From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V4 #294 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Wednesday, August 26 1998 Volume 04 : Number 294 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Today's your birthday, friend... [Mike Matthews ] milla and more shopping [irvin lin ] New Milla????? (Re: milla and more shopping ["Xenu's Sister" ] new milla ["Jeffrey C. Burka" ] Re: milla and more shopping [Michael Colford ] RE: New Milla????? (Re: milla and more shopping [Tim.Cook@Swift.Com (Tim ] Building The Colossus (Re: Charming Hostess ["Xenu's Sister" ] Re: new milla [Riphug@aol.com] New Shawn Colvin CD [Riphug@aol.com] paradise motel on triple j [australians]. ["the maier family" ] Happy's resemblances ["Kevin D. Highnight" ] Re: playing songs over and over ["C. K. Coney" ] Re: playing songs over and over ["C. K. Coney" ] I Wanna Be Kate mention in A.P. ["C. K. Coney" ] Re: MWABT (and Btc) ["C. K. Coney" ] Fwd from Carol: Lake Buena Vista, FL--Virgin MegaStore ["C. K. Coney" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 03:00:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friend... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ********************* Don Gibson (GIBSOND@aa.wl.com) ********************** *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Don Gibson Wed August 26 1959 Virgo Marcel Rijs Mon August 31 1970 A rose growing old Meredith Tarr Wed September 01 1971 Virgo Mary Lou Rowe Sat September 03 1960 Virgo Scott Zimmerman Mon September 04 1972 Virgo Mike Mendelson Fri September 04 1964 Virgo Richard Dean Wed September 06 1967 Virgo David Blank-Edelman Sat September 09 1967 Neon Holly Tominack Thu September 10 1970 Virgo Sharon Nichols (Rhodeways) Wed September 11 1963 Victim of Christianity Heather Russell Tue September 11 1900 Total Virgosity Karron Lynn Lane Thu September 14 3651 Ophelia Virgo Troy Wollenslegel Mon September 18 1972 Virgo Joyce Wermont Sat September 18 1954 Virgo Mark Frabotta Sun September 19 1965 Don't even THINK about parking here Joe Zitt Sat September 20 1958 Will Hack for CDs Ani DiFranco Wed September 23 1970 Virgo - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 12:48:28 -0700 From: irvin lin Subject: milla and more shopping i haven't seen much about it, but MILLA (actress/model/singer/songwriter blah blah blah) has a new album coming out AUGUST 29. not to be confused with MILA DRUMKE, MILLA JOVOVICH's (she is using her last name for this album) first album called THE DIVINE COMEDY was talked about quite a bit when it came out in '94. this was before she became a big household name with the movie THE FIFTH ELEMENT (before that she was just a supermodel who only movie credit i think was DAZED AND CONFUSED). ANYWAY more information can be found about it at the site www.peopletree.com the new album by the way is called THE PEOPLETREE SESSIONS, and those in the BAY AREA who are interested, there is a RECORD RELEASE PARTY for it at 111 MINNA ST. between 2nd and new montgomery. dunno if i am going to go or not. it only $5, but we shall see if i feel like it. i am kinda interested in hearing the new stuff though, it sounds interesting, sort of in a BETH ORTON sort of way (they are describing it as electronic folk, which i guess is a good describtion of BETH ORTON's style if you ask me). on the other hand i only really like two songs from her first album. but one of them i REALLY like (IT'S YOUR LIFE). No, i don't work for MILLA or PEOPLETREE, i just picked up a flyer about it in a local shop and thought ectoland and it's inhabitants would like to know about it. other news (well about me really) includes a promo/advanced copy binge i have been on. major finds in the record stores include the new PJ HARVEY's IS THIS DESIRE (release date september 29) as well as a promo single with live cuts for RUFUS WAINWRIGHT. other purchases include NATALIE IMBRUGLIA's LEFT OF THE MIDDLE (it was cheap $6) VEDA HILLE's PATH OF A BODY (it was even cheaper $2), BETH ORTON's SHE CRIES YOUR NAME single, a FAYE WONG EP, a FAYE WONG compilation, HAYDEN's THE CLOSER I GET, NINA SIMONE's AFTER HOURS (this is SOOOOO GREAT!), and the japanese import version of GIRL TALK by HOLLY COLE (which unfortunately was the rerelease version, lacking those elusive bonus tracks, but has all the lyrics to the songs, including a translation in japanese!). and can i say that the cover pic of HOLLY is fantastic, and she bears a striking resemblance to PJ HARVEY via her GLAM look. or maybe the resemblance is vice versa (PJH looks like HOLLY). i dunno. oh yeah and the new LIZ PHAIR. which i like more than i thought i would. i still need to find the LISA GERMANO's SLIDE CD used though. anyone have thoughts on this one? i haven't read a review about it yet here. or maybe that is in the ecto digests from the past months i haven't read yet. when i listen closer, i will post reviews about the new PJH. it sounds good with one cursory listen. like a cross between her last two albums (DANCE HALL AT LOUSE POINT and TO BRING YOU MY LOVE). so far #3 sticks out as a single in my mind, but that is because MARIUS DE VRIES coproduced and mixed it (he helped coproduce MADONNA's latest RAY OF LIGHT along with the fabulous WILLIAM ORBIT). that is all the 411. take care irvin ps. can anyone review the new JENNIFER KIMBALL CD? and anyone have info on the new AMY RIGBY CD that is due out? info would be SWELL. and sorry to all who i haven't gotten back to, but someone already claimed the NIELDS promo i offered. if they have any more at the store though, i will snag it and offer it up as well. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 03:48:13 -0500 From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: New Milla????? (Re: milla and more shopping At 12:48 PM 8/25/98 -0700, irvin lin wrote: >i haven't seen much about it, but MILLA >(actress/model/singer/songwriter blah blah blah) has a new album coming >out AUGUST 29. YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! It's about damn time! We Millaites have been waiting soooooo long. > not to be confused with MILA DRUMKE, MILLA JOVOVICH's >(she is using her last name for this album) first album called THE >DIVINE COMEDY was talked about quite a bit when it came out in '94. For good reason. It's brilliant, *every* song, IMNSVHO. >this was before she became a big household name with the movie THE FIFTH >ELEMENT (before that she was just a supermodel who only movie credit i >think was DAZED AND CONFUSED). Nah, she was in a lot of movies, including Chaplin, Kuffs, Return To The Blue Lagoon (cringe) and a few others. *She* was best in The Fifth Element, but the best movie she's been in is by far He Got Game. >ANYWAY more information can be found about it at the site http://www.peopletree.com/ Thanks *SO* much for passing all this along. I guess I'll have to re-subscribe to the awful Milla mailing lists (Mike, I miss you!) for news of a tour. I would be surprised if she did, since she's (still?) filming Joan Of Ark. I checked every single one of the Milla sites listed in the Yahoo directory and not a one of them mentioned the new album. If anybody hears *anything* about a tour and/or appearances on TV, pleasepleaseplease pass it along. Milla the model is beautiful and chameleon-like. Milla the actress is talented and absorbing. Milla the person is sweet, funny and huggy. Milla the singer/songwriter is a goddess in my Apostle pantheon. Vickie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 04:15:04 -0500 From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: Re: playing songs over and over At 06:41 PM 8/25/98 -0700, J." Wermont wrote: >Is this common? Actually, there are two different questions here. One >is, do many people overplay songs (or albums) they love? And two, >does overplaying ruin the song for you, or can you listen to it over >and over indefinitely? If you can, I envy you! I seem to be the weirdo here (duh, ha!) because if I truly love something, I can listen to it over and over and overoverover again and never get sick of it. I can't even imagine the number of times I've listened to Ecto, RI, RII, Rearmament, Equipoise, Warpaint, Building the Colossus, The Keep, The Dreaming, The Kick Inside, The Sensual World, Hounds of Love, Never For Ever, The Walking, No Borders Here, The Speckless Sky, Under The Pink, and Little Earthquakes. Hundreds of times each! The downside is that listening to favorite things over and over does keep me from listening to lots of other things (if I had a dollar for every CD and LP I have that I've only listened to once, or never listened to...) but I don't particularly care. My favorites are favorites for a reason, and they sustain me. When I get a new album by Kate or Happy I listen to practically nothing else for days. I listen to it a dozen or so times before I even glance at the lyric sheet. I make it become a part of me, make it become a warm and familiar part of my psyche, then the words just naturally fit. A new album by either one makes me also go back and listen to the entire back catalog multiple times so the new one will fit into the whole naturally. Sometimes one of the old ones will capture my attention and I don't want to hear anything else, such as the day that I spent listening to nothing but The Keep, and another day playing Rearmament on constant repeat for hours. That happens a lot, and thank goodness for the invention of headphones, or else Chris would go mad. He doesn't like listening to even his favorite things more than once at a time. Since I've gotten MWABT about the only non-Happy things I've played have been the Genesis Box Set, I Wanna Be Kate, The Sensual World, Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright, plus Tori's new one a couple of times. Oh, and Vanessa Daou's "Slow To Burn" which I was in the mood for just last night. Bottom line is that repetition suits me, and I never burn out on the things I love. Vickie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 07:29:49 -0400 From: "Jeffrey C. Burka" Subject: new milla thanks to irvin for pointing out the new Milla site. Seems like a bold entry on the music-selling front; 17 tracks in real audio, plus promises of a secure server for selling not only the new disc, but also making the album available for download as MP3. In any event, I've listened to 4 or 5 of the tracks, and have to say that I can't recall the last time I heard an artist take such a complete and utterly radical departure to earlier work. I would *never* guess that this stuff is by the woman who came up with _The Divine Comedy_. Is it good? Dunno yet. On first listen, it mostly just sounds like Milla should have laid off the pot a while ago. jeff - -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | moving to jburka@cqi.com -- come say hi | |http://www.cqi.com/~jburka | at the new digs...now up and running! | ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 07:51:06 -0400 (EDT) From: Michael Colford Subject: Re: milla and more shopping On Tue, 25 Aug 1998, irvin lin wrote: > ps. can anyone review the new JENNIFER KIMBALL CD? and anyone have This hardly constitutes a review as I've only listened to the new CD twice, but if you liked the Story, you'll like the new Jennifer Kimball. I was amazed at how much of the Story's sound was from Ms. Kimball. Plus she does a lovely version of Neil Finn's "Fall At Your Feet." Michael n.p. Patty Griffin - Flaming Red n.r. Eye Contact by Michael Craft (Just finished Now it's Time to Say Goodbye by Dale Peck, great start, disappointing second half!) - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Colford | Reading Public Library Head of Technical Services | Reading, Massachusetts colford@noblenet.org | *North of Boston Library Exchange* - -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 26 Aug 1998 12:16:30 +0000 From: Tim.Cook@Swift.Com (Tim Cook) Subject: RE: New Milla????? (Re: milla and more shopping > not to be confused with MILA DRUMKE, MILLA JOVOVICH's >(she is using her last name for this album) first album called THE >DIVINE COMEDY was talked about quite a bit when it came out in '94. I remember the original thread. I got even more confused as I thought everyone was talking about The Divine Comedy, the band (fronted by Neil Hannan?). Excellent stuff but not exactly ecto. tim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 07:32:02 -0500 From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: Building The Colossus (Re: Charming Hostess At 01:10 PM 8/25/98 -0400, Tamar Boursalian wrote: >ObHappy: MWABT didn't grab me on the first listen, and I have to admit >there were things I actually disliked about it, but now it's growing on me >like a weed! The first time I listened to it I couldn't help but think that it would be a controversial album..."too electronic" maybe. I thought it was, but got over it quick enough and came to love it. I don't yet know where it will "fit" in my list. I may not know that for months. Though I loved most of the songs right away, the album as a whole didn't "click" with me until a couple of days ago, and now I'm totally besotted with it all. Except, ok, I'm still not into "Roy" but I'm not giving up on it yet. I love the middle instrumental section, but can't handle the repetition of the lyrics. I hate to say it (Happy forgive me), but it's too simplistic for me. Blade Runner is one of my all-time favorite films (in the top 5) and I don't think that Happy did the movie or the character of Roy justice. Not when, on the same album, there are epics like "Looking Over Cliffs" and "Serenading Genius." Incorporating the character of Roy into a repetitive pop/rock song makes me cringe. (At least, until the instrumental begins, then I sigh with bliss). One thing about it though, the repetition does make it catchy. I find myself humming it and then realizing with surprise what it is I'm humming. There are worse song viruses to catch. >Happy's music from the first time I listened to it had that >effect on me--it just creeps up on you, and before you know it, it invades >your psyche and deposits itself there for good. It's sort of insidious in >that way, but it's a welcome invasion! :) I love that! Yes! >Am I the only one around here who really loves BtC? This album actually >did grab me from the very first listen. How can anyone resist Collective >Heart (Happy's warmest song ever with that groovy bass line of Kevin's in >the chorus), or even the title track? Or Down, Down? This is great >stuff! You're certainly not the only one. I loved it from day one, and listen to it often. Happy never seemed too pleased with it, and some fans downright hated it, but I don't know why. I think it's wonderful! How can anyone resist Collective Heart indeed...it's about us! The only song I ever really had any trouble with was "Hold Me" for some reason. I don't even remember why now. I didn't realize how much it was part of me until I saw Happy at the Tin Angel in Philly (May 10, 1996, 2nd show) and it was the last song of the night. Halfway through, she forgot the lyrics! Shocking enough, but then she looked directly at me for help! I yelled out "What to do, what to do now.." and she laughed and continued on, mouthing a thank you to me. To be honest, I didn't even realize I *knew* all the lyrics to the song, but I did. Luckily. (I've got pictures! See about halfway down the page at http://miso.wwa.com/~vickie/happy/concerts/p4.html). Then, at the end of the song, when she sings "Can you tell me how I'm gonna make it" and the music ends, I called out "You'll make it!" and her smile at me was so full of warmth. It was great, and ever since then that song has been so close to my heart. And besides, any album that has "Glory" on it is an absolute, instant classic. Vickie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 22:55:05 +0000 From: "Tim" Subject: Re: Seaville >My first impression was that it sounded more like the >earlier Paradise Motel's recordings than their own "Flight Paths". And that's a >very good thing in my book, because I thought Flight Paths turned out to be >somewhat disappointing. I missed these "alternately beautiful and disturbing >sounscapes for Merida Sussex's hauntingly deadened vocals and frankly scary >lyrics" ... which their first record had in spades. It's good to see them back >in Merida's solo project. I've actually been thinking about this. Swansong sort of strikes me as a *much* rawer version of the Please Keep Me Safe EP (my favourite PM moment I think). Which means absolutely brilliant. Re: Flight Paths. Yes, it is less dark and disturbing, but enough of it is so goddamn beautiful that I am inclined to forgive it entirely. Stuff like Heavy Weather, Derwent River Star and Daniel are so overflowing in beauty that I can never believe my ears. And there are a few dark moments in Four Degrees, Dead Beats, Cities etc. My only real problem with Flight Paths is that the last few songs aren't quite as brilliant as the first few. I think PM (and Seaville) really work well in the EP medium because it means that they can really stretch out and be adventurous and do something new and different on each track. That's why I love Please Keep Me Safe so much. The tracks are consecutively beautiful, claustrophobic, nasty, hushed, wonderfully dramatic and epic - quite a nice variety for 6 tracks! By the way, if any readers are in the UK, run out and pick up the UK-released Paradise Motel album "Left Over Life To Kill". Its a mixture of their first album "Still Life" and two eps "Left Over Life To Kill" and "Please Keep Me Safe", and it has disgustingly strong tracklisting - most of my favourite songs are on there - with ten tracks it's only missing three out of thirteen. I think the next PM record will be darker again, as Bickford (the main writer I guess) has said he wants it to be about Doctors & Diseases. Which would suit their period-piece lyricism perfectly I think. >I heard Arossa in concert a while ago, and I thought that while it sounded >interesting and promising they really needed more time to develop as a band. >Perhaps it's time to see them again and check up on their progress. There >certainly seems to be a bit of hype about them at the moment, but I have to >wonder how much of it is due to their association with Paradise Motel... I might invest in their Stickgirl ep to see how good they are. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 08:52:34 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: Re: new milla In a message dated 8/26/98 8:25:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, jburka@cqi.com writes: << In any event, I've listened to 4 or 5 of the tracks, and have to say that I can't recall the last time I heard an artist take such a complete and utterly radical departure to earlier work. I would *never* guess that this stuff is by the woman who came up with _The Divine Comedy_. Is it good? Dunno yet. On first listen, it mostly just sounds like Milla should have laid off the pot a while ago. >> I agree with Jeff. I submitted my e-mail address for notification when the album comes out, but I'm really going to have to think about whether or not I really want to add it to my collection......It's kind of electronica/soul/dance stuff......not the beautiful singing and music from _The Divine Comedy_. But I admire her for doing what she wants to do anyway...... Jill :D *share the music!* ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 09:01:42 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: New Shawn Colvin CD Details on what Jessica Weiser recently posted: << COLUMBIA Records will release Shawn Colvin's "Holiday Songs & Lullabies," on October 13th. The 14-song album, recorded when Colvin was 8-1/2 months pregnant, is inspired by the Maurice Sendak-illustrated book LULLABIES & NIGHT SONGS, which HARPER COLLINS will re-release in time for Christmas '99. http://www.shawncolvin.com >> Jill :D *share the music!* ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 23:30:08 +1000 From: "the maier family" Subject: paradise motel on triple j [australians]. aussies might be interested in tuning to richard kingsmill's "1998" on triple j this sunday as he'll be replaying monday night's live at the wireless, which featured paradise motel. *faerieblessings* heidi. - -- ~*~ "i'm a winter girl; i like coming out when things are desolate and everybody's about to slit their wrists." ~ *tori amos* [my faerie queene]. ~*~ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 08:31:46 -0500 From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: Equipoise (Re: Rearmament One last thing before I get stuff ready to go down to Kansas City to see my son and his family. (And Tori and JavaHo and Riphug and Kerry!) This is a bit late, but I really wanted to say something. Tim in Oz wrote: >I haven't got Equipoise, but I really love I Say and Temporary >and Eternal - mainly because the sound is so much better than anything else, >and they're so beautifully ethereal, which made me think that I was going to >really absolutely adore Equipoise. I take it the rest of the album isn't >like that? Though those two are my favorite songs on Equipoise, I can't imagine not having songs like "He Will Come" and "The Flight" and "Out Like A Lamb" and "Closer" and mostmostmost especially "Mother Sea" which never fails to leave me in a big messy puddle on the floor. I love all the songs on Equipoise, even "Cohabitants" (though that one took the longest to get into) and consider it an equal favorite with Ecto and Rhodes I. (I hate to rank albums, when I love them all, so I always say that Equipoise is my musical favorite, Ecto is my sentimental favorite, RI/II & Rearmament are my emotional favorites, and Buildiing The Colossus is my psychological favorite. Warpaint, The Keep and RhodeSongs are just plain favorites :-). Every Happy fan *has* to have Equipoise in their collection. It's a must. Trust me. Vickie ps, Funny, I almost described MWABT to someone as being an album full of "Cohabitants" after I listened to it the first time. I guess it was all those monster voices. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:01:02 -0400 From: "Kevin D. Highnight" Subject: Happy's resemblances Yes, "Blossom" definately. I've also been told by a lot of people I show photos to that Happy resembles Sarah Jessica Parker! Now, I can DEFINATELY see that Sarah looks like Happy! Kevin D. Highnight khighnight@online.emich.edu ___________________________________________________ "In my Distress...well I wanted someone to blame me, In my Devastation...I wanted so to change, In my way...Disaster was the only thing that I could depend on..." - Stevie Nicks ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:04:25 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Re: playing songs over and over J. Wermont wrote: > kerry white wrote: > > Hi, usually I listen to a new loved cd over and over. Often this > > ends up ruining my enjoyment in the long run. > > I have this problem too! In fact, when I'm really in love with a > song, I have to be very careful not to overplay it or I'll destroy it > for myself. But I'm not very good at self-discipline in this area. > The song will finish and I'll think, just once more, just once more, > etc - till it's too late. I'm an addict! :) > > Is this common? Actually, there are two different questions here. One > is, do many people overplay songs (or albums) they love? Depends on what you call "overplay". I never put a cd on "repeat" mode, not even Happy's latest, which I've played at least daily since I got it...sometimes twice a day. I won't get tired of it...that doesn't happen to me with cd's I love, and especially cd's with so many textures & new discoveries as MWABT. > And two, > does overplaying ruin the song for you, or can you listen to it over > and over indefinitely? If you can, I envy you! The only thing in my life that got ruined...and Happy would hate if this had happened to her, I'm sure...is that a roommate in a communal house in the mid 70's only had one tape for her boom box, and it was Yessongs. I used to love Yes, but Micki (I still remember her name) ruined Yes for me by playing it over, and over, and over, and over...and loud enuf to drive me nuts. But I still love Happy's "Yes Medley" on The Keep! :-) Carol ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:18:14 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Re: playing songs over and over Bob Kollmeyer wrote: > It's been my experience that the only way I burn out on a song is if > I'm forced to listen to it when I don't want to. I hardly ever listen > to commercial radio voluntarily (partially for just that reason), but > there's no way to escape it - it's in the grocery store, coming out of > the car next to you at the stop light, eminating from neighboring > officemate's stereos, etc. Several otherwise enjewel^H^H^H^H^Hjoyable > songs have suffered this fate. Yep, that's what does it to me, too...radio that's being played everywhere! They did totally ruin a few Jewel trax, didn't they? Now they're playing ad nauseum that Shania Twain song in which she tries to sound like Chrissie Hynde, I forget the title, ya know, her big hit song, which ain't bad at all, but sheesh, enuf is enuf already. The other song driving me nuts lately is that Celine Dion/Streisand duet, but now that Titanic is sinking (pun intended) at last at the box office, I don't hear that one as much. Oh, yeah, Natalie Imbruglia is another one being played too much. I guess we're lucky in a way top 40 or mainstream AOR radio doesn't have Happy's stuff??? n.p. Nothing...so I won't risk getting "cd fatigue"! ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:38:07 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: I Wanna Be Kate mention in A.P. The new issue of A.P. (Alternative Press) has a short review of the Kate Bush cover c.d. Nothing ya'll haven't talked about before, but I thought you might be interested. Oh, yeah...I don't have the mag in front of me, but I also saw a display ad in there for a cd that's out, one with songs of Hildegard of Bingen (please excuse my spelling) sung by a gal whose name I forget, and David Lynch has something to do with the project. Does this sound familiar to any of you & is this worth checking out? Thanks, Carol > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 12:59:55 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Re: MWABT (and Btc) Hope folks don't mind that I changed subject header... I wanted to comment on some stuff Vickie writes...I myself have been thinking about writing my own comments of MWABT song by song, but I think I'm gonna do that on the newsgroup. Reason being: I just visited the ecto newsgroup yesterday & there's some activity brewing, Mr. Lovejoy, thank you, and a newbie from Florida. I think folks who love Happy and/or MWABT might want to gravitate on over there to get some stuff going...especially with the hot link from Vickie's website still active, it's more likely newbies will go the the newsgroup than sub to this list. And if we keep all our bases covered, it will help Happy sell many units of MWABT. And we all want her career to take off with this new release, don't we? Anyway... Xenu's Sister wrote: > At 01:10 PM 8/25/98 -0400, Tamar Boursalian wrote: > > >ObHappy: MWABT didn't grab me on the first listen, and I have to admit > >there were things I actually disliked about it, but now it's growing on me > >like a weed! It grabbed me from the very first listen. It grabbed me from previewing in headphones at Borders. It was astounding to hear the complexity of sounds in headphones! Now, granted, my tastes run all over the gamut, and I'm getting more and more into the genres called electronica/trance/dance/trip-hop/ambient, etc. Example:I haven't liked Madonna's releases for years, but her latest one I do like, as she leaps into the electronica genre, and very adeptly. (I bought it in July for my rental car tape player at a Walmart in Alaska...there's hardly any radio in Alaska & when you're driving in the boonies there, you need *something* to listen to. Well, I was pleasantly surprised...and it's really good road trip music.) But I digress... > The first time I listened to it I couldn't help but think that it would > be a controversial album..."too electronic" maybe. Am I the only one here who loves this direction Happy has gone in? Didn't folks see it coming, as she's been tinkering with programming, sequencing, sampling on past releases? Now she's matured, she's mastered so much technique that she is imho coming into her own as a full-fledged electronica artist. And she can always do well as a more acoustic/folky-veined artist, I believe. But electronica is hot right now. Happy ventured into that genre in a grand style...and did it herself and on her own terms. She invented & engineered (something I'm not so sure Madonna is capable of.) I really admire & respect her for her accomplishment! > I thought it was, > but got over it quick enough and came to love it. I don't yet know > where it will "fit" in my list. I may not know that for months. Though > I loved most of the songs right away, the album as a whole didn't "click" > with me until a couple of days ago, and now I'm totally besotted > with it all. Yes...besotted is a good word! MWABT is what one might call a "concept album"...with a SciFi bent. I was immediately reminded of the Star Wars bar scene where many weird & wild creatures drink strange other worldly coctails & a futuristic jazz band performs. I imagined immediately Happy in that bar, sitting in a dark corner with a notebook, watching and observing the comings and goings, and becoming a "scribe" of the many worlds on her personal radar screen in some bar in a future world. That's the concept *I* see in MWABT, at any rate. > Except, ok, I'm still not into "Roy" but I'm not giving up on it yet. I love > the middle instrumental section, but can't handle the repetition of the > lyrics. Vickie, I didn't want to be a detractor in any way, but I don't like Roy much either. I don't like the vocal parts, that is, I guess, the chorus, much less the repetition of same, and the only thing that saves the song for me is the violin stuff, which is gorgeous. Frankly I think it was a mistake to make Roy the single...who is the intended audience for this song? You can't dance to it...too many tempo changes that leave folks standing, awkward, on the dance floor. And if you're going to try to break into the electronica genre (is that Happy's intent, or Samson's marketing plan?)...well, you need a dance hit. My pick for that would be "Proof"...danceable, killer bass line (I *want* to hear this song blasting out of folks' car speakers, damn it!) I'm even going to go so far as to say that lyrically, if you marketed this single the right way, you can get this song into the mainstream right now, with so much interest these days in court proceedings, which began with the Simpson trial & goes thru the current Monicagate mess. Now, I know folks here will say "yuck, don't associate Happy with that stuff"...but the association could move product! "Show the proof and hide the evidence" indeed! Heck, speaking of Clinton, remember when he adopted "Don't Stop Thinking about Tomorrow" for a campaign song? Well, songs that capture a moment in history, if promoted in a timely way, can pique interest in the performer and her/his entire album. And after all, the music business *is* a business, and if an artist doesnt sell "X" amount of units, they may not get that contract renewed (or bettered.) > I hate to say it (Happy forgive me), but it's too simplistic for > me. Blade Runner is one of my all-time favorite films (in the top 5) and > I don't think that Happy did the movie or the character of Roy justice. I have no major attachment to the film, although I do like it & even own it on video. But...I simply don't like the song much. It's my least fave on the album. My fave is "Ra", which I also believe would make a great single...and a great opening number for Happy's live show (hint, hint). I think great singles would be "Ra", "MWABT" title track, and "Proof". All are much more danceable than Roy. (Many hit songs are broken by d.j.'s and at dance clubs these days.) Anyway, Vickie, you & I don't have any pull with the powers that be, eh, so we just have to hope next time they choose the singles a little more judiciously! ;-) > Not when, on the same album, there are epics like "Looking Over > Cliffs" and "Serenading Genius." These *are* epics...but not singles. And I was rather disappointed in the "solo" toward the end of "Serenading"...there is a nice build, high drama with those drum parts, but the rather wimpy guitar solo (or is that a guitar-sounding keyboard?) lacks "genius". I would have preferred something more dramatic, something more "ingenious"...maybe some Spanish guitar elements, some really nice finger work, and especially considering this is the closing song on the album. > Incorporating the character of > Roy into a repetitive pop/rock song makes me cringe. (At least, until > the instrumental begins, then I sigh with bliss). One thing about it > though, the repetition does make it catchy. I find myself humming > it and then realizing with surprise what it is I'm humming. There > are worse song viruses to catch. Tis true! Luckily, the song that keeps going through my mind is "Ra", which is my fave. > >Happy's music from the first time I listened to it had that > >effect on me--it just creeps up on you, and before you know it, it invades > >your psyche and deposits itself there for good. It's sort of insidious in > >that way, but it's a welcome invasion! :) Ah, yeah...it's truly an invasion of the body snatcher...and mind snatcher...and soul snatcher! > >Am I the only one around here who really loves BtC? This album actually > >did grab me from the very first listen. How can anyone resist Collective > >Heart (Happy's warmest song ever with that groovy bass line of Kevin's in > >the chorus), or even the title track? Or Down, Down? This is great > >stuff! > > You're certainly not the only one. I loved it from day one, and listen to > it often. Happy never seemed too pleased with it, and some fans > downright hated it, but I don't know why. I think it's wonderful! > How can anyone resist Collective Heart indeed...it's about us! My fave tracks are Tivoli, Down, Down, and especially Big Dreams, Big Life. The latter track is short, but oh so sadly sweet. > The only song I ever really had any trouble with was "Hold Me" for > some reason. I don't even remember why now. I didn't realize how > much it was part of me until I saw Happy at the Tin Angel in Philly > (May 10, 1996, 2nd show) and it was the last song of the night. > Halfway through, she forgot the lyrics! Shocking enough, but then > she looked directly at me for help! I yelled out "What to do, what to > do now.." and she laughed and continued on, mouthing a thank you > to me. To be honest, I didn't even realize I *knew* all the lyrics to > the song, but I did. Luckily. (I've got pictures! See about halfway down > the page at http://miso.wwa.com/~vickie/happy/concerts/p4.html). > Then, at the end of the song, when she sings "Can you tell me how I'm > gonna make it" and the music ends, I called out "You'll make it!" > and her smile at me was so full of warmth. It was great, and ever > since then that song has been so close to my heart. What a nice story! :-) > And besides, any album that has "Glory" on it is an absolute, instant > classic. Ah yes, another great one! That gal Happy Rhodes is a fount of gems, eh? Carol ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 13:27:26 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Fwd from Carol: Lake Buena Vista, FL--Virgin MegaStore This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------8913E71EBF5D0D7C60A5C7DC Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Folks, I hope this forwards ok...it's an interesting posting I found in the ecto newsgroup by a new Happy fan! The newsgroup is amazingly spam-free for once...so go there if you dare & post somthing Happy! :-) Carol - --------------8913E71EBF5D0D7C60A5C7DC Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Path: mindspring!firehose.mindspring.net!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!newsfeed.atl.bellsouth.net!news2.mco.bellsouth.net.POSTED!not-for-mail Message-ID: <35D4FFED.8085E139@bellsouth.net> From: Jay Shindell Reply-To: jaysarah@bellsouth.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.04 [en] (Win95; U) MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: alt.music.ecto Subject: Lake Buena Vista, FL--Virgin MegaStore Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1998 03:33:02 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: host-209-214-33-74.mco.bellsouth.net NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 23:33:02 EST Xref: mindspring alt.music.ecto:3168 This is where I heard Happy's music for the first time--the DJ started playing "Ra is a Busy God" as I was walking out of the store--if I'd left one minute sooner, I wouldn't have gotten to hear this striking musician and her amazing talent. I went upstairs and asked who it was, and the DJ just RAVED about her, so I bought the CD, and am VERY pleased with it. I am writing this because I'm thinking it could help Happy to know that someone who has the power to promote her really digs her. If you could let her know to contact the Virgin MegaStore in Downtown Disney--the general Disney operater # is (407)-824-2222--just ask for the Virgin MegaStore--then perhaps they could arrange a Happy Rhodes concert there. I don't know the DJ's name, but he was the one who worked on Wednesday night around 11:30 PM (August 12th). Thank you. Sincerely, Sarah Q - --------------8913E71EBF5D0D7C60A5C7DC-- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 14:31:47 -0500 (CDT) From: kerrywhite@webtv.net (kerry white) Subject: Re: S.J. Parker??????? Hi, Sorry, no way!!! I've met HR 3 times and have seen many SJP movies. This is worse than P Jones!!!! KrW TV or not TV? That is the question. Whether to suffer the lies of outrageous pitchmen, or to slit your throat with an electro-coated stainless steel blade? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 15:36:26 -0400 From: Horter!!! Subject: Vivian Slade? Hey everyone, Looking for some information on singer-songwriter Vivian Slade. I think she is based out of Nashville, as that seems to be where the web searches lead, but all I can find are listing of shows. Any information you can share would be wonderful. Also, did anyone pick up the newly re(?)released In a Doghouse by Throwing Muses? Thanks, Tom np: Sugar: File Under Easy Listening ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V4 #294 **************************