THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #547 - October 20, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest    Monday, October 20 1997    Volume 01 : Number 547



                          THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
                    The Ben Folds Five Mailing List

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PERSONAL ATTACKS
   This is another reminder: Please keep the personal attacks off the
Armchair. If you want to call someone a moron, either call the Don Imus
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not to post personal attacks - that's my job. Keep non-BFF material to
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    subscribe 
    tdt
    which one wins?
    magical armchair digest 
    Atlanta Show
    Phone in Steven's
    Bass tabs 
    Re:Atlanta Show 10/16 
    Lawrence Armchair meeting? 
    Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #543 
    lounge-a-palooza
    loungers
    the ages 
    weird sounds explained 
    Ring.
    Which one is better?
    Brick 
    BUZZKILL 
    best imitation of myself
    Theme From Dr. Pyser
    [none]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 20:18:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: TrainJam@aol.com
Subject: subscribe 

subscribe

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 20:26:42 -0700
From: gabsey@juno.com (Gaby M FOUNDOUKIS) 
Subject: tdt

armchair@ford.il.fontys.nl
I HAVE NEW SOCKS ON!!! WOW!

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 19:33:16 PDT 
From: "ballet grrl" 
Subject: which one wins?

  hey all!! brad, what is up, buddy?? sounds like you were a little 
paranoid there!! although i can see your concern. there are some 
cheeseheads that will flame ya for voicing your opinions. here is my 
secret: never let 'em see you sweat. as soon as you display your 
weaknesses, you are toast. so, chill, brad...we're on your side.
  also, i kind of agree with him. i, too, like the first album better, 
and (although i hadn't thought of it before i read his post) mainly for 
the same reasons. to tell you the truth, when i first got bff (after i 
got waea), i didn't really like it. and now i love them both. the reason 
that i like the first one better is because more of my favorite songs 
are on it.
  that's about all i have to say for now...hey, is anyone going to the 
sf show at the fillmore?

          sara aka grrl

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------------------------------

Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 22:44:46, -0500
From: MYUR48B@prodigy.com (MR MIKE C SANTORO)
Subject: magical armchair digest 

 hi there. i'd appreciate being added to the magical
armchair digest list. i'm a big fan of the 5, and i heard
that this is a good newsletter. thanks alot.


                                            mike 

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 00:31:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Robert Stevie Berryman Jr." 
Subject: Atlanta Show

I was at the Atlanta show, and I too was disappointed that they didn't
play a cover song or something like an "Ultimate Sacrafice".  I think Ben
may have felt bad or been sick because he didn't really seem to be into it
and he had some trouble staying on key or hitting the higher notes, which
he usually never has a problem with.  I also thought he may have been sick
because he wasn't so theatrically sarcastic, like he usually is.  This so
wan't as kickass as the Midtown show, but it was still pretty good.

stevie

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 01:13:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: Rebecca.Cole@mail.cc.trincoll.edu
Subject: Phone in Steven's

Ok, somebody posted, long long ago, that he had spoken with Caleb 
Southern, the album's producer, about the phone ringing in Steven's Last 
Night in Town. It is, indeed, the phone. They had forgotten to turn off 
the ringer, and immediately after it rings, you can hear Robert laugh. 
This is straight from Caleb's mouth, kids. Pretty cool, huh?

And for the girl who can sing like a bird when she hears Ben Folds 
Five...I'm a voice major, and I'm in my best voice when I'm singing 
along with the boys. It works across the board, as far as I'm concerned. 
I love a man with a strong falsetto...

Oh, and on the topic of which album is better, give it up. Everyone 
thinks something different. They're both incredible, we all love both of 
them. If we didn't, we wouldn't be on this mailing list, right? 

remember how we used to talk about bustin' out, we'd break their hearts,
Rebby

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 01:50:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: KNULPREK@aol.com
Subject: Bass tabs 

Well, i've never seen any BFF tabs, but i do know how to play the last polka.
If anyone wants the tabs, e-mail me privatly and i'll send it to ya. I've
never typed it up, but it's probably real long so i don't wanna take up
digest space.

       -jason-

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 02:10:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: Shu2Stef@aol.com
Subject: Re:Atlanta Show 10/16 

Hi all,

Well, I'm a bit disappointed that only one person has written in about the
Atlanta gig.  For the record,  the guys were superb.  A bit of sound trouble
(wouldn't want to be the soundman, the way Ben looked at him!), but they had
SO much energy.  I've now seen them three times in the past year and a half
(don't have the time or money to road trip like I used to) and, in the middle
of "Jackson Cannery" I got goosebumps thinking, to myself, "Damn!  They're
just soooo fucking good!"  It re-reminded me of why I love this band.

For those of you who still write in about wearing nametags..........don't
worry so much about seeing "Armchairites" and becoming friends.  (Hey!  Nick!
 I met you at Music Midtown and was standing behind you and your g'friend at
the Roxy.  You never said a word although you looked at me several times.)
 Odds are they won't remember you anyway...........Just go and have a
blast!!!!

I may be leaving the Armchair soon.  For, in the words of Kurt Loder (God!!
 I can't believe that I'm quoting him!), "All things cool must one day be
lame."  Alas, the Armchair ain't what it use to be.  Thanks for the good
times.  Take care of each other.  

Love and hugs to all (especially my Aussie friends),
Stefanie Schumacher

"......well I hate that it's come to this, but baby I was doin' fine how do
you think that I survived the other twenty five before you?"

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 01:29:54 -0800
From: justin@gcnet.com (Justin)
Subject: Lawrence Armchair meeting? 

Greetings, it's Justin once again. As the Nov. 19th date draws closer I
find myself wondering if there will be some sort of gathering of Armchair
members somewhere in Lawrence? It would be nice to put some faces to names.
Well lemme know if there's anything organized or being organized. Thanks
and take care!


Justin =) Parlette
GCHS Debater and Keeper of the Cheese.
Quote O' The Year:
          "I see that there is evil
        And I know that there is good
    And the in-betweens I never understood
        Would you look at me I'm crazy
            But I get the job done
      I'm crazy but I get the job done"
      ---Ben Folds Five "Philosophy"---

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 12:15:30 -0500
From: "James A. Rota II" 
Subject: Re: Magical Armchair Digest V1 #543 

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subscribeunsubscribeunsubscribeunsubscribeunsubscribeunsubscribeunsubscribeunsub
scribeunsubscribeunsubscribeunsubscribe...

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 11:04:27 PDT 
From: "ballet grrl" 
Subject: lounge-a-palooza

  hey there, all! i just bought the cd (you know which one), and i 
really like it. to tell you the truth, i wasn't even going to buy it...i 
wanted to get the barenaked ladies cd. but there was a 4:1 vote in favor 
of lounge..., so i decided that the majority won on this occasion. 
anyways, the point of this is that it is a really good cd. of course, i 
like the bff song best, but the other songs are quite good, as well. i 
really like the fun lovin' criminals song. so yes, there is more to the 
cd than the boys!!

      keep it clean
        sara  aka   grrl

______________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 11:18:09 PDT 
From: "ballet grrl" 
Subject: loungers

helllllooooo, la la la ( a seinfeld reference). 

     so, i was wondering, how were you able to find out that they each 
sing a verse? i mean, if you listen to it very closely, you can 
tell...but this was only after i read that they each sung a verse. so 
i'm guessing that you are a music person or something. good ears!! 

     also, i was wondering how it is possible to think that "biom" is a 
HAPPY, UPBEAT song?? it is a slow song. also, didn't you detect a note 
of sadness/bitterness? i know, i know, i think that nearly all of their 
songs are bitter, but this one really is!! :) imho, i think that this 
song (while one of my all time fave's), is a little bit of an odd 
selection for happy and upbeat.

    so, when do we get to see the rest of that transcript?? i think that 
you are a big meanie as well!! oops, i think that this has turned into a 
personal attack, seeing as two people have said something!! :) well, i 
will forgive you as soon as you post the transcript!!

           later alligators,
                sara  aka  grrl

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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 14:20:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: GrnEgNham@aol.com
Subject: the ages 

<< Does anyone know how old the boys are??? >>


I interviewed Darren last week and this is what he told me.

  Darren is 26 (and a male, he added)
  Ben is 31
  Robert is 29

Hope that helps!

Em :-)

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 14:25:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: GrnEgNham@aol.com
Subject: weird sounds explained 

To all who are wondering about the cricket, phone, etc. in WEAEA

   They started out as being accidental, but ended up being intentional.  The
album was recorded Chez Ben's so they didn't really have much control over
sound-proofing, etc.  Darren says they decided to leave it in because it
would definitely make them stand out.  Most other bands would perfect
everything.  

   Oh, I found out who says that stuff about Ben on the "bonus track."  It's
their sound engineer and no, he does not feel that way. :)

Emily 8-)
  P.S.  I'm the one who interviewed Darren over the phone about a week ago.
 This all comes from him!  I will be typing up my story and I will post it
for everyone.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 14:40:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: marc s kaplan 
Subject: Ring.

You wrote:
- ->Since it was recorded in Ben's
- ->house, I imagine at times he did get phone calls (all the times I've
- ->been recording and the f@!#ing phone rang!), and they just left it in.
- ->Possibly?

That is a possibility, but then why does the phone ring only once?  Mabye
sombody answered it?  I dunno, but its true that it kinda gives you that
"produced at home feel" we all love about the first album.

				-/\/\arc

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 08:38:22 +1300
From: kevin bennetts 
Subject: Which one is better?

Hi,
I don't know if people are tired of hearing about which album is better,
 but I thought I'd put in my own 10 cents (or maybe 20, what with the 
exchange rate and everything:). In order to work out which album was 
better, I started off by trying to compare individual songs, but in the
end I had to give up, because there are so many great songs on both
albums
instead I think the best way to compare the two albums is the way that
the songs fit together to make a whole, and from that stand point I
would say that 'self titled' has a more consistent feeling to it,
it seems to me that from one song to the next you can feel similar
emotions comeing through, but in WAEA it feels more like 'a kite that's
flying high and random dangling on a string'.
But, I will say that WAEA is not a step back for BFF, because I think
the 
lyrics have improved considerably between the two albums,  
some of those songs could stand up pretty well as poems, especially
'Smoke' and 'Evaporated' there aren't many songs with such a great motif
as 'Smoke' it gets me every time, I have high hopes for a third album.

Ok I'll stop now
- -Brendon

"Try not to think about it Alice Childress, try not to think about it
 anymore"

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 15:44:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Znice@aol.com
Subject: Brick 

hello armchair!
   as for the Kate airplay thing, i've heard twice already this week on 95.5
WBRU in Prov.   they are touting is as a WBRU exclusive!  too bad i have the
HORDE version on right now.  i think it's great how when you listen to a band
constantly, you forget and don't even care what the singles are!  thanks to
all for the responses about the band's ages (even though everyone had a
different response!)
    to the album thingy,  i will have to go with the first,   probably
because, as someone said (i forget who, sorry)  the first one blew all our
minds and made us instant fans.  WEAEA is great also, don't get me wrong, but
it's a bit polished for the boys.  the first one sounds like a live show
(when they're the best), whereas the second sounds too refined.  i don't
know!  i love them both, but if i were on a deserted island...you know the
rest..   later on eric

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 15:52:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: Znice@aol.com
Subject: BUZZKILL 

y'all ready for a buzzkill??
   i was at work in Providence on thurday when I got an alphapage saying
"Eric, you'll never guess who's playing at lupo's on the 7th".  i nearly
drove off the road, because i knew that BFF would be in NY(3hrs away) on the
6th, and as far as i knew didn't have a show on the 7th, plus they had played
lupo's before.  I was so sure of myself that i turned down the radio, just so
i could sing a little (philosophy I think).  I arrived back at the office,
looked at my co-workers and said "So young ben is coming round with his
travelling piano, huh?"  The response I got was "No Eric, even better...Green
Day!"  Well at least i've got tickets to Boston on the 4th......thanks for
listening  eric

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 15:55:26 EDT 
From: "Carleton Hsing" 
Subject: best imitation of myself

     Hi everyone, I hope y'all are doing well.  I'm new to this list, so 
I'm just going to quickly introduce myself. :-)
     Well, my name is Carleton, and I'm a sixteen year old guy in 
Connecticut, a boring state I know.  I'm a pretty big BFF fan, I 
remember buying their first album as soon as it came out...but I didn't 
get into this internet thing or this tapetrading thing until recently so 
I don't have any boots or anything.  If anyone is willing to spin some 
stuff for me I'd be sppreciative, I'd provide the blanks and postage. 
:-) I do have some tapes of my own, but they're all DMB and Counting 
Crows stuff.  Ask me if you're interested in any.
     I'm really into a lot of music...everything.  Besides BFF I'm also 
into DMB, BHTM, Beck, The Samples, Better Than Ezra, Counting Crows, 
Blues Traveler, and a lot of other good stuff. :-) 
     Anyway, I guess that's all for now...take care everyone, and talk 
to you later. :-)

____________________________________________________________
This message has been mindlessly delivered by Carleton Hsing
a.k.a. enlitened on WBS and IRC
ICQ#1978769
notelrac@hotmail.com  or  notelrac@erols.com
"Those who say do not know; those who do not say know."
____________________________________________________________


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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 16:38:04 -0500 
From: livid@cowland.com
Subject: Theme From Dr. Pyser

       I've searched the Web far and wide, and I can't find any .wav
files of this song...I just need a small one, and I was wondering if
anybody has a small .wav file of this song...not the whole thign, like
maybe 10-20 seconds of it...I'd make one myself but my computer is from
the Stone age and I can barely play .wav files, let alone record
them...:>  if anybody can help me out i'd greatly appreciate it.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 18:46:43 -0400
From: "Bart Smith" 
Subject: [none]

auth 99a870a1 subscribe armchair Bart_Smith@bigfoot.com

------------------------------

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #547
**************************************


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