THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #203 - March 21, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #203
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Topics for Today:
My late (but topical in the U.S.!) review of 'Whatever..'
Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #200
Belle and Sebastian
I WANT A F&*^ING SINGLE!!
Blur...
What to do when you have't enjoyed your McDonald's MuckBurger
waiting in line...
Re: Battle of... video
Whatever and Ever Amen
Re: CD
BFF and CHICKENS...
Web page mishaps and SKA
Toronto TAUNTS!
Wow--zowie--(truly amazed)
Song for the Dumped (BFF)
What else?
BFF Album Review
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 12:02:19 -0500 (EST)
From: LevinSJ@aol.com
Subject: My late (but topical in the U.S.!) review of 'Whatever..'
Hello Fellow Armchair People,
Having had 'Whatever...' for weeks now, I've chosen, of all days, the day
of release in the U.S. (everyone's heard it now!!) to delight you all with my
views on it. (Basically, I couldn't be arsed to write anything before now!)
Well... it's a stunning album. I think their change of direction (e.g. the
introduction
of strings, organs, samplers etc.) is appropriate in that it adds much
greater depth
to the melodies, but it does tend to take away the authentic, live, 'quick,
stick that on tape', feeling of the debut album.
I was also surprised by the majority of down-beat tracks on
'Whatever...' ('Missing The War', 'Evaporated' etc.), but these are
masterful in their own right, regardless of mood, and undeniably amazing
to listen closely to. Perhaps I'm just moaning 'cause I'd already listened
to 'One Angry Dwarf..' 'Steven's..' and 'Song For..' literally hundreds of
times before 'Whatever...' was released, these tracks being the three most
'up-beat' on the album (with the exception of 'Battle..').
However, having said that, BFF do seem to have created an album
musically far more superior to their first, even if on first listen
it is not what might have been expected. In a similar vain to the majority
of talented bands recording their second albums, BFF seem to have widened
their horizons, and hence, evolved both musically and commercially.
Anybody agree/disagree with me? Any comments are welcome (they are what
keeps the Magical Armchair alive)...
Steve...
... You just smiled like a bank teller, blankly telling me, have a nice life
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 12:56:48 -0500 (EST)
From: Freakboy69@aol.com
Subject: Re: THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #200
I just wanted to tell you that they are playing Bff like mad in Nashville,
Tn. I guess TBOWCCL is their first single. I heard them on not just one but
two stations!! In the country music capital of the world! Also one of the
stations was giving away the CD before we could buy it. It seems as if our
boys have blown up. I guess we can officially start saying "I knew them
when..."
Drew
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 18:49:14 -0000
From: Tom Whitaker <tom@tw.prestel.co.uk>
Subject: Belle and Sebastian
It was having heard a track by this great band that I discovered the first
BF5 album. Failing to find anything by them, and seeing the piano on the
cover, I got the BF5 on the listening post and was hooked. Since then, I've
found the Belle and Sebastian album, 'If You're Feeling Sinister', and
thoroughly recommend it to anyone.
Is anyone here a fan? What else have they done?
"She was into S&M and bible studies,
Not everone's cup of tea she would admit to me"
That is all.
TOM WHITAKER.
Hollywood Cental -
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/3139.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 17:38:41 -0500
From: Andrea Merrifield <hapfield@mix-net.net>
Subject: I WANT A F&*^ING SINGLE!!
I WENT TO MY LOCAL "INDEPENDENT" MUSIC STORE AND ASKED ABOUT THE BEN FOLDS
FIVE SINGLES......AND THE WOMAN LOOKED AT ME AS THOUGH I HAD SQUIRRELS
CONSUMING MY LIMBS!!! SO I SHOWED HER THE COUPON AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AS
THOUGH I HAD SQUIRRELS CONSUMING MY LIMBS AND A COUNTERFIT COUPON!!!!!
AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!
thanx
spot
PS sorry , just expressing my pain.........
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 17:32:58 -0500 (EST)
From: berlinme@student.lansing.cc.mi.us
Subject: Blur...
To you people who were talking about Blur:
Yes! I like them a lot, too. I haven't got the new album yet, but I've
heard the first single and it's really good. (Especially the wooo-hooooo!
part.) They were on 120 Minutes last night and they played the video for
"She's SO High." I want to get the new album. If anyone has it, mail me
privately and tell me your thoughts on it. It would be much appreciated.
Melanie A. Berlin
"Say something once, why say it again?"
------Talking Heads
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 19:21:15 +1000
From: Very Fruity Indeed <ad@healey.com.au>
To: Ben Folds Five Mailing List <maynard@mail.oeonline.com>
Hello people,
I love the Whatever and Ever Amen t-shirts!!! Got a story. I got the CD
for free, coz it was like the 30th CD I bought from that place and you get
every 10th free. So, I got a free CD and a free t-shirt. Love the CD to
death. Who cares if it doesn't sound like the first CD. It's new and it's
cool!!! Shirts... Impressions? Too plain? For me, I think it's great.
BYE!!!
Ad.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 11:40:20 +0000 (GMT)
From: Matthew Bloom <mbloom@newport.ac.uk>
Subject: What to do when you have't enjoyed your McDonald's MuckBurger
Last week I bought a burger from McDonalds. The picture on the bright
neon display showed a succulent piece of meat surrounded by heaps of the
finest glistening mayonnaise and the most juicy tomatoes fit only for a
Roman Emperer, all encased in a fluffy tasty bun sprincled with the most
appetising sesame seeds.
But of course it tasted like crap.
The girl that served it to me made no eye contact, smiled only when she
glanced down at the notice on her till saying "Smile", and shoved my
change into my hand as if I'd stolen the few measily coins from her dying
Grandma.
LUCKILY, I had a gheto blaster and a copy of the fine new Ben Folds CD, with
me at the time, and after a short trip to the Gents to feal queasy from
the "special" sauce, I approached the counter.
"Give me my money back, give me my money back, you bitch!" it played.
She replied in monotone, still not making eye contact, "Sorry (Vacant
smile) we can't do refunds after 11:30, or breakfasts after 10:30.
Sorry. Have a nice day..."
Oh well...thanks for trying, Ben
Matt
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 09:46:36 -0500
From: Steve Deame <sdeame@iona.com>
Subject: waiting in line...
Hi all:
I was one of hopefully many who bought the new CD last night at midnight. I
had the misfortune of doing this at Tower Records in Boston. The line was
full of Aerosmith fans(nightmare city...no offense), while the new CD played
in its entirety(I was in line a hour).
I finally made it to the cashier by 12:15 and she hands me the Aerosmith CD
and I throw it back and asked for BFF.(They had about 10 or so by the looks
of it behind her) Based by her look, I must have been the first non- buying
Aerosmith customer. Her look made the whole wait worthwhile.
I should add that I have been listening to the album for a week on SonicNet
so I figured I would go home and crash.....WRONG. I put it to my cars CD
changer and right, I was hooked.....I ended up listening to the whole
thing....my favorites....
1)Brick- unbelievable song
2)Kate-
3)Song for the Dumped- I can't wait to play this song at my housewarming
party next month. The guys will be high fiving and the women will be
disgusted ;)
The only problem. This is going to make these guys huge. I can't understand
people being disappointed with the CD. This CD RULES. I still hope they play
Mama Kins when they come back to Boston in the next few months. Pretty
apropo isn't it? Aerosmith is a part owner of Mama Kins!!
Take care
spd
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 14:50:46 GMT0BST
From: "K.V.SUTTON" <GG9C6SKV@swansea.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: Battle of... video
After watching the fantastic Battle of Who Could Care Less for the
millionth time (on video)I was wondering whether anybody could tell
me who the fourth bloke on it is. He turns up after about
three-quarters of the video has played, in a leather jacket, with a
moustache and seems to adjust Ben's microphone. This is his only
appearance as far as I know, so is this an intended special guest or
is it an accidental error where somebody got in the way? HELP!
Who out there is well up on this enough to help me answer this
question?!
Thanks for now,
Kelly.
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 13:39:26 -0500
From: Fred Antonangeli <fantonan@bcn.net>
Subject: Whatever and Ever Amen
Well, I ventured out today at approximately 9:50 am to be the first one
at my local cd shop to pick up "Whatever and Ever Amen." They hadn't
even put them out yet when they let me in, I had to ask for one..let's
see it's about 1:30 pm here and I've been listening to it ever since I
bought it. It's brilliant! And contrary to what the reviewer said in
Request Magazine..this cd does leave me with a permanent feeling of
elation, and the ballads are wonderful! Of course, what do reviewers
know anyways, anything they say that isn't all that great is usually
awesome. Oh..and by the way, there was a small article on the boys in
Entertainment Weekly, the March 21st issue, there's even a little
picture.
Sarah :)
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 15:00:02 -0500 (EST)
From: "Donna L. Hokanson" <hokansod@goldey.gbc.edu>
Subject: Re: CD
Got my CD today during lunch! I'm so happy, happy, happy. Can't wait
til April 30. Have listened twice so far.
Donna
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 13:37:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Kristin Muchesko <woodnymph@hotmail.com>
Subject: BFF and CHICKENS...
YAY YAY YAY! New Ben Folds today!! I am so happy. I didn't even want to
go to work. I've only listened to it once all the way through. First
impression...much slower than 1st album. I love "Evaporated," and "One
Angry Dwarf..." But, to whoever it was who said that in "Fair" Darren and
Robert sounded like CHICKENS, you're right. I was laughing so hard in my
car when I heard it, I almost went off the road. :) Good song, tho. Just
wanted to share my new cd excitement!
With love and frolicking...Kristin
"I'm so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis."
-Zaphod Beeblebrox
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 21:57:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Clayton W Nicholson <cwn48400@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu>
Subject: Web page mishaps and SKA
> From: MS KIMBERLY HORN <QPQJ32A@prodigy.com>
> Subject: oi oi rudies!!!
> aloha...
> just wondering...
> out of all of the fellow ben fold 5 obsessors...
> who likes ska? and/or britpop?
> also, where is everyone from and how old is everyone?
Had to throw out some comments, sorry that I'm an issue behind! I got
swamped with several all at once.
Here at the University of Central Florida, we just finished up a great
concert consisting of The Plaqueheads, The Kosmo Kramers, The Groovenics
,Ska Humbug, and Less Than Jake. A great show. Got way out of hand. I'm
still feeling the bruises. The groovenics put on a great set, and are a very
diverse band, if you have ever actually heard them. They are still pretty
small, and I only know of them from my hometown down in West Palm Beach.
Less Than Jake was incredible. They dealt out pez dispensers and CD
samplers. And deodorant, but I think that was just to crack on the crowd.
To keep some continuity with the Armchair, has anyone else run across
problems with BFFWEB? I get a very rude reply from the server displaying a
message to the general effect of "Error in update info while processing your
request, Bite Me".
Actually, it didn't tell me to masticate on my person, but that's how I feel
it is treating me. I'm using a pretty standard network connection, dialup
ISP to my college server, with Netscape Gold 3.0 and Trumpet.
Also, what word on the East Coast gigs?
Adventure, excitement, a jedi craves not these things.
Ask not what your country has done to you,
but what you can do to your country.
Acid Rain
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 22:12:49 -0500 (EST)
From: "Giuliano G. Valentino" <val@rogerswave.ca>
Subject: Toronto TAUNTS!
Well I, with money in hand and a song in my heart, took the Battle Sprint
and the subway (humming Underground as I gladly gave the clerk my
hard-earned toonie) to downtown Toronto with interests to procure a copy of
UNIX in a Nutshell, The Non-Designers Design Book, and the new BFF.
My first stop after the bookstore (a good omen that I found both books) was
HMV. No Whatever and Ever, but rather the second Underground Single with
the Live Tracks on it! Cool...I'll get that and the new Bosstones record.
So I saunter on to Sams...no new rcord..but a Japanese Import of the first
album with Tom and Mary (Tom and Viv?) on it. Cool....$50...not cool, but
if anyone in Toronto wants it, it's there!
I'll trot down to Towers...hey is that Kim Hughes in the Edge window? Maybe
I'll run into Vic Chestnut!
Hmmm..we appear to be Whatever deficient here as well...oh I'll look for
some singles...my oh my it's the British Import of BoWCCL. I'll get
that...they also have the first underground single...
I go to the cash and they have BFF mailing list postcards there (Ben
piloting a ship...help me on this one...). I pick it up and show it to the
clerk and in my most exasperated-and-I-have-a-long-trip-home voice say
"Where is this album?"
"Oh...it's been pushed back a week....I think"
Can anyone confirm this, or am I gonna have to drive down there again tomorrow?
Otherwise, I am now FULLY convinced that the city of Toronto, as an entity,
a collective conscious, a collective if you will, hates me!
A Haligonian out of water:
---------------------
Giuliano G. Valentino Oh I used to be disgusted
val@rogerswave.ca and now I try to be amused.
Newmarket, Ontario But since their wings have got rusted,
Canada you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
http://www.ceogroup.com/Employees/Giuliano/Index.html
==============================================================================
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 22:45:48 -0500
From: JOE SHANAFELT <LaRubia@compuserve.com>
Subject: Wow--zowie--(truly amazed)
To all of those of you listening to the couple of posts saying "Whatever"
isn't as good as the original: DON'T TRUST THEM!!! FIND OUT FOR
YOURSELVES!!! I bought it the instant my local record store opened, and
it's been about 12 hours. It hasn't ceased to play. Every song is my
favorite; when I was listening to "Kate" moments ago, I thought, "Now this
is the best"; now "Smoke" is the best. I am ecstatic to have this precious
jewel in my music collection. This is not the devoted rantings of a crazed
fan, these are the devoted rantings of a very picky musical critic (who
happens to be a fan, OK, a crazed fan). If you don't have it, buy it
now... It's worth every penny of the $12.97 I paid. Much love and respect
for you wonderful bff fans (read: people who actually know what good music
is!), Carrie Shanafelt
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 15:40:59 +0800 (PST)
From: Paula <paula@freemail.webquest.com>
Subject: Song for the Dumped (BFF)
Hello, everyone! This is my first post. Anyway, I was just wondering if
Song for the Dumped was supposed to be sung half in Japanese, because Ben
Folds Five was featured in a Japanese show called Top Music (it's in NHK,
for all you people who have cable, like me). They played that song and they
sung the first part in Japanese. Cool, huh? So there, that's all I have to
say. Bye!
Paula Guevara
paula@freemail.webquest.com
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 97 07:37:04 UT
From: Bruce Herrier <BHerrier@msn.com>
Subject: What else?
I'm sure that the Armchair will be flooded with comments on the new album,
so I'll try & keep mine brief. GREAT ALBUM (although I think Brick and
Smoke are a bit weak). My favorite track has got to be Selfless, Cold,
and Composed. Does anyone else think the piano line from this one sounds
like Vince Guaraldi? (For those of you who don't know, he's the one who
did the "Peanuts" TV specials, amongst other things.) Not being a
musician, I'm not sure how to describe why I think it sounds like Guaraldi
- maybe one of you many piano players can help me out here. As long as
I'm being analytical, I think "Fair" has to be the "Jellyfishiest" song
they've yet done, and "One Angry Dwarf" is the catchiest & would have made
the best single. That's it - must go & listen to the album for the 5th
consecutive time.
==============================================================================
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 21:13:13 +1000
From: Very Fruity Indeed <ad@healey.com.au>
Subject: BFF Album Review
I guess someone will have already typed out the review printed in Drum Media
this week. If not, it basically says well done to Ben and Co. for an
excellent album. And Frank, you are soooo special... I WANT MY NAME IN AN
ALBUM COVER!!!!
BYE!!!
Ad.
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