From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V4 #322 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Sunday, September 13 1998 Volume 04 : Number 322 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Sinead and Tori [Mark Lowry ] The Nields ["J." Wermont ] Re: true confessions ["C. K. Coney" ] Re: sticking up for veda ["C. K. Coney" ] Re: true confessions [stunning@tezcat.com] Re: Jane Siberry Question (AB SOUND) [Riphug@aol.com] Re: Jane Siberry Question (AB SOUND) [stunning@tezcat.com] The Avengers Soundtrack... [stunning@tezcat.com] trash can sinatras [stunning@tezcat.com] Re: sticking up for veda [Riphug@aol.com] new england record expo on sunday [Paul Kim ] Re: true confessions [00jnweiser@bsuvc.bsu.edu] Re: Sinead and Tori ["Jeffrey C. Burka" ] Re: hole and bland ["Jeffrey C. Burka" ] Re: hole and bland ["Jeffrey C. Burka" ] Re: heather nova (was: hole and bland) [Andrew Fries ] Re: trash can sinatras [Old Spice ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:51:57 -0500 From: Mark Lowry Subject: Re: Sinead and Tori >>I expressed love for Sinead O'Connor Joseph Zitt wrote: > IMHO, one problem is that she had one amazing, incredibly brilliant > album, then went off the tracks. Nothing she has done since has been > anywhere near "The Lion and the Cobra". She may have said all that > she had to say with her first album, and has wandered around since. > (OTOH, I pretty much think the same of Tori, though I have a feeling > whatever she does next, building from the dynamic of the live band, > may be stunning.) ... one problem is that she had one amazing, > incredibly brilliant album, then went off the tracks. Nothing she has > done since has been anywhere near "The Lion and the Cobra". > Xenu's Sister wrote: > MajormajormajorMAJOR disagreement with you there Joe. I think > "Universal Mother" is one of the best albums ever recorded, by > *anybody*. IM, of course, HO. Though I liked her, she wasn't in > my Pantheon until that album. If you don't have it, get it. If you > have it and haven't listened to it for a while, try it again. Try it > acouple times. Interesting ... here's where I interject my pick for best SO'C album: _I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got_. _The Lion..._ is *definitely* a brilliant album. Do I even need to remind that "Troy" is without a doubt the best and most powerful breakup song EVER. (*and that video!*) That song either leaves me angry, sad, or wanting to shout "You go girl!" I also love _Universal Mother_, however I think it's a *big* step down in terms of the songwriting and visceral emotion she displayed on the first two. IDNWWIHG runs me through a whole gamut of emotions: catharsis, anger, dispair, sorrow, joy (yes, joy), etc. Stunning lyrics. Going back to the subject of songs that make you weep .... "you cause as much sorrow" and "the last day of our acquaintance" for sure. And "feel so different" -- so gut wrenching, so cathartic. And, oh my god, the strings in that song! I've never seen her live ... she didn't do Lilith in Dallas. Isn't she working on a new album? Real quick on some Tori things mentioned: "Tear in Your Hand" is easily my favorite song on LE, but not my fave Tori song (although it's close). That would be, as mentioned earier, "Doughnut Song." Which brings me to _Boys for Pele_. I'm definitely in the BFP Tori camp. I mean, I think she's always amazing, and LE is a tough act to beat, but BFP is an incredible piece of work. Love its roller coasteryness, love the orchestration. However, the only Tori song that I absolutely abhor is on there: "Talulah." Ironically, I have three CD singles for "Talulah" because of the different b-sides. Third favorite is _Under the Pink_, and, I have to admit, I was *very* disappointed with _From the Choirgirl Hotel_. There's not a single song on there that makes me want to repeat the track. There's not a song that really moves me. There's not a song I identify with. I guess my favorites are "Cruel" and "She's Your Cocaine," but, eh. I usually skip "Raspberry Swirl" (I *really* hate her little "let's go" at the beginning, that reminds me of those awful dance songs heard mostly in gay dance clubs, in which the only lyrics are "set me free" or "take me higher"), but I don't detest it as much as "Talulah." FTCH was the only Tori album that I didn't play endlessly for at least a month when I first got it. I even like _Y Kant Tori Read_ more than FTCH. But yes, I am looking forward to the concert. Mark n.p. legendary pink dots, _malachai: shadow weaver part 2_ n.r. still the Dr. Suess thing ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 14:35:30 -0700 (PDT) From: "J." Wermont Subject: The Nields Vickie wrote: > as long as we're laying our > cards out there, I have to throw out the name of another band that's > seemingly loved by all on ecto that I just don't like: The Neilds. I > listened to Gotta Get Over Greta yet again this morning and it didn't > do a thing for me. Ooooh I *hated* that album! And that was a big surprise to me because from everything I'd heard about them I was sure I was going to love it. But it didn't just "not do anything for me" - I really couldn't stand it. (Why am I speaking in the past tense?) I only listened to it 2 or 3 times (yes, I really did endure it a few times in an attempt to get past my initial reaction), so unfortunately I can't remember exactly what it was that irritated me so much, but I just remember thinking that the sound of it was really ugly. They've put out a couple of albums, haven't they? Do they all sound similar (ie, should I not bother with any of them), or is Gotta Get Over... a departure for them? Joyce ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:18:45 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Re: true confessions Michael Doyle wrote: > I _am_ into female vocals, often coupled with dreamy, fuzzy, > trippy kind of music (Cocteau Twins, early Lush, Portishead for example). > So Jewel and Jane and Tori and Sarah just don't do much for me. > Ditto for me...my fave band is/was Cocteau Twins (folks do know they've broken up, right?) And Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil, other 4AD projects. But I like tons of stuff, and not just alternative/indie/shoegazey, etc music. For example, I love world music, reggae (especially dub & dancehall), jazz and classical. And I love female singers like Jane Oliver, Cleo Laine, Anita Baker, Toni Braxton, well, it's a long list. But I do like Jewel, love Happy of course, love Veda, and I'm one of those, yes, who is bored by Tori and Sarah for the most part, but I do get in my moods when I play them. So, yes, indeed, the ectophile universe is wide indeed! Carol P.S. Oh, yes, I love Kate (both Bush and McGarrigle) n.p. Lida Husik, "Fly Stereophonic" ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:36:18 -0700 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Re: sticking up for veda Xenu's Sister wrote: > Perhaps my dislike of her voice is overly coloring my > perception of the music. It's certainly not your average strumming > girl with guitar bland. I looove Veda's voice! And her words are pure poetry. And I love the odd time signatures & some of the odd instruments she dares to use, like the saw. > >Irvin, she'll be in San Francisco with the Scrappy Bitch Tour on > >September 30 (venue T.B.A., if I find out I'll post it here). > >I'm sure she'll make it to Chicago sometime, in which case, > >Vickie, you really should go. I can probably even get you on the guest > >list so there will be no risk to you. > > I'll take you up on that, even though I hatedespiseabhor it when women > use "Bitch" as if it's oh so clever and they're "taking back" the word. Ok, > so Veda's on her Scrappy Female Dog Tour. I chuckled when I read Scrappy Bitch Tour, and the Scrappy Female Dog Tour is funny too! > I'm not trying to be difficult, or alienate you meth (I think you're more > wonderful than words can express) but as long as we're laying our > cards out there, I have to throw out the name of another band that's > seemingly loved by all on ecto that I just don't like: The Neilds. Whoa...ho! Is that an "i before e except after c"? Just kidding. Nope...I don't like that band either. Don't like their cds & I walked out on 'em live. Not my cup of tea. Reminded me of the "bar bands" we used to listen to years ago. But I'll admit they have energy. Carol ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 17:57:47 -0600 From: stunning@tezcat.com Subject: Re: true confessions Carol wrote: >Ditto for me...my fave band is/was Cocteau Twins (folks do know they've >broken up, >right?) I refuse to acknowledge this aspect of reality...it never happened, no no no you can't make me no. ;-) Thomas Dunning Brown Star Records Chicago I WANNA BE KATE: The Songs of Kate Bush http://www.tezcat.com/~stunning/kate/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:57:06 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: Re: Jane Siberry Question (AB SOUND) It appears that my listing of Jane Siberry's non-Jane contributions didn't appear to come through on some mail (damned AOL!!!!)......I had copied and pasted it, but AOL chooses when and when it won't accept these little < and > marks. So here it is again without the marks. ****************************************************************************** ********** I made a tape earlier in the week that's been wowing my workmates - some Sibfans, some not - as I've been playing it in the office where I work some of the time and, louder, in the "backroom" where I work some more of the time. It's a comp of all non-album Sib stuff. This Old Earth - from the Fred Frith soundtrack for the Peter Mettler film "The Top of His Head" (Something about Trains on cold medication) Innig - from Nigel Kennedy's "Kafka" The Bridge - from Joe Jackson's "Heaven & Hell" Antigua (Blue Heaven) - from Chalk Circle's "As the Crow Flies" She's Like the Swallow - from Hector Zazou's "Songs from the cold seas" Harmonix - from the Jam Nation album "Way Down Below Buffalo Hell" My Mother is not the White Dove - from "Arcane" Shir Amami - from "Festival of Light" Are you burning, little candle - from "Winter, Fire and Snow" When I think of Laura Nyro - form "Time & Love: a tribute to LN" A sample from "A Day in the life" My Mother... (live) - from "Kumbaya 199(5?)" JS with the Barenaked Ladies A Long time love song - from "Kick at the Darkness - a tribute to Bruce Cockburn" (JS with Martin Tielli) Silver Wheels - recorded by All Her Brothers Are Drummers (Anne Bourne singing and Ken Myhr on gtr) from the above BC trib album All the Diamonds in the World - Rebecca Jenkins - BC tribute album Waiting for the Moon - Fat Man Waving (R Jenkins singing) - also BC tribute album Blue Ballet - Anne Bourne - from Legacy II - a collection of singer-songwriters Through the Leaves - Rebecca Jenkins (see above) Slow Tango - from the Faraway, So Close soundtrack Calling All Angels - the Until the End of the World version - --- I neglected to put "Dream" from U. Srinivas' and Michael Brook's eponymous album because of the length of the track and the minimal - though admittedly magical - JS content. I love the tape - it's great to be able to hear all these songs together. ****************************************************************************** ***************** Jill :D ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:18:57 -0600 From: stunning@tezcat.com Subject: Re: Jane Siberry Question (AB SOUND) >I made a tape earlier in the week that's been wowing my workmates - some >Sibfans, some not - as I've been playing it in the office where I work some >of the time and, louder, in the "backroom" where I work some more of the >time. It's a comp of all non-album Sib stuff. I'm gonna look for some of this stuff I don't have (although I have most of it). I'm most intrigued by this one: Innig - from Nigel Kennedy's "Kafka" Also, I love the song that Jane does from the TOYS soundtrack..."Happy Workers (reprise)" Thomas Dunning Brown Star Records Chicago I WANNA BE KATE: The Songs of Kate Bush http://www.tezcat.com/~stunning/kate/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:31:57 -0600 From: stunning@tezcat.com Subject: The Avengers Soundtrack... If I posted about this before, forgive me. I just get so excited everytime I hear this album, and I hate soundtracks... Has anyone else checked this out? It has one of the most beautiful Sinead O'Connor songs I've ever heard. I mean fiercely beautiful, not just nice...and it's like 6 minutes long...SO cool! Also it has ANNIE LENNOX covering a BJORK song ("Mama" by the Sugarcubes) and also Louise Post of VERUCA SALT does a great impersonation of WENDY & LISA on a track. Although I don't think that was intentional... AND AND AND...GRACE JONES returns to conquer the earth with a full-on orchestrated Jamesbondesque kick your ass number that is SO strong its takes the highly coveted track 2 spot on the record. You better duck when you play this one cuz she comes right on out through the speakers and is taking names. Speaking of "track 2's", I've made a couple of mix tapes which featured a bunch of "second songs" from CD's, tapes and albums... They are really cool... Has anyone else ever just pondered this...? done rambling np. The Avengers just ended and now I'm playing The Trash Can Sinatras-"I've Seen Everything" for the first time...I picked it up for the song I'M IMMORTAL. The first track is sounding great...I'll let you know about the second one in a minute. Thomas Dunning Brown Star Records Chicago I WANNA BE KATE: The Songs of Kate Bush http://www.tezcat.com/~stunning/kate/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:39:14 -0600 From: stunning@tezcat.com Subject: trash can sinatras >np. The Avengers just ended and now I'm playing The Trash Can >Sinatras-"I've Seen Everything" for the first time...I picked it up for the >song I'M IMMORTAL. The first track is sounding great...I'll let you know >about the second one in a minute. ...And of course track two checks in as the stronger track. I love this theory. I should write a discertation on it. Could you imagine all the cool research I'd get to do...? Thomas Dunning Brown Star Records Chicago I WANNA BE KATE: The Songs of Kate Bush http://www.tezcat.com/~stunning/kate/index.html ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 18:49:44 EDT From: Riphug@aol.com Subject: Re: sticking up for veda In a message dated 9/12/98 2:33:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time, meth@smoe.org writes: << I guess what all this is saying is, sometimes it takes time. I went from an "eh" reaction to Veda, to her becoming my supreme musical goddess. Seeing her perform live helps, too. >> Well, ok......I agree with you here, meth ;-) Like the work of many musical artists, I like some of her songs but not others. I can't think of anyone whose complete repertoire I totally and perfectly adore. Veda is someone I think I have to be in the mood for. I've got all of her albums now (thanks to you pushy ectophiles , except for Songs for People and Buildings (which is on backorder). And I'll admit that I don't pull out her cds all that often (not that there's anyone in particular whose cds I *do* pull out on a regular basis)......but I enjoy her when I hear her and would love to see her live if she'd ever get as far south as Cincinnati. :-) Oh, yeah.......and all of Tori Amos's songs sound alike to me. Jill :D *share the music!* ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 19:37:20 -0400 From: Paul Kim Subject: new england record expo on sunday for those in the boston area, tomorrow at the Radisson Hotel (formerly the Howard Johnson's 57 Park Plaza Hotel) which is located at 200 Stuart Street there is the "Original New England Record and Compact disc Expo" from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is 4 dollars. For more info call (781) 986-4538 or go to www.angelfire.com/biz/randolphmusic/index.html from the Mass Pike exit to Stuar Street from Copley Square from the South East Expressway, take the Kneeland St. exot to Stuart and it's near the arlington T stop. Paul "standing in my own way" Kim ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 20:34:20 -0500 (EST) From: 00jnweiser@bsuvc.bsu.edu Subject: Re: true confessions *cough* Victoria Williams. jessica n. weiser - http://adam.nettfriends.com/Jess "they'll be sorry when the star buries the girl, so help me vanish, help me get myself outta here" - e. gryner ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 22:20:28 -0400 From: "Jeffrey C. Burka" Subject: Re: Sinead and Tori Mark Lowry wrote: [re: sinead] > I've never seen her live ... she didn't do Lilith in Dallas. Isn't she > working on a new album? I posted a bunch of comments about a live show of Sinead's in June (on the 16th, to be precise). Absolutely amazing concert. Another friend basically dislikes Sinead altogether now because he got so pissed off about one her shows. Apparently it depends somewhat on her mood (thought I should note that his experience and mine were around 7 years apart, too... ;-) jeff (who has no idea which of the 4 studio albums he likes best, but he holds Sinead in high regard for having the guts to release _Am I Not Your Girl?_ before horns/big-band sounding stuff came back in vogue. Tasty!) np: _Spine_, Veda Hille - -- |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: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 22:26:14 -0400 From: "Jeffrey C. Burka" Subject: Re: hole and bland Stuart Myerburg wrote: > I'm usually in complete agreement > with the reviews of the Ectophiles who have raved about Veda Hille. But I > just can't get into her. I bought _Spine_ when I was in Toronto last year > and have listened to it at least 6 or 7 times. I'm pretty sure I first heard a bit of Veda at an ectophile gathering a while back. Didn't even really catch my ear in the first place. I recently ordered _Spine_, out of curiosity, and because I mostly trust meth. My first run through the disc elicited a, "Uh, yeah. Whatever." It clicked on the second run, though, and I absolutely adore it now. I fall into the, "Okay, you don't like it, and I can dig that, but how can you call this BLAND?" camp. The arrangements, the dynamics of the music, the vocal tricks, the lyrics, and on and on. I mean, okay, "bellyfish" may be unpleasant, but bland? Perhaps people are using this word in a way I'm not familiar with. Humpty Dumpty, anyone? > And, I hate the CD booklet art work. er, I think that's the point. > I also bought Emily Bezar's _Moon in Grenadine_ on the strength of Ecto > reviews. I didn't get into that one either. I found her voice > annoyingly operatic. All the reviews I remember, starting back when the first Bezar album came out, mentioned quite explicitly her operatic singing style. I've heard both albums, and I guess liked 'em, but haven't bought either. I suppose I'll probably pick up _Moon in Grenadine_ some day. jeff still playing...spine. - -- |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: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 22:35:10 -0400 From: "Jeffrey C. Burka" Subject: Re: hole and bland Eponine sez: > P.S. Doesn't Heather Nova ever come up in conversation? She is >worthy of SO MUCH MORE attention than she has gotten. I just don't >understand that at all. I mean, she's even pretty. She's got the >whole package: she's cover-of-Rolling-Stone material in every way. Uh, she does. In 7+ years, we've discussed a lot of people, but for some odd reason, they don't actually get discussed every week. Go figure. In fact, Heather is one of those few people who was so well described on ecto before she had any kind of following (as if she does even now) in the US, that when I first heard her on the radio, I was able to say, "Hey, I bet this is Heather Nova" before the DJ did the back announce and verified the fact for me. Likewise, because of ecto, I was at what I think she claimed was her first US appearance, though I could be mis-remembering and it was simply the first show of the Oyster tour, at the old 9:30 club, with Neal, Sue, and, er, it was Jens and a friend of his, wasn't it? 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: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 14:16:38 +1100 From: Andrew Fries Subject: Re: heather nova (was: hole and bland) In a message "Re: heather nova (was: hole and bland)" on 12/Sep/1998 11:38:55 Greg Dunn says: > I love most of the music on _Siren_, but the overwhelming pop production > values undermine several of the songs -- for example, "Heart And > Shoulder": a beautiful ballad turned into a mockery of '80s pop by the > thumping drum and jangling guitar. Sigh. Yes, I first heard it solo > acoustic as well... Yeah, it was the same with me. "Heart and shoulder" is so beautiful in my memory of the gig I witnessed, yet it turns out to be a rather average song on Siren. I hate to admit it but yes, unfortunately Siren *is* bland. And I think it is largely the fault of production, which was my favourite gripe with "Oyster" as well. I'm not ready to give up on Heather just yet, but she can consider herself to be "on notice"! (now that'll get her attention :) __________________________________________________ There are two rules for ultimate success in life. 1. Never tell everything you know. http://www.zip.com.au/~afries/hall.html __________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 22:24:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Old Spice Subject: Re: trash can sinatras The Trashcan Sinatras are led by Eddi Reader's brother. She throws TCS covers onto some of her singles as B-sides, and calls them something like "Eddi's Trashcan Sinatras tribut album, track 3." (I say 'something like' cause I'm not at home to check. Will report back later.) - --charley _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V4 #322 **************************