From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V4 #182 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 Sunday, July 4 2004 Volume 04 : Number 182 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [loud-fans] Roundup of review swap review reviews ["Bradley Skaught" ] Re: [loud-fans] Roundup of review swap review reviews ["Bradley Skaught" ] Re: [loud-fans] lost another one... [Francis J H Park Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Roundup of review swap review reviews > i think there's much more sincerity and less irony in >merritt's > work than is widely believed, but i think that merritt >feels the > need to take (some at times drastic) steps to conceal >the > sincerity in his work. it's possible that i'm projecting, of > course. I really don't think Merritt's taking steps to conceal sincerity as much as he's just not coming out of a singer/songwriter tradition in the modern sense. Like Randy Newman or Van Dyke Parks he's writing more in the style of classic American pop--the Cole Porter/Gershwin era. In that genre of songwriting, the point is to tell a story/express an emotion, but the narrative voice of the song is not assumed to be the songwriter's (in the old days that's because the songs were generally written for musicals.) That songwriter's ability to make an entertaining and moving song, _and_ express himself, is the mark of a gifted writer. I think its interesting that a lot of Merritt's fans don't really have a background in that kind of songwriting. It doesn't lessen the value or effectiveness of his work for them, but I think it's a valuable context to put him in when trying to sort out his motivations. And it's also a mode that can be confusing for folks only familiar, really, with songwriting in its post-musical sense--where the narrative voice of the song is meant to be a direct statement of the songwriter's feelings/beliefs. > i'd probably prefer a good live recording to > almost any of their albums. I second that. The recorded version of 69 Love Songs still leaves me a bit cold, but seeing that stuff live was amazing. B - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.712 / Virus Database: 468 - Release Date: 6/27/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 08:53:22 -0700 From: "Bradley Skaught" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] Roundup of review swap review reviews >If someone wanted to hear Stephin's songwriting >without his voice, the >first 6ths album would be better value for money than >the eight >guest-vocal songs on a given volume of 69LS. I'm in a real minority here, but I don't think the 6ths album is all that strong songwriting-wise. I think the concept of having semi-famous guest singers carries a lot of weight, but I thought the writing was a bit slight and not really what Merritt's capable of. > I do wish the guy would make an album worthy of > either the amount of > attention he's getting now, or of his fans' feelings toward > the high > points of his early albums. "i" ain't it I strongly disagree. I think "i" is it--some of his best songwriting in the most flattering and realized musical context. My personal favorite is Holiday, but if pressed I would say "i" is his finest and the best example of what he's famous for. >the last Future Bible Heroes > album is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay not it... Those albums are a lot of fun, though, and, again, the FBH live show was fantastic! B - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.712 / Virus Database: 468 - Release Date: 6/27/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 03 Jul 2004 15:59:42 -0400 From: Francis J H Park Subject: Re: [loud-fans] lost another one... Stefaan Hurts wrote: >On Fri, 2 Jul 2004 10:54:21 -0600, "Roger Winston" >said: > > >>Stellllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! >> >> > >Glad you like Belgian beer, Rog. :) > >Toodlepip, >-Stef > > > Oh, I chortle! I'm suddenly thinking of other variations: "Chimaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" I'm a Hoegaarden fan whenever I get a chance, but it just doesn't lend itself to the Brando treatment. Hell hath no fury as my wife after the time I killed off a liter of Delirium Tremens in one sitting. Sorry, couldn't resist. Francis J. H. Park http://home.sprintmail.com/~durandal - -- It is much more difficult to discipline the high command than the Red Army man. - A. A. Svechin ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V4 #182 *******************************