From: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org (oppositeview-digest) To: oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Subject: oppositeview-digest V4 #118 Reply-To: oppositeview@smoe.org Sender: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk oppositeview-digest Tuesday, May 7 2002 Volume 04 : Number 118 Today's Subjects: ----------------- OV: RE: oppositeview-digest V4 #117 ["Johnson, Tony D" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 12:44:50 +0100 From: "Johnson, Tony D" Subject: OV: RE: oppositeview-digest V4 #117 Date: Sat, 4 May 2002 11:45:05 -0400 From: "Andrew Cameron" Subject: OV: In defense of JBYL; US tour Dear OVers: Many thanks to the OVers who posted descriptions of the concert. I enjoyed reading them and really am getting tempted to see if I could fly over to the UK for a show or two. I started writing this message yesterday before I had seen the concert reviews. (I get the digest version because I get far too much email to receive the posts individually.) I started writing it as a sort of apologetics of the new material. I like the new material and am encouraged by your descriptions of how the material sounds live. What follows is my defense of some of the new material. We Del Amitri fans seem to have quite a divergence of opinion re the new album. I cant write an album review as well as the others on the list have, so I shant try. I mostly concur with Alessandros comments from a posting on April 26, and, to a slightly lesser extent, with Adams opinions of April 29. I will say, however, that the album has increasingly grown on me with repeated listenings, as was the case with Some Other Suckers Parade. Im not sure where Id rank it vis-`-vis their other albums, but I now am enjoying it immensely, which is all that really matters to me. I am writing mainly in support of songs in the style of Just before You Leave (JBYL). I know a lot of you dont like this (type of) song. First, Ill confess that I like Cry to Be Found (CTBF) immensely as well. Just so you know my bias up front, I do like a lot of soul and Motown music. I realize that peoples tastes in music are inherently subjective (how else to explain the popularity of Britney Spears and the boy bands?). Thus, Im not sure that the powers of logic or persuasion are applicable or even desirable when it comes to music preferences. I suppose that makes my message moot. Irrelevance never stopped me before, so why should it now? I frankly think that JBYL is a fabulous song. True, my favorite Del Amitri songs are guitar-dominated. As I mentioned in an earlier post, however, I enjoy groups most who show some diversity of style, arrangement, and instrumentation. Thats partly why I like JBYL and CTBF so much. I certainly understand, however, that if you dont like soul/Motown music, youre unlikely to enjoy these songs. To me, JBYL is exquisitely crafted and wonderfully reminiscent of the soul music era. Distinct from their traditional sound, JBYL weaves sounds from classical music with the roots of musics classic rock and soul eras. I think the song likely will provoke a diverse range of emotions and meanings for a wide variety of listeners. Although the soul influence would not enhance many of their songs, JBYL adds a welcome variety to DAs usual sound. I also like the fact that a variety of instruments are used. JBYL has a strong bass line that makes the song flow nicely. I also hear organ, drums/percussion, violins, and harp. Could someone tell me what creates the distinctive sound during the chorus? Im not a musician and cant tell what precisely created that sound. It sounds to me like a wah-wah pedal or some other kind of guitar pedal or special effects box. The sound is faintly reminiscent of the reverbed wah-wah scratch from the beginning of the song Theme from Shaft. I was hoping a musician on the list or someone who saw them live could tell me exactly what pedal or other instrument was used for that sound. Yes, Iain usess a wahwah for this song, while playing his Les Paul. (The sunburst I think - not the goldtop). Please note that I am not necessarily defending the use of JBYL as the first single. (The video eludes me.) I have no conception of what songs off the album will have the widest appeal because I dont understand the mass music market at all. See my B. Spears/boy bands comment above. The other sometimes-maligned song Ill defend is Drunk in a Band. Perhaps its not a lyrical tour-de-force. It will never be a favorite of mine. I liken the song to the Beatles Twist and Shout and Dire Straits Twisting by the Pool. Neither has the most profound lyrics. (Yes, I know that none of the Beatles wrote Twist and Shout, nor were the Beatles the first to perform it. But their version became the most popular.) I actually wasnt keen on Drunk at first. Once I accepted it as a fun little song, I started enjoying it. As others wrote before the concert and now has been confirmed by those at the concert, its a great song to hear live. It also seems like a great summer, riding-in-a-convertible-with-the-top-down song. Okay, the only problem is that I dont own a convertible, and its still rather cool and gray in Ohio. I do own a convertible - and I can confirm that you are correct about Drunk In A Band! (That's when the bloody weather in this country allows you the opportunity of course - all too rarely!). Cheers, Tony - ------------------------------------------------------------ The information contained in or attached to this email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or a person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are not authorised to and must not disclose, copy, distribute, or retain this message or any part of it. It may contain information which is confidential and/or covered by legal professional or other privilege (or other rules or laws with similar effect in jurisdictions outside England and Wales). The views expressed in this email are not necessarily the views of Centrica plc, and the company, its directors, officers or employees make no representation or accept any liability for its accuracy or completeness unless expressly stated to the contrary. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 23:47:54 -0500 From: Leah D Schenkenberg Subject: OV: Off topic - desperation when I was in Paris last year, I picked up some chapstick that rocked my world. I'm almost out. If anyone has access to "Le Stick de mon Pharmacien" (red, white, and blue, chubby case) or any great ideas to hook me up, please email me off list. Leah ________________________________________________________________ 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, 7 May 2002 18:02:16 +1000 (EST) From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Michael?= Subject: OV: In celebration of Jenny On Saturday night Jenny, a beautiful, caring, compassionate lady, lost her long running battle with cancer. She was 31. Tomorrow is her funeral and, even though you didn't know her, I ask that you spare a few seconds for her husband Mark at what will be one of the most difficult days of his life. I can't even begin to think what he is feeling but I would like to think that the positive thoughts of others can help him cope with his loss. Thank you. http://messenger.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Messenger - - A great way to communicate long-distance for FREE! ------------------------------ End of oppositeview-digest V4 #118 **********************************