THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR

The Ben Folds Five Digest

Issue #167 - December 12, 1996



                     THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #167
 
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Topics for Today:
 
      New Album
      Frank and Ross
      Re: subscribe
      First Post To 'Magical Armchair'...request & plea
      Re: Canada and BF5
      Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #166
      Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #166
      Homophobia, BFF, TMBG, & TR
      any Built to Spill recommendations
      Re:Oz BDO Tour
      Why can I never think of decent concise subject lines?
      re:Q
      Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #165
      Re: MONKEY
      Response to Treesapper...
      BF5 Piano
      Re: TMBG: BOYCOTT BEN FOLDS FIVE! (TMBG Unrelated)
      Oz BDO Tour
      Ben gets NBC airplay
      me babbling
      Any Ohio Ben Heads out there besides me?
      whinge.
      Re: Ben Got Married
      British Press
 
 ==============================================================================

 Subject: New Album

 The following information comes from Alan Wolmark, Ben Folds Five's
 manager, who just returned from five weeks with the band in Europe.

 The album will be titled, "Whatever And Ever Amen" and will be released in
 the US on March 18, 1997.  The titles, in order, will be "One Angry Dwarf and
 200 Solemn Faces"  "Fair"  "Brick"  "Song For The Dumped"  "Selfless, Cold
 and Composed"  "Kate"  "Smoke"  "Cigarette"  "Steven's Last Night In Town"
  "Battle of Who Could Care Less"  "Missing The War"  and  "Evaporated"  (the
 Japanese release WILL contain one extra track which will be "Song For The
 Dumped" sung in Japanese).

 Plans include a January promotional trip to Europe and Japan.  Then a
 European and UK tour starting on February 23.  The US tour will start on
 April 1 and there will be another Japan tour in May.

 The album was mastered this past week, just after Thanksgiving, and the album
 package was completed at the same time.

 Happy Holidays from BFF and Alan Wolmark.

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 19:22:18 -0500 (EST)
 From: John Fagan <john17cd@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us>
 Subject: Frank and Ross


 Ben Folds Five- Homophobic ?  I doubt it.
 Remember in Where's Summer B, Frank and Ross are holding hands.




 John Fagan
 john17cd@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us

 ==============================================================================
 Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 20:44:05 -0500
 From: Shade27@aol.com
 Subject: Re: subscribe

 hi everyone. i'm brand spankin' new. my name is leslie, I'm 17, and i play
 guitar and sing.umm....other bands i like are phish, dmb, grateful dead,
 jewel, juliana hatfield, oh pretty much anything that has sound :)

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Thu, 5 Dec 96 21:03 EST
 From: holmstd@ssu.southwest.msus.edu
 Subject: First Post To 'Magical Armchair'...request & plea

 Hi all.

 I am a digest/list veteran of the Tori Amos Really Deep Thoughts list, as
 well as the old Prince Mailing List, now become the Paisley Park Mailing
 List.  They are both places I have gained appreciation for the music, as
 well as rare trax that the artists and record companies are too dumb to
 make widely available.

 I got into BBF shortly after the CMJ disc featured Underground.  It was
 unlike anything I was hearing at the time.  (It also featured Ed's
 Redeeming Qualities, a band I could NOT find anywhere and still can't.)  I
 ran out the same day and looked for the album, finally going to the
 regionally famous Let It Be records in Downtown Minneapolis to ask them to
 order it.

 I have been in love ever since.  BFF have come to MPLS three times since
 the album was released.  The first time I missed them completely.  The
 second time they played an ID show in the 7th St Entry.  The last time they
 did this I was less than 17 days from my 21st B-day and they played their
 last MPLS show in the 7th Street Entry.

 I was irate.  I still am.  If anyone has any idea how I can find more BFF,
 or would trade me a dub of the singles and any rare studio or live stuff, I
 would be grateful.  I am way down with this band, and have a rare dub of
 them playing Where's Summer B? at the MPLS college radio station REV105,
 the same ppl to break Soul Coughing wide open.

 The song is in a featurette style, with an interview and clips of the album
 cut back and forth before the song.  It's a fun run through of the song.  I
 wish I had won their 'dine with BFF contest'...but alas I had to work.

 Anyway...glad to join your ranks.  Please let me know if there's any way I
 can find more music, or if I can trade with anyone.  I have amassed a large
 collection of O(+>/Prince, and a fair collection of Tori Amos rare stuff,
 all without breaking any laws and without paying a thin dime.  So please
 help me find this music I so covet.  I have tried to find it and pay for
 it, and I will continue to, I just want a dub to tide me over.

 Thanks all...I look 4ward to chatting it up in the future here...
 -davhole

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Thu, 5 Dec 1996 22:27:25 -0400
 From: Dylan Tisdall <dtisdall@mv.igs.net>
 Subject: Re: Canada and BF5

 Hey all,

 > This is my first time writing into you BF5 folks. I have read comments from
 > the United States, Britain and other parts of the world including Australia.
 > I have read very few comments from Canada.

 Hey the US has 10 times more people than us, so there's just going to be
 more BF5 fans there. :P Canadian's, however, are more fun to perform for,
 or at least that's what Lisa Loeb said when she played Toronto. If that's
 any consolation. [She also said we had better beer. =)]

 >Am I one of only a handful of people who have heard of these guys?

 I dunno, of all the people I've told about BF5, only one had heard of them
 (but hey, she thought they were cool), and the rest just said, "That's
 weird. D'you really *listen* to that?" Apparently, we Canadians have some
 catching up to do in the musical taste department.

 >And better yet, has BF5 ever heard of Canada?

 I don't think Carolinians like the cold.

 >Does Ben tour here?

 To the best of my knowledge, they've played one show in Canada:
 Lollapalooza (sp?) in Barrie (Molson Park). Frank could probably give a
 diffinitive answer though.

 >If so, does anyone know when BF5 will be in the Edmonton or Northern
 >Alberta >area? They wouldn't by chance be planning a trip to Yellowknife,
 >NWT would >they?

 If the past is any indication of the future, I wouldn't say there's a lot
 of hope.

 > winter is here in the north!

 Winter's here in southern Ontario too!

 TTFN!
 Dylan


 --
 T-Shirts. Heh! Sequels. Heh! A Jedi Knight craves not these things.

 Email: dtisdall@mv.igs.net
 WWW: http://mv.igs.net/~ptisdall/Dylan/

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 15:34:27 +1100
 From: Very Fruity Indeed <custer@ros.com.au>
 Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #166

 Hey hey,

 > What's going on with this supposed Big Day Out Tour??
 > I saw that their management guaranteed their appearance on the BDO but I
 > haven't seen anything about them in the BDO ads or on JJJ.
 > Does anyone know what's going on with this?

    Yeah, it's the same here...  I haven't seen BFF mentioned in the big
 promo ads along with the other bands appearing at the BDO.  But, they are
 usually mentioned in the back of Drum Media as appearing at the Sydney BDO.
 And they were given a bit of a write up in Drum a few months back stating
 that they had been signed for the BDO!!!
    I'm thinking that they're not advertising BFF much, coz they're
 sissies...  And we know what all the other bands are like.  Sepultura and
 Soundgarden just don't mix well with Ben and the lads.  :)  That's why I
 think they haven;t been promoted much.
    But, I'd be looking out for a Phantom instore myself...  TMBG did one
 last time they were out.

 Bye
 Ad.

 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 %      Ad      %
 %Yeah and stuff%
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 15:44:22 +1100
 From: Very Fruity Indeed <custer@ros.com.au>
 Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #166

 Well, well, well...

 > voting for them. I'd say it will be one of the 100. So I'll keep voting for
 > them, coz you can vote as many times as you want, I think (well I did last
 > year), and I'll keep u posted.

    You can vote on the internet too, which is really easy.  I don;t think
 it's up there yet, but the address is http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/    If
 you have a look through there, you'll be sure to find some sort of voting
 form for the hottest 100.  I think the Whitlams' "You Sound Like Louis
 Burdett" also deserves a big mention, seeing as the Whitlams are primarily
 piano based with some good double bass!!!  YEAH!!!

 Bye
 Ad.

 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 %      Ad      %
 %Yeah and stuff%
 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 96 01:59:47 EDT
 From: Pooh Head Bucket? <sorianot@alpha.montclair.edu>
 Subject: Homophobia, BFF, TMBG, & TR


 ...in response to Bill Tatalovich:

 	Ben & co. seem to share the same sense of humor with bands like the
 Dead Milkmen and the aforementioned They Might Be Giants- ie, easily
 misunderstood. People who can blithely accuse artists they **only know thru
 songs** have problems of their own. At a BFF show in New York last year
 (opening for the hopefully-flash-in-a-pan Heather Nova) I noticed Ben milling
 about at the side of the stage, kinda mumbled "Ben?", and proceeded to have
 about a ten minute chat with the guy. No pretentions at all. In fact, all 3
 seemed especially cool. Fear not what you haven't seen yourself- it's a hoax...

         Now, for the burning question: I'd bet this ground has been covered
 here before, but it's killing me... Are any other BFF fans also big-time Todd
 Rundgren devotees? My friends keep telling me BFF and Todd (with or without
 Utopia) are extreeemely similar sounding. I dunno, but I'd sure be interested
 to hear what anybody else thinks. I think Mr. Folds is reaching an equal
 plateau as Mr. Rundgren on my little musical depth chart...


 Thanks!
 -tom.

 Tom Soriano * sorianot@alpha.montclair.edu
 ******************************************
 "It's a typical day on the road to utopia"

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 02:09:09 -0700
 From: brad <elizabeth.dayton@u.cc.utah.edu>
 Subject: any Built to Spill recommendations

 Anyone....I bought & love BTS's "there's nothing wrong with love," What
 should be my next BTS adventure? Thanks

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 22:53:03 +1100 (EST)
 From: Derek Scott <scoco@netspace.net.au>
 Subject: Re:Oz BDO Tour


 Hi everyone.
 Jeff wrote
 > What's going on with this supposed Big Day Out Tour??
 > I saw that their management guaranteed their appearance on the BDO but I
 > haven't seen anything about them in the BDO ads or on JJJ.
 >
 > Does anyone know what's going on with this?
 Yeah, I would also like to know the answer to this Q. I, likewise, have
 heard nothing from BDO advertising about BF5 being involved. What I have
 heard is primarily word of mouth. (that's not to say that I don't trust the
 little bird who told me BF5 would be there - I already have my ticket.) I
 totally believe they will be there, but it sometimes worries me when every
 band but BF5 (well, almost) is mentioned in ads. Also, surely they would not
 come all the way down to Australia to do just one gig. Has anyone any word
 of extra tasty morsels of BF5 while they're here?

 Claire :)

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 13:56:59 GMT
 From: Mark Piper <pipermf@ugs1.ph.bham.ac.uk>
 Subject: Why can I never think of decent concise subject lines?

 This whole gay thing....

 >  >
 >  >Ben Folds Five are a bunch of homophobic, anti-gay arseholes.
 >  >
 >  >Tonight, upon commenting on the Norwegian press's interpretation of their
 >  >"punk rock for sissies" credo, they used terminology that was derogatory to
 >  >the gay community and highly offensive.
 >

 At the LA2 show, Ben mentioned that the press in Oslo had made an error in
 translating his "punk rock for sissies" quote. Ben said that they had
 described it as "punk rock for faggots, puffs"

 As far as I can see, Ben was quoting the press, and in no way was casting
 a slur on the gay community. It was not said in an offensive manner,
 merely a comical one at the Norwegians misunderstanding. I think that this
 is a great overreaction by our friend
  on the TMBG list....


 >  next day was better, he had another girl dancing on the piano and was this
 >  show ever rockin!!!  did the same songs as the day b4, but better!! i have a
 >  whole roll of film with almost nothing but bf5!!  my pics came out better
 >  than the pics i downloaded off of the spinonline section of AOL!!  i was
 >  close enough for ben to actually hand me the set list for that show!!!   i
 >  still have and cherish it!!!   i was so close that when the girls who faked
 >  some lesbo sex on a bed of nails on the grand got all bloody it spattered on
 >  me!!!   what an encore!!!  underground never sounded so good!!!

 This guy scares me....I think he might be a serial killer...
 Please!!! Lay!!! Off!!! The!!! Damn!!! Exclamation!!! Marks!!!!

 Simon wrote:
 >
 >  A few points on the Gig at Birmingham's Foundry, Nov 24th.
 >
 >  The Diggers:
 >  >>maybe TEENAGE FANCLUB MEETS THE BEATLES.>>
 >  Er...not unless the Diggers have drastically changed their approach since
 >  their visit to my native B'ham. Ok, they are Scottish and signed to Creation
 >  but the similarities with @Fanclub@ stop there.

 No, that was (one of) the gig I was at. And at least three friends of mine
 independently thought the same. There's a definite sound there.

 Nick Vincent said: > Two support acts to wait through before, once again,
 the BF5 took the stage. >

 Yeah, but the first one was pretty good. The Diggers were pretty s*** on
 that night though.

 Oh, and some news too. Someone mentioned that BFF were in Q magazine's top
 10 recommended albums of 1996. But also in the Q Awards, Ben Folds Five
 were nominated by the readers for Best Newcomers (won by, hmm,
 Alanis....), and Ben Folds was nominated by t he jury for Best Songwriter
 (and Noel Gallagher wasn't. Ha! Oh yeah, um, Elvis Costello won it.
 Somehow..). My web page
 (http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html) has a round-up of the
 various end of year polls that are or soon will be populatin g the
 shelves. And if anybody is interested in Ben Folds views on the US
 Government, there's a small piece in this months Select, on the events of
 1996.

 Mark
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |            mfp540@bham.ac.uk | pipermf@phymat.bham.ac.uk             |
 |  Looks, Brains and Everything, the unofficial UK Ben Folds Five site |
 |          http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/5430/bff.html          |
 |    If you haven't found out already, it's gonna blow your minds!     |
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 14:30:48 -0800
 From: gillet <gillet@pi.net>
 Subject: re:Q

 >  Q magazine choosed the BFF album as one of the best 10 album of 1996 in
 >  UK. Check it out.
 but then again. the vox voted it one of the 5 worst albums of the year ....

 and in select (which comes with free food!) ben talks about the elections
 and tells us that he didn't vote for dole or clinton but for Leo Overtoom
 from the Brown Party 'who's more independent and wants to keep out of the
 Middle East, introduce the use of solar energy and concentrate on environ-
 mental issues'. he also is interviewed about rock the vote, clinton's media
 image and political awareness.

 joris gillet

 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 met vriendelijke groet		listen every mondaynight 9-10 to
 joris gillet			SUBBACULCTHA my weekly 'alternative'
 uitgeest, the netherlands	radioshow on the local radiostation
 gillet@pi.net 			here in uitgeest, the netherlands !!
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 09:07:16 -0600
 From: Tracy Kuznia <kuznitra@www.newfolden.k12.mn.us>
 Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #165

 BFF is sooo RADICAL, they are soo unique, they are absolutely my
 favorite band, saw them play in Des Moines, Iowa, and I fell in love
 with the band instantly.  BFF plays their hearts out on the stage, they
 put sooo much energy into their performances.  My most treasured CD, is
 the one signed by BFF...
 SEND ME ANY CD INFO:
 ANY ONE KNOW IF BFF, IS COMING TO MINNESOTA.
 TRACY

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 12:52:10 -0500
 From: CLOSERGIRL@aol.com
 Subject: Re: MONKEY

 Hello sisters & brothers

 I think this is going to be my 1st post to the MA but anyway, I saw the
 Counting Crows on Wednesday in NYC & the only cool thing about the show was
 that they played Monkey.  Adam's leg was messed up & he was limping all over
 the stage.  He was totally not into it.  I was dissapointed.  Another reason
 why I was dissapointed was that the opening act was Cake & they we so good
 but everyone was talking the whole time they we playing.  It was a waste of
 money.  Oh, if anyone wants to trade some cool BF5 stuff, I have a tape of
 them from last March on the Radio it was an interview & they do some covers
 etc.  so If anyones interested E-me.

 Closergirl@aol.com

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 06 Dec 1996 16:01:46 -0500
 From: "Brian R. Kessler" <bkessler@btv.ibm.com>
 Subject: Response to Treesapper...


 A cool analysis.  I forwarded your post to a friend of mine who is a classical
 pianist (and a BF5 fan), and he replied:


 > Hey ... good stuff!!!
 >
 > I use left hand (and right) 10th's too ... they add depth and color
 > to music. Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Rachmoninov ... etc. all used these
 > "spread out chords" ... the point is to transfer the sound of a full
 > orchestra to the piano ... "a piano concerto sound". They used so many
 > expanded intervals, with inter-melodies and counter-melodies in both
 > left and right hand, that when one hears their music, it sounds like
 > two or three pianos playing at once ... when in fact, its only one.
 > Also, a lot of their piano music has been labeled "formidable" to play
 > by some pianists.
 >
 > It's a valuable arrangement technique, something you definitely want
 > to keep in your grab bag; but, of course, one is limited by the
 > size of his hand.


 Peace, skiing, & music,
 Brian

 --
 "Never seem to get far enough / Staying in between the lines..." - Son Volt
 --------
 Brian R. Kessler
 Phone:  802-769-4617
 e-mail: IBM Internal - BKESSLER at BTV    Internet -  bkessler@vnet.ibm.com

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 6 Dec 1996 21:03:09 GMT
 From: Frank Burke <franbu@mail.bogo.co.uk>
 Subject: BF5 Piano

 Does anyone know if Bf5 are are planning to release the piano notation for
 their songs??????

     [A songbook has been issued in Japan. It will be available in the US
 via the band's web page. Keep watching for details. -fjm]

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Fri, 8 Dec 1995 13:23:12 +0000
 From: dl <dl@cates.demon.co.uk>
 Subject: Re: TMBG: BOYCOTT BEN FOLDS FIVE! (TMBG Unrelated)

  >Subject: TMBG: BOYCOTT BEN FOLDS FIVE! (TMBG Unrelated)
  >
  ><ROYAL ALBERT HALL>
  >
  >Ben Folds Five are a bunch of homophobic, anti-gay arseholes.
  >
  >Tonight, upon commenting on the Norwegian press's interpretation of their
  >"punk rock for sissies" credo, they used terminology that was derogatory to
  >the gay community and highly offensive.
  >
  >BBF deserve to sink into oblivion and the sooner they do, the better
  >humanity can enjoy a life free of prejudice.

 What Ben said was (this is from memory so it's not too precise) at the
 London LA2 show. In reference to the 'Punk rock for sissies' thing. They
 used it on promo stuff in Germany so...
 In Norway they translate "sissies" differently so the audience were
 shouting out "Fags" and "queers" (or something similar) all the time. He
 laughed about it and, in fact, I guess it's pretty funny as it was just a
 translation thing. So this is what makes Ben "Homophobic" I suppose.

 DL

 dl@cates.demon.co.uk
 "If Elvis were my landlord, we'd all say stuff in
 the halls like '42 tennants can't be wrong'"
      -Bruce McCulloch

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 20:52:51 +0800
 From: Jeff Philip <spoony@tartarus.uwa.edu.au>
 Subject: Oz BDO Tour

 What's going on with this supposed Big Day Out Tour??  I saw that their
 management guaranteed their appearance on the BDO but I haven't seen
 anything about them in the BDO ads or on JJJ.

 Does anyone know what's going on with this?

 Seeya

 Jeff

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 09 Dec 1996 08:00:03 -0600
 From: kgroves@tej.com
 Subject: Ben gets NBC airplay

 Lat Saturday Ben was heard playing drums on Fleming & John's "I'm Not Afraid"
 for promos for NBC's Sat. night "thrillogy".

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 11:54:36 -0500 (EST)
 From: the most popular girl <joelle.jaffe@yale.edu>
 Subject: me babbling

 a few stupid things i wanted to say/ask.

 1. all this stuff about a rage against the machine song is untrue, right?
 rumors?  somebody set me straight on this one. . .

 2. i got the ben folds five piano score straight from japan.  all i have
 to say is wow.  i had been playing around with chords and stuff on my own,
 but now i can play piano just like ben. . .  okay, not quite. . .  but i'm
 still having fun. . .  this book is amazing!!

 3. i remember hearing stuff about ben folds stickers and t-shirts and
 other stuff like that. . .  how do i get me some?  if somebody could fill
 me in, i would be terribly grateful. . .

 that's about it for now. . .  thanks!!

 joelle.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 "I see that there is evil and I know that there is good,
 and the in-betweens I never understood.
 Won't you look at me?  I'm crazy, but I get the job done.
 Yeah, I'm crazy but I get the job done. . ."
                                    --Ben
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 19:13:53 PST
 From: evilbison@juno.com
 Subject: Any Ohio Ben Heads out there besides me?

 Hey, this is my first post to the Lay-Z-Boy O' Wonder Digest. I thought I
 was one of the only BFV (roman numeral 5) fan in the world. It's great to
 learn that I'm no longer alone. I have been into em' since I first heard
 "Underground" on the radio. Two weeks later, they were in town
 (Cleveland). Unfortunatly, I missed them. Anyone know any other
 Cleveland area tour dates for the boys? If so, get back to me
 EvilBison@juno.com

 PS.
 What is with that so-called TMBG fan who said to boycott Ben and friends?
 Lighten Up man!

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 08:17:54 +1100 (EST)
 From: Derek Scott <scoco@netspace.net.au>
 Subject: whinge.

 Hello.

         Sorry everyone, but I'm about to have a whinge. I'm down here in
 Australia and just about everytime I read this most excellent mailing list
 letter, I hear about someone in the Northern Hemisphere complaining that
 they want to see BF5 AGAIN. Please spare a thought for us Southern
 Hemisphere-ites (and other citizens in less-accessible parts of the world)
 who have not yet experienced the fantasticness of BF5 live. We have to wait
 until January for the Big Day Out at which Ben Folds Five is one of the
 bands playing. Basically, if you guys keep screaming for more you're keeping
 BF5 from coming down here (well, it could happen!). Okay, I think that's
 about all.

 Claire :)

 Oh, btw, I really have nothing against you guys up there, butyou know what I
 mean..........

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Mon, 9 Dec 1996 21:08:58 -0500
 From: Jessica237@aol.com
 Subject: Re: Ben Got Married

 I heard on the radio today that Ben recently got married. He is now on his
 honeymoon and will be returning shortly to complete the new album. The album
 will be out in April. They said all this after they had played "Underground"
 which some people working in some company in New Jersey requested. The radio
 station was a radio station out of Eatontown, NJ. Did anyone else hear about
 Ben's marriage?

 Jess

    [The wedding supposedly was this week sometime. I hope to get details
 on this, if there is any "official" announcement. As mentioned at the
 top, the album is done and being mastered, and is coming out in March. -fjm]

 ==============================================================================

 Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996 12:58:26 GMT
 From: "A GARBI REG:00263121" <GARBIA-U@m4-arts.bham.ac.uk>
 Subject: British Press

 >  Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 00:22:17 -0500
 >  From: tkuri@ix.netcom.com
 >  Subject: Re: Q magazine
 >
 >  Q magazine choosed the BFF album as one of the best 10 album of 1996 in
 >  UK. Check it out.
 >
 >  All very well, but Vox mag put it in a special little box tucked
 away in a corner of the page entitled.... Worst Albums of 1996,
 alongside f***ing Sleeper.
    I'll try to get an e-mail address for this rag, and we can all
 sent hate mail to it.
     Select mag make no mention of it at all.
     Everyone thinks Manic Street Preachers have made the best album.
 I can't help but disagree. You've got BF5, Jonny Polonsky, Eels,
 Delgados, Suede (or London Suede to our American friends), Ash, Belle
 & Sebastian, and Lionrock. They rule, kids.

         Andy. xx

 ==============================================================================

 [Happy Anniversary, everyone! This Sunday, December 15, marks the first 
 anniversary of the Magical Armchair. Thanks to everyone for making it a 
 great success - 167 digests and nearly 1000 members in the first year! -fjm]


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From DESS123@aol.comWed Dec 18 07:44:56 1996
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 1996 10:25:27 -0500
From: DESS123@aol.com
To: maynard@mail.oeonline.com
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #167

I know the U.S. tour starts in April, but does anybody have any dates yet?
 By the way, TMBG guy, lighten up you half a sissy!