The Official XTC Thread

Flyingpig437 · 11-06-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric generic

the rest of drums & wires is mediocre.

Day in day out, Millions and Complicated game are far from being mediocre. Most of the other stuff is quite a bit better than mediocre too imo.

Flyingpig437 · 11-06-2010, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

I spent a lot of the day/night listening to XTC, the advice came too late I'm afraid.

I have 4 of their albums, it's good stuff.
I like the more psychedelicy stuff to the more New-Wave/Post-Punk stuff, but it's still all good stuff. Skylarking is my favourite thus far.

Brief overview of the others
I've only heard the 1st album once and didn't like it at all.
Go2-not bothered with
Drums and wires-pretty irresistible
Black sea-Worth getting for the most part although a lot of it sounds pretty perfunctory.
English settlement-a poor excuse for a double album as far as double albums go but it's still full of fantastic songs...well not full but most of it is
Mummer is o.k
The big express is ****.
Skylarking-a bit of a critics fav but far from classic all the way through.
Oranges and lemons is brilliant (for the most part)
Nonsuch-Frequently brilliant with some ave. stuff.
Apple venus-not heard
Wasp star-largely ave.

The 7th Has Drowned Thee · 11-06-2010, 05:43 AM

Apple Venus is worth checking out. I particularly liked "Knights in Shining Karma" and "Your Dictionary".

Amazing band.

OctaneHugo · 11-12-2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric generic

the rest of drums & wires is mediocre.

Hi Wrongy McWrongerson, hows goes it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The 7th Has Drowned Thee

Apple Venus is worth checking out. I particularly liked "Knights in Shining Karma" and "Your Dictionary".

Amazing band.

Yes, yes and yes.

Screen13 · 11-15-2010, 09:14 PM

I started off listening to them with Drums and Wires. Although the initial love of the album wore off a little since the mid-80's, I still have time for "Making Plans...," "Roads Girdle the Globe," "Helicopter," "Life Begins at the Hop" (the best editions had it), and even "Complicated Game." A serious step up from their first two albums.

After that were a succession of my favorite XTC works, with Black Sea remaining at the top spot especially with the killer start up trio of "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Living Through Another Cuba." I have not heard English Settlement in the longest time, but from what I remember of it was damn sharp, especially for 1982 while Mummer was very good - relaxed but still having a bit of a charm to it with songs like "In Loving Memory of a Name," "Love on a Farm Boy's Wages," "Great Fire," and even "Beating of Hearts" while the Power Pop finale of "Funk Pop a Roll" still having that attack...although "Wonderland" had me worried. Big Express is alright with some good moments ("Seagulls Screaming..."), but I was happy that they went for the Garage Psych with their Dukes of Stratosphere project. Skylarking as it stands now remains the final time I was really into their music.

I tried to get into Oranges and Lemons, but "King for a Day" really ruined things and "The Loving" was the time I gave up in full - XTC's Lite Entertainment (even if "Mayor of Simpleton" is a fine single). Nail it down to me getting into classic Punk long after the fact and The Jesus and Mary Chain right around that time (just out of High School...), but something about it made me just want to sell off my copy right away. Nonsuch had some good songs, but not enough to sustain my interest. I still have to revisit Apple Venus to find out if I'm really into that.

Still, despite my reservations for their post-Skylarking albums, at their best, they are damn good, and at least very ambitious.

OctaneHugo · 12-16-2010, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen13

I started off listening to them with Drums and Wires. Although the initial love of the album wore off a little since the mid-80's, I still have time for "Making Plans...," "Roads Girdle the Globe," "Helicopter," "Life Begins at the Hop" (the best editions had it), and even "Complicated Game." A serious step up from their first two albums.

After that were a succession of my favorite XTC works, with Black Sea remaining at the top spot especially with the killer start up trio of "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Living Through Another Cuba."

I heard Black Sea first and most of the songs you named are my favorites from those albums, though I'd also toss a few more up there (from Drums/Wires: "Real by Reel", Millions"", "That is the Way" and "Chain of Command". Black Sea: Extend those 3 songs to include "Love at First Sight", then add in "Sgt. Rock" and "Travels in Nihilon"). I thought Black Sea was their finest at first, then eventually started enjoying Drums and Wires more. So basically the reverse of you. Though I do like several songs off of Go 2 and a few off of White Music as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen

I have not heard English Settlement in the longest time, but from what I remember of it was damn sharp, especially for 1982 while Mummer was very good - relaxed but still having a bit of a charm to it with songs like "In Loving Memory of a Name," "Love on a Farm Boy's Wages," "Great Fire," and even "Beating of Hearts" while the Power Pop finale of "Funk Pop a Roll" still having that attack...although "Wonderland" had me worried. Big Express is alright with some good moments ("Seagulls Screaming..."), but I was happy that they went for the Garage Psych with their Dukes of Stratosphere project. Skylarking as it stands now remains the final time I was really into their music.

I love English Settlement and The Big Express. Mummer is decent but I haven't listened to it in a very long time. As you say, DoS and Skylarking are absolutely tremendous. However,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen

I tried to get into Oranges and Lemons, but "King for a Day" really ruined things and "The Loving" was the time I gave up in full - XTC's Lite Entertainment (even if "Mayor of Simpleton" is a fine single). Nail it down to me getting into classic Punk long after the fact and The Jesus and Mary Chain right around that time (just out of High School...), but something about it made me just want to sell off my copy right away. Nonsuch had some good songs, but not enough to sustain my interest. I still have to revisit Apple Venus to find out if I'm really into that.

I do really enjoy those albums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen

Still, despite my reservations for their post-Skylarking albums, at their best, they are damn good, and at least very ambitious.

A+

EDIT: Oh, by the way: what's everyone's thoughts on the Homo Safari series? I knew they existed but hadn't heard them until a week or two ago - they're all pretty great, strange tracks. 4 ("Mantis on Parole") is probably the weak point while "Egyptian Solution" is fantastic and just a notch above the rest.

DoucheGuy · 12-16-2010, 10:16 PM

I never got past Making Plans for Nigel :l

thirtiesgirl · 12-16-2010, 10:38 PM

My favorite is still Upsy Daisy Assortment. I tend to like XTC in small doses. When they're good, they're very, very good. When they're disappointing, I quickly lose interest.

Good = Nigel, Generals & Majors, Senses Working Overtime, Respectable Street, No Thugs In Our House.

Flyingpig437 · 12-17-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screen13

After that were a succession of my favorite XTC works, with Black Sea remaining at the top spot especially with the killer start up trio of "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Living Through Another Cuba." I.

Black sea's quite a lot of peoples fav. Xtc album. Can't see why myself. A lot of it seems bombastic and tuneless. It's not a patch on D&W ES or Skylarking imo.

Screen13 · 12-18-2010, 10:05 AM

For me, it was really catching the sounds when they were slightly fresh, and hearing a band trying to seriously break out and building up on what happened with Drums and Wires. While most of what was called Power Pop failing me, Black Sea was what I wanted the music to be, so it connects on both the quality of the music and what was happening at the time - it caught the fever that I was looking for. I hear a bold and sharp sound that hinted at the more interesting sounds elsewhere, and it was very focused - Maybe too focused and less creative for some, but for it's time it really broke down many walls of resistance.

I could imagine some kind of plans for Pop Domination moving around while making the album as the sound pretty much sounded like it was really wanting to be noticed. Over in The States, XTC were only just starting to get noticed, and being signed to RSO (The link to their inclusion on the Times Square soundtrack with one of their lesser/still good and catchy moments, "Take This Town") after having slight success on Epic, while things were going very smooth at least in The UK (if not most of the world, yet). I can't blame them for going for the gold on that album with a fine-tuned blast of sound which may not have been as inventive as their other works but was a good set which got their sound to a bigger audience, which was in the end a move that worked as most of their listeners moved along with their developments. XTC were a band that got the the more adventurous music listeners, and Black Sea was the step up to getting many of them who missed out on all that went on before, especially in The US.

11-15-2010, 09:14 PM	#75 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	I started off listening to them with Drums and Wires. Although the initial love of the album wore off a little since the mid-80's, I still have time for "Making Plans...," "Roads Girdle the Globe," "Helicopter," "Life Begins at the Hop" (the best editions had it), and even "Complicated Game." A serious step up from their first two albums. After that were a succession of my favorite XTC works, with Black Sea remaining at the top spot especially with the killer start up trio of "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Living Through Another Cuba." I have not heard English Settlement in the longest time, but from what I remember of it was damn sharp, especially for 1982 while Mummer was very good - relaxed but still having a bit of a charm to it with songs like "In Loving Memory of a Name," "Love on a Farm Boy's Wages," "Great Fire," and even "Beating of Hearts" while the Power Pop finale of "Funk Pop a Roll" still having that attack...although "Wonderland" had me worried. Big Express is alright with some good moments ("Seagulls Screaming..."), but I was happy that they went for the Garage Psych with their Dukes of Stratosphere project. Skylarking as it stands now remains the final time I was really into their music. I tried to get into Oranges and Lemons, but "King for a Day" really ruined things and "The Loving" was the time I gave up in full - XTC's Lite Entertainment (even if "Mayor of Simpleton" is a fine single). Nail it down to me getting into classic Punk long after the fact and The Jesus and Mary Chain right around that time (just out of High School...), but something about it made me just want to sell off my copy right away. Nonsuch had some good songs, but not enough to sustain my interest. I still have to revisit Apple Venus to find out if I'm really into that. Still, despite my reservations for their post-Skylarking albums, at their best, they are damn good, and at least very ambitious. Last edited by Screen13; 11-15-2010 at 09:23 PM.

12-16-2010, 10:38 PM	#78 (permalink)
thirtiesgirl Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Loss Angeles Posts: 93	My favorite is still Upsy Daisy Assortment. I tend to like XTC in small doses. When they're good, they're very, very good. When they're disappointing, I quickly lose interest. Good = Nigel, Generals & Majors, Senses Working Overtime, Respectable Street, No Thugs In Our House. __________________ *Even in my darkest recollection, there was someone singing my life back to me. ~Neko Case*

11-06-2010, 05:43 AM	#73 (permalink)
The 7th Has Drowned Thee Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wales Posts: 11	Apple Venus is worth checking out. I particularly liked "Knights in Shining Karma" and "Your Dictionary". Amazing band.

12-16-2010, 10:16 PM	#77 (permalink)
DoucheGuy Groupie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 27	I never got past Making Plans for Nigel :l

12-18-2010, 10:05 AM	#80 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	For me, it was really catching the sounds when they were slightly fresh, and hearing a band trying to seriously break out and building up on what happened with Drums and Wires. While most of what was called Power Pop failing me, Black Sea was what I wanted the music to be, so it connects on both the quality of the music and what was happening at the time - it caught the fever that I was looking for. I hear a bold and sharp sound that hinted at the more interesting sounds elsewhere, and it was very focused - Maybe too focused and less creative for some, but for it's time it really broke down many walls of resistance. I could imagine some kind of plans for Pop Domination moving around while making the album as the sound pretty much sounded like it was really wanting to be noticed. Over in The States, XTC were only just starting to get noticed, and being signed to RSO (The link to their inclusion on the Times Square soundtrack with one of their lesser/still good and catchy moments, "Take This Town") after having slight success on Epic, while things were going very smooth at least in The UK (if not most of the world, yet). I can't blame them for going for the gold on that album with a fine-tuned blast of sound which may not have been as inventive as their other works but was a good set which got their sound to a bigger audience, which was in the end a move that worked as most of their listeners moved along with their developments. XTC were a band that got the the more adventurous music listeners, and Black Sea was the step up to getting many of them who missed out on all that went on before, especially in The US.