...or at least, so said charles dickens in the days before pre cast concrete [ in "A Tale of 2 cities" to be exact], but i'm sure thats enough literary allusions for one day. Anyhoo, greetings P!O!P!picnicers! [with apologies to Alan *fluff* Freeman and all non uk listees who may not have a clue what i'm alluding to]. however, is it too late for me to add my tuppenneys worth on the subject of *the Smiffs*? yes, oh well, here goes anyway, i'm goijng to ignore you. I too agree that all inter band comparisons are inherently flawed, though not necessarily inherently wrong as sometimes its the only way to find any kind of handle for the purposes of interpretation, which is, as has been said before all rather subjective, and often unhelpful. But regarding specifically the aforementioned b+s/Smiffs contrast. i don't really think that this is altogether fair, as although both *the Smiths* and b+s touch on the same circumference from time to time they travell[ed], on rather different tangents to this circumference and will thus end up at differing points [this metaphor is quietly dying so i shall bury it here before it creates trouble]. In any case they are two different bands with different approaches and to be quite fair non congruent fan bases, though there is obviously some overlap, as in the bands themselves. Unfortunately, the Smiths, as with some of their contempories attract the kind of dogma and intransigense more generally associated with the likes of o*!"£$s and possibly the Stone Roses, i.e. "This music is great [insert expleitive of choice for emphasis], and anything which isn't produced by band/group/individual X is therefore [insert expleitive/insult of chioce here]". This also goes for anything new or different which is perhaps why Pete Waterman had so much trouble with the Brits. The opposite view [that is kissing the ass of NMEs latest darling], i find equally objectionable, though nothing i say will change the view of either side. VIVA CHOICE. This arguement has rather lost its way, though i feel that Sir Cliff [Richard, not Jones], might well agree. To all those picnicing tomorrow, i'll see you there, and pray for sunshine. now i've got the rant out the way, i feel much better so 'til the morrow GOODBYYYYEEEEEEE!!!!! Adam XXXX p.s. Tigermilk posters have even hit sunny Yeovil, and to whoever asked, you're not alone, i haven't heard it either.... "Because I know that you know, that we know they don't know whats been going on.... " Gruff Rhys, SFA, 'Demons' ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the reborn Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail "sinister@majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo@majordomo.net". WWW: http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +-+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "tech-heads and students" +-+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +-+ "jelly-filled danishes" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+