From: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org (support-system-digest) To: support-system-digest@smoe.org Subject: support-system-digest V3 #278 Reply-To: support-system@smoe.org Sender: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk support-system-digest Monday, October 16 2000 Volume 03 : Number 278 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: support-system-digest V3 #277 ["Adele Chase" ] OT: Liz Phair/Support System Digest Mix #1 review (part two) [Jason Long ] stuff [Craig King ] bad boy [MangoHula@aol.com] mp3 to wav? [LazyKimber@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 03:07:27 -0400 From: "Adele Chase" Subject: Re: support-system-digest V3 #277 Hi all! I've been a lurker on this list for way too long, so here goes: When I saw Jase's NP about Badly Drawn Boy, I just had to respond. This summer, I became OBSESSED with Damon Gough ( =BDB). His album, The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, is the most musically and lyrically stimulating album since... well, since Exile, at least in my opinion. It's absolutely brilliant. It has a really lo-fi feel, kind of like he's sitting in the room with you, messing around on his guitar just for your entertainment. But at the same time, the album has this careful, cragted feel, as if it's more than just music being played. You feel like you're listening to a entire musical experience. Every sound matters and every sound, even the odd ones, are beautiful and interesting. And yes, I have to admit, the songs are a *bit* sappy at times. But it's a good sort of sappy -- self indulgent in a tub of ben and jerry's and a good sad movie (Dancer in the Dark, when it's out on video?) sort of way... Anyway, sorry about my rambling and babbling and gushing -- trust me, it's a good album, pick it up. Thanks for hearing me out! ~adele ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 10:33:45 -0400 From: Jason Long Subject: OT: Liz Phair/Support System Digest Mix #1 review (part two) Meant to post this sooner -- here's my review of the second side of the tape I received from Chris DeLisle in the mix swap. Public Enemy - "Lost at Birth" Chris wrote in his notes that accompanied the tape that Public Enemy are the only rap band he enjoys. With the exception of the Beastie Boys, who I have to be in the right mood for, I have to agree. For some reason, though, I never got around to getting _Apocalypse '91: The Enemy Strikes Black_, the album that this track is from. I really liked the previous two records (especially _Fear of a Black Planet_), but at the time this one came out, I was listening to Sonic Youth more than anything else and never got around to picking up on it after the fact. This song is nearly as good as anything from the first two albums, so it's probably a safe bet that I will break down and buy this before long. John Lennon - "She Said She Said (work in progress)" It would have been interesting to see where Lennon could have taken this -- it has the beginnings of a good song, but it does seem rather tentative. This song only feels half-complete with the quick fadeout as well, after only playing for what feels like not much more than a minute. Does a more fleshed-out version of this song exist anywhere? Buzzcocks - "Orgasm Addict" A classic, from one of my favorite albums of all-time (_Singles Going Steady_). Two minutes of sheer adrenalin and bliss. I just wish the current breed of "punk" bands could come up with something as inspired as this. Before anyone starts yelling, yes, there is Sleater-Kinney, but I don't really consider them punk the way that some do; to me, they transcended any such label long ago. Anyway, clearly they don't make 'em like they used to (although judging by the reunion album the Buzzcocks did a few years ago, they can't either). Everyone should own this, though; it still sounds fresh to these ears after hundreds of plays. The Wedding Present - "Red Shoes by the Drugstore" I like this much better than the other song on the tape by them. My problem with the earlier song was primarily the vocals, but here they work much better; the song itself seems to have an edgier setting, which likely helps explain the difference in how the vocals come across. Pete Townshend - "Mary (demo)" This is easily one of the best songs on the tape -- without any reservations at all, I love it. I'm also impressed that that's Townshend on all of the instruments; he plays all of the parts well. It seems a shame to me, though, that this song only exists as a demo and that the Who never recorded it -- it rather limits the number of people who will ever get to hear it. I may have to break down and buy the _Lifehouse Chronicles_ box set, which in itself is a rarity for me: Normally I don't buy box sets because I have this thing where I end up thinking, "Why am I spending so much money on one artist when I could buy one album each from three or four different ones?" I guess we'll see... Jennifer Warnes - "Song of Bernadette" Somehow I can't reconcile that the Jennifer Warnes singing this song is the same one that sang on the dreadful "Up Where We Belong" and that song from Dirty Dancing (the soundtrack of which was much unfortunately my sister's favorite album for years. *shudder*). I've never heard the Leonard Cohen original of this song, but the version here is terrific. She really does have a beautiful voice, and unlike a lot of singers with a similar range, she manages not to over-emote or overwhelm her material (I wish she had managed such restraint on the aforementioned hits). Is the rest of _Famous Blue Raincoat_ up to this level? Elvis Costello - "Crimes of Paris" In my opinion, _Blood and Chocolate_ is one of Elvis' more overlooked albums, so it's a pleasant surprise hearing one of its best songs on this tape. Even though it had a couple of songs that felt uneven to me, I'm able to overlook them; all told, this is probably the last Costello album that I thoroughly enjoy. Bob Dylan - "Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie" I don't know what strikes me most as being out of left field about this: The fact that amongst all of these great songs, out of nowhere comes a poem; or the fact that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Somehow, I have to give extra points here: I think I'm too bound by convention to try putting anything but music on a mix, or even if I weren't, I would have likely chosen to start a side of the tape with it. Also, Dylan's reading seems as passionate as even some of the best songs on here. Rutles - "Doubleback Alley" I think I like "Let's Be Natural," the earlier Rutles track just a little bit more, but this is great too. The harmonies on the chorus really stand out, as well as the final repetition of it where it jumps to a higher key -- nice touch. Spiritualized - "I Think I'm In Love" My 1997 was more or less ruled by Jen Trynin's _Gun Shy Trigger Happy_ and Sleater-Kinney's _Dig Me Out_. Somehow, Spiritualized passed me by completely, but based on this song, _Ladies and Gentlemen We're Floating in Space_ would have been a good addition to those two knockout records. Husker Du - "Never Talking to You Again" Somehow based on all I've heard about Husker Du, this isn't quite what I had expected. _Zen Arcade_ has been on my list of "CDs to get" for ages, mainly because everything I've read about the band indicates that it would be the best to start with, but I still haven't gotten around to getting it. This song here is good, if a little short, but for some reason I was expecting something -- I don't know -- louder? faster? electric? My curiousity is still piqued, though; as a Sugar fan, I've been meaning to check out Bob Mould's "other band" for a while now and this just gives me further incentive. Funkadelic - "Can You Get to That" Hmmm, not my usual thing, and so far it's pleasant enough but it doesn't really move me. I don't really know what to even say about this song yet and I don't want to write anything off too soon, so a few more listens are probably in order. All in all, this was a great tape -- thanks, Chris! I now have some leads on bands and artists to further check out and have enjoyed hearing a lot of this new-to-me music. I really hope that we can continue to do mix swaps like this on the list, but since no one else has offered up any reviews yet or has talked about the tape swap at all recently, I have to wonder if everyone's still interested. I still think this is a great way to share and discover new music, so I hope there's still at least a few people who'd want to participate in the next round... Cheers, Jase ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 08:20:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Craig King Subject: stuff In case anyone cares, Juliana Hatfield will be touring with Aimee Mann for a few shows: Oct 19 Palatine, IL Harper College Oct 20 Columbus, OH Southern Theater Oct 21 Cleveland, OH Odeon Concert Club <> I listen to practically everything, except country. Stuff like Juliana Hatfield, Stone Temple Pilots, Tom Petty, The Doors, Aimee Mann, alot of metal, punk, jazz, ect..... Interesting info Jase. I hope you're right about Buddy not playing with Aimee translating into something with Liz. Please, anyone with any info on Liz's new album PLEASE come forward!!!!! It's been far too long. Craig NP: Wallflowers - "Breach" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE. http://im.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 12:33:53 EDT From: MangoHula@aol.com Subject: bad boy NP: Badly Drawn Boy, _The Hour of Bewilderbeast_ is this album good? someone has told me about them/him (whatever it is)...........they will be playing at the 9.30 club........should i check it out??? any advice is great!!! ~lynda ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 13:43:50 EDT From: LazyKimber@aol.com Subject: mp3 to wav? can someone please tell me where i can get a free mp3 to wav converter. i need one and i cant find one that is not extremely difficult. please help k ------------------------------ End of support-system-digest V3 #278 ************************************