THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #475 - September 13, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Saturday, September 13 1997 Volume 01 : Number 475
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PERSONAL ATTACKS
Let's keep the personal attacks and barbs out of the Armchair. If you
have something to say to someone, send it via private e-mail. All are
welcome to discuss Ben Folds Five here and no question is a dumb question
if you don't know the answer. Of course, it would be appreciated if you'd
do a little research of your own first. Most of the commonly-asked
questions are answered in various resources found on the web, and I
usually recommend http://oeonline.com/bff/ as a good starting point. There
are links to lots of people's BFF pages, including some good FAQs.
TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
DUMPED over BRICK
DUMPED over BRICK
Belle and Sebastian...Ben Folds Five
Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #470
"brick"'s meaning
Pop Culture Press
brick- and not a meaning analizes
Beck, Beasties and whatever (and ever amen..)
musicality and the masses
BFF sightings
Re: Oh Petra
Beck's Bass Behest
A record store find...
[none]
Atlanta show and Brick video
Brick / Dumped
Joe Jackson influence
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 20:30:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: RESRVRDOG@aol.com
Subject: DUMPED over BRICK
hey there hi there...
James Campbell said:
<< Why is "Brick" going to be the next US single? Doesn't
anyone else think that "Dumped" is clearly the best
chance to get some airplay? When I first play BFF for friends,
I always start with "Dumped", and it always gets positive remarks
and they always want to hear more.
I can totally see "Brick" getting lumped in with a chunk of
anti-"Freshmen" sentiment (I'm absolutely sick of that
song myself..). >>
I agree that Dumped is more of an upbeat song that MIGHT get more response,
but at the same time, it is VERY blunt and filled with expletives. I know
for a fact that the radio stations here would be bleeping all the swear
words, thus absolutely ruining the feel and meaning behind the song. Also,
BRICK is a very poetic and profound type of song with a very melodic feel to
it that I hope would attract just as large of a listening as would DUMPED. I
personally think that Brick is one of BFF's greatest pieces, and will be well
accepted by all the people who have heard and loved their other singles
(Kate, One Angry Dwarf, and Battle). Of course, this is just what I
think....
whatever and ever, amen...
BRAD
if my mind's somewhere else, you won't be able to tell...
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 20:33:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: RESRVRDOG@aol.com
Subject: DUMPED over BRICK
hey there hi there...
James Campbell said:
<< Why is "Brick" going to be the next US single? Doesn't
anyone else think that "Dumped" is clearly the best
chance to get some airplay? When I first play BFF for friends,
I always start with "Dumped", and it always gets positive remarks
and they always want to hear more.
I can totally see "Brick" getting lumped in with a chunk of
anti-"Freshmen" sentiment (I'm absolutely sick of that
song myself..). >>
I agree that Dumped is more of an upbeat song that MIGHT get more response,
but at the same time, it is VERY blunt and filled with expletives. I know
for a fact that the radio stations here would be bleeping all the swear
words, thus absolutely ruining the feel and meaning behind the song. Also,
BRICK is a very poetic and profound type of song with a very melodic feel to
it that I hope would attract just as large of a listening as would DUMPED. I
personally think that Brick is one of BFF's greatest pieces, and will be well
accepted by all the people who have heard and loved their other singles
(Kate, One Angry Dwarf, and Battle). Of course, this is just what I
think....
whatever and ever, amen...
BRAD
if my mind's somewhere else, you won't be able to tell...
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 21:54:45 -0500
From: john_oc@juno.com
Subject: Belle and Sebastian...Ben Folds Five
Thanks for all of the replies I got about Belle and Sebastian
information. I really appreciate it. Also I am glad that someone took
my advice and got the album...buy it fast, it is on Enclave, so no more
are being shipped because Enclave folded. Also, if you were planning on
picking up September 67 and Sloan get those as well, also on Enclave.
The only Enclave product still available, are those currently at
distributors and in stores.
I saw Sloan last night...they were great!!! Talk about brilliant
pop-sensability and nice guys. I recommend Sloan to any fan of Teenage
Fanclub, old Blur, Matthew Sweet. I recommend him if you like Ben Folds
to most people, but since we all like Ben...
Frank - I was wondering...do you have confirmations on this possible
B-Sides/Rarities compilation. Not that I disregard comments made on the
'chair, but I don't believe I have seen a confirmation.
In the 7-Disc Changer...
Medeski, Martin, Wood - Shack-man
Morphine - Yes
Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone
Material Issue - Telecommando Americano
Sebedoh - 4 Song CD(actually 10!)
Touch motion picture soundtrack(scored by David Grohl)
Spacemen 3 - Playing with Fire.
Next...Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go, Big Star - Live
Info on Spacemen 3? Info on Belle and Sebastian? Email me!!!!!!
John Boyer
WOBN-FM 101.5 the ROCK Columbus, Ohio
Asst. Music Director, Triple A Dir. and Research Dir.
Email: John_OC@juno.com Phone: (614) 823-2969
"Call it what you want, you'll never fool anyone with what you've got."
- --Luxury
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 22:13:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: Curt587621@aol.com
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #470
to the person asking about good places on the net to buy cd's try cd
connection..it's www.cdconnection.com...i've bought imports there by pearl
jam that are out of print that i could not find anywhere...the service is
great and the prices are, too...they have most of the bff
singles/imports...one of few on the web...anyways...about the adam
duritz/counting crows/bff line...it's on the song monkey on recovering the
satellites...i heard this a while ago but about 4 months ago in rolling this
line was even mentioned when a blur waswritten about a bff/ counting crows
song...i read somewhere that someone interpreted this as adam duritz saying
that bff would be one of the bands of the future....whatever (and ever, amen)
curt
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 22:45:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alice Hartzog <hartzoga@edisto.cofc.edu>
Subject: "brick"'s meaning
You know, you can argue the AIDS issue until you're blue in the face. I
stick faithfully by the abortion theory.
What really gets me is the "as weeks went by, it showed that she was not
fine..." SO true in the case of an abortion. If you have any sort of
feeling at all, an abortion is probably the most excruitatingly painful
(emotionally; not necessarily physically) thing that a woman can ever go
through. It doesn't go away in a couple of days; it could take
anywhere from weeks to years for the emotional wound to stop smarting.
And as far as the lyrics go, it sounds as if the two people in
the story are in this together, that they're keeping this secret together.
It's their secret, whereas in the case of AIDS, that is not necessarily
so. You may not be alone, but it's YOUR issue. You aren't sharing the
experience with someone as much as you would be in the case of an
abortion. Additionally, some people have argued "Well, most abortion
clinics aren't open on the day after Christmas" which is NOT true. My
roommate's mother used to work at a clinic that performed abortions, and
it was necessary, during the holiday season, to only take one day for
Christmas because they were so booked up and behind schedule (granted,
this is South Carolina...we're a bit more barbaric down here).
No, I'm not in law school. :) But I'm an English major...I know how to
argue!
Alice
_________________________________________________________________________
"Life's a happy enchilada, and then you drown."
hartzoga@edisto.cofc.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 00:09:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: Shan111111@aol.com
Subject: Pop Culture Press
Hello....
I don't know if it has been mentioned (I haven't been keeping up with my
armchairs), but there is an interview with BF5 in Pop Culture Press. I think
this magazine is here in Austin, TX, so I am not sure if it's widely
available. If you want to check it out, their web site & email:
http://m2.monsterbit.com/pcp/ pcp@monsterbit.com
shanna
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 04:01:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alanica@aol.com
Subject: brick- and not a meaning analizes
Hello all there out there.........
I've read a lot of intervies were Ben is asked about the meaning of brick,
and he always answers that it's personal to him ( well, in so many words or
less). Alos, in this one interview I read he said, that it was like sitting
down a unch of 5 year olds and telling them to be quiet after you have
permitted them to run around crazy. After I read that I kinda go this feeling
that I shoudln't be listening to this song, because I felt like I was reading
someone's diary and had just stumbled upon some deep secret. It just didn't
seem like I should be able to hear the story, or so to say. But, then I go
tto thinking, that all these songs are stories, and that if they didn't want
us, the listeners, to know then it wouldn't have been recorded on the record.
SO, now "Brick" plays on in the CD player, and I don't feel guilty. But,
did anyone else feel like this?????? i guess songs just get me thinking too
much sometimes..
Take care!
Becca
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 02:00:38 PDT
From: "Petra Starke" <naturalselection@hotmail.com>
Subject: Beck, Beasties and whatever (and ever amen..)
Whoever said Beck is god - you are so right!!!! You have got to love the
Beck, what a complete and total legend...a monohybrid insect robot if
ever I saw one...
Ok, so I got it wrong again, I mistook Adam Duritz for Adam HOROWITZ
(not Yauch) of the Beasties. There you go, there's the whole story for
ya. Can you see how the names are a little similar? I'm not totally
clueless...
Cheers, Petra
PS: Looks like I'm gonna have to get WEAEA pretty damn soon...all you
guys talking 'bout brick and dumped - it's a mind-field out there, man,
and I need intelligence fast... ;)
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 05:53:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: MissDa@aol.com
Subject: musicality and the masses
In a message dated 9/12/97 8:38:57 AM, you wrote:
okay, i don't post much, but i had to chime in here. i'm sorry it's kind of
off-topic...
>However, let's keep in
>mind that musicality has absolutely nothing to do w/the choice of a
>single.
true, true, very true.
>Otherwise, Sugar Ray + Hanson would never have been allowed to
>assault us w/their meaningless drivel!
here's my problem. i know hanson's not particularly popular around these
parts, but i have to say, their stuff is more than "meaningless drivel."
okay, so you don't like it, but they're talented songwriters and singers,
regardless. i'm not really interested in getting into a fight over this, so
don't bother, but i wanted to point out that there's a lot of meaningless
drivel out there, and hanson's not exactly in that category (i'm thinking
more along the lines of the spice girls, who i happen to like but recognize
as talentless, or this dumb song called "barbie girl" that i won't even start
in on).
again, sorry for the off-topic-ness of this post, i just had to respond...
amanda
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 08:50:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: commander space dog <rvw@email.unc.edu>
Subject: BFF sightings
Well, here's my Chapel Hill update:
- --Robert was spotted at Elmo's Diner in Carrboro. My pals Em and Fuzz
approached him because Fuzz doesn't know him from Sam Hill. They said he
was super-nice and promised a show at the Cradle sometime in Oct.-Nov.
- --I saw Robert hanging out at the GLADHANDS show on Aug. 28. There was
talk that he might join them on the stage for a rousing, five-part harmony
on "La Di Da" but it didn't happen. Show highlights: Doug's awesome
vocals on "House of Mirrors" and a superb new cover song-- "Magic".
Robert bolted before we could go bug him... I'm guessing he slipped out
around the last song (I hate bugging people while they're trying to enjoy
the show).
- --Rumor about town has it that Ben took off to Indiana with Caleb in tow
for some solo recording. I don't quite get why, because as I hear it, his
kitchen is no longer servicable due to the mass of recording equipment.
But then, I've never seen it.
Apparently the Armchair is the BEST source for BFF info-- someone told me
that there was a post about Robert buying a new bass on here a while ago
that was sent the day after he bought the bass-- and that post detailed
plans to play on the Gladhands record before the Gladhands knew he was in
for sure!
That's all I know.
commander space dog
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 10:36:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Brad654@aol.com
Subject: Re: Oh Petra
In a message dated 97-09-11 15:43:53 EDT, you write:
<< Adam Duritz is
none other than the lead singer of Counting Crows, the guy who slept with
a third of the cast of "Friends", the person responsible for the
Wallflowers first single, and most importantly, one of the greatest
songwriters of our generation >>
But still a wanker.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 07:36:30 -0700
From: "Kamp, Marcus S" <Marcus.Kamp@PSS.Boeing.com>
Subject: Beck's Bass Behest
Robert now uses a new Epiphone Les Paul (I think) bass. When I saw him
in '96 he was using either a Fender P or a Ernie Ball Musicman. (I
could be wrong-I'm a drummer so I usually only see the back of the
headstock!:-))
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 10:49:49 -0400
From: vanvalnc@is2.nyu.edu (Chris Van Valen)
Subject: A record store find...
Hi all
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this but I bought this CD yesterday:
Ben Folds Five
"Mix Tape's A Masterpiece"
A Sampler of Songs From...
"Whatever and Ever Amen"
The six songs are
1. Brick
2. Kate
3. Smoke
4. Fair
5. Evaporated
6. Steven's Last Night in Town
Obviously a radio promo piece. No booklet. Just a sheet with a few review
quotes and the HORDE dates. Front cover has a picture of a cassette and the
back is just a pile of tape.
CV
If you have an unpleasant nature and dislike people
this is no obstacle to work. -- J.G. Bennett
Catch "Forever Knight" on the Sci-Fi Channel every
Mon-Thurs at 9PM and 1AM EDT. -- Lucien LaCroix
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 07:55:04 PDT
From: "onion sprout" <onionsprout@hotmail.com>
Subject: [none]
Hi to all of you. I just have a statement to, well, state. Personally,
I would rather not have BF5 release ANY other singles because then they
will become too mainstream and all of the popular chicks at my school
will be saying "I LOVE BF5" and then I will have to kill them. BF5 is a
very great band and I would like for them to stay that way. (Not saying
that they wouldn't, it just seems that all of the bands they play all
the time on the stations tend to suck after the first release.) Well,
now that I have said that, I now say ta-ta
kim
"What was I thinking? What can I think of next? Where can I hide?"
- --Ani Difranco
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 11:47:25 EDT
From: sandishortcake@juno.com
Subject: Atlanta show and Brick video
Pat posted a note about an Atlanta show...that is true...their US tour
(the "Brick" tour) kicks off in Atlanta on Oct. 16th.
Also, a correction on the filming of the video as of yesterday...they're
going to be filming in L.A. instead of New York...
- -San
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 14:29:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: BSCHACK@aol.com
Subject: Brick / Dumped
<< James...HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY THINK THAT SONG FOR THE DUMPED IS BETTER
THAN BRICK!?! I truly do not understand this. Now pardon my fit, I do
agree that new listeners might take to Dumped before Brick >>
Sorry to speak for you James, but I can't stand it when someone half reads a
post and then responds condescendingly m(sp?). That's all he said, was that
people would take quicker to Dumped - he never said it was a better song. SO
STOP SHOUTING AND READ MORE CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU JUMP DOWN PEOPLE's THROATS.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 12:14:36 -0700 (MST)
From: Stacy L Flatt <stacyf@U.Arizona.EDU>
Subject: Joe Jackson influence
Hello!
I heard a lot of you talkig about Joe Jackson influence. Well, today I
finally heard a Joe Jackson song, and I really loved it! And I see what
you mean about the styles being similar. I think I really like that kind
of music! That style.
Stacy
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #475
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