Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 12:33:21 -0400 
      From: Another Reason to Cut Off an Ear (ICEBLINK@DELPHI.COM) 
      Subject: Re: Propaganda magazine's Cocteau Twins article


> Now I need to write meaningful lyrics, clearly understandable lyrics,
> because I need to use them as a therapeutic tool.

I'd say the problem with the 4CC lyrics was that they were clearly
understandable, but not particularly meaningful.


_______________________________________


Naturally, the rebuttle to that assertion is that meaning is something which
is comprehended differently by each individual listener.  It's all relative.

Four-Calendar Cafe is, for me, exactly what Liz calls it: a therapeutic tool.
I'm sure when she wrote those lyrics she knew she wasn't going to get int
touch with everyone who listened. And I doubt that was her goal.

I consider Four-Calendar Cafe to be brilliant on several levels, and I mainly
appreciate it for what it symbolized for the band: a cleansing and renewal
process, which also underlined the fact that they CAN write songs without
the influence of drugs or technological trickery and that she CAN write
real lyrics that have meaning for HER and possibly others without sacrificing
anything and without relying on her old habits.  And I honestly believe they
were successful in doing so.  When one has listened to a band for so long
and has such feelings for their music, one can't simply slag off a record
like Four-Calendar Cafe without taking into account the band's perspective.
They deserve credit for simply taking the risks they took, realizing there
would be a lot of criticism as a result, and that a lot of their fans might
turn away from it.

Nevertheless, IMO, Four-Calendar Cafe is worthy of much praise.  I can see
how many might hear Liz's lyrics and think, "Oh Jesus, what a 12-step pro-
gram junkie..."  But I don't think they're giving her due respect and con-
sideration.

But like I said, it's all relative. (cliche, cliche, cliche)



Mike

"Safe at last, and my thoughts are in order."



      Date: Fri, 26 May 1995 18:51:39 -0400 
      From: Another Reason to Cut Off an Ear (ICEBLINK@DELPHI.COM) 
      Subject: Liz being abused....


"Michael R. M. Cheselka"  said:

>Perhaps I should say Cocteau Twins fans who like FCC...
The interview happened right after the tour ended, or perhaps
while on the tour, so it doesn't surprise me that it reads like
it did.  It must have happened a within a few months of all the
FCC interviews.

Nothing new?  It is the first time she said she had been sexually
abused in an interview.<



Actually, Liz did mention it in their interview with CREEM magazine. I
was a little taken aback when I read it the first time.  Apparently
the song "Theft, And Wandering Around Lost" is about that experience.

What bothers ME about it is that it just sounds like one of those in-
stances where an individual is undergoing a lot of therapy (as Liz and
Robin HAD been) and then all of a sudden has these so-called "repressed
memories" of childhood sexual abuse resurface out of nowhere.

I'm not saying that these aren't legitimate memories, but it seems like
SO many people nowadays are saying "I was sexually abused as a child".
Am I one of the few people who weren't or something?  Don't answer that.

Mike