Blah Blah Blah — September 2007

04/28/09 11:23am

People like letters. So we're reprinting the letters page from our September 2007 issue. You can purchase the issue at the Chart Shop.

Ah, back to school. It's the time where everything's fresh and new and everyone thinks they're going to be social and academic superstars, leading to a life of future riches. That's not going to happen. To ease the pain of this reality, you might as well send us an angry letter.

You can send letters to "Blah, Blah, Blah" c/o Chart Magazine, 200-41 Britain St., Toronto, ON, M5A 1R7. You can also use this fancy "Inter-net" by emailing us at chart@chartattack.com. Make sure you include your full contact info.

AVRIL MARRIED?
is avril lavine really married to him —LoganPosta@

It's true. Deal.

AVRIL'S ENEMIES EXPERIENCE CHANGE OF HEART
After seeing your article, I'm starting to feel sorry for her, and wish to God I hadn't released this song under the aka of Avril Latrene and the Extremes:
I Wanna Rip Yer Song Off!
Avril Latrene and the Extremes
aka Dr BLT
It was just a joke. I honestly meant no harm. I had no idea that my song would take off like it did. If I could only take it back, I would, Avril. —Bruce Thiessen@

Dudes called The Rubinoos claim Avril stole one of their songs. Chantal Kreviazuk claimed she wasn't credited for a song she wrote with Lavigne. Then Kreviazuk flip-flopped her story. Start here...

WE'RE SA-WEET
Hello. I recently subscribed to your magazine and... what can I say? It's sa-weet. Not kidding, I laughed and laughed. So you hate the song 'Girlfriend' too? Great, because it is fricking pathetic.

And you said, "So this is totally, like, that Pussycat Dolls song, except for 12 year olds." Yeah. I am 12. And I hate it. A lot. Don't use stereotypes, because they suck. Thank you for calling her on that extreme patheticism that ditzy girls call a 'song'. She's usually good, but that song blows. And get some more shots of Billy Talent, they rock. Interview them or something, they're the best. Thanks. Bye. —Shanae Blaquiere, Edam, Saskatchewan

ANGRY MATT GOOD FAN WRITES
did you or noah love completely forget the fact that matt good has a new solo album out july 31st? just read your prequel to the new releases and you mention korn, sum 41 guy and a couple others, but no mention of matt goods new album? wow. and to think your a canadian music magazine, wow. remember now why i cancelled my subscription. —lasulliv@

A review of Hospital Music appears in our July/August 2007 issue along with a separate article, written by Good, about B.C. politicians.

NICKELBACK ARE POTTY-MOUTHS
Subject: Nickelback Frighten Charlottetown Politicians With Swear Words
I give full props to the mayer of Charlottetown for making a stand and trying to keep his city united without the influence of indecent behaviour. Way to go! —nickelbacksux@

Ooooh, the horror! A rock band use cuss words. This is making you look like real sissies, Charlottetown. Read about it here.

LANGUAGE BIAS AGAINST MANU CHAO?
Just wanted to send an email to say thanks for the Manu Chao review. It's great to see him getting some well deserved exposure. I saw him in Vancouver a month ago and like the reviewer, concur that he is a fantastic live performer and think it's wonderful that he's playing a few cities in Canada on his North American tour.

I have a question though, regarding the following comment;

"Anyone with an appreciation of world music who hasn't yet discovered Manu Chao owe it to themselves to do so"

Why is this limited to an appreciation of 'world music'? Why limit yourself? Shouldn't it be for anyone with an appreciation of music? I've been a fan of Manu Chao's for about 6 years now, even though I can only speak a few words of Spanish and French (despite or perhaps because of my Canadian education) but this hasn't hindered my appreciation of what a fantastic musician he is and how great his band are live.

Is the world music tag because most of his songs aren't in English? Surely good music is good music, regardless of the language and I'd hate to think that people only limit themselves to liking only one 'type' of music. —Giselle Larcombe@

You hippies should spend less time on semantics. Our guy thought the show was great. Leave it at that. And read about it here.

NO TITLE DIFFERENT THAN UNTITLED
Subject: FYI- Korn album has NO TITLE
It's not "Untitled" but simply has no title. Hope that clears things up! —Vicki Stepanenko@

Yes, thanks. Everything is now 100 per cent clear.

IDOL MAIL... IT'S BACK!
Sophie Papamarko's Canadian Idol reviews are absolutely bang on accurate...not to mention well written. —Jean Naylor@

We've been recapping every Canadian Idol episode on ChartAttack.com. Check it.

WE DISRESPECT IRREGULAR CAPITALIZATION
Your criticisms of Dwight d'Eon might be more credible if you could take the time to spell his name correctly —W. Muise@

Sorry about that. Won't happen again.

A PUMPKINS TRAINSPOTTER WRITES
I find this comment very interesting, "Or rather he's decided to bring back the group name and resurrect his career and that of drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, because there's no James Iha or D'arcy Wretzky on the grunge superstars' latest album, Zeitgeist, which comes out Tuesday."

Were you aware that the very album that made the Smashing Pumpkins career "Siamese Dream" (1993) which spawned hits such as "Today", "Disarm", and "Rocket" (among many others), was solely performed/recorded by Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain. Even though the band was listed in the liner notes, if you do your research (which I'm sure you haven't) you'll discover Billy played all the guitar and bass parts along with the vocals, and Jimmy on all drum tracks. Rendering this new Smashing Pumpkins album, no different than that of
"Siamese Dream".

Were you also aware that D'Arcy left the band prior to the release of Machina/The Machines Of God I and was replaced by Melissa Auf Der Maur? Was the band only the "name" the Smashing Pumpkins at that time or the band itself?

Zwan and Billy's solo effort were quite different because they were composed and performed as such. Those were not composed as Smashing Pumpkins songs which is why they were not released under the moniker. If you listen to the album it's clear that more than a name has been put into place, it's the same Smashing Pumpkins we've all come to know and love since 1993
(in specific). —Kyle McDonald, Moncton, NB

Thanks for sharing. We only know that we liked 'em better when James and Melissa were part of the "band."