From: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org (fegmaniax-digest) To: fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Subject: fegmaniax-digest V7 #14 Reply-To: fegmaniax@smoe.org Sender: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-fegmaniax-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk fegmaniax-digest Tuesday, January 13 1998 Volume 07 : Number 014 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Nix Pix [Nick Winkworth ] Re: Royalties/Rew ["Aidan Merritt" ] Live crabs and tape-ey trees [Nick Winkworth ] Unhatched Fegs [Nick Winkworth ] Re: Royalties/Rew [Eugene ] Storefront Hitchcock [vince ] Hanging Out With Dad? ["Gene Hopstetter, Jr." ] Re: Live crabs and tape-ey trees [Capuchin ] Re: Royalties/Rew [Terrence M Marks ] Re: Royalties/Rew [Eugene ] Re: Royalties/Rew [Terrence M Marks ] Re: Royalties/Rew [Eugene ] Plague yer eyes [james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan)] Re: Plague yer eyes [Eb ] Re: major tom [MARKEEFE ] FAR more than a top ten (little Robyn- you've been warned!) [Hedblade ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 02:27:10 -0800 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Nix Pix Could this be the last "best of '97" in '98? I know this is late. I'd meant to post something a week ago but it's been the week from Hell, or at least Heck. Spent mostly shut in an office in the "executive compost" of not-so-hotLanta. :( On to the picks. It would be churlish of me to label these the "best of the year". I while I do listen to a wide variety of music, I simply don't listen to *enough* to make that claim, and I probably missed out on all the great stuff *you* heard ...but that's why I value these lists myself. Anyway, I hope there's something in here you fancy exploring. Some of the stuff Nick most enjoyed listening to in 1997... 1) Buena Vista Social Club Ry Cooder persuades 89-year-old "son" master Compay Segundo and his geriatric buddies to record an album of classic Cuban tunes. The result is magical musical perfection from start to finish. Astounding. 2) Te Vaka It means "The Canoe" in the language of Tokelau - a small island in the Pacific. Opetaia Foai, a native of that island, has taken the music and culture of his homeland into the present with an album which melds ancient and modern in an original and compelling way. The liner notes say they're big in New Zealand, so maybe James knows more about them. 3) Dan Bern Self proclaimed "King of the World", Dan entered our collective consciousness during 1997. I - along with many other Fegs - have been knocked out by his quirky(tm), witty and insightful songwriting (...not, as he would have us believe, his big b*lls!). Looking forward to a great new album in '98. 4) Agricantus "Tuareg" One of several excellent new Italian bands on the CNI label "discovered" by San Francisco DJ, Dore Stein. They blend North African rhythms, ambient, techno and other influences and sing in French, German, Arabic ...even Latin (!). The reaction from Dore's listeners in the Bay Area here was enough to convince local independent record megastore "Amoeba" to stock the whole CNI catalog. (If you shop at Tower you can forget it, though!) If you can find them, check out other great CNI bands, Novalia and FLK. (http://www.cnimusic.it) 5) Loreena McKennitt "Book of Secrets" Now getting loads of exposure in all sorts of unexpected places, Loreena ties Celtic music to its North African roots and other influences in a quite magical way. Gotta love that voice. 6) Loop Guru "Loop Bites Dog" I discovered these guys in the UK a few years ago and they just keep getting better. Several substantial cuts above the average ambient/techo/trance, IMHO. My 3yr-old rocks out to this stuff! 7) King Chango I was starting to get depressed as years pass with no output from one of my favourite - but by now presumably demised - bands, The Bonedaddys. Now along come these guys. It's not Latin, it's not ska, it's ...King Chango! Not everything works perfectly, but they don't seem to care, so why should I? Lotsa fun! 8) Vita Nova "Shinonome" I thought twice about including this in my list, since it's probably impossible to get in the US (I bought it in Tokyo), but it *is* one of my "most listened to" albums of the year. Contemporary, original Japanese music which stands up against any of the above. It's like looking at the world through Japanese eyes. Varied. Original. Thoughtful. 9) The Mermen "A Glorious Lethal Euphoria" Not exactly "a classic" is the sense of some of the above, but so much more than I was expecting. Local SF punk-surf band make good. Dick Dale meets The Clash. If you like instrumental surf guitar music with a raw edge you could do worse than check these guys out. 10) Robyn Hitchcock "Mossy Liquor" Since none of you deemed fit to give the old man a plug, I thought I would. I was particularly pleased to have the ML compilation - on balance, I prefer those versions to their ME counterparts - and I have found myself listening to Robyn much more than previous years - probably due to the telepathetic manipulations of a certain Quail... Stuff everyone else likes but I don't get? Well, I've checked out Radiohead's "OK Computer" in listening booths several times. Same goes for Portishead and Cornershop. (UK friends have been trying to get me to appreciate Portishead for years). However nothing jumped out and grabbed my VISA card. I'm left wondering what all the fuss is about. After recommendations here, I *do* have high expectations for Yo La Tengo, Stereolab and Guided by Voices, however. Maybe they'll make my 1998 list! Audio recording medium of 1997? MiniDisc! (I may have been the first to rave irrationally about MD on this list - but I am not the first, nor even the second, to include it in my top-of-the-year). Even the rubber sharkster him-shelf has one of these babies now! Wine of the year? Dehlinger Pinot Noir 1995. Sadly I do not own any of this hard to find elixir - both bottles I helped consume were the property of my wine-buff buddy - but if I ever see any for sale you can be sure to find me and my VISA card first in the queue. Feg albums of the year? May I recommend yet again: Mark Gloster and Big Rubber Shark "Monday's Lunch" Anton Barbeau "Waterbugs and Beetles" James Dignan "Partial Rapture Theory" Not to mention the "Glass Flesh" compilation, of course... Best of the best? Why you all, of course! During 1997, I had the great pleasure of interacting with the physical manifestations of many of the fine folk on this list - you know who you are - and had personal, off-list, correspondence with many more. Thanks to everyone who brightened my 1997. I hope I get to meet many more of you in 1998. To paraphrase the peripatetic Bayard, Fegs are indeed the nicest people! ~N ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 10:11:33 -0000 From: "Aidan Merritt" Subject: Re: Royalties/Rew In this country (I believer the US setup is slightly different) the songwriter's deal is usually between 30% to 50% of mechanical royalties. After the shop, distributor, label, pressing plant and manager have taken their cut, this is usually fairly minimal (Bevis Frond's royalties from Mary Lou Lord's cover of 'Lights Are Changing' was GBP65). > And if Rew is doing so well, why can't Katrina and the Waves get any > distribution in the US or UK? Distribution for the US is handled by one of Polygram's subsidiaries in Canada (I can't remember which, but it should be fairly easy to check). In the UK, the albums are scattered across different labels - _Katrina & The Waves_ and _Waves_ are on three different labels individually, plus on a fourth as a compilation of the two, _Edge of the Land_ & _Turnaround_ are on Polydor GMBH, Overground is sitting on the rights to _Bible of Bop_, _Roses_ has been deleted in this country but is still available on Polydor import, and _Walk on Water_ is on one of the Polygram subsidiaries (can't remember which - I think A&M but may be mistaken). _Love Shine A Light_ (the single) is still on release - it's been quite a slow burner, never reaching the top ten but hanging around the lower reaches for almost a year, presumably because of the Samaritans effect. Aidan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 02:40:46 -0800 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Live crabs and tape-ey trees As a newbie to the world of live tapes (another discovery of '97), I have been following the discussion about the changing legalities of it all with much interest. If I understand it right, the part of the law which has been tightened seems to say that what is considered "payment" for tapes is now extended to include other recordings and blanks - and it is receiving "payment" which is the problem. But if it is clear that the "trader" is *giving* away the tape, with no requirement of any compensation (even if "etiquette" suggests that the recipient sends something in return) - surely he is in compliance? If someone gives me a Christmas present and I give him one in return, this is not considered a "trade" - even though I may be under some moral pressure to reciprocate. If you think I am right, how about adding a disclaimer along the following lines with tapes you send out: "These copies of live audience and off-air recordings are provided without charge or obligation as a service to the community of Robyn Hitchcock fans for their personal use. They are not for sale, nor are they provided on the condition of exchange for other recordings, media or services. If you would like to follow accepted etiquette and offer a reciprocal gift to the provider of these recordings it would be appreciated, but it is not a condition of your receiving these tapes." ...or something like that. I'm curious to know what the "old hands" think. Bayard? Eddie? ~N ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 02:44:50 -0800 From: Nick Winkworth Subject: Unhatched Fegs Oh. One more thing... Does anyone know the whereabouts of: Paul Montagne (montagne@ucs.orst.edu) or Jaques Peninsula (chichi@IO.com) They are on my Crablings III/IV branch but have not responded to email. If you know how to contact either of them please have them email me asap Thanks. ~N (My posts are like the London Transport bus service. You can wait for hours for nothing, and then three come along at the same time.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 10:10:17 -0500 (EST) From: Eugene Subject: Re: Royalties/Rew I have been hearing about this Rew/ Spice Girls thing for a while, but I guess I must have missed it in the begining. Why does everyone believe that Kimberly Rew wrote songs for the Spice Girls. And if so, is this not a blight on his record? -Eugene - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "One of the smartest comedy nights in town." - The Boston Phoenix The Lounge Soot: A night of alternative comedy Every Thursday at 10:30 at the Green Street Grill in Central Square 280 Green Street Cambridge, MA $3 My humor homepage: http://hamp.hampshire.edu/~ebmF92 New! Weekly Week Homepage: http://www.weeklyweek.com (Boston's only redundant news source for news) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 09:15:46 -0600 (CST) From: vince Subject: Storefront Hitchcock The Austin Chronicle reports that Demme will show Storefront Hitchcock at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March. vince ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 10:55:30 -0500 From: "Gene Hopstetter, Jr." Subject: Hanging Out With Dad? I'm curious about the song "Hanging Out With Dad" which is on the Queen Elvis demo tape, I believe. Does anybody remember or have a tape of Robyn ever performing this song live? Or is it just another one of those slippery music fish that's slipped through the tapers' nets? +++++++++++++++++ "Put your pants back on, + Gene Hopstetter, Jr. + Moltar, and direct the show!" +++++++++++++++++ -- Space Ghost ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 08:21:03 -0800 (PST) From: Capuchin Subject: Re: Live crabs and tape-ey trees On Mon, 12 Jan 1998, Nick Winkworth wrote: > "These copies of live audience and off-air recordings are provided > without charge or obligation as a service to the community of Robyn > Hitchcock fans for their personal use. They are not for sale, nor are > they provided on the condition of exchange for other recordings, media > or services. If you would like to follow accepted etiquette and offer a > reciprocal gift to the provider of these recordings it would be > appreciated, but it is not a condition of your receiving these tapes." > > ...or something like that. Here's what gets me... watch religious TV. They are not for profit organizations and cannot SELL items (much like you cannot SELL tapes). However, they offer "love gifts" in return for donations. The thing that gets me is that they REQUIRE A MINIMUM DONATION before offering the free gift. So doesn't it seem that you could offer a recording if and only if one is offered to you first as a gift exchange? I think Nick's disclaimer is very close to being good. J. ________________________________________________________ J A Brelin Capuchin ________________________________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 11:55:22 -0500 (EST) From: Terrence M Marks Subject: Re: Royalties/Rew > > I have been hearing about this Rew/ Spice Girls thing for a > while, but I guess I must have missed it in the begining. Why does > everyone believe that Kimberly Rew wrote songs for the Spice Girls. And > if so, is this not a blight on his record? Well, we believe it because Kimberly said so. And is it a blight on his record? Of course not. He's been contributing to the success of girl groups since 1980 (Katrina and the Waves, The Bangles). The fact that these ones happen to be obnoxious sluts is just a side-issue. Terrence Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 12:22:31 -0500 (EST) From: Eugene Subject: Re: Royalties/Rew On Mon, 12 Jan 1998, Terrence M Marks wrote: > > > > I have been hearing about this Rew/ Spice Girls thing for a > > while, but I guess I must have missed it in the begining. Why does > > everyone believe that Kimberly Rew wrote songs for the Spice Girls. And > > if so, is this not a blight on his record? > > Well, we believe it because Kimberly said so. > And is it a blight on his record? > Of course not. He's been contributing to the success of girl groups since > 1980 (Katrina and the Waves, The Bangles). The fact that these ones > happen to be obnoxious sluts is just a side-issue. > Out of curiousity, did he say it in an interview or live? Also, I've heard the Bangles thing before, what songs did he write for them? Also, is that why Robyn sometimes says he wrote Balloon Man for the Bangles? -Eugene - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "One of the smartest comedy nights in town." - The Boston Phoenix The Lounge Soot: A night of alternative comedy Every Thursday at 10:30 at the Green Street Grill in Central Square 280 Green Street Cambridge, MA $3 My humor homepage: http://hamp.hampshire.edu/~ebmF92 New! Weekly Week Homepage: http://www.weeklyweek.com (Boston's only redundant news source for news) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 13:45:02 -0500 (EST) From: Terrence M Marks Subject: Re: Royalties/Rew > Out of curiousity, did he say it in an interview or live? Also, > I've heard the Bangles thing before, what songs did he write for them? > Also, is that why Robyn sometimes says he wrote Balloon Man for the > Bangles? Rew wrote "Going down to Liverpool" for the bangles. Robyn saying he wrote Baloon Man for them is a takeoff on this. The source for Rew's statemens is Aidan Merritt of Positive Vibrations, a Robyn/Kimberly fanzine Terrence Marks normal@grove.ufl.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 15:24:00 -0500 (EST) From: Eugene Subject: Re: Royalties/Rew On Mon, 12 Jan 1998, Terrence M Marks wrote: > > Out of curiousity, did he say it in an interview or live? Also, > > I've heard the Bangles thing before, what songs did he write for them? > > Also, is that why Robyn sometimes says he wrote Balloon Man for the > > Bangles? > > Rew wrote "Going down to Liverpool" for the bangles. > Robyn saying he wrote Baloon Man for them is a takeoff on this. > The source for Rew's statemens is Aidan Merritt of Positive Vibrations, a > Robyn/Kimberly fanzine > Thanks. -Eugene - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "One of the smartest comedy nights in town." - The Boston Phoenix The Lounge Soot: A night of alternative comedy Every Thursday at 10:30 at the Green Street Grill in Central Square 280 Green Street Cambridge, MA $3 My humor homepage: http://hamp.hampshire.edu/~ebmF92 New! Weekly Week Homepage: http://www.weeklyweek.com (Boston's only redundant news source for news) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 10:13:25 +1300 (NZDT) From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James Dignan) Subject: Plague yer eyes On Sat, 10 Jan 1998, Eb wrote: > Incidentally, my vote for the all-time most vile plagiarism is Peter > Schilling's "Major Tom," which stole the concept of Bowie's "Space Oddity" > hook, line and sinker. Somewhere, I have a magazine clipping saved where > Schilling explains the song by saying something like "Major Tom was just a > name. It could've been Major Bob or Jim just as easily." Implying that he > came up with the idea. Wow. Talk about lying through your teeth. :P hmmm.... it depends whether you mean plagiarism of concept or plagiarism of content. The concept may have been lifted hook line and sinker from the alien one, but the treatment of it and the music were original. I tend to get far more annoyed with cases where the music is a direct lift: eg Billy Bragg's "Ideology"'s more than passing resemblance to Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom". Actually Billy's quite bad for this sort of thing. The odd lyric from Paul Simon here, the odd bassline from the Monkees there. Often though it's just intended for effect, or as a nod to the original band (I don't mind this - I quite like things like Pere Ubu's "Oh Catherine", with its deft acquisition of the main riff from the Seekers "I know I'll never find another you"), but where the whole melody is a direct lift, with no acknowledgement, or where it is a deliberate pastiche of bit from one or two songs (Who wrote "Fucking with my head", Beck, or Jagger and Richards?), then it rankles np - Geoprge Harrison - he's so f..um...my sweet lord James BTW - I like the "Toast" T shirt idea, and welcome back to the feg FKAT guambat! James Dignan___________________________________ You talk to me Deptmt of Psychology, Otago University As if from a distance ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk Street And I reply. . . . . . . . . . Dunedin, New Zealand with impressions chosen from another time steam megaphone (03) 455-7807 (Brian Eno - "By this River") ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 14:24:19 -0700 From: Eb Subject: Re: Plague yer eyes James wrote: >I tend to >get far more annoyed with cases where the music is a direct lift: eg Billy >Bragg's "Ideology"'s more than passing resemblance to Bob Dylan's "Chimes >of Freedom". Oh yeah, I was furious the first time I heard that song. I was actually quite bigoted against Bragg for awhile, based solely upon the above transgression. >I quite like things like Pere Ubu's "Oh Catherine", with >its deft acquisition of the main riff from the Seekers "I know I'll never >find another you") Oh, well, Pere Ubu. Sort of a different kettle of prawns. A major part of David Thomas' ideology is the concept of building songs upon pre-existing templates. That's why so many of his songs have recycled titles ("Sentimental Journey," etc.) His motives are intellectual, not commercial. Eb ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 18:15:11 EST From: MARKEEFE Subject: Re: major tom I also love this song (and am a huge Bowie fan). I think it's meant to be an homage, as well as a continuation of the story (note: the parenthetical title is "(Coming Home)"). Lyrical content aside, the music is inarguably original (which is to say, not plageurized (sp?)). Leave poor Peter alone. Isn't it bad enough he was an early 80's one-hit wonder, forever condemned to be packaged and re-packaged alongside the likes of Kajagoogoo and Total Coelo? - -----Michael K. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 00:34:29 EST From: Hedblade Subject: FAR more than a top ten (little Robyn- you've been warned!) I'm going to say I'm really sorry for this right now. Yes, I went overboard. WAY overboard. I apologize if this comes off as pompous. I'm ashamed if it comes off as self indulgent (I don't mean it as such, honest). I'm mortified if it is considered a massive waste of bandwidth. So, my fair Fegs, please don't burn me at the stake. Simply delete and continue with your lives. If nothing else, just remember I haven't posted to the list in AGES. I'm making up for lost time. ;) Indulgent? yes. Pointless? mostly. Fun? certainly! Jay's Top Ten Reasons To Turn On The Stereo In 1997 1. Mansun - "Attack Of The Grey Lantern" (Epic) In a year that offered more great singles than long players, Mansun hit a grand slam on the first go. Take note, it took Radiohead three records to make one this good. The best fully realized "album" I've heard in several years. 2. Ivy - "Apartment Life" (Atlantic) Their debut, Realistic, was the best little album of 1994 / 1995. AP is a perfect follow up. True to themselves and yet grander and more lush. Full of three minute jangle pop gems. The bastard children of The Smiths prove there's still much life in guitar pop and highlight how little of it there is in these sad times. Old farts rejoice. 3. Luna - "Pup Tent" (Elektra) In making a compilation tape recently, I found myself thinking, "Hmmmmmmm, if I can just come up with four or five more tunes, I can cram another Luna track on here." Too bad radio ignored this one, 'cause it could have been huge. 4. World Party - "Egyptology" (The Enclave) Karl Wallinger needs to be loved more. Too bad the record company folded about three months after its release, but ain't that the way of things? Parent company Virgin has taken over, but Spice World will keep it for getting any reps to do laps for it. 5. Old 97's - "Too Far To Care" (Elektra) Not as good as their two indie releases "Hitchhike To Rhome" and "Wreck Your Life" (Bloodshot), but this is one of the greatest bands in North America. Sounds like country, burns like Rock N' Roll. Susan Dodge went to middle school with pin up singer Rhett Miller :). When they play live, I have a full sweat brewing by the middle of the first number. SEE THEM!!!! 6. Moxy Fruvous - "You Will Go To The Moon" (Bottom Line) Toronto four piece. Third full length release. Best they've done. Words won't describe them at all, but I'll start by saying they're the male version of The Roches, but they rock more. Still doesn't do them justice at all. 7. Radiohead - "OK Computer" (Capitol) Don't you love when you find a brilliant record nobody knows? ;) 8. Tindersticks - "Curtains" (London) Lush, lush, lush. And it jangles a bit. Hmmmm, wonder why I'd like it? ;) 9.Stereolab - "Dots And Loops" (Elektra) Haven't lived with it long, but can't live without it. 10. Wondermints - "Wondermints" (Big Deal) It wears a bit thin, but if you're an XTC, Queen, Beatles fan, you'll get plenty of joy from this. Extra points for their BRILLIANT tune on the Austin Powers soundtrack!! Dig this one up. Honorable Mention Jill Sobule - "Happy Town" (Atlantic) High Llamas - "Hawaii" (V2) Jonatha Brook - "10 Cent Wings" (MCA) (she's going to be HUGE) The Hang Ups - "So We Go" (Restless) (more jangle pop from the twin cities) David Bowie - "Earthling" (Virgin) Beth Orton - "Trailer Park" (Dedicated) Freedy Johnston "Never Home" (Elektra) Verve - "Urban Hymns" (Virgin) Edwyn Collins - "I'm Not Following You" (Setanta) The Divine Comedy - "Casanova" (Setanta) Idah - Idah (Creation) (Brit import- lush and lovely) Abra Moore - "Strangest Places" (Arista Austin) Whiskeytown - "Strangers Almanac" (Outpost) Closer - "Don't Walk" (glam rock from New York- file under T-Rex) Andy Partridge - Demos (bootleg) (yep, the new stuff. Oh, my!) A Baker's Dozen Of Singles 1) The Chad Who Loved Me - Mansun 2) Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve 3) Quick, Painless And Easy - Ivy 4) Time Bomb - Old 97's 5) The Magic Piper Of Love - Edwyn Collins 6) Walking On The Sun - Smashmouth 7) Someone Who Is Cool - Odds 8) She Cries Your Name - Beth Orton 9) 6 Underground - Sneaker Pimps 10) Subterranean Homesick Alien - Radiohead 11) Deadweight - Beck 12) Something For The Weekend - The Divine Comedy 13) Female Of The Species - Space Stuff From The Past That Slammed Into 1997 Natacha Atlas - "Diaspora" Nick Drake - "Five Leaves Left" China Crisis - "Acoustically Yours" Jazzateers - "The Gun Album" (Scottish pop from the early / mid 1980s) Jason Falkner - "...Presents Author Unknown" Fun Lovin' Criminals - "Come Find Yourself" Suzanne Vega - "Nine Objects Of Desire" The Hollow Men - "Twisted" Cud - "Showbiz" Top Shows 1) Mansun Metro Blew headliners The Seahorses right off the stage. Any wonder they were dropped from the tour a few weeks later? 2) Suzanne Vega - Ravinia A pivotal night. 3) World Party - Metro TOTALLY Brilliant. 4) David Bowie - Aragon Ballroom Small venue, "Stay," "Always Crashing In The Same Car," and I touched his leather clad arm after the show. 5) Moxy Fruvous - House Of Blues Always great. The company made it all the sweeter. 6) Jolene - Schubas Just signed to Sire. Record in Feb. You've been warned! 7) Robyn Hitchcock - House Of Blues Yes, it was a great night. Grater than a #7 listing suggests. The set, however, wasn't the best ever and the venue wasn't right (although Robyn did want to take the dressing room with him for the rest of the tour). Meeting and hanging out with Fegs was the best part. 8) Jill Sobule - Park West This woman is such a treasure. A crowd of female Duncan Sheik fans fell off their chairs and swooned at an opening act. That's TALENT! (Feg note- lister Sydney looks just like Jill's friend Tracy. FACT!) 9) Jonatha Brook - Schubas and Park West A voice that aches. 10) Old 97's - Metro Because they made me dance when I needed it! And about a hundred more I'll regret not mentioning. Worst Show The Verve - The Vic Total crap. Dross. Worthless. The pre-show slide show had more entertainment value and more personality. Brilliant single though, isn't it? Things To Look Forward To In 1998 TWO Robyn albums! And a movie! XTC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (September, folks) Fegs not beating me up for this ridiculous list. Blinking on and on and on.... Jay H. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 15:47:00 +0800 From: "Baker, David(KWI-C09)" Subject: Best of 97 Like quite a few of you, a large majority of the music I bought in 1997 was released well over a year ago, some (Tomorrow, Chocolate Watchband), over 30 years ago. Nonetheless, there are 6-7 new releases from 1997 which I enjoyed greatly and are well worthy of a mention. 1. Pavement - Brighten The Corners My favourite album of 97 by a long shot - I have struggled all year to resist the temptation to listen to this album, rewind, listen to it again, rewind,..... For a band which was originally accused of wearing their influences on their sleeve (Fall, Pixies, Sonic Youth, etc), they certainly seem to be carving a magical, addictive path of their own nowadays. Totally addictive. 2. Blur - Blur Probably not their best album but certainly a great one nonetheless. I thought they tried a lot of different stuff here (it was a long way from a hard rock record). They also performed ny favourite concert of the year. I never fully appreciated Killer For Your Love until I heard it live as an encore. It was so intense that the following two more audiance-familiar tracks, Parklife and Song 2, had no chance of raising the stakes any further. 3. We're In It For The Money - Supergrass Extremely strong selection of songs from some surprisingly talented guys. 4. Radiohead - OK Computer I don't think I can add anything here which hasn't been mentioned 100 times already 5. Custard - We Have The Technology Great Australian band who came through with another very strong album. A good mix of lighter, more humorous pop songs with some more powerful material. 6. Jebediah - Slightly Odway Strong debut from another Australian band who owe more than a little to the Archers of Loaf. Extremely infectious and energetic and increasingly powerful. Jeremy Enigk - Return of the Frog Queen Actually released in 1996 rather than 1997 when I first heard it but I thought it was close enough to mention, especially as I discovered it through fellow fegs. A very special album with a significant psychedelic influence, although it sounds timeless. BTW, as much as I loved ME and ML by RH himself, these were definitely 1996 releases and I don't think anyone on this list could claim to have discovered him this year! Best movies of 1997 Chasing Amy The Castle The Full Monty Titanic I've written enough. Dave. Alcoa of Australia Ltd ACN 004 879 298 ------------------------------ End of fegmaniax-digest V7 #14 ******************************