Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #71 - April 20, 1996
Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #71
Topics for Today:
#benfoldsfive
BF5 on video
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #70
Alternativeness (maybe I will live to regret starting this)
BFF: Moving?
Minute correction
Hello and help
Re: ben folds PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!
Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #67
Release Dates
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #70
New Album
BNF stuff
Ben and Barry Black
Issue #69 - Bethany
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 96 23:01:31
From: echo@msn.globaldialog.com
Subject: #benfoldsfive
c'mon people, we need more activity on irc! i waited around on
#benfoldsfive for 3 hours last night, and only two people showed up!
get out of your aol chatrooms and get on down to irc!
--- S. A. Schneider / 05:03:08:15
echo@msn.globaldialog.com
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 00:12:18 -0400
From: Aryadne@aol.com
Subject: BF5 on video
Just a general inquiry:
(Once again, apologies if this is old stuff, but I'm kinda new here):
Did someone say they were on Conan O'Brian (or a similar show) once?
And are there any videos yet? And how could I get my hands on any of those,
if they exist?
Thanks!
Mary
[Yes, they were on Conan on Dec. 26th and I'm sure there are people
who taped it. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 21:22:16 -0700
From: Reid Davis <reid2@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #70
> Please sign me up (fail@oberon.pps.pgh.pa.us). I just bought the CD
> yesterday. I listened to it 8 times before i went to bed. I skipped
all of
> my homeowkr.
> This is GREAT MUSIC!!!
Nice to see Mr. Folds and company having such a wonderful influence on
the youth of America! ;->
P.S. I hope it wasn't spelling homework.
RD
==============================================================================
Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 21:12:24 -0700
From: Reid Davis <reid2@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Alternativeness (maybe I will live to regret starting this)
> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 23:55:41 -0400
> From: KhobKhun@aol.com
> Subject: BF5 being alternative?
>
> REID DAVIS WRITES, "In the same way, BFF earn the dreaded "A-word"
;-> by
> their use of the piano (classical instrument) in a loud rock band..."
..And "Khob" hastily retorts:
> Reid, are you trying to tell us that Billy Joel, Elton John, Jon
Medeski, and
> the likes... all are alternative based on their use of the wonderful
> "classical" instrument known as the piano in a rockin' band? Wake
up!
No Khob, I am NOT trying to tell you that Billy Joel, Elton John, and
Jon Medeski are "alternative" - I am trying to tell you that BEN FOLDS
is alternative! I mean, Little Richard could be alternative if this
was all I cited, sheesh. (And you will notice that I did give 3 or 4
other reasons.) The reason I included this is because of Mr. Folds'
*philosophical approach* to the use of a typically "highbrow" or
"classical" instrument in a "lowbrow" rock band.
1) He uses no guitars whatsoever - relying purely on piano-pounding and
fuzz-toned bass to achieve that "rocking sound". You cannot argue that
this cuts against the grain of pop convention, and therefore, is
alternative. (Joe Jackson was the precursor in this regard: many
regard him as alternative, or at least pre-alternative.)
2) He quotes Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" in the context of a loud
rock song, (as well as other classics known by any who have taken piano
lessons) to illustrate the irony inherent in the situation.
3) He has blatant disregard for the reverence many piano players
(including *pop* piano players, thank you very much) have for their
instrument by stomping on the keys, jumping up on the case, banging it
with his head, etc.
In short, the difference between earlier pop piano players and those of
the Ben Folds ilk is POSTMODERNISM. My contention is that Pomo is the
essence of what most folks call alternative.
Of course, IMHO. Or IM(not always so)HO, as the case may be.
Love and pentatonic scales,
Reid
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 08:39:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: intcsb02@midget.towson.edu
Subject: BFF: Moving?
Someone in the last digest mentioned Archers moving to D.C. It that true
or was someone just saying that to try to be funny? Why would they move
from NC to DC? That wouldn't make any sense DC's a s***hole, every time
i go there i dread it. No worry though i'm sure ben and the boy won't be
moving there its just not there scene, i just hope they keep touring
'round here we like just as much as you NCers do.
J.C.
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 13:49:26 +0100 (BST)
From: felix <felix@theor.ch.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: Minute correction
it's Fri., May 10 in London (not Wed.).
Felix
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 16:33:43 +0000
From: Matthew Trigg <mat@gmtnet.co.uk>
Subject: Hello and help
Dear All
Delighted to have found a BF5 list to mail to. Looking forward to finding
out about this mysterious trio!
In response to the band's comments about the UK, here's my brief story about
my introduction to the BF5.
Last Christmas, my dear brother, an exiled resident of Boston MA, gave me a
couple of CDs as a gift. We are in the habit of exchanging music at these
times since it avoids the embarrassment of gifts that are wholly
inappropriate or of huge price differentials - you know how it is.
Anyhow, this year it was Letters to Cleo (wholesale....) and BF5. He was a
little vague about how he had come across the latter, but suggested that it
might be fun anyhow. Sure enough, it proved to be a hit with me and
unfortunately with many of my friends also - the upshot of which is that my
copy is currently on loan for the fifth time this year.
I have one of those "trainspotter" type urges to find out lots about the
background of the bands I like (dull stuff like where they're from,
thank-you's and things) and the sleeve of the CD was sadly lacking in this
kind of detail.
In fact, it was only by chance that someone on the SOY mailing list (for the
band Live) responded to a short query I put out about the origins of the BF5
and I discovered that they were from NC (as opposed to MA as I had assumed,
given my brother's location).
Lyrics, too, were missing, and it was only last night that I found Frank's
website which listed the full monty.
So, I now find myself respectfully at the mercy of you guys, keeping up the
support from Nottingham in the middle of England. (I see that there is also
a copy in Cambridge - hey, it's a movement!!)
I now have a favour to ask - anyone got a source of guitar tabs for the
album? I notice that the OLGA service doesn't have any BF5 on it. My good
friend Mik and I are due to make our annual drunken appearance at the
Diseworth summer Barbeque in September and it would be nice to bring this
extraordinary sound to the lovely people of the village (check out
http://www.gmtnet.co.uk/diseworth/).
On the other hand, if you heard me singing when I'm pissed (or at any other
time) you might be somewhat reluctant to give us the opportunity to maul
these top tunes.
Anyhow - any help would be welcome
Catch you later
Matthew
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To err is human, to moo, bovine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 11:38:17 -0500
From: Astro Moondoggie <brainstorm@basinlink.com>
Subject: Re: ben folds PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!
I've been listening to them almost since their album came out. A friend
of my fiancee's put Underground on a tape, and I immediately went out
searching for the CD. For about two months, that was the only CD I
listened to, and I never got tired of it. Amazing. I would *love* to get
on the mailing list!
Astro Moondoggie
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 13:21:40 EDT
From: MR ED C GOODMAN <HYVV71E@prodigy.com>
Subject: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #67
Gill, You givin' away all thye secrets, boy. How you gonna gets the
women if you give away all the secrets? Ed Boy
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 14:20:39 -0500 (EST)
From: jpinkos@lakers.lssu.edu
Subject: Release Dates
Hey there! I just got done listening to "Video Killed The Radio
Star" and "Tom and Mary". These are both just bootleg copies of course.
I have searched high and low and I still can't find a name or release
date on this Elektra(?) release of "one hit wonders" or "80's hits"
w/BFF. If anyone has any info, please share! I'd also like to ask our
Japanese friend or anyone who can get thier hands on a copy of the BFF CD
w/Tom and Mary from Japan to contact me at jpinkos@lakers.lssu.edu. One
more thing, is this whole Uncle Walter CD thing just someone's idea of a
cruel joke or what? -JRP
ps-Hey Frank, maybe if anyone can find release dates on upcoming BFF
stuff, a release dates section of the homepage would be a good idea?
[sure! if the label or anyone else sends me anything, I'll post it and
put it on the web pages. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 14:18:20 -0500 (CDT)
From: Erin Weed V <cuew2@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #70
i have checked out the ben folds five homepage and noticed they
are playing many shows. the only problem is that none of them are in the
chicagoland area. does anyone know if there are any BFF concerts coming
soon to this location??? thanks much....
erin
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 18:42:12 -0400
From: Tocadisco@aol.com
Subject: New Album
I heard that BFF, one of the best bands of the decade, was signed to a major
label. If this is true, what label did they sign to? When is the new album
going to be released? Also, since I just became a BFF fan within the last
few weeks, I have never seen them perform. If anybody knows when they are
playing in NY again, please tell me.
-Thanks
[The Sony 550 label...no details on a new album... keep an eye out
here for tour dates! -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 23:51:37 +0100
From: Jonathan Bacon <bacon@private.nethead.co.uk>
Subject: BNF stuff
I'm new to the Ben Folds Five mailing list, and at the risk of repeating
someone's earlier post, the band sound like Joe Jackson a lot at times. A
whole lot in fact.
Jackson's Body and Soul is a great album, and I don't like the song Uncle
Walter. That is my tuppence worth. The album's getting better and better.
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 17:35:44 -0500
From: geomac <gmcnulty@students.wisc.edu>
Subject: Ben and Barry Black
Hey y'all, I just picked up Eric Bachmann's solo release (under the name
"Barry Black"). Thank you to whomever directed me towards it. I would have
never bought it had I not known that Ben Folds plays piano and drums on it.
For those of you who don't know, Eric Bachmann/Barry Black is the front man
for Archers Of Loaf, another Chapel Hill, NC band. Ben plays Piano and/or
drums on the majority of the album. Anyway, when I opened the CD booklet, I
was surprised to find that our old pal Darren Jessee plays drums on one
track (a drum duet with Ben) as well. Oh, and here's a kicker, the one and
only Summer Burke (of "Summer B." fame) does the vocals for one of the
tracks as well. Let me be telling you, this is an album just chock-full of
the goodness that only Chapel Hill can provide. I recommend it to everyone.
Oh, and one last thing. If you haven't heard of them yet, I recommend
another Chapel Hill band, the Squirrel Nut Zippers. They're one of those
retro 30's-40's swing bands, and the best that I've heard of their kind that
I've heard by far. Anyway back to Ben and the gang. Ain't they grand?
My apologies,
Geoff
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geoffrey McNulty |
Asst. Promotions Director | "...always has been
|
UW Madison Student Radio | sports and wine for you..."
gmcnulty@students.wisc.edu |
| --Ben Folds
(608) 264-2261 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madison Student Radio -- "It's coming...are you?"
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 20 Apr 1996 08:17:35 +0000
From: Rob =?iso-8859-1?Q?=B3fish=B2 Carpenter <fishcarp@soltec.com>
Subject: Issue #69 - Bethany
Bethany made a point about the content of this mailing list, and I just
wanna say-Right on. Not that it seems to be a real concern with most list
members, and my primary reason of being on this list is to hear more
about BF5, but I like to hear peoples thoughts about other bands - in fact,
because of this list I was turned on to Fleming & John - cool band. If
anyone has suggestions about other bands - not that I'm trying to muck up
this list - let me know.
About BF5, it never leaves my CD player. Can't wait to see 'em live. I was
turned on to them about a week after they were in Chicago. Bummer!!
Later
FISH
"...i do the best imitation of myself"
==============================================================================
[One quick correction from the moderator - I said the article on the
band was in the April issue of Spin magazine. It is in fact the May
issue, but Roseanne is _still_ on the cover. -fjm]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ben Folds Five Mailing List http://oeonline.com/~maynard/bff/
Submit to: maynard@oeonline.com Admin. to: maynard@oeonline.com
I click my heels and I'm there