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M i l M a n i a The Official Newsletter of WWW.ARTISTINSANE.COM |
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All Content Written By Mil Scott Unless Otherwise Noted © Mil Scott www.artistinsane.com |
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Welcome To The November |
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Volume 3, Issue 9, November 2007 |
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Music Mayhem |
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As noted in the December 2005 edition of Mil Mania, I continue to include news in every issue to keep readers up to date on the latest happenings with the three acts most prominently featured on www.artistinsane.com. However, I now also choose one additional artist — in some cases a new discovery I’ve recently made, in others an individual or group whose work I’ve long appreciated — to make a one-time appearance here. And, as with all aspects of Mil Mania, feel free to offer suggestions. This month’s featured artist: INXS — While I’ve men For starters, the album pictured above — which many of you surely recognize as the 9 times platinum Kick, was the first CD I ever purchased. And, it certainly wasn’t the last by this group to be added to a quickly building collection in digital format...including each new INXS release that followed over the years, right up to the final disc, which hit the streets just months before Hutchence’ passing. My arguable favorite of the lot, however, was the pre-kick Listen Like Thieves, the title track from which I listened to so many times both at home and on the road that the cassette player in my vehicle finally ate the worn-threadbare-thin tape. Of course, by then it was so utterly ingrained in my being I could hear it in my sleep...not that that deterred me from purchasing another copy to listen to while awake! Ironically, having so greatly admired the full, powerful vocals of Hutchence and been so long hypnotized by the deceptive catchiness of the melodies and musicianship that accompanied them, I never really thought about the lyrics he sang, and the often deeply serious thoughts and emotions they revealed — until he died...leaving a shocked and sorrowful fanbase to sort out the whys and wherefores, a surprisingly complete picture of which could (so it seems to me at least) be constructed from their study. Nevertheless, I mention this only to point out the richness a greater knowledge of the lyrics adds to one’s appreciation of the music...as does a bit of history about the band’s origins — such as the story I read of a show they played when first starting out in their native Australia, where a certain evening found them taking the stage only to find one — yes, one — audience member in attendance. Assuming the show would be canceled, the young woman received a shock of her own when the band announced that an audience of one was still an audience and that having paid good money to hear them play, hear them she would. And, indeed, they gave her a full show, one I suspect had come to mean far more by the time she left than she’d ever hoped when she arrived...and which showcased the genuine artistic spirit that won the group so many additional fans in later years — me included. Though it’s surely beyond debate Michael Hutchence had “Not Enough Time” on planet Earth, and no matter how long he’s been gone, whenever I hear the subtle strains of “Beautiful Girl”, share the wistful eloquence of “By My Side”, or am hit by the gale force of “New Sensation”, ever he returns. And in those moments of time-stopping musical magic, never does he merely exist, but IN true XS fashion he always has, and forever will...“live, baby, live.” Click Here to read a letter sharing a bit more about my appreciation of INXS (also linked to a prior issue of Mil Mania in which The Escape Club was the Featured Artist...for reasons which will become obvious once you read it...if you haven’t already!) …………………….. Third Eye Blind played Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA recently, which show Brian Fitzpatrick is in the studio as I write this, working on the first of his two albums being released in 2008. Again, time has proved a culprit for me with regard to participating in this effort, as a scheduling conflict prevented acceptance of Brian’s invitation (mentioned in last month’s newsletter). However, I’m very excited for him as he takes on the new challenge of a very different record from his prior creations — and I look forward to hearing the finished product as soon as possible! Michael McDermott continues to play shows in support of his latest album, Noise From Words, a couple of which you may be able to catch on a local radio station or the world wide web. The venue Mountain Stage in Charleston, WV will air Michael’s recent performance via their Mountain Stage radio show during the last weekend of November. Check your local listings. |