Chalkhills Digest Volume 9, Issue 60
Date: Tuesday, 23 December 2003
Chalkhills Digest, Volume 9, Number 60
Tuesday, 23 December 2003
Topics:
BEST CDs OF 2003, etc.
Re: octaroon
Re: The Berlin Tapes
The Merry Christmas Song
Re: Octoroon
Best of 2003
Help This Man
My 2003 Top 10
Wot top 5?
Apple Wasp? Venus Star?
Quizmas Chris - question # 21
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Countdown to Christmas party time!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 11:53:20 -0800 (PST) From: The Colonel <captainextraneous@yahoo.com> Subject: BEST CDs OF 2003, etc. Message-ID: <20031216195320.77283.qmail@web41207.mail.yahoo.com> All right, I've had a very difficult time figuring out a best-of this time around, as there have been SO MANY for me this year. I've finally narrowed it down to 15 as follows: 1. RADIOHEAD - Hail To The Thief 2. THE SHINS - Chutes Too Narrow 3. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Welcome Interstate Managers 4. THE POSTAL SERVICE - Give Up 5. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Electric Version 6. BLUR - Think Tank 7. THE WHITE STRIPES - Elephant 8. WEEN - Quebec 9. QUASI - Live Shit 10. MUSE - Absolution 11. GUSTER - Keep It Together 12. THE POLYPHONIC SPREE - The Beginning Stages Of- 13. SLOAN - Action Pact 14. ATOM & HIS PACKAGE - Attention! Blah Blah Blah 15. ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE - American Adventure I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the new releases by THE SHINS and THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS for fans of XTC, if you don't already have them!! ...Oh, and in response to Paul Culnane, I surely agree that SLOAN is a great great band. However, the 'Pretty Together' album came out in 2001. If you haven't heard their latest, it's called 'Action Pact,' and it came out very recently (not available here in the USA as of yet). More of a rock release than PT, but another very worthwhile Sloan effort you should enjoy! Thanks all, and Happy Holidaze! -The Colonel
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 16:02:55 -0500 From: <jim@groovedisques.com> Subject: Re: octaroon Message-ID: <20031216210255.INPI4998.imta02a2.registeredsite.com@smtp.registeredsite.com> Someone asked what an octaroon was. I'm pretty sure it's a slavery-era term for a persono who was one eighth black (or whatever pleasant term may have been used at the time). I think if you were an octaroon or higher, you counted as being black and welcome to all the "privileges" of membership. Jim www.groovedisques.com
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 16:27:56 -0500 From: "Kevin Hiscock" <khiscock@hidebound.com> Subject: Re: The Berlin Tapes Message-ID: <OF21CED777.8B04AAB5-ON86256DFE.00746F61-85256DFE.0075EA37@prominic.com> > From: "Dan YEn" <pogoyen@hotmail.com> > Subject: Eyre Affair > I've never posted before, so I'd better add something XTC related: has > anyone heard the Icehouse cover of complicated game? I've heard about it, > but I'd like to know whether it's worth buying or not.... apologies if old news - too many lists, too little time. I picked up "The Berlin Tapes" while on vacation in Sydney. Granted, I like Icehouse probably more than I should, but I quite like this disc. I do like their/his cover of "Complicated Game", although I might like the idea that Davies covered it even more than the song itself. For a ballet or something, no less. Really like the cover of the Psychedelic Furs' "Sister Europe" here too. And, while I've crawled out from under my rock to remark on something which has probably been discussed before, just watched Eddie Izzard's "Dress to Kill" again (funniest damn thing I've ever seen - "But we live here. D'you've a flag?") and remembered that I meant to send something to the list after watching it the first time. The bit about Swindon-as-Houston for the British space program . . . "Swindon, we have a problem". Is there an inside joke here? Any particular reason for the choice of Swindon? cheers.kah http://www.hidebound.com home of The Monster and radio hidebound currently spinning: Bongos - In The Congo radio hidebound can also be found at http://www.live365.com/stations/hidebound
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 15:49:46 -0600 From: "Richard" <rjpa1@comcast.net> Subject: The Merry Christmas Song Message-ID: <01a801c3c41e$85be2580$04081fac@verisity.com> Happy Holidays! The King For A Day website (http://www.xtcfans.com/~richardpa/) now through New Year's, has a true XTC-cover oddity posted for download. Harrison Sherwood took a tiny holiday song that Andy wrote, wrote more parts for it (unbeknownst to Andy) and recorded it. Make it a regular of your holiday listening! Based on the amount of new covers I have, once a month I will post a new XTC cover for download, starting in January. Click it! Cheers, Richard
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 14:49:45 -0800 From: David Gershman <dagersh@pobox.com> Subject: Re: Octoroon Message-ID: <6.0.1.1.0.20031216133728.0200d2b0@mail.bllvwa.cablespeed.com> At 10:00 AM 12/16/2003, Hobbes wrote: >I mentioned this album previously on this list as one of my top ten of 2000, >and Octoroon is my favourite track. Every time I hear it I hear it again >for the first time, since its dense structure makes it completely impossible >for me to retain in my memory. Makes it damn hard to sing along to though. >There's that catchy bit with the girls and "Last night I saw an octoroon" >and something about someone called Luteica? And the "Hey Octoroon" bit >towards the end is also really hooky. That would be "Laetitia," as in "Laetitia Casta," one of the world's least unattractive people and healthiest-looking models (Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, etc. -- not that I've ever seen any of those, of course) and clearly the inspiration for the song. I'll include a link here, purely for musical research purposes, to the cover photo of a Rolling Stone "Hot" issue a few years back (Warning: although this was Rolling Stone, not Playboy, there is much skin to be seen): http://www.mxdpi.com/main/index.cgi?action=view&link=SUPERMODELS/Laetitia_Casta&image=zx005.jpg&img=72&tt "Octoroon," interestingly enough, is defined as someone whose ancestry makes them 1/8th black (http://www.bartleby.com/61/87/O0028700.html). Deduce, therefore, what you will of her ancestry...I know nothing more than that. >Looks like Ian and I might be the Octaroon's only fans. Ah well. Nope...count me in! Although I have to admit, Nash Kato's solo album doesn't really even come close to Urge Overkill's great "Saturation." As for year-end Top 10s, I'm still figuring mine out, and knowing my proclivity for procrastination, may not get around to it in full, but I can think of at least one CD that really made a big impression this year, and hopefully a few others of you have heard of it: "When I Pretend to Fall" -- The Long Winters If you haven't heard anything from this, I urge you to check it out wherever possible. Buying it, in fact, would be the best option...you won't go wrong. Rocking, beautiful, funny, and moving, all in a single CD. Possible highlight: "Nora" (e-mail me if you'd like to borrow an MP3 of this song to check it out). Well, with that, I make a rather inconsequential return to posting on Chalkhills, after a few years away. Any of my old pals still out there? I know there are at least a few, given recent activity regarding the "King for a Day" compilation... Oh, and here's some XTC content: Andy and Colin probably find Laetitia attractive as well. Happy holidays, Dave Gershman
------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 19:41:28 -0800 From: "Craig Vreeken" <vreeken@citlink.net> Subject: Best of 2003 Message-ID: <000001c3c44f$a79e8470$02c8a8c0@CRAIG2> My favorite time of year is finally here. Not the Holiday season, but the annual submission of Chalkhillians' "best of" lists. When people see my CD collection, they invariably ask, "Where do you hear about this stuff." I think for a few seconds. Certainly not the radio. I do read Mojo magazine and they reveal some great stuff. But my main source of good music referrals is you fine folks, whose consistent good taste (most of the time) has lead to some mighty fine listening. Now for your pleasure is my top 23 of 2003: 1. Nada Surf - Let Go (Album of the year. Heartfelt and sincere songs of childhood, music, and love.) 2. Grandaddy - Sumday (A close second place. Bizarre and wonderful) 3. Rancid - Indestructable (Back in form. Play it loud in the car and just try not to speed.) 4. Supergrass - Life on Other Planets (Their best yet.) 5. Owsley - The Hard Way (Finally, he releases his 2nd album. Find it at Not Lame.) 6. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Deluxe Edition DVD Audio (Stunning surround sound. Truly psychedelic.) 7. Andy Partridge - Fuzzy Warbles 3 & 4 8. Super Furry Animals - Phantom Power 9. Marshall Crenshaw - What's In The Bag 10. Thorns - Thorns 11. Peter Gabriel - 6/21/03 Camden NJ 12. Shins - Chutes Too Narrow 13. Polyphonic Spree - The Beginning Stages Of 14. Joe Strummer - Streetcore 15. Thrills - So Much For The City 16. New Pornographers - Electric Version 17. Tower of Power - Oakland Zone 18. Teenage Fanclub - Four Thousand Seven Hundred 19. Steely Dan - Everything Must Go 20. Richard Thompson - Old Kit Bag 21. Easy Star All Stars - Dub Side of The Moon 22. Matthew Sweet - Kama Ga Suki 23. Neil Young - Greendale My new favorite band this year is The Negro Problem. They've been touted for awhile in Chalkhills, but the clincher was seeing Stew live in New York City at the Loser's Lounge singing a heartfelt "All Things Must Pass" as part of the George Harrison tribute. Truly touching. I subsequently bought all their CDs, and am getting Stew's solo CDs as well. Great songwriter. Great voice. Finally, I posted a few songs from my 2003 album, "Tragic But True" on my web site. Hear them at http://www.citlink.net/~javalee/ Best regards, Craig Vreeken http://www.citlink.net/~javalee/
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 01:24:50 -0500 (EST)
From: RSMko@webtv.net (Marston Moor)
Subject: Help This Man
Message-ID: <6210-3FDFF6B2-6320@storefull-2235.public.lawson.webtv.net>
Buyers wanted...
http://www.rsteviemoore.com/nevertheless.html
TIA.
POW.
-.-'" ")) -:|:-
c.-' .-'""))
R. Stevie Moore
((cc.-' ..-'
-:|:- ((cc -.-
------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 14:07:56 EST From: DougMash@aol.com Subject: My 2003 Top 10 Message-ID: <bd.3a6d5ca4.2d12038c@aol.com> MY TOP 10 OF 2003 (Man, this year sucked! Two of the guys are dead and one went unreleased!) 1. WARREN ZEVON - Wind 2. JOHN WESLEY HARDING - Man With No Shadow (Unreleased) 3. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE - Welcome Interstate Managers 4. JOE STRUMMER - Streetcore 5. BARENAKED LADIES - Everything to Everyone 6. STEELY DAN - Everything Must Go 7. JOE JACKSON BAND - Volume 4 8. ROXY MUSIC - Live 9. BEN FOLDS - Speen Graphic/Sunny 16 (EP's) 10. RYAN ADAMS - Rock & Roll Man, I'm stuck in the 80's! Happy Holidays! Doug Mashkow CD Island Rockvile Centre, NY USA
------------------------------ Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2003 12:09:05 +0000 From: "Paul Culnane" <paulculnane@hotmail.com> Subject: Wot top 5? Message-ID: <BAY7-F84yqXubb9KjcC0004735d@hotmail.com> No one asked me for my opinion, but I'm about to give it. My fave top 5 XtC tunes are: "Another Satellite" "No Language In Our Lungs" "Senses Working Overtime" "Easter Theatre" "This Is Pop!" This could change, but it's pretty much set in concrete (with daisies and other blooms growing up through the cracks in the pavement). What are your favourites? "A bag to keep life's souvenirs in" Luv PORL
------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Dec 2003 13:22:23 -0800 From: Michael Riches <riches@shaw.ca> Subject: Apple Wasp? Venus Star? Message-ID: <000901c3c808$867cb840$b9614418@Computer> Hi All... I usually just hover about here without really posting, but I thought I'd actually contribute for a change! Today, I was playing around with some new CD burning software (no...I don't download CD's off the internet, but I do enjoy making compilations), so I thought I would play around with some XTC and decided to create a double CD combining Apple Venus and Wasp Star, just to see of it would work... So, here's what I came up with (cross-fades and all, just so it sounds 'officially XTC'), and I'm personally quite impressed with myself... Comments, critiques welcome, of course... CD 1 (49:57) River Of Orchids Playground Stupidly Happy I'd Like That Easter Theatre Knights In Shining Karma In Another Life My Brown Guitar Boarded Up Frivolous Tonight Your Dictionary Greenman CD 2 (49:25) I'm The Man Who Murdered Love We're All Light Standing In For Joe Fruit Nut Wounded Horse I Can't Own Her Harvest Festival You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful Church Of Women The Wheel And The Maypole The Last Balloon Just for the record, Wheel and Balloon crossfade very nicely, actually.... (Pats self on back) I'm off Drude
------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2003 00:58:43 +0000 From: "Paul Culnane" <paulculnane@hotmail.com> Subject: Quizmas Chris - question # 21 Message-ID: <BAY7-F42dzrQhA1R2Xy0004dcba@hotmail.com> How are you all doing with this year's Idea quiz? Some pretty curly ones there for sure! While you're all poring over your albums sleeves, I'd like to challenge you with my own "question 21": What is the only official XTC release that: (a) features pictures of Moulding, Andrews, Gregory, Partridge and Chambers on the cover; and (b) credits Partridge and Moulding as co-composers on four tracks? Please don't reply to me, I just thought some of you might enjoy hunting this one out, in the spirit of the official quiz... Harvey Chrimble p@ul-of-oz
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