THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #206 - March 24, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #206
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Topics for Today:
Life is good
Re: Whatever and ever...t-shirt!
sugar water and for children....
Whatever and Ever Amen
cd singles from 1st album
Canadian release date
A Few Thoughts on...Whatever
THE WAIT IS OVER in Windsor, Ontario !
Re: crappy jax
Let me Correct Myself
BF5 on Dutch radio
Whatever review
Ben Folds Five: Whatever... and Airplay
Re: Vince Guaraldi
Hidden track
RE: BF5 & Klezmatics
Astoria
First BFF Concert
a sure hit?
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 20:11:47 -0700
From: Shawn Huckaby <BShawn@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Life is good
First, the new CD this week,
and now, I've got tickets to go see the Five in Denver in three weeks!
Life is good.
Shawn Huckaby
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 22:15:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Jennifer Delamar <47km67nb@abaco.coastalnet.com>
Subject: Re: Whatever and ever...t-shirt!
Alright, friends....
I want a t-shirt! no, not a black one, necessarily, but one, nonetheless!
I was lucky enough to get a friend to tape Whatever and Ever Amen, but I was
not entitled to a t-shirt, so please tell me how I might get one.
Bry, thanks for the mail. Love ya!
check you guys with funny packages later,
Jennifer
aka Karaoke queen
47km67nb@coastalnet.com
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 04:09:07, -0500
From: MS KIMBERLY HORN <QPQJ32A@prodigy.com>
Subject: sugar water and for children....
aloha!!!
okay, we all know the hype in japan is huge for ben folds five....
and i live in the closest us state to japan...
most obviously hawaii....so i get a lot of the japanese influence
living here.
anyway, who else loves japanese music?...
not necessarily japanese music but japanese bands.....
cibo matto...pizzicatto 5.....towa tei...just to name a few.
could people out there help me?
mahalo nui loa!!!!
seferina lozano
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 05:12:15 -0500
From: Fred Antonangeli <fantonan@bcn.net>
Subject: Whatever and Ever Amen
Well folks, it's been about four days since I've purchased the new cd
and it has yet to leave my cd player. I think my family may be seriously
considering stealing it and hiding it on me, and my friends think I
should go talk to someone. I was just wondering if anyone here was going
to the show in NYC? I imagine that quite a few people are, just thought
I'd ask. Also, is anyone from Mass. travelling to NYC to see them? I am,
and just thought I'd inquire. And...for the person in the one of the
last digests about the phone ringing, the first day I had the cd I must
have paused the cd like five times to go "get the phone" before I
finally realized what it was. Actually, yesterday I was listening to it
in the living room and my mom thought it was the phone too, boy did I
get a good laugh out of that.
Sarah :)
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 13:43:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Alexander Jay Timin <ajtimin@freenet.tlh.fl.us>
Subject: cd singles from 1st album
I haven't been able to find any of the singles from BFF's 1st album. If
anyone knows where i might get them, please email me off the list at
ajtimin@freenet.tlh.fl.us
alex
(ps - I also have a few tapes of BFF in concert)
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 15:24:51 -0400
From: Daniel MacEachern <dmaceach@is2.dal.ca>
Subject: Canadian release date
to the Haligonian out of water:
I couldn't get the album here either. I know it was supposed to be released
on the 18th, I'd seen signs at Sam's, but I guess it got pushed back a
week.
How annoying. The problem is, the album comes out now two days before my
thesis is due, so I know I'll get no work done. I have to have my thesis
done before Tuesday.
Daniel
Halifax
A Haligonian IN water
[It really DID sink into the bay??? -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 14:52:13 -0600
From: jbuff@uit.net
Subject: A Few Thoughts on...Whatever
Where'd the guitar come from, and who's playing it?
I like the album alot.
It's a little different from the first one though, which is fine. It
sounds a little more produced, which isn't necessarily good. There's
alot of effects and other instruments in the album. Again, it sounds
good, but I the thing I really liked about the first album is that it
was simple, yet powerful. Just the piano, bass, and drums...that's it.
It sounded the same live as it did on the album. Just like they
probably walked into the studio, jammed for a day, and then put it out.
This one wasn't recorded live. At least it doesn't sound like it could
be, and that kindof sucks. Oh well.
It really is a great album though.
It's slower and prettier. That's not a good or bad thing. It's just
the way it is.
Can you tell I didn't put any thought into this? It's just some random
thoughts. I'm actually listening to it right now. I'm grooving.
Take Care
Brett
"Hike up your skirt a little more, and show your world to me."
--Dave Matthews Band (1996)
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 21:53:23 -0500 (EST)
From: My dog rocks! <tucker5@server.uwindsor.ca>
Subject: THE WAIT IS OVER in Windsor, Ontario !
My gosh! My silly town had trouble getting the new album on the 18th!
I couldn't believe it! What's worse is that I work at one of the
record stores here and for the past few days, I've been constantly running
in back room hoping to see a nice box marked "SONY". I think I've driven
my co-workers absolutely nuts! Even tried getting the promo early
but no luck! However, today, another records store in
Windsor got the album in so I bought it there! I was finally blessed
with the gem-like sounds of "Whatever and Ever Amen"! What JOY I tell you!
so ya,....WOW...what brilliance!! Lots of ballads...VERY nice stuff! AND
I find out earlier this week that I can FINALLY see them in concert in
DETROIT!. The world is now a better place!
***congrats to FRANK MAYNARD who was thanked in the album notes...I made
sure to check for that!***
side note: Am still trying to tackle the original piano score to Philosophy
(ouch!..its tough I tell you...should master it by 1998 I hope!)
Has anyone out there purchased the new Ben Folds Piano Score book??? How
is it????? I imagine it's worth the insane import price right?
* LiNdA *
Linda Tucker
tucker5@uwindsor.ca
University of Windsor
2nd yr - Communications Stud.
---->>HELLO to Shannon McCarthy (you rock!) and Dean Drouillard (my next
stop is the RACECAR web page!)
"What means the most takes the most to realize"
-The Grapes of Wrath
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 22:28:00 -0500 (EST)
From: Superdork9@aol.com
Subject: Re: crappy jax
bad news in my town cant find new bf5 cd good news my radio station wwas
giving thenm away all day today and guess what i called in and won
yeah!!!!!!!!!! so they will mail me my cd and it will be here soon cant
wait till i hear it
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 01:16:42 -0600
From: jbuff@uit.net
Subject: Let me Correct Myself
I know there's no guitar in the new album. It's just the bass played
high and distorted. It's a cool effect. The reason I thought there
might be is because there are times when you can hear it, and a bass
line. This is why I think the band did some over sampling, along with
Ben singing over himself. Again, it all works, and I dig it.
Brick is an amazing song. I'm going to ask a dumb question here, but is
that a tuba I hear? If not, the bass is being run through a funky
gizmo.
Okay , that's it.
Take Care
Brett
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 1997 22:10:59 +0100 (MET)
From: parreira@aquawolf.xs4all.nl
Subject: BF5 on Dutch radio
The Amsterdam show from 3/18 will be broadcasted partly (a half hour of
highlights) this wednesday, 3/26 somewhere between 22.00 and 24.00 in
VPRO Villa65's Einfach Rockmusik.
Maybe the whole concert will be broadcasted in the summer...
Bye,
Daniel
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 12:11:42 -0500 (EST)
From: John Fagan <john17cd@bc.seflin.org>
Subject: Whatever review
I just recently came back from London and was excited to hear Bff
for the very first time ever on the radio. Heard BOWCCL on the radio...I
was thrilled. Also saw the video too on London's VH1. This was the
first time I ever saw a BFF video.
With all the hype thru this mailing list I was highly anticipating
the new album . I got it on wed at Circuit city for 10.99.
I agree with previous posts it is an album that grows on you with
each listen. Its definitely a more mellower album than the first
hook-filled uptempo first album. On first listen I like Fair, Brick and
BOWCCL. Fair is pretty good . I like the verses...The Ba ba ba / Doobie
Brothers sounding chorus gets to be a little annoying. Who is singing
the verses on Brick??? Is it ben ?
I do like the new version of song for the dumped...has a more "live"
sound. Also I wasnt crazy about Stevens Last nite but now its my new
favorite. Thru the album I can still hear touches of Todd Rundgren and
Joe Jackson. Also Jellyfish, America, Doobie Brothers and Billy Joel.
I think this album is more personal from a songwriting point of
view. This is a good album tho I still prefer the first.
Id pick Brick or Fair as the next possible single choices.
When is BEN coming to Florida ?? Hopefully in May after his atlanta gigs.
Any other Fort Lauderdale/Miami BFF fans....email me.
John Fagan
john17cd@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 12:23:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Shawn Patrick Mummert <mummersp@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu>
Subject: Ben Folds Five: Whatever... and Airplay
Hey, folks--
Yes, like everyone else I have the new album. In fact, they've been
playing "Battle of Who Could Care Less" for several weeks here in Southern
Ohio. In fact, the song is #1 on our local college radio station. All I
can say is that it's about time, since the DJs around here are always
talking about how great the band is, but never playing anything. For
example, when Better than Ezra came to town, during the interview on the
radio, they said that they were listening to the Ben Folds Five album a
lot. The DJ said, yeah, those guys are great. (Then why don't you play
something from them, if they're so great? Commercial radio for you.)
Also, it seems as though the band's getting more coverage, including that
very nice Details article (the one with Gwen Stefani on the cover). They
get a whole two pages, which I thought was prett cool. Obviously, the
writer likes the band.
So, anyway, the word on the band is getting out.
mummersp@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 14:23:59 -0500
From: Paul Rodriguez <mppr@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Vince Guaraldi
This is bizarre. Bruce Herrier wrote in TMA #203 about the similarity
between Ben's playing on "Selfless, Cold and Composed" and Vince Guaraldi.
This comparison came to my mind as soon as I heard the track.
For those of you unfamiliar with the late jazz pianist, he is indeed best
known for the albums _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ and _A Boy Named Charlie
Brown_. However, his Top Forty single of 1963, "Cast Your Fate to the
Wind," also is quite BFF-ish in its melancholy tone. Like Ramsey Lewis,
Guaraldi's jazz was quite pop in tone, with great attention to the lyric
line.
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 14:31:06 -0500
From: Paul Rodriguez <mppr@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Hidden track
No one's mentioned it yet, but I assume most of you have heard the hidden
track on the U.S. release of _Whatever and Ever Amen_. If not, it comes in
at 5:28 on track 12. Does anyone know who the speaker is?
If overseas buyers don't have it, it goes like this:
The track is live in a club. The speaker says, "Look, man, I got your
hidden track right here, pal. Right here. Listen. Ben Folds is a f***in'
asshole." The crowd cheers.
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 14:51:14 -0500
From: Paul Rodriguez <mppr@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: RE: BF5 & Klezmatics
Someone asked about the Klezmatics (three members of the group appear on
"Steven's Last Night in Town."). The group plays a contemporary version of
klezmer, a traditional Jewish musical genre. Their albums include _Rhythm
& Jews_ and _Jews With Horns_. Trumpeter Frank London has also guested on
three They Might Be Giants albums: _Flood_, _Apollo 18_ and _John Henry_.
I think their addition gives the song a real swing band sound. I like it!
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 22:56:07 -0000
From: Baldwin M <M.Baldwin@rhbnc.ac.uk>
Subject: Astoria
What was going on at the Astoria gig, how come all those guys were
getting on the stage?
Hilarious Shampoo piss take to sound of Prince`s sexy MF was ace
Were you there?
Wanna chat about it?
M.Baldwin@rhbnc.ac.uk
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 22:35:53 -0500 (EST)
From: YerArsenal@aol.com
Subject: First BFF Concert
Hello,
This is my first post. I have been on the list for sometime, but for some
reason have not posted up until now. I am FINALLY going to see BFF live this
Friday Night (28th). They are playing at the Cat's Cradle and i am just numb
with excitement. I will try to let everyone know how the show was......
I also wanted to respond to the person who was wondering if any people on the
list live in NC. I actually live in Rocky Mount, but I work in Zebulon and
visit Raleigh often. Maybe we will bump into each other at the show.
See Ya
YerArsenal
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 97 22:54:20 -0600
From: nancy <ndoodle@ou.edu>
Subject: a sure hit?
well, since listening to it not all that all the way, I've already decided
that this new album isn't really as great as teh first album. Well, not to
say that it isn't good, but my over all view of it is that 1.) the slow
songs are boring, 2.) quality seems too smoothed over, 3.) it didn't quite
catch on so well and quickly as the first album (ie, I was sold on the first
30 seconds of jackson cannery!), 4.) you all are going to shoot me for being
so fast to put whatever down! Sorry, kids, the magic just didn't strike me
this time. Well, I'll be excited to see those kids though.
Tell me, do any of you guys know if we'll be lucky to see bf5 WITH komeda
down here in sunny texas?! (and I'll tell you, it's DAMN sunny! I'm
sunburned! ack!) cos', like well, I've taken to them komeda folk and would
love to see them. Well, I'll go and look em up on pollstar er sumfin.
oh yeah, the point of this email...
I predict Whatever and ever amen to become an atleast one time hit much in
the same line as cracker with their single-Low, because of the weed
reference. anyone on the same brain wave here? well, if you will, everysong
from a low key band that I've ever liked that has made it big with their one
hit single coincidentally made a pot reference in their lyrics! This can
almost be proved with Battle, since well, I've heard it on the radio (never
a bf5 hath reached this medium in my dallas world) and the video's been
getting middle of the day airplay even! ack! well, atleast bf5 will be
getting just due stardom, but, egh?!
ah, well, just a thought. later, kids
lobster red yours,
nancy doodle! :P
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