From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V6 #114 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Wednesday, December 31 1997 Volume 06 : Number 114 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Last two days... [Ross Overbury ] Re: Oasis didn't create the album of the year [Nick Winkworth ] "Failure to Obey Lane Device." ["Capitalism Blows" ] Whither Reg?, or The Impotence Of Being Elton. ["Chaney, Dolph L" ] 98. [Nos Ferraatu ] unhatched crablings 3, 4, 5, 6..... [Tanter ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 30 Dec 97 11:27:00 EST From: Ross Overbury Subject: Re: Last two days... > > (I've also been introduced to the music of St Etienne in the last couple of > days, and this afternoon I go to see the movie Titanic. The year is still > running...) > > James I'm listening to my one-day-old copy of Spiritualized's (my that sounds odd) "Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space". It'll likely make my "top ten for '97" list. I hadn't heard them at all until yesterday. I exchanged a duplicate copy of Radiohead's "OK Computer" for this fine recording. Just in case I'm not the only person on the list who hasn't heard Spiritualized yet, this recording appeals to me on much the same level that OK Computer did. It's lovely floaty stuff that owes something to "Dark Side of the Moon" to about the same degree as "OK Computer", but is executed in a different way. There's a real late 60's - early 70's feeling to it, but more as a progression from that point than a consciously retro approach. You know, like Armand Robyn H. It suffers only very mildly from post-punk-weak-vocalist syndrome. When the vocals work, they can be evocative of Ray Davies. Thanks for the tip, feggies. *Gasp* -- one day left -- must ... find ... new ... music ..... - -- Ross Overbury Montreal, Quebec, Canada email: rosso@cn.ca ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 09:38:22 -0800 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Re: Oasis didn't create the album of the year Eb pointed out: > I believe that LJ was asking for our favorite records that are > copyrighted 1997 (ie, new releases). Could be; but such a distinction makes more sense for those of you "in the biz", be it radio or journalism, who are most likely to pick an album up as soon as it is released. For us mere mortals for whom discovering new music is usually a case of serendipity, James' definition sits better: > Best bands first heard in '97 > best music acquired in '97 The marketplace being as it is, there is a high likelihood of a 1997 copyright anyway, but I for one, refuse to read the small print. Ultimately, of course, it matters not a jot. I'm just happy to have a few more recommendations to follow up. Keep 'em coming folks! > 1997 was probably my all-time least favorite musical year of the rock > era. No kidding. For me, 1997 has turned out to be an excellent year for new music, though I have to admit, very little has fallen into the "rock" category. Rapidly running out of 1997... ~N ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 97 10:39:00 -0800 From: Russ Reynolds Subject: best of '97 Eb pointed out: > I believe that LJ was asking for our favorite records that are > copyrighted 1997 (ie, new releases). then Nick responded: >Could be; but such a distinction makes more sense for those of you "in >the biz", be it radio or journalism, who are most likely to pick an >album up as soon as it is released. For us mere mortals for whom >discovering new music is usually a case of serendipity, James' >definition sits better: > >> Best bands first heard in '97 >> best music acquired in '97 to which I reply: using the "Best music acquired in '97" definition, my pick for 1997 album of the year is: (drumroll please)...... "Highway 61 Revisited" by Bob Dylan! also, 1997 Artist of the year is Chuck Berry. Their respective certificates of achievement will be mailed to them along with their social security checks. I guess my point is that the Dignan definition works better with folks who are chiefly seeking out new music. People like myself and Terry Marks (will he pick the Zombies' "Odyssey & Oracle"?) who spend a good deal of our CD budgets improving the historical aspects of our collections would have to narrow that definition a bit. The copyright date seems like a pretty good place to start (though in radio we're more likely to go by chart dates--hence "The Wall", copyright 1979, is remembered as one of the top albums of 1980). all of this, of course, has nothing to do with Robyn Hitchcock, who is my favorite artist still making records. Does anyone know of an internet list where fans of Robyn Hitchcock can talk about his music and stuff? ;) -russ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 12:30:47 PST From: "Capitalism Blows" Subject: "Failure to Obey Lane Device." WEINER ALERT: yesterday i picked up a copy of the glass fish pressing of EYE. i hadn't even known such a thing existed. "fabrique en france." it's exactly the same, except that the background and lettering are bright yellow rather than tannish-brown. also, i just noticed another spelling difference for the first time. (yes, i'm a dolt. but at least i don't have any hair.) - --the egyptians' version is spelled, "Allright Yeah" - --but the ELIXIR version is spelled, "Alright, Yeah" i prefer the former, i must say. that laughing in the second verse of the latter kind of bugs me, although not as much as it used to. yeah, and he once advised lobstie to tape his mic to some guy's head. i'd prefer not to be stealthy. if an artist didn't want me taping, i don't think i'd want to anyway. i mean, i might think they were being unreasonable... it doesn't seem to be a problem anyway with robyn. even steve is ok with it. however, i did get a tape confiscated a few months ago, and subsequently e-mailed the artist asking his policy on taping. he wrote back saying he was, "sorry that prick took your tape." i think that's true in general: the list of artists who are ok with taping is huge. the problem is really with the venues and the record companys, who i think can all go take a flying fuck at a rolling donut. but, as .chris pointed out to me earlier this year, possession is nine-tenths of the law. and those event staffers are usually pretty big. i've been wondering about this. STAND BACK, DENNIS and ROUTE OF THE CLONES are numbered FEG 001 and FEG 002, respectively. so, presumably they're put out by the same people. and, presumably, either both or neither are bootlegs. but, the Wading Through A Ventilator on CAN OF BEES, and the We Like Bananas and Pigworker on 1976-1981 are all clearly from this show. yes, they could have been from different sources, but, CLONES sounds pretty damned good to me. if it's not from soundboard, it's one of the better sounding audience-taped shows (for which mr. john barrington jones was not personally responsible) that i've heard. so the question i still have: are STAND BACK and ROUT bootlegs, or no? best o' 97: i can't believe how few movies i saw this year, but here were my ten favorites. 1. The Sweet Hereafter. i bet robyn's a pretty big egoyan fan, actually, because he deals so interestingly with death and loss. as usual, mychael danna's score is spectacular. i'm almost certain this is the first movie i've seen sarah polley in since Baron Munchausen, when she was, whatever, nine, or something. on the criterion collection laserdisc, gilliam continually talks about how she was the most professional performer he'd ever worked with, which is quite a statement to make of a nine-year-old. she's going to be a great one. 2. Schizopolis 3. Grosse Pointe Blank 4. The Thieves 5. Titanic. everyone keeps dissing the story. but i think it's really pretty decent. not exactly original, sure. but it kept my interest, and i usually don't like special effects spectacles unless, like gilliam, the director can tell a story. 6. Jackie Brown. i know quentin is about as well-liked around here as GROOVY DECAY. but, geez, apart from the coens, it's tough to think of anyone who can write dialogue like he can. soundtrack isn't up to quentin standards, i don't think. but still a very fun movie. 7. La Promese 8. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery 9. Children of the Revolution 10. In the Company of Men ...and a pox upon the demons and fiends that conspired to delay The Big Lebowski until 1998. Worst movie of the year: Amistad. uber-capitalist (sorry glen) spielberg exploits an heroic slave rebellion to make us feel all warm and fuzzy about the american legal system, and about u.s. history in general. despicable. by the way, has anybody seen The Postman? i'm wondering how good an acting job tom petty turns in. seems like he *ought* to be a pretty good actor. Best books i read this year: 1. Gabriel Kolko, Vietnam: Anatomy of a Peace 2. Fredy Perlman, Against His-Story, Against Leviathan! 3. Israel Shahak, Open Secrets: Israeli Nuclear and Foreign Policies 4. Doug Henwood, Wall Street: How it Works and For Whom 5. The New American Crisis (Open Magazine Pamphelt Series anth.) ok, here are the cheeses mentioned in both Cheese Alarm and Cheese Shop: gruyere, brie, rocquefort, cheddar. believe it or not, that's it! Cheese Alarm lists 8 others, including goat's cheese cylinder tangy and white. Cheese Shop lists 36 others, including norwegian jarlsberger. what we could do is, every feg bring his or her favorite cheese to the next concert (i'm bringing gouda!!!) then, when robyn begins to play the Cheese Alarm, everyone throw their cheese up on stage. contingency plan, in case he doesn't play the Cheese Alarm in your town: white elephant cheese exchange following the gig! "That socialism cannot or may never be attained does not mitigate capitalism's inherent inability to serve as the rational institutional standard for a just society or peaceful world, or lessen the need for a fundamental alternative embodying socialism's original objectives and inspiration to resolve many of the world's enormous problems." --Gabriel Kolko ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 15:48:41 -0500 From: "Chaney, Dolph L" Subject: Whither Reg?, or The Impotence Of Being Elton. Dearest Fegs all, As we approach 1998, I would like to share with you a theory, which is mine, which belongs to me, regarding Our Man Robyn. I'm sure many of you have pondered, as I have, the "Reg" motif in many Hitchcock songs -- "Brenda's Iron Sledge" and "Bass" being the most obvious, but also found in many classic apocryphal Hitchcock songs such as the legendary "I Have No Fucking Clue." Whither Reg? What is it about the name Reg that speaks out to our hero. Well, friends, I believe I've uncovered the answer. I submit that Robyn Hitchcock harbors a secret fixation on Elton John. Sir Elton's given name, of course, is Reginald Kenneth Dwight, and I think I see a pattern, illustrated in the following chronology: 1970s: While Robyn attends Cambridge, Elton becomes major superstar by virtue of his brilliant piano playing, incredible showmanship, and the fact that his enunciation isn't clear enough to expose Bernie Taupin's lyrics. As the decade lurches on, Elton's elaborate costumes become a factor in his success as well. These costumes range from the simplicity of sequined overalls and silly specs to his infamous Donald Duck suit. During this period, Robyn starts up the Soft Boys, who firmly occupy the middle ground between the pop songcraft of oldtimers like Elton and the menace of the punks. And yet, Robyn keeps an eye out on Elton's ever-changing costuming repertoire. Finally, Robyn works up the nerve to send a letter to Elton's management, suggesting the following costume ideas, among others: - the squid (with realistic tentacle action!) - the trout - the furry green atom bowl - the trilobite - the acid bird - the tropical flesh mandala - the abandoned brain Needless to say, Robyn's ideas were never used. In fact, Elton is said to have taken great offense at the last of these, interpreting it as a veiled criticism of his more recent work. 1981: Frustrated at Elton's unresponsiveness and by the end of the Soft Boys, Robyn writes "Brenda's Iron Sledge" as a cryptic slam against Elton. Many have noted the anti-Thatcher tone in the lyrics, which must certainly have rankled the staunchly Tory Sir Elton.(*) But the key, of course, is in Robyn's ominous yet forceful lines clearly intended to distance himself from His Elton-ness: Please, don't call me Reg -- it's not my name. 1982: Clearly in a huff, Elton responds by simply abandoning his outlandish costuming altogether. In the press, of course, he would claim that he simply got bored with the frilly stuff and wanted to wear suits instead. Robyn, however, took this to heart, and it led to the drink and depression that later resulted in _Groovy Decay_. 1986: As it became clear to him that Elton was continuing to have commercial success without relying on his costuming, Robyn fumed. His frustrations culminated in the song "Bass," which superficially appeared to be a whimsical aquatic ode to Robyn's favorite ale. However, those few that saw Robyn's original list of costume ideas noticed a grisly similarity between that list and the sea creatures found in the lyrics of "Bass." The reference to Bass Ale, too, was a harrowing reminder of the alcohol-soaked days of '82, which were a direct result of Elton's cold-shouldering. When "Bass," like "Brenda" its predecessor, called for a cutting couplet against EJ, Robyn delivered again: But don't go messing with a guy like Reg. He'll leave you gurgling behind the hedge. Robyn's mounting anger was clear. He'd gone from simply distancing himself from "Reg" to painting him in a clearly sinister light. 1987: Elton teased Robyn by putting out _Live In Australia_, in full costume, and including a song called "Tonight." However, not only were none of Robyn's costume ideas used, "Tonight" was not the Soft Boys' classic creepfest but Elton's own track from _Blue Moves_. 1988: When Elton got wind of "Bass," it's reported that he was often seen muttering to himself "Hitchcock... pianist envy!" and such, spitting in his fury. So '88 saw the release of _Reg Strikes Back_. In a move that can only be characterized as pure sadism, the provocatively titled LP's cover showed a dizzying variety of Elton's various costumes -- and none of Robyn's designs. Reg strikes back, indeed. 1989: A stunned Robyn can only manage to work in a reference to Elton as "Dandy" in his song "Wax Doll." Clearly, he was no longer able to keep up the fight. 1996: After seven years, Robyn finds his admirable control slipping a bit, and the following lines appear in "Trilobite," one of his many memorials to his beloved costume designs: Trilobite, right Dwight's in the light-bite; Trilobite, right in the light-bite, Dwight. Dwight. Reginald Kenneth DWIGHT. A cry for help. 1997: In perhaps his most desperate attempt at one-upmanship, Elton seizes upon the funeral of his friend Princess Diana as the ultimate opportunity to make Robyn feel bad. So, he convinces Taupin to re-write "Candle In The Wind" with the lyric, "goodbye, England's rose." However, by this time, Elton was so out of touch with good pop music that he didn't realize that "English Rose" was written by Paul Weller rather than by Robyn Hitchcock, so this "goodbye" fell utterly flat. Robyn was elated, and surely this paves the way for the triumph that will be _Storefront Hitchcock_. I appreciate any feedback from the list regarding my discovery. I hope to turn it into a musical in 1998, starring Norm Crosby, Mandy Patinkin, and the late Charles Kuralt as "Kimberley." (what? Thursday's JANUARY 1st, not APRIL 1st??? oh.) Never mind. Dolph (*) - the only thing bearing any resemblance to things Tory that relates to Elton is Tori Amos, the second biggest-selling pianist in rock history if I had to guess. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 16:29:15 -0700 From: Eb Subject: Re: Pinano >the only thing bearing any resemblance to things Tory that relates >to Elton is Tori Amos, the second biggest-selling pianist in rock >history if I had to guess. Not a chance. Off the top of my head, I'd offer Carole King as counterproof. I'm sure there are several other good examples, especially when you consider that Tori has only released three albums whereas some other piano-based artists have released many more than that. Seven gold-selling albums equals more records sold than three platinum-selling albums. Etc. Eb ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 21:51:02 -0800 From: Nos Ferraatu Subject: 98. To all you Flesheads, Just a note saying I hope you got through the silly season, no matter which side(s) of the fence you sit on, and to wish you all only the very best in '98. - -ferris. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 11:12:05 +0000 From: Tanter Subject: unhatched crablings 3, 4, 5, 6..... Well, it may be that I've lost my mind completely but I thought I emailed someone to get on the tape tree for u.c. next and I've not heard anything and I can't remember who it was. Please will someone come to my aid? Ta very much. lots of love for 98 Marcy ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V6 #114 *******************************