From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V3 #242 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Sunday, October 4 1998 Volume 03 : Number 242 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AVALON] It's all the same? [jspellma@techadvisers.com] Re: [AVALON] Sense of ridiculous [jspellma@techadvisers.com] Re: [AVALON] It's all the same? [dawndalion@earthlink.net] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 14:49:21 -0400 From: jspellma@techadvisers.com Subject: [AVALON] It's all the same? Jon Jepson aka fabtrick wrote: >....RM was very experimental, ground-breaking, and risk-taking. With age, >however, BF has lost that edge. B&G, BN, and Mamouna were all >basically remakes of Avalon; each one got more diluted, until we have >reached the point we are at now...NOTHING...... I am a big fan of the early Roxy years, but thought their last two albums they got very nice and safe. I liked it too, but it just got so far away from the original. It was more like Ferry solo with Andy, Phil and bunch of other people. I found some songs on the final tour to be too bouncy and Las Vegas like (like Both Ends Burning, Dance Away..) When Ferry went on to record Boys & Girls and Bete Noir he now had the best musicians of the time, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Nile Rodgers, Gilmour, Knophler.. I thought the songs were better too. I liked Windswept, Slave to Love, And what on Avalon sounds like Right Stuff or Kiss and Tell? I can't think of any. When he toured in '88 I thought he brought it all together sounding more adventurous and out of control like the old Roxy did. I found his last two releases kind of disappointing, although enjoyable, the songs and the musicians aren't as exciting as the 80's Ferry. I felt the '94 tour was good but much more predicable than '88. My point is you may like some, none or all of it, but to say it is all the same since Avalon.......I have to disagree. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 15:16:13 -0400 From: jspellma@techadvisers.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Sense of ridiculous .....Jon Jepson wrote: >You can see the evolution through the years, from record to record. >The evolution ended after Avalon. I will always try to give BF the >benefit of the doubt, but after seeing other faves of that era >becoming stagnant (god, look at Bowie after Scary Monsters, up until >his latest) and dull, he damn well better deliver the goods, or I'll >be passing up on his next one. And I didn't really care for Dance >with Life either, as it was just what it is: a blatant attempt to >have a commercial hit. Not that he doesn't deserve that kind of >success, but does it have to come at THAT price? What do these guys have to do to make you happy? Many artists have one song, or an album or if they are lucky a five year streak. Being a musician isn't like an accountant, it gets harder the more you know. Also, it is a current trend to release an album every 3-4 years, even young acts. Check out Garbage, Liz Phair, Alanis Morrisette. Gone are the days of a singer releasing 7 albums in 4 years, not to mention all the b-sides etc.. as Bryan did in the early seventies. And gone are the days of David Bowie writing and recording Young American on an 8 day Coke binge during a tour. I'm thankful for what they have given us, anything else would be a bonus to me. Jim ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1998 04:00:04 -0700 From: dawndalion@earthlink.net Subject: Re: [AVALON] It's all the same? Jim, Out of everyone's submissions to the list as of late, I have to say that my feelings about Bryan Ferry and his musical output through the decades most closely alligns your view...although there are the moments when I find myself feeling like Jon...But I gotta say that B & G and Bete Noire were outstanding musical offerings from Ferry. I was disappointed by Taxi, and I have warmed to Mamouna. I found them very different than Avalon, by the way. I appreciate that Ferry has explored NEW sounds and directions in his art. As in all art, there will never be a second Mona Lisa, or a second Parthenon...similarly, there will NEVER be another Avalon. As much as it pierces the soul, and sends us reeling into moods, I don't WANT another Avalon. I just want more Ferry. Part of me thinks he OWES us, but then, part of me is just happy to have so much music already.... Well, I gotta get geared up for the Game on TV.... USC (my team, my alma mater) plays Arizona...in minutes. Until next time, Dawne ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V3 #242 **************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest