From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org To: fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Reply-To: fegmaniax@ecto.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@ecto.org Subject: Feg Digest V5 #83 Fegmaniax Digest Volume 5 Number 83 Thursday April 24 1997 To post, send mail to fegmaniax@ecto.org To unsubscribe, send mail to majordomo@ecto.org with the words "unsubscribe fegmaniax-digest" in the message body. Send comments, etc. to the listowner at owner-fegmaniax@ecto.org FegMANIAX! Web Page: http://remus.rutgers.edu/~woj/fegmaniax/index.html Archives are available at ftp://www.ecto.org/pub/lists/fegmaniax/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Topics: ------- ------- Re: Pop culture Press #40 May 1997 issue of MOJO songs I wish I'd written Re: Music in commercials Pass the apple sauce... Covered with Strawberry Boingo Re: music in commercials Album covers Re: The 50 Worst Rock n' Roll Records Re: Toast Creation Seattle Gig Muzak and Elfman Re: The 50 Worst Rock n' Roll Records 50 worst albums... Re: Muzak and Elfman Re: songs I wish I'd written Thompson Twins (no Robyn content) Power of Pyramids A Word About Throwing Muses' Future Re: Pass the apple sauce... Re: The 50 Worst Rock n' Roll Records Unausprechliche Kulte. . . . . Re: songs I wish I'd written MORE THROWING MUSES (no robyn) Re: misc Re: MORE THROWING MUSES CD Packaging ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 08:40:37 -0400 From: Timothy Reed Subject: Re: Pop culture Press #40 I just saw a couple of issues left at St. Marks Books in NY. The new issue just came out - I assume that old issues get returned soon when the new one comes in. Tim bootlegs@ix.netcom.com wrote: > > I got this response from Pop Culture Press yesterday. > > Peter > > > Hi > > > > yes, we have some of #40 left. Send me $5 check or mo payable to Pop > > Culture Press and I'll get ya one. Thanks > > > > > > Luann Williams > > PO Box 150423 > > Austin, TX 78715-0423 > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:06:16 -0400 (EDT) From: Vashty Hawkins Subject: May 1997 issue of MOJO Delurking ... There's a brief but good article in this month's issue of MOJO about "Storefront Hitchcock", including a couple of photographs on Robyn playing inside and in front of said storefront, also a conversation with J. Demme about his desire to make the film and love of Robyn's music. Not the kind of "Goldmine"-like indepth article, but nice to see RH getting some coverage in a major magazine. Can't wait to see the film, looks like its going to be excellent ... And an 18-page article on John Lennon was the icing on the cake. Back to lurking, Vashty (who wishes she had written Lennon's #9 Dream) Hawkins ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 09:21:53 -0400 From: Dolph Chaney Subject: songs I wish I'd written Topping today's version of this ever-growing list is the Zombies' "Care Of Cell 44." That might just be the sweetest song of forgiveness I've ever heard. I'm covering it at the lunchtime gig I'm playing (in about 2 hours). Other candidates (long list, so bear with me or delete) -- Adam Again -- Hopeless Etc. The Bevis Frond -- I Know We're Going Tim Buckley -- Song To The Siren The Buzzcocks -- What Do I Get? Elvis Costello -- numerous, but today I'm thinking... New Lace Sleeves Marshall Crenshaw -- Whenever You're On My Mind Crowded House -- Fall At Your Feet Daniel Amos -- Broken Ladders To Glory Nick Drake -- Fly Guided By Voices -- Echos Myron Chris Harford -- Sing, Breathe, And Be Merry Robyn Hitchcock -- Cynthia Mask Husker Du -- I Apologize The Kinks -- Picture Book The Lemonheads -- The Outdoor Type Jack Logan -- My New Town Lyle Lovett -- Flyswatter/Ice Water Blues (Monty Trenckmann's Blues) Mission Of Burma -- Forget Bob Mould -- Can't Fight It Martin Newell -- Christmas In Suburbia Odds -- Truth Untold or The Last Drink Michael Penn -- No Myth The Posies -- Solar Sister Radiohead -- Black Star Jonathan Richman -- I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar Sebadoh -- Brand New Love Shudder To Think -- Shake Your Halo Down The Smiths -- Reel Around The Fountain Suddenly, Tammy! -- Supersonic Sugar -- The Act We Act Superchunk -- The First Part The Swirling Eddies -- Billy Graham or Hide The Beer, The Pastor's Here Richard Thompson -- numerous, but today... A Heart Needs A Home The Velvet Underground -- Jesus Chris Whitley -- Big Sky Country The Who -- Odorono Wilco -- Misunderstood Wire -- From The Nursery XTC -- Wrapped In Grey Yo La Tengo -- Tom Courtenay Neil Young -- numerous, but today... Tired Eyes and the aforementioned Zombies tune. Dolph ------------------------------ From: RIELWJ@sbu.edu Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 12:43:31 EDT Subject: Responses on various subjects: My Favorite Album Covers: GOF- Hitch Loveless-My Bloody Valentine Ultra Vivid Scene-Ultra Vivid Scene In My Tribe-10,000 Maniacs Most REM Covers The Love Album-Carter USM Queen is Dead-The Smiths Hellzapoppin-3Ds Melt-Straitjacket Fits Faith-The Cure Intravenus Demilo-Spinal tap (speaking of which, I like Johnathan Demme, but I'll bet "Storefront Hitchcock" would be better had it been directed by Marty DiBergi) The Joshua Tree-U2 I, personally, would probably find Robyn tiresome and borderline unbearable if there were no humor in his music. I think he has struck a nice balance between the "serious" and the "humorous." Without the wittiness it would all be, as many of his critics misguidedly accuse, completely self-indulgent. he lets you in on how ridiculous it all is while maintaining enough dignity to keep it relevant. Katharyn Bigelow directed "Strange Days" and the classic "Near Dark" (Bill Paxton should have been allowed to perform like this in "Twister," okay). She used to be involved with Cameron, I think, after he and Gale Ann Hurd split up. They may well still be, for all I know. I wholly concur with The Great Quail (a teacher who likes Hitchcock. I thought I would be the pioneer there. You must use your status as a respected figure....) that the ending was a bit of a let down-- the climactic fight, and a forced happy ending, but the movie still holds up. I liked that Lenny was such a pathetic character, a true loser. The Quail is right in saying that he should have been punished for his inaction-- a Shakespearean trait--and had to deal with it. Alas...A somewhat similarly themed book I'm reading is called The DEUS Machine by Pierre Oullettte. Worth checking out... All I can say about The 50 Worst Rock Records is that three of them should be by Live. Egads! They are aweful! Unbearable! I'm sure even Ambrose Bierce cracked a smile once in while, kids. Making Christmas Cards With The Mentally Ill, The True and Righteous Lord of the Dance ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 10:06:13 -0700 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Re: Music in commercials On Wed, 23 Apr 1997 Missa Jay rote: > ...[stuff about Squeeze in Burger King ads]... > > You know, I knew this was going to come up. I'm not going to really > battle this one out, but let me state clearly that I DO NOT BEGRUDGE > THE ARTISTS FOR CASHING IN. Let's look at this from the other side shall we? 1) The advertisers had the good taste to choose quality music to support their products. It would be cheaper and simpler to get some poor hack to come up with the usual schlock musack, or to use some royalty-free thing. (As most ads do). Plus they wouldn't have to hassle with grungy record companies. 2) They obviously think that the music has broad appeal - and will be particularly acceptable to the demographics they've targetted for their product. (Who eats at Burger King anyway? All I can tell you is that the executives who visit from our Japanese parent company would rather visit Burger King than any of the local gourmet restaurants ...really!) 3) If any "cashing in" _is_ done, is it the artist or the record company? If an artist is lucky enough to have an ad agency pick one of their songs they may be able to say yes or no, but once the idea is approved, royalty negotiation falls to the record company. 4) There are only two possible downsides to this: i) The artist becomes associated with an inappropriate product (cigarettes or something) ii) They become known *only* for their ads--not likely in the BK ads (sorry Eddie) since they are using a variety of different bands. (Do you think some people know Ray Charles as "that guy from the Pepsi ads"? Uh Huh.) If one of Robyn's songs were picked for an ad. personally I'd be delighted. It would a clear indication that he'd definitely broken out of that "cult status" thing. (time for another post...). ~N ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 10:23:42 -0700 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Pass the apple sauce... On Wed, 23 Apr 1997 Zelda Stacy Pinwheel III incanted: > And how do they get by calling Robyn Hitchcock's audience a "cult" > anyway? Just because we know that liking Robyn is the Last Chance to > Advance Beyond Human, doesn't make us a cult. Since no one else has done it, let me consult my online copy of the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Hmm... cult (kùlt) noun 1) A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. Nah... 2) Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. Faddish? No way. Not us! 3) An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. Wait! "Exclusive"? "esoteric"? "artistic"? "intellectual"?? Why, that's Fegmaiax to a tee!! Hey mum, I've just joined a cult! ~N ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 11:01:34 -0700 From: Nick Winkworth CC: markg@nad.3com.com, LSDiamond Subject: Covered with Strawberry Boingo Responding various to posts from the precocious LSDiamond who writes with a style which belies her 18 years (Happy Birthday!)... Fave album covers: Does anyone remember "Grave New world" by the Strawbs? It's a single album with a tri-fold cover. The inside (36"x12") is one picture in a black/red/gold medieval illumination style. Stunning. I still mourn the loss of the vinyl 12inch-er. Mainly for the cover art. You just can't get the impact with a CD cover. > Just to say, > I LOVE DANNY ELFMAN ..[gross excess of exclamation points deleted] Just wanted to add my "me three" to this and to Mark Gloster, who also checked the Boingo Box on his senses form. ~N Is this a record for the most posts without referring to Susan? Oops, I just blew it! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 10:59:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: Re: music in commercials >Let's look at this from the other side shall we? God bless you! --a guy who makes commercials for a living. (I should point out that I don't use popular music to sell products, but only because I haven't advanced to the level where they're paying me hundreds of thousands of dollars to do so) PS-can anyone explain to me why Carl's Jr. thought Eddie Money would be a good pitchman? I mean, 10 years later he's STILL having trouble figuring out that song! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 11:46:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: Album covers I have an album the cover of which folds into a pyramid. When I was a kid I used to keep a glass of water in there so that when I drank it I'd be filled with the power of pyramids. Then one day I spilled the glass and ruined the album cover. I'm not telling who the album was by because it's too damned embarrasing. -russ ------------------------------ From: Hedblade@aol.com Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:04:39 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: The 50 Worst Rock n' Roll Records Thanks for the Heads Up on this one, Stacy (speak up more, will ya? ;) ) << #25. "Cult artists are frequently just as boring and predictable as mainstream ones. This is also called the Robyn Hitchcock rule. when Robyn Hitchcock called one of his records *Queen Elvis,* the only people who didn't get the joke were him and his audience. Cult audiences value cleverness over direct expression and the abstract over clarity. " >> I could just copy Ms. Susan's post and tag a "Yeah, what she said" to it, but instead I'll quote another wise woman- my mom. 1) The only thing worse than being talked about is NOT being talked about. 2) If the best thing they have to do is sit around talking about you and the things you do, I imagine they must lead a pretty dull life. I pitty them. Sincerely, Jay P.S. Hey, their is at lease one other "Jay" here on the list- should I do something clever to my sig like ad another initial or something so as to avoid confusion? Jay's of the list speak up! ------------------------------ From: Hedblade@aol.com Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:05:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Toast Creation Tracy and the Toast Collective: If y'all haven't seen the Kids In The Hall movie Brain Candy- do so. There's a "Toast" discussion in it that will slay you. Sincerely, Jay ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 12:07:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Robert Sutton Subject: Seattle Gig Im not sure if this has hit the list yet (Ive been off it for the last few days). According to TicketBastard's www page: THE BACKSTAGE: Primary Act: ROBYN HITCHCOCK City: SEATTLE State: WA Event Date: 7-JUN-97 FYI robert ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:22:29 +0500 From: Ken Frankel Subject: Muzak and Elfman I've recently heard muzak versions of Happy Jack and For Your Love in the mall, and it made me wonder if any of Robyn's stuff has "made it" to muzak? I can easily imagine versions of Balloon Man and So You Think You're In Love (not that I'd really want to hear them!) Has anyone ever heard any of his tunes in the elevator or supermarket? Regarding Danny Elfman, I think I remember seeing him in a low-budget movie in the early eighties. It was about a trip to the underworld, which was entered through the basement of a crack house in LA. The film featured the dwarf from Fantasy Island, a guy with a toad's head, and a topless French woman named Frenchie. Danny played Satan. Has anyone else seen this or was it a figment of my twisted imagination? Ken ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 14:31:01 -0500 (EST) From: Tracy Aileen Copeland Subject: Re: The 50 Worst Rock n' Roll Records On Thu, 24 Apr 1997 Hedblade@aol.com wrote: > I'll quote another wise woman- my mom. > > 1) The only thing worse than being talked about is NOT being talked about. Oscar Wilde is your mom? Wow. Tracy "IWTWMAAT" Copeland ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 12:41:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: 50 worst albums... >2) If the best thing they have to do is sit around talking about you and >the >things you do, I imagine they must lead a pretty dull life. I pitty them. hey, wait a minute, that's what WE do all day ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 14:43:11 -0500 (EST) From: Tracy Aileen Copeland Subject: Re: Muzak and Elfman On Thu, 24 Apr 1997, Ken Frankel wrote: > Regarding Danny Elfman, I think I remember seeing him in > a low-budget movie in the early eighties. It was about a > trip to the underworld, which was entered through the > basement of a crack house in LA. The film featured the > dwarf from Fantasy Island, a guy with a toad's head, and > a topless French woman named Frenchie. Danny played Satan. > Has anyone else seen this or was it a figment of my > twisted imagination? > It's probably _Forbidden Zone_, which Elfman directed. ObRobyn: There's a longstanding rumor in Indianapolis that Hitchcock refuses to play here because of some sort of incident the last time he *did* play, but no one who's repeated the story to me knows any details. I've been hearing this in various vague versions since 1990. Is there any truth whatsoever to this? (He certainly *hasn't* played Indianapolis during this time.) Or is it just another one of those "he never comes here; there must be a reason; something must have happened; therefore, it did" stories? or perhaps someone's got him confused with some other cult artist? Tracy "no, International House of Toast is *not* a cult" Copeland ------------------------------ From: jlgr@concentric.net Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:52:52 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: songs I wish I'd written wow, and in alphabetical order no less!! I'll have to update my list and do One song from each letter of the alphabet,,,hmmm, I don't like ANYTHING by Quando Quango though, so I don't know what I'll do about Q :-) cheers dobbs >Topping today's version of this ever-growing list is the Zombies' "Care >Of Cell 44." That might just be the sweetest song of forgiveness I've >ever heard. I'm covering it at the lunchtime gig I'm playing (in about >2 hours). > >Other candidates (long list, so bear with me or delete) -- > >Adam Again -- Hopeless Etc. >The Bevis Frond -- I Know We're Going >Tim Buckley -- Song To The Siren >The Buzzcocks -- What Do I Get? >Elvis Costello -- numerous, but today I'm thinking... New Lace Sleeves >Marshall Crenshaw -- Whenever You're On My Mind >Crowded House -- Fall At Your Feet >Daniel Amos -- Broken Ladders To Glory >Nick Drake -- Fly >Guided By Voices -- Echos Myron >Chris Harford -- Sing, Breathe, And Be Merry >Robyn Hitchcock -- Cynthia Mask >Husker Du -- I Apologize >The Kinks -- Picture Book >The Lemonheads -- The Outdoor Type >Jack Logan -- My New Town >Lyle Lovett -- Flyswatter/Ice Water Blues (Monty Trenckmann's Blues) >Mission Of Burma -- Forget >Bob Mould -- Can't Fight It >Martin Newell -- Christmas In Suburbia >Odds -- Truth Untold or The Last Drink >Michael Penn -- No Myth >The Posies -- Solar Sister >Radiohead -- Black Star >Jonathan Richman -- I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar >Sebadoh -- Brand New Love >Shudder To Think -- Shake Your Halo Down >The Smiths -- Reel Around The Fountain >Suddenly, Tammy! -- Supersonic >Sugar -- The Act We Act >Superchunk -- The First Part >The Swirling Eddies -- Billy Graham or Hide The Beer, The Pastor's Here >Richard Thompson -- numerous, but today... A Heart Needs A Home >The Velvet Underground -- Jesus >Chris Whitley -- Big Sky Country >The Who -- Odorono >Wilco -- Misunderstood >Wire -- From The Nursery >XTC -- Wrapped In Grey >Yo La Tengo -- Tom Courtenay >Neil Young -- numerous, but today... Tired Eyes >and the aforementioned Zombies tune. > >Dolph > > "What's in mind," I asked. but she kept painting a picture of two people who looked happy together. ...........I didn't understand. ------------------------------ From: Hollie_Satterfield@mail.amsinc.com Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 15:49:07 EST Subject: Thompson Twins (no Robyn content) >The early Thompson Twins are my favourite live band EVER! That was >when there were about 19 of them... They used to finish their shows >by handing out percussion instruments to the audience - half of whom >ended up sharing the stage. They were awesome! For an *idea* of the >music check out "A Product of .." (if you can find it). Nothing I've >heard recorded really does them justice however. I believe I have this LP at home if anybody really wants it. I wasn't very impressed. You realize Tom and Alannah are married now and living on a farm with 2.5 children and a dog. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 16:22:15 -0400 From: lj lindhurst Subject: Power of Pyramids No, please do tell because this is hilarious!!! >I have an album the cover of which folds into a pyramid. When I was a kid I >used to keep a glass of water in there so that when I drank it I'd be filled >with the power of pyramids. Then one day I spilled the glass and ruined the >album cover. > >I'm not telling who the album was by because it's too damned embarrasing. > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 15:26:32 EST From: kenster@MIT.EDU (Ken Ostrander) Subject: A Word About Throwing Muses' Future this is direct from from the web site for those of you that cannot access it. i've been trying all day! KEN A Word About Throwing Muses' Future Although the band doesn't have plans for a new record or to tour past April, they are not burning any bridges or slamming shut any doors... The Muses have scraped by for a long time doing something they love, for and with people they love...The time has come however to take a break and examine other options... Kristin will have a record coming out in January of '98... The 1st album *will* come out with Chains Changed (and lots more) in April of '98...There may also be another project in the works that we'll have to wait and see about... Please don't think the Muses are "breaking up" per se...It's important to all of them that you all know they'd do this for free if they could...but that's a big "if"... We are so grateful to all of you for your caring and commitment to the Muses all these years...There are a lot of records to go back and enjoy, and a lot of years to think about... Much Love, Throwing Muses ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 16:37:08 -0400 From: lj lindhurst Subject: Re: Pass the apple sauce... I don't know about you guys, but I am going to sell everything, quit my job, break off all relationships and move to the Isle of Wight to take "computer classes". As Robyn says, "you and I are higher than the law". (Actually, if you listen closely to 'Beautiful Queen', you will realize that it really IS mind control! Just what DOES he mean by, "I'm not afraid to be the only person on the planet"?? Hmmm?) l "gonna break my rusty cage and run" j ------------------------------ Subject: Re: The 50 Worst Rock n' Roll Records Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 16:45:20 -0000 From: The Great Quail >"*Song Cycle* is a record conceived for a cult audience. Like religious >cults, rock cults are all about idolizing a fundamentally flawed performer >and applauding his every wrong move: when Robyn Hitchcock called one of his >records *Queen Elvis,* the only people who didn't get the joke were him and >his audience. Umm . . . . what joke? ---------------------------------+-------------------------------- The Great Quail, K.S.C. | TheQuail@cthulhu.microserve.com | "Keeper of the Libyrinth" | Sarnath - The Quailspace Web Page: riverrun Discordian Society | http://www.microserve.net/~thequail 73 De Chirico Street | Arkham, Orbis Tertius 2112-42 | ** What is FEGMANIA? ** "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents." -- H.P. Lovecraft ------------------------------ Subject: Unausprechliche Kulte. . . . . Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 16:46:13 -0000 From: The Great Quail A cult, eh? >#25. Cult artists are frequently just as boring and predictable as >mainstream ones. This is also called the Robyn Hitchcock rule. #26. Books written soley to tear apart another's creative efforts in order to make a few bucks and advance one's own ego are just as boring and predictable as any random sampling of a review from the British Rock Press. This is also called the Guterman and O'Donnell Rule; or the "No One Ever Built a Statue to A Critic" clause. >Cult audiences value cleverness over direct expression and >the abstract over clarity. Yes, this is very true. I once heard of a tale of a whole cult being developed over an English translation of a Chinese VCR Instruction manual. . . . >And how do they get by calling Robyn Hitchcock's audience a "cult" anyway? >Just because we know that liking Robyn is the Last Chance to Advance Beyond >Human, doesn't make us a cult. Yeah, um . . . *sure* we're not a cult. For one, cult members tend to be a bit strange, attend odd meetings, and have funny names. At least that's what I, the Great Quail, and Terry, the Second Student in the Tendo Kasumi School of Philosophy were saying to The Real Lord of the Dance last Black Snake Diamond Rock Gathering. But let's face it - something has to be done about this misperception. Brother Woj, our newly elected 33 Degree Keeper of the "Holy Book of the Canon of the Only Real Secret in the Universe (And We Don't Mean that Mormon Fellah) Great Tome of the Law of Robyn" told me after last meeting that we were working on tax exempt status, so I guess when the Guambat comes through we will be an official religion. That is, if Sister Tracey, Butterer of the Holy Toast, doesn't blow the assimilation again. But I shouldn't knock her - it's not easy summoning the Thirteen Men With Long Black Heads. I mean, those cellists are hard to find, and damn, doesn't someone always notice them missing? But to think, a religion! Of course, some things will have to change, and for the better, too - no more handing out prawns on the streetcorner, Brother Jay. No we will move to . . . .dare I say it? Lobsters! And remember what Susan said last Sabbat meeting? (I think it was her. The shiny leather hood muffled her voice a bit; but I *think* those were her fishnets.) I totally agree with her . . .we *must* chill out on the Giant Squid revelation. That has to come later, after the Cones have all been delivered to their target locations and the stars are right. . . . until then, I say we stick with the slowly burning gnostic fanatic bit. We can wait, we have time. Speaking of which, has the backmasking on Glass Flesh begun to have the desired effect yet on our friends, children, and spouses? Brothers Bayard and Mark? Narf! What are we going to do tomorrow night, Brain . . . ? Agent Quailius the Apostate, Watcher of the Skies and Keeper of the Sacred Crab. ---------------------------------+-------------------------------- The Great Quail, K.S.C. | TheQuail@cthulhu.microserve.com | "Keeper of the Libyrinth" | Sarnath - The Quailspace Web Page: riverrun Discordian Society | http://www.microserve.net/~thequail 73 De Chirico Street | Arkham, Orbis Tertius 2112-42 | ** What is FEGMANIA? ** "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents." -- H.P. Lovecraft ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 16:56:39 -0500 From: "Gene Hopstetter, Jr." Subject: Re: songs I wish I'd written Awright, awright, I'll list mine: * Peter Catham -- Using God Like Ketchup * Spot 1019 -- Think and Grow Thin * Slovenly -- Movement, The Way Untruths Are, She Was Bananas * Trio -- Sunday You Need Love (Monday Be Alone) * The 6ths -- San Diego Zoo * Leonard Cohen -- The Master Song * Uncle Bobby -- Sandra's Having Her Brain Out, Surgery, It Sounds Great When You're Dead * Foetus -- Today I Started Slogging Again, The Only Good Christian is A Dead Christian, I Am Surrounded by Incompetence * Larry Wildman Fischer -- My Name Is Larry, In The Hospital * Peter Townshend -- Melancholia, Mary, Shout (yup, I like those Scoop albums) * Meat Puppets -- We're Here, Enchanted Porkfist * Gary Numan -- Down In The Park * Tintern Abbey -- Vacuum Cleaner * Severed Heads -- Adolph A Carrot, Brassiere In Rome * The Serendipity Singers -- Beans In My Ears * Peter Hammill -- Jeunesse D'ore * (dunno the writer, but Mr. Sinatra sang them) -- I've Got You Under My Skin, You Make Me Feel So Young __________________________________________________ Gene Hopstetter, Jr. +++ Internet Publishing Specialist E-DOC +++ http://www.edoc.com/ Voice: (410) 691-6265 +++ Fax: (410) 691-6235 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 97 16:03:40 EST From: kenster@MIT.EDU (Ken Ostrander) Subject: MORE THROWING MUSES (no robyn) since i disagree with many things john had to say, i must add my own comments: LIMBO was a disappointment to me at first. much of the album has a very samey quality to it. not too much diversity in the sound. 'ruthie's knocking' sounds like 'shimmer' too, but it didn't take long for the songs to grow on me like so much moss. 'tar kissers', 'limbo', 'shark', and 'freeloader' are all incredible. the shows i saw for this tour were very intimate. no frills, unless you count the unnecessary keyboard player. i didn't even think that they might be hurting for cash with the new album and all of the children. UNIVERSITY this album is raucus. the first four songs flow with amazing power and kick-ass passion. this is nothing new. the first album rocks too. it is silly to even hint that kristin has compromised her artistry for cash. sure, she has kids to support but she defies everything that smacks of the blender of popularity. 'that's all you wanted' is one that i keep playing over and over. sure, the middle of the album slows down quite a bit, but it is a journey. after the demonstration of their louder side 'calm down, come down' beckons us into the more pensive meanderings despite itself. lines like "we can't hardly wait around" and "love's got this drag on it" continue with this theme. the music is about continuence. it brings us back from this point like some kind of mood swing. this is what i always get from a muses album. an emotional tide definitely takes over. THE CURSE expensive but very tasty. pretty representative of their entire (nothing from HOUSE TORNADO or FAT SKIER) catalogue. shows they can still wail as a trio. 'vic' segways into 'bea' quite nicely. my favorite is the version of 'two step'. RED HEAVEN is not a disappointment. it is not their "grunge" album. it is chuckerblock full of awe-inspiring music that sounds like no one but kristin. even when she howls with bob mould, it is her show. her voice and playing are in prime form. 'furious' is awesome. 'pearl' draws you in, has its way with you, and then spits you out. 'firepile' is immediately fresh and catchy. 'carnival wig' is magical. there are a few tunes which sound like works in progress like 'vic', 'summer street', 'dovey', and 'stroll'; but these have a great feel. what i like the least about the album is the cover art. THE REAL RAMONA is wonderful. the interwoven guitar textures are among the strongest they've ever done. fred abong's bass playing is right on and the whole unit sounds tight as a duck's ass. every song is strong. even the ethereal 'dylan' comes off as evocative and powerful and the meandering 'hole in her head' is gut-renching rock. the goodtimey 'golden thing' and 'him dancing' are a far cry from the heart-on-your-sleeve angst of earlier albums. the one-two punch of tanya's 'not too soon' & 'honeychain' gives us a good taste of things to come. 'say goodbye' is transformed from throwaway little ditty to magnum opus. this is definitely my favorite of all of their albums. HUNKAPAPA is a change in direction. experiments with new guitar sounds and textures in an attempt to create a fresh and vibrant sound. it ends up being their least distinctive sound. still, the songs are great and a sense of humor is developing, however twisted. from the warped empowerment of 'devil's roof' to the disillusionment of 'santa claus' the usual gnashing of teeth is become tongue in cheek. tanya's songs definitely have their own dreamy feel. THE FAT SKIER has another version of 'soul soldier' made for the longform video that they did. 'a feeling' is painfully sweet. 'pools in eyes' is a real treasure. HOUSE TORNADO has a really compressed feel to it, but it is extremly cohesive. it takes some getting used to. the production on the album could be better, but there is definitely a mood that is carried by the thin sound. you could play it really loud but it couldn't seem more intimate. it always makes the hair on my neck stand up when kristin makes that warbling noise at the end of 'colder'. the more you listen to this album, the more it becomes a part of you. i remember the songs sounded really great live. does anyone have any live tapes from this tour? CHAINS CHANGED is wild stuff. very tight knit melodies. 'cry baby cry' is amazing. when the needle falls and 'finished' kicks in, it feels as if you've entered another world. this is very very difficult to find. i only just got it a little more than a year ago in a used record store (my kind of shrine. i can't walk by a newly discovered one without going in) for only $2.99! THE THROWING MUSES is still only available as an import, it is worth however many pennies you have to scrape together. they received a lot of press when it came out because they were all teenagers. it is truly amazing. if after hearing the one-two-three punch of 'call me', 'green', and 'hate my way' you are not a believer; then you never will be. kristin has told me that she can't stand to play 'hate my way' anymore because it is too raw and immature for her taste (this was in the spring of 1991). 'soul soldier' may seem formulaic with the fast intro slow goove outro, but when it sounds so good, who cares? 'delicate cutters' is a preview of HIPS AND MAKERS years in advance. ************************************* Ken Ostrander Educational Services Sloan School of Management Massachusetts Institute of Technology 50 Memorial Drive, E52-101 Cambridge, MA 02142-1347 Phone: (617)258-8016 Fax: (617)258-9181 E-mail: kenster@mit.edu ************************************* ------------------------------ From: Hedblade@aol.com Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 17:32:48 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: misc Scott wrote: << "Blue is the color, the color of my heart" blah blah something else "she's painting red on my heart" >> Anyone found this yet. IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY. I KNOW this, but can't place it. HELP!!! Jay ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:41:44 -0700 From: Eb Subject: Re: MORE THROWING MUSES >THE REAL RAMONA is wonderful. the interwoven guitar textures are among the >strongest they've ever done. fred abong's bass playing is right on and the >whole unit sounds tight as a duck's ass. every song is strong. this is >definitely >my favorite of all of their albums. Strange, because this is definitely my LEAST favorite Muses album (except for Limbo, which I still haven't been able to bear hearing a second time). In addition to having few songs which grab me (pretty slim pickings beyond "Counting Backwards," "Red Shoes" and "Say Goodbye"), I HATE the production on Ramona -- it's all drums and bass, and no guitar. Dennis Herring always loves that big bottom sound (see Timbuk 3), and in this case, I think he was a very poor choice for producer. Eb ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 15:36:23 -0500 (CDT) From: David Witzany Subject: CD Packaging It's hard to beat the Verve re-issue of the complete Ella Fitzgerald songbooks. The eight sets of discs (ranging from single disks to three each of Gershwin and Ellington) are packaged in reproductions of the original LP sleeves, then stored (along with the new books and some artwork) in a nice fabric-covered red slipcase. An excellent tribute to one of the greatest vocalists of all time. P.S. All hail Susan's new moniker-- Mississippi Malcolm McDowell, combining an all-time great blues man with a comparably-talented English thespian (by the by, the big episode of Ellen is next week; set your VCR's). Excellent taste, Susan. Dave. David Witzany witzany@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu ....one of Nature's bounds checkers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The End of this Fegmaniax Digest. *sob* .