Chalkhills Digest Volume 9, Issue 52
Date: Thursday, 30 October 2003
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 52
Thursday, 30 October 2003
Topics:
The Wish List Featuring The Dukes Of Stratosphear
*Blows dust off the keyboard*
King - Death Cab - Elvis
What a long strange trip it's being ...
Fuzzy Wasn't very fuzzy was he?
Boycott the RIAA
Confidential to the The Morningwood Brothers' Auxilary
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 12:45:53 -0400 From: John Relph <relph@tmbg.org> Subject: The Wish List Featuring The Dukes Of Stratosphear Message-ID: <16280.1473.37106.26661@f5.idiot-dog.com> Steve Somerset wrote to tell me that the MS Society have put an order form on their site which you can download. It allows you to pay by credit card. You still have to print and mail the form, but it's a step in the right direction for those of us not in the U.K. http://www.mssociety.org.uk/50th_anniversary/50th_news/wish.html
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:22:55 -0500 From: "Amanda Owens" <daveizgod@hotmail.com> Subject: *Blows dust off the keyboard* Message-ID: <BAY1-F119uq02IUHPgL00015db7@hotmail.com> AHOOOOOOOOOOOOY MATEYS!!!!! Good God it's been awhile. There's a part of me that hopes I haven't been forgotten, but having perused through older digests, there's another part of me that would like to forget myself! But it is good to come out of lurking mode every now and then, having been so annoyingly vocal at one point. Had to just comment on Ben's post: >I was just reading a Rolling Stone piece on the new Edie Brickell >album, and Edie says this about her early influences: "I was influenced >by English bands like XTC and I pulled away from my Texas roots for so >long because I wanted to be more of my generation, but I've slowly come >around to realize I love the sunshine in that music." > >There's no sunshine in XTC? What gives, Edie? I will admit, it's a bit of an oxymoronic (is that a word????) thing to say. Even though some of the lyrics might sound a bit giddy and happy at times, the keys and chords kinda through you off. Maybe she was high, who knows? Tis all for now, Amanda C. Owens XTC song of the day-Millions non XTC song of the day-"You're the Best Thing"-Style Council (I have become ridiculously besotted with Style Council/the Jam/Paul Weller of late.)
------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 22:57:08 EDT From: RMuRocks@aol.com Subject: King - Death Cab - Elvis Message-ID: <ae.4987a2c9.2cc9ef04@aol.com> Ben Gott said: > P.S. The new Death Cab for Cutie album, "Transatlanticism," is > currently rocking my world. And I add a second to that...especially the title track, man what an anthem. Thanks to y'all for bringing DCFC to my attention. Didn't think they would top "We Have The Facts..." but they did that & then some as far as I'm concerned. And better production this time 'round too, I think. The new Elvis? It's pretty, I don't hear any songs that really stick. A bit of a disappointment after his last rocker. But hey, while I type this he's making whoopee with Diana Krall so what cares he what I think. Also, I tried to use my secret code to get the title track but it didn't pan out, if anyone did get "North" and could send me the file that would be spiffy. And I'll add my vote for the King For A Day collection - job well done to all! Bob
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 09:50:56 +0000 From: "dunks58" <dunks58@milesago.com> Subject: What a long strange trip it's being ... Message-ID: <200310240954.h9O9sRCx6043730@els.sgi.com> Hi Chalkers, Another brief despatch as our mega-haul holiday draws to a close. I'm writing from the heavenly refuge of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Sea (look it up, or better still, visit). What a blissful place to wind up our trip ... and megakudos to our marvellous host Bobbi Marchini. Just wanted to mention that we did in fact get to do a bit of a jaunt through the West Country during our final week in the UK. We passed through Swindon (no, I didn't go and knock on anyone's door) and most rewarding of all, got to clamber up the BIG hill and have a geek at the Uffington Horse and the very impressive Uffington Castle. What a view from the top!! Awesome. I only wish I'd brought that hot-air balloon I was planning to pack, since it is evidently the only way one can get a decent view of the horse ... but one can hardly complain about anything else. 'Twas a big thrill. I must also offer abject apologies to Mike Versaci and Dom Lawson for stuffing up our planned meeting in London ... mea culpa -- it's what the neuroscientists call a "cueing error" -- Mike said 'meet at Burger King', I thought he said 'McDonalds' and so I spent 45 minutes standing in the wrong place. Time to whip out that deed poll and change my name back to "mud". Nevertheless I managed to redeem myself sufficiently to meet Mike the next day and what a gent he is. Another real highlight of the trip. Thanks Mike! On a very tenuous Swindon-related note, I also had the chance to indulge my Isambard Kingdom Brunel obsession, visiting the Thames Tunnel, the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol (you MUST go there - 'spectacular' is barely sufficient) and passing by the equally impressive Saltash Bridge. What a nerd. I am wearing my IKB t-shirt right now. (Anoraks ahoy!). It's been a great trip and all the better for meeting so many Chalkfriends, which are memories I'll treasure. I think I can't wait to hear the results of the Washington jam, although the prospect of hearing my own voice on tape for the first time is kinda scary. Hope all is well with all. I look forward to getting hold of "Wish List" real soon. Dukes Redux? Exxxxxcellent! (Who is that firebrand, Smithers?) Cheers Dunks
------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 14:47:21 -0700 From: "WAYNE KLEIN" <wtdk12@msn.com> Subject: Fuzzy Wasn't very fuzzy was he? Message-ID: <BAY3-DAV70yylWo6tG30004efbb@hotmail.com> O.K., Now that I've caught up on bills I actually had a chance to purchase Fuzzy Warbles 3 & 4 (I had only heard a friend's copies until now). First impressions---I like 3 better than 4 although the inclusion of the James and the Giant Peach track, Blue Beret (not a favorite but a good song nonetheless) and The Art Song almost make it as strong a contender. So now with the inclusion of the many Nonsuch tracks here I almost have a complete demo album for that album (I've combined them with Gribouillage). Now my question (and maybe those of you on a first name basis with Colin can answer this) is why the Bungalow demo wasn't included on the Coat boxed set? Any chance that Colin might slap together a two disc demos album and release it on Andy's label (now that would be interesting--Colin signed to Andy's label!). I'm not always a huge fan of demos (depends on the sound quality, how it compares to the final version, differences, etc.) but I believe that Colin probably could scrape together at least a single disc compilation of his stuff. Took a listen to the remastered edition of Punch the Clock and, yes, it's still one of EC's weakest efforts. The songs just don't hold up as well (although the best songs certainly compare well). Everyday I Write The Book, The World and His Wife, Shipbuilding, The Invisible Man, Mouth Almighty, Pills and Soap all hold up pretty well. Not that I like to play this game but I was just curious (and it will open up and interesting debate if anyone decides to answer it) , but if Elvis Costello is English equiv of Dylan, then what does that make Andy and Colin? Would Andy be the Brian Wilson? John Lennon? Paul McCartney? Ray Davies, etc. Yes, it's a waste of time but, hey, not all time should be used well...
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 18:36:03 -0600 From: Chris Vreeland <CVREELAND@austin.rr.com> Subject: Boycott the RIAA Message-ID: <8BC7B432-0815-11D8-87A7-003065A1FEC2@austin.rr.com> Greetings, and welcome to my yearly ramble. Due to recent events, I feel that it's time for a major-label boycott. Consumers and musicians alike have put up with much from the RIAA and their ilk over the years because of our love for the music, but I say now, with the suing of file-traders, the situation has turned ugly enough that we need to basically say "no more." Intimidating your customer-base is really a Mob tactic, if you think about it. The RIAA represents the major record labels who for 50 years have stolen artist's copyrights, pushed shady contracts with horrid royalty schemes, cooked the books, underpaid what little royalties were actually due artists, often refused to release albums that were recorded, and refused to return the copyrights of these recordings to their rightful owners, or release unsatisfied and unhappy artists from unprofitable contracts-- the list of practically criminal misdeeds by the recording industry can and has filled books. I have absolutely no patience or sympathy for these criminals. I am, however, sorry that artists might be missing out on their miniscule share of royalties as a result of a decline in album sales, but the truth of the matter is that filesharing is not the only reason sales have declined. It is a contributing factor in a complex situation, and nobody can really say with ANY certainty how many sales were lost as a result of downloading. Let's look at some of the other possible factors: 1. More used copies available for sale. 2. The initial rush to replace vinyl collections with CDs has largely got to be over. 3. The economy is probably responsible for at least 5% of the decline. 4. Legal technology-- People with CDs backed up on their computer have a recourse if their orig. copy gets damaged, and less are getting damaged, due to people taking burned backups or MP3 players out of the house instead of originals. 5. The homogenization of major label artist's stables due to consolidation in the industry, resulting in less choice. There's probably more, but that list alone could negate illegal copying and swapping, statistically. Sure, some people might have bought if downloads weren't available, but others might not have. And quite a few sales were MADE to people who downloaded, then went and got the album because they liked a song. There's no way to reconcile downloads with declining sales figures. They've had their heads buried in the sand for ten years when they should have been embracing new technology and the internet in an effort to build a business model there, and they're making us consumers pay for their shortsightedness. The other side of the RIAA's coin is so-called "copy-protected" disks. They figure that by denying you the right to play your music on a computer, they will also keep that music from being pirated. They're swimming upstream against the "hacking" community, which so far has defeated the first two copy-protection schemes with-- get this-- either a well-placed line drawn with a sharpie, or by holding down the shift key when inserting the disk, thus defeating the driver it attempts to sneak onto your machine. You may recall that "Copy Protected" disks aren't even CDs, if you ask Phillips, who holds the trademark to the term "Compact Disc." I suggest that any copy-protected recordings be returned to the retailer as "defective." Just so we know who to boycott, here's a sampling of the main labels owned by the "big 5." Note that this list does not iclude an entire host of minor subsidieries of each of their main groups. Vivendi/Universal: Interscope Geffen A&M Island Def Jam Music Group MCA Nashville Mercury Records Mercury Nashville Lost Highway Polydor Barclay Universal Motown Records Group Decca Deutsche Grammophon Philips ECM Verve Music Group Sony Music: Columbia Epic Sony Music Nashville Legacy Recordings Sony Music International (active in over 67 countries through its network of wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees) Sony Classical Time Warner: Warner Bros. Reprise Sire WB Nshville Ruffination Maverick World Records WBJazz Atlantic Electra Chappell Music Bertelsmann: BMG Arista RCA RCA Victor Windham Hill Jive Records J Records RLG Tablao Milan EMI Records: Angel Blue Note Capitol Virgin Let us celebrate the independent musician, instead. Power to the Ani DiFrancos, Mike Keneallys and XTC's of the world. It's their oyster, at this point. Buy something from and independent artist today. They're everywhere, and they get to keep most of the profit, instead of having to split it 10/90 with the AR guy and producer. Lastly, to put my money where my mouth is, here's a free song for ya, courtesy, me. Please, download, copy, burn and share with wanton randomness. http://www.chrisvreeland.com/MysteryTrain.html Chris "Ya Basta" Vreeland
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 16:15:37 EST From: Hbsherwood@aol.com Subject: Confidential to the The Morningwood Brothers' Auxilary Message-ID: <145.1b435d47.2ccee4f9@aol.com> ....Quit your day jobs! Claque Picks Track to Click -- Mix Packs Licks, Tricks & Chicks "Sub-phucking-lime" Says Stunned Hapless Goober Squirreled away amid the Good, the Bad, and the Fugly in the tall grass that is the King for a Day collection is a Bauble of Wonderfulness, the kind of thing that makes me weak in the knees with jealousy while making me glad I'm a member of a race of beings that can create something so ding-dong purty. This thing of which I rave is the version of "Then She Appeared" done by the Morningwood Brothers' Auxiliary. Immaculately produced, beautifully rearranged for acoustic instruments, and sung by a (by my count) quartet of celestial beings. (Invite them over, they can all sit on my lap, thereby testing the age-old question: How many angels can fit on a pinhead?) The thing is very slightly country, folky, relaxed -- yes, pastoral, even, but pastoral in the sense that we mean it on *this* side of the Atlantic. Easy on the Constable, heavy on the Grant (Morning) Wood. Nice "Pet Sounds" cop in the middle, there: the sort of thing that has to be executed perfectly if it is to be done at all -- and, natch, it is. Think Nickel Creek without all the Hobbit crap and you're in the neighborhood. Have I fawned enough? Seek it out, folks: Filed under "T." Then She Appeared. Morningwood Brothers' Auxiliary. May they prosper and multiply. If you're still within the sound of this post, give me a call, kidz, let's talk management. Harrison "The name's gotta go, though" Sherwood
------------------------------ End of Chalkhills Digest #9-52 ******************************
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