Errors-To: ecto-owner@ns1.rutgers.edu Reply-To: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu Sender: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu From: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu To: ecto-request@ns1.rutgers.edu Bcc: ecto-digest-outbound@ns1.rutgers.edu Subject: ecto #846 ecto, Number 846 Friday, 5 November 1993 Today's Topics: *-----------------* The Red Shoes greetings from Mary Lou Re: Communists listening to Happy? Those Red, Red Shoes! moments of pleasure Unsubscribe ======================================================================== Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1993 21:49:16 -0400 (EDT) From: Suspended In Duct Tape Subject: The Red Shoes Hi! Unlike Valerie, who used her erascible (but not erasable) charm to weasel a copy of TRS out of a record store employyee on MONDAY, I picked up my copy of TRS at lunch on Tuesday. I bought a cassette to pop into my Walkman immediately, and a CD for real listening. Initial impression: eh. But it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. The only song to make me sit up and take note upon first listen was "The Red Shoes", which is positively infectious- I literally couldn't stop dancing until it was over, which is an interesting phenomenon, now that I think about it.. Song-by-song, it looks like this: Rubberband Girl: Fun, poppy, I hope this does well on the charts here. I liked it from that first over-the-phone listen at KaTemas (hi Vickie :), and I still do, a lot. More on the video later. And So Is Love: MUCH better than I thought from that aforementioned phone listen, but not exceptional. Eat The Music: Barf-O-Rama. But we already knew trhat. Er, that. :} Moments of Pleasure: Mmmh, yes. Again, not goddesshead, but it has its own power amidst its flaws. I find it hard to think critical thoughts because it seems amost disrespectful, considreing the events in Kate's life which caused her to write it in the first place...but. The Song of Solomon: Interesting. I saw the lyrics (danke, L Uli!) before I heard the music, so I was expecting soimething much harder edged than I got, but it still works for me. I do think the "bullshit" line is a bit much, however- once is okay, but after the nth time it staet, damn, starts to get a bit gratuitous. Besides, now I can't play it on my radio show, and it's one of the prettiest tracks on the album! Waah! Lily: This song is wonderfully weird. I agree with those who think it's the "curse of the red shoes" woman from the new "RG" video does the opening narration. I can't wait to see it in the context of the film, so I can staret to figure it out! (For those keeping score at home, thus ends side A of the cassette, it's imo a perfect break.) The Red Shoes: In a word, awesome. If this album didn't include it, I would be gnashing my teeth in frusttration at the lack of a single "WOW" on the first listen, but thankfully this is it. It's been going through my head all week. Top Of The City: I like, but am not going orgasmic over it. All I can think of is Kate sitting on top of the huge angel/eagle statue in the lobby of the Ministry of Information in _Brazil_ laughing at the silly Flying Nun tour group going by underneath... dunno weh er, why. Constellation of the Heart: I think the line about turning the telescope away from the big sky is telling, and it has its (breif) moments, but all in all, I don't think this song should have been recoreded. Big Stripey Lie: I liked it before, and I like it even more than I know Kate plays guitar aand BASS (I've always had a soft spot for short female bass players ;), but it doesn't fit at all. Why Should I LOve You: This song has GOT to go. I *knew* Prince would destroy whatever song on the album he had a hand itn. Gag. You're The One: At first I liked this one a lot, but I'm already sick of it. There are some interesting voacl bits, but I'm not so sure I like them any more. All in all, I think that as an album, it blows most of the crap out there out of the water, and is quite good. But as a Kate Bush Album, it's rather of a letdown. I'd say it's one of her bottom three, but I'm not going to let myself pass a real judgement on that sort of thing until it's had a lot more time to osmose itself into my being. I know my opinions of these songs will change tomororw, anyway- probably for the better, except for EtM and that goddamed Prince atrocity. (Eek, that was a bit harsh- sorry. Can['t delete it know anyway...) As for the New And Improved "Rubberband Girl" Made For eMpTV Video, I liked it. A lot. It's a vast improvement over the original video, and was just perfectly tongue-in-cheek. ;> I've always wanted to see Kate humping a mike stand. In shades, no less. I will say, however, that I wish she'd done more weith the scenes with the straight hair and leather jacket, and had left out the three random clips from the film, which ruined the video's continuity and seemed tacked-on. (They were, weren't they?) It looks like she was having fun out there, at least. There you have it, MY *OWN& OPINIONS. I don't care who agrees or disagrees, so there. Meredith meth@delphi.com ======================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Nov 93 22:58:54 EST From: jessica Subject: Re: The Red Shoes Meredith reviews The Red Shoes. I agree with most of what she says enough to finalyl want to voice an opinion here. > Initial impression: eh. But it's not as bad as I thought it was going > to be. You're lucky! My initial impresion was: eh. But a lot worse that i *thought* it would be. a *lot* worse. (I was hoping, really hoping, for more big stripey lie type songs). >The only song to make me sit up and take note upon first listen > was "The Red Shoes", which is positively infectious- I literally > couldn't stop dancing until it was over, which is an interesting > phenomenon, now that I think about it.. I had the same reaction. My first thought when it started was "oooh" and that feeling just kept going and I still really like the song. > Rubberband Girl: Fun, poppy, I hope this does well on the charts here. > I liked it from that first over-the-phone listen at KaTemas (hi Vickie :), > and I still do, a lot. More on the video later. I feel the same way. > And So Is Love: MUCH better than I thought from that aforementioned > phone listen, but not exceptional. yup. This one's really growing on me too, I think i like it a lot. > Eat The Music: Barf-O-Rama. But we already knew trhat. Er, that. :} Here i disagree with meredith. I like Eat the Music. I don't tihnk I *love* it. but I really liek it. it's fun, i tihnk of the video and swirl my head around and feel kinda drunk and dizzy and tihnk of squishy fruit and it works really well for me like that :) > Moments of Pleasure: Mmmh, yes. Again, not goddesshead, but it has > its own power amidst its flaws. I find it hard to think critical > thoughts because it seems amost disrespectful, considreing the events > in Kate's life which caused her to write it in the first place...but. yeah... you said this better than i could... that's about how i feel. > The Song of Solomon: Interesting. I saw the lyrics (danke, L Uli!) > before I heard the music, so I was expecting soimething much harder > edged than I got, but it still works for me. I do think the "bullshit" > line is a bit much, however- once is okay, but after the nth time it > staet, damn, starts to get a bit gratuitous. Besides, now I can't > play it on my radio show, and it's one of the prettiest tracks on the > album! Waah! if the chorus bit (the whole "bullshit" section) were just more like the rest of this song, I would love it. as it is i only kinda like it. eh. just kinda. parts of it a so yummy sounding and then, eh. > Lily: This song is wonderfully weird. I agree with those who think > it's the "curse of the red shoes" woman from the new "RG" video does the > opening narration. I can't wait to see it in the context of the film, > so I can staret to figure it out! I like Lily a lot. very very good. > The Red Shoes: In a word, awesome. If this album didn't include it, > I would be gnashing my teeth in frusttration at the lack of a single "WOW" > on the first listen, but thankfully this is it. It's been going through > my head all week. :) yup! > Top Of The City: I like, but am not going orgasmic over it. All I can > think of is Kate sitting on top of the huge angel/eagle statue in the > lobby of the Ministry of Information in _Brazil_ laughing at the silly > Flying Nun tour group going by underneath... dunno weh er, why. I don't know abotu this one.. i tihnk i'd *really* like the song a lot if it didn't have the phrase "top of the city". I dont' evenk now if i've ever *heard* that phrase before, but I don't like it. oh well. > Constellation of the Heart: I think the line about turning the telescope > away from the big sky is telling, and it has its (breif) moments, but all > in all, I don't think this song should have been recoreded. yucko. yeah. sometimes i tihnk a aprt of this song is good enough that the song with grow on me (like the telescope line), but in the long run, the song doesn't. > Big Stripey Lie: I liked it before, and I like it even more than I know > Kate plays guitar aand BASS (I've always had a soft spot for short female > bass players ;), but it doesn't fit at all. amazing song. my favorite on the album. > Why Should I LOve You: This song has GOT to go. I *knew* Prince would > destroy whatever song on the album he had a hand itn. Gag. I can not *beleive* how much i detest this song. I really do not enjoy listening to it *at*all* *UGH*. It's not even a good "bad kate song" if you know what i mean. I mean, I just don't *listen* to music like this. blech. > You're The One: At first I liked this one a lot, but I'm already sick > of it. There are some interesting voacl bits, but I'm not so sure I like > them any more. at first, I wasn't sure what I thought of this one. Now I know. I hate it. not quite as much as Why Should I Love You, but almost. It makes me really sad that these songs are the way they are - I wish they could be amazing songs - if they were, and they said what they did, expressed somehow the same sorts of feelings/experiences, they woudl be so powerful and incredible. Most of kate's songs are not autobiographical as much as these are and they could really make you *feel* for her... if they were good songs!!! Well, that's how it is for me anyway,m I know it's very very different for lots of other people :) I just mean to explain how it is for me.. > As for the New And Improved "Rubberband Girl" Made For eMpTV Video, I > liked it. A lot. It's a vast improvement over the original video, > and was just perfectly tongue-in-cheek. ;> I've always wanted > to see Kate humping a mike stand. In shades, no less. I will say, > however, that I wish she'd done more weith the scenes with the straight > hair and leather jacket, and had left out the three random clips from the > film, which ruined the video's continuity and seemed tacked-on. (They were, > weren't they?) It looks like she was having fun out there, at least. are you seriously being serious here? It kinda sounds like a joke!? kate with blonde hair and shades and humping a microphone? I *beleive* it.. it just does sound odd.. > There you have it, MY *OWN& OPINIONS. I don't care who agrees or disagrees, so there. > Meredith > meth@delphi.com and now you've got mine too. jessica ======================================================================== From: ezust@binkley.cs.mcgill.ca (Alan Ezust) Date: Fri, 5 Nov 93 00:25:10 EST Subject: greetings from Mary Lou After reading Neile's message about Mary Lou, I realized that it had indeed been a while since I had heard from her, so I gave her a call. Indeed, she has been quite sick over the past couple of months, but is recovering and should be able to go back to work in a couple of weeks. She asked me to tell you all that she's getting much better, and is looking forward to returning to Ecto soon. I know she misses us fellow ectophiles very much, and sends her best. Someday, I'll fill her in on how to get internet access from home, so silly things like this won't interfere with her ecto.communication, but until then, she can only login from work (BNR has very strict security rules, including one against dialing up from home into BNR computers). Cheers all ... -alan -- | Alan Ezust ezust@{binkley.}cs.mcgill.ca Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |------------- McGill University School of Computer Science ----------------| This line is intentionally left blank. ======================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Nov 93 01:16 MET From: uli@zoodle.robin.de (Ulrich Grepel) Subject: Re: Communists listening to Happy? > On the other hand, many (all?) of our founding fathers were staunch > believers in the right of the people to revolt against an unjust > government. But in all fairness, you can never just expect a government to > lie down and say "Well, they *do* have a right to revolt, we should just > give up now." when things get to that stage, the country is pretty much a > shambles already. Well - that's almost what the former government of the former German Democratic Republic did in 1989... Bye, Uli ======================================================================== From: Tree of Schnopia Subject: Those Red, Red Shoes! Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1993 02:35:09 -0500 (EST) I am split open with devotion, people. Let me tell you how. Before I begin, a couple of words... ...suzanne, could you hold a TRS button for me? Thanks! It's as010b@uhura.cc.rochester.edu, or Drewcifer, or Tree of Schnopia. Me. Also, (to the folks on Love-Hounds) could we cool it on the TSW-bashing? The Sensual World introduced me to Kate and, unlike many, it seems, I adore it. We've heard it all before. Let's can it. Thanks. Right. Let's begin, then. 1. Rubberband Girl Catchy. I like it. I don't love it. It's actually a bit obnoxious unless you're dancing. B-/C+ 2. And So Is Love The verse is entirely too sparse, lyrically speaking. In fact, my impression is that the entire song has a splendid mood and nice Clapton guitar, but not a lot going for it lyrically. It sounds half-finished. C 3. Eat The Music Unlike the rest of you, it seems, I actually like this song a great deal. I'm not bored by repetitiveness, when the rhythm is the centerpiece of the song, as it is here. The sheer joy of the song is what makes it. B/B+ 4. Moments of Pleasure I differ from the madding crowd here as well. I was hardly "stunned" by this track; au contraire. I was quite underwhelmed. It's growing on me, but it carries the frustration of an inside joke to which you're not privy. I really love the music, however, and it's a lovely, sweet theme. I'm just not sure I appreciate the lyrical execution. ("Smurf, playing his guitar refrain"? :) ) B 5. The Song of Solomon Ummm...underwhelmed again. Close. At first I found the "bullshit" refrain to be a bit irritating...the problem is not the vulgarity, but the contrast evoked by same. I've really had it up to here with songs about "shut up and kiss". I don't know about Kate or you lot, but I find that being worshipped with words is incredibly erotic and intimate. If they're bullshit, yeah, they suck, but touches, kisses, caresses can be bullshit, too. This title made me hope for another "The Sensual World"...I'm not even sure I got Kate. C 6. Lily Good Tree. This is the Kate I know and love. This is a smashing song. Top-notch lyrics. Incredibly powerful music (I can't help but move to it). Stunning air and fire. This is a very elemental track. A 7. The Red Shoes My favorite song on the album by far. It's a wonderfully fascinating story to begin with, and Kate brings spectacular musical effects to it. It has a beautiful, shimmering, glimmering, sparkling, rough feel, like breaking glass. I can't even begin to describe it rationally. It pulls my spine straight and possesses me. I dance, even after the shoes come off. A+ 8. Top Of The City A very interesting song lyrically. It doesn't engage me musically the way I wish it would. And there is little else to say. C-/D+ 9. Constellation of the Heart Kate, oh Kate, why hast thou forsaken me? I would have flunked this song but for that wonderful chorus response section. Had that been attached to a real refrain, this song would have soared in my ratings, but that stinker of a hook sunk the tune down, down, down. D 10. Big Stripey Lie Not bad. I don't find it as exciting as the rest of you, it seems. Wonderfully psychedelic song, though...I would love to design a video for it. It's very otherworldly. A 11. Why Should I Love You You know, I thought I'd hate this, and I really like it. I'm serious, I think it's quite good, actually. I can't really be rational about why I like it, either, though for different reasons than before. I like Prince a lot anyway, although I rarely listen to his stuff. It's surprising how this meshed. A-/B+ 12. You're The One I'm not interested, thank you. I'm never thrilled about any song which mentions money, in general, aside possibly from "Silent All These Years". But seriously, I found little to engage me here. Oh, except for the Trio. C-/D+ It's important to keep in mind that these are Katings, which means that compared with almost every other recording artist these ratings should be much higher. I'd rather listen to Kate's worst than, say, Blind Melon's best any day. A few other notes: pick up the new Concrete Blonde album (Mexican Moon). A solid, skillful album. It makes up for a lack of truly remarkable songs with an array of just plain terrific ones. Highly recommended, after just one listen! The new Cocteau Twins isn't half bad either, although they usually only appear when I need ambience, when I have a headache, or when I'm burning candles. Ciao, Drewcifer ======================================================================== Date: Fri, 5 Nov 93 03:55:07 EST From: mojzes@monet.rutgers.edu (brni) Subject: moments of pleasure hi there, meth (you know, every time i see this i think of the sisters of mercy line "hot metal and methadrine") --um, where was i? oh yeah. meth's description of MoP reminded me of something i was thinking last night while listening to the album. > >Moments of Pleasure: Mmmh, yes. Again, not goddesshead, but it has >its own power amidst its flaws. I find it hard to think critical >thoughts because it seems amost disrespectful, considreing the events >in Kate's life which caused her to write it in the first place...but. > i think that it was a bad idea for her to attempt this song. i don't think that it is something that can be done well. i think that kate did about as good as can possibly be done on a song like this, which is bound to exist more as an exorcism of sorts than as a song. the reason? by making it less sappy, you do some disservice to the memory of those you love, while making the song more interesting. but when assuming the proper reverent mode, one has to neglect the song in order to pay attention to the people. it isn't that writing good songs about a lost loved one is impossible, but that when one does so, one has to pay equal attention to the song and to the person. but when you have a number of people, you have to divide your attention much further. ack. its late, and i'm not sure if my brain is working well enough to tell if i was at all lucid. :( >There you have it, MY *OWN& OPINIONS. I don't care who agrees or disagrees, so there. > good. :) >Meredith >meth@delphi.com > brni ======================================================================== From: in2a508@rzaix02.rrz.uni-hamburg.de (Rosenfeld) Subject: Unsubscribe Date: Fri, 5 Nov 93 10:09:25 MEZ Unsubscribe Hmmm...totally lost & confused ======================================================================== The ecto archives are on hardees.rutgers.edu in ~ftp/pub/hr. There is an INDEX file explaining what is where. Feel free to send me things you'd like to have added. -- jessica (jessica@ns1.rutgers.edu)