Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #82 - May 13, 1996
Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #82
Topics for Today:
Post Punk
Spam, lovely SPAM.
Ruprecht's questions...
lollapalooza 2nd stage
Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #81
Underground 7"
UK news - This time it's for real!
The Summer EP
General Ruminations III
BFF in drag?
Hello All
Re: Extra Track
BF5 in Skirts!!!
Japanese import of BF5
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 17:04:24 -0500
From: amy b <kbrenham@dialin.econonet.com>
Subject: Post Punk
okay one more... has anyone noticed how they're called "Post-punk"... I'm not
exactly sure this fits since punk often implies a no-talent band with a
guitar player who only knows three chords... of which Ben Folds Five is (has)
neither...
oh nevermind...
no, see, you have the right idea. from what i understand... they are
labeled post-punk just because of the reasons you listed... it's supposed
to a kind of anti-punk music movement... like it's finally okay to know
how to play your instruments... someth ing like that anyway
amy b :)
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 10 May 96 15:23 PDT
From: kamea_lessoway@mindlink.bc.ca
Subject: Spam, lovely SPAM.
Salutations everyone!
Not all punk bands only use 3 chords. Most bands, punk or not, have at least
one 3 chord song...look at Hootie and the Blowfish!! The whole cd has 3
chords on it. Anyway, since BFF doesn't even have a guitar, this whole thing
that i'm writing is pointless. Ha! ;P
it's been a long week,
kamea
the barenaked ladie
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 22:44:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: Marge Bouvier <mjt7742@is2.NYU.EDU>
Subject: Ruprecht's questions...
1) The post encore guitar smashing was probably used as some commentary on
poor music makers of our era. He's making fun. And having fun doing it.
2)A polka is a Polish dance song that makes use of the beats 2 & 4 in the
measure. Say "Ump chick" eight times, fast. The song is reminiscent of
polka, at least the first part is. It sounds a little Tarantella-ish too.
3)They happened after punk, but took a little for themselves.
That's all I know, maybe someone else can help you.
Love,
Marc
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 23:20:42 -0400
From: Justin Bolognino <alda69@mail.albany.net>
Subject: lollapalooza 2nd stage
i have recently heard that ben folds is playing the second stage during the
first half of the lollapalooza run this summer. what i would like to know
is WHERE the first half of shows are going to be. so if anyone has a list of
the show dates for the sunner tour, please get back to me asap.
if you want to chat w/ me about ben folds, phish, or just life in
general, please feel free. i am working on getting another bff homepage
started, and i can use all the help i can get. all day 69.
696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969696969
696969696969696969966969696969
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 01:33:45 -0500 (CDT)
From: Greg Saunders <godboy@galaxy.galstar.com>
Subject: Re: Ben Folds Five Digest, Issue #81
i think it's time for us to form some sort of ballot for the name of this
list. i really like the name "pouting in stereo" but most people seem to
prefer "magical armchair". if there are any more suggestions, they should
be nominated and put together. i hope we can come up with a definitive
title before issue #100. -g
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 10:37:31 EDT
From: Ned Norland <nnorland@walnut.prs.k12.nj.us>
Subject: Underground 7"
I was in my local record shop yesterday digging through the 7"s and happened
upon an Underground 7", this is imported from the UK with an "edit" version
of underground on A and Sports and Wine as the Bside...I believe they're
the album versions (except the first is an edit)...I have it on reserve and
plan to pick it up next week...
-ned norland
nnorland@walnut.prs.k12.nj.us
-----Princeton Regional Schools takes no responsibility for the
accuracy or content of the above message.
==============================================================================
Date: Fri, 10 May 1996 13:22:42 GMT
From: Mark Piper <MFP540@novell3.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: UK news - This time it's for real!
Hi,
Okay folks, this time! Unless Mark Radcliffe has been lying
*again*, Ben Fold Five will be putting in an appearance on the Mark
Radcliffe Show, Radio 1, 10pm-12midnight, on MONDAY! Tune those
knobs, kids! If anyone is not entirely familiar with Mark Radcliffe,
the format usually consists of three or four tunes interspersed
throughout the program, with chat here and there. It's normally great
fun, but requires consistent listening and keen fingers on the record
button. And they had best play "Video Killed The Radio Star", seeing as
I'm not getting to see them play in London tonight (Friday 10th).
Sob!
Mark
"Where did you go that you were gone so long?"
mfp540@bham.ac.uk
Now, visit me in full technicolour at:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/
==============================================================================
Date: Sat, 11 May 1996 20:57:13 -0600 (MDT)
From: James Robert Campbell <jrcampbe@mines.utah.edu>
Subject: The Summer EP
I hadn't previously heard that such a thing exists, but my friend
just picked it up for me at a local station that he works next to.
I have no idea how old it is, but it has two mixes of _Where's Summer
B.?_ as well as Video and another song that I can't recall.
Anyonw know more?
Cheers,
--James
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 May 1996 22:27:08 -0400
From: Wri10@aol.com
Subject: General Ruminations III
I'm a little upset, I must say, that if I were to get up the nerve to drag my
decrepit ass to Lollapallooza (sp?) I couldn't see BOTH Soul Coughing and Ben
Folds Five. Just kidding, it would be great to see either band, I like them
both very much even though they're a great deal different.
Just a quick note to anybody who's missed previous posts --
Akline@disneys.oro.net is collecting BFF list readers' "top ten bands" and I
just dropped him email. Anybody who's as curious as I am about this really
oughtta pull up Eudora or FlashMail and shoot those lists to him. I'm
looking forward to seeing the breakdown, I love to see what people listen to.
To anyone who's a Replacements fan, if you haven't signed up for the
//Skyway\\ list and you like the way the BFF list server works, it's much the
same. You can track it down under any search engine, or email me at
Wri10@aol.com and I'll send you back the whole routine.
As for list names, I'm kind of partial to something including "for the
dumped" in it, too. After all, those of us who don't, like, drool and follow
blindly down the "Oasis" trail have been kind of disenfranchised by the music
industry for the past, oh, say ten or fifteen years, let alone the last five.
If all were fair, Ben Folds and many of the other borderline cult acts we
all listen to would at least be available and probably more greatly beloved,
by larger numbers. And they'd get more royalties and have financing to tour
more and make more records, too. Any industry that operates to push two or
three bands to the top and make megabucks, then grasps at anything else just
long enough to see if it'll sink or swim (most of it sinks, sadly enough)
isn't out to please us.
Take heart. That movie soundtrack thing has kept a lot of cult and useta' be
boats afloat, including those of more than half of my favorite artists. I'm
more worried about Ben and the boys having a sophomore slump and recording an
album that actually SOUNDS like the Buggles... eew! Pinch me, I'm havin' a
nightmare...
Just as a sorta closing note... does Bob Dole remind anybody else out there
of Uncle Walter, or is it just me?
Peace
Melinda
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 01:04:47 -0400 (EDT)
From: eric t beteille <beteille@mary.iia.org>
Subject: BFF in drag?
Did I - for a split second - see Ben Folds Five dressed as
old ladies?
I must say the 'Uncle Walter' video includes many of the production
values we missed in 'Underground' ... Crisp visuals, decent editing,
the band playing, and ..... our list name! Is there any doubt, after
seeing the Magical Armchair itself race mercilessly through the
streets of this video?
The director did a fine job of capturing the best elements of the
band, too. Sure, it was lip syncing, but the video always cut back to
the band at important times... for the harmonies, for Ben's elbow-stomp
on the piano, a nice shot of Ben's feet working the pedals, and
the classic moment where he runs across the top of the baby grand.
Can we get this director for the first concert video?
This video may just have appeal outside our little core, folks.
--
Eric
==============================================================================
Date: Sun, 12 May 1996 00:52:32 +0100 (BST)
From: D W Logan <bs5dwl@bath.ac.uk>
Subject: Hello All
Opus and all,
Hiya, I have just joined the list and i think i may be the only person
from the UK - is this so? I heard about BF5 after some very impressive
reviews and, being a DJ at BATH UNIVERSITY RADIO, i thought i
would check it out. It is now on my playlist with a heavy rotation.
I can help Opus out, the British and European CD single "Underground"
only contains "Sports and Wine" and "Boxing" as B-sides, though
"Underground" itself is a slightly different version than on the album.
You will all, no doubt, be interested to hear that NME (that is, New
Musical Express) - Britain's premier indie music weekly - gave BBF a
very, very rare 9/10 and gave Underground the much sought after 'Single
of The Week' accolade.
Thats it - Its good to be among people with good musical taste!!
Darren.
[No, Darren, you are not alone - there's Mark, below, and about a half
dozen others with .uk domains. -fjm]
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 09:06:29 GMT
From: Mark Piper <MFP540@novell3.bham.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Extra Track
Hi,
I wondered if the extra track was Jackson Cannery, because that
was on my CD, yet it wasn't on the tape sent to me a few months back.
Was it on the US issue, or just my friend goofing up?
Whilst I'm here, I shall relate a story. I have exams this week,
5 of the things crammed into 3 days. The first two are today, on this
morning and one this afternoon. However, they will all be over by
Wednesday afternoon, when I shall get very drunk at what is known at
Birmingham University as "Sports Night", due to Wednesday being the
day sports are traditionally played at this University. Anyhow, as I
sat revising hard last night, the first verse of Sports & Wine
started up:
Destiny was calling, Mondday afternoon,
Wednesday you'd be crawling,
And you prayed you'd be there soon,
Sports & Wine.......
I kind of feel like it was written especially for me for that exact
moment. Neat, huh?
Mark
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 08:56:01 -0400
From: SaintBet@aol.com
Subject: BF5 in Skirts!!!
So, what did you guys think? I for one loved it. I worked 13 hours Sunday
but still made it a point to stay up and watch the premiere of BF5's "Uncle
Walter" video. It was pretty cool. Never thought I'd see those guys in
skirts, but then you can never guess what will come from those guys next!
And now I finally have a clear idea of what the real "Uncle Walter" looks
like. I've always had my own idea but now it's a lot more detailed. Until
the next video. . . (let's hope this gets more airplay than 'Underground!').
"He sees the children smoking pot, he knows that in a moment they'll be
shootin' up heroin!",
Bethany
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 13 May 96 10:52:05
From: bminnick@locrscs.CMIC.STATE.PA.US
Subject: Japanese import of BF5
The Japanese pressing of the BF5 CD has the same live version of "Tom and
Mary" that's on the Sony/ATV SXSW Sampler (although the "Emmaline" intro on
the fadeout is extended a few seconds). Initially, however, I thought I had
some real news to report with respect to the sound quality of the Japanese
disc; I thought at first that it was superior to the U.S. Caroline/Passenger
CD, but I did some A-B comparisons this morning and I'm not quite as sure as I
was initially. It would be interesting to hear the views of others who have
heard the Japanese disc whether they think there's a difference in the sound
quality. It seemed to me to be a little smoother sounding, a tad more musical
perhaps. These things are very subjective, I know. And after you dish out big
bucks for an import, you subconsciously want to hear a difference, I think.
Philosophically, would it make a difference anyway, after the mind has
assimilated the "better" sound? Ah, the things that plague the mind of a BF5
fanatic!
==============================================================================
[I thought the Uncle Walter video was excellent! I have only seen it
once but the first impression was very good. I knew they'd do something
nutty with the old recliner somehow. But the one image that I visualize
during the song was missing in the video - the chair plying up the waters
of the Arabian Sea.
Also, if you come across a previously undiscussed pressing, like the
UK Underground 7" or the Summer B EP, please e-mail me with the title,
label, catalog number and track list so I can add it to the Discography
page.
I'm tabulating all the suggestions for list names and will have
voting instructions sometime this week. -fjm]
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