SOMMS Digest - 12 Nov 1998 to 13 Nov 1998 [ Message/RFC822 25KB. ] [ Unable to print this part. ] There are 19 messages totalling 621 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Best Pick 2. Quantitative vs. qualitative 3. Nostalgia 4. Feeling Nostalgic 5. Subject: Feeling Nostalgic 6. GIANT PINATAS 7. give me strength.. 8. looking for Winamp skin (2) 9. Feeling ever Nostalgic 10. Soundgarden poster and Backstage passes for sale 11. A&M say early Spring 12. read this quick! (2) 13. Peggy....the envelope please!!! 14. Feeling Nostalgic...the girl can't help it!!! (2) 15. Eleven - Eleven 16. Late 1996 Soudgarden show To UNSUBSCRIBE from SOMMS, send email to LISTSERV@MITVMA.MIT.EDU with the following in the body of your message: SIGNOFF SOMMS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 00:40:06 PST From: The Cat Subject: Re: Best Pick Speaking of pick of the months... The BMG Music Service has A-Sides as their "Featured Selection" which is basically an album of the month for a specific genre that a member picks. Mine is alternative( ....there really isn't much choice so..) which A-Sides is under =P. Anyway, the tiny booklet has a pic of Soundgarden on the front, with Matt wearing a smirk (something not seen very often =)). I'll scan the whole thing when I can get a chance, but here is what the text reads. Maybe you guys will find this interesting. There is no mention of Ben or Matt in this article, which I find odd...: ================ [top] "'A-Sides' presents the band in all its evolving, bridling-horses glory and thunder..." Entertainment Weekly Selected by Senior Music Editor Bruce Imber [middle] Life was never the same after the Big Three of Seattle bands Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden blasted alternative music into the stratosphere during the late '80s and early '90s. With the "A-Sides," compilation, the Soundgarden branch of the Seattle tree gets the royal treatment but it's interesting that a band which never made any commercial concessions would release a collection of singles. "There's a bit of irony...because we certainly weren't a Top Forty band," comments Soundgarden guitarist and unofficial band historian Kim Thayil. But, as success found Soundgarden and considering the band's breakup in 1997 "A-Sides" is a fitting tribute. Throughout these 17 tracks, you hear Soundgarden as they evolved from a quintessentially sludgy Seattle esthetic to a crystalline mix of psychedelia, metal and punk along with the unknown, mysterious quality that made their music sound ageless, as though it could have been part of an ancient initiation rite. Anchored by Thayil's thick wall of guitars, frontman Chris Cornell provided the main thrust, taking the music to soaring heights or bringing it down low to a menacing growl. "A-Sides" takes us from Nothing to Say, the band's first single on the Sup Pop label (from the EP "Screaming Life"), through Bleed Together, a previously unreleased track from the sessions of for their final album, "Down on the Upside." Bleed Together is classic Soundgarden, a song that leaves you hovering between rapt attention and the impulse to get up and slam. In between, you'll find the ultimate fans' songlist, from the bludgeoning Hands All Over, Jesus Christ Pose, and Outshined to later, more poetic offerings like Black Hole Sun, The Day I Tried to Live, Fell on Black Days, Spoonman (from the multi-platinum "Superunknown"), Blow Up the Outside World, Pretty Noose and Burden in My Hand. Kim Thayil puts the reason behind "A-Sides" simply: "There are definitely milestones in there." [bottom] Including: Black Hole Sun Blow Up the Outside World The Day I Tried to Live Outshined Spoonman Fell on Black Days Rusty Cage Pretty Noose Burden in My Hand Nothing to Say Flower Loud Love Hands All Over Get On the Snake Jesus Christ Pose Ty Cobb Bleed Together ================ Any spelling errors are the fault of mine. /\ /\ 'o' -The Cat ==================== The Ask the Cat page: http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Dropzone/8176/ ==================== Don't listen to the evil message below..... ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 05:52:04 EST From: Ben Timberlake Subject: Quantitative vs. qualitative I know the AP top 90 thing has been discussed into the ground, but, egoist that I am, I thought I might have one valid thing to say about it. The problem with the top whatever lists in which we've been inundated lately (AFI top 100 movies, Modern Library top 100 novels, etc.) and of which I'm sure we won't see the end until we're safely past 2000, is that they pretend to define the undefinable. When a person casts an opinion about a piece of art (here meant to include music, movies, books, etc.) they are making a *qualitative* analysis. When you say that something is good or bad or any sort of opinion, that's qualitative. You can make a *quantitative* observation about facts. For example: that movie has lasted longer at number one than any other, that album has sold 2 million copies, that author has written 14 novels. AP could have published a list of the top 90 selling albums of the '90s. But that would have bored most people and it's pretty easy to find that information out without a magazine's help. You can, however, take qualitative observations and *quantify* them. That is, assign factual (often numeric) values to opinions. Reviewers do this every day when they give 3 stars out of 5 or when you rate something on a scale of 1 to 10. Two different people may give two different numbers. It's not like thermometers which, all else equal, will give the same teperature. So, AP polls its staff to the top 90 albums of the 90s and there's the list. Sure, they could have called it "The top 90 albums of the '90s according to the staff of AP, but that's understood. What I'm trying to say here is that it's silly to get upset over Soundgarden's poor placing on the list. I guarantee that not one AP staff member, nor anyone else in the world would agree with the list 100%. (I know I thought Radiohead's OK Computer should have been a lot higher). And it's also silly to bicker on this list about which soundgarden album should have been where. It's preaching to the converted. Since Soundgarden was #18, it's unlikely that someone who takes the time to read this list would agree that 17 other bands released better albums this decade. One more thing about these lists. It is interesting to read these lists; they can offer information about the albums that may not have been included in a review (such as impact and what it meant for the band). And they may open people's eyes and ears to music, movies and books that by virtue of being on such a list are likely to be worth knowing about. Enjoy these lists for what they are. Don't be angry at them for what you think they try to be. -- Ben Ben Timberlake Hysterical & btimlake@aol.com Useless "You know that the best you can expect is to avoid the worst." -- Italo Calvino, "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler..." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 06:40:56 EST From: Ben Timberlake Subject: Nostalgia I've been recalling SOMMSfest-Chicago '96 recently, too. It kinda hurts, actually. It was such a great event. Meeting the guys was great, but what really sticks in my mind are the shows themselves. I still can't quite go to a concert without vaguely hoping that somehow Soundgarden will appear on stage. I remember asking Kim if they could play Mind Riot. He said they hadn't played it in a long time and they didn't end up playing it. Not hearing that song live is my biggest soundgarden disappointment. And I realize that I don't have too much to cry about when many people didn't get to meet them and still more never got to see them live at all. But everyone has his own share of suffering. I can't believe it's been two years since the weekend I hoped wouldn't end. Hello to everyone who was there. Just remember what it was like the moment before it started. The lights that didn't seem to brighten the dark, the whistles and rumble of the crowd, some muted anticipatory music from the speakers, a roar and then... SOUNDGARDEN. -- Ben Ben Timberlake Hysterical & btimlake@aol.com Useless "You know that the best you can expect is to avoid the worst." -- Italo Calvino, "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler..." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 07:22:54 EST From: Shroom Girl Subject: Re: Feeling Nostalgic > Geez, can Toni and I be the only ones left on here who are feeling > nostalgic about Nov. 9 (and 10th for some of you)? That was only > one of the best nights of my life, two years ago - the night I finally > got to meet, and actually touch and talk to my hero. I only hope it > won't be the last time I get that close to Chris. Toni I'm gearing up > for Chris-fest - it has to come eventually. Hootchie-rama!! I can't say I'm nostalgic for November 9th... but November 26th & 27th will live on forever in MY mind. Meeting the band was one of the coolest things that's ever happened to me. Next time I meet Chris I'm going to bring along a TRUCKLOAD of silver anklets so maybe I'll score a hug for EACH of the damned things. ;-) Speaking of Chris' body hair... anyone remember when someone posted a radio station rumour (from Australia?) about Chris waxing his chest? Supposedly it's too smooth to be true. Umm... I would like to offer my services as the official list hootchie to investigate this theory with my patented "body-rub" test. 0-:) Yours in earnest respectability, Shroomy (xxoo) "Picture me naked, fucking Prince Charles." ~ Chris Cornell ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 10:29:10 -0400 From: Traeger Sarah C Subject: Subject: Feeling Nostalgic Please O Please, goddesses of Soundgarden (Kathie and Toni.. to name only 2). You are the lucky ones! I have never been so fortunate (head hung in shame) as to have even seen a live concert, let alone meet the lads in person. Please tell us the tale of that magical night or any other concert experience. Anything could be better than flotsum of late. What were your favourite memories? What did you all talk about? I eagerly await your walk(s) down memory lane! Sarah ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 11:14:59 EST From: Shawnte Orion Subject: GIANT PINATAS haha, I love how everyone bands together to despise such swollen pinatas as "rock critics" and pop phenoms, like Hanson and the Spice Girls. Let's not kid ourselves, Soundgarden was a HUGELY successful, volume selling rock band, but here's the thing...there's nothing wrong with that and there is nothing wrong with a gazillion Hanson albums, being sold, either. We all love SG and buy their albums, because we either feel that they share our perception of the world, or that we at least appreciate their perception of the world. That's cool....but I do not think that everyone should share that perception of the world. If some (or many) people love Hanson and feel a connection to their music, or feel like their albums really give them what they need from music, then that is fine. Who am I to "look down" at them for that? It is an efficient and beautiful system. As for why I like Badmotorfinger, part of it is lyrically. It seemed to have some of the earlier elements of Chris' writing, fused together with the elements that would be more prevalent in his later writing. Know what I mean? Like, on earlier albums, he tended to write songs dealing with grand themes (environment, anti-government revolutions). Badmotorfinger seemed to be a cross-roads. It had some of those anthemic ideas regarding things like the New World Order (at least, I always assumed that New Damage was about the European Economic Community, but I could certainly be wrong) and religious hypocrisy (JCP and Holywater), but it also marked the beginning of a more introspective method of writing, that seemed to dominate the last few albums. As Chris began to be more focused on psyches than politics. This just seemed interesting to me, because it is backwords from how most other people seem develop their writing styles (from my limited observations). Many writers begin with personal themes and end up writing about more external subjects. as always, send all attempts at flaming me, to The Cat (he will probably be more receptive, than I) shawnte ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 09:34:17 PST From: The Koggle Subject: give me strength.. Hi.. just out of curiosity, why has this list become a pain in the butt lately? It seems like everyone is either begging for flames, or going around on tiptoes to avoid them.. it shouldn't be like that. Lance and co. i think you knew someone would say SOMETHING about that razor stuff.. It was amusing for awhile, but went on for too long.. just like the middle name posts (which were probably slightly more annoying, but anyway). What is your problem Lance? all your posts have been loaded with attitude and sarcasm.. you may like to have your inbox filled with abusive junk, but i don't. Keep it off the list.. respond privately. Sarcasm is fine, but it can't always be expressed effectively.. i think racheal knew it was a joke.. Kathleen, it is just becoming tired... sorry to not have much SG content, but i am not really in the mood for SG when i read these posts coming from fans of the band.. it sounds strange, but it is really off-putting. later all Kogg ps. reply to me, not the list.. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 12:39:27 EST From: XAnavriNX@AOL.COM Subject: looking for Winamp skin Hey all, I just got winamp and I remember a while back someone said there was a SOundgarden skin for it. Does anyone have it or know wher eI can find it? please send me a link or something. thanks ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 10:27:00 PST From: Arden SunGod Subject: Feeling ever Nostalgic SOMMies- Ah, if only I could have felt the nostagia for SOMMSfest '96.. I was there in spirit! Got to be one of the few times I've cursed living here in Seattle and not there. But oh, the hours I used to stay up and read the posts when you guys came home! And not just the SOMMSfest ones- the ones like Shroomy's hit me more. That damn one made me cry! God Shroom, I hope you know how lucky you are! I managed to catch the last Seattle show, and missed meeting up with the rest of the sommsters (What are we now Jen, 0 for 3?), due to time constraints, but it was a blast anyway! December 18th will always be etched in my mind as one of the best nights of my life.. why must we have 20/20 hindsight vision? <=| -Arden ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 19:02:15 -0330 From: Marc Hollett Subject: Re: looking for Winamp skin Send to me as well plz. ---------- : From: XAnavriNX@AOL.COM : To: SOMMS@MITVMA.MIT.EDU : Subject: looking for Winamp skin : Date: November 12, 1998 2:09 PM : : Hey all, I just got winamp and I remember a while back someone said there was : a SOundgarden skin for it. Does anyone have it or know wher eI can find it? : please send me a link or something. thanks ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 21:53:35 -0000 From: Deborah Baker Subject: Soundgarden poster and Backstage passes for sale This site has a 1996 concert poster and two backstage laminates (one from Lolla 92) for sale, if anyone is interested. http://www.concertposters.com/~legends/posters/sound_g.htm Deb Visit A Chris Cornell Fan Page at http://www.rustycage.u-net.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 22:01:06 -0000 From: Deborah Baker Subject: A&M say early Spring Sorry, I meant to add this to my other post. A friend of mine got this from A&M: "Don't have info on B-sides yet, but Chris's solo album is due out in early Spring 1999." Deb Visit A Chris Cornell Fan Page at http://www.rustycage.u-net.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 19:51:15 -0500 From: "P. S." Subject: read this quick! hi could you all find it in your hearts to help out a fellow sommster. i need interpretations for: Limo Wreck, Room a Thousand Years Wide and The Day i tried to live. its for school and Thanx. Paul PS please send befor friday 9 pm thanx again ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 18:50:06 -0600 From: tonerkin Subject: Peggy....the envelope please!!! Paw roll..............................and the winner is: Lynne Lowe Yes, Peggy, the ugly brown dog found Lynne to be polite and charming in her note as well as #20(one of Peggy's favorite numbers) So Congrats to Lynne. Please send me your snail mail address so I can send the Songs from the Superunknown CD to you along with an autographed picture of Peggy if you so desire. toni ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 20:10:41 -0500 From: "P. S." Subject: Re: read this quick! please ignore the day i tried to live request thanx The Cat wrote: > > You can find a Limo Wreck song interp here: > > http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Pit/2648/ > > Unfortunately, The Day I Tried to Live (isn't it self-explanatory??) and > Room a Thousand Years Wide aren't up there, maybe you can find another > song =)... > > /\ /\ > 'o' -The Cat > ==================== > The Ask the Cat page: > http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Dropzone/8176/ > ==================== > Don't listen to the evil message below..... > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 19:05:12 -0600 From: tonerkin Subject: Feeling Nostalgic...the girl can't help it!!! At 10:29 AM 11/12/98 -0400, Traeger Sarah C wrote: >Please O Please, goddesses of Soundgarden (Kathie and Toni.. to name only 2). >You are the lucky ones! I have never been so fortunate (head hung in shame) as >to have even seen a live concert, let alone meet the lads in person. Please >tell us the tale of that magical night or any other concert experience. >Anything could be better than flotsum of late. What were your favourite >memories? What did you all talk about? I eagerly await your walk(s) down >memory lane! Sarah, thanks for the compliment. I've been called many things in my life but never a goddess. I fear many people on this list would hate to hear the old Chicago SOMMSfest war stories trotted out so I will reframe from doing that. If you want a full account I would be happy to write you a 3 page detailed e-mail on "How I spend my Soundgarden weekend!" BUTT let me just say this The favorite memory? I have to separate nights. November 9th. Having Erin Haley pull me by the hand up a ramp when I had stopped dead in my tracks because I realized she was taking me up on stage and standing there in the wings with probably the dumbest happiest look on my face imaginable as I watched Soundgarden play! Sunday November 10th....being in the balcony of the Aragon with the Sommsters and having Chris dedicate a song to us. It was just an exciting and wonderful moment as we yelled, hugged, jumped up and down and generally "acted a fool" as my Mama would say. That's why I feel nostalgic! It was the best of times! toni ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 19:23:26 -0600 From: William Flanders Subject: Eleven - Eleven I finally got Eleven's album from 1993 entitled "Eleven." Yes, there are some of the mangled melodies that Ave Maria was criticized for, but there's a lot in the CD Soundgarden fans will enjoy -- plenty of riffage, plenty of odd time signatures. "Reach Out" in particular is an excellent song. It's the kind of song that sticks in your head and doesn't leave. There's a tinge of Eastern music in there, a tinge of darkness, and a tinge of pop-music. At any rate, it's a nice mix and I can imagine it complimenting well with Cornell's writing on the coming album. Do any of you own 'Thunk'? If so, your reviews are welcome. -Bill ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 20:56:33 -0500 From: Jamesetta Simpson Subject: Re: Feeling Nostalgic...the girl can't help it!!! > At 10:29 AM 11/12/98 -0400, Traeger Sarah C wrote: >tell us the tale of that magical night or any other concert experience. For Sarah and those of you who care to read - a few memory!!!! Backstage was dark, dirty, filed with smoke...we were standing there waiting when a figure moved passed me. It was like in a dream... I couldn't believe it was Chris. But then there was Ben and I knew this wasn't a dream. - Jamie Kim was the first one to walk up to me and flash the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. Even after I grabbed his arm and told him he was walking off with my pen, he again flashed that smile at me. Then a few minutes later I was treated to a third smile when he searched me out and gave me back the cap of the silly pen. Needless to say I kept thinking, "Oh God, I meet Kim and all I could do was accuse him of taking my pen." - Jamie Seeing them materialize in the doorway, coming toward us was so surreal, like a poster come to life! - Candy We must've looked like deer in headlights because Ben came out and said "Shouldn't you guys look more happy!" - Andrea Chris had a mysterious aura about him...he looks you right in the face, like he's analyzing every ember of your being. - Big Joe ....the way he looks at you when you talk to him is truly fascinating...kinda ripped my gut in half. - Eliza ...the sign, handwritten on what looked like typing paper, said, "Soundgarden dressing room" with an arrow pointing up the stairs. - Kathie I have to say that there was a lot less moshing and crowd surfing than I expected which was a good thing. In fact I was only kicked in the head once. - Ben Timberlake And finally.... I'm so glad I had the opportunity to share this whole experience in the presence of my fellow SOMMsters. It would not have been the same without them. I have so few people in my life who can understand what all this means to me and to be with people who ALL felt the same was complete and liberating. - Bonnie And that was how it was 2 years ago - thank you Soundgarden for wanting to meet us. Jamie (SOMMs Mom) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 23:23:55 -0500 From: Kris Hermansen Subject: Late 1996 Soudgarden show I was just wondering if anyone on this list was supposed to go the Soudgarden concert at Brandeis University in the New England area in late 1996. If so, could you tell me the date it was supposed to be held? I forgot :( I traded my ticket in for a Stone Temple Pilots event in Maine (the following April) after I heard that Chris's voice had gone to shit....and later the band :( excuse me ****sobs**** Oh that wretched day!!! Whatever, if you have info e-mail me... Kris Hermansen ------------------------------ End of SOMMS Digest - 12 Nov 1998 to 13 Nov 1998 ************************************************