Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 55

                 Friday, 14 November 2003

Topics:

                     Various & sundry
                   Mandy Moore and More
                          a plug
                     Re: Mandy, vids
                   Happy Birthday, Andy
                Judee Sill and Television
                  Mandy working overtime
                  King For A Day update
                   re: Question for me
                 Andy Working With Dave?
             off-topic...looking for David Oh
                   Bens no Dummy & more
                    Just wondering...

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I want to see a river of orchids where we had a motorway.

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

Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 21:04:00 -0600
From: "Amanda Owens" <daveizgod@hotmail.com>
Subject: Various & sundry
Message-ID: <BAY1-F23t1GFB36BIY600011074@hotmail.com>

Just a coupla quick responses this time out, just finished reading my email
from Dave in which he hoped I was eating lots of Marmite. *turns green at
the thought*

Hobbes did sayeth:

>I just heard the Mandy Moore cover of Senses Working Overtime on the radio
>and I'm still laughing.  The song is so desperate to be liked that it
>resorts to every over-production  trick in the book, including such horrors
>as:

The first few seconds of it I kinda thought were interesting, but after
hearing th whole song, I have to agree. Blasphemy, I tell you,
BLASPHEMY!!!!!!!

>Still, it's better than Tricky's 'Dear God'.

Where did you hear that one? The one song I've heard by Tricky I liked, but
that's not to say one song is the benchmark of an entire body or work....

And you guys know I had to comment on this one:

>I feel it is my duty as a member of Chalkhills, a music lover and a
>value-seeking consumer to steer everyone clear of this band.  No, I
>haven't heard the new album.  What I *have* heard is two moderately
>good but *wildly* overrated albums, then three albums of
>directionless, filler-packed appalling SHIT.

Agreed. Although I don't think God Shuffled His Feet was really overrated,
it's a great album.

>What's there to like about "A Worm's Life"?  *snipped* Can anyone
>really look at the tracklisting of >that album and rememberanything
>memorable about any of the songs?  I played the album to death at the
>time trying to force myself to like it and now I couldn't tell you
>how even one of the songs go.

There are some not too bad songs on there. I really like I'm a Dog and All
of This Ugly. But I also agree on the point that I had to listen to the
album a lot just to get used to it. It's very weird and a bit scary, but
that album came out when I was 17 or 18, and when I didn't immediately
fallin love with every track on the first listening, I was like "Oh my God,
I've betrayed them, I don't like it too much!"

>What's there to like about Give Yourself A Hand?  A jump on the
>next-big-thing-that-wasn't electronica bandwagon two years after
>bands like Smashing Pumpkins and U2 alienated their fans with the
>same move.  Featuring the dumbest lyrics ever written by man or
>woman, (which is pretty sad considering someone out there wrote
>'Chirpy chirpy cheep cheep')

That entire album probably came out of Brad Roberts toasting up a bit too
much while living in Harlem. That album broke my total devotion to CTD. And
I'm sorry, but Brad during that period came across as such an arrogant
asshole, I lost all respect for him as both a person and a performer.

>Ben, take Puss'n'boots back to the store and get your money back.
>(I'm sure the store clerks know by now that's par for the course with
>selling a Crash Test Dummies album).  If you like power pop (as
>evidenced by your "Adventures of Jet" recommendation), pick up "The
>Good Way" by the Waking Hours.  Hear soaring melodies and harmonies
>and get dizzy with excitement!  Realise albums can contain one great
>song after another with no filler!  Try "Kontiki" by Cotton Mather
>and realise the Beatles are alive and well!

Better idea Ben, run out and grab as much Style Council/Paul Weller/Jam cds
as you can get! :)

>Trust me.  Life's too short for the Crash Test Dummies.

WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE TELL ME THAT 7 YEARS AGO! (For further proof of how much
of a complete ass I was, go back to old Chalkhills issues starting around
late 96, early 97.)

Steve Dockery did sayeth,

>Had to poke my head in again to exclaim that I saw the video for "KIng
>For A Day" on VH1 Classics' request show. It was a rare treat seeing
>the fellows playing and singing on my very own TV.
>
>The video itself, if you haven't seen it, isn't particularly exciting
>(well, except that it's XTC), it's just the four band members sitting
>around in funny hats playing the song with funky false-color effects
>applied to them. Yes, I said four band members- anybody know who that
>is sitting in on drums for the video?

I just have to say thank God and Buddha and whoever else for VH1 Classics! I
have actually gotten into the habit of putting a blank tape in the VCR and
letting it just run all day recording on that channel while everyone's at
work, just in case they play one or two good videos. And I caught my first
Jam video on it the other day, for That's Entertainment. And to answer your
question, that would be Dave's younger brother Ian behind the drums in the
KFAD video.

Tis all for now,
Amanda C. Owens
XTC song of the day-The Last Balloon
non-XTC song of the day-The Lodgers-Style Council (sensiong a pattern here,
medears???)

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

Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 19:44:43 -0700
From: Phil Corless <phil@pkmeco.com>
Subject: Mandy Moore and More
Message-ID: <5.1.0.14.0.20031109193855.021177c0@pop.mindspring.com>

Don't be so hard on Mandy... She means well.  I find her CD to
be rather pleasant background music.  Certainly not for careful
listening, or for contemplative walks.  Just aural wallpaper for
those times when you need something sweet and light and throwaway.

More meaty music I would recommend:

Model Rockets - Pilot Country Suite
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
The General Store - Local Honey
Ken Stringfellow - Touched
Marshall Crenshaw - What's in the Bag?
The New Pornographers - Electric Version

- Phil
www.pkmeco.com

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

Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 22:23:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Kevin Collins <kevin@kcollins.com>
Subject: a plug
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.50.0311092159500.8002-100000@storm.he.net>
Organization: ACME

My cloaking device is down and I must delurk here; I've been off the list
for about 4 or 5 years and it's nice watching XTC banter again as I have
a bit more time to do so. So yes, I would like to make a new music
suggestion that I think fans on the list would find very pleasing. Tiny
Volcano, a band from Tacoma Washington just put out an independent release
that is quite stunning. Influences are definitely from the usual suspects-
Beatles, Brian Wilson, XTC, Jellyfish, and so forth. Also a quite dead on
lampooning (but with a wink and a nod!) of Liam Gallagher with a song of
the same name that turns the tables by nicking Oasis elements from them!
It's a clever song, and it's a clever CD all around. Who else do I think
of while listening? REM, High Llamas, Travis. There's some stuff on
mp3.com here: <http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/165/tiny_volcano.html>. The
full CD is only available directly from the band at this point, you can
mail them from that link or follow it to get to thier home page.

No, I am not affiliated, or compensated but I did start a yahoo mail list
in the event they grab more attention. If anyone is on the Jellyfish list,
you may see me pop up with something similar in a couple days.

cheers

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

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 05:12:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Todd Bernhardt <beat_town@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Mandy, vids
Message-ID: <20031110131227.54644.qmail@web41112.mail.yahoo.com>

Hi:

Hobbes, in his review of Mandy Moore's version of "Senses," said:

> I just heard the Mandy Moore cover of Senses Working Overtime on the radio

'nuff said. (It was on the *radio*, folks ... who cares what it sounds like?
Remember, there is no such thing as bad publicity.)

Steve Dockery (good to see you again, too!) asked:

> The video itself, if you haven't seen it, isn't particularly exciting
> (well, except that it's XTC), it's just the four band members sitting
> around in funny hats playing the song with funky false-color effects
> applied to them. Yes, I said four band members- anybody know who that
> is sitting in on drums for the video?

I'd guess it was Ian Gregory, since he's done most of their videos,
starting with "All of a Sudden" and going through "Peter Pumpkinhead."
I'll see if I can confirm.

-Todd

The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
--Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

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

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 06:19:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Todd Bernhardt <beat_town@yahoo.com>
Subject: Happy Birthday, Andy
Message-ID: <20031110141958.70714.qmail@web41114.mail.yahoo.com>

Hi:

Just wanted to add (possibly belated) wishes for a warm and fuzzy and warbling
Happy Birthday to one Andrew Partridge, Swindon, Wilts. Here's to many more.

-Todd "Yes, and Veteran's Day..." Bernhardt

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

Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2003 18:09:44 -0800
From: "WAYNE KLEIN" <wtdk12@msn.com>
Subject: Judee Sill and Television
Message-ID: <BAY3-DAV71GyvAV3Gkw00005ff1@hotmail.com>

For those folks that are interested....Rhino Handmade has just released
Judee Sill's two albums on CD with bonus tracks. The first album has a
complete live appearance as well as demos. The Television appearance is from
the Old Waldorf in 1978 (and yes, this ages me, but it appears that it was a
performance that I attended in my precious youth). Sill was originally from
Oakland, California which I wasn't aware of until recently. I mention that
because I grew up in the Bay Area. Sadly, I never saw Sill (I was too young
to be interested much less attend one of her concerts or appearances). I
missed Television on their last reunion tour and am kicking myself that I
didn't go but, well, there are only so many dollars hiding in my pockets.

Since I know there are fans of Television on the list and folks interested
in Sill because of Andy's fondness for his material, I thought I'd pass this
along. All three are limited to 5000 copies each. Now if I can only convince
the fine folks at Rhino to talk to the more troublesome folks at Warner
(their parent company ironically enough), maybe Dave Davies' fine album
Chosen People will finally be re-released on CD in the US (perhaps with
bonus tracks if Dave will cooperate as well).

Let the folks at Rhino what out of print stuff you'd like to see (it helps
if it's held by some division of Warner). Admittedly all three are priced a
bit high ($19.98) but, well, they are limited editions and with bonus
tracks.

Wayne

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

Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 07:34:02 -0800 (PST)
From: Happy Puppy Records <happypuppyrecords@yahoo.com>
Subject: Mandy working overtime
Message-ID: <20031111153402.43402.qmail@web13501.mail.yahoo.com>

I'm going to stick my head above the trenches and say
that Mandy Moore's "Coverage" is pretty good.  In a
year that a lot of new albums have left me severely
disappointed (Elvis Costello, I'm looking at you),
Mandy's actually surprised me and happily caught me
off guard.

I know that if anyone on this list is as hard to
please as I am when it comes to XTC covers by major
artists, any cover will be scrutinized and picked
apart without mercy.

So yeah, when I heard the big background vocals and
the turnatables on "Senses", I just shook my head.
What a blatant attempt to 'update' the song.  Bad,
bad, bad.

The dark and angry undercurrent of XTC's original is
certainly missing from Mandy's bright and shiny
delivery.  The way she sings the verses makes it sound
like a different song; so happy and optimistic.

However, while she lost points out of the gate for the
godawful production on that song, I realise Mandy and
producer John Fields aren't trying to preach to the
converted.  Instead, they focus more on having a great
time, and it shows.  By the time "The Whole Of the
Moon" finishes, I'm won over.  It's fun to listen to,
and while she lacks in groundbreaking interpretations,
she more than makes up for it with enthusiasm.

People who pass this up for whatever reason are
missing out.  Plus, so far I've picked up a bunch of
Joan Armatrading CDs (which I love!) and a John Hiatt
retrospective, all thanks to Mandy.

BTW, I located a used copy of the Nine's CD "The
Wonderworld of Colourful"...excellent record.

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

Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 00:43:45 -0600
From: "Richard" <rjpa1@comcast.net>
Subject: King For A Day update
Message-ID: <001b01c3a81f$27daa940$04081fac@verisity.com>

Thanks to all who have purchased in the past six weeks.  For those of you
who are procrastinating, two thirds of the planned production is sold.
Avoid the Christmas rush!  Makes a great gift!  Operators are standing by!
Your mileage my vary!

go to http://www.xtcfans.com/~richardpa/

If you're not planning on purchasing, you can still download a different
selection every week at the website.  Additionally, after the first of the
year, I will start posting XTC covers that people have recently sent to me
(that are NOT on KFAD).  If you have a cover that you would like featured on
the website, email me.  If not, get started on one!

Cheers,
Richard

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

Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 01:24:29 +0000
From: "dunks58" <dunks58@milesago.com>
Subject: re: Question for me
Message-ID: <200311120128.hAC1SmCx6406331@els.sgi.com>

>From: Nicole Ross <drmomross@yahoo.com>
>
>Dunks, hot air balloon ride to see the horse would be
>great... but wasn't it a great experience to be able
>to walk right next to this 2000-3000 year old
>artifact? I got the biggest thrill with that! Did you
>visit Avebury? I love that whole region...

Nicole it was a HUGE buzz for me. The whole Uffington Castle site is
totally amazing. The view is staggering. I took dozens of photos. It
was a bit annoying realising that there is really nowhere on the
ground that you can get a decent view of the horse, but hey that's
what we pay photographers for. Nonetheless it was a real thrill to
stand next to it. I was so happy to have been able to go there.

Unfortunately we were hurtling across from London to Bath that day and
didn't have time to stop anywhere else, except, by pure fluke, the
village of Wantage, which turned out to be the birthplace of Alfred
The Great. Nifty.

I would love to have seen the Avebury circle and Stonehenge, but I
think my kids would have been bored shitless, since neither of these
sites involve dinosaurs, rockets or Pokemon. I only got them up
Uffington hill on sufferance, although the black-faced sheep were a
useful attraction for our animal-loving Amy.

>Also... are you are neuroscientist? Okay, thats two questions...

I am known, for lo these many years, to be overly fond of conducting
self-administered experiments on my brain, usually involving ... ahem
... substances not normally available over the counter ... (Nurse,
pass me that bottle of Chateau Owsley '67) ... but no, I'm not a
neuroscientist.

I do however have an abiding interest in neuroscience, thanks in large
measure to marvellous writings of Olive Sacks, who in turn led me to
discover the daunting but wholly brilliant Geoffrey Edelman, Nobel
Prize winner and all-around smart guy.

Big Geoff has come up with what I humbly regard as the best theory of
consciousness and brain function yet devised. I heartily recommend his
book "The Remembered Present". An easy read it ain't, but you'll come
out the other end knowing more about the brain than you ever knew
before ... plus it will give you great ammo to use against all those
ninnies who argue for the laughable "brain as computer" theory.

Dunks

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

Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 14:09:44 -0800 (PST)
From: travis schulz <xtcisadarngoodband@yahoo.com>
Subject: Andy Working With Dave?
Message-ID: <20031113220944.18833.qmail@web12302.mail.yahoo.com>

Happy belated 50th B-day to our Andy!  I was just
wondering about Andy's work with Dave on the new Dukes
song...I thought Andy would never work with him ever
again.  Maybe time heals all wounds?

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

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 10:32:45 -0500
From: jennifer ralston <jennifer@bingobiz.net>
Subject: off-topic...looking for David Oh
Message-ID: <BBDA5FCD.4638%jennifer@bingobiz.net>

hi there,

anyone out there happen to remember/know the e-whereabouts of one David Oh?
My addresses for him seem to be out of date. If he's out there, or if anyone
has his info, can you please write me directly at jennifer@bingobiz.net ?

It goes without saying...please do not reply to all / the list...

thanks!
jennifer.

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

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 11:27:16 EST
From: OMBEAN1@aol.com
Subject: Bens no Dummy & more
Message-ID: <1ef.13559248.2ce65c64@aol.com>

Wow,  long time no post.
   But Hobbes' reaction to Bens review  has caused me to write.
 Geez Leweez, telling him to return the CD because you don't think its good,
even though you never heard  it?
 I think Ben has earned enough credit  here for us to listen to him.
He bought it, he likes it , he recommends it.
Go buy it, if you don't like it, dont recommend it , return it.

Speaking of recommending.....

There are two albums out that even though they don't have the greatest of
lyrics , are catchy as hell.
 The first is from Rooney. Some real good pop music. I hear some Cars &
Cracker in there.
 The other is from The Strokes. Sounds like their first album, but thats not
a bad thing. A little crisper than the last. Eleven songs in 33 minutes. Lots
of great hooks & beats.
 Try 'em , you'll like 'em.
      Til then,  Roger

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

Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 17:50:08 -0600
From: "Richard" <rjpa1@comcast.net>
Subject: Just wondering...
Message-ID: <009c01c3aa40$dee22fa0$04081fac@verisity.com>

I am not able to put a "hit counter" on the "King For A Day" download page
(it's in the works) and I was just wondering if anybody has been checking
out the tracks.  If you have, fling me an email at rjpa1@comcast.net and let
me know.

After the first of the year I will post some tracks that were not included
on the tribute (all but one of which have been promised but not yet
received).

So... let me know if you have been downloading tracks or if you have a
recent XTC cover that you would like featured on the site.

Hail mother motor, hail piston rotor, hail wheel!

Cheers,
Richard

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

End of Chalkhills Digest #9-55
******************************

---

Go back to Volume 9.

14 November 2003 / Feedback