THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #729 - December 31, 1997



Magical Armchair Digest  Wednesday, December 31 1997  Volume 01 : Number 729



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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:

    sea world called- theyre missin a whale
    Petra! read this!
    selling out
    Re:An Outrage...
    lil' stuff 
    DUmb Suddenly Susan Chick
    To All The Helpful People, I need HELP!!!
    Re: shameless plug 
    SF Feb Ticket Sales 
    Re: Kathy Griffin must die
    Please stop the insanity
    Sessions at West 54th Rerun
    Naked Baby Photos review
    call to all clutchers!!!
    More on "Brick" 
    Sheet music
    ok, something's up...

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 20:33:16 -0500
From: Vito Biliti <goatman1@geocities.com>
Subject: sea world called- theyre missin a whale

i hope bff gets popular then slowly fades away... like the Flaming Lips.
but then again, no one cares anymore

vito

BBB  EEEE N   N     FFFF  OO  L    DD    SS      FFFF I V     V EEEE
B  B E    NN  N     F    O  O L    D D  S        F    I V     V E
BBB  EEE  N N N     FFF  O  O L    D D   S       FFF  I  V   V  EEE
B  B E    N  NN     F    O  O L    D D    S      F    I   V V   E
BBB  EEEE N   N     F   goATman1@geOCitiES.com   F    I    V    EEEE
- ----- http://www.Geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/7544/bf5.html -----

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 20:59:38 -0500
From: jaedonely@juno.com (A A DONELY) 
Subject: Petra! read this!

Ive seen love and other catastrophes, and I rented it to have a fun mon.
night. My parents barged in, saw the sex n' drugs, and censored me! Right
before that girl finds true love with cute Matt Day! Speaking of
censorship, it sucks.  Why can Bitch be played on the radio but fuck you
cant? I cant handle beeps in BFF songs such as One Angry Dwarf and Song
For The Dumped.
~Elisabeth
To p'o' mis padres, I put on the sicky sweet 7th heaven. I think they
snapped.:)

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 21:42:21 EST
From: Miss Mita <MissMita@aol.com>
Subject: selling out

 I think all of this talk about BFF selling out, is getting a little out of
control!! They are not selling out, just getting their due recognition. 
 (A good example of selling out is the Barenaked Ladies. I loved them a long
time ago, and now that they're popular in the States, they act like big hot
shots. Ok, maybe not all of them but Steven sure does. Now they've gotten too
big for their britches and are on shows (90210) that they made fun of in the
past, and lost all of their integrity.)
 If the depth and seriousness of "Brick" is any indication of where their
talent lies, we (as their fans) have nothing to worry about!!

Caren

PS When in the hell are they going to come to Buffalo?????

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 22:10:31 EST
From: ChrltGirl <ChrltGirl@aol.com>
Subject: Re:An Outrage...

 I'm not going to rant/rave about this...just share...
In the magazine Request (virtually unheard of to the general public--I
stumbled on it while at Media Play), columnist Keith Moerer wrote abou t Fiona
Apple:
"..she plays piano, the downfall of many a teen prodigy. But she can kick Ben
Fold's
indie-geek ass..."
What in the world was this man thinking?!?
Good thing they have an email address for letters to the editor:
LetrToEdit@aol.com
Go for it, Armcharites. 

- -Jessica

"Time flies like arrows. Fruit flies like bananas." --GrouchoMarx

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 22:20:32 -0500 (EST)
From: "Carolyn G." <carolynG@divmkt.tiac.net>
Subject: lil' stuff 

hi my lovely BFF fans,
I heard Philosophy in Abercrombie once too!
and I'm sorry, BEN FOLDS FIVE will never ever ever ever ever ever ever be
sellouts. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!
They're soooooooo awesome!. . . sigh :)

And I can't wait til Les Mis the movie starring CLAIRE DANES!!!!! comes out.
(its like the best story EVER!)

*CAROLYN*

P.S. I got my sister the Hanson video for x-mas and after watching it I
gained soooooo much respect for the three brothers. and then I had a really
weird dream that I was best friends with Isaac and we went shopping (at
Bradlees?!?!?!?)
Then we began discussing the ever popular issue of "Brick" and how special
Ben Folds Five really is. Because BFF RULES

and Ben Folds is a ...

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 23:33:01 -0500 (EST)
From: Patrick J McDonough <mcdonpj@wfu.edu>
Subject: DUmb Suddenly Susan Chick

Someone wrote:
- --------------
This is my first post to the group, and it's too bad it has to be on a
rather non-positive note. Imagine my bewilderment as I turn on MTV and
Suddenly Susan star Kathy Griffin is going on this incoherent diatribe
about one of the few bright notes in music this year. "I don't get this
song. Is he gonna dump her or not?" 
- -----------------------------------------

As long as dumb people rank on any band, it makes it more fun for those
people who actually listen to the lyrics and pay attention...just smile
and laugh, and enjoy the times in which you can appreciate a band like
that neat tree you climbed when you were a kid that noone else knew about.

Can't wait for SNL on Jan 10th...
Anybody else thinking about going to the Bus Stop gig?  I have something
to do earlier that night, but I may go.  Should I wear an armchair nametag
or something?

Patrick from W-S

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

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 22:36:41 +1100
From: "BECK" <beckwk@pnc.com.au>
Subject: To All The Helpful People, I need HELP!!!

G'Day,

I've just acquired a brand new American Express, now 
that I am 18 and have a means of support, anyway, I'm 
itching to purchase some CD's via the net.

Living in Australia the only bands who's CD's ever make it 
this far are those that are famous (by other countries standards)
basically what I AM AFTER IS MUSICAL RECOMMENDATIONS of 
relatively unknown bands that armchair readers may suggest. 
I have heard of the SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS, GLAD-HANDS, 
BUS-STOP/SNUZZ (who kick serious arse by the way!!), but are 
these and other bands out there worth it??

I'd really appreciate help as I am always keen on expanding
my musical horizons! (That's how I discovered the boys!)

Matt

PS If you are gracious enough to consider helping me out,
mail me at home as I don't wish to clog the armchair as I 
have wasted enough space already!!!

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 00:19:20 +0100
From: kareng@ici.net (karen gannon)
Subject: Re: shameless plug 

I just started to wonder what Snuzz's outlook on taping is. If they allow
it, which I'm sure all you local people will know, TAPE THE SHOW!!!. I will
trade 2 shows for one decent copy of some live Snuzz. Especially if they
play Facing Out or Where Ya Takin Me.

>Hello-
>Non-bf5 stuff so I'll make it short.
>For those of you in the area, Snuzz will be playing at the Blind Tiger in
>Greensboro on Fri Jan 2nd and at the Brewery in Raleigh on thurs Jan 15th.
>The band consists of Eddie Walker, Britt "Snuzz" Uzzell, and Chuck Folds.
>Hope you can make it.
>take care
>chuck

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 22:14:46 -0800
From: Angela <adepace@itsa.ucsf.edu>
Subject: SF Feb Ticket Sales 

Does anyone in the SF Bay Area know when tickets for the Feb.7 show are
going on sale?  I've been getting the BigTime Run Around from Bass.  Thanks
for any info you can offer...

- --angela

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 09:47:05 -0500
From: James Campbell <campbell@virl.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Subject: Re: Kathy Griffin must die

> Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 15:55:53 -0800
> From: jycpark@sprynet.com
> Subject: Kathy Griffin must die
> 
> This is my first post to the group, and it's too bad it has to be on a rather
> non-positive note. Imagine my bewilderment as I turn on MTV and Suddenly Susan
> star Kathy Griffin is going on this incoherent diatribe about one of the few
> bright notes in music this year. "I don't get this song. Is he gonna dump her or
> not?" were among her perceptive comments about "Brick". She ended by saying "Go
> play your piano in a puddle, you freak."

Your bewilderment may have only been matched by mine as I
flipped to MTV right as the scene took place.  It may simply be
too easy to rant and rave about what fools she and Carson
are.  More importantly, I think that her comments were
a strong sign that folks don't have a clue what this song is
about.

In fact, didn't the 12 Angry Viewers *also* think that it
was a song about a guy being non-committal to a relationship?
Its isn't too hard to see how that vibe could be taken from
the lyrics.  If you're not paying close attention they
certainly can be ambiguous.

At any rate, perhaps this is the reason the song has kind
of sputtered along the charts lately???

Cheers,

- -- James

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 10:35:07 EST
From: Sweety Won <SweetyWon@aol.com>
Subject: Please stop the insanity

Hello, 

	Is it at all possible to stop talking about the "sellout" topic.  This is
getting very old.  

Deidre

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 12:01:37 -0500 (EST)
From: Frank Maynard <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Subject: Sessions at West 54th Rerun

PBS has posted the schedule for reruns of "Sessions at West 54th" and 
episode #119 (with Ben Folds Five and Beck) is scheduled to run again on 
May 16, 1998 (as always, check your local listings, and wouldn't it be a 
good time to send a check to your public TV station in time for a 
year-end tax deduction?)

Happy New Year, everyone!

 -fjm
                      I see her around every couple days

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 97 12:42:36 -0500
From: Dan Goodspeed <goodsd@rpi.edu>
Subject: Naked Baby Photos review

k, my review of Naked Baby Photos for BUM is now online:

  http://www.rpi.edu/~goodsd/bum/cdreviews/naked.html


and for those of you who have missed the past BF5 articles for BUM,
including WEAEA CD review, interview, and live review, you can
find those here:

  http://www.rpi.edu/~goodsd/bum/articles.html


   until then...

| dan goodspeed   (518) 399-9822    | "I hate the way I strain,
| goodsd@rpi.edu pianoman76@aol.com |  into this perfect day,
|   http://www.rpi.edu/~goodsd      |  I love the way your fingers pop"
| BUM: www.rpi.edu/~goodsd/bum.html |         -JE

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 14:51:57 -0500
From: aplauri@juno.com (Philip J. L.) 
Subject: call to all clutchers!!!

hey all!!!!

ok couple questions on my part here......:

- -->is the clutch show all ages (frank?)
- -->any openers secured? (frank again?)

ok, on to the good stuff, all of us michiganders, or all the armchariates
coming from any other place should meet up somewhere at clutch.  we could
all have a little pre- party and then make sure that we were *ALL* right
up in the front by the stage......  and it would all be fun, cause we
would all kinda know each other.....!!!!  lets set it up!!!!  shoot, ill
set it up!!!  <a href="mailto:aplauri@juno.com">e mail me</a> with any
suggestions  

and, simon from WB, the one that knows blake,  e mail me!!!!
philip

P.S- everyone that went to the supper club show or the redondo beach
show, check out the WAY COOL pics that Sandra took that are on my
page!!!!
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Lounge/4999/bff.html   -- my bff
home w/ my bootlist (45), and much much more!!!  check it out.... 

P.P.S-  i am still looking for ALL AND ANY boots from the current tour,
especially the UK shows and, and all of the boots you may have made or
gotten from the current tour, refer to my list addy above!!

"who's got the looks, who's got the brains. . . who's got everything???" 
- -Ben Folds

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 17:22:36, -0500
From: JLPD@prodigy.com ( SADIE   RUMSEY)
Subject: More on "Brick" 

"If the  general radio public didn't embrace the past 5 singles,
as they very obviously did not, I've got a strong feeling that brick 

is gonna be a bit of a fluke.  The recording industry predicted that
"Brick" was going to be the next "The Freshmen"...
 and I think that's exactly what it'll be."

I kinda agree with most of dan's previous post, but this particular
argument I must disagree on.  Although none of BFF's other singles 
have gained the singular popularity of "Brick," the singles off of 
WAEA have been fairly well received and had gained airplay on
both radio and MTV without that "Brick" push.  BFF, in addition to
having extreme talent, are also simply a very accessible band with
very accessible music.  Even before WAEA, when I would play BFF
for people who normally I absolutely clash with as far as musical 
tastes go, they would love the cd.  I really have never found 
people who just don't like BFF if they hear any amount of their music-

except those who dislike them now because they've only heard 
"Brick" and are sick of it, and I feel sorry for those people.  The 
hit single might remain a fluke of sorts, but I hardly think that
people will lose interest as they did with the Verve Pipe- BFF has
what people want, poppy and catchy tunes-  and for those of us
who listen to the music, they have talent besides.  I think that
"Brick" boosted not only record sales but also found many new
members to the "real" fan base of the band.  I guess only time
will tell, but I'm betting that BFF will be able to survive the 
deadly
curse of a hit single and maintain a reasonable following in the
"general pop radio world," or whatever the hell you wanna call
it.  

- -JLPD/Sadie

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

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 18:01:52 EST
From: Dramatics <Dramatics@aol.com>
Subject: Sheet music

Hello again...
  I know a lot of people have been searching for a copy of the piano/vocal
music to the first album, and the web page is temporarily out of stock.  Well,
I was able to purchase a copy at Sheet-Music.Com, an excellent Net sheet music
provider.  I have ordered music from them before and can attest to their
reliability.  They are carrying the book for $16.95, and shipping and handling
is just over 6 bucks (they send it UPS Groundtrac).  The address is
http://www.sheet-music.com, and the book can be tricky to find.  In the search
mode, I suggest either using "Philosophy" as a song title or "Folds Ben" as
the Pop Artist.  It's very picky about wording, and didn't recognize Ben Folds
Five (or Tori Amos for that matter - whatever).
  I hope this helps and that they have plenty more in stock.  Good luck.

Lee

PS  I am a big fan of Kathy Griffin, so needless to say I was more than a
little miffed by her appearance on MTV Live.  Here I was thinking she really
knew her stuff about music and directors, and she comes out with this little
commentary on "Brick."  I wonder if she bothered to listen beyond the
chorus... Anyway, I stopped watching soon after to make dinner, but correct me
if I'm wrong - did she also slam Tori Amos later in the program?  I really
hope not - I'd hate to have to burn my Kathy Griffin Fan Club membership
card... : )

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

Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 10:57:50 CST 
From: "Petra Starke" <naturalselection@hotmail.com>
Subject: ok, something's up...

Ok, hi. I don't know what's happening with the Armchair, but apparently 
one of my old posts regarding the availability of the 'Louge-a-Palooza' 
cd in Australia seems to have somehow reappeared here. This post is 
about 4 months old, and yes, I do know that the cd has been released 
here for some time, and yes, I do have a copy. :) So thankyou to all the 
people who replied, but the info's unecessary if you know what I mean.

Someone or something is taking a trip down Armchair memory lane...

cheers,

Petra

"Music is crap, aliens told us so" - Custard

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

End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #729
**************************************


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