THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
The Ben Folds Five Digest
Issue #368 - June 21, 1997
Magical Armchair Digest Saturday, June 21 1997 Volume 01 : Number 368
THE MAGICAL ARMCHAIR
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TOPICS IN THIS DIGEST:
Re: religious connotations and antagonism
bff content
Re: One of the issues
lunagurl
NUVO
re: NUVO's response
aloha chick-e-dees!.adios!
BFF play on 770 Radio K in Mpls
Album of the Month
Live "Tom and Mary" and "Emaline"
BFF review in NUVO
Summerstage concert.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:02:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: POP QUEEN <edurand@emerald.tufts.edu>
Subject: Re: religious connotations and antagonism
As a neophyte to the M.A., I have to say that the muckraking level, while
amusing, is a little on the hostile side. I propose we tone it right on
down by refocusing our attentions on the question of "religious"
references, which I too am intrigued by. While it's all well and good
that Kate handed out the Bhagavad Ghita [for those who will now pounce on
my (mis)spelling of this sacred text, I am quoting directly from my 8th
grade world civ. text book, so go rant at McGraw-Hill], should we not also
delve into the vast existential and philosophical implications of BFF?
No, I am not as full of shit as that last sentence just sounded. What I
love about Ben's lyrics is the absolute accuracy they bring to images and
emotions, and even if they are absurd they make you shake your head and
say, "Absolutely." Case in point: "The last few nights or so I've seen
you in my dreams/ I just can't get rid of you like you got rid of me" from
"Fair" [I paraphraseda bit there, I know]. An unerring depiction of
post-breakup delusions, yet on another level (here comes the English
major) this line bespeaks the universal insecurity we all share. Whoah,
somebody stick a fork in me, 'cause I'm done! My point is, let's not
twaddle around in the minefield of organised religion, so people get
offended and write long posts like this one (watch out, we could have a
Disney boycott on our hands erelong...); instead, just muse. My $0.02.
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
emily k. durand
"You didn't tell me you were gonna scream 'Black rage!!';
I almost pissed myself."
--- Banky
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:37:04 -0500
From: excandescent@thenexus.com
Subject: bff content
um, first, about that cancer chain mail thing, even though i'm
further contributing to a non-bff thread, i got it myself during the
school semester and i was concerned, so i forwarded it to a bunch of
people only to find out that the aol american cancer society address was
invalid, and it's pretty much a hoax..sucks huh?
and about summerstage..do they allow taping there? because i'd
love to get a tape of it, and im gonna do it if we can bring recorders
last, did anyone read that caroline records bff photo search
thing? that's pretty cool..i wish i had some pictures, but i dont. i
just picked up on how whoever wrote the letter kept referring to them as
"the ben folds five" and robert is quoted as saying "it's not THE ben
folds five, mother-[bleep]" :) (dont wanna offend anyone, but any kind
of censorship offends me me more than what's being censored. but thats
just me)..i'm getting really anal about that kind of thing. i just HATE
it when someone spells soundgarden as two words. some people are weird
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:25:38 -0400
From: "Fred Antonangeli" <fantonan@bcn.net>
Subject: Re: One of the issues
Hey folks..I've decided to come forth and post something, not necessarily
worthy of being read, but hey, it's your call. To the person who saw the
video for "Kate"...where did you see it?! The only video I've seen to date
is "Uncle Walter," I mean I stay up late at night hoping to catch a mere
glimmer of a video on MTV, but nothing. And of course, my school only gets
MuchMusic as a music station, which is really a good station...and they
didn't play any of them this past semester. Umm..there was something else
too....oh, I've yet to read the actual gossip about the Farrah
incident..but, I laughed myself silly...I mean, now, because of what she
said on Conan, I can never enjoy looking at clouds again. There was one
more thing..oh yes, anyone read Alternative Press lately? Lil article about
the boys..a nice one line tale about picante sauce and someone's...how
shall I put it..."2nd brain," just want to keep this a G-rated message for
all the kids out there. :) In any event, I was reading it in a store, and I
just started laughing, people started to stare, and it could have gotten
ugly, but I calmy returned the magazine to the rack and slowly walked from
the store.
Sarah :)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 01:13:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: SweetyX1@aol.com
Subject: lunagurl
If you took the time, or even know how to read, you wouldn't waste the time
of BFF fans who actually read the letter to post "unsubscribe" notices. We
have better things to read about than a whole issue with only one posting
from you. Maybe if you knew the correct way to unsubscribe you wouldn't taint
our lovely mailing. I am content with the Magical Armchair. I think it's
great. Sorry you don't.
Somebody please help me find out when BFF is coming to Dallas. I am going
through withdrawl. :o)~
Hasta la bye bye,
Deidre
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 01:05:47 -0500
From: Clotho@webtv.net (David Shapiro)
Subject: NUVO
Hey everyone! Thanks for letting NUVO know what we thought of their
article. However, you didn't need to be quite so rude. But, hey, we
got their attention at least.
They know who I am. I told them I was responsible, so I'm expecting an
e-mail from them. I'll keep everyone posted.
Dave
- ------------------------------------------
Proud to be the treasurer of the David Shapiro Fan Club! (still looking
for a President)
- ------------------------------------------
"I think the really sad thing about animals is the fact that they don't
have highly developed brains like we do, so they can never have deep,
intellectual thoughts like, 'I'm going to kill this other animal just
because he's different from me.' Wait a minute..." --Me
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 03:18:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Inbloom944@aol.com
Subject: re: NUVO's response
All I want to say is right on to all who mailed NUVO in response to Ryan
Downing's review. Now, I don't live anywhere near the location of that
magazine, but if it is a publication associated with a "hip-hop FIEND" (lol),
I think that should pretty much tell everyone what kind of mag. it is.
Anyone could tell by reading Downing's article that he obviously hasn't
listened to the album very closely or at least didn't pay attention to the
lyrics. An obvious hip-hop "fiend" himself, Downing must be into those
average pop bands that don't stick around for more than a month or two...
hardly a person who should be writing music reviews. But, you know that's
just my opinion and I am sorry if anyone reading this is into hip-hop... no
offense intended, I just think that music critics should be a little more
broad-minded when it comes to limiting the music they listen to... it just
doesn't make since to me.
Just my two cents...
"the cruelest lies are often told without a word / the kindest truths are
often spoken, never heard"
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 07:37:43, -0500
From: QPQJ32A@prodigy.com (MS KIMBERLY HORN)
Subject: aloha chick-e-dees!.adios!
well, it's been nice knowing you guys and all...but i'm leaving..
no offense, but i think that this list was getting tiresome..
i love ben folds five...but a lot of people..like some unnamed
authoritative people were way too uptight..i guess that's why i never
did write anything
if you guys want to keep in touch, send email to QPQJ32A@prodigy.com
or vertigrl@hotmail.com
we can discuss ALL KINDS of music....
if you guys know about a bff show in hawaii, please email me....or if
i ever see them here, i'll send word over...
well, i'm off....talk to you cool-cats later!
seferina lozano
____
seferina lozano
vertigrl@hotmail.com
skankinswinger@hotmail.com
QPQJ32A@prodigy.com
QPQJ32D@prodigy.com
cavalry of swingers
[c.o.s.]
a new zine!
sunmoonstar.
(coming soon!)
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 97 09:36:15 -0500
From: Dawn Messerly <toast@winternet.com>
Subject: BFF play on 770 Radio K in Mpls
Hey, Twin Citizens! Was anyone else listening to 770 Radio K this
morning? They played 'Steven's Last Night' followed by the Toasters'
'Dave Goes Crazy'. Cooool. Makes one feel the loss of REV 105 just a
tiny bit less ...
DM
demesserly@aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 08:37:37 -0600
From: Shawn Huckaby <BShawn@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Album of the Month
Hi everyone. Just thought everyone would like to know that Stereo
Review magazine just picked WAEA as 'Album of the Month' for their July
issue. Here's the review:
Shawn Huckaby
*******************************************************************
BEN FOLDS: A DIFFERENT PIANO MAN
In a medium that remains driven by guitars or electronic keyboard tom-
foolery, Ben Folds pounds an acoustic piano, and the result is like
nothing you've ever heard. Imagine a high IQ Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Joel
without schmaltz, Todd Rundgren before antipop snobbery, a cutting-edge
Elton John.
Swirl them all together with an uncensored, let-the-chips-fall libretto
about everyday life in a college town, and you'll have a rough idea of
the musical landscape of Whatever and Ever Amen, the second album from
Ben Folds Five.
There are only three of them (the name's a joke), but they make enough
noise for a quintet. The new record was made at home in Chapel Hill,
North Carolina, with rough edges intact and snippets of chatter left in.
If this were a film, it would be a low-budget charmer shot with a
camcorder. The conversational use of profanity and the casual references
to herbal smoking materials enhance its this is-how-we-live documentary
sensibility, but don't let the lack of polish or pretension fool you:
These guys are virtuosos. They're just not overly serious about it.
The opening track, "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces=' is a
combustible how-do-you-do, with Folds, bassist Robert Sledge, and
drummer Darren Jessee launching a rolling, full-tilt revenge song
that doesn't let up for a second. "Fair" follows with billowy harmonies
reminiscent of I0cc's "I'm Not in Love" and some hooky vocal chirping in
lieu of a chorus. Displaying an unjaded knack for classic songcraft and
lingering melodies, the trio pays tribute to an airheaded free
spirit in the affectionate, sunny "Kate" and strikes musical and lyrical
blows against fashionable boredom in "Battle of Who Could Care Less",
which meanders and modulates restlessly. There are serious moments, too,
such as "Brick", which (if I'm reading it correctly) appears to be
about an unmerry Christmastime abortion, sung from the boy friend's
perspective.
Folds is an aggressive, accomplished pianist whose dynamic attack and
punk-rock approach to barrelhouse and stride styles open up fresh
possibilities for the instrument. And Ben Folds Five -- neither
alternative nor mainstream -- is a newfangled alloy whose self-made
stance and implicit message can best be summed up in a few sage words:
Be who you are.
~Parke Puterbaugh
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 12:37:32 -0400 (EDT)
From: Steve Clay <fender@grove.ufl.edu>
Subject: Live "Tom and Mary" and "Emaline"
Hi all,
Just wondering...Were those two live tracks on the "Where's Summer
B.?" CD single recorded at the Aug '95 gig at Ziggy's?
Also, I think "Eddie Walker" is on one of the singles, but which
one? and is it of better quality than the pre-s/t album demo?
Thanks!
Steve
fender@grove.ufl.edu
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 11:51:33 -0500
From: "Poobah Jones" <yamster@spud.net>
Subject: BFF review in NUVO
I received e-mail from NUVO (the Indianapolis newsweekly that trashed BFF)
in response to my letter about their review. They want to put it in the
letters to the editor section. Here's what I wrote in case you want to read
it but don't want to pick up the mag.
*************
Okay, I read Ryan Downey's review of Ben Folds Five's latest release,
"Battle of Who Could Care Less." The article can be summed up in one word:
Ignorant. But while this one word could tell you enough, I'll expound so
you can know what kind of reviews your readers might actually want to see.
How about reviews where the writer has actually listened to the whole CD,
and done so with an open mind? The lyrics are incredibly witty and the
melodies and harmonies are out of this world. Sure, everyone in
Indianapolis is caught up on themselves with their damned indie-punk
revolutions, but every once in a while we all have to admit that some good
music can come from a band that decides to sign with a major record label.
It happens. So what if this is "music for suits at record labels?" I ALSO
want the head of David Geffen on a plate, but Ben Folds Five actually DOES
have talent. Some of the greatest and most famous songs in history were
done hand in hand with commercialism. What about Verdi's "Anvil Chorus?"
Believe it or not it was written to celebrate the opening of an ANVIL
FACTORY!
So, even if you don't care for that type of music, very few bands deserve
the kind of thrashing that your staff writer gave them. Grow up. I wrote
better crap than that in the 8th grade.
************************************
Fun in the name of journalism!
Bo Nash
louie@tamu.edu
"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge."
Benjamin Disraeli: 1804-1881, British politician
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 14:00:05 -0400
From: David Kennedy <dkennedy@pli.edu>
Subject: Summerstage concert.
Hey. Question to whoever out there knows. I've heard that BFF are going to be adding a string quartet to accompany them on the HORDE tour. Does anyone know if the show at Central Park summerstage, with Morphine this upcoming Wednesday, will have the s
tring quartet. I saw BFF at the April Irving Plaza show and they were incredible, and possibly the best concert I've ever been to. I do think though that the new album has a lot of strings on it, and it would be interesting to see that part of the group
too. Curious?
------------------------------
End of Magical Armchair Digest V1 #368
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