Errors-To: ecto-owner@ns1.rutgers.edu Reply-To: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu Sender: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu From: ecto@ns1.rutgers.edu To: ecto-request@ns1.rutgers.edu Bcc: ecto-digest-outbound@ns1.rutgers.edu Subject: ecto #1080 ecto, Number 1080 Thursday, 14 April 1994 Today's Topics: *-----------------* Re: Tori press conference in LA First post info wanted life never fails to be interesting Re: First post info wanted Re: life never fails to be interesting For Kurt and other stories government hard at work Re: too weird for me New Music Re: New Music Sarah, Tori, Ingrid, and a few things I'm forgetting New acquisitions ======================================================================== From: Ethan_Straffin@next.com (Ethan Straffin) Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 12:08:23 -0700 Subject: Re: Tori press conference in LA Neal quotes Tori's press conference: > oh please, one request, no exclamation points! Thank you. ^ Neal, how *could* you? :) Great press conference. Thanks so much for typing it all in! Ethan ======================================================================== Date: 13 Apr 94 16:03:05 EDT From: Marcel Rijs <100276.2176@compuserve.com> Subject: First post info wanted Hi, This is my first post to ecto, so please be gentle :) and don't hesitate to react, be it via e-mail (preferred! helps not to clutter up ecto!) or via the list (if it's interested for more people IYHO). I have been lurking this list for a few weeks now, somtimes discarding it without looking due to the fact that I have also two other lists to follow (sorry). I have discovered Happy Rhodes a few months ago, and was hooked right from the moment I asked the man in the shop to let me hear 'Rhodesongs' and I heard the first lines of 'Feed the fire', still one of my favourites. I have bought her other CDs in record time, and am hooked. I decided to engage myself in this list, because, well, RhodesInfo is very hard to come by in Europe, as you may be aware. Now, she hasn't appeared much on this list as well, but I won't start my career on this list with complaining, becausse you seem to be a nice bunch of people... :-) I understood rightaway this list was devoted to anything-female- and-making-music, but I am presently wondering where the limits are. I see a rather short list of people, most of whom I don't know, but that's my problem. My questions, as a newbie and therefore badly informed (sorry): 1 - How can I get to Happy Rhodes interviews, articles, etc. (I don't have ftp access)? 2 - What's the complete discography? I mean, are there any singles and such? (Yes I had a FAQ but it's not listed - I want to be 100% sure) 3 - Which female-and-making-music artists are 'acceptable' here? ...And I wanted to ask, what are everyone's opinions on females like Kim Wilde, Sam Brown, Sade, Julee Cruise and Mylene Farmer? Gee, that should spark a "she's too commercial" debate... :-) Kind regards to all of you, and I hope to hear form some of you (or all of you - well, you can decide that for yourselves...) ................................................................. Marcel F G Rijs CIS: 100276,2176 sleeps most times / but sometimes / I can hear it beat its wings / when I'm alone..." - Sam Brown, 'Come into my world' ................................................................. ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 17:05:31 EDT From: jessica@maurolycus.rutgers.edu (jessica) Subject: life never fails to be interesting In 9 days, I am moving to San Francisco. I have accepted a position contracting for Sun Microsystems, through Taos Mountain Software. I leave New Jersey on April 22. I start at Sun on the 25th. What does this mean for the ecto mailing list? Absolutely nothing. don't worry! ecto will remain on ns1.rutgers.edu. The archives will remain on hardees.rutgers.edu for at least the forseeable future. what this does mean is that I'll actually get around to automating things more, very soon (before I leave, so, *very* soon). I'm leaving Rutgers under good circumstances. I won't be losing my accounts, so there's really no danger of any trouble with the ecto list. As i'll be contracting at Sun, not working there permanently, I am not going to move the list anywhere. Unless and until _I_ have a more permanent electronic home base, ecto will remain here at Rutgers. jessica ======================================================================== From: iago@merle.acns.nwu.edu Subject: Re: First post info wanted Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 16:57:50 CDT > This is my first post to ecto, so please be gentle :) and don't > hesitate to react, be it via e-mail (preferred! helps not to > clutter up ecto!) or via the list (if it's interested for more > people IYHO). Welcome! I've taken the liberty of posting this to ecto because you raise some interesting points. As you've quickly caught on, ecto is a place to discuss not just Happy Rhodes, but also other artists who have given at least one member of this group inspiration. Usually that means female artists, but that's just because we all tend to have that in common. But as for what is kosher around here, just about anything goes. I don't recall anyone being flamed for mentioning any musician. If you don't like the artist being discussed, do what I do, which is to hit 'n'. That's not to say that we can discuss Wayne Newton for 6 months straight. (sorry all you Wayne fans). That would drive people away from the list out of lack of interest. But I'd guess that there is at least one fan out there of even the most outrageous stuff. Most people on ecto have other, non-ecto musical tastes (mine are Broadway musicals and 80s British music). I choose not to discuss them here because I doubt most people care about my relentless search for a copy of the musical 'Cyrano' (not the movie, fyi, but the _musical_). See, wasn't that mention boring? (*yawn*) You will, however, find many fans of Jane Siberry, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Kate Bush and many other exciting female artists on ecto. There are lots of Sade fans around here, too. (I'm one) My suggestion is feel free to mention whoever you want on ecto, as long as it's within reason. If people are interested, they will respond. And don't forget e-mail. If it's someone that only one other person is a fan of, then e-mail may be the best route. I have discovered many of my favorite artists through ecto, and appreciate the musical diversity around here. Everyone, please continue all the musical updates on ecto, because without it, many of us with limited music access would otherwise be listening to Wayne all day long. :-) > 2 - What's the complete discography? I mean, are there any singles > and such? (Yes I had a FAQ but it's not listed - I want to be > 100% sure) Nope. No singles. :( She had a hit with Feed the Fire on WXPN in Philadelphia 2 years ago, but did it without an official single release. > 3 - Which female-and-making-music artists are 'acceptable' here? Test us. :) > > ...And I wanted to ask, what are everyone's opinions on females > like Kim Wilde, Sam Brown, Sade, Julee Cruise and Mylene Farmer? Sade: I love the group. I think I fell in love with their music the first time I saw an article about the band (They were slower to catch on in the U.S., so I read about them in a british mag) I still don't like the newest album, though. It just isn't as smooth and textured as Promise or Diamond Life. Sam Brown/Mylene Farmer: Don't know their music, but describe it for me if you would. Kim Wilde: I guess this falls in with my love of 80s British music, doesn't it? I only have 2 of her albums (again, she's not as accessible in the US), but love them both. And Kids in America is about as good as it gets for 1981. Julee Cruise: She has been discussed quite a bit in ecto (or was it in gaffa b/f ecto was created? Vickie?) I think you'll find lots of fans around. > Gee, that should spark a "she's too commercial" debate... :-) That debate should have started several times with my mentions of Madonna, but it never did. And if I can't get people angry about Madonna, I doubt that it's possible. :-) ==> valerie iago@merle.acns.nwu.edu ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 15:12:10 -0700 (PDT) From: David Dixon Subject: Re: life never fails to be interesting Congratulations Jessica! Looks like the Bay Area is turning into Ecto Central - West. First Angelos, then seanymph, now Jessica.. (I was already here before I got into Happy, so I don't count :) ) Happy *has* to tour here now. :) D^2 ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 17:05:45 CDT From: Subject: For Kurt and other stories My concern for Vickie's sensibilities notwithstanding, I somehow feel constr- ained to make the following comment on Kurt Cobain: Surely he can't have been the only person with that particular set of problems. The most important thing is what can be learned from this whole affair, through which those others can be helped more effectively. It seems to me that it also speaks to the dark side of popular culture: the extent to which the commercial machine, and the fans it purports to serve, are inclined to forget that celebrities are people too. Back on the beat: NPR has just reported that the secret list of ingredients in cigarettes has just been released. One wonders whether the industry will now proudly trumpet that their product contains no fat or cholesterol? :-) Personal to Steve Fagg: I tried to send you some information WRT your upcoming visit, but your email is still bouncing. Welcome to Marcel, and thanks to Valerie for her very effective response to his detailed set of questions. Mitch --------------------------- "Peace, Love, Empathy." --Kurt Cobain "Peace, Love, Brutality." --Penelope Houston ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 15:47:38 PDT From: Neal Copperman Subject: government hard at work This caught my eye. Hasn't been voted on yet though. Here is the verbatim text of the California Sate Assembly proclamation honoring Pink Floyd: WHEREAS, The Super Group Pink Floyd has celebrated over 27 years in the music business, providing musical enjoyment to countless Californians, and in recognition thereof, it is deserving of special recognition and highest commendations; and WHEREAS, The Super Group Pink Floyd has remained one of the world's longest running and most original musical groups ever and holds the record for the longest running album ever, the "Dark Side of the Moon," in the top 100 albums; and WHEREAS, Pink Floyd has become one of the World's top touring acts in gross billings, earning over an estimated $50 million per touring year; and WHEREAS, It has preserved embraced and promoted rare forms of musical art, including electronic, blues, and folk style music in its extensive repertoire; and WHEREAS, The group has written and recorded such notable mega hit albums as "Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Hear," "Animals," "The Wall," "The Final Cut," "A Momentary Lapse of Reason," "A Delicate Sound of Thunder (Pink Floyd Live)," and the "Division Bell," and WHEREAS, It has also created several memorable movies and video tapes with its largest being the smash hit "The Wall;" and WHEREAS, The Pink Floyd group is currently performing a sold out world tour with California stops in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Oakland which sold over 500,000 tickets in less than three hours; and WHEREAS, Pink Floyd has generated an army of jobs through the production of records, tapes, compact discs, movies, books, magazines and other related merchandise that is saved, treasured, and cherished by their millions of fans; and WHEREAS, The vitality, scope, and strength of the Super Group Pink Floyd is a testimony not only to the capabilities and talents of a legendary entertaining industry, but to one that reaches out to grasp the very essence of life; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER DIERDRE ALPERT, That the Super Group Pink Floyd be commended for its outstanding display of accoplishments within the recording industry, and applauded for its remarkable talents and impeccable style which have provided memorable entertainment to its audiences and many devoted fans. ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 20:02:19 -0400 (EDT) From: S Trowbridge Subject: Re: too weird for me Meth writes: > I also checked out the latest Billboard, and Tori and Sarah are both doing > well with their respective singles on the charts. I think "Possession" has > rocketed to #6 on the Modern Rock chart, and is expected to crack the Hot 100 > shortly... what I can't figure out, though, is how Crash Test Dummies could > have the #2 song on the Modern Rock chart and also the #7 song on the Hot 100, > while Tori's #1 Modern Rock single is only #88 or something on the Hot 100. > Anyone familiar with the arcane intricacies of the Billboard chart system care > to enlighten me on that one? The Modern Rock chart is compiled from airplay reports by Modern Rock stations, including our own beloved (?) WHFS right here in the Baltimore/Washington megalopolis. The Hot 100, on the other hand, is compiled from airplay reports by Top 40 radio stations. Obviously the Dummies have broader appeal than Tori, since they are being played on both formats. Trivia note: "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is the first song ever to make the top 40 that doesn't have a vowel anywhere in its title, according to "Entertainment Weekly." Neal sez: > On the opposite end of the spectrum was the LA Times. They had apparently > already printed SUndays Calender section, which had a cover story on > Courtney Love and an article about women in rock and roll. The interview > with Love is very unnerving, as she talks about her worries about Kurts > well being. They didn't even slap anything over it to show that they were > aware of the events. This story was sent out on the AP newswire (for use by papers around the country who subscribe to the Times-Mirror wire service) on Thursday, the day before Kurt's suicide. On Friday afternoon, after the news, the story was killed (i.e. papers were told not to use it), because it had been "overtaken by events." Unfortunately, as you pointed out, the L.A. Times Calendar had already been printed, so there was nothing they could do. Most papers' Sunday entertainment sections are printed fairly well in advance; the New York Times Arts & Leisure section is ready to go on Tuesday, for example. --Sue Trowbridge ======================================================================== From: p.cohen@genie.geis.com Date: Thu, 14 Apr 94 01:51:00 UTC Subject: New Music Woj: Count me in on those who like REM's "Fables of the Reconstruction" best. Of course, their entire catalog's a gem (with the possible exception of "Green"). Mike Mendelson: Sorry, but October Project, while excellent, don't remind me of Renaissance. Too folky. An electric Pentangle maybe. New acquisitions on my part: The Moon Times Seven "7=49". OK, count me in as a convert, I love this album. How does it compare with the rest of their catalog? Sky Cries Mary "A Return to the Inner Experience". Hearing the first part of this album in the store intrigued me, but it doesn't seem consistent. Some nice psychedelia, but some weak material. Anybody else know this band? Morrissey "Vauxhall and I". Well, it doesn't sound like his last album. I was cautious, because the single just sounds like very typical Morrissey. However, the album sounds very nice. Pink Floyd "The Division Bell". However this sounds like very typical Floyd. Only listened to it once so far, but I'm quite disappointed. Split Enz "Time and Tide". Yes! Finally got it on CD. My favorite Split Enz album. And at a budget price too. The Blow Pops "American Beauties". Anybody who likes twangy guitar with a strong '60s feel, run out and get this album. Excellant followup to a strong debut. It's on a very small indy label (Get Hip), so it might be a tad tough to find. But worth it. The Bats "Compiletely Bats". Another find! I had just about given up on finding this compilation of early singles by one of my favorite Kiwi- rockers. However, my favorite record store just expanded into a new storefront and located a misplaced copy. Phil Ochs "All the News that's Fit to Sing" and "I Ain't Marching Any More". What can I say? God bless Hannibal for reissuing these. The majors can't be bothered to put out more than compilations. Will SOMEBODY please reissue "Pleasures of the Harbor" and "Rehearsals for Retirement"? +########################################################################+ +###+ Paul Cohen, Philadelphia, PA +###+ +########################################################################+ +###+ P.COHEN@genie.geis.com +###+ PMCOHEN@aol.com +###+ +###+ 70703.3126@compuserve.com +###+ PMCOHEN@delphi.com +###+ +########################################################################+ ======================================================================== Subject: Re: New Music Date: Wed, 13 Apr 94 23:36:48 -0400 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu Paul Cohen writes: >Count me in on those who like REM's "Fables of the Reconstruction" best. Of >course, their entire catalog's a gem (with the possible exception of >"Green"). I've heard _Fables_ many times, but always while on roadtrips with a particular friend. I'm still not sure how I feel about it; parts are great, parts leave me cold. Maybe I'd like it more if I actually owned it and listened to it when I was in the mood. Personally, I love _Life's Rich Pageant_ best. Also please consider me someone who *doesn't* think they've sold out, despite their popularity...I'll just as happily listen to _Murmur_ as _Out of Time_ or _Automatic For the People_. Am I the only one who thinks that the new song by Live sounds an awful lot like REM? >New acquisitions on my part: >The Moon Times Seven "7=49". OK, count me in as a convert, I love this >album. How does it compare with the rest of their catalog? The "rest of their catalog" is their first, eponymous album. I prefer it to the new one. It's a little more atmospheric. But it's similar enough that I can't imagine you won't like it. Also worth looking at are the various albums by Area, if you can find any of them. My fave is _The Perfect Dream_ (which includes the original "I'll Gather Flowers", the last official track on 7=49). Jeff ======================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 23:22:25 -0400 (EDT) From: Suspended In Duct Tape Subject: Sarah, Tori, Ingrid, and a few things I'm forgetting Hi! Oh no, here we go again... be warned, this isn't grouped in subject order or anything! First of all, I know this is belated, but David, I'm sorry about your grandmother. Brad solicited: >This ear I'm stuck. There's so many to choose from!!! What do >you folks think I should use? Remember this is for 8th grade >so Icicle is out o fboSuggestions?? I hope this isn't too late for the assignment. My choices, off the top of my head and in no particular order, would be: Kate Bush, "Love and Anger" Kate Bush, "In Search of Peter Pan" Tori Amos, "Little Earthquakes" Jane Siberry, "At The Beginning of Time" Happy Rhodes, "Poetic Justice" (just kidding :) Please let us all know what you finally choose, and how it goes over! Mitch assumed: >I assume Meredith's comments about the sock thing were tongue in cheek. Taken >at face value, they come across, to borrow a phrase from Maryse Holder, as be- >ing rather grubadick :-). If nothing else, MJM should feel reassured that >he's not the only one of us to inadvertently leave the smiley out recently :-). Thanks for your concern, but woj can handle it... ;> Incidentally, woj picked up Milla's album over the weekend, and while I've only heard it once, I liked what I heard very much, and am looking forward to more. Ethan straffinated: >Dammit, and there's some nasty vibe going around my company today that nobody >can explain and nobody likes, and all we can do is find togetherness in >bitching about it. Is Mercury retrograde again? Bad vibes permeate the entire planet when that happens, no joke. While last week for me wasn't particularly bad, it wasn't all that wonderful either, and it was certainly awful for some people I know. And this week so far has been no picnic. Mercury usually stays retrograde for a period of about 2 weeks or so, so we're not out of the woods yet, folks! :P (Please note that I normally have no truck with astrology whatsoever, but I have observed this Mercury phenomenon consistently for long enough that I'm starting to believe it...) Jeffy noted: >So how are you going to classify me? I love all three of her albums and >don't think I could pick a single favorite amongst them. Favorite songs, >to be sure. But all three albums are superb. It *did* take me a while to >get into FtE, but now I like it as much as the other too. You finally "got" _FtE_! Yay!!! :> :> :> While I haven't been keeping track of the responses in any sort of coherent fashion, the general trend seems to be that if people don't fall inescapably into _FtE_'s clutches immediately, they sort of ooze into them over time. I find this a promising discovery. :) Michael said: >Technically, she was brilliant. Her piano playing and singing were >right on the mark. But I, too, felt a little bit of the 'look at me, >I'm a big rock star' feel to the show. Someone pointed out to me that early on in Tori's last tour, she wasn't as spontaneous and comfortable as she was later on, and this seems to be the case now as well. The first time I saw her I was blown away, but I wasn't as impressed by her personality as I was when I saw her later on in the tour. I have hopes that the same thing will happen this time around, as well: Tori is still getting used to the live arrangements of her songs, and I'm sure the audience response is a bit overwhelming. If I get to see her when she comes this way again and I still feel the same lack of a connection with the audience, *then* I'll declare myself officially disappointed. Anthony wondered about eMpTV's showing "Into The Fire": >Were MTV being particularly brave that night, or are they not as >censorship-happy as I've been led to believe? Hmmm. Well, you really can't see anything. The most puzzling thing for me is that it's a brilliant video, and they showed it anyway. They did, however, give a sound ixnay to her follow-up video, for "The Path of Thorns", in which our heroine wears absolutely nothing. Granted, it's quite tastefully and artfully done, but it was just too much for them. Their loss, I say. >It's strange to me what's >considered acceptable for US television and cable. On one hand, any kind of >expletive is taboo (in Australia we regularly get programs and films >containing all manner of profanity, including the dreaded four-letter >twosome), but other things you'd think would be more offensive to delicate >sensibilities seem to be fine. While the FCC's list of the Seven Deadly Words remains unchanged, the bounds have been stretched remarkably in recent years. I remember how shocked people were when Dave and Maddy shouted "Bitch!" and "Bastard!" at one another in one episode of "Moonlighting", which I believe was one of the first instances of prime-time borderline profanity on American network television. Since then, those words, as well as "ass" and even "asshole" (on Fox, natch :) are becoming more commonplace on network TV. And as I said, I have played "Good Enough" on my show, and no one has said anything... yet. John reported about Ingrid Karklins: >I remember Never Shake My Soul, >Race the Sky, She Says, and Eyes I (on which one of the percussion instruments >was "Thor's truck mirror"). :) Thor was the percussionist on the first album and her first "tour", and he found the truck mirror by the side of the road. I thought Thor was a percussion god until I saw her perform with Chris Searles, who I am sure gives the God of Percussion lessons on the side. Wow. (And he's only like 21! Gawd.) >He changes instruments as fast as Madonna changes lovers. :> I *like* that analogy. Can I steal it? >I didn't keep track, but she seemed to play just about everything she >knew, and even played a cover tune (Richard Thompson?). Yep: "Time to Ring Some Changes". She's done that every time I've seen her. >Woj: I talked briefly with her during the break between one-hour sets. >I said hi, and then said that I should say hi for the person who told me about >her. I started into your name, but not being particularly great at name >pronunciation, began to stumble on your last name. Before I could move on >and explain why the name might be familiar, she said "in Connecticut". She >said to say hi to "Rob". I wonder if she remembers the short person who introduced her to him... :) >"Hi!" I mentioned where I knew you from, and she >expressed familiarity with the mailing list, and said she knew that she had >been mentioned before. I didn't mention the tape, and neither did she, but >perhaps after hearing your name she will remember. Yeah, there is usually an ecto contingent in attendance whenever she performs in Connecticut, and she definitely knows about us, since ecto is where I heard about her to begin with, and I made sure to let her know that. >Oh! One one more thing. On one of the songs, she got off to sort of >a clumsy start, then started over again. This didn't involve blowing an amp, did it? The first time I saw her, at The Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, she was sending too much out of her keyboard to the board, and she totally destroyed the ancient amp in the process. Luckily, one of the audience members lived nearby and had a nice little system of his own, so we had a slightly early intermission while he ran home to get it and set it up. (This person now runs sound when she comes to town. :) Even then, the speakers weren't all that great, so we kept getting "the Fuzzbox version" of her material. It was the first time I had heard any of her music, and it was wonderful. (You will all be delighted to learn that The Buttonwood Tree has since invested in some quite nice sound equipment. :) Alan stated: >Not that I'd see her live anyway; I am too disgusted by her record >company's practices, and am unable to bring myself to spend another penny >on her commercial endeavors unless they are full-length CDs. Your loss, bud. Sam informed: >For those of you who are interested, Sarah McLachlan was a guest on a local >(New York City) public access show last night. The show is called "Party > Talk," and is produced locally, but is now being shown on many cities' public >access stations via the Gay Entertainment Network. Argh! We don't get this show on our cable system anywhere... if anyone out there has a tape of it, please let me know! >that she's getting airplay, even though she's refused to rewrite her songs for >the record company (this is something they used to ask her to do, but she >always refused). Which record company, Nettwerk or Arista? I'd be surprised to hear that Nettwerk tries to get her to rewrite her material, but I guess with a record company anything is possible, no matter how much they believe in their artists. Wendy said: >Unfortunately, I kept very little of my shopping spree from Logo's. I am >pretty particular about my addiction and I didn't really enjoy a lot of the >artist's. Not dynamic enough for me, I guess. Which ones did you keep? Valerie inquired: >Has anyone heard the Duran Duran cover of Thank You? I caught an earful at >Tower a few weeks ago, and nearly died laughing in the middle of the store. >Now, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am a Duran fan and only mildly >ashamed of it. :-) But this cover was nearly impossible for me to listen to >after experiencing Tori's masterful rendition. But you bought it anyway, didn't you? ;> Thanks for the explanation of the Newsweek phenomenon, by the way. Makes sense, and is a hell of a lot less frightening than the conspiracy theory I had going! >Sade: I love the group. I think I fell in love with their music the first >time I saw an article about the band (They were slower to catch on in the >U.S., so I read about them in a british mag) I still don't like the newest >album, though. It just isn't as smooth and textured as Promise or Diamond >Life. Um, which one of us is hallucinating that Sade is the name of one woman? Am I missing something? Mitch passed on: >NPR has just reported that the secret list of ingredients in cigarettes has >just been released. Did this have anything to do with the disclosure of portions of the list last week by NPR, I wonder? Argh. So much e-mail, so little time... ***************************************************************************** *Meredith A. Tarr New Haven, CT USA meth@delphi.com* ***************************************************************************** *"Sure,she's female,she plays piano,she's on nodding terms with the fairies,* * but all [Tori] Amos has in common with [Kate] Bush is that there's no one * * like either of them." - from Western Australian review of _Under The Pink_* ***************************************************************************** ======================================================================== From: Ethan Douglas Straffin Subject: New acquisitions Date: Wed, 13 Apr 1994 23:22:30 -0700 (PDT) Please excuse me if anything strange happens to this post...I'm posting from a different account since our servers at work are down at the moment. Anyway, so much new music since last week! (Of course, I still have a backlog of stuff to buy which includes the soundtrack to The Crow, Bettie Seevert, the new Alison Moyet, and the just-released Husker Du live album, but since when have ectophiles ever caught up with their wish lists?) I thought some of you might be interested in some impressions (even the disappointments), so here goes: Milla - _The Divine Comedy_. Well, after all the ectofuss about Milla Jovovich's debut, of course I had to pick this one up! I haven't fallen in love with this album yet; parts of it sound as if Milla is trying to out-Enya Enya and just isn't up to the task. I think she has a lot of potential, not completely reached here. But there are still some very nice moments. Interesting to notice that "The Alien Song (for those who listen)" sounds like a response to "Save Our Souls": "We're flying on from you / We will not stay to see your fate." The Spinanes - _Manos_. Wow! This one is a *definite* grower. It's Rebecca Gates on vocals and guitar, and Scott Piouf on drums, and that's it, and it works wonderfully. Gates keeps you off balance with some incredibly nifty chord changes and unusual but lovely harmonies, and Piouf's drumming is impeccable. Highly recommended Sub Pop stuff! Morrissey - _Vauxhall and I_. Blech, I think I've been taken again. I keep telling myself, "This is the last Morrissey album I'm going to buy," and then I make the mistake of believing some critic who says that his new album is his best yet. In fact, a lot of critics seem to be saying that about this album. I guess I'm just missing something, because there's nothing here we haven't already heard 100 times from our favorite monotonic miserablist. Even those few songs where Morrissey and his band actually sound like they mean it are crippled by Steve Lillywhite's embarrassingly flat, leaden production. Morrissey may stil be writing morbid lyrics, but most of the depression factor on this disc comes from the fact that he sounds like he's already dead. Rose Chronicles - _Shiver_. Picked this up after hearing the Rose Chronicles compared to Tribe (a band I worship unabashedly) on ecto a few times. To me this band sounds more like a less-noisy incarnation of Curve, and like Curve they have an annoying tendency to take one or two good ideas and turn them into songs that start off promisingly but lose your attention after half a minute. Nice sparkly production, but the songs run together to the point that I still can't tell them apart after a half-dozen listens. Tribe? Nah. Not even in the same league. American Music Club - "Keep Me Around" CD5. Not a particularly good choice for a single IMHO, which probably explains why I found it in the cut-out bin for $1.99, which it later turned out to be more than worth. The biggest reason is the first of the three B-sides, "In My Role as the Most Hated Singer in the Local Underground Music Scene," which features Mark Eitzel at his tortured best and is every bit as good as its title. Yummy! Matthew Sweet - _Son of Altered Beast_ EP. This one features a not-too-different remix of "Devil with the Green Eyes," five live tracks (including a nice cover of Neil Young's "Don't Cry No Tears"), and a so-so studio outtake called "Ultrasuede." Hey, I really like this guy...funny how I can't usually think of anything more to say about him! Tori Amos - "Pretty Good Year" CD5's. Tori's one of the few people for whom I'll shell out $20 for three new tracks, and she hasn't disappointed me yet. "Honey" is the best B-side she's put out yet for _Under the Pink_...if it had been on the album it easily would have been my third favorite song. The Cranberries - "Dreams" CD5. One B-side which is nothing special, two live versions. I had to have this just for the live version of "Pretty," which gets me more than such a simple little tune has any right to. ("Waltzing Back" is the other live track.) Rush - _Counterparts_. It took Maxell almost four months to send me my free CD, but they finally came through. It's not really ectofodder so I won't say much about it, except that it's neither their best nor their worst, and I'm rather happy with it. Sounds *great* on headphones, too! Well, that does it for now...as always, Your Mileage May Vary. Yummy exotic fuzzy blue beverages and healthy tax refunds to all... Ethan ======================================================================== The ecto archives are on hardees.rutgers.edu in ~ftp/pub/hr. There is an INDEX file explaining what is where. Feel free to send me things you'd like to have added. -- jessica (jessica@ns1.rutgers.edu)