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alloy-digest Saturday, October 30 1999 Volume 04 : Number 290
Today's Subjects:
-----------------
Alloy: Re: bats, hangovers and the love of dolby... ["Ian Gifford" <igiff]
Alloy: The Time Electrix Met Miles ["electrix" <electrix@mail.electricson]
Re: Alloy: welcome new members! ["electrix" <electrix@mail.electricson.co]
Re: Alloy: welcome new members! ["electrix" <electrix@mail.electricson.co]
Alloy: It Came From Uranus! [Chris Cracknell <crackers@hwcn.org>]
Alloy: Re: [REPOST] Freeing The World One Song At A Time [Chris Cracknell]
Re: Alloy: It Came From Uranus! ["Keith Stansell" <Keith@Stansell.com>]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 14:50:24 GMT
From: "Ian Gifford" <igifford@hotmail.com>
Subject: Alloy: Re: bats, hangovers and the love of dolby...
Robin T
There are some really cool books on building bat houses available as I am
sure you know. One printed by an American Bat-Lovers society (I don't think
that is their actual name) details when they like to get into homes and how
to get them out safely. It also details how to keep them out permanently and
what to feed them as well as the types found around europe and North
America. Like all species there are Hundreds of bat families. My 2 favorite
are the South American Fruit Bat And the Domestic Brown. I wish you could
keep them as pets. Their squeal is much less intrusive than a dog bark or
Cat meow or a bunnie grunt for that Matter.
Speaking of Bunnies I bought one for my wife yesterday as a consolation gift
(she lost a 9 year old Lop 2 months ago). % week old bunnies are truly the
most adorable pet and fun to litter train (better than most cats and dogs!)
I urge everyone to adopt a bunnie and for goodness sake not for a child and
not to be put into a cage!
Okay now it's my turn to get back on topic.
Hey Thomas.....
...Do you own any Bunnies?
Ian
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 99 14:02:42 -0700
From: "electrix" <electrix@mail.electricson.com>
Subject: Alloy: The Time Electrix Met Miles
Hi gang!
Just want to mention that last night I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen in REAL time. This makes Kathleen, CJMark, and Stephen that I have met in person.
We had the occasion of meeting under very inspiring music "recital" by the California Guitar Trio w/ Tony Levin that I attended at Miles' and Europa's invitation. Mary was unable to attend and wish that she had. Stephen, however, drove 6 hours from Santa Rosa, CA to Santa Barbara's Mercury Lounge where the group was playing. My trip, however, took me a meager 2 hours from Encino, CA. By this time, Stephen is probably arriving home. The show, incidentally, was AMAZING!.
What Did I Think of Stephen "Miles"
- ------
I think this Alloy member is a very, very, sensitive and thoughtful person and a pleasure to be around. He certainly knows how to make a guy welcome and comfortable. Although we have posted and e-mailed each other, there was more than just a casual encounter. It felt like I have known him several lifetimes. It is interesting how personalities can be 'pictured' in the mind about people one is in cyber-correspondence compared to what they REALLY are in person.
Stephen reminded me of a time, way back in the old FES Board Tap Room, when he first arrived. I had made a rude comment to one of his questions, which I had vaguely recalled...and now regret --- giving that, back then the FES group was a pretty rowdy bunch. Especially to newcomers who we 'thought' to be rather daft. We were also highly defensive of criticism regarding our roles in the Tap Room and All Things Dolby(TM). I mention this incident because it is a poignant memory. First ... to realize that this same person has been instrumental in putting together the musical projects for Bday in order to display the varied talents of Alloy and has the insurmountable skill to take the recorded materials and make them sound highly polished (I got the AAMB CD! and other goodies). Then, to perfect his own musical performance which had technical obstacles to overcome and present it to Dolby and the Alloy forum. And finally, to have the tough job of keeping the enthusiasm alive in the Bday projects (to the point o
The second consideration was my attitude way back then and what it is today and what insight it can provide me in the future. Every lifeforce that crosses my path may knowingly or unknowingly unfold themselves to be instrumental in my life activity. It is the practice of a true Buddhist to find respect in others as well as find respect in oneself, and this is the tenet I aspire in an imperfect world. It is a personal lesson I thought I would share and that I hope someone else would benefit. I certainly haven't achieved sainthood, but I find it amazing of the things that goes on in the immediate environment that are chosen to be ignored only to become aware of it after the fact. It all has been a learning experience for me, starting about two years ago about this time and precipitated by several activities I have been involved and just about the time of my exit from Alloy.
So...that said...just realize that we might just be in communication with a "jewel" in our activities, which has not yet unfolded into its full fruition.
Peace!
electrix
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 99 14:17:44 -0700
From: "electrix" <electrix@mail.electricson.com>
Subject: Re: Alloy: welcome new members!
In a message dated 10/28/99 12:50:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
electrix@mail.electricson.com writes:
:: I have always wondered if there were secret perks for doing so. ;-) ::
>Send me a picture & I'll tell you..!
>Robin T
>who will now have to come up with some secret perks to give out...
Sounds like a deal....hang on!
electrix
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 99 14:22:05 -0700
From: "electrix" <electrix@mail.electricson.com>
Subject: Re: Alloy: welcome new members!
>Perks?? Perks??
>Hmm.. I know that word! I'm patiently waiting for more news on this
>subject.. (while warming scanner..)
Ha,ha,ha... A secret remains a secret.. ;-)
electrix
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 18:48:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Cracknell <crackers@hwcn.org>
Subject: Alloy: It Came From Uranus!
That was my suggestion for the title for "Bride Of Aliens At My Birthday
Cake" but it got shot down.
Woohoo! I got my copy of the CD today and as always I thought I'd just
share my thoughts with you all on another Project B-Day well done.
This year's project B-Day, regretably, was a repeat of the first
project B-Day "Aliens Ate My Birthday Cake". Because last year's Project
B-Day was so late many contributors just didn't have the time to
record a new cover for another B-Day in time. Of course that won't be
an excuse for next year's project B-Day, so no procrastinating.
You might think that a re-run of the first project B-Day would be
a bit of a disappointment and perhaps in some small ways it is, but
overall I'm very pleased with the results because now I have a copy
of AAMBC on CD. There's so much more I hear in our covers now that
just didn't come through well on cassette. And it's reasurring to
know that I have a copy of our first project on a medium more durable
than tape (especially since my AAMBC tape is begining to show signs
of wear and tear from overplaying).
So let's see, where should we start? Well at the begining of course.
The greetings this year were superbly recorded, the music seamlessly
edited and did not distract from the greetings. A note reguarding my
greeting to Thomas: I originally called it in to Mile's secret
telephone answering machine thingy. Well, somehow the lines must
have gotten crossed and I ended up leaving the message on someone
else's answering machine. Imagine the shock this person must have
had when they played their messages back and head that message. Imagine
how much more it would have been if their name was Thomas and they just
recently had a birthday.
Windpower: very well crafted cover, and I just love the infusion of the
Star Trek samples and the Dolby interview at the end.
Nuvogue: yep, still sounds the same. Of course it was analogue to begin with.
Weightless: I still say he sounds like the guy from "Canned Heat". Not a
great guitarist my ass! This cover really makes me wish Thomas would sit
down and do an "unplugged" album. I'll even load him an accordion if he
wants one.
Pulp Culture: Here's the main reason I'm glad we rereleased AAMBC on CD.
My tape has developed a nasty drop-out in the middle of Lissu's
increadably brilliant cover. I just love her hauntingly minimalistic
treatments of Dolby's work.
My Brain Is Like A Sieve - I'm really hearing a lot of things on this
recording that I didn't hear on the tape version. Ian just seems
to be one of those guys who can project the image of effortless cool.
I still find myself thinking "How did the Crash Test Dummies get on this
project?"
Cruel: Holy Farking Snit! And here I was pleased with how much I was
able to clean up the original Cruel recording (granted I didn't spend
nearly as much time on the task as Miles did). Unbelievable how much
you were able to salvage from this track. Man, I wish I had waited
before tackling Mona's Cruel myself. I could have really done something
neat with this track. I gotta get me some of them FBI quality audio
tools.
Therapy/Growth: My first introduction to this obscure Dolby song was
with the first Project B-Day. Of course for all I knew then Miles and
Europa could well have made the song up and claimed it to be a forgotten
Dolby tune. Now, however having heard the original I can honestly
judge this version as a very creative cover. But it still sounds like
he's singing "Secret sauce... ruins my shirt.... secret sauce... ruins
my shirt..."
Flying North: Another really cool cover that benefits from being released
in digital glory. Lots of stuff I didn't hear on the original tape.
Big Bang Backwards: Ow! I broke my hip! Someone is having lots of fun
with their new toys I take it. nice new version of this cover.
THE B-SIDES:
A Little Bitter Song: Best I could do at the last moment with busted
gear. There'll be a better B-Side on next year's project B-Day.
Mood Swing: I take it someone like playing "Interstate '76"?
I can almost imagine this song being used as the themesong for some
sort of hard-driving, tough as nails, 1970s crime fighting detective
TV show. "Far Out!"
Stalker: Well now I know for sure that it's not the music that makes
me want to wretch when I play "Duke Nukem 3D". Very intense song. Sounds
more like a movie score than a videogame.
Blue Sky: Hey, have you been taking "effortless cool" lessons from Ian?
Another blast from the 70s with this song. I could almost imagine
Santana playing it. This song is so cool it shits ice cubes.
Cruel (2): Feh! I wish I had the version that Miles cleaned up. But then
again it would have made for a completely different cover then. Oh well.
Not bad for a geekboy just using a copy of Goldwave, eh?
Original Greetings: Well... they're the original greetings.
Now, as for the packaging.
WOW!
Keith, bravo on putting together a very professional looking package.
I particularily love the "Alloy Records" logo. The picture on the
back of the CD is priceless.
Well now, 3 successful Project B-Days behind us and who knows how many
ahead.
I've already started work on my submission for project B-Day IV.
CRACKERS
(One happy camper from hell!!!)
- --
Collector of Atari 2600 carts - Accordionist - Bira Bira Devotee - Anime fan
* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html | Crackers' Arts Base *
* http://www.angelfire.com/ma/hozervideo/index.html | Hozer Video Games *
Nihongo ga dekimasu - 2600 programmer - Father of 2 great kids - Canadian eh
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 19:44:39 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Cracknell <crackers@hwcn.org>
Subject: Alloy: Re: [REPOST] Freeing The World One Song At A Time
In article <199910210316_MC2-89D5-F37C@compuserve.com>, you wrote:
>Alloids,
>
>I am more prepared to accept the idea of ShareArt than open art. ShareArt
>puts an onus on the end user to support the source of the product.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
Here's the very difference that I'm trying to stress with the concept of
"Open Art". "Open Art" is "art" not "product". "ShareArt" is a marketing
concept that might work for selling product, but "Open Art" is a way
of sharing your work freely with other artists and the world. The only
restrictions are, if you employ "Open Art" in your art, then your art
becomes "Open Art" too and the originator of the work is always
credited as such. There's no negative reciprocity as you give for what
you take. So if you were to release a song as "Open Art" and I really
liked that song, then I'm free to cover that song on my next release.
But by doing so all my songs on that CD become "Open Art" as well. If
you or anyone else, enjoys one of my songs on that CD then you are
free to cover it.
Creating a work of "open art" is like a pebble being thrown into a pond.
It sends ripples out through the water expanding to cover an area greater
than the initial splash.
Although there are no restrictions on making money from "Open Art", the
money is really not the primary focus of a work of "Open Art". It's
creating art to be enjoyed, employed, shared, and expanded. Undoubtedly
for a large number of artists "Open Art" will also be a poweful marketing
tool letting them sell more of their works than they would have otherwise.
Marketing aside, "Open Art" is really about the art, both the work you
create and the works that will be spawned from your creation and the
works that they in turn will spawn. It's really about getting to see
your art take on a life of its own in the world as a living, breathing,
reproducing creation.
Like I was saying, "Open Art" won't be a concept embraced by all artists
and a great many may actually see it as a threat (much in the way
Microsoft sees "Open Source" software as a threat). I can't imagine many
mainstreme recording stars embracing "Open Art", especially those who
are tightly under the control of their record companies. Infact I think
the only way we'd ever see a big recording star release a work of "Open Art"
would be if the whole "Open Art" scene were to be seen as fashionable and
trendy, then there might be a big star or two who will see it as a way
cash in on the image and sell their records. However, I think there
will be a large number of artists who will actually find they gain a
greater artistic fulfilment when they abandon the expectation of
financual recompense for their art and instead embrace the concept of
creating art to express themselves, to share freely with the world,
and to inspire others to create. I think it comes from the moment
one realizes that in all likelyhood they will never become a "star",
in all likelyhood the royalties from their work will never enable them
to quit their dayjob, and if the amount of royalties their work will
generate is going to be so small, then why not just give your art
royalty free to the world in such a way that it will reciprocate more
art being shared royalty free. I'm still perfectly free to continue
selling my work in all the same ways I would be able to if I hadn't
released it as "Open Art".
I know that since I was inspired with the idea of "Open Art" I've felt
much more excitement, creative energy, and motivation to create than I
have ever felt cashing a royalty cheque. I just don't think a SOCAN
cheque is going to cut it for me anymore, and after talking this week
with a lot of local working musicians I feel it's safe to say that there
are many out there who will feel the same way.
CRACKERS
(Letting it all hang out from hell!!!)
- --
Collector of Atari 2600 carts - Accordionist - Bira Bira Devotee - Anime fan
* http://www.hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.html | Crackers' Arts Base *
* http://www.angelfire.com/ma/hozervideo/index.html | Hozer Video Games *
Nihongo ga dekimasu - 2600 programmer - Father of 2 great kids - Canadian eh
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 19:22:39 -0600
From: "Keith Stansell" <Keith@Stansell.com>
Subject: Re: Alloy: It Came From Uranus!
>
> Now, as for the packaging.
>
> WOW!
>
> Keith, bravo on putting together a very professional looking package.
> I particularily love the "Alloy Records" logo. The picture on the
> back of the CD is priceless.
Thanks Crackers for the complement, and thanks also for providing the
original incarnation of the cover. I had fun re-doing it, and tons more
respect for the original. It isn't easy making those letters. As far as
the rest of the package goes, the internet is such a resource for images. I
just hope the actual couple who's heads have been replaced never come across
my version of their image. Also, a bit of trivia. The image behind Dolby
and his groom on the back is of "Area 51" I thought it was appropriate.
The internet version of the album may get up and running this weekend so
others can enjoy everyone's great work.
- -Keith
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End of alloy-digest V4 #290
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