are xtc the secret bond that unites us all?

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my second-favourite band ever. has pop music ever been sweeter?

― angelo (angelo), Monday, 18 November 2002 22:30 (10 years ago) Permalink

Don't quite see how Andy Partridge having panic attacks is funny, but then again, you're a strange bird, Julio, so anything goes, I guess.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 18 November 2002 22:33 (10 years ago) Permalink

Their appearence on the Ol' Grey Whistle Test DVD = classik.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Monday, 18 November 2002 23:12 (10 years ago) Permalink

"Dear God" is the absolute worst song ever.

― Kris (aqueduct), Monday, 18 November 2002 23:52 (10 years ago) Permalink

i enjoy

― anthony easton (anthony), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 00:20 (10 years ago) Permalink

(Colin Moulding, Julio)

I should add that "Chalkhills and Children" is so perfect to me that it's almost beyond music.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 00:40 (10 years ago) Permalink

I mean I wasn't dissing the whole album or anything, Vinnie!

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 00:41 (10 years ago) Permalink

''Don't quite see how Andy Partridge having panic attacks is funny, but then again, you're a strange bird, Julio, so anything goes, I guess.''

it appeals to my sense of humour alex.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 10:51 (10 years ago) Permalink

I love them but they're patchy - an ideal search'n'destroy band. My favourite bit is the stretch from Black Sea to Mummer, almost all of which I like even when I don't. The Big Express is rotten, Skylarking is sublime, every record since has its high points but only Apple Venus has them consistently enough to be a 'must' if you like the band. "River Of Orchids" is the most musically interesting thing they'd done in over a decade.

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 11:02 (10 years ago) Permalink

Tom's right about patchiness. My stretch would be GO2 until English Settlement. Skylarking is good, but not as good as the keepers of the canon would have us believe. As a singles collection, Fossil Fuel is terrific, and the only XTC I ever play these days. Oh and the live gigs from the Transistor Blast box - the one from 1978 is fun.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 11:36 (10 years ago) Permalink

My joint favourite band of all time. I've loved all their songs (bar the feeble 'Smartest Monkeys') for a lifetime and to try to objectively evaluate their 'worth' is impossible for me as I believe their catalogue straddles all others imperiously.

― Guy, Tuesday, 19 November 2002 15:07 (10 years ago) Permalink

"Dear God" is the absolute worst song ever.

Andy Partridge actually considered "Dear God" a failure. Here is an interview excerpt:
Well, personally I think it's one of my better failures. I think it's such an enormous subject, a subject that was really important for me to try and grasp personally or to try and wrestle with and to get rid of - you know, to purge the last bits and pieces out of me on that subject. I think I failed terribly. I mean how do you put a subject as big as human belief into 3-1/2 minutes? I mean you just can't do it. So I thought it was a lovely failure.

Modest, isn't he? Anyway, great song. Considering XTC have been around for 25 years, I think they've been extraordinarily consistent. I don't have Wasp Star yet, but all of the others range between good (Nonsuch being a bit patchy) and incredible (Skylarking).

"River Of Orchids" is the most musically interesting thing they'd done in over a decade.

Agreed. I was expecting Apple Venus vol. 1 to be a retread of Skylarking territory, from what I had read. Of course my expectations were dashed, in a good way.

Does anyone have the Coat of Many Cupboards boxed set? Worth the dough?

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 15:42 (10 years ago) Permalink

I've said it before...

..."Ballet for a Rainy Day"/"1000 Umbrellas"/"Season Cycle" from XTC's Skylarking is one of the best-orchestrated song triads in the pop canon.

Those uninformed, take note; this album was lovingly produced by the ever-crystalline Todd Rundgren, which may prod otherwise uninterested parties to try a taste.

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 15:47 (10 years ago) Permalink

I'm listening to a borrowed Black Sea right now. I heard a lot of these songs at the time, I guess on college radio. I passed on the album because what I heard sounded like geeky self-parody - wild melodic leaps, lyrics about nothing in particular. It's 1980, here's your new XTC album. No, I don't think so.

It feels so cool now to be able to say I stopped buying XTC albums after the 70s.

― Curt (cgould), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 16:14 (10 years ago) Permalink

Robin: I saw, that's why I added the smile. :) Almost every XTC fan has a wildly different opinion on what's good and what isn't. I agree that "Chalkhills and Children" is completely perfect though.

If I were to call any of their albums rotten, it would be The Big Express, but since it has "Seagulls Screaming", "This World Over", and "Smalltown", I can't rightly call it that.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 20:49 (10 years ago) Permalink

AGHH! How can you call THE BIG EXPRESS "rotten" when it hs "Wake Up" on it?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 20:55 (10 years ago) Permalink

I hate them as much as Ned and Tom hate Garbage. "Dear God" makes me want to go to church, although it does make me wonder how a benevolent god could exist.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 20:55 (10 years ago) Permalink

"This World Over" is the best song on a relatively poor album, definitely.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 22:33 (10 years ago) Permalink

they were played on gilmore girls again this evening. not sure which song.

― keith (keithmcl), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 04:24 (10 years ago) Permalink

My favourite few seconds in XTC's back catalogue are the 'bring water, fire, bring water' bit in Great Fire, but then the way he says 'looooud!' on This Is Pop? is also great...Fossil Fuel is what's nudged me towards XTC fandom, and the fact that they have a song for Brian Eno also gives them plenty of extra points in my book.

― Damian (Damian), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 09:11 (10 years ago) Permalink

I donlt think they've ever done anything I actually dislike but my faves are White Music, Drums & Wires, Black Sea, English Settlement, Chips From The Chocolate Fireball and Apple Venus Vol 1

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 09:48 (10 years ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

Revive!

We chose the boxed set as the soundtrack for our Easter brunch this morning. So it's salmon, challah, eggs and bacon, cantaloupe, watermelon, champagne, and XTC. Very very tasty combination.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 20 April 2003 16:56 (10 years ago) Permalink

I got "skylarking" I liked it the one time I listened to it, but since then I have had no desire to hear it. Strange.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 20 April 2003 18:09 (10 years ago) Permalink

I don't know how I missed this thread before. I love the first album - loads of great songs on that. I accidentally saw them live in 1977 or '78. X-Ray Spex were billed, but they couldn't make it for reasons I can't recall now (illness, I think) and XTC played instead. I usually theorise that they got the next one in the punk phone book, but in fact the gig was at The Affair in Swindon, and the owner was also managing XTC, who had some sort of big tour about to start (gigs in Europe, I think), so did this as a warm-up. Anyway, they were terrific. I was leaning on Barry Andrews's keyboard - The Affair had a tiny stage.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 20 April 2003 18:49 (10 years ago) Permalink

Oh yes. Got the box set but everything else is on vinyl so havnt listend for years due to lack of decent record playr

Love that story behind 'Lets Make A Den' - Todd Rungren fell out with them because he reckoned The Kids wouldnt be able to handle the fact it was not in 4/4, and they wouldnt change it, so (I think)it only exists as a hissy demo now.

― Marinaorgan (Marina Organ), Sunday, 20 April 2003 19:07 (10 years ago) Permalink

I got "skylarking" I liked it the one time I listened to it, but since then I have had no desire to hear it.

Skylarking is not the unimpeachable gem that everyone would have you believe. I would recommend Oranges and Lemons as a better place to start.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 20 April 2003 20:49 (10 years ago) Permalink

I got Oranges and Lemons about 3 years ago and have listened to it about twice. It's ok, I guess. Maybe I'll give it another listen after all the LUUURVE on this thread.

― Alan N (Alan N), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:26 (10 years ago) Permalink

While there is more to XTC than "Skylarking", that album is still the pinnacle of their career.

"Oranges And Lemons" and "Nonsuch" are also great though, and the two comeback albums aren't too bad either.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 20 April 2003 21:34 (10 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Revive once more!

Got a used copy of "Fossil Fuel" a few weeks ago and I'm sold. A few tracks I don't care for (Wait till Your Boat Goes Down, Mayor of Simpleton, a couple of others) but they were a remarkably consistent singles band, quality-wise anyway.

Also, "Dear God" rocks.

― Simon H., Sunday, 7 December 2003 13:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

Until around the mid 80s, XTC were an excellent singles band. After that, they have been so great that their singles are way too little to check out. But a good start anyway.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 7 December 2003 15:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

I want to say I love XTC, but they're the ultimate "uneven band" for me.
That is to say: I love Drums & Wires. Black Sea is pretty cool. English Settlement is kinda boring, except for a couple of great songs! Skylarking is excellent. Oranges & Lemons kind of sucks...
I haven't heard all their output, but it's not a band where I feel I like all albums from one year up to some point, but rather stuff here and there.
Also, Wasp Star was kinda mehhy, aside from two or so neat songs.

But man, when they're on!!! Muppets dancing wildly with strings!

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Sunday, 7 December 2003 17:51 (9 years ago) Permalink

Oranges & Lemons kind of sucks...

I love the "is he or isn't he?" duality of "Pink Thing," though.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 7 December 2003 17:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

Nonsuch should probably be considered with Skylarking as one of their best albums.

― dleone (dleone), Sunday, 7 December 2003 17:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

Oranges and Lemons is one of my very favorite bass-guitar albums of all time. Genius!

― Dave Vinson (Gaughin), Sunday, 7 December 2003 18:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

Nonsuch is FAR better than Oranges & Lemons, I think.. it's too bad timing and marketing fucked that album's popularity up. (Granted, it did have "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN-galow", but at least the record didn't sound as incredibly blah and fruity as O&L, which in retrospect was a perfectly descriptive name for the record. All sweetness and citrus, but nothing much too savory)

― donut bitch (donut), Sunday, 7 December 2003 22:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

one of ten or so rock bands i still listen to these days.

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 7 December 2003 22:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

they were the first band i vomited to, so i feel slightly queasy at hearing their records or the smell of port.

i like the lure of salvage though.

― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 7 December 2003 22:42 (9 years ago) Permalink

it's kind of amazing that when i first posted to this thread i had just heard "english settlement" and now i find them utterly indispensible.

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 7 December 2003 22:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

Agree about "Nonsuch". Way underrated album that one. I rank it second, only behind "Skylarking".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 7 December 2003 22:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

Speaking of "Nonsuch", the most underrated XTC track ever must be "The Smartest Monkey". I mean, why do people hate that song. It is a piece of genius for God's sake!!

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Sunday, 7 December 2003 22:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

they're really two bands in a way. the quirky, jittery new-wave band that peaked with "drums and wires," "black sea" and maybe "english settlement," and the beatle-ish pop harmony band of "skylarking "and "oranges and lemons." i much, much prefer the earlier version of the band, but comparing the two is a bit like comparing oranges and lemons.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

6 years pass...

geir not otm -- most underrated xtc track ever is RIVER OF ORCHIDS

― kamerad, Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:15 (2 years ago) Permalink

hahahaha wait how the fuck did we forget XTC for the canon-off

― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:18 (2 years ago) Permalink

river of orchids is AMAZING

― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:18 (2 years ago) Permalink

This band, man... I may stray but I always return. Andy feels he's over the hill, too, but I dearly hope he keeps churning out wonderful music!

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:20 (2 years ago) Permalink

Nonsuch should probably be considered with Skylarking as one of their best albums.

― dleone (dleone), Sunday, 7 December 2003 17:55 (6 years ago)

DOMINIQUE KNOWS (although I'm not such a big Skylarking man...much prefer DoS from that era)

― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:21 (2 years ago) Permalink

can I just

― RIP la petite mort (acoleuthic), Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:23 (2 years ago) Permalink

river of orchids is pretty much the prettiest ever

― c sharp major, Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

^Gerald sums up exactly how I feel about XTC, like my life is better somehow for having them in it so-far.

― disastrous sixth series (MaresNest), Saturday, 10 July 2010 19:07 (2 years ago) Permalink

Not "so far" - better forever!

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 10 July 2010 20:52 (2 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 64 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

http://www.swindonviewpoint.com/video/xtc-science-friction-early-studio-recording

This web site has lots of early XTC in-studio performances (predating Barry Andrews, for goodness sake!)

Also search for "Helium Kids" which was their previous name!

― Mark G, Thursday, 17 May 2012 10:20 (1 year ago) Permalink

Wow! Andy still developing his herky-jerk vocals. That live clip of "Cross Wires" is just nuts.

― Advanced Uncle Meat recovery system (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 17 May 2012 14:16 (1 year ago) Permalink

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