflm_o Heee Heee Spank The Monkey! I got up to 192 mph I love this one.............take all my aggressions out on that po' monkey NOTE: This is an inflatable, obviously.........not real.........it could be anything at all really. No animal was harmed during this adventure! Love&Light, : ) "When I was born, I was so surprised I couldn't talk for a year and a half" - Qtd. in book.
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 10:41:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com> Subject: Packing For Prov Message-ID: <20030603174157.43417.qmail@web13408.mail.yahoo.com> Hey All, I was forced to travel for work last week and packed a booklet of CDs to listen to while imprisoned ala hotel. I ended up sitting up all night one night just jamming to tunes. I thought I'd share what I tookwith as it always seems interesting to hear what other Chalkers are playing. Marshall Crenshaw - Life's Too Short Stanley Jordan - Magic Touch Porcupine Tree - Stupid Dream First Light - Meltdown (Reggae Band from the midwest college circuit) The George Benson Collection No-Man - Together We're Stranger Nick Drake - Bryter Later Yes - The Yes Album Claude Debussey - La Mer Genesis - Invisible Touch (Hey I Like the Domino tune OK) Ben Folds - Rockin The Suburbs Marshall Crenshaw - #447 Paul McCartney - Wingspan (Disc One Hits) Jansen\Barberi - Stone To Flesh Bruce Hornsby - Big Swing Face Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs Opeth 94-02 Mix Opeth -Damnation (Thanks Dom!) Louis Prima - Capitol Collectors Series Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble - Music For Native Americans Talk Talk - The Colour Of Spring Pete Townsend - All The Best Cowboys Have Chineese Eyes Roland Orzabel - Tomcats Screaming Outside Weather Report - Heavy Weather Jack DeJohnette - Parallel Realities (With Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheney) Oh and I have all of the XTC Catalog ripped to Mp3 and permanently saved on my Laptop so I had those too. Peace Mole
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2003 13:17:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Wes Long <optimismsflames@yahoo.com> Subject: Colin Singles Out Message-ID: <20030603201720.1055.qmail@web14907.mail.yahoo.com> Kidz - Just dropping a line to let you know that I just added more than 5,000 words to the cover art section of Optimism's Flames. These are exclusive chats with Andy Partridge on the history of XTC covers. The new portion deals with single art - check it out. Also need some assistance here - I'll be interviewing Colin on the 16th and am curious if any of you have specific questions, or ideas that you'd like to me to use - especially broad stroke areas of interest. Please contact me off-list with them and I'll take a look-see. Here's a nice view of the Nonsuch promo card game - an interactive/playable version is coming soon: http://www.optimismsflames.com/CardNonsuch.htm wesLONG http://optimismsflames.com http://www.optimismsflames.com/Newspaper/thextcpost.html
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 21:13:30 -0400 From: "Scott Barnard" <brainiacsdaughter@hotmail.com> Subject: I am a poseur and I don't care Message-ID: <Law12-F60pqhNPPzQT40000091c@hotmail.com> In the surprisingly durable "embarassing records" thread, Neal Buck nominates "Metal Machine Music", almost as an afterthought. Really, though, MMM is of an entirely different species: the type of record which one purchases, perhaps under duress, due to its reputation or cachet, but which gathers a lot of dust after the first spin. However, one is loathe to purge it from the collection because, well, it looks kinda cool sitting there... I can assure you that *I* would never do such a thing, but I have seen many a collection where the likes of "A Love Supreme", "Trout Mask Replica", "The Flowers of Romance" and, yes, "Metal Machine Music" seem to be there only to prop up shit a lot worse than what's already been mentioned in the thread.
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 15:28:33 -0400 From: Benjamin Gott <bgott@rectoryschool.org> Subject: Am I the Kinda Girl? Message-ID: <BAD2332B-96C2-11D7-8137-0003931489DA@rectoryschool.org> Goobers, I just bought a cheap copy of Cathy Dennis's "Am I the Kinda Girl?" so that I could have a copy of the title track, which she co-wrote with Andy. What I didn't expect is that the rest of the album isn't half bad. Dave plays guitar on the title track, and Neil Conti (my drum GOD) plays on a few tracks as well. (Apparently, Cathy's sensibility for melody and a good hook has not waned -- aside from the hits that she crafted for Kylie, S-Club 7, Spice Girls, and Celine Dion, she wrote the "American Idol" songs and collaborated with Hooverphonic.) Anyway, it was $4 well spent -- and how often can you say that about a CD in this day and age? -Ben
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