From: (Eve Emshoff) eve@gospelcom.net
Subject: Box of Birds Thoughts
Date: 12/28/1999 10:57:35 PM
To: 


I have to admit, I really hated BoB on first listen. Since I knew many of 
the original versions (particularly the Ultravox track, being a big John 
Foxx fan), I felt... cheated, like they were a bunch of half-assed kids 
goofing around on their instruments. I felt they were giving only 
half-assed renditions to some good music and (can we add half-assed once 
more? - ok, I'll refrain) only evoking a fraction of their usual emotion.

Which is to say that I STILL think some of the songs could have been done 
more effectively!! But I've come to really LOVE "The Endless Sea" - because 
the Church turned it inside out into a near goth-dirge. "Cortez the Killer" 
could have been more inspiring to me, honestly - but maybe it's just 
because I'm sick of hearing so many Neil Young cover songs lately.

But ultimately, I think this is really an album for fans, who have to have 
absolutely everything by the Church (myself included), and this is not a 
good place for the beginning Church Head.

But then, you don't need to sell me on it *too* much, because, hey... it's 
The Church. :) I do think it was interesting as an experiment, but more 
interesting to me because it gives me insight to the mates themselves, what 
sort of music interests them and how our Icons can also be fans.

Eve

PS On another note, it may be that the songs they chose were poorly cast to 
the Church mold, music not fitting the musician - sort of like Robin 
Williams getting cast as the robot in Asimov's Bicentennial Man. Since 
Williams' is so typecast as a comedian, it's an automatic letdown to both 
the serious Asimov freaks, as well as a letdown to the Williams fans going 
for the fun.

======================================
Eve Emshoff - http://www.digital-genesis.com/~eve/
ICQ UIN: 4921393 / AOL IM: Kilbey1
"It's taken me a long time to finally realize that life
isn't just some sick television program. And you
just know, tomorrow I'll find out it is."
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