THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #743 - January 11, 1998
Magical Armchair Digest Sunday, January 11 1998 Volume 01 : Number 743
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Prov or Bos shows?
Dave Matthews?!?!?!?!
Space cowboy?
Steve Miller...
dallas show & entertainment weekly review
hi everyone
Naked Baby Photos
She Don't Use Jelly
The Good, The Bad, & The Overpriced
The "Space Cowboy" thing / Jump Little Children
Transcriptions of BF5 music
All Hail Discordia
helloooooooo out there
...lots of things
ordering tshirts and crappy Boston Phoenix review of NBP
modern rock?
SNL
Video Killed the Radio Star
Another review...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 21:35:43 -0500
From: David Della Bitta <ddel4695@uriacc.uri.edu>
Subject: Prov or Bos shows?
Hello Armchairers!
I was wondering if anyone heard of a BFF concert in either Boston or
Providence this February. Usually when they are in New York, the also have
shows in Rhode Island (where I'm from) and Mass... anyone hear anything?
Thanks,
David Della Bitta
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 18:42:09 -0800 (PST)
From: Austin Powers <wallmr@whitman.edu>
Subject: Dave Matthews?!?!?!?!
> Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 15:29:30 EST
> From: MasterAEPi <MasterAEPi@aol.com>
> Subject: .
>
> Today is January 9, 1998, and its Dave Matthews Birthday!!!
> Congrats!!!!
> Happy New Year, and best wishes!!!!!
Just wanted to say that I sure hope you pressed the wrong button and sent
it to the BFF list by mistake... Dave Matthews? Bleh... "Hi! I they to
sing like Sting, but can't quite make it..."
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 22:10:34 -0500 (EST)
From: marc s kaplan <mkap@wam.umd.edu>
Subject: Space cowboy?
I think you are talking about the Joker by steve miller
E.G:
Some people call me the space cowboy
Some call me the gangster of love
Some people call me maurice
ETC.
Is this what you are talking about?
Do you really think it sounds like kate?
What part?
-/\/\arc
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 22:16:30 -0500 (EST)
From: marc s kaplan <mkap@wam.umd.edu>
Subject: Steve Miller...
My mistake...I just got the cd w/ space cowboy on it...
I can hear what you mean in you comparison w/ kate
"
-/\/\arc
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 22:51:31 EST
From: Sweety Won <SweetyWon@aol.com>
Subject: dallas show & entertainment weekly review
Okay, to answer Katie's question, they were still playing Deep Ellum Live
when I called last weekend. But that's as recent as I know. Things may have
changed. Let's hope not!!! Contact me & we'll figure it out. (
SweetyWon@aol.com)
In Entertainment Weekly they put a horrible review of BFF. I am upset at
that.
Chow,
Deidre
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 20:51:12 -0700
From: King Gordon <kingordo@primenet.com>
Subject: hi everyone
Hi everyone,
How are you all? This is my first post to the list, and I wanted to say
hello. I bought the first BFF cd today, and it's great. I bought WAEA
back in July. Anyway, I live in Phoenix, and the guys are coming to town
next month, and I was wondering if anyone is planning on taping the
show? and if anyone has some tapes they'd like to trade?
Thanks,
Ryan
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 01:51:04 EST
From: PookieB453 <PookieB453@aol.com>
Subject: Naked Baby Photos
Hello again =) I just needed to sortof brag to someone, and I figured some
of you might actually be interested, so here goes: Guess who got lucky enough
to get a copy of NBP today? I was in the local music store, and the shipment
came in with 4 copies of NBP by accident..I was talking to the clerk, and he
sold me one! My personal thoughts are that 'tom and mary' is perhaps one of
the best BF5 songs out there. The 7" version of 'jackson cannery' is great,
and 'eddie walker' is another one. 'emaline' seems sortof weird though
because there's a guitar in it...<?> If anyone knows who played guitar on
that track, could ya please let me know? thanks =)
Anyways, I thought I'd share that it's a must have for the true BF5 fan,
hopefully I can start working on transcriptions for it soon...school's taking
up most of my time (grrr, its those blasted midterms- I just can't wait to
take my french 3 test...)
au revoir~ jason
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 23:43:41 -0800
From: Annamarie Ho <atho@ucsd.edu>
Subject: She Don't Use Jelly
I just joined (didn't have e-mail before) and I wanted to introduce myself.
I'm a high school senior from San Diego, CA. I first came across the band
when a friend took me to a Counting Crows concert in April 97 and BFF
opened. So far, I've seen them twice live and have met the band once.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that a local radio station played "She Don't
Use Jelly" from Lounge-a-Palooza last night. This is pretty surprising as
"Brick" doesn't seem to be as popular in San Diego as elsewhere in the
country.
Annamarie
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 02:49:36 -0500
From: Richard Challen <rchallen@clemson.campus.mci.net>
Subject: The Good, The Bad, & The Overpriced
The Good:
Although Naked Babies & Their Photos "technically" comes out this
Tuesday, you might want to check your local record store this weekend
anyway. Because Caroline is a small indie label, and as such they don't
really care about street date. Or, to put it another way, you could buy
the album at our record store here in town as of 1 PM Friday. With
Caroline's blessing.
The Bad:
I suspect there's another bad trader in our midst, but I don't want to
blow the whistle just yet. You see, I mailed a tape to him a month
ago... and have yet to see anything from him in response, save a curt
e-mail saying "I haven't got your tape yet." Which MAY be true, except
that he's posted his collection for trade since, and it includes a tape
that sounds remarkably similar (i.e. identical) to the one I sent him.
Of course, he denies it.
Since there IS a chance (however miniscule) that my tape got lost in
the mail and never reached him (meaning this thing is a big ugly mixup),
I'm not going to slam his rep without further confirmation. But if
anyone's gotten burned recently by a male member of this list, email me
privately. Once I get proof the whistle WILL be blown.
The Overpriced:
The Ben Folds "S/T" import for $35 is a Japanese version of the 1st
album... The two bonus tracks are "Tom & Mary" and "Emaline," both live.
These tracks also appeared as B-sides of the "Wheres Summer B" and
"Uncle Walter" singles, so if you have either of those singles there's
no point getting this thing. If you want to hear those 2 songs (and you
should, because "Emaline" especially is one of BF5's best), buy Naked
Baby Photos... It has the previously unreleased studio versions of each.
If you STILL want live versions as well... and you can't find either of
those import singles 'cuz they're out of print... then go ahead and plop
down your 35 bucks. But don't say you weren't warned.
Keeping the universe safe for democracy,
rICH
Visit The RICH Homepage and check out the brand-new CD,
LIFE/DEATH... 15 songs of romance and retribution...
Available independently from Desperate Man Records.
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/9035
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 03:19:24 -0500 (EST)
From: afn61842@afn.org
Subject: The "Space Cowboy" thing / Jump Little Children
Hi all,
There's been talk that Ben, subconsciously, lifted notes from that
song, but as a musician I just think that that's probably not the case. To
use those notes in a bassline (even in that order) is totally natural and
I'm sure it has and will be done a million times whether the musicians have
heard it before or not. It's sort of like why you can't copyright a chord
progression... The melody and lyrics make the song.
- ----------
On another note, probably a large number of fivers (esp those into
Dave Matthews or maybe Soul Coughing) should attempt to see Jump Little
Children if they come to town. They played tonight in Gainesville and
they're quite the eclectic songwriters and very talented musicians. Drums,
string bass, cello, acoust gtr, and harmonica was the average arrangement.
They were a bit much for my indiepop tastes, but it was fun to see so much
talent on stage for $5...
Steve
_____________Steve Clay -> afn61842@afn.org_____________
Handclaps & Fingersnaps__Gainesville,FL__Zimmy's Thermos
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 98 03:17:09 -0600
From: Michael Bluejay <bluejay@pobox.com>
Subject: Transcriptions of BF5 music
People keep asking about transcriptions for BF5 music. As they say,
"Read the FAQ!" Actually, I'm not sure the transcription stuff is in the
FAQ (if not, Mark, could you add it?), but there are definitely links to
transcriptions on the original BF5 page (http://oeonline.com/bff) Also,
I wrote out the basics to BoWCCL and Brick, which appear on my page.
(And no, I haven't written anything else out. If I had, I would have
posted it.)
- -- Michael Bluejay (Austin, TX)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://pobox.com/bluejay | Home of AUSTIN MUSIC, KING CHEESE,
| BIKING IN AUSTIN, VEGETARIAN pages, & more
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 07:51:11 EST
From: Pazuzu 23 <Pazuzu23@aol.com>
Subject: All Hail Discordia
Hehehahahoho!
I am mighty pleased to see another child of discord lurkin' about here.
Plant you seeds!
<BFF content>
Oh, yesh, I have turned alot o' my industrial/punk mates on to BFF.
Me friend is pissed, 'cos she still hates 'em and doesn't understand how they
can possibly like Ben & co. that much. Thinks all this very Twilight Zone-
like, she does.
Er well, anyhow.
</BFF>
Cabbage!
- -scott
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 10:30:32 EST
From: KAT6 KAT6 <KAT6KAT6@aol.com>
Subject: helloooooooo out there
hi,
another first time poster here. i started listening to the band in early '
97 and the cd's haven't stopped spinning since. the first show i went to was
at saratoga winners in cohoes, ny in may. my friends and i had the honor of
hanging out with the guys backstage, eating bananas and giving them silly
little presents we had brought them (that's what got us back there in the
first place). it was a great experience and i left with a great memory, a
tummy full o' banana, a better understanding of the band and a nifty pig
keychain that ben gave me. i saw them at horde at saratoga and got to say hi
again and ben actually remembered me. how great is that?? i also saw them at
cornell in november. (robert sledge's sex jam kicked ass, i love it when ben
says b'yotch).
so that's my little story. had a few questions though. i don't have
any bff boots and would love to get my hands on some but i have nothing to
trade. anyone that can help please let me know. i'll be eternally grateful.
thanks and
bye,
kate
ps: i have the self titled japanese import
too and the lyrics are messed up in alot of
spots.
** two songs if i was stranded **
the last polka
missing the war
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 12:58:12 -0800
From: Elizabeth Way <away@nf.sympatico.ca>
Subject: ...lots of things
hi armchair people! i know intro posts are dumb, so i'll just say that
this is my first post on here and leave it at that:)
first i was wondering if bf5 ever really tour canada, as in do something
beond the standard toronto and montreal "canadian tour".
secondly, i was wondering if anyone on here writes a zine or is
interested in zines. i write a zine called galore...everything about it
in the signature. well, if anyone on here writes a zine could they
email me please? thanks.
sarah:)
- --
*galore...zine of champions!*
*issue #2 out now*
*$2ppd/trade ($1 in st. john's)*
*dreams, essay by joshua dodge*
*interview with elevator to hell*
*record reviews, zine reviews*
*and lots more*
*email: away@nf.sympatico.ca*
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 98 11:18:27 EST
From: "Emily Durand" <edurand@nunet.neu.edu>
Subject: ordering tshirts and crappy Boston Phoenix review of NBP
Hidey-ho, Armchair. I must hop on to vent the frustration I thought until
very recently was mine uniquely: the tshirt ordering mechanism SUCKS. I have
failed not one but two times to order from the place in Red Bank, oince by
mail and once over the phone. The first time I just never heard from them,
for like MONTHS, and when I called they said they had no record of my order;
the second time I went over the phone, 6 or 7 weeks went by, and after being
rebuffed from the "customer service" number (they claimed backorder) I got
this weird form letter that said I had ordered a "discontinued item." Said
item was the awesome "Cool in School" shirt, which I then hoped to finally
purchase at the Boston show in Nov., but of course they don't have that one
on the road. In sum, ARRRRGGGGHHHH! I know I'm barking up the wrong tree
with this one, but if anyone has an extra or an unwanted "Cool in School" in
L or XL, I will trade you my WAEA "ringer" shirt and/or my undying devotion
or, heck, I don't know, what do you need? Hey, I'm a law student, need some
pro bono advice? I also make a mean marinated mushroom, highly shippable...
Any takers? ;>
In other news, I read a VERY lameass review of the new album in the typically
selfimportant pages of the Boston Phoenix, the local alternapaper. The dude
not only listed and summarily dissed every track, he basically slagged the
*idea* of BF5 as redundant, not as groundbreaking as everyone thinks they
are, or some shit, giving himself big points as an uberposeur by comparing
them to Bennie and the Jets, UGH UGH UGH. His assessment is that the album
is a pointless collection of stupid outtakes, produced merely to beef up the
catalog. OH YEAH?, says I. Little punk. Anyone else in the Big Bean share
my ire?
Waitin' on Tuesday... Emily
"I'm half-drunk on babble you transmit..."
--- soul coughing
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 23:35:33 -0500
From: schander@juno.com (joe s schanderson)
Subject: modern rock?
Just wondering if anyone found out if BF5 is actually playing MODERN ROCK
LIVE sunday?
michigan joe
Songs I could do without: smoke, fair, boxing, video
I know there are people who would list these songs as their favorites.
They're just not mine. Please don't try to convince me why they should
be.....
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 12:12:57 EST
From: Emmaline20 <Emmaline20@aol.com>
Subject: SNL
Well kids..it's that time of year! Actually..today is the day that we've all
been waiting for and lucky ole me has no cable!! That's right, no cable.
Actually, let me rephrase that, I have all the "upper" channels. I just happen
to be missing the one station that actually matters today, that being NBC.
Sure, I could watch all the Bob Villa I wanted to today on The Learning
Channel, but who really wants to watch the shingling of a roof over BFF on
SNL? A hard decision I know. Hopefully by the time the show airs tonight the
problem will have been fixed. If not, I'm trying to get my parents not to pay
the cable bill out of protest, so far, they haven't given in. In any event, I
will be glued to my set tonight if it's on, and I may be so depressed I might
just watch the snow and pretend. For those of y'all that do get to watch it,
enjoy it and think of us who have no cable.
Sarah :)
PS. I got a little mailing today from my local cable company about some Spice
Girls Pay-Per-View special..I was disturbed. I should refuse to pay just based
on that.
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 12:52:10 EST
From: Znice <Znice@aol.com>
Subject: Video Killed the Radio Star
hey!
Wondering if anyone else is upset by the Presidents of the USA's version of
"Video Killed the Radio Star"? I heard it on the radio yesterday and it is
not nearly as good as the live version by Ben Folds Five. Apparently this
release is their last hurrah before they break up next month. I guess it is
just disheartening to know that this probably kills any chance of Ben Folds
releasing this song on an upcoming record. Thank God for bootlegs. Oh yeah,
by the way, Happy new year everyone! young eric
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 17:57:26
From: M******* <m****@g*********>
Subject: Another review...
Hi, *folds five again*
Michael wrote:
Kate was huge in England when i was there (6 on the charts or
>something|) so there were a ton of little 13 year old girls and the
>such.
umm... Well, the highest Kate got in the charts was no. 39... unless i fell
asleep for a week or 2... but never mind!
What is it with British teletext reviewers? They're so crap - example #2:
"Naked baby photos are THE things you don't ever want to see the light of
day - those drunken holiday snaps notwithstanding. Well, Ben has had them
printed on t-shirts.
The threesome [look, they pointed out how many were in the band for once]
are fine as novelty acts go - [?!?!??!??!?] but why put out a half-baked,
before-we-were-famous, garage-produced compilation? This is the sort of
stuff which usually follows a band's demise.
If i wanted pants sound quality on muffed-up takes I'd take a dictaphone to
the amateurs night down the pub - that reminds me of one of those photos."
I don't understand the last sentence, and i'm still gonna buy it! only TWO
days....
:)
In the CD/tape player (i haven't GOT a changer, ok):
Stay (Bernard Butler)
Way beyond Blue (Catatonia)
Spice (Spice girls - the 1st album, for you allegedly 'confused'
Americans!) - no, seriously, it's a friend's... she taped Super Furry
Animals over some of it by 'accident' though - Doh!
oops, rambling, sorry...
@nn@
:::: "Love is blind, as far as the eye can see" :::: - what stoopid lyrics
PS> Leigh, I'm gonna see Spacehog on the 29th!
>
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #743
**************************************
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