THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #207 - March 27, 1997
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR, Issue #207
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Topics for Today:
'Whatever...' CD package design.
Good News/Bad News
that Astoria gig
Re: My two cents of new album review
Review
Lighten up, review-boy.
pot references
BFF- Vince Guaraldi
At least he hasn't stolen from Horace Silver yet...
washington date?
NY or no NY?
BF5 in Austin on 4/18
Too Slow?
Re: BFF: "distorted bass"
Opening Band for the Phily show.
Just another review...and "Smoke"
Ballad Hater Misses the Point
Finally!
FREE VIDEO!!!
BFF on THE BOX
Here's another One From me
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 97 12:51:00 PST
From: "Riley, Adrian D [DBE]" <A.D.Riley@lmu.ac.uk>
Subject: 'Whatever...' CD package design.
I don't know if anyone else has noticed (or even cares for that matter), but
I thought I'd put my education & experience to use and comment on the
'anti-design'/ 'anti-alternativerock-CD-packaging' of 'Whatever'.
The CD notes confess that the band had a hand in the design and I reckon the
handwritten text & badly printed Polaroid photos are a deliberate attempt to
avoid poncy/arty packaging that so many bands CDs display. It looks poorly
designed and rather cheap when put alongside the usual stuff in your local
record store. Of course, that doesn't stop it from being immensely cool for
exactly the same reasons.
The colour of the CD itself (which clashes horribly with the insert) is the
exact same shade of orange as the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion album
'orange'. Deliberate? I think so, 'orange' could be seen as typical poncy
packaging (an all-silver and orange cardboard pack with minimal sans serif
text).
I think BFFs packaging is just an extension of their attitude to the
'alternative' rock scene. Good on them I say.
(comments are based on the UK edition - packaging may differ in other
countries - I'd like to know if your copy looks different to mine).
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 07:50:33 -0500 (EST)
From: ADuralde@aol.com
Subject: Good News/Bad News
The good news is that record-store-employee boyfriend snagged me a promo copy
of Whatever two weeks ago, and I have been listening to nothing else since,
and I love the whole damn thing from ballads to rave-ups. (Best BFF Moment to
Date: sitting in my car in a dark, empty parking lot holding hands with the
above-mentioned b.f., listening to "Evaporated." Maybe you had to be there.)
Bad News -- I don't get to see BFF when they play Edgefest in Dallas, because
it's during the USA Film Festival and I, uh, kinda work there and it would
look bad if I ducked out to go catch a show, even from my current favorite
band. I just get all (*&)(#$&)(*#&$)(@#*$&)(@#*$ when I even think about it.
But such is life. Thanks for tipping me to the "hidden track" -- i taped the
cd and have been rewinding after the end of "Evaporated," so i've been
missing it.
Fave tracks (if anyone cares): Dwarf, Brick, Kate, Battle, Steven, Evaporated
-- but all are ultra-fab.
Bye bye bye bye bye bye bye, well I've come to take you home,
Alonso
(An arranged marriage is not so good)
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 12:47:19 +0000
From: Marsh <winkie@easynet.co.uk>
Subject: that Astoria gig
Kelly from Swansea wrote (amongst other things)
> The evening began slowly with support bands Fountains of Wayne
> (Kula Shaker Junior?!,- London only), and Komeda (Retro, seventies,
that was Fountains of Wayne???? surely not...
> Unfortunately, we missed out on having such gems as Jackson Cannery
> and Emaline (Fantastic melody!) performed to us, but instead got
No, Emaline was there, right after Missing The War!
Chris
___
"There are no rules here, only piles of mistakes
That we swear we'll learn from, then we just go ahead and make"
Dog's Eye View "What I Know Now"
winkie@easynet.co.uk
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 08:48:02 -0500 (EST)
From: Mitch Armbruster <marmbru@email.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: My two cents of new album review
Well, I haven't posted in a long time, but I got the new album last
Tuesday, and feel compelled to share my feelings!
Although everyone has a right to their own opinion, I have to disagree
with Jason Martin's opinion of the new album - i.e., too many slow songs
= bad album.
The new album is definitely a progression from the first one, which is the
way it should be. If it sounded just like the first, you would get bored
of it and wonder if they were a one-act show, like the Ramones or
something.
I think Ben and the boys just made the album they wanted to make and
didn't care what anyone else thought, and I thinks it is brilliant. They
won't be famous, but that is OBVIOUSLY no judge of talent. I am reminded
of older bands like XTC, Elvis Costello, etc., that were able to churn out
many albums of great material, even if some didn't have a killer single.
MY FAVORITE SONGS: Well, I really love about all of them. I guess my
least favorite ones are Fair and Smoke. Kate is a great little tune, and
Brick is one step short of masterpiece. (Hey, does anyone know the chortd
progression of Kate, at least the bridge part - I'm too lazy to figure it
out). I agree with others that you can
hear some Vince Guaraldi type stylings on the album. I hear it a little
bit in BowCCL, in the opening chord changes progression.
REALLY ODD SIMILARITIES: For some reason, when I first heard One Angry
Dwarf it reminded my a little bit of the first song off of Roxy Music's
Country Life album (circa 1974!) I don't know why, but it is just a little
connection, I guess because both are first tracks with a driving piano
opening. Also, Smoke reminds me a little bit of Lost in the Flood? off
the first Bruce Springsteen album in parts of it at least. Ok! I swear
I am not lost in the 70's!! I don't wear bellbottoms!!
WELL, thanks for reading my rantings. I have to go listen to the new
album again!!!!!
- Mitch Armbruster
Chapel Hill, NC
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 09:13:46 -0500
From: Brendan O'Neill <bon2onov@atlas.moa.net>
Subject: Review
Hello, bffers! In last week's Detroit Free Press, they had a very good
review of "Whatever" They gave it four stars. Read it at
www.freep.com/fun/sj/qsound/0316.1.htm I couldn't get it on here. Had a
Copy/paste problem. The hidden track is cool.
Novi High School
Novi Community Schools
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 09:28:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Brad654@aol.com
Subject: Lighten up, review-boy.
In a message dated 97-03-24 07:11:40 EST, you write:
<< there are TOO MANY FRIGGIN BALLADS ON THIS CD! BFF is all about high
energy, high performance music. >>
Seems to me BF5 is about whatever BF5 decides it's about. I like the record.
If you don't, don't listen to it.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 11:29:10 -0400 (AST)
From: Daniel MacEachern <dmaceach@is2.dal.ca>
Subject: pot references
I laughed when I read the post who suggested that BOWCCL would get some
attention because of its pot reference. You might be right. It's true that
an easy way to get
people to think you're cool is to mention marijuana - a lot of pot-smokers
seem to feel obligated to like something if it has to do with weed in any
way. Not everyone, but this whole resurgence of marijuana's popularity I
find very funny, just because I don't think it's such a big deal. I've
smoked it, whoop-de-doo. I don't feel the need to buy a Canadian flag with
a marijuana leaf instead of a maple leaf, or posters of aliens smoking
joints saying "take me to your dealer."
Get over your bad selves, it's only marijuana.
Daniel
Halifax
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 10:33:28 -0800
From: Jody Rosen <therosens@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: BFF- Vince Guaraldi
I find the comparisons between Ben's playing on "Selfless, Cold and
Composed" and Vince Guaraldi interesting. Suddenly, Tammy!, the
Lancaster, PA band which also uses a vocals-piano-bass-drums lineup,
covers Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy", perhaps one of the most famous "6th
grade piano lesson" type songs. If you hung out in the band room in high
school, you heard this song, because some twerp was sitting at the
Steinway reliving his formative years. God bless the twerps in Suddenly,
Tammy!
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 11:16:14 -0500 (EST)
From: Rahoolio@aol.com
Subject: At least he hasn't stolen from Horace Silver yet...
Gang,
Since there are still three or four bands BF5 hasn't been compared to, I
feel compelled to mark another one off the list...
I turned the car off during "Selfless, Cold and Composed" yesterday, and
as a result the song lingered in my head for a few minutes. To my surprise,
it eventually kind of morphed into "Your Gold Teeth II" by Steely Dan, from
"Katy (not, er, Kate) Lied". Yeah, and the Guaraldi thing is definitely
there too. In fact, at the record store where I work, we have many customers
who buy only jazz--and a couple of them have heard Ben on the stereo and
asked who it was, complimenting him on his playing. So the boy's good; the
jazz cats dig him. Hopefully Ben won't "outgrow" rock 'n' roll like Joe
Jackson before him...we need him around.
See y'all at the shows--
R.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 11:34:16 -0500 (EST)
From: David Aron Reaboi <dreaboi@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu>
Subject: washington date?
Has a Washington DC date been posted yet for this tour?
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 12:20:45 -0500
From: Mike Piccuirro <mikeman@pegasus.rutgers.edu>
Subject: NY or no NY?
Ok, by some act of divine intervention (and a helpful Japanese guy) I
got the CD about a month before it was released in the states. When I
heard about the free CD singles I made calls to about 10 different music
stores and finally found one which had the disks. Unfortunately, the
said CD merchant was not located near me but never-the-less that didn't
stop me. Now when I found out that they were playing in Phily at TLA I
was on those tickets like Oprah on a baked ham. Now it comes to my
attention that they are playing at Irving Plaza in NY, not 30 minutes
from my school and I'm trying to decide whether or not I should go.
Would this be overdoing it? Do I need help? I figure if the opening
band for the show is any good, I'll go. Does anybody know who is opening
for them? Is it the same band for the Phily show? -later.
homepage http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~mikeman
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 13:58:02 -0500 (EST)
From: NakedVegan@aol.com
Subject: BF5 in Austin on 4/18
The local paper XLent reports that BF5 will be playing Liberty Lunch here in
Austin on Friday 4/18.
Guess whose band will NOT be opening for them. (sniff)
Anyone from Austin here who wants to go to the show together, give me a call
(512-467-8516).
Michael Bluejay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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|---------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:13:39 -0500 (EST)
From: HanCran@aol.com
Subject: Too Slow?
Hey-
Anyone who this there's "too many ballads" or not enough up tempo stuff
should go buy the new Offspring album and shut the &%#* up. If you can't
appreciate good music, fast or slow, then you've got no business calling
yourself a BFF fan.
Hannah Cranna
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 13:25:27 -0600 (CST)
From: Bill Tatalovich <wt3@cec.wustl.edu>
Subject: Re: BFF: "distorted bass"
> I know there's no guitar in the new album. It's just the bass played
> high and distorted. It's a cool effect. The reason I thought there
> might be is because there are times when you can hear it, and a bass
> line. This is why I think the band did some over sampling, along with
> Ben singing over himself. Again, it all works, and I dig it.
Okay, I know that this is really being nitpicky, but it's actualy not
distorted, and it's not always played high. For the majority of the two
albums that are now out, Robert uses a fuzz pedal. Distortion is My
Bloody Valentine....fuzz is Ben Folds Five. For that matter, REM used a
lot of fuzz guitar (and for that matter, distortion and delay and all
sorts of funky stuff) on _Monster_. Okay, forgive me for being so
nitpicky, but I AM a bass player...(oh, and Robert may have bought another
pedal...I still don't own the album due to being poor, but I've heard it a
few times)
Oh yeah. Ben Folds Five at the Galaxy in St. Louis on April 22. Anyone
else here (besides Megan, who already mentioned that she's going) planning
on going? Wanna meet up beforehand or something?
I guess I'll give my take on the new album. It's true, not as many fast
songs, a lot of ballads. Some of the ballads (namely "Brick" and
"Evaporated") are just beautiful though. Jesus, did anyone read the
lyrics to "Brick"? That's so very very depressing....I love it.
Okay, I guess I'll get out of here. See y'all around the Armchair...
Bill Tatalovich, who is glad he is not in southern Ohio right now like he
usually is, considering how BFF is skipping southern Ohio...
wt3@cec.wustl.edu
"Look at me, look at me....I'm as useless as can be..."
--Bob Mould, "Anymore Time Between"
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 14:30:30 -0500
From: Mike Piccuirro <mikeman@pegasus.rutgers.edu>
Subject: Opening Band for the Phily show.
> Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 20:30:53 -0500 (EST)
> From: Treesapper@aol.com
> Subject: philadelphia
>
> Hey...any philly fans on the Armchair? Be in touch if you're going to the
> 4/30 show at the TLA...what's the deal with the opening band, Komeda? Are
> they local?
You can check out info on the band Komeda who is opening for BFF in
Phily at TLA at:
http://www.mc.hik.se/benno/Home/Bands/Bands/Komeda/komeda.html
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 13:30:03 -0800
From: Eric Ebert <ebert@cpg.mcw.edu>
Subject: Just another review...and "Smoke"
Haven't posted in awhile...just wanted to give my opinion on
"Whatever...", even though it's exactly like everybody else's!
The new album is great; it gets a good listen from me every day in my
car. I do agree with the many people who stated that it has to grow on
you. I didn't care for it much when I brought it home last Tuesday - I
kind of hate to admit this, but I actually fell asleep during
"Selfless..."! But all it takes is that one song to take up residence in
your gray matter, and that's what happened with "BoWCCL". It wasn't long
before I worked my way up to diggin' the whole album (except
"Cigarette"...not real sure of the purpose of that one). I also see the
point made by those that stated that there are too many mellow songs...I
was hoping for some more up-tempo tunes like "Jackson Cannery" or "Uncle
Walter" myself. But then I realized that it's not fair to expect their
sophmore release to be the same kind of album that the first one was; who
wants that boring "Let's-Follow-the-Same-Formula-Cuz-it-Worked" crap (ala
Hootie-and-the-Blowfish) anyway? All in all, a wonderful follow-up that
can only be made better by seeing them extend north of Chicago and book a
gig in Milwaukee (hope hope hope)...
Btw, does anybody else get chills up their spine when listening to
"Smoke"? I know people have expressed their love for "Brick" &
"Selfless...", but for me "Smoke" is the tune to get emotional over.
One more day `til the They Might Be Giants 2 disc compilation!
--
Eric (who has given up the usage of his nickname, "Erokk",
for Lent) <ebert@cpg.mcw.edu>
"Sanity, you're a madman!" - The Tick
"What's that blue thing doing here?" - TMBG
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 15:58:19 -0500 (EST)
From: THE YANKEE <mcdonpj3@wfu.edu>
Subject: Ballad Hater Misses the Point
Some guy from WVU wrote:
Where's the quirky lyrics and inventiveness of Underground? You can't
count Dwarf, Dumped, of Steven becaus those were old songs. Only Battle
and Kate stand out among the 9 I've never heard before.
Overall rating: 7-8
If you're new to the group, by all means get the first record first. Find
out what BFF is supposed to mean. That album is easily a 10 in any book.
(end ridiculous comments)
Jason, you're totally missing the point of the album and BFF. Sure, the
band rocks harder than just about anyone, but that's not why they're
there. If that was the case, they'd be half the band they are.
The last time I saw the 5, Ben played a "risky encore" in F that
sounded a bit like Jackson Browne, that was absolutely gorgeous. Some
idiot in the crowd yelled, "too slow!" in the middle of it. Robert and
Darren came out for two more songs, and before they went into Jackson
Cannery, Robert saido whoever yelled 'too slow,' F*&^ You!!"
That song was "Evaporated." (Maybe you were that guy yelling)
The band's goal, as it says in the semi-funny semi-meaning ful liner
notes, says it was made to end the boring stream of pop that is out
there. If the boys eschewed ballads that are quality songs (which they
are) then they'd be no better. If you're going to reject the ballads on
the album because they don't fit into the
paradign of what you like because they're
different tempo or tone, you've become the
kind of fan that BFF is tired of seeing
other bands write for. Darren and Robert
support these songs live, and they do have
their chances to shine.
Lighten up and open your ears to another side of the band. I hope
the next album shows us something as different as this was from the original.
Patrick
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 16:17:26 -0500 (EST)
From: Michele <mmenuck@umich.edu>
Subject: Finally!
Thanks to whoever posted the "BFF in Detroit" info.
I am now the proud holder of my very own ticket to the April 25th show at
St. Andrews Hall. Yay. The best $10 I ever spent.
Menuck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michele R. Menuck
University of Michigan
mmenuck@umich.edu
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mmenuck
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 16:24:52 -0500 (EST)
From: POET060875@aol.com
Subject: FREE VIDEO!!!
The new album ROX!!!! When I purchased the album at Tower Records, I also
received a free bumper sticker and home video.... The video is great. It
was shot at their home recording studio in Chapel Hill. Ben, Robert, and
Darren once again prove that they are not only talented musicians, but
hilarious individuals. For anyone who can get their hands on this FREE
promotional video --- DO IT!! It's a great inside look at those wonderful
and lovely boys we call Ben Folds Five....
Carrie
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 17:17:05 -0400
From: Doug_McVehil@Sonymusic.Com
Subject: BFF on THE BOX
The "Battle Of Who Could Care Less" video will be available on THE BOX
music video network starting Wednesday 3/26.
Just tune in to THE BOX, dial the local request phone number and order
Selection # 581 to see the video on demand, when you want to see it, as
often as you want to see it.
THE BOX = Music Television YOU control.
Thanks,
- Doug.
==============================================================================
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 16:23:46 -0600
From: jbuff@uit.net
Subject: Here's another One From me
I want to congradulate Jason Martin for writing a blunt opinion of the
new album. I agree with everything he said, just not to the same
degree. Every comment is true, especially about the ballads and the
fact that the album doesn't have that same "pick you up, put you into
the groove, and never let you down" feel to it the first album had. I
love the album, but I'd rather hear the upbeat songs then all those
ballads. Although Brick really works. It's an amazing song. THe other
ones just don't quite do it for me. Their just pretty good, and I
expect so much more from BFF. Okay, that's it.
Brett
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Till beads of sunlight hit me in the morning