From: owner-ecto-digest To: ecto-digest@ns2.rutgers.edu Subject: ecto-digest V2 #332 Reply-To: ecto@nsmx.rutgers.edu Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, 4 January 1996 Volume 02 : Number 332 The Ecto digest is now being generated automatically. Please send problems and questions to: ecto-owner@nsmx.rutgers.edu. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Philip Sainty Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 05:04:44 +1300 Subject: Re: categories & the guide Meth Meth'd: > The whole point of not having categories is so that if you *don't* know > what you're looking for, you'll have the opportunity to stumble upon some > things you otherwise might not have found. Or am I the only person who is > prone to randomly browsing record stores by letter, depending on my mood? In case I see a name I recognise? yes. In case I see something I've never heard of, but which looks vaguely interesting? unfortunately, I (and probably most people) can't afford to do this kind of thing :( There's enough variety under the Ecto banner that descriptions and comparisons are vital, and loose categories are simply another form of description. And as long as people are aware that the categories *are* loose, and that they should examine the comments and descriptions that people have given, I don't see that they can be such a bad thing. However, hopefully the interface to the Guide will (eventually, if not initially(?)) permit searching according to many different criteria, so that people can look for artists/albums in one of the given categories, or alphabetically, or completely randomly. The beauty of a computerised system is that arbitrary divisions according to a category are not also physical divisions which hinder your ability to search the information in a different fashion... Philip _ _ ___ _ _ _ (_ / | / \ |_) |_| | | (_ Philip Sainty (_ \_ | \_/ | | | | |_ (_ ectophil@comp.vuw.ac.nz - -------------------------------------------------------------- "This is where I want to be, this is what I need." --Kate Bush ------------------------------ From: "jeffrey hanson" Date: Thu, 04 Jan 96 10:28:53 cdt Subject: Jewel on VH-1 tonight For those interested, JEwel will appear "live" on VH-1's CrossRoads program tonight. Check local listings for time. Jeff Hanson ------------------------------ From: Neile Graham Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 08:33:41 -0800 (PST) Subject: Neile's Top Discs of 1995 This is my list of top discs of 1995. Warning--it's very long (a top 50 + reissues) and of course they're annotated which makes it even longer because I'm trying to make up for all the reviews I didn't write this year. Entries within each of the areas aren't in any order, and I also have really annoying "points for" comments. Read on at your own risk. Neile's Total Obsessions of 1995 (6 out of a scale of 5 points): Gabriel Yacoub -- Quatre This has to be one of the most magnificent discs of all time--a definite permanent favourite for me. The basis of the album is traditional French/Celtic folk, but it moves from there into very contemporary music. It's mostly fairly quiet but powerful, and at times so achingly beautiful it hurts to listen to it. One of the few male singer-songwriters that make it to my lists. Extra points for only rarely singing in English. Kathleen Yearwood -- Book of Hate She's angry, but her songs still have beauty. There's hate on this disc, and yet there's a sense of redemption, too, and she's angry at the right things. Also an unusual sense of maturity. The best lyricist I've come across in years--poetic and pointed, impressionist and concrete, both. Diamanda Galas discovers traditional and contemporary folk music. She gets extra points for being Canadian & for being so forthright. Kerri Simpson -- The Arousing A amazing rich voice, a rich musical tradition, and a depth of songwriting. Thanks to Anthony Horan for writing a review of her work to ecto, I chased down the web site and her it and ordered it immediately. Strong, individual stuff that demands more attention. Individuality and Aussie points, points for using and not abusing traditional sounds. Sandra Lockwood -- Shell Yes, her style is very early Kate, but she also has early Kate's songwriting ability. She can tell a wonderful story and put together interesting music. An impressive debut disc. I hope she gets enough support to put out more music. I first heard this browsing through several discs at a used music store. Flipped through the cuts and by the start of the third song I knew I had to buy it. Extra special points for being from Victoria, where I grew up. I had no idea anyone there knew what music is! Happy Rhodes -- The Keep I don't care that I've heard some of these songs before--this is a wonderful Happy album. The new versions are mostly wonderful (though nothing is ever going to make me like "Collective Heart"--just too poppy & bouncy for me and the lyrics are too sweet, but that's another story). Extra Happy bonus points for reminding me so strongly of why Happy is one of my all-time favourites. Harvey, PJ -- To Bring You My Love Gutsy performing and songwriting in with PJ's inimitable powerhouse voice. Though I have a fondness for _Dry_, her albums just keep getting better & better, and she doesn't repeat herself. PJ going bluesy is brilliant. Points for doing just what the hell she wants to do and doing it so well. Other Seriously Excellent Stuff (5 out of 5): Heather Nova -- Oyster I feel lucky to have know about and like Heather for a couple of years, but this album proves she's just getting better and better. The songs are strong and melodic and catchy. My only complaint is that hearing her in concert made me realize how frequently she uses the trick of a quiet beginning moving into a loud rocking song. Extra points for putting together a breakthrough album. Throwing Muses -- University A wonderful album that may be my favourite Muses album. Great to know they can pull it off after the disappointment of _Red Heaven_. The whole album is a delight to listen to. Catchy. Melodic, yet pushing the rock edge. Extra points for recovery from losing Tanya Donnelly and putting The Muses back together again. Carthy & Waterson -- waterson:carthy A brilliant traditional folk album. This is Martin Carthy, his wife Norma Waterson, and their daughter, Eliza Carthy sharing an album and having a wonderful time. It's a wonderful blend of voices and songs. Points being able to do traditional music in a simple, traditional way and still being lively and contemporary--and for brilliant musicianship. Jennifer Ferguson -- Hand Around the Heart I fell in love with "Suburban Hum" on Vickie's Femme Music Sampler and had been looking for Jennifer Ferguson ever since. It took me a while and a lot of email exchanges with someone in South Africa who was looking for some American recordings but I finally got this. It seems to be a compilation of her work. At first I thought it was going to be pretty conventional, but her songs always take an unexpected turn, and her songs and her voice have a warmth that is catching. Delightful. Points for sentimentality without sappiness. Cordelia's Dad -- Comet Bare, straightforward traditional American music. The minimalist approach here is wonderful effective. I love the way the lead singer (a boy!) and background singer's voices blend or don't as the case may be. Solid and powerful. Points for knowing that simple can knock yer sox off. Mari Boine -- Leahkastin Every album of hers is wonderfully powerful musically-- I just wish I understood some of the words. These are kind of world music things with a tribal flavour, but still seems highly individual. Mari Boine is Sami (used to be called Lapp) and the way it as affected her music seems fundamental to its overall sound--yet it's contemporary too. Power seems to be the overused word in these annotations, but damn this is powerful. Points for making world music without the New Age musical cliches. Innocence Mission -- Glow This one has just barely managed to usurp the place of their self-titled collection as my favourite Innocence Mission disc. The songs here have a maturity and depth and spirituality that is not only inoffensive and rare in contemporary music but seems totally organic and takes me along with it. Karen Peris has the most amazing voice! Powerful comeback points. Jane Siberry -- Maria When I heard the first strains of "Maria" I got really nervous. I was the first person I knew of to hear the songs, and so I wasn't prepared at all, but as soon as I heard the second song "See the Child" I knew I was going to love this. My relationship with Siberry albums is long-term, and I know I will continue to find new & interesting nooks in this music. Jane with a jazz flavour is surprising, but surprisingly still more Jane than jazz. Points for convincing me that conventional jazz instrumentation doesn't have to be boring. Other Stuff I Really, Really Liked (4 out of 5): Susan McKeown & The Chanting House -- Bones This one was a sleeper for me. I bought it on the basis of hearing a bit on a web site, then didn't think I liked the whole thing, but there was one song that stuck in my head and so I kept playing it and suddenly began to hear how interesting this disc is. On the surface it doesn't seem to have that much to offer, but with more listens I discovered all kinds of passages that offered things to keep playing the disc over and over again for. Points for pulling traditional elements into contemporary songs and sounding both old and new all at once. Amy X Neuburg & Men -- Utechma Weirdness points. At first I thought I didn't like this because _Songs 85 to 91_ was so uneven and this isn't like the really catchy songs I loved on that album. It's something new & different and equally (and more consistently) good. Great and varied percussion and rhythms. Bonus points for being techy but not boring but minus a half- point for "Utechma" = "you take my". Lois -- Bet The Sky Minimal, rocky folk and an understated performance and song-writing style made this a stand-out disc for me. Points for simple strength and knowing that you don't need 20 instruments to make a good album. Boo Trundle -- The Vast Underneath / Possible Bodies Okay, _The Vast Underneath_ is from 1993, but I just discovered it this year. This is stuff to play loudly and much of the time she's shouting rather than singing, but the lyrics are intriguing, the melodies catchy. "Siva" will be on the HGP. Points for the way her music confuses me but digs its hooks in my mind. Big Hat -- Taqueria del Muerte How can this be Big Hat's final album? They were such a great band, and this album shows how great they were. It may not be my favourite of their albums (I have a fondness for _Shimmer_ that will be hard to shake) but it's a wonderful, worthy album. Extra points because there won't be any more of this music. My Scarlet Life -- Reliquaries Preston Klik from Big Hat's new band. At first I wasn't sure I liked this because the overall sound and the lyrics are so quirky, but it grew on me and now I even like "Lunch with Ghandi" and "Cold Dinner for Elvis". Delightful and off-the-wall both musically and lyrically. Points for pulling this one off. Lida Husik -- Joyride A favourite discovery of a couple of years ago, Lida Husik continues to produce strong albums. Her style shifts with each one, but there's something just Lida about them all--her unique view of the world? Her obscure lyrics? Playfulness? Points for those, I guess and for persevering in the indie world. Marianne Faithfull -- A Secret Life I don't listen to this nearly often enough, but it's wonderful--Marianne in a dreamy collaboration. Her voice really shines (can you say that about a voice so raspy?) in this context. Points for a delightful album. Garmana -- Vittrad They've been called the Swedish Steeleye Span, which kind of fits but there's something much rougher and rawer about their sound. Haunting and more than a little eerie at times. Points for darkness & guts. Rebecca Timmons -- Rebecca Timmons Kinda in the folk vein, kinda poppy, once you get past the boring first song this album rewards you with a deep warbly voice and deep warbly piano-based songwriting that sticks in my mind. Points for learning hairstyling from Jane Siberry! And she's Canadian so she gets extra points. And she has little short cool noisy intro bits to the songs! Janice Durham -- Just Hanging Around Rock, pure and simple. At first I thought this was merely ok, but the way she throws her voice around in "Walking in Your Sleep" made me keep listening until I realized how great the album is and how strong her voice and songwriting are. And no one will ever hear of her because it's a local, self- released disc. I can only pray enough people hear this and she'll keep writing and recording. Extra points for being able to create a song called "Get Out of My House" that stands on its own beside Kate's. Bjork -- Post A surprising and constant delight. Points for managing to make me love dance music. Extra points for "Isobel" because I love it so much and for the video for "It's oh So Quiet". Long Fin Killie -- Houdini Points for having a boy singer that I love. Points for pulling traditional elements into experimental rock and great songwriting and sounding like no one else. Another Too Pure triumph. A Houdini of an album. Other Stuff Well Worth a Mention (3.5 out of 5): Jenn Vix -- Jenn Vix Mellow and electronic, but worth a listen, especially for the song, "Devils Chasing Angels". I think this one is actually from 1993, too. But that's ok--I never did a top list of 1993 so I'm making up for that this year. Points for getting beyond the electronic sameness of similar albums. Suddenly, Tammy! -- (we get there when we do.) Though I like their self-titled disc better (maybe because I read the lyrics for this album) Suddenly, Tammy! are charming. Poppy without being brain-dead, and the piano/bass/drums only combo is a nice change from the usual. Points for originality. Perfume Tree -- a lifetime away Dreamy, a little in the Cocteau Twins vein but also heavy on the guitar, Perfume Tree is always a delight. Heard them live for the first time a few weeks ago and they're great live, too (but they need a real drumset). Points for great vocals, even if I can't make out the words. An April March -- Instruments of Lust and Fury [EP], Lessons in Vengeance An E.P. and a new full-length. This is another Cocteau-ish-ish band, and their songwriting is a little uneven--but that's only apparent because their good songs are so damn outstanding (points!!) that there merely good songs seem weak beside them. "Dossier" and "Clench" are among the year's best songs. Delectable. Salad -- Drink Me Okay, they're not doing anything wildly creative, but it's great, straightahead alternarock, and "Drink the Elixir" is so damn catchy points. Flash Girls -- Maurice and I All right, it's got some really cheesy humour and both of the singers need either to learn how to use their voices better, but they've managed somehow to make these flaws part of the charm of their music. Points for using their literary connections for great lyrics (Emma Bull is an excellent fantasy/sf author). Low -- Long Division Slow & dreamy with minimal instrumentation, they get extra points for bucking all trends and being quiet and yet not sounding like the Cowboy Junkies, even though that's the only band I can compare them too. I guess they're different because there's not the Junkies' folky, country feel to their music--this is quiet alternative rock. If that's possible, this is it. ani difranco -- not a pretty girl This is a strong album, but somehow it hasn't caught my heart the way _Puddle Dive_ and especially _Out of Range_ did. I'm not sure why not, but points for ani-ness and being a righteous babe no matter what. Pram -- Sargasso Sea Yeah, they're still weird and off-the-wall musically, lyrically, and Rosie can't quite truly sing but put it all together and Pram is one of the most interesting experimental-ish bands around. Too Pure records points. Ana Coutinho -- Eyes Never Lie Another older one I discovered this year. Folky, a little poppy (occasionally too much or me, depending on my mood) but Canadian, Joni-Mitchell-ish and production by John Switzer (Jane Siberry's earlier work) points. Strong, lower-range voice. Stereolab -- Refried Ectoplasm (Switched On Volume 2) A great compilation of their singles of the last couple of years. I like this much better than _Mars Audiac Quintet_. It hangs together as a collection fairly well, too. Points for Letitia Sadier's great voice, using weird 60s synths, and for witty socialist lyrics (is that a contradiction in terms?). Susan Voelz -- Summer Crashing Running a parallel line with Lisa Germano, Susan Voelz is a little country-ish for my tastes, but I still love this album. Violin points. Alison Stratton and Spike -- Weekend in Wales E.P. The voice of Young Marble Giants reappears!! But, damn, this is from 1993. Still points for staying minimalist and sweet-voiced and being so much in advance of the times that doing the same kind of thing is still new. Tricky -- Maxinquaye Well, here's something I never thought I'd like but I do, I do! Special points for making me like something even remotely rap music-ish. Points for letting Martine's voice carry the vocal weight. Really Promising Starts: Jewel -- Pieces of You I fell in love with Jewel's singing and songwriting last year from Neal and Jeff's tapes, and while this album didn't quite live up to that promise for me, Jewel's oeuvre itself still is impressive and damn can she write songs and be funny and sing in all kinds of different ways. She's still finding herself but is also anchored. Bonus points for all the marvelous songs that didn't manage to make it on this disc. Hope some of them are on the next. 16 Horsepower -- 16 Horsepower E.P. Boys agin! Country punk! Folky music as though sung by New Order! Super duper extra bonus points for making me like this kind of music. It's the juxtaposition of the depressive voice and the energy of their playing. Whatever. I like it. Rebecca Moore -- Admiral Charcoal's Song Experimental? Kinda. Definitely interesting, but I wish she didn't also sound so consistently ...whiny is it? Something in the tone, anyway, that I wish she'd varied a bit, but the music is definitely different and intriguing. Bonus points for managing to be both experimental-ish and ear-catchy. My Beautiful Beast -- My Beautiful Beast Is this dance music? Not quite. Cocteau-ish? A little. Beautiful and beastly and ear candy, and a very promising start. They have a new disc in the works and it this is any indication it will be well worth tracking down. Canadian and great band name points. Weeping Tile -- eePee [E.P.], cold snap Points for being a good band despite the horrible band name. Damn. Loud rock with some folky touches, Sarah Harmer is a very good songwriter. A little uneven, there are some great songs here, especially "Westray" about the mining disaster in Nova Scotia. Bonus Canuck and theft from Robert Service points. goya dress -- Bedroom Cinema E.P., ruby e.p. In a couple of places the lead singer's voice is a dead ringer for Jane Siberry's--quite a surprise to hear Jane singing in a alternative rocky/dreamy/indefinable kind of Brit rock band. If these eps are any indication of what this group can do, I'm really looking forward to longer works from them. Sandra Lockwood -- Shell See above Stuff I Got This Year That I Should Have Got Years Ago: Agnes Buen Garnas and Jan Garbarek -- Rosenfole Dark & Northern. Simple. Haunting. Uniqueness points. Area -- Between Purple and Pink At last I found a copy of this album! And then another, and then another, after looking for a couple of years. It's probably my favourite Area disc. Henry Frayne's guitar points. Bliss. (I did find homes for the other copies!) Low -- I Could Live in Hope A great debut album, and especially a knock-out song about how "Lazy" Sarah is. Finally, Finally, Available on CD in 1995: Gabriel Yacoub -- Elementary Level of Faith Like _Quatre_ this is a uniquely beautiful collection. A little experimental in the Gabriel-ish vein, there's nothing like the love songs on here (and I usually hate straightforward love songs) and only Yacoub could get away with a song like "Seduction" that is so lovely it makes life worth living just to be able to hear it. Lanterna -- Lanterna Henry Frayne's guitar is more evocative than most songs with lyrics. Instrumentals that speak. Sandy Denny, Trevor Lucas and friends -- The Attic Tracks, 1972-1984 There will never be another voice like Sandy Denny's. Some tracks here than are among her best work. The Trevor Lucas stuff is ok, but it's the Sandy rarities that make this worth tracking down. Norman, Larry -- Only Visiting This Planet, So Long Ago The Garden, In Another Land The only Christian rock I can bear to listen to, and the only Christian rock musician that mainstream musicians cite as an influence. Wacky sense of humour combined with the seriousness of his faith make for some pretty strange music, but the wit and songwriting skills make these memorable. Magnetic Fields -- The Wayward Bus/Distant Plastic Trees Stephen Merritt's great pop songwriting combined with Susan Anway's voice. Enchanting. Chandra, Sheila -- Quiet, The Struggle, Roots and Wings, Monsoon Sheila Chandra's voice moving from Indipop to the beginnings of her stunning current work. A note on Neile's point system: First off, I made up this point system after writing most of this message. I don't really rate my discs. I based the rating on the fact that I don't keep discs I won't play again and so I sell a fair number of the discs I pick up. Discs get 1 point if I like a few songs enough to keep the disc, 2 if I like the whole disc and 3 if I like the disc enough to play it fairly frequently. I know this is long, but there are still good discs I didn't list at all, like Love Spirals Downwards' _Ardor_, and Sarah's _Freedom Sessions_, etc. etc. etc. - --Neile ------------------------------ From: Sue Trowbridge Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 12:54:00 -0500 (EST) Subject: Grammy nominations In case you're curious, Alanis Morisette, the woman many ectophiles love to hate, received several Grammy nominations, including album of the year and best new artist. Joan Osborne was nominated in many categories including album of the year, best new artist and record of the year. Joni Mitchell got a pop album of the year nomination for "Turbulent Indigo." Has anyone watched any of those American Bandstand reruns they're showing daily on VH1? Ah, the memories of feathered hair and blue eyeshadow come rushing back... - --Sue Trowbridge ------------------------------ From: Kevin John Contzen Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 10:53:51 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: Grammy nominations What's the difference between album of the year and record of the year? this has always stymied me... - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- kevin contzen ....... so take a lesson from the strangeness you feel and know vancouver, bc ..... you'll never be the same and find it in your heart to kneel canada ... down and say i gave my love didn't i? and i gave big some contzen@sfu.ca . times and i gave it in my own sweet time i'm just leaving ------------------------------ From: Kevin John Contzen Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 10:46:12 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: alanis morissette (was "my [kevin's] top 10!") > i think one of your problems with this album is that you're focusing on one > or two of the most "obvious" songs. the ones that stick out, the ones that > were most popular. i find that all (or almost all) of the songs *sound* > angry and psychotic (my choice of word, not gleaned from any other source > *grin*), but they really aren't all "you hurt me, girl" type songs as you > said. and i'd certainly never compare alanis' "you hurt me" songs to the > new kids on the schlock, but... well. let me run through the songs i admit the nkotb comparison (did you know they changed their name from "new kids on the block" to "nkotb" for their last or second last or whatever album? -- isn't it sick that i'm stuck with this kind of trivia in my head forever? ;) might have been somewhat hasty -- my impression came mainly from hearing the album with you, and my reading of the lyric booklet, which caused no end of winces. actually, it probably was somewhat hasty, but it sure was fun :) > ok, this is definitely a "you hurt me and i hate you" song (gee, wasn't > that a eurythmics song too? did you hate *that* song, kevin?). but even i don't hate alanis, i just don't see what the big deal is... i also think many of the eurythmics' songs (YHMAIHY included) aren't really very good... the only albums i like enough to own are _sweet dreams_ and _1984_, more for their musical style than for their lyrics. > with anger songs, tori lets it out in a roundabout, subtle way, and alanis > just pounds it out blatantly. well, i like both approaches, and i don't this is certainly not the only difference (to my mind, at least).... tori's anger songs are never about "i hate you lots"... they're more about herself than anything else... "the waitress" is perhaps the closest she comes to alanis' style, and i don't like that song, either. it's far more than just a difference in subtlety. also, my "you hurt me, girl" characterisation was not about saying that alanis' music is all about how men hurt her in relationships... it's just that she takes that approach to everything, without (i think) saying very much constructive, or even very much at all beyond "you hurt me, society," or "you hurt me, parents," or "you hurt me, guy," or "you hurt me, me," or whoever it happens to be this time. and even if this idea is wrong (it was quite a while ago when i read the lyrics) i do remember quite clearly that, for me at least, the lyrics were severly, severly lacking. (to the point of my perhaps rash NKOTB comparison).. (yes, even the "mother - nine months" reference --- you laud this, but i don't see it as anything more than an easy way for her to get out of saying anything -real-... so what if you didn't carry this person in your womb? why not say something about your relationship, or about yourself... and not something in the way i think alanis' somethings usually turn out to be.) well, i suppose we can't all like the same things, or even think the same things are even worth listening to (various genesis and erasure ramblings deleted ;) -- although i am prepared to admit genesis may be worth listening to, they're just sort of boring IMO) kevin - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- kevin contzen ....... so take a lesson from the strangeness you feel and know vancouver, bc ..... you'll never be the same and find it in your heart to kneel canada ... down and say i gave my love didn't i? and i gave big some contzen@sfu.ca . times and i gave it in my own sweet time i'm just leaving ------------------------------ From: SBI!200HUBBARD!amyd@lmbinc.attmail.com (DeFalco, Amy) Date: Thu, 04 Jan 1996 13:12:00 +0000 Subject: Happy Happy New Year! Greetings ectofriends.... is it spring yet?.... (as she pokes her little head out from under the covers..) I've been quite lax in my e-mail, lurking and all... with the intention of posting but never quite getting around to it. My personal life has been most bizarre these past few months (and I won't bore y'all with the gory details) and then the holidays... but I'm baaaack. I had a pretty cool yule... my Santa (this wonderful new boyfriend of mine...) gave me a 4-track, a microphone, and a set of headsets (and various and sundry other prizes). What a nice guy!!!! Red Guitar Girl is very happy indeed... and promises to actually record the songs she's had in her head, scribbled on paper, or recorded on a primitive tape recorder. (yea!!!!!!) It is 1996 isn't it?..... this is the year *I* turn 30 ..... (ugh..) I think I'm going to go somewhere warm (with my companion), lay in the sun and have people bring me fuzzy blue drinks..... (what's a few more wrinkles..) I noticed everyone seems to be posting something about top 10 faves of 1995. I can't really come up with a list because what I've bought this year has been so diverse, and in some cases, just CD versions of stuff I had on vinyl years ago (like I've just about got all the Genesis remasters...) But what I will do is mention some pop culture / musical things that were positives for me in 1995: in no particular order.... Discovering the band "suddenly, tammy!" in enough time to catch them live at a small venue (a great show at that) - before they hit the "big time", and getting to chat with them after the show Discovering the band "Innocence Mission" Discovering Sarah (I didn't actually get around to buying FTE til this summer) Seeing Jane (sitting really close to the stage) put on an incredible show at the Park West in Chicago Getting better at my guitar playing... (I can actually bar chords now ) (giggle.. snicker snicker...) King Crimson THRAK! and getting to see them in concert Happy is most productive this year the films: "The Secret of Roan Inish", "Muriel's Wedding" and "Pulp Fiction" Hearing the news that Trevor Rabin has *officially* left Yes (with apologies to our dear H.T. Rhodes) and that the REAL band is getting back together to record again. Beavis & Butthead (filling in the void in my demented brain left when MST3K killed off TV's Frank - and when Joel departed if you want to go back even further) Absolutely Fabulous (sweetie.. darling... "...one more facelift and she'd have a beard" Patsy Stone) ER! (I just LOVE that show!) Buying a computer for myself (okay you all can laugh if you want) Joining ecto! (it has been a wonderful experience this past year.... here's to many more!) ===================================================== A couple things about 1995 that continually make me go "WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?!!!"... the popularity of Smashing Pumpkins *and* Alanis M. and Sheryl Crow and Silverchair and... STOP IT AMY!!! BAD GIRL!!! (sorry to anyone who's a fan... please don't flame me) Michael Jackson is still alive (and actually got *married* shhhheeeeeet I thought I'd be married again before *he* made a trip down the aisle!) How musicians (and others ...) are *still* overdosing from heroin (haven't we learned yet?) the film "Species" (there's plenty more.. but that one is particularly stupid tho) My ability to watch Melrose Place and actually *know* what is going on with the characters Happy still doesn't tour.. just like our KaTe.... grrrrrrr and the most confusing of all...... why my 22 year old roommate is dating my 34 year old ex-boyfriend (who just so happens to live downstairs). + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + Really incredibly stupid things that happened this year... audtioning for My Scarlet Life with no idea what the band was about, nor that Preston Klik had been in Big Hat .. I had no idea who they were either. That one gets a Homer Simpson "DOH!!" (like going to a job interview not knowing what the company does) another incredibly stupid thing... this idiot I dated for a while said to me, after about a month of steady dates, blah blah blah (you know the routine) get this... "I thought I would love you more by now" .... ACK!! needless to say.... I told the boy to get some tact, a clue, and hit the bricks (poor fool) I swear.. that's like.. the *best* breakup line I've EVER heard.. ROTFL ******************************************** I hope everyone is having a good beginning of `96.... may it bring peace and prosperity to you all. Here's to new Tori (Happy Happy Joy Joy), new Aimee Mann (being released domestic) and hopefully much much more from all our favorites.. love & chocolate Amy ------------------------------ From: Neal Copperman Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 16:03:35 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Neile's Top Discs of 1995 On Thu, 4 Jan 1996, Neile Graham wrote: > Kathleen Yearwood -- Book of Hate > > She's angry, but her songs still have beauty. There's > hate on this disc, and yet there's a sense of > redemption, too, and she's angry at the right things. > Also an unusual sense of maturity. The best lyricist > I've come across in years--poetic and pointed, > impressionist and concrete, both. Diamanda Galas > discovers traditional and contemporary folk music. > She gets extra points for being Canadian & for being > so forthright. > Extra points also for odd packaging, mailing a (handmade?) lyric book to you if you request it (and returning my apparently useless American stamps too), and responding with a 2 page letter to the note I included in my lyric request. Neal ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V2 #332 ************************** ======================================================================== Please send any questions or comments about the list to ecto-owner@nsmx.rutgers.edu