From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V2 #29 Reply-To: loud-fans@smoe.org Sender: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk loud-fans-digest Tuesday, January 22 2002 Volume 02 : Number 029 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [loud-fans] That's all there was (ns) [dana-boy@juno.com] RE: [loud-fans] here there and everywhere ["Larry Tucker" ] Re: [loud-fans] Introduction ["richblath" ] [loud-fans] Redressing the balance ["richblath" ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Stewart Mason ] [loud-fans] FW: Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Real Life Rock Top 10 ["] [loud-fans] Local Rabbits (NS) [Michael Zwirn ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [dana-boy@juno.com] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [John Cooper ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [John Cooper ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [JRT456@aol.com] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields ["glenn mcdonald" ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Jeffrey with 2 Fs Jeffrey ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Jon Gabriel ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Jon Gabriel ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Steve Holtebeck ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Dana L Paoli ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Dana L Paoli ] [loud-fans] Re: introduction ["Brian Block" ] [loud-fans] RE Magnetic Fields ["Brandon J. Carder" ] Re: [loud-fans] FW: Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Real Life Rock Top 10 [AWeiss4338@aol.] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Sue Trowbridge ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields [Steve Holtebeck ] Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields ["amy b. lewis" ] [loud-fans] Introduction [Bill Silvers ] [loud-fans] Introduction, take two [Bill Silvers ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 09:50:19 -0500 From: dana-boy@juno.com Subject: [loud-fans] That's all there was (ns) Peggy Lee died on Monday at the age of 81. Can't recall if anyone mentioned this already. - --dana ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 11:46:44 -0500 From: "Larry Tucker" Subject: RE: [loud-fans] here there and everywhere Abodes from current to past: Bynum, NC Chapel Hill, NC Durham, NC Carrboro, NC Charlotte, NC Greenville, NC I like Doug haven't gotten very far from where I am now. - -Larry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 11:53:58 -0500 From: "Aaron Milenski" Subject: RE: [loud-fans] here there and everywhere My life is nothing campared to that of my sister, who currently takes up six pages of my address book, but I've been a few places: Iowa City, IA Amherst, MA Northampton, MA E. Providence, RI Dalton, MA Adams, MA Williamstown, MA Amherst, MA (again) Bennington, VT Oberlin, OH Lakewood, OH I wonder if my time in Amherst crossed with anyone else's from this list. A story: When I was working at Toonerville Trolley Records in MA, probably in 1988, I was playing Game Theory on the store's stereo. A customer got very excited and told me that he lived in Amherst and that Game Theory played Amherst College several times (sadly, I never got the chance to see them). A few weeks later the store owner said the customer had returned and left me a tape of a live Game Theory performance from Amherst, circa 1986/1987. As far as I know the customer in question isn't currently a loud fan...or is he? Aaron _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 14:36:44 -0500 (EST) From: Aaron Mandel Subject: [loud-fans] weekly poll reminder This is your second-to-last reminder about the Loudfans end-of-year poll. So far, 23 people -- if you include the one who only listed five things and didn't give a name or email address -- have voted. http://www.pastemob.org/lf01 As an added incentive, everyone who votes will be entered in a drawing. I'm not saying there's a prize to be awarded, I'm just saying hey, who doesn't love drawings? Draw draw draw draw draw. aaron ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 19:38:21 -0000 From: "richblath" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Introduction Name: Richard Blatherwick Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK - yes, in the it's grim up north sense. (Previously, most of the major cities in the UK at sometime or other + 6 months in Auckland New Zealand). Born: Armistice Day '65 Job: Teaching primary age kids loads of stuff, or next to nothing depending on how the day goes. Married: Nope Facial hair: Just the occasional holiday joke effort, when catching the next mode of transport to somewhere interesting seems far more important than shaving. Vision: 20/20 (or maybe closer to 19/19) Met Janet: No, I've still to meet another loud-fan in the flesh, though of course living a few thousand miles from most of you does rather mitigate against it. How I Became a Loud-fan: I took the scenic route -the Church -Hex - 2 Steps route. Favourite GT/LF album: BSC / IbC Favourite GT/LF songs: Regenisraen / Last Honest Face - but really it's far too close to call. Other major musical fascinations : The Church (as aforementioned), The Triffids, Felt, The Posies, but now spending too much time and money filling in my previously rather blank decade, the '60s. Last concert: Slobberbone @ The Musician, Leicester. Great little venue, superb band. Other major consumptions of time: What? I teach. What else is there time to do? But I do spend too much time with my band Small Town Scenes, thus keeping up the quorum of list members currently in bands, or is it actually a pre-requisite? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 19:47:54 -0000 From: "richblath" Subject: [loud-fans] Redressing the balance I'm aware that like several others I spend a large amount of my list-lurking time collecting ideas for what music to try out next. In the last year or so, thanks to reccommendations from people on this list I've tried and liked The Apples in Stereo, Orange Peels, Sloan, and loads of others too numerous to mention. Anyway, one brilliant guitar band that I've mentioned on the list before are Daryll-Ann, who come from Holland and combine the glorious guitar work, depth and subtlety of composition and evocative lyrics so beloved of many of you out there. Anyway, on the purely US front their 1999 album Happy Traum has been remastered and issued on the US branch of their Dutch label. Look for more info at http://www.excelsior-recordings.com In addition they've also got a new album out called Trailer Tales, for any of you who already have any of their stuff. Their back catalog is also available through the record company -some of it looking ridiculously cheap- my own favourite album being Weeps, which sometimes appears on eBay. Happy hunting Richard ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 19:21:25 -0000 From: "richblath" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Show report: Freedy Johnston/Ken Stringfellow (NS, except a wee bit) Ken's new album is a major favourite of mine -it made my top whatever last year, possibly No. 1 and is a huge improvement on his first solo outing. it is a far more Posified effort all round with lots of the subtle guitar stuff and blissful harmonies that you would associate with his old band. Also, two of the tracks are reworkings of his Saltine side project's e.p. The standard is so high that one of the hacks in one of the music monthlies in the UK suggested that rather than just playing various instruments for REM, he should write the songs too! Richard - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Mitton" Cc: "Loudfans" Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 5:57 AM Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Show report: Freedy Johnston/Ken Stringfellow (NS, except a wee bit) > On Sun, 20 Jan 2002, Michael Zwirn wrote: > > > Ken Stringfellow, ex- of the Posies and long-time adjunct member of R.E.M., > > was the opening act. I didn't recognize any of the songs, since they were > > all from his solo record, but liked almost everything. He did some synth > > Just to add here, like (one of the other) Michael(s), I hadn't heard any > of his solo stuff before this set. But liking his set, I bought > the CD from him after the show, and it's really wonderful. At least of > The Posies records I know, it's most reminiscent of DEAR 23. There just > seems to be a stronger focus on melody, and the clarity of his voice comes > through better than some of the more rockin' Posies records. It's > probably featured at a Border's near you, if you want to hear more.... > > --Michael ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 10:05:18 -1000 From: "R. Kevin Doyle" Subject: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic Fields on it. The compiler of said CD included an admonition that I should find a copy of his (their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on this band or recommendations as to other work by them? Thanks! R. Kevin Doyle Honolulu, HI ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 13:15:58 -0700 From: Stewart Mason Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields At 10:05 AM 1/22/02 -1000, R. Kevin Doyle wrote: >So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic Fields on it. The >compiler of said CD included an admonition that I should find a copy of his >(their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on this band or >recommendations as to other work by them? Opinion tends to be divided on the Magnetic Fields, between those who think that Stephin Merritt's arguably the best songwriter working today and those who think he's too damn precious and clever-clever for his own good (also, a lot of people hate his voice, which sounds more like Johnny Cash with each album). I fall into the former category. 69 LOVE SONGS, which is a three-disc set, is probably a little too daunting to tackle as a first exposure, so I recommend getting a copy of WASPS NESTS by the 6ths, one of Merritt's many side projects. The songs are all written and performed by Merritt, but he only sings one of them; the other singers are a who's who of mid-90s indie pop, including Barbara Manning, Mitch Easter, Amelia Fletcher and Georgia Hubley. (Actual Scott content: Merritt, who's a big fan of Scott's music, actually invited Scott to sing a song on this album, but they couldn't work out their schedules.) If you like that, you can then move on to the various Magnetic Fields albums. Stewart ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 16:08:23 -0500 From: "Larry Tucker" Subject: [loud-fans] FW: Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Real Life Rock Top 10 I highly recommend this book written by an acquaintance of mine who writes for the Raleigh News and Observer. I've probably plugged it here before, but David Menconi's book is truly an entertaining read and a wickedly cynical view of the music biz. http://www.salon.com/ent/col/marc/2002/01/07/marcus60/index.html - -Larry ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 13:39:57 -0800 From: Michael Zwirn Subject: [loud-fans] Local Rabbits (NS) A few years ago in DC, I saw Sloan play at the Black Cat. Opening was a band called the Local Rabbits, and I thought they were pretty unimpressive. However, I just picked up the 2000 album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends, and "Set Out Running" (the opening track) is cowritten with the Local Rabbits. It's a great, rocking country tune. Any idea if their own stuff on record is any good? Michael - -- "Walking from the bus stop Couldn't wait to get off I know I'll be the lucky one" Freedy Johnston ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:06:06 -0500 From: dana-boy@juno.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields >So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic Fields on it. The >compiler of said CD included an admonition that I should find a copy of his >(their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on this band or >recommendations as to other work by them? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm from the school that thinks he/they were fine in the beginning and have since turned into the rock and roll equivalent of a drag queen lip syncing Judy Garland songs. Like Stewart, I also recommend the 6ths album as a good starting point. After that, I say pick up the twe-fer "The Wayward Bus/Distant Plastic Trees" which features the lovely vocals of Susan Anway and a lot less smarm than the later CDs. A million people, however, will be glad to tell you that "69 Love Songs" is a masterpiece. And since lots of people flock to see drag queens lip syncing Judy Garland songs, who am I to tell you they're wrong. A nice piece of trivia to tell fans of the band: both 6ths albums (and the band name itself) are designed to make you lithp when you thay them, 'cause Mr. Merritt likes a joke as much as the next guy. - --dana ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 14:19:51 -0800 From: John Cooper Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields On 1/22/02, R. Kevin Doyle wrote: >So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic Fields on it. The >compiler of said CD included an admonition that I should find a copy of his >(their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on this band or >recommendations as to other work by them? "69 Love Songs" was lots of people's favorite release of the year, including mine. I think the three disks are sold individually--they were when the album was first released--so I recommend getting Disk 1 first to see if you like it. I had WASPS' NESTS before, and despite the stellar cast and a great opening track, I didn't like it much. "69" is just more expressive. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 14:24:53 -0800 From: John Cooper Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields Oh, and I'd like to add that while I'm not a super big fan of drag queen performances, I don't find the gay themes on "69 Love Songs" troublesome or overdone. But if the mere thought of men loving men makes you quake way down to your manly boots, yes, you might want to listen to other bands instead. >On 1/22/02, R. Kevin Doyle wrote: > >>So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic Fields on it. The >>compiler of said CD included an admonition that I should find a copy of his >>(their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on this band or >>recommendations as to other work by them? > >"69 Love Songs" was lots of people's favorite release of the year, >including mine. I think the three disks are sold individually--they >were when the album was first released--so I recommend getting Disk >1 first to see if you like it. I had WASPS' NESTS before, and >despite the stellar cast and a great opening track, I didn't like it >much. "69" is just more expressive. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:49:00 EST From: JRT456@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields In a message dated 1/22/02 2:26:21 PM, john.cooper@pobox.com writes: << Oh, and I'd like to add that while I'm not a super big fan of drag queen performances, I don't find the gay themes on "69 Love Songs" troublesome or overdone. But if the mere thought of men loving men makes you quake way down to your manly boots, yes, you might want to listen to other bands instead. >> And if you really like fags--or just great songwriting--look for releases by Science Park at obscure-disk.com. "Futurama" and "Disinformation" are the only readily available titles, but this act (who's mainly just a guy called Myke Weiskopf) is really amazing. He carries his Merritt influence proudly, too, with a cover of "Lonely Highway" on the "Futurama" album. It's just about the only bad song he's ever recorded. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:53:05 -0500 From: "glenn mcdonald" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields > "69 Love Songs" was lots of people's favorite release of the year, > including mine. Mine, too. I even went on to say it was one of the top ten of the whole decade, and I still believe that. My long explanation of why I think it's so good is at http://www.furia.com/twas/twas0246.html. I'm with JDC in not liking the 6ths stuff very much, though, so I wouldn't recommend that as an introduction. *My* favorite other Magnetic Fields album is _The Charm of the Highway Strip_, but that one isn't uniformly liked, either. So I echo JDC's recommendation that you buy the first 23 love songs and see how you feel afterwards... glenn ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 16:58:42 -0600 (CST) From: Jeffrey with 2 Fs Jeffrey Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields On Tue, 22 Jan 2002, John Cooper wrote: > "69 Love Songs" was lots of people's favorite release of the year, > including mine. I think the three disks are sold individually--they > were when the album was first released--so I recommend getting Disk 1 > first to see if you like it. I had WASPS' NESTS before, and despite > the stellar cast and a great opening track, I didn't like it much. > "69" is just more expressive. True - but in its stylistic diversity, it doesn't really give a good picture of what the Magnetic Fields sound like in general. (Also, if you buy the single discs of _69 Love Songs_, you don't get the booklet with the lengthy interview of Merritt, conducted by Whatshisfirstname Handler, otherwise known as Lemony Snicket - which is worth the price of admission.) I think I lean towards the _Wasps' Nests_ crowd or, if you think you'll like Merritt's voice (I love it), start with, oh, _Charm of the Highway Strip_ or _Holiday_. And re Sixths' titles: I don't think it's lisping so much as tongue-twisting (although _Hyacinths and Thistles_ - the second and not as good Sixths album - definitely works hard to get the lisping goin' on.) - --Jeff J e f f r e y N o r m a n The Architectural Dance Society www.uwm.edu/~jenor/ADS.html ::it's not your meat:: __Mr. Toad__ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 15:10:12 -0800 From: "ana luisa morales" Subject: [loud-fans] introduction.... (upon suggestion of one of my loud-friends....) name: ana luisa morales, aka "ana m." current location: san francisco, CA and albany, CA. occupation: attorney, but currently working as a derivatives contract negotiator for a very large US bank. i also do music documentary photography in my free time. marital status: single, but taken. children: son, james patrick conway, currently a sophomore economics major at texas tech university, lubbock, texas. pets: two cats: stevie rae, who lives w/ me; kristine, who lives w/ a friend in austin. birthdate: 25 march religion: as grahame std, "i went to catholic school, so - no." eye color: green vision correction: yes; prefer contact lenses met janet?: yes, august 98 at the legendary bottom of the hill concert which ended the _DfD_ tour. favorite scott album: _lolita nation _, _pabarat _. joined loud-fans: 1996; was on until march 2000. was subbed briefly last year; and even more briefly this year. (like a few hours ago.) met loudfans? yes, probably abt thirty past and present ones. last concert: guided by voices and the strokes at the apollo theatre, new year's eve. *"no symmetry"**albany california u.s.a.* ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 15:13:46 -0800 (PST) From: Jon Gabriel Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields IUm lodged firmly in the RI (heart icon) Magnetic FieldsS camp. Although I do think Stephen Merritt is very twee, his music doesnUt seem to be over-the-top, drag queen stuff at all. More akin to Belle & Sebastian or The Smiths than RPriscilla, Queen of the Desert.S My gay, liberal brother was amazed when I, a hetero/ex-Navy/Republican/born-again, introduced him to Stephen MerrittUs music. After listening to a swap tape featuring RWhen my Boy Walks Down the StreetS he said, RI canUt believe *you* are giving this tape to *me*!S The song is just so damn good, you donUt have a chance to think about the singerUs orientation. I really enjoyed the Mag Fields album RGet Lost,S but unless youUre a 80s-era synth-pop junkie it may get on your nerves. The double RWayward BusS CD is good, but the sound quality is baaaad. I agree with first purchasing RWaspUs NestsS by The 6ths for a solid intro to MerrittUs songstylings. Write it on a black balloon, Jon - --- "R. Kevin Doyle" wrote: > So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic > Fields on it. The > compiler of said CD included an admonition that I > should find a copy of his > (their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on > this band or > recommendations as to other work by them? > > Thanks! > > R. Kevin Doyle > Honolulu, HI ===== 777777777777777777777777777777 JON GABRIEL mesa, arizona usa inkling communication + design 777777777777777777777777777777 Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 15:18:00 -0800 (PST) From: Jon Gabriel Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields Sorry for the software character substititutions. Let's try this again: I'm lodged firmly in the "I (heart icon) Magnetic Fields" camp. Although I do think Stephen Merritt is very twee, his music doesn't seem to be over-the-top, drag queen stuff at all. More akin to Belle & Sebastian or The Smiths than "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." My gay, liberal brother was amazed when I, a hetero/ex-Navy/Republican/born-again, introduced him to Stephen Merritt's music. After listening to a swap tape featuring "When my Boy Walks Down the Street" he said, "I can't believe YOU are giving this tape to ME!" The song is just so damn good, you don't have a chance to think about the singer's orientation. I really enjoyed the Mag Fields album GET LOST, but unless you're a 80s-era synth-pop junkie it may get on your nerves. The double WAYWARD BUS CD is good, but the sound quality is baaaad. I agree with first purchasing WASP'S NESTS by The 6ths for a solid intro to Merritt's songstylings. Write it on a black balloon, Jon - --- Jon Gabriel wrote: > IUm lodged firmly in the RI (heart icon) Magnetic > FieldsS camp. Although I do think Stephen Merritt is > very twee, his music doesnUt seem to be > over-the-top, > drag queen stuff at all. More akin to Belle & > Sebastian or The Smiths than RPriscilla, Queen of > the > Desert.S > > My gay, liberal brother was amazed when I, a > hetero/ex-Navy/Republican/born-again, introduced him > to Stephen MerrittUs music. After listening to a > swap > tape featuring RWhen my Boy Walks Down the StreetS > he > said, RI canUt believe *you* are giving this tape to > *me*!S The song is just so damn good, you donUt have > a > chance to think about the singerUs orientation. > > I really enjoyed the Mag Fields album RGet Lost,S > but > unless youUre a 80s-era synth-pop junkie it may get > on > your nerves. The double RWayward BusS CD is good, > but > the sound quality is baaaad. I agree with first > purchasing RWaspUs NestsS by The 6ths for a solid > intro to MerrittUs songstylings. > > Write it on a black balloon, > Jon > > > --- "R. Kevin Doyle" wrote: > > So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the > Magnetic > > Fields on it. The > > compiler of said CD included an admonition that I > > should find a copy of his > > (their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts > on > > this band or > > recommendations as to other work by them? > > > > Thanks! > > > > R. Kevin Doyle > > Honolulu, HI > > > ===== > 777777777777777777777777777777 > JON GABRIEL mesa, arizona usa > inkling communication + design > 777777777777777777777777777777 > Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! > http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ===== 777777777777777777777777777777 JON GABRIEL mesa, arizona usa inkling communication + design 777777777777777777777777777777 Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 15:33:42 -0800 From: Steve Holtebeck Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields John Cooper wrote: > "69 Love Songs" was lots of people's favorite release of the year, > including mine. It topped the 1999 loud-fans album poll, as a matter of fact from http://www.escribe.com/music/loudfans/m8982.html 1. The Magnetic Fields, 69 LOVE SONGS 2. XTC, APPLE VENUS - VOLUME 1 3. The Negro Problem, JOYS AND CONCERNS 4. The Flaming Lips, THE SOFT BULLETIN 5. Built To Spill, KEEP IT LIKE A SECRET Fountains of Wayne, UTOPIA PARKWAY 6. Richard Thompson, MOCK TUDOR 7. Wilco, SUMMERTEETH 8. Olivia Tremor Control, BLACK FOLIAGE 9. Aimee Mann, BACHELOR #2 preview ep 10. Low, SECRET NAME > I had WASPS' NESTS before, and despite > the stellar cast and a great opening track, I didn't like it much. > "69" is just more expressive. It's also a strange way to be introduced to the Magnetic Fields, since it doesn't sound that much like them. It's a little bit like saying.. "For anyone interested in the Beatles, I'd recommend first getting a copy of I AM SAM: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE, which contains a bunch of songs written by John Lennon and/or Paul McCartney performed by a who's who of early 21st century alt.rock, including Sarah McLachlan, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, and Sheryl Crow. If you like I AM SAM, you can then move on to the various Beatles albums." WASPS NESTS by the Sixths is another album that seems to be recommended quite often at www.allmusic.com. Steve ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 18:32:55 -0500 From: Dana L Paoli Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields And re Sixths' titles: I don't think it's lisping so much as tongue-twisting (although _Hyacinths and Thistles_ - the second and not as good Sixths album - definitely works hard to get the lisping goin' on.) >>>>>>>>>>> He could have been lying, but that's what Stephin told my friend who hangs at his regular bar. The drag queen comparison didn't really have anything to do with his orientation, but I can understand the confusion. - --dana ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 18:39:11 -0500 From: Dana L Paoli Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields > I had WASPS' NESTS before, and despite > the stellar cast and a great opening track, I didn't like it much. > "69" is just more expressive. It's also a strange way to be introduced to the Magnetic Fields, since it doesn't sound that much like them. It's a little bit like saying.. >>>>>>>>>>>> Musically and lyrically, it's very typical. There are guest singers, but they were all instructed to sing like Stephin Merritt, and the Magnetic Fields have featured a number of people on lead vocals, so all in all I don't really agree with the above point of view. The argument could be made that "69 Love Songs" is atypical because it's much less dinky and electronic than previous albums. - --dana ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 23:49:22 From: "Brian Block" Subject: [loud-fans] Re: introduction belatedly... Name: Brian Friedrichsen Block Facial hair: trim brown sideburns and goatee on purpose, unwanted Hitler mustache if i don't shave for a few days Eyesight w/o contact lenses: 20/250 in left eye, 20/300 in right Prosthetic forehead on real head: No Born: Yes Where/when: Iowa City, IA, 10/11/1973 Location raised in: Davenport, IA Location for now: Brookline, MA, the really nice International Jewish Conspiracy part of Boston Religion: Jewish, belief mainly extending to deep respect for Yiddish invective and bagels, and dislike of Hitler mustaches Life transitions currently or shortly being undergone: Condominium purchase in Quincy, MA... Leaving full-time work for full-time pursuit of teaching degree... Marriage to Cindy Leigh Miller, whose favorite LF album is ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE but whose favorite LF song, partly for obvious reasons, is "Even You" Life transitions not currently or shortly being undergone: Achievement of government Q Clearance... Sex-change operation... Becoming invulnerable... Ascending to status as immortal demon via transitional body of giant hungry snake-thingy... acquisition of law degree Oh well: Oh well Is ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE also the favorite LF album of the other two people i've converted to enthusiastic (as opposed to lukewarm) Loud-fandom?: Yes Is it mine?: No, though it's wonderful; in a pinch i prefer INTERBABE CONCERN or DAYS FOR DAYS, with my favorite LF songs, "Sodium Laureth Sulfate"/ "Don't Respond"/ "I'm Not Really a Spring" all clustered neatly together Other hobbies: Free-form political screeds... modern art (not accepting the common oldster complaint that "modern" equals "rubbish")... modern dance (fully accepting the common oldster etc., at least when i do it)... amateur acting... playing with Slinkys... air-drumming... flossing Loud-fans met: Michael Zwirn, aaron, Cyndy, glenn, Andy Hamlin, Francis Park, ana luisa morales, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mallon, Bradley Skaught, ex-lurkers Cortney Cartier and Sean Rumsey Have learned to automatically go rent any movie recommended by: Andy Hamlin. As should you. best wishes, -Brian _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 16:05:21 -0800 From: "Brandon J. Carder" Subject: [loud-fans] RE Magnetic Fields I certainly fall into the I heart Mag Fields/69 love songs is some kind of masterpiece camp, but recently I managed to confuse myself. I was all about sixty or so of the Love Songs and thought the remaining handful like Punk Rock Love and Experimental Music etc. were forgivable and even perfectly fine within the context of the greater work. But then I went and burned a disk of only the songs I found essential. I ended up with 29 Love Songs, which happened to just fill my 80 minute blank. I was surprised both by how few songs I had picked and what a fine album they made. Which made me wonder: I would hardly classify the remaining forty tracks as anything resembling filler but what if Merritt had released only these 29 finest tracks? Would the album have garnered anywhere near the amount of acclaim it managed in its larger form? Would it have surpassed its other (more bloated) self, safe from accusations of contrivance and filler? - -bjc i heard he wrote you a song but so what? some guy wrote sixty-nine and one just ain't enough -Beulah Cypress House/QED/Lost Coast Press Publishers of Exotic Paper Airplanes by Thay Yang and Tales From the Mountain by Pulitzer Prize nominee, Miguel Torga We don't rent pigs. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 17:29:39 -0700 From: Stewart Mason Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields At 06:39 PM 1/22/02 -0500, Dana L Paoli wrote: >> I had WASPS' NESTS before, and despite >> the stellar cast and a great opening track, I didn't like it much. >> "69" is just more expressive. > >It's also a strange way to be introduced to the Magnetic Fields, since >it doesn't sound that much like them. It's a little bit like saying.. >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >Musically and lyrically, it's very typical. There are guest singers, but >they were all instructed to sing like Stephin Merritt, and the Magnetic >Fields have featured a number of people on lead vocals, so all in all I >don't really agree with the above point of view. I totally don't get that comparison either. These are in every way shape and form Stephin Merritt songs (he plays almost all the instruments himself), not other artists' reinterpretations thereof. As Dana says, Merritt coached the singers to mimic his own deadpan vocal style, with the result that many of them don't really sound much like themselves, but they *do* all sound like they'd fit on a Magnetic Fields record. (Lou Barlow and Mark Robinson especially sound like Merritt -- Robinson's vocals on "Puerto Rico Way" move all the way from mimicry into full-on impersonation!) My main reasons for suggesting WASPS NESTS as a starting point were that 1) it's a really good set of songs that don't have the songwriting-exercise feel of parts of the early MF albums (which can be sorted as "The Young Marble Giants record," "The Spector-meets-ABBA record" and the "The '80s synth-pop record") yet aren't as occasionally too-arch as some of the 69 LOVE SONGS things, and 2) as I said, some people really hate Stephin Merritt's voice (at least until you get used to it), and this minimizes that potential hazard. That said, I love every minute of 69 LOVE SONGS. I just think it's a bit much to swallow at once. S ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 19:59:04 EST From: AWeiss4338@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] FW: Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Real Life Rock Top 10 In a message dated 1/22/02 4:07:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, ltucker@townofchapelhill.org writes: > I highly recommend this book written by an acquaintance of mine who > writes for the Raleigh News and Observer. I've probably plugged it here > before, but David Menconi's book is truly an entertaining read and a > wickedly cynical view of the music biz. > http://www.salon.com/ent/col/marc/2002/01/07/marcus60/index.html > > I second this. Off The Record is a lot of fun. And apparently the main character, Tommy Agular, who leads a Nirvana like band named TAB (Tommy Agular Band) is based on Ryan Adams, and there is a good joke about him himself in this book. Andrea ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 20:45:43 -0500 (EST) From: Sue Trowbridge Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields Steve: > It's also a strange way to be introduced to the Magnetic Fields, since > it doesn't sound that much like them. It's a little bit like saying.. > > "For anyone interested in the Beatles, I'd recommend first getting a > copy of I AM SAM: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE..." Stewart: > I totally don't get that comparison either. These are in every way > shape and form Stephin Merritt songs (he plays almost all the > instruments himself), not other artists' reinterpretations thereof. In defense of Steve, that comparison isn't totally out of left field. I read an article about the I AM SAM soundtrack that said the filmmakers had scored the entire film with Beatles songs, figuring that it would be easy to get the rights to use the originals. Ha ha ha! Since they didn't want to start from scratch and find all new music, they rounded up a bunch of artists to cover the Beatles tracks they'd selected, with the stipulation that they had to sound as much like the originals as possible -- and most importantly, they could not change the tempo at all. By the way, from most accounts, this movie really blows. I'd be curious to hear Brandon's abridged 29 Love Songs. I found the entire box a bit much but did enjoy some of the individual tracks. The only Merritt product I own are the Sixths albums, because I do enjoy the wider variety of singers. Now that Sharples is back, I look forward to reading his inevitable denunciation of Mag Fields' live show ;) - --Sue ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 19:07:51 -0800 From: Steve Holtebeck Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields Sue Trowbridge wrote: > In defense of Steve, that comparison isn't totally out of left field. I > read an article about the I AM SAM soundtrack that said the filmmakers had > scored the entire film with Beatles songs, figuring that it would be easy > to get the rights to use the originals. Ha ha ha! Since they didn't want > to start from scratch and find all new music, they rounded up a bunch of > artists to cover the Beatles tracks they'd selected, with the stipulation > that they had to sound as much like the originals as possible -- and most > importantly, they could not change the tempo at all. By the way, from most > accounts, this movie really blows. As does the soundtrack, actually (IMO). I probably wasn't making the best analogy, but that was more or less what I was trying to get at.. WASPS' NESTS was my first exposure to Stephin Merritt's music, and I liked it so I picked up CHARM OF THE HIGHWAY STRIP (the then most recent MF album), and liked that one even more, because I though Stephin's songs were a lot more powerful with him singing them. Someone who'd heard "Zebra" on a mix and wanted to know more Magnetic Fields stuff (as R. Kevin asked) would do better to pick up a MagFields album with Stephin Merritt singing his own songs (mostly), instead of a Sixths album with a bunch of other vocalists who were instructed to sing like him. The charm of CHARM OF THE HIGHWAY STRIP for me was that it didn't sound like anything else I'd heard before, while WASPS' NESTS sounded like a typical mid-90s indie pop album.. It's many hells of a lot better than the I AM SAM soundtrack, but it's same sort of approximation of the thing rather than the thing itself. Steve ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 22:19:26 -0500 From: "amy b. lewis" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Magnetic Fields another county heard from dept.: for pure-poppy enjoyment, *holiday* is a good, hooky entree into the merritocracy. ya gotcher romantic angst aplenty, ya gotcher sly lyrics -- it's a carnival ride. surprised no one has mentioned the future bible heroes. *memories of love* (co-written by merritt and chris ewen) showcases stephin's and claudia gonson's lush vocals to brilliant effect. not for the synthophobe, but a fair introduction to merritt's weltanschauung. while i appreciate and even enjoy the 6ths (most especially neil hannon's rendition of "the dead only quickly," neither phonetically challenging album has sunk its claws into my cerebellum like mag. fields and future bible heroes releases. *69 love songs* is merritt's magnum opus (so far) -- as varied and theatrical and beautiful and wrenching a work as i've had the fortune to hear. toujours gai, toujours gai, amie - ----- Original Message ----- > So, I just got a mix CD with "Zebra" by the Magnetic Fields on it. The > compiler of said CD included an admonition that I should find a copy of his > (their?) "69 Love Songs" posthaste. Any thoughts on this band or > recommendations as to other work by them? > R. Kevin Doyle ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 21:36:05 -0600 From: Bill Silvers Subject: [loud-fans] Introduction Well, I've waited this long in hopes that the lurker who lured me here to begin with would surface, but so far no luck. Name: William Francis Silvers ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 22:26:11 -0600 From: Bill Silvers Subject: [loud-fans] Introduction, take two Whoops. Name: William Francis Silvers Born: November 2, 1957 Residing in: Kansas City MO, of which I'm a native and where I have spent my entire life Job: currently, no, thanks. I was previously employed at the Kansas City Star, working as a Customer Service Supervisor in the Circulation Department. Married: from November 1983 to November 1993, currently spoken for. Children: none Facial hair: a trimmed-at-least-weekly goatee Vision: I've worn glasses since I was five years old. I've always been too fussy for contacts. Met Janet: No, but that so many see it as a significant occurence is impressive (from an internet community and a just plain folks standpoint), and I'm sorry I haven't. Loud-fans met: Miles Goosens and Jeff Downing at the Big Star/S.W.A.G./Superdrag show in Nashville this past July, though apparently I could have run into Miles (and Jeff?) at Monsters of Pop there in October 2000. (Not to mention the Chicago loud-fans I was still far too much a lurker here to try to meet at the March 2000 Loud Family show at the Double Door in Chicago on the AN tour. Great show that I really ought to scan in the photos from, I suppose. How I became a Loud Fan: My first exposure was from my fellow pop-geek best friend Dave, with PABARAT in 1994. It didn't really take, but I was interested enough to pick up a copy of IBC when I saw a used one in 1996 and despite my relative detachment from much of it, bought a copy of DFD on its release date in 1998 and finally it all made sense. Well, mostly, at least. Of course, by now I''ve pretty much gathered the entire GT/LF catalog, even taking the eBay financial hit for a copy of LN a year or so ago, after the casette copy I'd made from my vinyl copy just never *sounded* right. Favorite LF/GT elpee: DFD, though PABARAT is a close second Favorite LF/GT song: "Not Because You Can" Other uses of leisure time: I'm a music fan like everybody else here, though my interests could be most neatly (if inexactly) expressed as honky-tonk and power-pop. I'm active on other music list-servs, in particular (for its legitimacy in describing itself as a community) Postcard 2, an alt-country group, the existence of which spurred a number of things, though most notably an annual music festival called Twangfest (see http://www.twangfest.com for proof, or the thing I did for the Miles of Music MoMzine http://www.milesofmusic.com/momzine/twangfest.html ). Just FWIW, on another list I'm on (sort of a "fluffy," conversation and fun-focused spin off of Postcard 2), we experienced a situation (OK, well, a person) quite like that which occurred with Mr. Staples here, just this last summer. I think y'all should be proud, or relieved, or at least encouraged that, despite the critical differences (that list's Mark Staples is still there, and it's others, myself included, who left in frustration) involved, that an unpleasant incident ended up revitalizing things and engendering a new spirit. Here's hoping that it lasts and continues for the common good. b.s. ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V2 #29 ******************************