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 #929 ecto, Number 929 Tuesday, 21 December 1993 Today's Topics: *-----------------* Not pathetic, say not so! Another Top Ten List what a surprise! More writing like I talk :-) the sound of one hand typing i-girls Game Theory Last post of the year? cool! Argh! Doom! ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1993 17:10:37 -0500 (EST) From: Sam Warren Subject: Not pathetic, say not so! >side note-this is a top ten of all time being that i am so poor that >i have only purchased about 3 new CD's this year...i hope no one >gets offended...pardon... Don't ever feel anxious over what you don't have. Simply rejoice in what you do have! >10. Moby. i think this album is self titled...all i know is when >i pop this puppy in all i can do is move...and god knows i need something >like this after i have my depression fests!!! (= If you like the first one, maybe you'll like the EP as well. It may not be so expensive in your area, since it only has about 5 songs. The EP is called "Move" (which turns out to be quite apropos). -Sam ======================================================================== From: Stuart Myerburg Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 18:07:00 -0500 Subject: Another Top Ten List I thought I would join everyone with my top ten of the year. I really, really hate rating things, so they are in no particular order. I also included a couple of things which weren't released this year but that I either first got this year or simply listened to as much this year as last. 1. Titanic Days-Kirsty MacColl I *love* this album. While it gets a bit uneven toward the end, the 1st 3/4s of it are pure pop heaven. It's my favorite Kirsty album! 2. When I Was a Boy-Jane Siberry It didn't grab me on first listen like _The Speckless Sky_ did, and I will probably always skip "Sweet Incarnadine." But I think this album more than any of her previous ones best combines her quirky and more accessible sides and shows a great amount of maturity. 3. Debut-Bjork This one, along with _Titanic Days_, spent a lot of time in my CD player. Very inventive and highly enjoyable. Of course, Bjork could sing selections from the phone book and I'd be happy. 4. Into the Labyrinth-Dead Can Dance I was never a big fan of DCD, but this album really got me interested. Lisa Gerrard's voice is transcendent and even though Brendan Perry sounds like Frank Sinatra or Neil Diamond gone alternative, "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove" is a great song. 5. The Red Shoes-Kate Bush It's not her worst (_Lionheart_ gets that honor), but it's definitely one of her weaker efforts. Nevertheless, it's a new Kate album, and that's reason enough to put it in the top ten. Besides, "Top of the City," "Lily," and "The Red Shoes" are becoming favorite Katesongs. 6. Equipoise-Happy Rhodes I still can't decide if this or _Warpaint_ is my favorite Happy album. Needless to say, this is one of the best by the Hapster and easily one of the best of the year. I can't wait for the next one. 7. Very-Pet Shop Boys Yes, the PSB. While not typical Ecto fodder, this is a great album. I love their cynical yet sensitive lyrics and the maturity they have demonstrated on both _Behavior_ and this one. Plus, only Neil Tennant could get away with lines like, "I feel like taking all my clothes off and dancing to the Rite of Spring." 8. A Darker Passion-Ingrid Karklins I just discovered this one a couple of months ago thanks to Ecto and it's brilliant! It's really hard to categorize, although Meredith's description of Laurie Anderson in Riga was pretty good. If you don't have it, go and get it! 9. Little Earthquakes-Tori Amos I know this wasn't released this year either, but it is so amazingly brilliant, I spent as much time listening to it this year as last. What can I say except she is an utter genius! 10. Us-Peter Gabriel Yet another one from last year. Nothing will compare to Peter Gabriel III, IMHO, but this is still one of his best. And, seeing him in concert this year was a religious experience. Runners-Up: 1. Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can't We?-The Cranberries Frivolous but highly enjoyable. 2. "The Wedding Album"-Duran Duran A surprising come back from a band I thought was finished. "Come Undone" is one of the best songs of the year. 3. Rid of Me-P.J. Harvey I love the attitude and voice more than the music. The video for "50 Foot Queenie" really hooked me. 4. October Project It sort of sounds like Sarah McLachlan and a million other Ecto artists combined into one. It's not particularly original, but "Bury My Lovely" and "Return to Me" are great songs. And, the lead singer has a wonderful voice. 5. Hat Full of Stars-Cyndi Lauper Another artist who I thought was finished creatively. Why this album hasn't been more successful is beyond me. Albums I Want Very Badly and I Know Would Probably Be on My List: 1. Sleeping with the Lion-Margot Smith Anthony has convinced me, now I just need to get it... 2. Fumbling Toward Ecstasy-Sarah McLachlan I'm waiting impatiently for the US release. 3. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues-k.d. lang Like Bjork, she could sing anything and I would be in heaven. 4. In Utero-Nirvana Ignoring all the "grunge" hoopla, Kurt Cobain is one of the best songwriters around. Stuart ___________________________________________________________________________ Stuart Myerburg "I need more things. I need more money. Emory Univ. Law School Don't want to work. Want things for free." labspm@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu -Jane Siberry _o_ |< ___________________________________________________________________________ ======================================================================== Subject: what a surprise! Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 18:48:00 -0500 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu My CD player is in the shop, which means I'm listening to the radio a lot more than usual. WHFS here in DC just played Tribe's "Supercollider"! I think they're one of those bands I never expected to hear on the radio (which I considered unfortunate 'cause while I've picked up _Abort_ in Tower for a possible purchase, I always put it down in favor of something I was _sure_ I wanted). So now I finally know what Tribe sounds like. Guess I have to save some pennies. That song is just Way Too Cool. Jeff (who wonders if this is a good time to call Yet Again and request Happy...) |Jeffrey C. Burka | "Everything is still with a fear of never coming out | |Suffering Bad Grammar| Never following through / Never ever finishing | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | What we wanted to do." -- Melissa Ferrick | ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 17:47:41 CST From: Symbolic Wassailant Subject: More writing like I talk :-) Sincere empathies to Joe on his (un)employment situation. As I write this, I have just gotten off the phone with the contact person for a good job for which I have applied. I found out, to my relief, that no decision has been made yet, and they're not certain when one will be. Somehow, the fact that I haven't been blown out of the water yet seems more salient to me than the fact that I'm still not working, and may or may not end up working there. It seems to be the sort of thing that lends itself to semi-flat affects on my part. Having gotten the lugubrities over with for the afternoon: According to the weather reports on the radio this morning, the official Winter Solstice occ- urred around 2:30ish this afternoon; the trend line for hours of daylight will now continue to slope upward until June (which will be the harbinger of it being later than we think WRT the next Happy Birthday Project, but that's neither here nor there). Inasmuch as Doug seems so taken with the number with which I honored this occasion on the HGP for the year, it occurred to me that it might amuse others on the list as well. HAVE YOURSELVES A GROOVY LITTLE SOLSTICE Magic Mose and his Royal Rockers Have yourselves a groovy little solstice [Mithra's]* won his fight ======================================================================== If you are a dazzling urbanite A smug suburbanite Hey that's cool You don't have to lead a boring country life To groove on natural life As a rule Someday soon we'll all dance nude together If utility rates allow Until then we'll don our ritual robes and vow To have ourselves a groovy little solstice now If you are a budding feminist A neo-paganist You'll agree That burning yule logs to celebrate winter Beats serving that old Christmas dinner To chauvinist turkeys Someday soon we'll all dance nude together If utility rates allow Until then we'll don our ritual robes and vow To have ourselves a groovy little solstice Hey, have yourselves a swingin' little solstice Hey all you wizards and warlocks And all you crazy nutty witches Have yourselves a groovy little solstice now *[Closest I could come from the source recording alone. Paganism mavens on the list are invited to suggest corrections.] (From the compilation _The Dark Side of the Xmas Tree_, Performance Records, 1990) While checking the date on the inlay card just now, I learned with interest that the label is, or was, headquartered in New Brunswick, N.J., making it a neighbor of ecto if it's still around (Performance Records, not ecto :-) ). It's actually not as good in transcribed form as it is on the recording, which has all the asides to the lounge audience on the part of the lead singer. One more reason to order a copy of the HGP if you're not on the list to be issued one automatically. If you have access to the _Chicago Sun-Times_, you'll enjoy Richard Roeper's column in today's paper, in which he recounts his channel-surf Friday night between Rush Limbaugh on Letterman, Howard Stern on Leno, and Snoop Doggy Dogg on Arsenio. You'll be especially taken with Rush's reaction to Letterman's perfect squelch to one of his pronouncements on women. Personal to all who have inquired about dubs of last week's Kate interview: I have received said inquiries, and will be in touch as soon as some other dust settles. WRT Meredith on charivaris: In the 60s, there was a syndicated rock music show on TV called _Shivaree_, which of course was an anglicized form of the French loanword in question. I wonder whether it was bestowed on that show as a between-the-lines comment on the common adult view of the teen music-- and especially the teen rock culture--of the day :-). The late, great English humor magazine _Punch_, BTW, was founded in the 19th century as _Punch, or the London Charivari_; in recent years, its column of entertainment listings con- tinued to be called "The London Charivari." WRT Neal's account of the funny_beer :-) over the Shedd Aquarium and their dolphins: Actually, the Chicago press has mostly just done short stories reporting the fact of certain protests in California (particularly the one that featured sundry celebs), and the aquarium's position that the protestors are all wet :-). Nothing in any depth. And thanx, Neal, for the offer WRT the assorted foreign language dictionaries, though to be sure, the fact that my writing is obscure enough in English gives me pause about doing too much trans- lation of my ideas into other languages :-). Joe did spell Anais right. My perception of the situation is that in idiomatic French, it's pronounced an-eye-EESS, but in most colloquial American usage it's pronounced an-EYE-ess. All of which reminds me of the time I was watching the movie _Fuzz_ on TV, when they did a commercial for a perfume called Anais Anais (which the announcer pronounced the French way). My first thought was whether a woman who wore Anais Anais would go for the likes of Meyer Meyer (the charac- ter played by Jack Weston in the movie) :-). WRT the fact of any kind of intro for Klaus and Claudia's HGP selections having fallen through the cracks: This presents the opportunity to create an all-new party game for the coming round of ecto parties, and indeed parties of all other types, this holiday season, which I have given the working title of "If I Were Chief Monologist for the HGP." Simply put, we could post an intro to the list, of the sort that I would have read on the tape if I'd been given the information in time. Once that was done, ectophiles anywhere in the world could provide themselves with the spoken intro for those selections, simply by reading said text aloud :-). WRT Bob's reminiscences of nuoc nam: Donald Duncan's book _The New Legions_ (circa 1967), about his experiences in the war, makes several references to the stuff. It seems reminiscent in some ways of kimchee, the Korean cabbage dish that's prepared in a similar way and comes out smelling analogously to the Western sensibility. Should I pass by a Vietnamese restaurant anytime soon that has a menu in the window, I shall have to remember to check if it lists nuoc nam. Somehow, I have a subjective impression that a lot of them don't, simply because it wouldn't have as wide an appeal as many other dishes. Off to continue nursing my sore scapula. Mitch ------------------------------ "Where do you think chicken wings come from? They come from chickens." --Rush Limbaugh ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 19:56:56 EST From: woj@remus.rutgers.edu (the dark saxophone) Subject: the sound of one hand typing anthony@xymox.apana.org.au (Anthony Horan) sez: >Canberra band Falling Joys' finest moment [Aeriel] is this the album with "black bandages" on it? a brilliant tune, if you ask me - knocked my socks off (though meth wouldn't let me play it on the champagne jam). somewhere in the past year, i picked up the cd single of this, though i can't recall if it was promotional or a real release (And if it was, which label or country). hmmm. want to work another trade anthony? speaking of which, i'll just point at that i've listened to margot smith's album a couple times so far, but i have not solidified an opinion yet. i know i enjoyed it, but i don't recall what i thought of it. >5. Cuckoo - Curve listening to this even as i type. gotta agree that it's a massive step up (or at least orthogonal) from _doppelganger_ which i consider a good thing. again, i've not really listened to it as much as i should have before pronouncing judgement...but i'm glad to hear that they're moving on instead of repeating the blindfold ep yet again (the tremelo on "sweetest pie" is great!). >10. Bitch Epic - Deborah Conway sounds like i need to keep an eye open for this...nutella, indeed! (hmmm, i think i have some of that around the house somewhere actually...hmmm ;) [regarding reviews] >Eager anticipation sensed in Melbourne... :-) heh. well, only one so far. in the used/cutout bin at a local chain store, a few cds popped in that interested me, but i didn't have the moolah at the time to buy them. when i went back, the first was sold, but the other was still there. it's the debut album by october project (keen phillyphiles may note that the neilds opened for october project last weekend at the tin angel - i did not go however). october project is a fairly mellow pop album of unremarkable musicality; however, the vocals of mary fahl, who i'd bet anyone a 500 cd-capacity rack is classically trained, set them apart from the average autumnal pop band. admittedly, i find her voice a wee bit too strained to listen to, but it's not too bad if you can swallow (heh) it. more reviews as they happen. >I had only "Secrets Of The Beehive" on CD and the rest on vinyl, so it was a >bargain for $100. oof! i think i was able to buy _weatherbox_ for us$40 or so. [re: game theory] >Who did they record for? I've heard the name but never the music. Is it good? ah...their last few albums were on enigma records. their earliest few were on some independant label from i-forget-where. mitch eastner was involved in their later releases. albums that i can recall right now include _real nighttime_, _the bigshot chronicles_, _lolita nation_ and _two steps from the middles ages_. there's also a compilation called _tinkers evers chance_ which is probably still findable and a good place to delve into their work (especially since the first two albums are going to be hard to come by). it's also worth noting that donette thayer (another kilbey kollaborater!) was a game theorist for at least one album (the last one). "Alex Gibbs" sez re: caterwaul: >This is the 5-track demo thing for the album? nope. it's 40 minutes of tunes all well-recorded and quite a bit better than demo quality. it's just a dub and it's labelled "summer 1991 demos". a friend of mine who was in touch with betsy before she disappeared sent me a copy when it became apparent that contacting wasn't feasible. "Greg O'Rear" sez: >I have "Quiet" and "Weaving My Ancestors' Voices". I gather there is at >least another album by Sheila Chandra. there's quite a few. after monsoon's _third eye_ was released, steve coe and sheila decided that it would be better to market her as a solo artist instead of fronting a band. she released _out on my own_, _quiet_, _the struggle_ and _nada brahma_ before _weaving my ancestor's voices_. the first four albums are available on three cds on indipop records (side a of _nada brahma_ appears on _quiet_ and side b on _out on my own_). i can't recall if there was anything between _weaving..._ and _nada..._, but i don't think so. >are her other CD's more or less the same style as the above two? _out on my own_ is more akin to monsoon (ie, pop with indian trappings). _quiet_ is an introspective piece, so i'm not surprised that you thought of it more as a collection or presentation. _the struggle_ is a step away from that in a different direction from _out on my own_. i haven't heard _weaving..._ yet (i know, i will) so i don't know what it's like. +woj ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 17:18:24 PST From: Neal Copperman Subject: i-girls Steve Fagg, here's one persons opinions on the Indigo Girls: The album you have is, I believe there second. For me "Closer to Fine" is perhaps the best song they have ever done, and pretty much perfect. Older than that, but released later on CD, is "Strange Fire". This has a few of the tracks also on the Indigo Girls (perhaps different recordings though?. I remember Prince of Darkness is on it.). It is a little bit rougher and not as great, but I enjoy it a lot. It has a cover of "LOve ONe Another" (not sure of the title - C'mon people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together try to love one another right now). After Indigo Girls they recorded Nomads, Indians, and Saints. I thought this was a bit weaker, but it has some fine songs. The upbeat Hammer and a Nail (there response to critics saying they were to consistantly gloomy) was played on the radio. There are some wonderful songs on it too (You and Me and the 10000 Wars springs quickly to mind), but doesn't excite me as much as what you have. Last year(?), they released Rites of Passage, which I thought was fantastic. I wholeheartedly recommend it and think it is their best yet, with reincarnation song Galileo, an Emily Dickenson song, and an oddity called Chickenman. If you are interested, that's the next one to get. (Interesting one girl, one gitar version of Dire Straights Romeo and Juliet, too.) I recently picked up a live CD - Back on the Bus, Y'all - that comes between Nomads and Rites. It's quite entertaining, with some strong performances and a cover of All Along the Watchtower. I've seen the Girls live a number of times, and they always put on a good show. So, in summary, I say buy in this order 1) Rites of Passage 2) Indigo Girls 3) At this point, it doesn't matter all that much. Disclaimor: This was all done from memory, which could be a bit fuzzy, but it's more or less correct. Neal ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 17:24:45 PST From: Neal Copperman Subject: Game Theory If you're exploring the Loud Family (which I haven't heard) and Game Theory (which I have) angle, you should look into Let's Active too. I am positive of 2 albums, think I've heard of a 3rd, and may be missing many more. All I have is "Every Dog Has It's Day" which is a wonderful poppy album, along the lines of Game Theory, but less quirky and more to sing along to. I think I like it better than Real Nighttime, Lolita Nation and Two Steps from the Middle AGes. I forget who is involved with it, but I wouldn't be surprised if it included Mitch Easter, Dohnette (I'm almost positive), and Scott whoever. Maybe more info tomorrow. Neal ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 17:24:38 PST From: kyrlidis@templeton.cchem.berkeley.edu (Angelos Kyrlidis) Subject: Last post of the year? hello ecto, I've been relaTively sIlent, because I have been preparing for my Trip to ecuador, and trying to get Some wOrk done at the same time, pLus reading gaffa haS kept me entertAined, especially the magic00* series. :) On tHe other hand, I have beeN swamped with ecto digests in the last couple of days, so I have some catching up to do. In any case, I'd like to wish all of you happy whatever holidays, and a gReat new year!! I really dOn't know if I will post again before I leave on sunday. And while I am at it, Just in case somebody knows... Whatever happened to rough trade? They were a canadian new wave band, who opened for Bowie at the CNE stadium in Toronto in '83, and had a couple of albums out. I ask because while trying to find appropriate music for my 10 year old niece I bought myself a tape of theirs for 77c, which had the great song 'All touch' which I remember from those days... Carol Pope, the singer, has a great voice. Oh, and since I mentioned my niece. What would *you* buy for a 10 year old? I got her Ace of Base, Belinda Carlisle, and Baltimora and will probably give her my Bangles tape and my tape of 'Hounds of love' (you never know! :)). Well, that's all for now! See ya in '94! Angelos ======================================================================== Subject: cool! Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 21:22:12 -0500 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu I just watched our very own D^2 win a really cool set of fishing rods on Jeopardy! Yet another face/voice to associate with a bunch o' phosphor... Congrats on a game well played. You had some great moments. Jeff |Jeffrey C. Burka | "Everything is still with a fear of never coming out | |Suffering Bad Grammar| Never following through / Never ever finishing | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | What we wanted to do." -- Melissa Ferrick | ======================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1993 21:52:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Suspended In Duct Tape Subject: Argh! Hi! You mean I missed my chance to see D^2 on Jeopardy tonight? I thought he was going to be on TOMORROW night!!! Argh!!! I've been waiting for this since you taped it, Dave. :P Did anybody think to pop a tape in the VCR? I really want to see this! Ron Hogan, when did you say you were going to be on, again? I'll really try to get the date right next time... Meredith meth@delphi.com ======================================================================== From: r.lovejoy1@genie.geis.com Date: Wed, 22 Dec 93 02:16:00 BST Subject: Doom! Jessica mentioned Doom. We have Doom here. My younger son, Steven, beyond Wolfenstein. Best shareware I've ever seen. Vickie mentions Yngve; I too have noticed his posts returning. I hope he's OK over there! Finally, I just wanted to tell you all that my mom is back home with my dad. She sounds great and we're all glad this is behind us. Again, thanks to everyone for thier good wishes. Now we must get Holly well, and Joe Z. - *HUGS*! Missy in PEE - oria, I don't know DePaul (unless he's RuPaul's cousin?), but I hope you feel better too. +*************************************************************************+ + Robert Lovejoy + I've got a letter here postmarked Deep Space + + Deepspace + -The Firesign Theatre + + Cherry Hill, NJ + But baby I'm here and I've been quite an + + r.lovejoy1@genie.geis.co + Alien too... + + kdvn07a on Prodigy + -Happy Rhodes + +*************************************************************************+ ======================================================================== 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)