From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V4 #244 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Friday, July 24 1998 Volume 04 : Number 244 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: CD Sale ["Xenu's Sister" ] Re: 2 mellons ["Xenu's Sister" ] Re: CD Sale [PunkaPixie@aol.com] Ska music critique... [Thomas Dunning ] Re: dating stereolab [Neile Graham ] Re: CD Sale ["Jeffrey C. Burka" ] Siddal [Tom Pinkl ] Re: Siddal ["jeffrey c. burka" ] Re: Siddal [Tom Pinkl ] Re: dating stereolab [charley darbo ] Re: Siddal ["jeffrey c. burka" ] Re: dating stereolab [James Gurley ] Re: Siddal [Michael Colford ] Re: dating stereolab [Kim Justice ] Re: dating stereolab [dsr@lns598.lns.cornell.edu] Re: dating stereolab ["Joseph S. Zitt" ] Re: dating stereolab [charley darbo ] Re: dating stereolab (part iii) [charley darbo ] memory ["J." Wermont ] Highlights of my concert-going week (rather long) [Riphug@aol.com] Re: dating stereolab [Neile Graham ] "Veering From the Wave" -- just for Steve [Riphug@aol.com] So you want a pantheon... [Philip David Morgan ] Emm Gryner article [Riphug@aol.com] That Gorges Girl [Sharon Nichols ] shoegazers? ["J." Wermont ] Re: shoegazers? [Cheri Villines ] Re: shoegazers? [jason and jill ] Re: shoegazers? ["Tim Finney" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 00:52:22 -0500 From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: Re: CD Sale At 06:31 PM 7/22/98 -0400, Jeffrey C. Burka wrote: >Neile Graham wrote: > >> Just wanted to alert those interested that www.musicblvd.com is >> having a 3 for $25 sale that includes Pamela Golden's >> _It Happens All the Time_. > >> I haven't finished browing the sale list, but this disc is highly, highly >> recommended. > >Yeah, what SHE said! > >Vickie discovered this one day many, many moons ago whilst browsing. She >noted the names of some Gabrielesque people and threw caution and a few >bucks to the wind. It's one of the few CDs I paid full price for without ever hearing, not only a note from the record, but anything about her at all. I had never heard her name mentioned. The CD just looked cool, and I noticed while checking out the back of the CD that Jerry Marotta and Tony Levin both played on it. Also, it had wonderful titles such as "Eerie Song," "Ballet Dream," and "Lisa Of The Wind" so I took a chance and was glad I did. It's a wonderful album! >She later realized that the haunting and exquisite "Ballet Dream" was >used over and over and over again in Easy Spirit shoe commercials, which >ran for years. I haven't seen it for a while, but yeah, it did play for years. I hope Pamela made out like a bandit. The commercials were always tasteful and used the song well. >The album is by turns dark, brooding pop, shimmering ethereal overdubs, >and dancy fun. Golden is one of those people I really wish would release >more music... Yep, what HE said! Does anyone have any information at all on what Pamela's been up to? HATT came out in 1991!! Vickie DIVX = GREED - Boycott Circuit City! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 00:56:58 -0500 From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: Re: 2 mellons At 05:12 PM 7/23/98 -0500, Mike Mendelson wrote: >And another thing: I'm bummed that I will be unable to attend the gaffathon >in chicago next weekend... confluence of too many things just makes it >impossible. sulk. Sulksquared! I know you couldn't come until sundown, but I'm sure the party will go on until late. If you could squeeze in a few minutes it'd be wonderful. >Hope I can catch up with V&C soon, though... it's been a *long* time. But if you can't, then yeah, definitely. Soon, I hope. Vickie DIVX = GREED - Boycott Circuit City! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 02:23:27 EDT From: PunkaPixie@aol.com Subject: Re: CD Sale speakign of CD sales, CDnow just announced their 4th anniversary .. everything is on sale now! ttyl - -linda ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 01:37:36 -0500 (CDT) From: Thomas Dunning Subject: Ska music critique... Just FYI, Brilliant article on the history of ska, reggae and dancehall in Chicago, with emphasis on division of race, and a generally fascinating assessment of the current pathetic ska scene in this week's (July 24, 1998) Chicago Reader... Apologies to those who aren't in Chicago, but I'd be happy to snip the article and send it to anyone whose interested. Interesting thing that isn't mentioned is the division of gender in ska culture. Thomas ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 22:51:45 -0700 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: dating stereolab Neal asked: >I recently bought a copy of Stereolab's Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, and >it annoyingly is copyrighted 1998. I know this album originally came out >some years ago, so I gather this is a re-release. That's fine, but I like >to know when the music actually came out. Can anyone help me? Jeez, Neal, did you ever think of looking on The Ectophiles' Guide? (Just HAD to tease you about that since we actually do have the Stereolab page up even though Jim did answer you already.) - --Neile n.p. Siddal, mystery and the sea (yum!) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 07:35:58 -0400 From: "Jeffrey C. Burka" Subject: Re: CD Sale PunkaPixie@aol.com wrote: > speakign of CD sales, > CDnow just announced their 4th anniversary .. > everything is on sale now! And speaking of CDNow, I figure they deserve a plug because they just sent me a free custom disc. A while back I ordered Jewish Alternative Movement's _A Guide for the Perplexed_ from them, which is on Knitting Factory Music. It seems that: a) CDNow has just partnered with SuperSonicBoom (one of the two or three custom cd shops that, er, it was you, Philip David Morgan, wasn't it? wrote about a while back) b) SSB now has access to a big chunk of the Knit's music library. And as a promotion, they let me put together a disc of music from the Knit and then shipped me the CD for free. I thought it was a rather impressive promotion, and the sort of "spam" I *like* to see in my mailbox (I was annoyed at first to see what I thought was going to be junkmail from CDNow in my mailbox). jeff (for those curious, I pretty much just chose songs from one of Hasidic New Wave's albums, and Amy Denio's "Birthing Chair Blues," of which I only had the title track previously) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 09:16:02 -0400 (EDT) From: Tom Pinkl Subject: Siddal > > n.p. Siddal, mystery and the sea (yum!) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net > The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile, is this new Siddal? I have _The Crossing_ and _The Pedestal_ but I forget where I ordered them from. - -- Thomas J. Pinkl 738 Louis Drive Unix Systems Programmer Warminster, Pa 18974 Health Business Systems, Inc. (215) 442-9300 x9260 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 10:13:30 -0400 (EDT) From: "jeffrey c. burka" Subject: Re: Siddal On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, Tom Pinkl wrote: > > n.p. Siddal, mystery and the sea (yum!) > Neile, is this new Siddal? I have _The Crossing_ and _The Pedestal_ > but I forget where I ordered them from. It's a 5 song e.p., running about 35 minutes. I feel ignored, as you didn't comment when I had this in a np a few weeks ago. ;-) I'm not sure exactly when it came out, but I know I bought my copy in early november '97. It's wonderful. jeff ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 10:48:39 -0400 (EDT) From: Tom Pinkl Subject: Re: Siddal [re: Siddal, mystery and the sea] > > It's a 5 song e.p., running about 35 minutes. I feel ignored, as you > didn't comment when I had this in a np a few weeks ago. ;-) No offence intended. :-) That'll teach me to pay more attention to everyone's np (and nr, too). > I'm not sure exactly when it came out, but I know I bought my copy in > early november '97. It's wonderful. > > jeff Thanks to jeff and to Michael Wallace (didn't want to ignore Michael) for the prompt replies. Jeff, I have to ask, how on earth do you know that you bought your copy "in early november '97"? np. Tanya Donelly, _Lovesongs for Underdogs_ (how's this compare to Belly?) nr. mostly trade rags :-( - -- Thomas J. Pinkl 738 Louis Drive Unix Systems Programmer Warminster, Pa 18974 Health Business Systems, Inc. (215) 442-9300 x9260 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 08:09:17 -0700 (PDT) From: charley darbo Subject: Re: dating stereolab - ---Neal Copperman wrote: > > > I recently bought a copy of Stereolab's Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, and > it annoyingly is copyrighted 1998. I know this album originally came out > some years ago, so I gather this is a re-release. That's fine, but I like > to know when the music actually came out. Can anyone help me? _Space_Age_Bacheor_Pad_Music_ is the title of an Esquivel album I have. I lose a little respect for Stereolab for having, not simply referred to the name, but taken it outright. - --charley _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 11:34:17 -0400 (EDT) From: "jeffrey c. burka" Subject: Re: Siddal On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, Tom Pinkl wrote: > [re: Siddal, mystery and the sea] > Jeff, I have to ask, how on earth do you know that you bought your > copy "in early november '97"? a) because I'm like that. I often frighten people. And no, it wsn't written down anywhere. Back before my memory started going, I'd tell people things like the dates on which we'd had particular conversations. b) that one was particularly easy to recall; I picked it up on the way to visit a friend in the hospital, and said friend is a big Siddal fan. > np. Tanya Donelly, _Lovesongs for Underdogs_ (how's this compare to Belly?) I love Belly and I love LfU. That said, they're comparable, but the stylistic differences are noticeable. I'd say Belly tends toward crunchier. I suspect that most ectophiles prefer the first one, _Star_, which is a little more, er, experimental, I guess. I probably listen to _King_ more often, though. And LfU was on my top 10 of '97. jeff ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 09:13:42 -0700 (PDT) From: James Gurley Subject: Re: dating stereolab On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, charley darbo wrote: > > > > > > ---Neal Copperman wrote: > > > > > > I recently bought a copy of Stereolab's Space Age Bachelor Pad > Music, and > > it annoyingly is copyrighted 1998. I know this album originally > came out > > some years ago, so I gather this is a re-release. That's fine, but > I like > > to know when the music actually came out. Can anyone help me? > > _Space_Age_Bacheor_Pad_Music_ is the title of an Esquivel album I > have. I lose a little respect for Stereolab for having, not simply > referred to the name, but taken it outright. > > --charley > Hunh? It's not like they are the only band that has done this or ever used Esquivel's album title. Shortly after their cd came out part of the sub-genre of lounge music got labeled "SABP music." Also, Stereolab have "borrowed" other things as well, i.e. album art, riffs from other artists they've liked. Just ask any "Can" fan. Then again they've always been up front about their "borrowings." - --Jim _________________________________________________________ > DO YOU YAHOO!? > Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 12:12:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Michael Colford Subject: Re: Siddal On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, jeffrey c. burka wrote: > > np. Tanya Donelly, _Lovesongs for Underdogs_ (how's this compare to Belly?) > > I love Belly and I love LfU. That said, they're comparable, but the > stylistic differences are noticeable. I'd say Belly tends toward > crunchier. I suspect that most ectophiles prefer the first one, _Star_, > which is a little more, er, experimental, I guess. I probably listen to > _King_ more often, though. And LfU was on my top 10 of '97. I pretty much agree with Jeff all around on this. I do prefer _Star_ because it's a little quirkier. I think I liked LfU so much because that quirkiness came back. Tanya is a great pop songwriter who bends things enough to make them interesting without sacrificing great hoooks. LfU was in my top 10 of 1997 as well! Michael n.p. Lisa Germano - Slide (Really enjoying it on 2nd listen!) n.r. Now It's Time to Say Goodbye by Dale Peck - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Colford | Reading Public Library Head of Technical Services | Reading, Massachusetts colford@noblenet.org | *North of Boston Library Exchange* - -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 11:21:37 -0500 (CDT) From: Kim Justice Subject: Re: dating stereolab On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, James Gurley wrote: > On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, charley darbo wrote: > > _Space_Age_Bacheor_Pad_Music_ is the title of an Esquivel album I > > have. I lose a little respect for Stereolab for having, not simply > > referred to the name, but taken it outright. > > It's not like they are the only band that has done this or ever used > Esquivel's album title. Shortly after their cd came out part of the > sub-genre of lounge music got labeled "SABP music." [...] Have I told you about the novel I'm writing? I'm gonna call it "Gone with the Wind". kj - -- justicek@edge.net (Kim Justice) http://edge.edge.net/~justicek Radiant and terrified, they fall. -- Anna Domino ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jul 1998 12:19:36 -0400 From: dsr@lns598.lns.cornell.edu Subject: Re: dating stereolab charley darbo writes: > _Space_Age_Bacheor_Pad_Music_ is the title of an Esquivel album I > have. I lose a little respect for Stereolab for having, not simply > referred to the name, but taken it outright. Space age bachelor pad music has also become the name of the genre exemplified by the Esquivel album of the same name, and the Stereolab album's full title is more like _The_Groop_Played_"Space Age Bachelor Pad Music"_, which is pretty explicitly referential... - -- Dan Riley dsr@mail.lns.cornell.edu Wilson Lab, Cornell University "History teaches us that days like this are best spent in bed" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 11:31:46 -0500 (CDT) From: "Joseph S. Zitt" Subject: Re: dating stereolab On Fri, 24 Jul 1998, Kim Justice wrote: > > It's not like they are the only band that has done this or ever used > > Esquivel's album title. Shortly after their cd came out part of the > > sub-genre of lounge music got labeled "SABP music." [...] > > Have I told you about the novel I'm writing? > I'm gonna call it "Gone with the Wind". Just don't call it "Greatest Hits", or you'll get lots of people stomping on you :-) - - ---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------1---------- |||/ Joseph Zitt ===== jzitt@humansystems.com ===== Human Systems \||| ||/ Maryland? = <*> SILENCE: The John Cage Mailing List <*> = ecto \|| |/ http://www.realtime.net/~jzitt ====== Comma: Voices of New Music \| ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 10:33:36 -0700 (PDT) From: charley darbo Subject: Re: dating stereolab A) It's my understanding, though I'll have to check the CD when I get home, that the phrase orginated in the liner notes of the first of the recent series of Esquivel reissues in, like, 1994 or something; I seem to remember the author of the notes describing when he came up with it or something. And for some reason I feel like the author was Matt Groening. Either than or he's prominently mentioned. Haven't read the notes since the day I bought the disc--the day it came out. B) If the title is, indeed, _The_Groop_Plays_..._, then I rescind my objection; this would, of course, be more referential than, as I judge the title previously floated, definitive. So I guess to sum up what I'm whining about, it just seems to me the height of commercial solipsism for a band or an artist to lay claim to a term of critical generalization. It would be like Tricky calling an album _Trip_Hop_, rather than disdaining the label as he does. (It would not be the same thing, however, as Happy Rhodes calling an album _Ecto_.) I mean, when I heard the title, I just pictured someone in Stereolab saying, "hey, SABPM is what the CD-buying masses call this type of music, so let's co-opt the label and capitalize on it!" _OBVIOUSLY_ could be wrong; wasn't there. Just my reaction to the title. - --charley _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 10:50:53 -0700 (PDT) From: charley darbo Subject: Re: dating stereolab (part iii) Well, I was wrong about the origin of the phrase. From Bar/None's Esquivel page (Bar/None is the label that started reissing Esquivel in 1994): ". . . the music was re-christened Space Age Bachelor Pad Music by used record scavengers in the 1980s. . . ." And here's an interesting, if ambiguous, quote from a fan page: ". . . Even the names reek of mindless nostalgia: easy listening, mood music, exotica. Some people prefer "space age bachelor pad music" but these are arrogant hipsters not to be trusted (excepting Stereolab). . . ." - --charley _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 11:05:48 -0700 (PDT) From: "J." Wermont Subject: memory Jeff wrote: > a) because I'm like that. I often frighten people. And no, it wsn't > written down anywhere. Back before my memory started going, I'd tell > people things like the dates on which we'd had particular conversations. OK, this is non-ecto, but I had to comment on this. I remember those days. I used to be able to sit down at the beginning of September, and write down what I did almost every day of the summer. If you gave me a date, I could tell you what day of the week it fell on. When Ronald Reagan couldn't remember what he did on August 8, 1985, I realized that I could remember almost everything I did that day, including what a friend of mine *dreamed* the night before (because she'd told me about it that morning). My memory was legendary among friends. I was great for nostalgia trips because I always knew what everyone had done when. But... that was the old days. Nowadays if I can remember what *year* I did something I'm proud of myself. It's like having a full disk - it gets harder and harder to find space to put new stuff, so lots of things just get dropped. Joyce ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 14:38:46 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: Highlights of my concert-going week (rather long) I seem to be having some problems in getting all of my concert stories posted -- lack of time, other priorities, and AOL screwups. So just to give you a taste of the past week’s adventures, here are the highlights: In addition to spending lots of time with Deanna Kirk (and her backup guys) and Jennifer Kimball....and losing my Tower Records virginity on Thursday night last..... 1. Met Ashwin Sood -- you know, Sarah McLachlan’s drummer/husband who sports various colors of hair? He was standing at the Village Stage watching Emm Gryner perform. I noticed him standing alone (how can he be missed with that purple hair?) and walked up, stuck out my hand, and introduced myself to him. Our coversation was very short, but he said that Emm was “one of *our* close friends.” Unfortunately, there were no witnesses to this meeting, but I’m not lying......really! 2. Met Dave Holmes of Nettwerk Management. Quiet guy, but nice.....I think he has potential. So if any of you want a job with Nettwerk, just get in touch with me and I’m sure I can get Dave to hire ya. (Yeah, right...) 3. Saw Leanne Bittner and met Dan of Nettwerk at their booth. Asked for Jay Clark, but he wasn’t working Lilith Fair. Dave Holmes told me that Jay would be at the Cincy HORDE Fest, for which I had front row tickets. 4. Met Rebekah (“Sin So Well”) and we’ve become very best friends. Ok, well, maybe not.....but we hugged and laughed and she said she likes the way I dance (only because I coerced her into saying that). And she thinks I’m funny, too....so there! 5. Met one of Rebekah’s sound guys, thanks to Denise and her bikini top. (For those of you who still think Andy is Rebekah’s bus driver, he isn’t!) Next time *I’m* gonna be the one with the bikini top and get on to someone’s bus! 6. Slept with Matt. Don’t worry, kids.....it was completely innocent....we slept. He’s such a gentleman.... I think he’s afraid of me now, but damn if he isn’t one cute little cuddly teddybear! If I were only 20 years younger.......*sigh* 7. Caressed the naked butt cheeks of T-Boy. And I’m not even gonna explain that one.....but I think it’s on video....... Explains why he’s not coming to the Cincy Lilith Fair after all, I guess. Jill :D intimidated T-Boy!!!! Woohoo! 8. Slept with and kissed Denise repeatedly......again in perfect innocence. She and I go waaaaaay back.... 9. Nearly peed my pants playing air hockey with Denise before we took off for the airport....One of those “you had to be there” kind of things. 10. Thanks to local harbinger-buddy, Karen White, I met Phil Sullivan, Paula Cole’s manager, before the show. Phil is one cool dude, and I know he wants me (even though he had invited Karen to dinner). We talked about how he got together with Paula (he was Jay Bellerose’s roommate), previous shows they’ve done in Cincinnati, and getting old (he just turned 40 and I’m 43) -- bifocals, having kids, etc. My husband took a photo of Karen and I standing with our arms around Phil and he (begrudgingly) signed my cd liners. 11. Met Jay Bellerose, Paula’s fantastic drummer, backstage after the show. Witnessed Jay giving a set of drumsticks to Dan Bartosik (you go, Dan!); talked with Jay about the wonderful ironwork Marc has done on Jay’s highhat stands. 12. Met Paula Cole herself! Like the rest of her group, she seemed to be soooooo tired, but was still smiling. Karen gave Paula a necklace and I gave her two glowsticks (ok, so I wasn’t really thinking ahead). Unfortunately, I don’t know either of us said -- I was just rambling on like a blithering idiot as she signed my cd liners. 13. Fell in love with so many wonderful people I had only known through their posts and IMs! Can’t we all just get together and live in one humongous musical commune? Y’all just make me feel so young! 14. Had front row pit seats for HORDE Fest and made lots of eye contact with the Barenaked Ladies -- especially Ed Roberts (aka *the cute one*) and Tyler Stewart (the drummer). Tyler liked the glowstick I was wearing around my neck. 15. Talked with Jay Clark from Nettwerk, who was accompanying the BNL and was stationed at the Panasonic/AWARE booth. I was hoping he could get me in to get the BNL autographs, but one of the venue people kicked me out and I didn’t want to keep bugging Jay to get me back in. Maybe next time.... 16. Lots of smiles and eye contact between me and Blues Traveler’s bass player, Bobby. After the concert, John Popper (lead singer and awesome harmonica player!) was throwing harmonicas out into the audience. Bobby came over to me, leaned down and shook my hand, then walked over to Popper, got one of his harmonicas, and gave it directly to me. I’m not even a BT fan, but it’s quite a cool souvenir! Well, those are the highlights. I don’t know if I’ll get around to writing more -- especially since I’m not really a music critic.....just a music lover. ;-) Besides.....I’ve got more concerts coming up in August: Cincinnati’s Lilith Fair on August 8th, Tori Amos in Kansas City on the 28th, and the Indigo Girls’ Suffragette Sessions on the 30th. Those are the definites....but who knows who else might just crop up? Jill :D ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 13:27:29 -0700 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: dating stereolab Charley wrote: >B) If the title is, indeed, _The_Groop_Plays_..._, then I rescind my >objection; this would, of course, be more referential than, as I judge >the title previously floated, definitive. Just for confirmation, the title is indeed _the groop played "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music"_, though "the groop played" part is in tiny type. It's very much a tribute to the Esquival & co., and very obviously meant to be in that context. And in any case I wouldn't compare this to someone doing an album now called _Trip Hop_. More like in 30 years if someone did an album in that style and called it that or called it _Shoegazer_ or _indiepop_ or _alternarock_ or even _ectophilia_. - --Neile n.p. The Shakers, Living in the Shadow of a Spirit (hey Vickie, apparently Rebecca Stout from The Shakers will shortly have a solo album out!--There's a promo picture of her on the net somewhere to do with a festival she played and it was pretty hard to play the whacked-out Rebecca Stout with the one from The Shakers, but the note below said it was her! Anyone heard of Treason Records? Anyway her new album will be called _The Empress_.) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 18:53:32 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: "Veering From the Wave" -- just for Steve In a message dated 7/24/98 12:37:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time, steve_bornstein@hotmail.com writes: << SO glad you finally got a copy of Jennifer Kimball's "Veering From The Wave." Looking forward to your review. It's almost a foregone conclusion it'll be on my Top Ten List. It will inevitably be compared to Jonatha Brooke's work, but it stands on its own quite well. I'm a little surprised at how similar her voice is to Jonatha's, which explains why they blended so well as The Story. >> Ok.....I made a special point of sitting down and listening to this carefully, making notes as thoughts popped into my head. Here's what I wrote: 1. Meet Me in the Twilight - I can imagine hearing this on on the radio. Jangly guitar with a cha-cha rhythm. 2. Kissing In the Car - I love the dissonance and *different* melody -- not your standard singalong song. 3. Fall At Your Fett - another cha-cha....makes me feel like I'm on a tropical island....I can imagine the early Beatles covering this one (yeah, I realize the timing would be off for that). ;-) 4. Gagna's Song - ohmigod! a beautiful, slow, sad ballad of an elderly man thinking about ending his life and reflecting upon memories of love.....that's a mandolin, right? And bagpipes? Or some kind of Celtic flute or something? 5. It's A Long Way Home - yee-hah! A nice upbeat singalong that could almost cross over to country....except that bridge is a little too sophisticated, I think. Very radio-friendly. 6. An Ordinary Soldier - slow.....pretty.....nice dissonance......could make a good addition to a movie soundtrack. 7. Take One Step - another unusual melody, but sooooo pretty! another cha- cha ...what is that sampled at the very end? 8. The Revelations - jazzy beat -- piano and brushed drums.....then goes to pop-sounding beat reminiscent of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (I'm sure I'm dating myself here). 9. (This Is) My New Vow - Jennifer and a banjo (or is it mandolin?)....shows off her beautiful, clear voice and range.....I don't understand the abrupt ending. 10. World Without End - the song with the most dissonance, this is another beautiful slow song.......but what's with the 30 second piano thing at the end? 11. Veering From the Wave - "to the fury".....Jennifer and her guitar....in 3/4 time...has a Cowboy Junkies feel to it because of the echo-ish low guitar. 12. Lullaby - not your typical lullaby Jennifer Kimball has truly amazing song-writing talents and a very easy-to- listen-to voice. This album has lots of *love tunes* is very relaxing. Two of the things I like best about Jennifer's singing are (1) how you can hear her breathing and (2) how she often sings words slightly offbeat of their notes. << BTW, it sounds like it was a solo gig. I saw her with her full band two months ago - the same band as on the album, including Lucy Kaplansky on vocals and Mr. Texture Marc Shulman on guitar - and that was a real treat.>> Yes.....it does seem to be very much Jennifer and her strings.....which I enjoy. Almost like being at the show again! I can't wait to her her work with Lucy and the Wayfaring Strangers......and for another solo effort from Jennifer. Oh, by the way......the only track that is on Jennifer's Demo but not on Veering From the Wave is "The Back of Your Hand." See her if you get a chance! Jill :D Jennifer's new best friend (whether she realizes it or not) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 19:41:27 -0400 From: Philip David Morgan Subject: So you want a pantheon... Good Evening, Everyone: Apologies for being more of a lurker these days... lately, I've been hanging out with storytellers (Diane Wolkstein in particular) and poets....add all efforts to keep the house together while Mum and Dad take off for a while, movies on video that can distract me easily (a letterboxed _Breaking the Waves_, the NC-17 cut of _Broken English_, and the Japanese anime series _The Irresponsible Captain Tylor_), and a larger work load at the office, and.... I don't really have a "pantheon" per se, perhaps because I'm reluctant to put anybody on _any_ kind of pedestal.... ;-) Ah, but if I had to make some choices... let's see... definitely Happy....Susan McKeown... Evelyn Glennie (yes, I promised reviews of her recent CDs and have yet to deliver!)...Ingrid Karklins... Lisa Gerard...Jane Siberry (oh, yes, can't forget Jane)... Grey Eye Glances (their new CD is out)... Bright Blue Gorilla... Cathy Kreger... Peccadillo (thank you, Andrew)... Kavisha Mazzella (thank you again, Andrew)... then the list takes a decidedly non-Ecto turn to include Janice Buckner, Michael Nyman, Dawn Upshaw, Annie Haslam, Negativland, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Elizabeth Von Trapp...toss in locals such as Marci Geller, Moon Pearls, Nylon & Steel, the storytellers Laura Simms and Heather Forest... and, oh yes, can't forget Diane Wolkstein (especially when we're friends)... Guess I'm not the pinned-down-butterfly. Philip David (who should lurk less and write more) 7/24/1998 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 19:53:54 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: Emm Gryner article I ran across this article on the Canoe website: <> ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 20:04:40 -0600 From: Sharon Nichols Subject: That Gorges Girl Happy is now looking for photos of the Grand Canyon or any other cliff formations for her projections. The photos must be clear of obstructions such as people, fences or cars. You will be credited for donation and your photos will be returned. If you have something like this, contact Happy at auralg@ulster.net Sharon ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 17:33:11 -0700 (PDT) From: "J." Wermont Subject: shoegazers? Neile wrote: > And in any case I wouldn't compare this to someone doing an album now > called _Trip Hop_. More like in 30 years if someone did an album in that > style and called it that or called it _Shoegazer_ or _indiepop_ or > _alternarock_ or even _ectophilia_. I've always wondered what "shoegazer" rock was - can someone tell me? Is it like the Smiths or the Cure, etc? I imagine it to be dark and brooding, introspective alternative rock a la Morrissey. You know, someone who's so depressed and moody that they stare down at their shoes all the time. It recalls the idea of navel-gazing, too. But if I'm right, then that doesn't fit in with what Neile wrote, since I wouldn't call Tricky's music brooding or introspective. And if Tricky is a typical example of Trip Hop, then I should listen to some more of that, because I love their cover of "Black Steel." Can anyone recommend other bands who have that sound? Thanks, Joyce jwermont@sonic.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 19:43:35 -0500 (CDT) From: Cheri Villines Subject: Re: shoegazers? > I've always wondered what "shoegazer" rock was - can someone tell me? Is > it like the Smiths or the Cure, etc? I imagine it to be dark and brooding, > introspective alternative rock a la Morrissey. You know, someone who's > so depressed and moody that they stare down at their shoes all the time. > It recalls the idea of navel-gazing, too. I used to be on a list called "dreampop", another name for "shoegazer." Some bands discussed there included The Verve, Laika, Bailter Space, Curve, Portishead, Red House Painters, Nick Cave, Spiritualized, and many others that I can't recall at the moment. Basically, it is dreamy, often dark, music that makes you want to stand in place and sway. Sort of transcendental without being new-agey. Cheri ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 22:30:11 -0400 (EDT) From: jason and jill Subject: Re: shoegazers? > > I used to be on a list called "dreampop", another name for "shoegazer." > Some bands discussed there included The Verve, Laika, Bailter Space, > Curve, Portishead, Red House Painters, Nick Cave, Spiritualized, and many > others that I can't recall at the moment. Basically, it is dreamy, often > dark, music that makes you want to stand in place and sway. Sort of > transcendental without being new-agey. Shoegazer refers to Cocteau Twins and their off-shoot and derived bands, such as Lush, Dead Can Dance (to a certain extent), and then the line of bands that followed Cocteau Twins (Curve, Slowdive, etc., and the big momma second-generation shoegazer band, My Bloody Valentine) Trancendental without being new-agey is kind of a good description. Don't know if the bands mentioned above, with the exception of Curve, qualify. Jason ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 13:41:04 +0000 From: "Tim Finney" Subject: Re: shoegazers? >I've always wondered what "shoegazer" rock was - can someone tell me? Is >it like the Smiths or the Cure, etc? I imagine it to be dark and brooding, >introspective alternative rock a la Morrissey. You know, someone who's >so depressed and moody that they stare down at their shoes all the time. >It recalls the idea of navel-gazing, too. You got the shoegazing term's origins right - it was also about the fact that the bands were so busy concentrating on the music that there was little time for stageman histrionics. The Cure and The Smiths do at times fit into the shoegazer style (especially The Cure on 89's Disintegration - one of the few albums ever created that is really "perfect"), but actually both group's songwriting style is too succint in a way. As Jason said, the two ultimate shoegazer bands were The Cocteau Twins (inventing the ethereal, ghostly sound at one end of the spectrum) and My Bloody Valentine (inventing the dissonant, wall-of-guitar sound at the other), and most shoegazer groups could claim some lineage from either of these, such groups being Lush, The Cranes, Curve, Slowdive, Ride, The Verve etc. The basic style is a flowing, but often dissonant, style of music which concentrates less on the song itself, but more the sound, which is often multi-layered. The vocals are usually kept in the bakground (or, as in Cocteau Twins etc., used as another instrument), and so its like listening to explosions of sound through layers of mollases. Instrument of choice is guitar, but keyboards are often used as well, and sometimes the odd sampler. Tricky is definitely not a shoegazer-style musician, because his influences are in dance and hip-hop, and his music is too fast-paced and shuffling, although Portishead are members depending on your criteria. For the more jazzy side of dreampop, try Talk Talk's later releases (especially Spirit Of Eden). Although dream-pop has to a large extent died down, it seems to have largely influenced all the new "progressive" American bands (Built To Spill, Shudder To Think etc.). An oft-forgotten classic among shoegazer albums is "What Does Anything Mean? Basically" by The Chameleons. The Chameleons, an eighties band, were usually more the middle ground between The Cure and what Radiohead are now doing, with a fair dose of Joy Division, (or if you know them, the forefathers to Puressence), but their second album from '85 is a lovely, ethereal mix of soaring guitars and crashing keyboards, sort of pre-empting My Bloody Valentine's work in a less overtly-dissonant way. Anyway, in my opinion, the two definitive dream-pop albums are "Loveless" by My Bloody Valentine and "Treasure" by The Cocteau Twins, and my personal recommendations WDATM?B and Spirit Of Eden. Regards, Tim ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V4 #244 **************************