THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #1494 - April 30, 1999
Magical Armchair Digest Friday, April 30 1999 Volume 01 : Number 1494
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Biography..
Liner Notes
I know this is a little late...
Stuff
Not much Bentent (Fluid Oz)
The American University show
i'm asking again
people who are without tickets
wwooOOOOo hoooOOO
Random thoughts
Ben Folds Five in Australian Press
BFF ad on TV
tuborm/copying/love
Channel V
letterman
TUBORM review
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 20:17:55 -0400
From: "Paul Rodriguez" <mppr@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Biography..
A few notes on TUBORM
Many folks have made comments, mostly pro, about the large number of
ballads. The album is definitely more low key, but I wouldn't characterize
many of these songs as real ballads. Or even slow. But certainly at the
other end of the scale of "Julianne."
BFF had "Alice Childress" and "Boxing." WAEA had "Brick," "Selfless, Cold
and Composed," "Smoke," "Cigarette," and "Evaporated." This development
continues, with TUBORM having only two songs ("Army" and "Your Redneck
Past") in an up tempo mode. I'm happy about this, because I find these
introspective songs more interesting. If BFF was still doing songs like
"Underground" after four years, I'd be disappointed.
Ben's playing gets better with each record. In particular, his playing on
"Hospital Song" and "Lullabye" are outstanding.
There is definitely a mini-opera feel to the album. If it is the biography
of Reinhold Messner, perhaps it's the life of one of those kids in North
Carolina with a fake ID.
Connections include "I've been thinking a lot today" from "Army," then "I
thought about..." from "Regrets" (with similar chords). "Dad said, son,
you're fucking high" followed later by "Your Most Valuable Possession" with
Ben's Dad. Plus, the line "my redneck past" immediately followed by "Your
Redneck Past."
"Narcolepsy" starts the album off, with references to falling asleep and
"dreaming in streams..." "Hospital Song," mid-way through, sets a scene as
though the singer has just awoken. "Lullabye" ends things with "goodnight,
goodnight, let the moonlight take the lid off your dreams..."
Spot the influences? Joe Jackson's "Night and Day," Burt Bacharach (the
fluegelhorn is his trademark), and Pink Floyd.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 22:25:05 -0400
From: "M. Pratt" <mpratt@voicenet.com>
Subject: Liner Notes
Hey Chair People,
I too was wondering about the reference to Geddy Lee on the liner notes, but
what's more puzzling is "people who eat doo doo on film". Not even sure if
I want to hear the explanation on this one.
Does anyone else think that the video with the fake old concert posters is
inspired by the Wallflowers "The Difference" video. They did the same
thing.
And a funny TUBORM story. I'm home for a few days because I've completely
lost my voice and my job is talking on the phone. I sent my husband an
e-mail saying I was going out to buy TUBORM, and he didn't realize what it
was and asked his co-workers if they had ever heard of a cough medicine
called Tuborm.
Maria
Reaching out to you through e-mail because I can't talk.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 23:10:45 EDT
From: Beatles970@aol.com
Subject: I know this is a little late...
Boy oh boy. Long time since I read this thing; even longer since I last
posted. I feel guilty, really, but I can live. Not to say I'm less of a fan
than I was before but time consumption is weighing me down.
Moving on...
I was at the Penn State show last Saturday (April 24). And I'm sure you read
a million and 2 reviews of it already, but my take on it was it was pretty
damn cool. A lot cooler than when I last saw them at Giants Stadium last year
opening for DMB. I was about 100 times closer...I could actually smell them.
I was excited. I was with the same person I was with the last time I saw
them. This was truely a personally gratifing experience. If I lost any love
for the band, this concert only confirmed my love and could very well of
doubled it. (got pics that I might get scanned real soon).
Anyway, I gotta conform to everyone else on this list and comment on the new
album. Michigan Joe pretty much summarized it for me. My opinions match his
for the songs. I love this album. Absolutely LOVE IT! I was disappointed by
Fear of Pop (but loved it because it was Ben) but this thing blows me away. I
was expecting some "kick ass," SFTD-OADish album, but I'm totally digging the
whole mellowness to the entire album. "Army" and "Redneck Past" cover the
kick ass theme...but I love the fact that Ben can make me cry with more than
one song on this album. Seeing that "Evaporated" and "Alice Childress" had
been previous favorites, this album just does it in for me. I'm in love with
this band again! I'm as giddy as a school girl! Oh wait, I am a school girl.
woo. Glad I caught that one early. I think "Mess," "Magic" "Don't Change..."
and "Lullabye" are my faves on TUBORM, but the rest are up there! I don't
really like Hospital Song that much, but it's dealable. Most Valuable can be
skipped over I guess. And I don't dig Regrets that much. But that's ok with
me! :) All is not rotten in the State of Denmark! To be honest, I was nervous
about this new album; perhaps I wouldn't like it that much. And if I didn't,
would I stop loving them? Who cares? I love the album and I'm happy. Can't
you tell? I know that you can! Ok, I must go take my tranquilizer and CALM
DOWN. Just all this talk about Ben Folds Five gets me a wee bit hyper. No one
around here understands...I'm a lone BFFanatic in this sea of fishmongers.
Anyway, whoah, I'm writing too much. Sorry for taking up your time. Really. I
just had to say this stuff because It's Been So Long!
To the cave Batman! (*crawling back under my rock*)
Yours in Ben,
Brooke
"The leaves are falling back East, that's where I'm gonna stay."
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 23:11:27 EDT
From: Eze114@aol.com
Subject: Stuff
What's up with the text files? It's sorta annoying. Day 2 of the new album
and I really really love Magic. -Erin
Only 4 days til my 1st show!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 22:19:04 -0500 (CDT)
From: Meredith <santarel@students.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Not much Bentent (Fluid Oz)
Well, I thought that I'd give everyone a little break from TUBORM reviews
and comment on the Fluid Oz. stuff a couple people have been talking
about. Do you guys know if there are a couple bands with that name?
Because a group called Fluid Oz. opened for a concert I went to, and I
swear, they sounded nothing like BFF. They almost sounded like death
metal or something. Of course, this also could have been me being
impatient because they were holding up the next band, and maybe they were
really good and I just wasn't listening. I just thought I'd ask.
Meredith
P.S. A couple of my friends ended up dancing with the FlOz band members
afterwards, and some of them are hot. :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 03:19:42 GMT
From: "Jason Dennison" <dicfor33@hotmail.com>
Subject: The American University show
First of all, I'd like to report that the 'Spare Reels' video is very VERY much worth the money, but who's surprised about that?
Highlight of the video has to be the version of Don't Change Your Plans... It's an earlier version of the song, Ben doesn't quite have the lyrics down- kinda comical in a bizarre kinda way. I particularly like the drums in the video version, though. The drums have more of a presence in the video version, whereas they're a little hushed on the album. That could be just my warped senses, though =)
The very end of the video made me laugh for about 5 solid minutes- The interviewer asks the 3 guys 'Is there anything money can't buy?'
And there's a moment of silence, when Darren says 'Um, no.' Completely straight-faced. Another moment of silence, and then Robert says 'Umm, no.' And that's the end of the video. Maybe you have to see it to really laugh, or maybe this goes back to my warped senses... <shrug>
While I'm at posting, I want to beg and plead for anyone who possibly has a boot of the American University show (preferrable on cd, of course) I'd be willing to trade anything I've got, or do a 2 for one, etc... Please please please email me dicfor33@hotmail.com
Thanks, and keep on keepin' on, all =)
~Sometimes I get the feeling that I won't be on this planet
for very long
I kinda like it here, I'm quite attached to it
I hope I'm wrong ~
_Ben_Folds_Five_
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 23:23:08 EDT
From: Shnib12@aol.com
Subject: i'm asking again
hey guys i am asking y'all again if any of you have a copy of the Feb 16 1998
Clutch Cargo show, does anyone have and tapes of that at all? grr it
frustrates me
about the new cd i really like it but the songs dont seem as catchy as
before, but i still love them, i had the new cd in school yesterday and this
totally annoying girl who is under the impression shes the cutest thing came
up to me veucase she "loooveeeesssss" them, she proudly told me she had theie
2 cd's, i found it a good time to tell her how not cute she is and to leave
me alone, anyhow if anyone has any tapes of that show email me, i've got lots
of fun things to trade
Love, Sarah
Shnib12@aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 23:39:24 EDT
From: GLYCRNGRL@aol.com
Subject: people who are without tickets
For all of you poor people out there who don't have tickets to shows that are
sold out and have no one to help you, I'm here to help. Just go break out
your phone book, look under tickets, and start calling those places...I'm
pretty sure there's ticket agencies out there all over the country (possibly
internationally as well..) that sell sold out shows and such. I know for
sure that if you don't have any companies like that near you (it may just be
a south jersey tri-state area thing, like tasteycakes and boost, etc.) then
there's places on the net (don't ask me where, have fun searching yahoo for
that one) that specialize in ticket trade and sold out events.
About the new album....I love it and how different it is from the others.
I've listened to it 100 million times already...I don't have a favorite song
because I think it's (SO) beautiful as a whole, but lyrically I love MAGIC
the most (and i had a complete spaz when i first read it). Hail Darren
Jessee, baby.
<3 Abby
*http://fly.to/DVTSEE*
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 21:05:53 PDT
From: "Heather Kniert" <hkniert@hotmail.com>
Subject: wwooOOOOo hoooOOO
i just went for 13 days with NO ben folds five. i was on vacation.
without a computer, and without bff. *sob*. withdrawl is a painful
thing. and i have so many MA's too read. i've missed you all. but
now i'm back... got the tuborm and the video saved down at the music
store down the street. think i'll pick it up tomorrow and satisfy my
craving for bff. oohhhh man, that was a long vacation. gotta get me
a discman.
love heather grace
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 00:12:07 EDT
From: Angrydwarf@aol.com
Subject: Random thoughts
Hey all,
Quick comment on the hospital song.........is it just me or does the
song seem to start off sounding like "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" an end
kinda' with a pink floyd feel....could just be me.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 14:18:48 +1000
From: Julie <julianne@ronscomputers.com.au>
Subject: Ben Folds Five in Australian Press
OK, this won't be on todays Armchair, so yesterday, Ben Folds Five were in
HIT in the Melbourne Herald Sun. Also with a review of TUBORM.
And, the May Issue of 'Massive' magazine has an interview with Ben on page
62, a thing of Ben's "mix tape" on page 18, and a review of TUBORM with a
really cool pic of them on page 77!!
Check it out!
- -Julie 'anti-gavin'
Julie's Australian Ben Folds Five webpage
http://www.angelfire.com/me/katefolds/
but i can't live without him
so i won't even try
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 14:39:36 +1000
From: Julie <julianne@ronscomputers.com.au>
Subject: BFF ad on TV
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, last nite (wednesday) during david letterman,
there was an ad for TUBORM at Gaslight music..it only had shots from the
army video clip so it wasn't anything *too* special
- -Julie 'anti-gavin'
Julie's Australian Ben Folds Five webpage
http://www.angelfire.com/me/katefolds/
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
"Everybody's making fun of me cause they
say I am so trendy Cause I do what
others do They'll make fun of me They'll
make fun of you
I don't wanna be left out
I wanna be cool!!"
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 21:40:42 PDT
From: "Chandra Hicks" <chanfifteen@hotmail.com>
Subject: tuborm/copying/love
oh god, i'm dying from this new album, i can't even say whether it's
better or worse than the previous, it's like apples and oranges, but
it's still ben folds five, only different, i love their diversity, and
i have musical orgasms, no musical multiple orgasms from don't change
your plans, it's got that summer b feeling. i love all the songs w/
out question, w/out hesitation. and i was soo worried that this album
would be disappointing and when i heard it , it trancended any
expectations and i burst into tears (freaking out my friend) and i
couldn't stop shaking for about 10 min. my only things that i'm
curious is on: your redneck past, i love the song, but i think they
may have copied part of it from this song, i dont' know it but it
goes:" woooaah, baby please don't go" does anyone know what i'm
talking about?
anyway,
i love regrets too
and i love narcoleps
and lullaby
and jane
and all of htem
and mess
and magick
ok
ennough spewing
chadnra
_______________________________________________________________
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 15:18:53 +1000
From: kate + Bec Mapley <mapley@tassie.net.au>
Subject: Channel V
Hi,
Did any one see the interview with Ben Folds on Jumpstart on Channel V this
morning. It was a really good interview it went for about 15 or so minutes
he explained why Break-up in a food court was not on the cd becuase the
feel of it did not fit the cd, he also talked about william shatner, the
new cd, vid clips they have done. Talked about living in Aus etc
The funny thing was though that they had him introduce two of their
filmclips Army and Battle of Who Could Care Less and instead of playing
them after he introduced Army they played Brick and then when he introduced
Battle they played Army. Also on channel V about aweek or so ago he was on
a show called In the House where he chose what clips he wanted to play that
went for an hour.
Also look in the mags Massive and Juice for interviews wiht Ben
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 01:35:01 -0500
From: Jessica Brandt <jbrandt@kent.edu>
Subject: letterman
okay, so who's got a tape of letterman? Jess the tape queen totally slept
through it.
i've got anything you could want BFF-wise on video, so omeone make me an
offer, pleeeease.
Jess
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------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 01:59:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Dan <dac30@cornell.edu>
Subject: TUBORM review
everyone else is doing it, so why can't i?
Narcolepsy- incredible. the one and a half minute instrumental opening is
reminiscent
of other concept albums (the Who or Pink Floyd). it's just powerful and
amazing..
Don't Change Your Plans- beautifully Ben, with wonderfully cheezy lyrics.
the song
just flows along. why is it all his girlfriends have stairs up to their
apartments?
(brick) there is also the LA reference which is later made in ARMY again. my
favorite song on the album. has Brick-like potential.
Mess- is this the third part of the Last Polka/Missing the War saga? It
sounds like
Last Polka in tune.. and "he's a heap of junk that pours from his top
drawer/he sometimes likes to spread it out around the floor" with "there are
rooms in this house i don't open any more/ dusty books of pictures on the
floor". he is now talking about the girl he left in don't change your plans?
Magic- amazing. now.. is the girl dead? she is definitely not with him.
the last line "smiled in my room".. think he is just thinking about her and
picturing her now. but is she dead? "trading places with an angel now" ...
and "stars in your eyes" then "stars in the sky"... just seems she's
definitely not with the him and might not be on the earth anymore either
Hospital Song- heh. did he end up here from his wife's stupid cigarette?
Army- there's no rowdy chorus. this is an awesome song.. i love the rant at
the end. but there's no catchy replaying chorus to make it a chart-topper..
leave that for don't change your plans.
Redneck past- THE BEACH BOYS. pretty cool. since they were revolutionary
geniuses, it was a good idea to try to sound like them :)
your most valuable possession- should have put birds here.
regrets- my least favorite song of the album. i don't even listen to it.
jane- this whole song and the first verse of regrets have the same theme as
"the best imitation of myself", eh? :)
lullabye-not really a lullabye at all... they really enjoy starting off slow
then going big then ending slow on last songs, eh? (boxing/evaporated)
dan
ARMY
"i nuked another grandma's apple pie and hung my head in shame"
Regrets
"I never visited my grandma even once"
also... the line in redneck past
"the funny limbs that grow underground"
underground
wow.
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #1494
***************************************
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