and awaaaaaay we go
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:40 (nine years ago) link
The meeting place!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:41 (nine years ago) link
Here's a collaborate Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/2OLN1q23VJKY1CRSjjIZ1w
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:45 (nine years ago) link
Yay, might go about making a YouTube playlist too - to account for the (at least in the UK) lack of later album stuff of Spots
― nxd, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:49 (nine years ago) link
My brain just started playing Great Fire as a mental soundtrack.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:53 (nine years ago) link
Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead!(You people should be so glad I didn't vote)
― The Velvet Fog called me a motherfucker (Sandy), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:56 (nine years ago) link
it's sad, he had a harmonica
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 15:59 (nine years ago) link
my super tuff songs better place high or I'm gonna have to break out MY WEAPON!!!
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 16:03 (nine years ago) link
Lump check yr email...
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 16:14 (nine years ago) link
Wait, sorry for being lame but, where, exactly, are the results? I don't see a list?
― kwhitehead, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 16:55 (nine years ago) link
lol it's a countdown, enjoy the suspense
― sleeve, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 16:57 (nine years ago) link
that was a great opp to do a pretend reaction to a fake list
― nxd, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 17:00 (nine years ago) link
haha thinking about it i guess there's no funny number 1s
― nxd, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 17:01 (nine years ago) link
Right then, thanks and sorry again.
― kwhitehead, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 17:01 (nine years ago) link
Dominique claiming to be a songwriter & keyboardist in the Barry Andrews class, bold
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 17:06 (nine years ago) link
sorry waitin on some graphics bear with me folks
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 17:07 (nine years ago) link
There's a graphics bear with you? Tell him I said hi.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 18:13 (nine years ago) link
Graphics bears are notoriously slow, though, so we understand.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 18:14 (nine years ago) link
All of a sudden we find the cupboard bear
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 18:38 (nine years ago) link
ok slight change of plan! going to count down the top 60 (although I will post a complete list at the end)
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:11 (nine years ago) link
60. I'd Like That (556 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/60-IdLikeThat.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:16 (nine years ago) link
would like to say that Lump really outdid himself with the images here we are in for a treat
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:17 (nine years ago) link
59. Ten Feet Tall (559 points, 7 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/59-TenFeetTall.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:18 (nine years ago) link
58. Dear God (569 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/58-DearGod.jpg
whoa these images
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:18 (nine years ago) link
57. Brainiac's Daughter (583 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/57-BrainiacsDaughter.jpg
irl lol @ this img
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:19 (nine years ago) link
56. English Roundabout (586 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/56-EnglishRoundabout.jpg
55. Dear Madam Barnum (599 points, 9 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/55-DearMadamBarnum.jpg
"Dear God" so low!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:20 (nine years ago) link
also, too high, screw u kitchen person lol (re: atheist rights anthem)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:20 (nine years ago) link
Omg, my #4! Colin's greatest moment, seminal beauty, key changes forever, utter loveliness (English Roundabout)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:21 (nine years ago) link
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago)
Ha! Very happy to see my number one vote helped it make the list.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:22 (nine years ago) link
Ten Feet Fall is shockingly low. I just assumed that was an XTC favourite.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:23 (nine years ago) link
in doing this poll I realized I had not listened to the officially released version of Dear God in maybe 20 years or so. I have the original LP version of Skylarking which doesn't have it on it, so I'd pretty much forgotten about it. In retrospect while Mermaid Smiled is a great song, Dear God seems to fit the album-song-cycle thing better, the spiritual questioning coming in between Man Who Sailed Around His Soul and Dying makes more sense.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:25 (nine years ago) link
just assumed that was an XTC favourite.
― Kitchen Person
every song is an XTC favorite
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:25 (nine years ago) link
So true.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:26 (nine years ago) link
great graphics!
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:27 (nine years ago) link
Just noticed the initials on the images. Amazing!
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:28 (nine years ago) link
These graphics are amazing Bear.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:30 (nine years ago) link
bingo. I can't think of any song sans "Respectible Street" or "Chalkhills and Children" where I'll be able to say, "wow, that was too low"
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:31 (nine years ago) link
54. Pale and Precious (602 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/54-PaleAndPrecious.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:46 (nine years ago) link
love this song a lot, it's funny to think that Partridge didn't really hear any of the late 60s Beach Boys stuff right up until this time, that it was fresh and new to him and he was like "oh I can bang out a pastiche of that, here we go" and have it come out so perfect
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:47 (nine years ago) link
53. Roads Girdle the Globe (613 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/53-RoadsGirdleTheGlobe.jpg
52. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (615 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/52-BalladOfPeterPumpkinhead.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:48 (nine years ago) link
TIE 51. Runaways (640 points, 9 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/51-Runaways.jpgTIE 51. Greenman (640 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/51-Greenman.jpg
50. Beating Of Hearts (644 points, 9 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/50-BeatingOfHearts.jpg
ok that's it for a little bit
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:49 (nine years ago) link
"Runaways" one of the first of mine to make it.
hooray for Peter Pumpkin so low
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:50 (nine years ago) link
hooray for Roads Girdle the Globe placing, I wasn't sure if that would make it
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:52 (nine years ago) link
I know RGTG is a dry-run for No Language On Our Lungs but it's still p spectacular :)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:54 (nine years ago) link
Pale And Precious is if anything too perfect, enters the uncanny valley imo
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:55 (nine years ago) link
I haven't heard the Dukes albums.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:56 (nine years ago) link
how do you feel about ridiculously on point pastiche efforts
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:57 (nine years ago) link
I did vote for Pale and Precious, but imo, they hadn't quite figured out how to mimic Beach Boys backing vocals yet (though AP's Carl impression is pretty great)
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:58 (nine years ago) link
imo if you like British 60s psych at all they are a treasure trove of clever lolz
xp
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:58 (nine years ago) link
ok I guess "Pale and Precious" ranking that low is a shock, that's one I thought would get a lot of top 10 votes
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:58 (nine years ago) link
that's why: I'm not a fan of either the BB or psychedelia generally, which is why I included few latter-day cuts.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 20:59 (nine years ago) link
Dukes EP is magnificent on its own terms & you might like it
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:03 (nine years ago) link
from Psionic Sunspot onwards the last song of each album (with the exception of 'Books Are Burning imo) feels like it should be a strong contender for top 10, I was also surprised by how low Pale & Precious is
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:03 (nine years ago) link
sold
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:06 (nine years ago) link
the last song of most of their albums from any period u mean (with a very few exceptions)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:07 (nine years ago) link
Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead and Runaways are my first 2 top 10 songs taken out (5 & 7). I find the Dukes stuff just way too precious, though I'm aware that when many of the same idiosyncrasies show up on Oranges & Lemons, I'm delighted.
I tend to think English Settlement is the sleeper in the catalog.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:10 (nine years ago) link
would've thought Mummer and Nonsuch were
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:11 (nine years ago) link
I love English Settlement for being this baggy, rambling double album that is also consistently brilliant all the way through
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:13 (nine years ago) link
the world music moments on ES drag it down imo. Never really XTC's strong suit, bar a few moments here and there, but they sure went back to that well a lot. It was the 80s I guess.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:14 (nine years ago) link
ok next 10 comin up
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:15 (nine years ago) link
49. Statue of Liberty (648 points, 9 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/49-StatueOfLiberty.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:16 (nine years ago) link
I always got the impression that Mummer and The Big Express where their most overlooked, this transition period between mk 1 XTC and their canonical best album (and also between their early modest UK success and later modest US success), but there are a lot of XTC narratives, I guess xp
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:16 (nine years ago) link
ES is my favourite despite the missteps coz the good songs are earthshattering
o a white music song made it, how cute
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:16 (nine years ago) link
I found the relatively high placement of this next one sort of befuddling
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:17 (nine years ago) link
48. Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (654 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/48-SgtRock.jpg
47. Sacrificial Bonfire (656 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/47-SacrificialBonfire.jpg
xp 1984?!
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:17 (nine years ago) link
Very happy to see Roads Girdle the Globe make it. I never thought of it as one my favourites but when I was going through some of their albums before voting I really fell in love with it. The guitars on it sound really amazing.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:18 (nine years ago) link
I think Sgt Rock was one of their bigger UK hits? not as big as Nigel or Senses Working Overtime, but still xp
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:19 (nine years ago) link
love the crackling fire sound effects in Sacrificial Bonfire. on relistening I noticed that Skylarking really lays these little details on thick. I assume this may have more to do with Rundgren than the band, those little meticulously crafted weird sounds that run through tracks like Summer's Cauldron/Grass with the buzzing cicados or The Meeting Place with its wheezing steam sounds and ratchets turning. I dunno how they resisted rain/thunder sound effects on Ballet for a Rainy Day lol
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:19 (nine years ago) link
Sgt Rock maybe works as satire in retrospect but Andy didn't half like pushing his luck
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:20 (nine years ago) link
46. My Bird Performs (718 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/46-MyBirdPerforms.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:20 (nine years ago) link
think it was a bigger hit than Nigel
I love Big Express, Mummer never quite clicked with me though I love the first three tracks and the bonus tunes. I always found it weird that Mummer felt like a weaker one to me as judging by the bonus tracks and all the stuff on Rag & Bone Buffet from that era they had a wealth of really really good tunes then.
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:20 (nine years ago) link
45. Travels in Nihilon (720 points, 8 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/45-TravelsInNihilon.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:21 (nine years ago) link
― soref,
Those are their only three hits in the UK really. Charted higher than Nigel (By one place) but it's no way as well known.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:21 (nine years ago) link
44. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (736 points, 9 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/44-EverydayStoryOfSmalltown.jpg
43. Are You Receiving Me? (743 points, 11 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/43-AreYouReceivingMe.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:22 (nine years ago) link
42. Wake Up (750 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/42-WakeUp.jpg
41. The Disappointed (758 points, 9 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/41-Disappointed.jpg
40. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (763 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/40-SeagullScreamingKissHerKissHer.jpg
My Bird Performs is such a beautiful song. As others mentioned in the nominations thread, Peter Pumpkinhead seems so long and when My Bird Performs it seems like a relief and the album can really start from there.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:24 (nine years ago) link
should have used the real graphics from the CD booklet for the Nonsuch tracks imo ;)
Travels In Nihilon was my #3 and of COURSE I voted it really high. It's almost as if they knew I existed and decided to make a careening 7-minute avant-garde blowout to keep me happy. One of my favourite air-drum songs, too
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:26 (nine years ago) link
"My Beautiful Performs" is beautiful (love how abrupt the chorus is) if I don't have to listen to the lyrics.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:27 (nine years ago) link
*er "My Bird"
Two of my favourite XTC songs there both from Big Express. Seagulls Screaming was in my top 10. Such a strange and catchy song. The Everyday Story of Smalltown is the song of theirs I'll never understand why it wasn't released as a single. If that had been put out as the first single instead of All You Pretty Girls I'm convinced that would have been their 4th top 20 hit. Great song.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:27 (nine years ago) link
I think I read something where Moulding partly attributed Nigel's status as their best remembered song TO Nigel Lawson being chancellor between 1983-89 and 'Making Plans For Nigel' being used as a headline in newspapers
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:28 (nine years ago) link
"All You Pretty Girls" sounds desperate ("We need a hit! Partridge, go write a hit!").
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:29 (nine years ago) link
I don't know why I put 'to' in capitals xp
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:30 (nine years ago) link
(oh and if I can say one more thing about TIN - that bassline, oh my god, the way it plays off the rest of the song)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:33 (nine years ago) link
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)
Always hated it. It's one of three songs that stop Big Express from being a classic for me (Shake You Donkey Up and Reign of Blows being the other two)
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:36 (nine years ago) link
I would be so happy if Shake You Donkey Up was in the top 40, but I'm not conident
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:37 (nine years ago) link
39. Great Fire (794 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/39-GreatFire.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:39 (nine years ago) link
38. 1000 Umbrellas (797 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/38-1000Umbrellas.jpg
37. River of Orchids (801 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/37-RiverOfOrchids.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:40 (nine years ago) link
36. Burning With Optimism's Flames (812 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/36-BurningWithOptimismsFlames.jpg
35. Yacht Dance (817 points, 9 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/35-YachtDance.jpg
idk why songs 35-40 all have to do with fire/water
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:41 (nine years ago) link
1000 Umbrellas my #11 (I had to reluctantly split it from its slightly-superior predecessor) but still an astonishing exercise in synthesis of major & minor
lol the last few songs are tweeeeee
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link
I freakin adore My Bird Performs.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link
live version of Yacht Dance on Coat of Many Cupboards is one of my favourite things
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:44 (nine years ago) link
Good lord, The Disappointed at 41?!
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:47 (nine years ago) link
good song, possibly their second-worst video (absolute worst being Peter Pumpkinhead)
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:49 (nine years ago) link
peter pumpkinhead has a video? oh god
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:49 (nine years ago) link
'The Disappointed' was my No.3, with 'Travels in Nihilon' at No.2.
Part of me was baffled by their low placement, but then again this was always going to be a poll full of surprises.
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:51 (nine years ago) link
Nonsuch would appear to be underrated IMO. If Pumpkinhead, Barnum and The Disappointed have already placed, I'm guessing Then She Appeared is done.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:53 (nine years ago) link
the disappointed is definitely one of the better songs i couldn't vote for coz then i'd have to carefully compare loads more songs (as are burning w/ o's f and river of orchids)
then she appeared def has a chance, it's the only one of those i voted for
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:53 (nine years ago) link
The Disappointed's video is great! they surely have several videos that are worse than that
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:54 (nine years ago) link
is Towers Of London the one with a Richard Branson cameo? that is the worst
it's all about the JFK assassination/Zapruder film dontcha know
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, October 15, 2014 2:53 PM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
The Disappointed's video is great!
uh ... have you watched this recently? Andy's complaints about it are pretty funny/sadly otm
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:55 (nine years ago) link
(also I didn't vote for those songs because I strongly favour the ones I did vote for & what better way to propel them up the list than remove the competition haha)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:56 (nine years ago) link
Towers Of London the one with a Richard Branson cameo? that is the worst
That's Generals and Majors.
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:56 (nine years ago) link
ILX polls are a blood sport. which I do like.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:57 (nine years ago) link
34. Another Satellite (835 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/34-AnotherSatellite.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:57 (nine years ago) link
33. This Is Pop? (847 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/33-ThisIsPop.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:58 (nine years ago) link
32. That's Really Super, Supergirl (854 points, 11 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/32-ThatsReallySuperSupergirl.jpg
31. Season Cycle (858 points, 10 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/31-SeasonCycle.jpg
fabulous image for "Supergirl"
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:58 (nine years ago) link
:D my #19 & until i thought hard about how ballet for 1000 umbrellas is totally perfect my skylarking highlight, it's exquisite
lol you'll have to guess which one i'm talking about
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:59 (nine years ago) link
30. King For a Day (861 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/30-KingForADay.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 21:59 (nine years ago) link
yep, there are choices here that let me know it's a miracle I ever agree with anyone on any point. Typical XTC list!
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:03 (nine years ago) link
I watched The Disappointed video immediately before making that post! I just looked up Partridge discussing it on the song of week blog and I agree it looks New Romantic-esque, but this is good thing imo, especially for a song about pageantry and flamboyant displays of grief. I think at least some of the medieval weird perspective stuff did make it onscreen xps
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:04 (nine years ago) link
there are choices here that let me know it's a miracle I ever agree with anyone on any point
name names!
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:05 (nine years ago) link
"The Disappointed" and "King For A Day" are songs that make me believe XTC actually are dated dad-psychedelia. Especially "The Disappointed". So banal, so adult-contemporary. I cringe!
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:09 (nine years ago) link
or maybe I just hate shuffles
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:13 (nine years ago) link
brb scouring the 365 for a shuffle
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:14 (nine years ago) link
haha I'm sure there some in there
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:19 (nine years ago) link
Dammit, I've had a really busy day and have to get up early, wanna stay and see the rest of this rollout.
Amazing graphics! Esp Nihilon, fantastic!
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:20 (nine years ago) link
Welp my #1 has placed (bonfire)
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:23 (nine years ago) link
29. Then She Appeared (876 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/29-ThenSheAppeared.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:29 (nine years ago) link
28. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (912 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/28-WhenYoureNearMeIHaveDifficulty.jpg
27. Helicopter (917 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/27-Helicopter.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:30 (nine years ago) link
26. Rocket from a Bottle (937 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/26-RocketFromABottle.jpg
25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/25-YoureTheWishYouAreIHad.jpg
24. Ballet For A Rainy Day (975 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/24-BalletForARainyDay.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:31 (nine years ago) link
TIE 23. Snowman (985 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/23-Snowman.jpgTIE 23. The Meeting Place (985 points, 12 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/23-MeetingPlace.jpg
22. Ball and Chain (1073 points, 14 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/22-BallAndChain.jpg
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:32 (nine years ago) link
21. Jason and the Argonauts (1084 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/21-JasonAndTheArgonauts.jpg
and that's it for today kids
told u!
oh YAY HELICOPTER! one of the most annoying pieces of music ever. it's so awesome <3 my #21
oh and there's my #7, Ballet For The Greatest Middle Eight Ever Recorded
I also voted for Snowman & Ball & Chain AND Jason & The Argonauts, gonna shut up now, it's all too much. XTC rule
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:32 (nine years ago) link
recap:
21. Jason and the Argonauts (1084 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))22. Ball and Chain (1073 points, 14 votes)TIE 23. The Meeting Place (985 points, 12 votes)TIE 23. Snowman (985 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))24. Ballet For A Rainy Day (975 points, 12 votes)25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)26. Rocket from a Bottle (937 points, 12 votes)27. Helicopter (917 points, 12 votes)28. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (912 points, 12 votes)29. Then She Appeared (876 points, 12 votes)30. King For a Day (861 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))31. Season Cycle (858 points, 10 votes)32. That's Really Super, Supergirl (854 points, 11 votes)33. This Is Pop? (847 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))34. Another Satellite (835 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))35. Yacht Dance (817 points, 9 votes)36. Burning With Optimism's Flames (812 points, 10 votes)37. River of Orchids (801 points, 10 votes)38. 1000 Umbrellas (797 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))39. Great Fire (794 points, 10 votes)40. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (763 points, 10 votes)41. The Disappointed (758 points, 9 votes)42. Wake Up (750 points, 10 votes)43. Are You Receiving Me? (743 points, 11 votes)44. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (736 points, 9 votes)45. Travels in Nihilon (720 points, 8 votes)46. My Bird Performs (718 points, 10 votes)47. Sacrificial Bonfire (656 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))48. Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (654 points, 8 votes)49. Statue of Liberty (648 points, 9 votes)50. Beating Of Hearts (644 points, 9 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))TIE 51. Greenman (640 points, 8 votes)TIE 51. Runaways (640 points, 9 votes)52. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (615 points, 8 votes)53. Roads Girdle the Globe (613 points, 8 votes)54. Pale and Precious (602 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))55. Dear Madam Barnum (599 points, 9 votes)56. English Roundabout (586 points, 8 votes)57. Brainiac's Daughter (583 points, 8 votes)58. Dear God (569 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))59. Ten Feet Tall (559 points, 7 votes)60. I'd Like That (556 points, 8 votes)
there have been fewer number ones than I expected so far
― soref, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:33 (nine years ago) link
"Snowman" high on my ballot.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:33 (nine years ago) link
60-21 in the same afternoon is a bit of a whirlwind.
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:34 (nine years ago) link
11 of my 31 have placed so far You guys like drums n wires and nonsuch lots more than me
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:35 (nine years ago) link
I totally forgot Jason and the Argonauts for my ballot.
It's a very interesting poll - such a rich catalogue, with not a lot of consensus.
― funk79, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
Half my top 10 already spoken for.
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
I can't see my number one turning up at this rate.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
I didn't vote, but goddamn there's a lot of Skylarking. I should've voted just for the satisfaction of not voting for a single thing from it (unless you count Dear God).
― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
I totally forgot another satellite somehow. That's what I get for picking my skylarking choices from memory without looking at the track list.
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:37 (nine years ago) link
my #1 already placed, but a lot haven't. I did choose a few Fuzzy Warbles, and getting the feeling they were basically voting for Nader
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:38 (nine years ago) link
got Dominique down as the 1000 Umbrellas #1, willing to be stood corrected
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:39 (nine years ago) link
it's true! Though even for me, hard to separate from Ballet
― Dominique, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link
srsly
those two taken together may have threatened my top 3
anyway it's all incredible music
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Wednesday, 15 October 2014 22:42 (nine years ago) link
So many amazing songs.
You’re The Wish You Are I Had has to be one of my favourite XTC choruses. It gets stuck in my head for days every single time it.
When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty is another one that went a lot higher on my list when going through their albums just before voting. It's all about those noises that are supposed to symbolise the jellyfish.
Helicopter was just outside my top 10. One of the best bass lines ever and I love how manic Andy sounds on that one.
All the Skylarking songs that have placed are fantastic. That's an album that really works as a whole which is probably why I voted for almost all of it. Will be interested to see which songs miss out. I'd be ok with Big Day not making it but have a feeling Mermaid Smiled might miss out too which would be a real shame.
Surprised to see King For a Day and The Disappointed so high. Never been a big fan of either of those.
― Kitchen Person, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 23:04 (nine years ago) link
Interesting poll, in that so many people have specific records they connect with deeply, I know I do. Skylarking appears to be the consensus pick, although JF registers his dissent above, and it would appear even The Big Express has its defenders. My own personal top 5 would be something likeBlack SeaOranges & LemonsEnglish SettlementNonsuchSkylarking
I have no idea what's coming in the top 20.
― campreverb, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 23:31 (nine years ago) link
None of my top ten have placed so far (though I suspect a majority of them will). Any guesses on which Dukes tracks might make the top twenty?
― chris_coolidge, Wednesday, 15 October 2014 23:42 (nine years ago) link
Maybe Vanishing Girl? Mole From the Ministry is my favourite but not sure how popular it is.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 01:06 (nine years ago) link
mole will surely
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 01:07 (nine years ago) link
girl too
I bet My Love Explodes is yet to come.
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:10 (nine years ago) link
The Graphics Bear knows, but he's not telling.
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:34 (nine years ago) link
Little Lighthouse is my favorite.
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:42 (nine years ago) link
Those of you who were around: what was XTC's college presence 1979-1986, i.e. between D&W and Skylarking? "Senses Working Overtime" was big, according to CMJ. I guess I'm most curious about reception and airplay.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:48 (nine years ago) link
I did a lot of my ballot from memory and already found the first casualty: "My Bird Performs". Not a big fan of Nonsuch, but you can mentally jump that song a few places up since it should have been on my ballot
― Vinnie, Thursday, 16 October 2014 02:54 (nine years ago) link
Nice to see the appreciation for "My Bird Performs," since it's always seemed that all of Colin's songs on Nonsuch were commonly loathed on ILM.
"Bungalow," however, does suck.
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 October 2014 03:08 (nine years ago) link
I was familiar with "Senses" in '83-84 due to MTV airplay and "Respectable Street" thanks to the Urgh! soundtrack. Unfortunately, my university didn't really have a functioning radio station while I was there. Those two songs and some good press (in Spin? RS?) led me to buy Waxworks/Beeswax.
― warning, #4 can't be unseen (WilliamC), Thursday, 16 October 2014 03:13 (nine years ago) link
― Hideous Lump
I love Bungalow but Smartest Monkeys and War Dance are so bad. Up there with very worst XTC songs for me.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 03:16 (nine years ago) link
Random comments (since I couldn't comment during the actual rollout because I was wearing my "Travels in Nihilon"-brand Isolator Helmet):
- "Beating of Hearts" was my #1. I went into this with no idea what was going to be #1, but that floated to the top over the other contenders "Generals & Major," the equally-unlikely "It's Nearly Africa," "Earn Enough for Us" and "Wrapped in Grey."
- "Roads Girdle the Globe" (which I type as "Roads Girdle the Glove" every damn time) was a song that took me years to like, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's that weird deep voice Andy uses.
- I'm glad "River of Orchids" made the list, but there are two things that kept it out of my top 50:1. There's such strange beauty and flow in this song, but that yelpy "I heard the dandelions roar in Piccadilly Circus" melody just does not fit.2. Synth horns! Grrrrr!!
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 October 2014 04:09 (nine years ago) link
The yelpy part is my favorite part of "River of Orchids"! On average, I'd say my favorite part of any given XTC song is the part that was most annoying the first time I heard it
― Vinnie, Thursday, 16 October 2014 06:28 (nine years ago) link
Cool results far, my #1 hasn't placed yet but I've honestly no idea if it stands a chance. Brilliant work with the images too, they're all very XTC. No real consensus on eras or albums at all (although I don't think that surprised anyone!). Wonder if there'll even be a single song with more than one #1 vote?
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 16 October 2014 12:09 (nine years ago) link
I'm shocked Seagulls is so low, would have been in my top 5
― voodoo chili, Thursday, 16 October 2014 13:49 (nine years ago) link
A word in defence of "Dear God". It didn't place high on my ballot, but if I'd been voting as a teenager it would have. In terms of the lyrics, I think it works in the same way that Kurt Vonnegut's writing does: as an antidote to received notions. Vonnegut's a great author, but he's not really readable as adult literature. DG is a great YA song, and if the lyrics induce some eye-rolling later in life, it does their particular power a disservice to dismiss them completely. Disregarding the lyrics, it's got an amazing melody (and the melody is rhythmically wonderful bedsides) and a top-notch middle eight. Just as tune qua tune it's great pop and deserves better than it gets.
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:38 (nine years ago) link
^
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:44 (nine years ago) link
(altho even as a teenager I was like, "why does he want beer to remain expensive?")
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 14:53 (nine years ago) link
would prefer reduction in the price of tea, I expect
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:23 (nine years ago) link
ok top 20 coming up
gonna roll these out a little more slowly than yesterday
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:24 (nine years ago) link
20. Love On A Farmboy's Wages (1116 points, 14 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/20-LoveOnAFarmboysWages.jpg
A last minute addition for me. I didn't mark it down after my relisten through Mummer but then I kept singing it to myself/in my head over the next few days...
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:28 (nine years ago) link
^YAY "Earn Enough For Us" prequel. Such an awkward song, but it works despite some wrongfooted moves (the bridge is not one of Andy's best). It was my #69 (!) but I would have been disappointed if it hadn't placed.
***
The only choice on the list so far that mystifies me is "You're The Wish". I never woulda pegged it to place at all, much less scraping the top 20. It's one of the few XTC songs I actively loathe. Such an unctuous chorus.
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:29 (nine years ago) link
let's play god
certs
sensesnigelgamelungsthugschildrenstreetmajorstowersearncauldrongrassmolehopreal
which leaves 4. theatre? girls? sudden? scissor?
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:30 (nine years ago) link
oh, girl, obv (of the vanishing kind)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:32 (nine years ago) link
Totally agree about Dear God's melody, was listening to it the other day and wishing that the lyrics weren't so r/atheism, cause it's one of the best conventional melodies they wrote.
― voodoo chili, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:33 (nine years ago) link
oh, MAYPOLE, lol
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:33 (nine years ago) link
Red Brick Dream, duh
― MaresNest, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:34 (nine years ago) link
agree w hardcore dilletante that the middle 8 in LOAFW is a bit awkward, while not bad in isolation it sounds like it's flown in from another track/song entirely, like it was punched in. the rest of this song though... damn, so perfect. an obvious precursor to the Apple Venus stuff, the first real flowering of Andy's Brit pastoral psych side.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:38 (nine years ago) link
Is it too much to hope that Rook gets a place?
― MaresNest, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:40 (nine years ago) link
frictionaffiliatedlibertyhop sha la la la laR-O-T-A-R-Y.."gather round..."decency's jigsaw"this must be make-believe.." oh that's the same song never mindAnd win a night out.. with a FAMOUS paranoiac..
― Mark G, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:40 (nine years ago) link
That's why I couldn't do a ballot: So many songs would end up with one vote..
― Mark G, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:41 (nine years ago) link
I used to live on Rossmore Rd
― MaresNest, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:42 (nine years ago) link
Always loved this song, agree it was one of the first great examples of him writing in the psych-ish, pastoral mode. Just a pretty song, with a pretty sentiment.
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:42 (nine years ago) link
i was a bit so-so on XTC's whole pastoral/madrigal vibe but I've since embraced it as something that's really quite original and unlike anything else a pop band has really done before or since.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:47 (nine years ago) link
oh there's precedents - Macca's Mother Nature's Son for ex.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:49 (nine years ago) link
"Love on a Farmboy's Wage" is one of the few of the pastoral songs for which I voted.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:50 (nine years ago) link
19. Complicated Game (1124 points, 13 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/19-ComplicatedGame.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:51 (nine years ago) link
that game looks awesome
― nxd, Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:55 (nine years ago) link
oh there's precedents - Macca's Mother Nature's Son for ex.― Οὖτις, Thursday, October 16, 2014 4:49 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Οὖτις, Thursday, October 16, 2014 4:49 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Musically I don't really hear it. Mother Nature's Son is a nice fingerstyle pop tune, but it in no way resembles the pre-industrial folk vibe as 'Farmboys', 'Pretty Girls', 'Cauldron' or 'Maypole'. They have a distinct aesthetic, like late-medieval folk songs filtered through big, wet eighties pop production. It's quite unique AFAIK.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 16 October 2014 15:57 (nine years ago) link
imo XTC were definitely more "English" sounding than the Beatles. I can't really think of other songs that sound like "Farmboy's Wages" either, and am not familiar enough with bands like Pentangle or Fairport Convention to say if they were precendents. Maybe something like the solo acoustic guitar songs on Yes records? Ha, pretty sure that's NOT what AP was going for...
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:04 (nine years ago) link
My #2, was so nearly my #1 but someone else came along and moved it (my other cranial hemisphere)
but like
like
graaaaaaaaaaaaaggghhhhh
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:06 (nine years ago) link
Maybe something like the solo acoustic guitar songs on Yes records? Ha, pretty sure that's NOT what AP was going for...
Xgau's early reviews of XTC suggest a Yes influence on the band.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:07 (nine years ago) link
xtc could make the most gorgeous, ornate English pastoral pop that had existed
they could also fire the most soul-searing, vicious, primal, hollow post-punk exocets into the sun of hypocrisy and spite
thus is xtc's glory
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:10 (nine years ago) link
Muswell Hillbillies and Village Green sorta do this
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:13 (nine years ago) link
theatre, girl, girls, maypole rounds off my prediction. if 'brides' gets in I will be surprised and ecstatic
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:18 (nine years ago) link
and it would appear even The Big Express has its defenders.
This baffles me -- is TBE not thought highly of by XTC fans? I always loved it, except for "All You Pretty Girls" and "Seagulls" -- the stiffness of the drum machine programming ruins those.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:20 (nine years ago) link
it's kind of an ugly sounding album imo
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:24 (nine years ago) link
which seems to have been the goal so ok fair enough but it's clangor is kind of a grind to get through for me
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:25 (nine years ago) link
I like Big Express, but it took a few years, especially because it was the second XTC record I heard, after Skylarking. Now, I think it's one of their most interesting records (both on songwriting and production fronts), and has some of my favorite songs (voted for 4).
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:28 (nine years ago) link
18. Wrapped in Grey (1151 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/18-WrappedInGrey.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:33 (nine years ago) link
a beauty, this one
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:34 (nine years ago) link
o lol I even voted for this & forgot to predict it
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:37 (nine years ago) link
the song that broke their relationship with Virgin
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:39 (nine years ago) link
highest note ever sung by AP?
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:40 (nine years ago) link
haha yeah maybe
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:41 (nine years ago) link
TBE took me a long time to come round to. I don't know who thought "All You Pretty Girls" should have been a single; it's so murky and weird, with the ska-squeezebox carrying the instrumental load in the verses, the artificially harmonized submarine vocals in the chorus, the whistling solo (!) (?) (?!), the offkilter, oft unresolved Irish diddling in the outro... it's a mess. Kind of a glorious mess to my ears, but the pop audience could be predicted to run screaming. "Smalltown" would have been a better choice, IMO. The album as a whole is cluttery and clangy and deliberately rebarbative, but not as cohesive as it feels like it should be, and the highs aren't quite as high as the highs on their other records. This go-round I really grooved on its weirdness - the bizzare prog yee-haw vibe of "Shake You Donkey Up", the offbeat guitarplay in "Wake Up", the aggressive harmonica and in-your-face handclaps on "Reign of Blows". Definitely a "for fans only" kind of affair.
"Wrapped in Grey" one of those connoisseurs' picks that I have never warmed to (same for "Pale and Precious").
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:50 (nine years ago) link
always liked "Wrapped in Grey" for the ending, and in very typical Partridge fashion, he lands on a minor 7th, only to go down to the 6th. I also happen to love "resolutions" like that (perhaps because of AP?), and the only other composer who comes to mind that does it a lot as well is Messiaen. Feeling-wise, it's like he ends the song on a confrontational question mark, but then resolves to utter uncertainty. Yay!
x-post
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:51 (nine years ago) link
As I presumed, my taste in XTC differs greatly from the other folks who voted. Only 5 of my choices have shown up so far. Not much love for GO2 so far, and way to much for Nonsuch, imo.
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:53 (nine years ago) link
best bit of wrapped in grey is the way the second chorus slams in, without that teasing bridge
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:55 (nine years ago) link
I don't know who thought "All You Pretty Girls" should have been a single; it's so murky and weird, with the ska-squeezebox carrying the instrumental load in the verses, the artificially harmonized submarine vocals in the chorus, the whistling solo (!) (?) (?!), the offkilter, oft unresolved Irish diddling in the outro... it's a mess.
agree about all this - it sounds like 4 songs mashed together, and the changes are all jarring (isn't the chorus and its plagal cadence in another key altogether from the rest of the song?) It sounds like something from a bad musical about sailing ships.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:56 (nine years ago) link
my favorite on Big Express is actually probably This World Over
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 16:57 (nine years ago) link
17. Summer's Cauldron (1225 points, 14 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/17-SummersCauldron.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:10 (nine years ago) link
first entry with more than 1 no. 1 vote, btw
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:20 (nine years ago) link
hopefully not the last!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:22 (nine years ago) link
is this the only XTC song to feature a melodica
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:23 (nine years ago) link
Drowning here in summers cauldREEEEEEEEEEEE (enter gorgeous string section)
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:24 (nine years ago) link
― Οὖτις,
Mine too – their attempt at Rush or Police-type arrangements.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:24 (nine years ago) link
I think it's a melodica and not a harmonica in "Smokeless Zone," but not 100% sure.
― warning, #4 can't be unseen (WilliamC), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:25 (nine years ago) link
haha that is not exactly a connection I would have drawn given my loathing for both
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:25 (nine years ago) link
have no idea what gear Rundgren/the band used to program those insect sounds, totally hypnotized teenage me
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:26 (nine years ago) link
yeah this is an astonishing soundscape above anything else
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:27 (nine years ago) link
16. Harvest Festival (1236 points, 14 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/16-HarvestFestival.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:35 (nine years ago) link
Would loooove a tech boffins rundown of the skylarking sessions
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:38 (nine years ago) link
Xposts
haaaa I forgot this one too despite voting for it, my highest AV too
incredible lyric, incredible middle eight
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:41 (nine years ago) link
yeah the pining for his lost childhood love at her wedding is very well drawn, this mixture of acceptance and regret and longing and nostalgia
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:49 (nine years ago) link
― Οὖτις, Thursday, October 16, 2014 1:26 PM (30 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
OTM! When I was listening to/obsessed with Skylarking in 1986-87 (seriously, I listened to it 2-3 times a day for 3-4 months solid), I thought, "Wow, the things they can do with computers! Dig those rhythmic insect sounds!"
When I next listened to Skylarking, 25 years later, I thought, "How the fuck did they do that in 1986?!"
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 17:59 (nine years ago) link
less pining, more basking imo
it's a v emotionally mature overview of the great circle, which is apple venus' overarching concern, manifested here at it most simultaneously cosmic and intimate
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:05 (nine years ago) link
I think the conflicted emotions are there - I agree its more positive than wallowing, it is a "mature" sort of song
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:10 (nine years ago) link
"That's Really Super, Supergirl" sounds like Scritti Politti.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:18 (nine years ago) link
continuing in the lush orchestral ballads vein
15. Chalkhills and Children (1238 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/15-ChalkhillsAndChildren.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:26 (nine years ago) link
Glad to see Seagiulls and Smalltown placing. I love Big Express. Especially after the weaker opening songs are out of the way.
― ColinO, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:28 (nine years ago) link
gr8 image
lovely song too. didn't vote for it coz it is almost cheesy but I did say almost
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:29 (nine years ago) link
it took me awhile to come around to this song. not in love with organ/keyboard sounds
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:30 (nine years ago) link
I always thought this is one of XTC's best songs -- I don't hear cheesy at all, in fact I hear a bit too weighty a sentiment for something that's supposed to be a pretty ballad. Letting go, submitting to one's lot in life, acceptance, but mixed with dreamy nostalgia and even wonder at self-discovery. Also, a great example of how to take Beach Boys influence and not sound like you're just copying the Beach Boys
x-post, re: keys sounds, I think O&L in general suffers from dated sounds (drums are the worst offender for me), but like the Big Express, it does have some of their most ambitious art/pop hybrid songs
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:33 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, the overall sonics on O&L were always problematic for me. It was part of the reason that O&L was were I got off the XTC bus.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:36 (nine years ago) link
I did say almost! it grazes a sort of zen unctuousness but just about gets away with it on the strength of music + lyrical imagery
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:38 (nine years ago) link
this is one of those O&L songs that is so well constructed it transcends the failings in its execution
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:38 (nine years ago) link
yeah ^^this
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:39 (nine years ago) link
Listening on headphones at the moment and, yes, the mix has got a lot happening w/out sounding cluttered, fer instance the keyboard line and harmonies.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:40 (nine years ago) link
Chalkhills and Children and Wrapped In Grey were both in my top five. Guess I'm a big fan of their ballads. Both incredibly beautiful songs. I'm not a massive fan of Oranges & Lemons at all but Chalkhills and the artwork are the two reasons I'll always keep that album in my collection.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:41 (nine years ago) link
I can't believe mine was the only number 1 vote for Chalkhills and Children, I thought that would be in the top five at least!
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:44 (nine years ago) link
Just going back to The Big Express. The quality of that album is just so all over the place for me. I voted for eight of its songs but the other three I never need to hear again. I've given up hope of Liarbird making it now which ended up being my highest Big Express track.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:44 (nine years ago) link
the extra tracks hurt the album
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:45 (nine years ago) link
― soref
It was my number two. I'm very surprised it wasn't higher.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:45 (nine years ago) link
more surprises in store folks!
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:46 (nine years ago) link
Chalkhills is kind of amazing for being a pop song where a pop singer writes about his kids and also a pop song where a pop singer writes about the hollowness of pop stardom that is not just not terrible but a masterpiece
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:47 (nine years ago) link
no "Liarbird", no credibility. Seriously, that song should be part of any XTC primer just on subject matter alone
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:47 (nine years ago) link
yeah xp
it is probably the best song I didn't vote for, sorry soref
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:48 (nine years ago) link
I suppose this is partly because Partridge is not a 'pop star' in the way of, say, Sting or Phil Collins, no mansion or millions in the bank, but also Chalkhills doesn't sound smug at all, rather someone troubled finding something stable in their life, but song is still troubled and troubling
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:50 (nine years ago) link
let's have some jingle jangle rock for a bit
14. Vanishing Girl (1287 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/14-VanishingGirl.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:52 (nine years ago) link
commonly referenced as a Hollies homage it's possibly better than any actual individual Hollies song. Insane Macca-esque bass runs through the entire thing, beautiful spangly guitar leads that I assume are Gregory. Production is actually kind of spare compared to a lot of the other Dukes' tracks. The hook and the playing make it such a great opener for the album tho.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 18:55 (nine years ago) link
the only Dukes track I could stomach tbh
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:01 (nine years ago) link
yeah it's good & extremely vivid for its arrangement
impt development: my shuffle just segued immortal technique into 'snowman', collective unconscious respondin'
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:02 (nine years ago) link
commonly referenced as a Hollies homage it's possibly better than any actual individual Hollies song.
I feel this way about most of the Dukes stuff
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:02 (nine years ago) link
I guess major labels in the 80s really did have money to burn: "Let's get this straight: you haven't had any hits, none of your records have even gone gold, and you want us to release an album by your psychedelic-homage alter-ego under a name not even everyone in your tiny audience would recognize as being you? Sure, no problem!"
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:06 (nine years ago) link
Voted Liarbird at #20. But I've placed nothing in the top 20 so far, the XTC ballads don't really do it for me.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:07 (nine years ago) link
guess major labels in the 80s really did have money to burn: "Let's get this straight: you haven't had any hits, none of your records have even gone gold, and you want us to release an album by your psychedelic-homage alter-ego under a name not even everyone in your tiny audience would recognize as being you? Sure, no problem!"
yeah this astounds me. The band and Virgin weren't even sure Skylarking would hit. And I bet even its success was of the treading water kind, allowing them to keep recording or recoup advances.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:09 (nine years ago) link
guess Complicated Game is a ballad, viewed a certain way
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:09 (nine years ago) link
pls feel free to skip this overlong, inarticulate post in which I try and fail to explain what i like so much about Chalkhills and Children:
I was thinking about how XTC are a small-c conservative group in some ways, and how Chalkhills and Children is in the sense of valuing tradition, connection to the land and landscape and rooted-ness and family and continuity. I wouldn't call myself a political conservative and I think that's true of most people on ilx, but I do find something emotionally appealing in outlook despite myself and it is expressed so beautifully here, thinking about what works of art you don't agree with and find beauty in?also: I always think of it as being about mental illness in some way, that terror of feeling disconnected from reality and like there is nothing to cling on to, and finding a temporary stability in these ideas of permanence (but the unsettledness never wholly goes away! the 'here I go again' sob at the end) (the ending is maybe my favourite part? I can't think of another song for which the adjective 'dreamlike' seems so appropriate, and at the ending the song seems to fold in on itself, all these different thoughts and memories and traditions, that sense that he is still a mystery to himself)
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:14 (nine years ago) link
inarticulately grasping at something you can't quite pin down does seem sort of appropriate for this song
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:15 (nine years ago) link
beautiful post
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:16 (nine years ago) link
XTC's relation to their label was very weird in that the band clearly thought they were underappreciated (and certainly underpaid), and yet, like many of their post-punk peers, without big label support, there is no way they'd have attained the level of success they did. Andy Partridge in particular seems a man out of time in so many respects -- you'd think he'd be at the top of his game today, in the age of DIY and self-releases. But, he's not. He's on Twitter, but releases no more new music either solo or witih XTC. In the 80s, when XTC had management and a pipeline of releases/relationship with their label, I think all concerned parties agreed to go on with the program until the bitter end. Why not? It's not like Virgin was *losing* money on XTC, only that they weren't banking at the level they might have wished. And XTC simply didn't have any other options, due to their contract, and the fact that they really wanted to succeed.
After the strike, and the Apple Venus records (which were really just the unleashing of 90s backlog), it seems clearer to me how much this kind of band needs backing *and* pushing. tho AP probably wouldn't agree with me..
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:20 (nine years ago) link
The band and Virgin weren't even sure Skylarking would hit.
And in the US, they were with Geffen, fresh off the Neil Young lawsuit (and before they'd even hit paydirt with Guns n' Roses).
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:28 (nine years ago) link
surely age has something to do with that - Andy's noted that in middle age the idea of being in a gang of boys is not as appealing as it is in youth, and that the accompanying competitive drive also wanes
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:28 (nine years ago) link
13. No Thugs in our House (1303 points, 15 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/13-NoThugsInOurHouse.jpg
was surprised by this placing. not a bad song, but not anything I have any special attachment to.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:29 (nine years ago) link
I didn't vote, but this would've been in my top 3.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:29 (nine years ago) link
Dig the "No Thugs" 7" picture sleeve finger-puppet theater!
http://assets.rootsvinylguide.com/pictures/xtc-no-thugs-in-our-house-theatre-pack-7-rare-single_4571807
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:30 (nine years ago) link
'his viscous poly-paste breath comes out/their wall-paper world is shattered by his shout' one of their best couplets
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:33 (nine years ago) link
This album's side a rage-out, heir to RGTG and No Language. All three are brilliant. Don't lose your temper, Andy!
that couplet continues the WASP metaphor (capitalisation intended) perfectly, a supreme lyric
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:34 (nine years ago) link
well sure, and it's not like he hasn't produced more than his fair share of music. I guess I just see a disconnect with so much effort put into getting out of obligations to Virgin, and then shutting down the store once the strike-era songs were out.
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:42 (nine years ago) link
My #4 man I love that opening.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:45 (nine years ago) link
if his minor mania for post-Virgin collaborations is any indication he seems to really need other players to bounce off of
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:46 (nine years ago) link
The graphic I used for this song came from a wallpaper catalog. If you listen closely to the picture, you can hear Graham snoring away upstairs.
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 October 2014 19:57 (nine years ago) link
12. The Wheel & the Maypole (1335 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/12-WheelAndTheMaypole.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:01 (nine years ago) link
ha i'd just finished looking up the wallpaper book where you took the graphic from before you shared that. xpost
― chemical aioli (Hunt3r), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:02 (nine years ago) link
My #6. Halfway through you're thinking 'shit me they're ending on a high'. Then the Maypole section comes in and it gets even better. Then he - they - fucking MERGE them and your mind explodes and XTC end
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:03 (nine years ago) link
From a recent interview, it sounds like he's still writing plenty on his own but mostly just getting the ideas and fragments down on tape without any real plan at the moment to turn them into full songs. He essentially said that after the perceived (by listeners and himself) quality downturn of Wasp Star, he didn't want to just keep churning them out for their own sake.
Has anybody heard the Powers album yet?
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:05 (nine years ago) link
"The Wheel and the Maypole" I discovered weeks ago at you guys' recommendation and have never regretted it. The song never stops finding new melodic curlicues.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:10 (nine years ago) link
I heard some youtube clips but the album itself was pressed in such limited quantities and it doesn't seem to be available digitally that I kinda doubt I'll ever be able to hear the whole thing
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:11 (nine years ago) link
Bass playing on psonic psunspot is delicious and amazing
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:15 (nine years ago) link
Bass playing on all XTC is amazing. Andy and Colin finding each other one of those bizarre and thankful coincidences that pop sometimes throws up
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:17 (nine years ago) link
I'm the same as Alfred re maypole. Heard it the other week and it soared to the top 5 of my ballot
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:19 (nine years ago) link
That's Wasp Star's only entry, right? It is the most notable song on the record, but I mainly think it would be a much better record with more Dave - the thinness of the arrangements is the biggest problem.
― funk79, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:20 (nine years ago) link
Playground a lock for top 5 ;)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:20 (nine years ago) link
The record starts and ends well imo, but gets slightly lost in the middle - and by slightly I mean rather
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:21 (nine years ago) link
No thugs one of those tracks that was not gonna be on my ballot at all until I actually listened to it again and it just rocks so hard, as hard as anything on Black Sea.
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:21 (nine years ago) link
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, October 16, 2014 4:17 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I always thought Colin played some brilliant shit, but didn't Andy recently claim to have actually written most of those lines?
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:22 (nine years ago) link
what?!
colin played fretless which always made me revere him a bit more
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:23 (nine years ago) link
I'm sure Andy gave some guidance to Colin but "written" and "most" is surely a bridge too far
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:25 (nine years ago) link
I had Stupidly Happy at 16. Looks bleak.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:25 (nine years ago) link
I threw Stupidly Happy right at the bottom of mine because cmon it's like a big puppy wanting you to love it
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:26 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I'll have to look for the interview, but I remember Andy saying something snarky like, "Everyone likes the bass on 'Mayor of Simpleton,' but I wrote it!"
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:27 (nine years ago) link
xp haha, big puppy. well said.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:28 (nine years ago) link
the bassline on Mayor of Simpleton seems too intricate for anybody besides the bass player to have written it imo but what do I know
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:31 (nine years ago) link
Think I found it. This is an interview Todd Bernhardt did with Andy for a now-defunct myspace blog (quoted here:
AP: [chuckles] People do these survey things, and say, "Let's vote for Colin's best bass line" or something, and they don't realize that the two bass lines they vote for -- "Vanishing Girl" and "Mayor of Simpleton" -- it's me playing bass on "Vanishing Girl"...TB: Oh, I didn't know that.AP: Yeah. Or "What in the World?" -- that's me playing bass as well.TB: Get out of here!AP: That's me on bass -- Colin's on rhythm guitar.TB: And you came up with that bass line?AP: Yeah.TB: That's funny -- I've always thought that was him channeling McCartney.AP: No, we had to cut it live. He obviously couldn't play the bass and the rhythm guitar, and I didn't know how the chords went, so instead of him teaching me the chords, I said, "Look, you play the chords, I'll play the bass, and we'll get this thing done before lunchtime!"But the one they mention is "Mayor," and Colin had to work very hard to get that bass line. It's very precise. It took me a long time to work it out, because I wanted to get into the J.S. Bach mode of each note being the perfect counterpoint to where the chords are and where the melody is. The bass is the third part in the puzzle.
TB: Oh, I didn't know that.
AP: Yeah. Or "What in the World?" -- that's me playing bass as well.
TB: Get out of here!
AP: That's me on bass -- Colin's on rhythm guitar.
TB: And you came up with that bass line?
AP: Yeah.
TB: That's funny -- I've always thought that was him channeling McCartney.
AP: No, we had to cut it live. He obviously couldn't play the bass and the rhythm guitar, and I didn't know how the chords went, so instead of him teaching me the chords, I said, "Look, you play the chords, I'll play the bass, and we'll get this thing done before lunchtime!"
But the one they mention is "Mayor," and Colin had to work very hard to get that bass line. It's very precise. It took me a long time to work it out, because I wanted to get into the J.S. Bach mode of each note being the perfect counterpoint to where the chords are and where the melody is. The bass is the third part in the puzzle.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:33 (nine years ago) link
omg! :D
What In The World??... is my favourite Dukes song, mostly for that bassline
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:35 (nine years ago) link
I always thought it was the most obscene abomination of a song that is trash, that is dirt, that is filth. I don't know what possessed them to write such a disgusting, degeneratized song as that. And I'm complimenting them by considering it a song.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:38 (nine years ago) link
wha
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:38 (nine years ago) link
t in the world
ok I had no idea that's Andy on "Vanishing Girl" that's nuts
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:39 (nine years ago) link
Well, lines Andy wrote notwithstanding, Colin Moulding is a pretty faultless bass player. Such great feel, very melodic player, and just generally doing the right thing at the right time. I think I read he turned down a touring gig with Pink Floyd?
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:42 (nine years ago) link
Don't lose yr temperChain of commandTake This TownSmokeless zone
― Mark G, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:43 (nine years ago) link
There's a pretty interesting video online where Partridge talks about his guitar playing, and he spent a good bit of time talking about how he seeks out chords that reinforce the bassline.It's kind of a guitar geek type video, but he talks about the bass more than any other similar-type video I have seen.
still it's the songwriting that carries the day, not who wrote what bit.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:45 (nine years ago) link
11. Grass (1347 points, 16 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/11-Grass.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:47 (nine years ago) link
If I had voted, No Thugs would have been my #2
― The Velvet Fog called me a motherfucker (Sandy), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:53 (nine years ago) link
this song's really ruuuude *giggles*
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:53 (nine years ago) link
always liked the video for this one
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 20:54 (nine years ago) link
altho I don't think I ever saw it at the time of release, only years later on the youtubez
the one Skylarking video I *did* see at the time was Dear God, which is pretty stupid
So is that it for Skylarking? Would love to see Mermaid Smiled make it but can't really see it placing now. Maybe Earn Enough For Us might sneak it.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:01 (nine years ago) link
quite glad it didn't make the top 10 tho as imo it's one of the least interesting songs on skylarking. that is the only negativity you'll see from me for the rest of the poll tho
earn enough will be in the top 10, absolute lock. didn't vote for it but 100% sure
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:02 (nine years ago) link
There's a video for "Grass" ?! (rushes to youtube)
Ha, yeah, I saw it around the time of release too, and it's pretty terrible. 120 Minutes also showed "Senses Working Overtime" once as a "cult classic" clip.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:09 (nine years ago) link
Still not sure what's going to make the top 10. A lot of songs I thought were certain to make it have already placed (Grass, Chalkhills, Wrapped In Grey and Summer's Cauldron) I think Black Sea is going to do very well, can see maybe five songs from it placing.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:12 (nine years ago) link
I'm concerned that my number one isn't going to sneak in there. There are lots of notable Black Sea songs to go.
― funk79, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:18 (nine years ago) link
10 of my predicted 'certs' left:
sensesnigellungsstreetmajorstowersearnmolehopreal
real by reel may be fanciful tho
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:27 (nine years ago) link
My number one's from Apple Venus.....
― funk79, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:28 (nine years ago) link
easter theatre i guess
that was in my 'maybes' list
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:28 (nine years ago) link
Battery BridesTissue TigersTake This Town
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:28 (nine years ago) link
Easter Theatre will defiantly make it.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:29 (nine years ago) link
life begins at the hop isn't that good so maybe ilx has mercifully refrained (i was lying about no more negativity ;))
battery brides being top 10 would make my day
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:29 (nine years ago) link
Would love 'Easter Theatre' to make the top 10. Given up hope of my #1 placing though.
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:30 (nine years ago) link
Life Begins at the Hop is great. Is there any chance Senses is not that popular on here?
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:32 (nine years ago) link
whoooooa
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:34 (nine years ago) link
10. Towers of London (1426 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/10-TowersOfLondon.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:36 (nine years ago) link
good song, love the double-take middle-eight with those diddly keyboards contrasting the industrial thump of the rest of the song
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:38 (nine years ago) link
I saw them on the Black Sea. Real highlight of my high school show going days. Towers was great, esp. Dave G's beautiful guitar fill just before the "Londinium" part. Still gives me chills.
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:41 (nine years ago) link
strikes me as odd that Andy didn't insist on doing a more literal "construction"-sort of arrangement of this song, with parts being gradually added/accumulating, rather than the full barrel bang-n-clang from the first beat approach that they went with. It just seems like the kind of thing he would do.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link
too low. holy crap, I've never know anyone that saw them.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:42 (nine years ago) link
**Black Sea Tour***
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:43 (nine years ago) link
ok wanna get this done before leaving for home so the top 10 are gonna come a little quicker
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:45 (nine years ago) link
!!!
I had a tape of their Cleveland show from that tour, and it was a blinder.
I also read that they were among the loudest bands of their era -- nearly Who-like in volume. Was that your experience?
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:51 (nine years ago) link
Don't remember that Montgomery. It was at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago so the acoustics were shit anyway.
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:55 (nine years ago) link
Oh haha, yeah, I've seen a few shows there, and I've never seen one that didn't sound completely awful.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 21:58 (nine years ago) link
The BBC Radio 1 live disc sounds great, lots of Black Sea and before songs
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:00 (nine years ago) link
I was away and missed the bulk of the top 20. Vanishing Girl was my #1 simply due to the fact that it's spent a solid couple months lodged in my head. It is the mother of all earworms
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:00 (nine years ago) link
it's been retrospectively ruined a bit by sounding like 'the lion sleeps tonight', but fuck disney so yeah #1 accepted
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:01 (nine years ago) link
9. Easter Theatre (1444 points, 16 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/09-EasterTheatre.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:03 (nine years ago) link
Towers my #1. Such a breathtaking middle-eight.
― chris_coolidge, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:03 (nine years ago) link
Vanishing Girl...It's one of the catchiest choruses of all time.
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:05 (nine years ago) link
when i first heard av vol 1 aged, what, 12 or 13, this was the mindblower. i played it to all my classmates. they were all 'ew wtf chocolate nipple brown'. but it was such a song! having the guitar solo after the first chorus and getting all *intense* after the second was kinda genius
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:05 (nine years ago) link
Easter Theatre is such an incredible and beautiful song. Very happy to see it so high.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:08 (nine years ago) link
tbf of Apple Venus' big orchestral blowouts I slightly favour Greenman but fully understand why Easter Theatre is 'the one'
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:09 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I'd say so. I haven't heard it since 1988, and I can still remember how it goes.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:10 (nine years ago) link
8. The Mayor of Simpleton (1448 points, 17 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/08-MayorOfSimpleton.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:15 (nine years ago) link
listening to this right now. it's pretty but wayyy too slick. or is that its appeal? will i yield in 15 listens' time
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:20 (nine years ago) link
Sigh...
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:21 (nine years ago) link
second listen and yeah that bassline is doing strange things to me
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:23 (nine years ago) link
Had no idea this was so popular.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:25 (nine years ago) link
I batted around Street and Towers and Nigel as #1's for a minute, and then I realized 'oh wait, it's Simpleton'.
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:26 (nine years ago) link
certs:
sensesnigellungsstreetmajorsearn
surely, BUT...maybe not somehow?:
mole
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:27 (nine years ago) link
WYAGM Albert Brown
― Mark G, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:31 (nine years ago) link
What this is?
So many great songs that aren't even going to place!
That is how great they are
― Mark G, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:32 (nine years ago) link
But yet so many marginal songs that did place...
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:35 (nine years ago) link
it's all fairly uncontroversial bangerz from here on out tbf
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:35 (nine years ago) link
yeah! I guess we should cover the also rans on the ILXTC song compilation
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
Didn't they release a single under the name The Fairly Uncontroversial Bangerz?
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
lol @ everyone who's surprised by this placing, even in the top 10. Mayor of Simpleton is one of the tentpoles of the XTC discog.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
7. No Language in Our Lungs (1456 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/07-NoLanguageInOurLungs.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:37 (nine years ago) link
Photos have been brilliant throughout the countdown, but that one is absolutely killer.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:38 (nine years ago) link
^^
my #5
it's just... fucking enormous
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:39 (nine years ago) link
I love everything about No Language in Our Lungs, and think it says as much about this subject as anyone has ever said -- which is saying something!
― Dominique, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:40 (nine years ago) link
in fact, this being #7 means I'll probably have major problems with the top 5
will forever associate this song with:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8htYS8mf8iY
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link
voice as instrumentguitar as voiceineloquence as eloquenceeloquence as blunt instrumentall as nothing
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link
This was also my number 5. I thought this might have a good shot at winning. One of my favourite guitar solos ever.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link
haha i'd forgotten that kooky keyboard bit just before the middle eight :D
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:42 (nine years ago) link
will forever associate this song with:
I saw this when it aired and fell off the couch in shock. It's XTC! On a US network TV show!
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:42 (nine years ago) link
xpost Poor Bill!
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:42 (nine years ago) link
as a guy who was perennially picked last for any sports team AND an XTC fan that scene really hits home
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:44 (nine years ago) link
Seriously.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:45 (nine years ago) link
6. Generals and Majors (1477 points, 18 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/06-GeneralsAndMajors.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:46 (nine years ago) link
sliiiightly regret putting this behind Travels In Nihilon on my ballot now, but I had to really
oh shit a new song! yeah this one's rly good as well, voted. language is BETTER but this was the single so fair enough
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:47 (nine years ago) link
kinda wanna read Kriegstein's Sgt. Rock story tbh
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:47 (nine years ago) link
So, my brother and I have both always thought that Suede totally stole the bridge from Generals and Majors for the chorus of Moving. Never really seen anyone else comment on it. Is it just us?
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:50 (nine years ago) link
listening to G&M just now I did the 'Hey!' and timed it perfectly :D
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:51 (nine years ago) link
these are the songs of my childhood. like, this is a big deal
this song is good n catchy and polemical in the right way. at the same time it is oddly simple for an XTC song - like, upon giving it a try, I figured out how to play it almost immediately.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:53 (nine years ago) link
it's not oddly simple for a colin moulding song imo - he always played it way straighter. not that that's a bad thing with the playing talent at his disposal
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:53 (nine years ago) link
5. Making Plans for Nigel (1650 points, 19 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/05-MakingPlansForNigel.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:55 (nine years ago) link
lol @ everyone thinking this would win
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:56 (nine years ago) link
only slightly disappointed that song image does not involve Nigel Tufnel
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:56 (nine years ago) link
anyway, seeya colin, u were a good songwriter
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:57 (nine years ago) link
Is Life Begins at the Hop really going to miss out?
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:01 (nine years ago) link
oh shit maybe not
welcome back colin
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:01 (nine years ago) link
but then how is mole going to miss out? guess it's too silly/obv beatles pastiche for ilx ;)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:03 (nine years ago) link
i did not feel the need to vote for making plans for nigel, but it is undeniably a 'glorious slice of catchy post-punk' or whatever u call it nowadays
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:05 (nine years ago) link
Apart from Respectable Street I'm not sure what else is going to make it. I guess Senses is going to place, I'm just not a massive fan so wouldn't mind if it missed out.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:05 (nine years ago) link
I thought Paper and Iron would definitely make the list but can't really see it being this high.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:07 (nine years ago) link
i am going to prepare an extra long senses writeup just for u kitchen person
sensesstreetearnlife begins from the ministry
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:07 (nine years ago) link
4. Life Begins at the Hop (1688 points, 19 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/04-LifeBeginsAtTheHop.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:08 (nine years ago) link
delicious luncheon beef
http://talprid.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/mole-dead-1.jpg
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:09 (nine years ago) link
Hurray! Wonderful song.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:11 (nine years ago) link
never knew there was a video for this one toohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vq1U8BKsEw
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:11 (nine years ago) link
which is actually p amusing
3. Earn Enough For Us (1798 points, 20 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/03-EarnEnoughForUs.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:14 (nine years ago) link
This is a brilliant top 10 so far.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:16 (nine years ago) link
again, didn't vote for this but it's quite obviously a great song
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:17 (nine years ago) link
the order of the last two is important though
Mole first then Street?
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:19 (nine years ago) link
ban
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:19 (nine years ago) link
2. Respectable Street (1870 points, 22 votes)http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/02-RespectableStreet.jpg
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:20 (nine years ago) link
this song was in the top 10 from the get-go and hovered very close to the top the entire time, despite not receiving any no. 1 votes. but it was on over 2/3rds of the ballots and that added up.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:21 (nine years ago) link
1! 2! 3! 4! 5!
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:23 (nine years ago) link
why delay the inevitable any longer
1. Senses Working Overtime (2295 points, 25 votes, 3 No. 1 votes))http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060/01-SensesWorkingOvertime.jpg
this was no.1 from the beginning and never budged.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:24 (nine years ago) link
whoa, landslide
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:26 (nine years ago) link
That vegetable man is giving me the creeps.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:26 (nine years ago) link
thanks for the poll and rollout!
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:26 (nine years ago) link
right, so
senses working overtime. it's their biggest hit, their best song. how often does that happen? wasn't quite sure where to put it on my ballot (had it at #3 originally) but on listening to it i couldn't do anything other than promote it all the way. it's everything andy partridge has striven for in a smidge under five minutes. his raison d'etre, his apotheosis. his perfect synthesis of raucous post-punk and exquisite pastoral englishness. a song of absurd & multiplying riches, a song of mounting glories that get better even when you think they surely cannot. it's got the uncertain, coy opening, the awesome-stupid surreal lyrics, the shimmering, luminous musicianship, the ensemble ingenuity, the astonishing, rollicking middle-eight, the bird field recordings (for what are xtc other than interpreted english birdsong?), the miraculous bridge and above all that goddamned chorus, which i could hear forever - it's an elemental piece of english/british music, a monument of pop and of course one of the greatest songs ever written. the public had taste, once ;)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:26 (nine years ago) link
Nice writeup. Still think there's at least 80 better XTC songs.
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:28 (nine years ago) link
some other quick details:
- 174(!) songs received votes- 11 of these were from Fuzzy Warbles, which was decidedly underrepresented in the ballots, for whatever reason (I suspect most fans have not slogged through all 9 volumes, but there really are a lot of gems there, including):126. Wonder Annual (166 points, 2 votes)127. Ship Trapped in the Ice (164 points, 2 votes)142. When We Get to England (99 points, 2 votes)143. Young Cleopatra (96 points, 1 votes)150. Born Out Of Your Mouth (85 points, 1 votes)153. The Bland Leading The Bland (82 points, 1 votes)TIE 156. Young Marrieds (76 points, 1 votes)158. I'm Unbecome (73 points, 1 votes)TIE 161. Tiny Circus Of Life (70 points, 1 votes)169. Spiral (24 points, 1 votes)172. Dame Fortune (16 points, 1 votes)
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:28 (nine years ago) link
Tried to vote "Summer's Cauldron/Grass" as my #1 - it wound up pushing "Grass" to #2 (and the incredible/indelible "Garden of Earthly Delights" to #3. Was totally robbed IMO).
"Hop" and "Thugs" both vastly superior in their Transistor Blast renditions (and both placed high on my ballot based on those versions); that boxset immortal for those 2 cuts alone.
I called "senses" at #1 in the noms thread & was roundly rebuffed. Take that, ye haters of divinely inspired pop!
Great poll, thanks Οὖτις!
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:29 (nine years ago) link
Yeah this was a great poll. Thanks so much for running it!
― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:30 (nine years ago) link
Full results list:
1. Senses Working Overtime (2295 points, 25 votes, 3 No. 1 votes))2. Respectable Street (1870 points, 22 votes)3. Earn Enough For Us (1798 points, 20 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))4. Life Begins at the Hop (1688 points, 19 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))5. Making Plans for Nigel (1650 points, 19 votes)6. Generals and Majors (1477 points, 18 votes)7. No Language in Our Lungs (1456 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))8. The Mayor of Simpleton (1448 points, 17 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))9. Easter Theatre (1444 points, 16 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))10. Towers of London (1426 points, 17 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))11. Grass (1347 points, 16 votes)12. The Wheel & the Maypole (1335 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))13. No Thugs in our House (1303 points, 15 votes)14. Vanishing Girl (1287 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))15. Chalkhills and Children (1238 points, 15 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))16. Harvest Festival (1236 points, 14 votes)17. Summer's Cauldron (1225 points, 14 votes, 2 No. 1 votes))18. Wrapped in Grey (1151 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))19. Complicated Game (1124 points, 13 votes)20. Love On A Farmboy's Wages (1116 points, 14 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))21. Jason and the Argonauts (1084 points, 13 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))22. Ball and Chain (1073 points, 14 votes)TIE 23. The Meeting Place (985 points, 12 votes)TIE 23. Snowman (985 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))24. Ballet For A Rainy Day (975 points, 12 votes)25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)26. Rocket from a Bottle (937 points, 12 votes)27. Helicopter (917 points, 12 votes)28. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty (912 points, 12 votes)29. Then She Appeared (876 points, 12 votes)30. King For a Day (861 points, 11 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))31. Season Cycle (858 points, 10 votes)32. That's Really Super, Supergirl (854 points, 11 votes)33. This Is Pop? (847 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))34. Another Satellite (835 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))35. Yacht Dance (817 points, 9 votes)36. Burning With Optimism's Flames (812 points, 10 votes)37. River of Orchids (801 points, 10 votes)38. 1000 Umbrellas (797 points, 10 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))39. Great Fire (794 points, 10 votes)40. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (763 points, 10 votes)41. The Disappointed (758 points, 9 votes)42. Wake Up (750 points, 10 votes)43. Are You Receiving Me? (743 points, 11 votes)44. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown (736 points, 9 votes)45. Travels in Nihilon (720 points, 8 votes)46. My Bird Performs (718 points, 10 votes)47. Sacrificial Bonfire (656 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))48. Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (654 points, 8 votes)49. Statue of Liberty (648 points, 9 votes)50. Beating Of Hearts (644 points, 9 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))TIE 51. Greenman (640 points, 8 votes)TIE 51. Runaways (640 points, 9 votes)52. The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (615 points, 8 votes)53. Roads Girdle the Globe (613 points, 8 votes)54. Pale and Precious (602 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))55. Dear Madam Barnum (599 points, 9 votes)56. English Roundabout (586 points, 8 votes)57. Brainiac's Daughter (583 points, 8 votes)58. Dear God (569 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))59. Ten Feet Tall (559 points, 7 votes)60. I'd Like That (556 points, 8 votes)61. I Bought Myself a Liarbird (550 points, 8 votes)62. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul (537 points, 7 votes)63. Scarecrow People (519 points, 7 votes)64. Mermaid Smiled (510 points, 7 votes)65. Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) (509 points, 7 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))66. I Remember the Sun (506 points, 8 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))67. Little Lighthouse (487 points, 7 votes)68. What In The World??... (480 points, 6 votes)69. Battery Brides (471 points, 6 votes)70. Wonderland (461 points, 5 votes)71. Science Friction (454 points, 7 votes)72. This World Over (445 points, 7 votes)73. Garden of Earthly Delights (442 points, 6 votes)74. Tissue Tigers (The Arguers) (437 points, 5 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))75. Rook (436 points, 6 votes)76. Poor Skeleton Steps Out (426 points, 6 votes)77. Scissor Man (406 points, 6 votes)78. Bike Ride to the Moon (391 points, 6 votes)79. The Last Balloon (385 points, 6 votes)80. Ladybird (380 points, 4 votes, 1 No. 1 vote))81. Love At First Sight (377 points, 5 votes)82. I Can't Own Her (376 points, 5 votes)83. One Of The Millions (374 points, 7 votes)84. Playground (373 points, 6 votes)85. Neon Shuffle (357 points, 4 votes)86. That Wave (344 points, 5 votes)87. Across This Antheap (341 points, 6 votes)88. Living Through Another Cuba (336 points, 5 votes)89. All of a Sudden (It's Too Late) (329 points, 5 votes)90. All You Pretty Girls (327 points, 4 votes)TIE 91. The Mole from the Ministry (309 points, 5 votes)TIE 91. Stupidly Happy (309 points, 4 votes)92. Your Gold Dress (299 points, 4 votes)93. Red Brick Dream (280 points, 5 votes)94. She’s So Square (279 points, 4 votes)95. Dying (278 points, 4 votes)96. Red (274 points, 4 votes)97. Funk Pop a Roll (273 points, 4 votes)98. Chain of Command (267 points, 4 votes)TIE 99. Radios in Motion (264 points, 5 votes)TIE 99. Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) (264 points, 4 votes)100. Punch and Judy (258 points, 4 votes)TIE 101. Real by Reel (255 points, 4 votes)TIE 101. 25 O'Clock (255 points, 4 votes)102. Crocodile (253 points, 4 votes)103. Smokeless Zone (251 points, 3 votes)104. Knuckle Down (249 points, 3 votes)105. Miniature Sun (246 points, 3 votes)106. Pulsing Pulsing (237 points, 3 votes)TIE 107. My Love Explodes (236 points, 3 votes)TIE 107. Bungalow (236 points, 3 votes)108. Me And The Wind (230 points, 3 votes)TIE 109. Humble Daisy (228 points, 3 votes)TIE 109. Merely a Man (228 points, 3 votes)110. You're My Drug (226 points, 3 votes)111. The Ugly Underneath (218 points, 3 votes)112. Beatown (213 points, 3 votes)113. Fly On the Wall (210 points, 3 votes)114. In Another Life (207 points, 3 votes)115. Deliver Us From The Elements (200 points, 3 votes)116. The Loving (199 points, 3 votes)117. Train Running Low on Soul Coal (197 points, 3 votes)118. Reign of blows (193 points, 3 votes)TIE 119. The Rhythm (189 points, 3 votes)TIE 119. It's Nearly Africa (189 points, 2 votes)120. Your Dictionary (187 points, 3 votes)121. Hold Me My Daddy (185 points, 3 votes)TIE 122. You're a Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel) (177 points, 3 votes)TIE 122. Don’t Lose Your Temper (177 points, 2 votes)TIE 122. In Loving Memory of a Name (177 points, 3 votes)123. The Affiliated (173 points, 3 votes)124. Outside World (171 points, 3 votes)TIE 125. Cross Wires (170 points, 2 votes)TIE 125. The Somnambulist (170 points, 2 votes)126. Wonder Annual (166 points, 2 votes)127. Ship Trapped in the Ice (164 points, 2 votes)128. Hang on to the Night (159 points, 2 votes)129. Heatwave (158 points, 2 votes)130. Blame the Weather (157 points, 2 votes)131. Pink Thing (155 points, 3 votes)132. Melt the Guns (152 points, 2 votes)133. Day In Day Out (147 points, 3 votes)134. Shake You Donkey Up (145 points, 3 votes)135. The Smartest Monkeys (142 points, 2 votes)136. Instant Tunes (133 points, 2 votes)137. I'm the Man Who Murdered Love (115 points, 3 votes)138. Jump (112 points, 2 votes)139. Knights In Shining Karma (109 points, 2 votes)140. I set myself on fire (104 points, 2 votes)141. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (102 points, 2 votes)142. When We Get to England (99 points, 2 votes)143. Young Cleopatra (96 points, 1 votes)TIE 144. Dance Band (93 points, 1 votes)TIE 144. Life Is Good In The Greenhouse (93 points, 1 votes)145. All along the watchtower (91 points, 1 votes)146. Leisure (89 points, 1 votes)147. That is the way (88 points, 1 votes)TIE 148. super-tuff (87 points, 1 votes)TIE 148. Shiny Cage (87 points, 1 votes)TIE 149. Take This Town (86 points, 1 votes)TIE 149. Extrovert (86 points, 2 votes)150. Born Out Of Your Mouth (85 points, 1 votes)151. Buzzcity Talking (84 points, 1 votes)152. Down in the Cockpit (83 points, 1 votes)153. The Bland Leading The Bland (82 points, 1 votes)154. Books Are Burning (80 points, 1 votes)155. Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass (77 points, 1 votes)TIE 156. Big Day (76 points, 2 votes)TIE 156. Young Marrieds (76 points, 1 votes)TIE 156. Thanks for Christmas (76 points, 2 votes)157. Sleepyheads/Looking For Footprints (75 points, 1 votes)158. I'm Unbecome (73 points, 1 votes)TIE 159. Cynical Days (72 points, 2 votes)TIE 159. Terrorism (72 points, 1 votes)TIE 160. New Broom (71 points, 1 votes)TIE 160. You and the Clouds Will Still be Beautiful (71 points, 2 votes)TIE 161. Tiny Circus Of Life (70 points, 1 votes)TIE 161. Frost Circus (70 points, 1 votes)162. Desert Island (61 points, 1 votes)163. Holly up on poppy (59 points, 1 votes)TIE 164. Into the atom age (51 points, 1 votes)TIE 164. The World Is Full Of Angry Young Men (51 points, 1 votes)165. We're All Light (47 points, 2 votes)166. Boarded Up (43 points, 1 votes)167. Church of Women (41 points, 1 votes)168. Have You Seen Jackie? (39 points, 1 votes)169. Spiral (24 points, 1 votes)170. Gold (20 points, 1 votes)171. New Town Animal (19 points, 2 votes)172. Dame Fortune (16 points, 1 votes)173. Collideascope (10 points, 1 votes)174. President Kill (1 point, 1 vote
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:30 (nine years ago) link
yh thanks Nobody and thanks Lump the Graphics Bear too!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:30 (nine years ago) link
Thank you sir for this undertaking.
― kwhitehead, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:31 (nine years ago) link
this was really interesting to run as it seems like this was one of the more unpredictable catalogs to poll. I was curious how the late period stuff would fare against the early period, and yet not surprised at all that Senses - which is p much right in the middle both aesthetically and chronologically - took the top spot. It's not my personal favorite but it makes sense that it would split the difference and get the general consensus votes; it appeals to both sides. It was interesting that the pastoral/orchestral ballads all got grouped together just outside the top 10. For awhile it looked like Wheel & the Maypole would be in the top 5 but it got shunted down as more early period-heavy ballots came in at the last minute.
if this makes anyone more appreciative of the breadth and depth of this band then mission accomplished afaic
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:34 (nine years ago) link
what I will say is that you messed up the tied votes and that both ten feet tall and i'd like that can gtfo of the top 60 ;)
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:35 (nine years ago) link
this was a lot of fun. thank you Οὖτις and Hideous Lump!
― soref, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:38 (nine years ago) link
yeah amazing graphics! Well done.
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:40 (nine years ago) link
awesome, man. Thanks!
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:42 (nine years ago) link
This poll also helped me deal with ambivalences about the band, mostly by listening the shit out of the music.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:43 (nine years ago) link
Young Cleopatra highest ranking song with only 1 vote. Voter come out & explain yourself please.
Ladybird lowest ranking song with a no.1 vote.
President Kill was my no. 100, although if I'd remembered the Dukes or ever listened to the Warbles it would have been gone, gone from the list....
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:45 (nine years ago) link
Stats:
Single most associated with XTC: "Making Plans for Nigel"Biggest early eighties college hit: "Senses Working Overtime."Exposure hit: "Dear God"Biggest US hit: "The Mayor of Simpleton"
there is no language in our stats
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:48 (nine years ago) link
Didn't vote as there's way too much I haven't heard or only heard once. But had I voted "Runaways" and "Greenman" would both be higher, and no longer tied. Also very surprised that "Love at First Sight" was so low.
― JoeStork, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:48 (nine years ago) link
Should have voted for Ladybird myself; it's absolutely lovely but not one of the songs I grew up with & hasn't *completely* clicked into place yet - it's definitely one of those I considered though. I know exactly who made it their #1, I think, although I notice it had an extremely high average placement - maybe the highest here for a song with multiple voters
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:52 (nine years ago) link
Here's my list, bolded didn't poll. I think my surprise was how unloved the 90s releases are in general, and also, I expected White Music/Go2/Drums and Wires to have a bigger showing, given how often they are cited as icons of the new wave era. I like Mummer more than I thought, and hell, even The Big Express has Liarbird. Still no love for the Dukes records though.
1 The Mayor of Simpleton 2 Respectable Street 3 Making Plans for Nigel 4 No Thugs in Our House 5 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead 6 Towers of London 7 Runaways 8 My Bird Performs Nonsuch9 Your Dictionary Apple Venus 10 Earn Enough for Us 11 The Disappointed 12 Life Begins at the Hop 13 Ball and Chain 14 This Is Pop 15 Senses Working Overtime 16 Stupidly Happy Wasp Star 17 Then She Appeared 18 King for a Day 19 Crocodile Nonsuch20 I Bought Myself a Liarbird The Big Express21 Garden of Earthly Delights Oranges & Lemons22 That's Really Super, Supergirl 23 Merely a Man Oranges & Lemons 24 I'd Like That 25 Dear Madam Barnum 26 Dear God 27 Generals and Majors 28 Scarecrow People Oranges & Lemons29 Science Friction White Music 30 Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me) 31 Grass 32 Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) Black Sea33 River of Orchids 34 Beating of Hearts 35 Are You Receiving Me? 36 Great Fire 37 When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty 38 Funk Pop A Roll Mummer 39 Living Through Another Cuba Black Sea40 One of the Millions Oranges & Lemons
― campreverb, Thursday, 16 October 2014 23:58 (nine years ago) link
The big scandal of this poll is the poor showing for 25 O'Clock. I mean, what in the world??
68. What In The World??...78. Bike Ride to the Moon91. The Mole from the Ministry92. Your Gold Dress101. 25 O'Clock107. My Love Explodes
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 00:14 (nine years ago) link
i tried!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 00:16 (nine years ago) link
So did I! 4 out of 6 25 O'Clock songs made my ballot!
My top 50:
1. Beating of Hearts2. Generals and Majors3. It's Nearly Africa4. Earn Enough for Us5. Wrapped in Grey6. Sacrificial Bonfire7. Yacht Dance8. 25 O'Clock9. Wake Up10. Green Man11. Love on a Farmboy's Wages12. Chain of Command13. Senses Working Overtime14. Vanishing Girl15. Red16. Life Begins at the Hop17. Are You Receiving Me18. Pulsing Pulsing19. Another Satellite20. Towers of London21. King for a Day22. Travels in Nihilon23. Blame the Weather24. Garden of Earthly Delights25. Science Friction26. Melt the Guns27. Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, The28. What in the World29. Terrorism [Home Demo]30. Mayor of Simpleton, The31. Scarecrow People32. Fly on the Wall33. Crocodile34. In Loving Memory of a Name35. My Love Explodes36. Little Lighthouse37. Radios in Motion38. Ballet for a Rainy Day39. Rocket from a Bottle40. Jump41. Merely a Man42. I Bought Myself a Liarbird43. Pale and Precious44. Roads Girdle the Globe45. In Another Life46. Bike Ride to the Moon47. Poor Skeleton Steps Out48. Helicopter49. Dear Madam Barnum50. Shake You Donkey Up
#51 to 75, unranked:Chalkhills and ChildrenCollideascopeComplicated GameCross WiresEnglish RoundaboutEveryday Story of Smalltown, TheFunk Pop a RollI'd Like ThatInstant TunesJason and the ArgonautsLadybirdMaking Plans for NigelMeeting PlaceMy Bird PerformsNo Thugs in Our HousePlaygroundPunch and JudyRed Brick DreamReel by RealRespectable StreetRiver of OrchidsStatue of LibertySummer's CauldronTake This TownWashaway
#76 to 100, unranked:Ball and ChainBallad of Peter Pumpkinhead, TheDown in the CockpitExtrovertFruit NutHappy FamiliesHarvest FestivalHeaven Is Paved with Broken GlassKnights in Shining KarmaMiniature SunMy Brown GuitarNeon ShuffleNo Language in Our LungsPink ThingRhythm, TheRunawaysSeason CycleSmartest Monkeys, TheSmokeless ZoneThanks for ChristmasThis Is PopThis World OverWheel and the Maypole, TheWorld Is Full of Angry Young Men, TheYou're the Wish You Are I Had
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 00:24 (nine years ago) link
Incredible that 'You're The Wish You Are I Had' made the Top 60 and 'Train Running Low On Soul Coal' didn't. 'The Wheel and The Maypole' was my #1.
― Welcome To (Turrican), Friday, 17 October 2014 00:24 (nine years ago) link
XTC fandom is so personal and particular that it wouldn't surprise me if we all have at least one song in our top 10 that barely received any other votes.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 00:26 (nine years ago) link
143. Young Cleopatra (96 points, 1 votes)TIE 144. Dance Band (93 points, 1 votes)TIE 144. Life Is Good In The Greenhouse (93 points, 1 votes)145. All along the watchtower (91 points, 1 votes)
^^^top tens with unique votes
i was one of these
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 00:28 (nine years ago) link
I was too.
― kwhitehead, Friday, 17 October 2014 00:50 (nine years ago) link
Great poll, thanks Οὖτις for running it, and thanks Hideous for really delightful artwork -- it caught the spirit of the band perfectly imo.
With about 2 days left to vote and almost no new listening achieved, I wound up just ranking Waxworks, Beeswax and "Respectable St." "Senses" ended up higher on my ballot than I initially thought it would.
1. Life Begins at the Hop 2. Making Plans for Nigel 3. Science Friction 4. This Is Pop? 5. She’s So Square 6. Are You Receiving Me? 7. Towers of London 8. Dance Band 9. Pulsing Pulsing 10. Generals and Majors 11. Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down 12. Respectable Street 13. Senses Working Overtime 14. Ball and Chain 15. She’s So Square 16. Heatwave 17. Instant Tunes 18. Statue of Liberty 19. Smokeless Zone 20. Don’t Lose Your Temper 21. The Somnambulist 22. Blame the Weather 23. Tissue Tigers 24. Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass 25. Sgt. Rock Is Going to Help Me 26. Punch and Judy 27. Hang On to the Night
― warning, #4 can't be unseen (WilliamC), Friday, 17 October 2014 00:56 (nine years ago) link
listening to some White Music deep cuts...they're really good, shit!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 01:04 (nine years ago) link
Points per album:
Skylarking (12,224)Black Sea (10,574)English Settlement (10,084)Non-LP (6,924)Drums & Wires (6,842)Oranges & Lemons (6,735)Nonsuch (6,713)Apple Venus (5,734)The Big Express (5,562)Mummer (4,275)Psonic Psunspot (3,671)White Music (2,551)Wasp Star (2,541)25 O'Clock (1,970)Go 2 (1,675)Fuzzy Warbles (1,003)
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 01:08 (nine years ago) link
(Oops, some of my math is wrong there, but probably not enough to change the ranking.)
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 01:14 (nine years ago) link
Keep in mind that the Non-LP category includes "Life Begins at the Hop" [1,688 pt.] and "Are You Receiving Me" [743 pt.]. Without those, the rest of the Non-LP cuts total 4,493 pt., still more than Mummer got.
Conclusion: XTC has one of the best catalog of B-sides ever.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 01:18 (nine years ago) link
I take it "Take Away/The lure of Salvage" got no votes?
― Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2014 01:20 (nine years ago) link
CORRECTED Points Per Album:
(Non-LP moves down 3 slots)
Skylarking (12,224)Black Sea (10,574)English Settlement (10,084)Drums & Wires (6,842)Oranges & Lemons (6,807)Nonsuch (6,713)Non-LP (6,675)Apple Venus (5,734)The Big Express (5,562)Mummer (4,275)Psonic Psunspot (3,848)White Music (2,551)Wasp Star (2,541)25 O'Clock (1,970)Go 2 (1,675)Fuzzy Warbles (1,003)
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 01:29 (nine years ago) link
"New Broom" was the only dub track--1 vote, 71 points
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 01:31 (nine years ago) link
Statistics nerdery continues.
Songs Receiving No Votes (all non-LP tracks except *):
A Dictionary of Modern MarriageAlways Winter Never ChristmasBeat the BibleBlack Jewelled Serpent of SoundBlue OverallBushman PresidentCairoCherry in Your TreeClap Clap ClapCommercialityCountdown to Christmas Party Time*Crowded RoomDance with Me, GermanyDidn't Hurt a Bit*Do What You DoDown a PegEgyptian SolutionElla GuruFind the FoxFireball XL-5/Fireball Dub*Frivolous Tonight*Fruit NutHappy FamiliesHomo Safari*Human Alchemy*I Am the AudienceI Need ProtectionI Sit in the Snow*I'm Bugged*Jumping in GomorrahLet's Have FunLet's Make a DenLimelightLiving in a Haunted HeartMadhattanMantis on Parole*Millions*My Brown GuitarMy Paint Heroes*My WeaponNicely Nicely JaneOfficer Blue*OmnibusOpen a Can of Human BeansOver Rusty WaterProcession Towards Learning LandSay ItSkeletons*Spinning Top*Standing in for JoeSteam Fist FuturistStrange Tales, Strange TailsSusan RevolvingThe Day They Pulled the North Pole DownThe Forgotten Language of LightThe Good ThingsThe RotaryThe TroublesThings Fall to BitsTin Toy Clockwork TrainToo Many Cooks in the KitchenToysTraffic Light RockUs Being Us*War DanceWashawayWe Kill the BeastWhere Did All the Ordinary People GoWork Away Tokyo Day*Wounded Horse
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 02:26 (nine years ago) link
No-one voted for my weapon?
― Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2014 06:36 (nine years ago) link
Wow great top 60Feel pretty bummed for Wonderland, but great to see Earn Enough for Us so high - not just my top XTC track, but one of my all time favesFantastic job, thanks for running this!& Superb work on the pics, perfect.
― nxd, Friday, 17 October 2014 08:11 (nine years ago) link
I'm only a dilettante when it comes to XTC, so here are mine. Sad Poor Skeleton didn't make the cut. Really love the groove on that one. Wrapped In Grey has recently revealed itself as my favourite XTC. Wheel & the Maypole is also a recent discovery. And why didn't Great Fire make it? Such a strange song of violence.
Wrapped In GreyPoor Skeleton Steps OutGreat FireDear GodThe Wheel & the MaypoleThe DisappointedGenerals & MajorsThe Ballad of Peter PumpkinheadThe LovingMaking Plans For NigelWonderlandStatue Of LibertySgt Rock Is Going To Help Me
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Friday, 17 October 2014 08:35 (nine years ago) link
oh it did make it, my bad.
Great work, thanks Οὖτις and Lump.
1.Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)2. Vanishing Girl3. Ten Feet Tall4. Respectable Street5. Easter Theatre6. No Language in Our Lungs7. Life Begins at the Hop8. Wrapped in Grey9. That's Really Super, Supergirl10. Making Plans for Nigel11. Chalkhills and Children12. Sacrificial Bonfire13. You're the Wish You Are I Had14. Shiny Cage15. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty16. Summer's Couldron17. The Meeting Place18. Towers of London19. I Remember the Sun20. Knuckle Down21. The Everyday Story of Smalltown22. Mermaid Smiled23. Season Cycle24. Burning With Optimism's Flames25. Helicopter26. Another Satellite27. Grass28. What in the World?29. Ballet for a Rainy Day30. Statue of Liberty
I should maybe have had 'Vanishing Girl' at #1, it's been stuck in my head for the last 24hrs. I think I need to spend some more time with English Settlement and Mummer. Not as keen on the post-Skylarking albums but perhaps I should revisit them too.
― Gavin, Leeds, Friday, 17 October 2014 10:31 (nine years ago) link
My ballot (and final poll position)
I Remember The Sun (66)Great Fire (39)King For A Day (30)Wonderland (70)Earn Enough For Us (3)Red Brick Dream (93)Senses Working Overtime (1)Snowman (23)The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead (52)Easter Theatre (9)Respectable Street (2)Generals And Majors (6)Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me) (48)Making Plans For Nigel (5)Yacht Dance (35)Rook (75)Then She Appeared (29)The Mayor Of Simpleton (8)1000 Umbrellas (38)Greenman (51)I Can't Own Her (82)Wake Up (42)No Thugs In Our House (13)Grass (11)The Meeting Place (23)I'm The Man Who Murdered Love (137)Dear God (58)
I should have spent a bit more time with the order but I'm happy with the top 3 and the overall selection.
― treefell, Friday, 17 October 2014 10:35 (nine years ago) link
thanks to this thread i discovered Wrapped In Grey so thanks thread!
― piscesx, Friday, 17 October 2014 10:49 (nine years ago) link
Oh, here's my ballot. No regrets! Although I'm the only one who'd rather be a plant than a Mickey Mouse...
Senses Working OvertimeComplicated GameTravels In NihilonEnglish RoundaboutNo Language In Our LungsThe Wheel And The MaypoleBallet For A Rainy DayLife Is Good In The GreenhouseThe Smartest MonkeysBattery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)1000 UmbrellasLeisureWhat In The World??...Real By ReelJason And the ArgonautsThat WaveHarvest FestivalSnowmanAnother SatelliteThe Mole From The MinistryHelicopterSmokeless ZoneGreenmanGenerals And MajorsEaster TheatreNo Thugs In Our HouseRoads Girdle The GlobeLiving Through Another CubaThen She AppearedPlaygroundBall And ChainWrapped In GreyYour Gold DressBeatownStupidly Happy
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 11:01 (nine years ago) link
Okay here is mine.
1. Ladybird2. Red Brick Dream3. Rook4. Rocket From A Bottle5. Yacht Dance6. Season Cycle7. Complicated Game8. No Language In Our Lungs9. Summer's Cauldron10. Tissue Tigers11. Me And The Wind12. Earn Enough For Us13. Ten Feet Tall14. Battery Brides15. Deliver Us From The Elements16. Runaways17. Beating Of Hearts18. You're The Wish You Are I Had19. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul20. Scissor Man21. 1000 Umbrellas22. Harvest Festival23. Travels In Nihilon24. One Of The Millions25. Wrapped In Grey26. Sleepyheads/Looking For Footprints27. Jason & The Argonauts28. Heatwave29. Little Lighthouse30. Across This Antheap31. Ball & Chain32. Science Friction33. Knights In Shining Karma34. Reign Of Blows35. In Loving Memory Of A Name36. Seagulls Screaming…..37. Another Satellite38. What In The World39. Pulsing Pulsing40. Millions
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 11:44 (nine years ago) link
Who voted for Desert Island? Gotta know.
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 11:46 (nine years ago) link
there's a lot in your list that I need to listen to properly, obv. still regretting leaving Ladybird off - I listened to it a couple of times yesterday and yeah I mean
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 12:27 (nine years ago) link
Who voted Tissue Tigers #1? It was in my top 10, was considering making it my #1 myself. I love that song so much.
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Friday, 17 October 2014 12:40 (nine years ago) link
frogbs post your ballot!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 12:40 (nine years ago) link
I decided to just do 20, 50 seemed like way too much but in retrospect I had more than enough songs to put up there.
#1 I felt was an obvious choice. Everything about that song is perfect. That description from Andy as to how the bass parts bounce off the chords makes total sense and likely was the reason I love the song so much. I felt bad about ranking "Senses Working Overtime" so low but I docked it points because I find the chorus gets lodged in my head for so long that I almost dread thinking about it.
1. Mayor of Simpleton2. Yacht Dance3. Greenman4. Another Satellite5. Generals and Majors6. No Thugs in our House7. What in the World?8. Tissue Tigers9. Snowman10. Little Lighthouse11. Your Gold Dress12. Life Begins at the Hop13. Neon Shuffle14. Senses Working Overtime15. My Bird Performs16. River of Orchids17. English Roundabout18. Burning With Optimism's Flames19. Life Begins at the Hop20. Chalkhills and Children
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Friday, 17 October 2014 12:51 (nine years ago) link
I played in an XTC tribute band for a short time and Mayor is such a bugger to play, just the last bar of the loop joining onto the first bar, so tricky.
LJ, was I your Ladybird suspect?
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 12:59 (nine years ago) link
Yeah the second time I heard Simpleton yesterday it suddenly leapt into giddy focus. The baseline is genuinely extraordinary
Course you were MN!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 13:00 (nine years ago) link
baseline? This phone!
Yeah this, I take my hat off sir/madam.
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:02 (nine years ago) link
iirc correctly Partridge wrote the line too.
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:03 (nine years ago) link
TB: Back to the song -- let's talk about the bass line.
AP: Yeah! I'm going to be immodest, because this is part of my drive toward immodesty this year...
TB: Well, the line is yours, after all! It's obvious -- it's there on the demo.
AP: *chuckles* People do these survey things, and say, "Let's vote for Colin's best bass line" or something, and they don't realize that the two bass lines they vote for -- "Vanishing Girl" and "Mayor of Simpleton" -- it's me playing bass on "Vanishing Girl"...
TB: You do that a lot in your songs.
AP: Yeah, it's a compulsion. On many of the songs I don't tell him which exact notes to play, but with this one, I said, "You have to play this bass line, because it's taken me weeks to work this out." I went through and worked it out a note at a time, to go with where the vocal note was at, where the implied guitar chords were, where the actual notes of the guitar being twanged to make that implied chord were. It was built scientifically, it was [laughs] precision-engineered so that every note is in the perfect place. And I think Colin liked the bass line, because we talked about it sounding like a collegiate peal of bells.
TB: Why did you feel you needed that kind of driving bass line in there?
AP: To keep the song moving, moving, moving. I wanted it to have a fleetness of foot, a joyousness to it. I used to love running as a kid -- in fact, I still dream of running. If I ran now, I'd die of a heart attack in about 30 steps [laughs], but I used to love running, and got really high on it as a kid. I wanted this track to have a sense of fleet forward movement, so the bass had to be very propulsive. The guitars are doing that kind of [sings guitar pattern] -- they almost sound sequenced, but they're not. They're played. I wanted the bass to move against that continuous arpeggio. And of course the drums locked into that as well, with the bass drum really hammering along.
So yeah, it was tough for Colin to get, but he did get it, because we played it live during the radio tour we did, where he would play that line on the acoustic guitar.
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:05 (nine years ago) link
*something about synaesthesia* ;)
Great snippet. He seems quite generous with his self-insight; I should read more of his sayings
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 13:09 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, this is a great rabbit-hole (incase you didn't know already)
http://chalkhills.org/articles/XTCFans.html
― MaresNest, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:18 (nine years ago) link
Is Mayor of Simpleton supposed to be a tribute to Wonderful World?
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Friday, 17 October 2014 13:27 (nine years ago) link
Whoa ty MN! Awesome
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 13:38 (nine years ago) link
Great poll, thanks for organizing Οὖτις! Also great art!
1. 1000 Umbrellas2. Chalkhills and Children3. Harvest Festival4. No Language In Our Lungs5. Ballet for A Rainy Day6. Easter Theatre7. Snowman8. Humble Daisy9. Wonder Annual10. Ladybird11. Grass12. I'd Like That13. Love On A Farmboy's Wages14. That's Really Super, Supergirl15. I Bought Myself a Liarbird16. Respectable Street17. Summer's Cauldron18. Wake Up19. That Wave20. The Wheel and the Maypole21. Minature Sun22. You're the Wish You Are I Had23. Ship Trapped in Ice24. This Is Pop25. Towers of London26. Me & the Wind27. Brainiac's Daughter28. I'm Unbecome29. Pale and Precious30. I Remember the Sun
― Dominique, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:44 (nine years ago) link
Great poll, Οὖτις! And great images, Hideous Lump! Thanks for doing this!
my ballot:
1. Earn Enough For Us2. Respectable Street3. Senses Working Overtime4. Making Plans For Nigel5. Grass6. Are You Receiving Me?7. The Meeting Place8. Summer's Cauldron9. Ball and Chain10. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul11. Travels in Nihilon12. What In The World??...13. Life Begins At The Hop14. My Love Explodes15. Wake Up16. Bike Ride To The Moon17. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty18. (The Everyday Story of) Smalltown19. Snowman20. Complicated Game
"Earn" was the first XTC I heard, on the radio. They had me at "[first snare hit]."
But 25 O'Clock was actually the first XTC I heard, only I didn't know it was XTC until maybe a year after I'd heard it. I'd heard about this psychedelic parody record, saw it in a record store, and thought the liner notes were hilarious.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 17 October 2014 13:45 (nine years ago) link
Is Mayor of Simpleton supposed to be a tribute to Wonderful World?― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin)
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin)
baseline? This phone!― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago)
― hardcore dilettante, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:48 (nine years ago) link
frogbs: little lighthouse REPRESENT!
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Friday, 17 October 2014 14:23 (nine years ago) link
1 Earn Enough for Us2 Wonderland3 The Wheel & The Maypole4 Easter Theatre5 Grass6 All You Pretty Girls7 The Meeting Place8 Another Satellite9 Pink Thing10 Mayor of Simpleton11 The Disappointed12 Dear Madam Barnum13 Summer's Cauldron14 Making Plans for Nigel15 King for a Day16 Generals and Majors17 Great Fire18 Vanishing Girl19 When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty20 The Everyday Story of Smalltown21 Rocket From a Bottle22 Jason and the Argonauts23 I Bought Myself a Liarbird24 Respectable Street25 This World Over
thanks again all involved :)
― nxd, Friday, 17 October 2014 14:30 (nine years ago) link
1. Summer's cauldron/grass2. Garden of earthly delights3. Senses working overtime4. Mayor of simpleton5. Respectable street6. Easter theatre7. Earn enough for us8. No thugs in our house9. Life begins at the hop10. Merely a man11. Scarecrow people12. River of orchids13. Complicated game14. Towers of London15. Harvest festival16. Travels in Nihilion17. Generals & majors18. Beating of hearts19. Roads girdle the globe20. Season cycle21. Peter pumpkinhead22. Living through another Cuba23. Melt the guns24. Smalltown25. Poor skeleton steps out 26. Scissor man27. Dear madam Barnum28. Ball & chain29. When you're near me I have difficulty 30. Radios in motion 31. Meccanik dancing32. Burning with optimism's flames33. Greenman34. Helicopter35. Wheel & maypole36. Reel by real37. Rocket from a bottle38. Pink thing39. Another satellite40. This is pop41. Holly up on poppy42. Science friction43. Then she appeared44. Hold me my daddy45. All you pretty girls46. The rhythm47. Ballet for a rainy day48. Day in day out49. Into the atom age50. Sacrificial bonfire51. Playground52. Are you receiving me53. Wake up54. Fly on the wall55. The meeting place56. Mermaid smiled57. Deliver us from the elements58. Ten feet tall59. Church of Women60. Making plans for Nigel61. Chalkhills & children62. Supergirl63. I'd like that64. Reign of blows65. Man who sailed66. Statue of liberty67. The loving68. 1000 umbrellas69. Love on a farmboy's wages70. Dear god71. King for a day72. Runaways73. Chain of command74. Punch & Judy75. Across this antheap76. My bird performs77. Outside world78. Crocodile79. Extravert80. The last balloon81. Seagulls screaming82. All of a sudden83. Newtown animal84. We're all light85. I set myself on fire86. This world over86. English roundabout87. One of the millions88. Shake you donkey up89. You & the clouds 90. No language in our lungs91. Your dictionary92. Red brick dream93. Love at first sight94. I remember the sun95. Cynical days96. The man who murdered love97. Big day98. President kill
A few regrets I have about my list: I ran out of time relistening to all the albums in sequence, ending with O&L, so Nonsuch and the 2 after I ranked from memory; I suspect there would have been 5 or 10 songs out of those records that I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed (just as happened with all the others) and would have made the list somewhere. I forgot about the Dukes ("Vanishing Girl" would have been high on my list, and "Mole" and "Brainiac" would have both been top 50). And I've never spent enough time with any Fuzzy Warbles to rate anything from them. I'd have liked to pick, say, the top 150 and make a playlist to obsess over the order - after the top 2 or 3, the order was pretty arbitrary in that any group of 10 or 15 songs could be reranked more accurately.
And I should have plumped hard for "Garden of Earthly Delights" in the discussion thread. I guess I just imagined that its glory was obvious to anyone with ears.
― hardcore dilettante, Friday, 17 October 2014 16:13 (nine years ago) link
My list.
1. Dear God2. Chalkhills & Children3. Easter Theatre4. Wrapped In Grey5. No Language in Our Lungs6. Making Plans For Nigel7. Generals & Majors8. I Bought Myself a Liarbird9. Mermaid Smiled10. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her11. Summer's Cauldron12. Helicopter13. Grass14. The Everyday Story of Smalltown15. Life Begins at the Hop16. My Bird Performs17. Ten Feet Tall18. Dying19. Season Cycle20. You're the Wish You Are I Had21. Books Are Burning22. Knuckle Down23. Burning With Optimism's Flames24. Radios in Motion25. Roads Girdle the Globe26. The Mole From the Ministry27. Humble Daisy28. Earn Enough For Us29. Sgt Rock30. Outside World31. Vanishing Girl32. Bungalow33. Cynical Days34. That's Really Super, Supergirl35. Paper & Iron36. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty37. The Meeting Place38. Runaways39. That Wave40. Brainiac's Daughter41. Towers of London42. This World Over43. Respectable Street44. You're My Drug45. Are You Receiving Me?46. Wake Up 47. Bike Ride to the Moon48. The Ugly Underneath49. Mayor of Simpleton50. Hold Me My Daddy51. Rook52. Then She Appeared53. Pale & Precious54. 25 O'Clock55. Red56. The Last Balloon57. Ball & Chain58. The Rhythm59. Garden of Earthly Delights60. Train Running Low on Soul Coal61. Living Through Another Cuba62. Have You Seen Jackie?63. I Remember the Sun
― Kitchen Person, Friday, 17 October 2014 16:24 (nine years ago) link
The Graphics Bear “Most Valuable Player Award” goes to Albrecht Dürer for being the image source for Dear God, The Disappointed, Grass and Easter Theatre.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Saint_Jerome_in_his_Study.jpg/373px-Saint_Jerome_in_his_Study.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Melencolia_I_-_Google_Art_Project_%28_AGDdr3EHmNGyA%29.jpg/380px-Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Melencolia_I_-_Google_Art_Project_%28_AGDdr3EHmNGyA%29.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_The_Large_Piece_of_Turf%2C_1503_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/374px-Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_The_Large_Piece_of_Turf%2C_1503_-_Google_Art_Project.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Hare%2C_1502_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/217px-Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Hare%2C_1502_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
[/The More You Know…]
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 17:14 (nine years ago) link
Actually, I could have done the entire poll with Dürer.
When I get home tonight, I'll post a few of the images I gathered for songs that didn't make it.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 17:20 (nine years ago) link
That will be a treat, the images were amazing!
― cc: Peniston (Paul in Santa Cruz), Friday, 17 October 2014 17:52 (nine years ago) link
And the poll results make me realize, even the tunes I'd never consider voting for have obvious virtues.
― cc: Peniston (Paul in Santa Cruz), Friday, 17 October 2014 17:56 (nine years ago) link
And and and... My ballot. If I'd gone beyond 25 (or if my mood had shifted slightly), I could have given a boost to Liarbird and Ladybird and cast a lone vote for Omnibus (those key changes! that bassline!)
SnowmanSenses Working OvertimeLove On A Farmboy's WagesComplicated GameThis is Pop? Ballet For A Rainy DayAll Of A Sudden (It's Too Late) Beating Of HeartsAll You Pretty GirlsAnother SatelliteThe Somnambulist <--------------- surprised by its low placementBurning With Optimism's FlamesTowers Of LondonWake UpNo Language In Our LungsBattery Brides Funk Pop A Roll Shake You Donkey Up Respectable StreetRiver Of OrchidsThe Dukes Of Stratosphear - Vanishing GirlMayor Of SimpletonPaper And Iron (Notes And Coins) Season CycleChalkhills And Children
― cc: Peniston (Paul in Santa Cruz), Friday, 17 October 2014 18:28 (nine years ago) link
at the risk of being repetitive, I am going to stan for some unjustly overlooked Fuzzy Warbles tracks (I thought I had voted for Young Cleopatra too but maybe I forgot? idk). There's more than a solid album's worth of fully realized, high quality tracks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eleqWoi-Rohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HETCRDY3fI4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV9xSbNimn8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX3Cc7aef68https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnbZzk6Be9khttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0qbnye6Bnohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w5-k6pQJKkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBOoMFWgnXUhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIF8ZkKx_JEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOLeojjBeKs
― Οὖτις, Friday, 17 October 2014 18:42 (nine years ago) link
I didn't vote, and I'm belatedly catching up with all the results. These polls often get me listening to stuff I hadn't put on in years, so today at work: all of English Settlement (with the deleted-in-US tracks) and Apple Venus Vol. 1, which I had never heard more than the singles from. Loved "River of Orchids."
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:12 (nine years ago) link
(with the deleted-in-US tracks)
fwiw, Geffen reissued XTC's entire catalog in the US in 198...4? 1985? Anyway, whenever they signed to Geffen. And Settlement was finally issued here in full.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:15 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I should have clarified, I've heard most of them as single tracks, but don't own the reissue and have never actually listened to the album start to finish as it was intended. I think it's a bit overlong that way, and I don't really hear any of the 5 tracks as being top-flight XTC.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:21 (nine years ago) link
#teamLeisure
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:23 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, Settlement has some of my all-time least fave XTC. "Melt the Guns" might be the duddest dud they ever dudded (thought largely due to the 20 minutes of Andy's croaking at the end).
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:27 (nine years ago) link
haha, see I love "Melt The Guns." This where all the different XTC fans have differing opinions on classicness/dudness. But I also discovered today I like "Frivolus Tonight," though, so I'm suspect.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:37 (nine years ago) link
I also like spelling. Frivolous.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:38 (nine years ago) link
I also like Melt the Guns! Though I've noticed it's often hated. Personally, I just think it's a fun song with cool chords, and a great bass line. Is it the lyrics that cause hate? AP's vocal?
― Dominique, Friday, 17 October 2014 21:39 (nine years ago) link
yeah Melt The Guns is cool and I *like* the silly inverse freakout at the end
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Friday, 17 October 2014 21:40 (nine years ago) link
Also, the production on all of English Settlement really jumps out, so tracks like "Melt the Guns" and "It's Nearly Africa" are foreplay for my ears.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 21:58 (nine years ago) link
It was "Knuckle Down" that I thought was a bit under, really.
― Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2014 22:02 (nine years ago) link
"Melt the Guns" might be the duddest dud they ever duded
See, if we're talking just English Settlement, that would be "Knuckle Down" as far as I'm concerned. But I fully understand why someone would hate "Melt the Guns."
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 17 October 2014 22:02 (nine years ago) link
x-post!
Is it the lyrics that cause hate? AP's vocal?
Mostly the vocal; I think "Melt the Guns" was the moment I realized I liked XTC in spite of, and not because of, Partridge's voice.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 17 October 2014 22:03 (nine years ago) link
ha.
xpost
― Mark G, Friday, 17 October 2014 22:04 (nine years ago) link
Of the 5 that weren't on the US single LP, "Yacht Dance" is the one that doesn't do much for me, the other 4 just don't make much of an impression. But I've listened to the US LP hundreds of times, which may make those songs I'm much less familiar with seem superficial, or oddly placed on the record.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 October 2014 22:14 (nine years ago) link
To muddy the waters further, my copy of ES (the first XTC i owned) was some kind of European import cassette which had everything except leisure, cockpit, africa, knuckle and fly.
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Friday, 17 October 2014 22:45 (nine years ago) link
So those are the outlanders for me. And of those I only really like fly
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Friday, 17 October 2014 22:47 (nine years ago) link
That was me. I like a lot of the Warbles - I especially like the original Jules Verne's Sketchbook cassette as being a high water mark for Partridge demos - but this came in first for me. I actually prefer this even earlier demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzkSLzsVbKI
It's a catchy, enthuastic Andy song with a great hook and lyrics ("You'll never be the Queen unless you do as your told"), sung with a lot of affection and regard for the subject. A pretty enthusiastic piece of young girl worship, which is of course the main problem with it and probably what kept it off any of their albums, but I first heard the song when I was trying to start a family myself, and so I kind of appropriated it and heard it the way I wanted to, as a proud father song that gave me something to look forward to.
So yeah, probably as much of a personal favorite as anything.
― savetherobot, Saturday, 18 October 2014 00:22 (nine years ago) link
I love "Melt the Guns", and the freakout is the best bit (aside from Colin's fantastic bassline). For ES duds, I'm on the side of "Knuckle Down" and "Leisure", with "Down in the Cockpit" not far behind.
― hardcore dilettante, Saturday, 18 October 2014 01:50 (nine years ago) link
leisure is so gooooood, it's the sound of the british working class being despised and mocked by the media & hung out to dry by failing industry & thatcherism, the sound of enforced not-giving-a-toss hiding genuine rage & disenfranchisement, one of their truly great protest songs
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Saturday, 18 October 2014 01:52 (nine years ago) link
My ballot. For a time in my early-mid 20s, XTC were my favorite band, period. I cannot begin to describe the anticipation I felt before the release of Apple Venus. Still a big fan, although my top five albums have shifted since then (currently, in order: English Settlement, Skylarking, Black Sea, Nonsuch, Oranges and Lemons).
1 Towers of London2 Wrapped In Grey3 Life Begins At The Hop4 Love At First Sight5 Earn Enough For Us6 No Thugs In Our House7 Easter Theatre8 One Of The Millions9 The Wheel And The Maypole10 The Mayor Of Simpleton11 Senses Working Overtime12 My Bird Performs13 King For A Day14 Stupidly Happy15 Rook16 Making Plans For Nigel17 Vanishing Girl18 English Roundabout19 Then She Appeared20 Jason And The Argonauts21 Snowman22 Harvest Festival23 Playground24 No Language In Our Lungs25 You're A Good Man Albert Brown26 Runaways27 Beating Of Hearts28 I Can't Own Her29 Generals and Majors30 Complicated Game31 Rocket From A Bottle32 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead33 Great Fire34 The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul35 Sacrificial Bonfire36 Brainiac's Daughter37 That Wave38 Dear God39 Real By Reel40 Little Lighthouse41 All Of A Sudden (It's Too Late)42 Love On A Farmboy's Wages43 Across This Antheap44 Grass45 Are You Receiving Me?46 Scarecrow People47 Dear Madam Barnum48 She's So Square49 You're The Wish You Are I Had50 The World Is Full Of Angry Young Men
― chris_coolidge, Saturday, 18 October 2014 16:09 (nine years ago) link
I gathered a ton of images before the final tallies were done--here's some of the runners up.
(Complete runners up gallery here, Top 60 gallery here.)
Alternate image for Sacrificial Bonfire:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/47alternateSACRIFICIALBONFIRE.jpg
Alternate Peter Pumpkinhead from last week's news:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/52alternateBALLADOFPETERPUMPKINHEAD-Alternate.jpg
I Bought Myself a Liarbird:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/61IBOUGHTMYSELFALIARBIRD.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:34 (nine years ago) link
The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/62MANWHOSAILEDAROUNDHISSOUL.jpg
Paper and Iron:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/65PAPERANDIRON.jpg
This World Over:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/72THISWORLDOVER.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:35 (nine years ago) link
Poor Skeleton Steps Out:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/76POORSKELETONSTEPSOUT.jpg
Bike Ride to the Moon:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/78BIKERIDETOTHEMOON.jpg
That Wave:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/86THATWAVE.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:37 (nine years ago) link
Red Brick Dream:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/93REDBRICKDREAM.jpg
Miniature Sun:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/105MINIATURESUN.jpg
Your Dictionary:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/120YOURDICTIONARY.jpg
The Affiliated:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/123AFFILIATED.jpg
The Smartest Monkeys:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/135SMARTESTMONKEYS.jpg
Thanks for Christmas (Shocker Claus!):
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/156THANKSFORCHRISTMAS.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:38 (nine years ago) link
ahaha you did one for The Smartest Monkeys in case it placed XD
these are great obv
― joie de marsh (imago), Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:39 (nine years ago) link
Pink Thing:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/131PINKTHING.jpg
The original image of Nonsuch Palace:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/NONSUCHPALACE.jpg
And finally, two bizarre images, but I couldn't figure out what song to pair them with:
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/Gargling_Oil_Almanac.jpg
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/XTC%20ILM%20Top%2060%20Runners%20Up/How_to_Hold_Pets_-_2.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:39 (nine years ago) link
First could be In Another Life
second could be New Town Animal
― joie de marsh (imago), Sunday, 19 October 2014 20:47 (nine years ago) link
In answer to an earlier question, my exposure to XTC was in college in the 80s where an XTC obsessed DJ used to play them all the time and even run an annual 4 hour show dedicated to them.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 19 October 2014 23:21 (nine years ago) link
played lots of XTC this past week inspired by this poll. Verdict: gf not impressed. AP voice "whiny", XTC music "not exciting, but maybe good for background", though slightly amused by lyrics for "Pink Thing". Kids today.
― Dominique, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:15 (nine years ago) link
haa o dear
does she dig yr own stuff or are you blissfully unencumbered by fandom
xtc is perfect kids' music imo
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:25 (nine years ago) link
a question for every musician on this board, ever!
― Mark G, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:28 (nine years ago) link
it was provocatively phrased as a binary, of course there's a happy medium of appreciation
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:32 (nine years ago) link
"do you have to play that again?"
― Mark G, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:39 (nine years ago) link
AP voice "whiny"
Not an adjective I would apply to AP. More "shouty" imo, but there's probably a better one I'm missing. I don't think I've ever played XTC in wife's presence, I'll have to see what she thinks.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:47 (nine years ago) link
she likes my stuff, but definitely more on the pop end of the spectrum (like most of the rest of anyone who's heard my music). However, there are plenty of things I listen to that she, if not hates, at least appreciates if I don't play so loud (Darkthrone, Magma, Steve Reich). Luckily she's an angel in every other way :)
― Dominique, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:50 (nine years ago) link
re: whiny, it was more like "it's maybe too whiny, or something?" like she also couldn't quite place the right adjective. I think she's referring to his voice on "Senses Working Overtime", the "hey hey the clouds are away..the innocents can all sleep safely" stuff, I could see as whiny.
― Dominique, Monday, 20 October 2014 14:53 (nine years ago) link
...which yields to glorious, full-throated joy! AP is a total thesp, his mood is a broad & copious palette
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:55 (nine years ago) link
Glad 4u tho, even it this means nothing else like 'The Return' :P
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 14:58 (nine years ago) link
I once played Senses Working Overtime to a teenage science class. They were "what the fuck is this?" during the first verse, but were hooked by the end.
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Monday, 20 October 2014 15:01 (nine years ago) link
Ha, I remember when I bought the (12") single. I was exactly that!
― Mark G, Monday, 20 October 2014 15:05 (nine years ago) link
I'd say AP's voice can be a little hard to deal with. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt really.
Listened to the song 'Gold' off Mummer yesterday for the first time and it struck me (I'm sure this must have been mentioned) just how unconventional the structures on many of these songs are.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Monday, 20 October 2014 15:06 (nine years ago) link
Oddly enough I'm listening to their version of "All Along The Watchtower" right now, which takes Dylan (already a textbook example of a singer with some, uh, limitations) to a whole new level of bizarrely exaggerated pronounciations.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 October 2014 15:07 (nine years ago) link
that cover is so punk & awesome, wish I'd voted for it
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 15:09 (nine years ago) link
I always forget how much I love it until I drag it out again; it is amazing. Just pre-punk, one of my favorite artists was Steve Harley, so I think I was predisposed to liking Andy's vocal stylings.
― Dick Clownload (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 October 2014 15:20 (nine years ago) link
yh steve harley was another childhood fave of mine, at least his greatest hits
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 15:31 (nine years ago) link
fwiw I always thought this song was kind of a midpoint between Cockney Rebel and early XTC. Yelpy vocal/weedy organ, but trying for some kind of new pop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqT4wv305Wc
― Deliciously hard yet very accessible (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 October 2014 18:42 (nine years ago) link
oh totally! this is really cool
if squeeze are at one end of the worthwhile post-punk spectrum and wire at the other, then this lot fit in near the former and say foxx era ultravox! the latter. all are great
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 18:48 (nine years ago) link
sounds a bit like
http://youtu.be/-ZH2fknRMLE?list=AL94UKMTqg-9B_oAQYmKTmhuA4g_ibPoh2
― chemical aioli (Hunt3r), Monday, 20 October 2014 19:15 (nine years ago) link
The thing I love about the 'All Along The Watchtower' cover is that tight but funky groove that Chambers & Moulding lock into... honest to God, I could listen to just the bass and drums grooving away on that for ages. Then there's Barry's unorthodox organ work on top of that as well. It's one of those covers where if you removed the vocal, you'd be hard pressed to guess what song they're covering. I guess Japan's covers are a bit like that, too.
― Welcome To (Turrican), Monday, 20 October 2014 19:17 (nine years ago) link
^^^ ahh yes, thank you for this, I'd forgotten the song and have never seen the video. I tend to only remember Boomtown Rats for "I Don't Like Mondays."
It took me years to track down tha actual Secret LP back in the pre-internet days. The rest of it isn't all that good. xpost.
― Deliciously hard yet very accessible (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 October 2014 19:19 (nine years ago) link
I'd say that the barriers that most people face when getting into XTC are Andy's voice (especially on the earlier albums), Andy's fondness for dissonance and the dense productions of albums like The Big Express and Oranges & Lemons. The impression I've always got when I've read people's opinions of XTC over the years is that Colin's stuff seems to act as a gateway into the band. Colin's stuff is more instant, whereas Andy's stuff is more rewarding in the long run.
― Welcome To (Turrican), Monday, 20 October 2014 19:22 (nine years ago) link
And repetition, on songs like "When You're Near Me" and "Scissor man," among many examples.
― Deliciously hard yet very accessible (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 October 2014 19:31 (nine years ago) link
I did but I think I may have been the only one. So true about the lock and groove on that song.
― kwhitehead, Monday, 20 October 2014 22:37 (nine years ago) link
Has anybody pre-ordered the Drums & Wires reissue? It's due in about a week iirc. I'm even weirdly excited to hear the instrumental version of the whole record.
― MaresNest, Monday, 20 October 2014 22:41 (nine years ago) link
Also, while we are talking about early yelpy, herky jerky bands, The Nits early records are worth checking out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIQ_U3I2bZY
― MaresNest, Monday, 20 October 2014 22:44 (nine years ago) link
Sound - On - Sound by Bill Nelson's Red Noise must be the closest relative of White Music/Go 2 XTC? produced by John Leckie as well
― soref, Monday, 20 October 2014 22:51 (nine years ago) link
I think I read a contemporary interview where Nelson was denying that XTC had been an influence on Red Noise and said that half of Sound - On - Sound had been written before White Music was released? early XTC frequently sound like a speeded up Be Bop Deluxe anyway
― soref, Monday, 20 October 2014 22:54 (nine years ago) link
I love everything about that Nits video, esp. the apparently confounded audience of 7.
― kwhitehead, Monday, 20 October 2014 23:17 (nine years ago) link
Also amazed at how many records they released!
― kwhitehead, Monday, 20 October 2014 23:18 (nine years ago) link
hahaha that is seriously fucking brilliant
― joie de marsh (imago), Monday, 20 October 2014 23:21 (nine years ago) link
Seal of approval from Andy Partridge himself for Hideous Lump's fine illustrations.
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Tuesday, 21 October 2014 18:44 (nine years ago) link
Wau!
― Deliciously hard yet very accessible (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 18:48 (nine years ago) link
Ha, cool.
"As for the poll,totally disagree,but fun eh?" New board description please!
― Pict in a blanket (WilliamC), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 18:56 (nine years ago) link
wwwwwaaaaaaaaaht
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 21 October 2014 18:57 (nine years ago) link
they really should have tweeted him as the results were being rolled out so he could appear on the thread when Pale and Precious came so low and do some Marshall McLuhan/You Know Nothing of My Work! type bit
― soref, Tuesday, 21 October 2014 19:00 (nine years ago) link
lol
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 21 October 2014 19:01 (nine years ago) link
Or when 'Senses Working Overtime' came in at #1...
― Welcome To (Turrican), Tuesday, 21 October 2014 20:46 (nine years ago) link
You could have had his ballot!
― Mark G, Tuesday, 21 October 2014 20:52 (nine years ago) link
Whoa, cool!
http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j449/HideousLump/Eugen_de_Blaas_The_Flirtation.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 04:13 (nine years ago) link
Listening to Nonsuch right now, and I know that 'The Disappointed' has its critics, but fucking hell I love this song. I particularly love the way that the intro is actually the middle eight of the song, and that the "ooh" vocals during these parts follows the same melody that Partridge uses on the word "hearts" throughout the verse. Partridge then plays off this vocal in the middle eight by introducing a lead vocal over the top of the "ooh"s and the effect, in my humble opinion, is just fucking sublime. It gives me goosebumps every time, no matter how often I listen to it... I definitely think it placed far too low in the poll, but honestly, these poll results were always going to be unexpected.
― Welcome To (Turrican), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 05:57 (nine years ago) link
25. You’re The Wish You Are I Had (950 points, 12 votes)75. Rook (436 points, 6 votes)
http://cdn.videogum.com/files/2012/03/shrug.jpg
― Welcome To (Turrican), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 06:03 (nine years ago) link
"Rook" definitely higher on my Top 500 ballot than "Wish", but I understand why people would prefer it. "Rook" is absolutely no fun to sing at parties. Then again, "Wish" is no fun to play while gazing out over a rainy moor, so....
― hardcore dilettante, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 06:23 (nine years ago) link
I have a friend who loves the original "All Along the Watchtower" so I sent him the XTC version and he responded with "this is the worst thing I've ever heard" and now refuses to give XTC another chance. His loss.
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:21 (nine years ago) link
I have a live recording of the Sultans of Ping FC doing "are you experienced"
― Mark G, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:24 (nine years ago) link
lol what a rockist idiot xp
― joie de marsh (imago), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:24 (nine years ago) link
yeah he pretty much insisted that I only like it because it's 'ironic' and so on. I mean I do think the thing is hilarious but cover or not it's got a hell of a busted groove to it
― Maggie killed Quagmire (collest baby ever) (frogbs), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:31 (nine years ago) link
exack
― joie de marsh (imago), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:31 (nine years ago) link
Hmm, I've always thought XTC's version was pretty worthless and always skip, I may revisit but I'll prob still not like.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:49 (nine years ago) link
if yer gonna murder a classic, do it properly
― joie de marsh (imago), Wednesday, 22 October 2014 12:50 (nine years ago) link
admittedly I'm not a big fan of XTC - even my fave albums by them (Drums & Wires through Mummer is the sweet spot (hon mention Skylarking) would rate no better than a 4 out of 5 (RYM-style) each at most. (I didn't like The Big Express, though haven't heard it since the '80s. and Andy's solo Take Away/The Lure Of Salvage is prob my overall fave XTC album/thing)
but had I voted "Ladybird" would have been my #1. reminds me a bit of Bacharach/David "This Girl's In Love With You". I also like the Colin Moulding pop songs like "Ten Feet Tall", "Love At First Sight", etc.
― Paul, Wednesday, 22 October 2014 22:36 (nine years ago) link
Being American, I only just realized while preparing for this poll that the Ladybird ain't no bird--she's a ladybug.
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 23 October 2014 01:48 (nine years ago) link
Tell that to Mrs Johnson.
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 23 October 2014 06:35 (nine years ago) link
Congratulations to Andy Partridge for winning the Classic Songwriter award at the Q Awards!
― Welcome To (Turrican), Friday, 24 October 2014 04:36 (nine years ago) link
Man do I wish now that I could have snuck a few more B-sides onto my ballot: 'Jump', 'Extrovert' and 'Happy Families' in particular.
― Welcome To (Turrican), Saturday, 25 October 2014 17:23 (nine years ago) link
did we do an albums poll?
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 24 July 2017 10:45 (six years ago) link
*tumbleweed*
I'm just getting stuck into the XTC back catalogue now after having lived with the Fossil Fuels compilation. I know Skylarking is often held up as their best work but so far it's gotta be Mummer that stands out. Loving the steam-age imagery and Hardy's Wessexiness of Love On A Farmboy's Wages / Great Fire... it's just so anti-punk. No wonder their drummer quit in a pique
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Friday, 28 July 2017 10:46 (six years ago) link
oh and I just got Black Sea, Mummer and an XTC singles compilation in the post. Nice!
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Friday, 28 July 2017 10:56 (six years ago) link
mummer might have done better if the tracks were sequenced differently. all the songs are excellent but it plays out like an inverted bell curve.
― blink truther (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 28 July 2017 11:22 (six years ago) link
No wonder their drummer quit in a pique
Ha, I think he quit because just playing in the studio without touring wasn't gonna pay the bills. But yeah, I don't know if he could've handled, say, "Ladybird."
I haven't listened to Mummer since...eep...1987, but relistening now I'm reminded of how much (and why) I loved it at the time. It initially struck me as an early attempt at what they'd explore more fully on Skylarking, but it's totally its own thing. And it's all killer, no filler.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:23 (six years ago) link
I'm new to the band's wider catalogue, as I say. Ladybird hasn't grabbed me yet but all the songs leading up to it are FANTASTIC. I'm so pleased I own a hard copy of this now.
According to the Chalkhills website, Andy P says it was LOAFBW that was the last straw for the drummer. He couldn't be dealing with the beat
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:28 (six years ago) link
Interesting, didn't know that!
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:35 (six years ago) link
No way is Mummer all killer, no filler... it's got 'Human Alchemy' on it, for one, which is one of the worst songs that Partridge ever wrote.
Chambers quit because a huge part of the appeal of being in XTC was the touring, and he'd gotten married to an Australian, so there was pressure to relocate.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:38 (six years ago) link
I like Human Alchemy
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:39 (six years ago) link
Also, he wasn't going to earn as much as he did when XTC were touring, and had a disagreement with the rest of the band over the choice of producer. Chambers wanted to wait for Hugh Padgham to become available, Partridge didn't want to wait and wanted to press on with Steve Nye.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:41 (six years ago) link
Chambers recorded 'Beating of Hearts', 'Wonderland' and 'Toys' before he left, which yes was during an attempted recording of 'Love on a Farmboy's Wages' ...
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:43 (six years ago) link
xp I dig "Human Alchemy" too, I love Andy's dubby focus around this time. Turrican, try the demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvOqne5nmFM
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 28 July 2017 15:44 (six years ago) link
Huh, I can't remember hearing this before!
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 15:54 (six years ago) link
how do y'all rate those extra tunes on the Mummer reissue?
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 28 July 2017 16:53 (six years ago) link
which ones - Gold, Toys and Jump? Toys runs it's sole lyrical conceit into the ground but I like the other two quite a bit and think they fit well on the album
― Οὖτις, Friday, 28 July 2017 16:57 (six years ago) link
Frost Circus and Procession Towards Learning Land are v out of place tho
― Οὖτις, Friday, 28 July 2017 16:58 (six years ago) link
'Jump', 'Gold', 'Toys' and 'Desert Island' are as good as anything on the album and in some cases better.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 16:58 (six years ago) link
Word.
And the entire Homo Safari series is really cool and very much its own thing.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 28 July 2017 18:05 (six years ago) link
Yeah, I agree... all the Homo Safari stuff should have been placed together on a rarities collection or something as I think the stuff on the Mummer reissue feels very out of place. Otherwise, it's the one album where the "B-sides in between side one and side two" approach could have worked.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 18:09 (six years ago) link
Jump is fantastic. Seriously, I think Mummer is my new favourite album. the one track I'd drop is Funk Pop A Roll (this album's 'Crazy Beat'/'Free Huey' lol) but it's easily skipped
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Friday, 28 July 2017 20:21 (six years ago) link
'Funk Pop a Roll' is great! Excellent 12-string sound on that.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Friday, 28 July 2017 20:32 (six years ago) link
I recoil from his vocal and the message, though.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 28 July 2017 20:44 (six years ago) link
Andy Partridge is among the artists from whom I want to hear no gripes about the industry.
otm. he has backstabbed a lot of people, and frankly it turns me off hearing him talk about his work.
btw 'ladybird' ends with a gorgeous organ chord on the edge of hearing, definitely my favourite moment in the whole album.
― blink truther (Autumn Almanac), Friday, 28 July 2017 21:47 (six years ago) link
When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty is another one that went a lot higher on my list when going through their albums just before voting. It's all about those noises that are supposed to symbolise the jellyfish.Helicopter was just outside my top 10. One of the best bass lines ever and I love how manic Andy sounds on that one.Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Yes to both of these. 'When You're Near Me' is a pretty pedestrian XTC punker but the Jellyfish and Iceman parts just shift it into two completely different worlds
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Friday, 18 August 2017 11:15 (six years ago) link
WTF THE IMAGES ARE GONE
― bodak horseman (voodoo chili), Thursday, 28 September 2017 15:19 (six years ago) link
>:(
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 28 September 2017 15:30 (six years ago) link
As ever with these polls, I'm surprised at the results on this one. The tracks in the top 4 are okay but nothing to shout about in my view. I like the Beach Boys 'ooo-eee-oooh' parts on Respectabel Street but the chorus is clunky. Similarly, Senses Working Overtime suffers from great verse/okay chorus syndrome.
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Thursday, 28 September 2017 15:37 (six years ago) link
Also, 'No Language In Our Lungs'? What makes that so good? Each to their own and all that, but...
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Thursday, 28 September 2017 15:38 (six years ago) link
my guess is the votes distribution between those who prefer their latter stuff vs. those who prefer the earlier stuff worked out such that the hits that are smack in the middle of that transformation (ie, Drums + Wires/Black Sea/English Settlement singles) garnered the most points
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 28 September 2017 15:44 (six years ago) link
― Shat Parp (dog latin),
The way the guitars are mixed, the rhythm section, the way the band keeps reining itself in, the "I Want You" lilt to those guitars.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 September 2017 15:46 (six years ago) link
Shoulda voted, but I was only a casual fan at the time. My top fifteen:
1. Love On A Farmboy's Wages2. When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty3. The Wheel & the Maypole4. Poor Skeleton Steps Out5. Great Fire6. Helicopter7. Wrapped In Grey8. Beating Of Hearts9. Scarecrow People10. Summer's Cauldron11. The Disappointed12. Generals and Majors13. No Thugs In Our House14. Living Through Another Cuba15. Making Plans For Nigel
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:00 (six years ago) link
This poll set me off on a massive XTC binge which cemented them as one of my favourite bands - my ballot would be much longer and very differently ordered today.
I really hope those images are preserved somewhere, such excellent work.
― Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:51 (six years ago) link
No Language In Our Lungs is a masterpiece
― imago, Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:22 (six years ago) link
man I'm looking at that top 50 and its just classic classic classic
― frogbs, Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:24 (six years ago) link
the XTC binge hasn't exhausted itself: one or another XTC thread gets revived every couple days
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:25 (six years ago) link
No Language In Our Lungs is a masterpiece― imago, Thursday, September 28, 2017 6:22 PM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― imago, Thursday, September 28, 2017 6:22 PM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Too fucking right it is! One of Andy's best ever songs.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:26 (six years ago) link
ilarly, Senses Working Overtime suffers from great verse/okay chorus syndrome.― Shat Parp (dog latin), Thursday, September 28, 2017 3:37 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Thursday, September 28, 2017 3:37 PM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
^ WTF?
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:28 (six years ago) link
*-ilarly,
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:29 (six years ago) link
yeah he said as much the other day. obviously he's doing one of the greatest songs ever written a loveably mad disservice and we should probably leave him to it
― imago, Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:38 (six years ago) link
oh no! those images were so cool. i only became a fan last year after a friend turned me onto them. he wrote this long, almost essay-length post on FB about how "after two and a half decades of nearly constant music consumption, i've come to the conclusion that XTC is my favorite band and no one else even comes close." he posted "Earn Enough for Us" along with it - "my favorite XTC song - at the moment." my 15:
1. That's Really Super, Supergirl2. All You Pretty Girls3. I Bought Myself a Liarbird4. Beating of Hearts5. Red Brick Dream6. Are You Receiving Me?7. Love on a Farmboy's Wages8. Science Friction9. Ballet for a Rainy Day10. Senses Working Overtime11. Garden of Earthly Delights12. Melt the Guns13. Mayor of Simpleton 14. Making Plans for Nigel15. Fly on the Wall
― flappy bird, Thursday, 28 September 2017 18:41 (six years ago) link
I'm halfway through this compilation book of the LImelight fanzine, it's a decent read, some nice interview material particularly from the Mummer era, Human Alchemy (which I have always liked and don't really understand the hating) was mooted for a single at one stage.
― MaresNest, Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:33 (six years ago) link
it just sounds ugly to my ears, which granted complements the lyrical sentiment but it's just not much of a melody and it's plodding and gurgly and just blech
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:39 (six years ago) link
their weakest moments are consistently their most politically hamfisted imo (Books are Burning, Wardance, Human Alchemy, etc.) Generals and Majors is great though.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:40 (six years ago) link
gurgly and just blech
Andy Partridge halitosis
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:48 (six years ago) link
I get all those negative qualities in evidence sure, it's not an amazing track by any stretch. I still feel the bad outweighs the good, great drums, the backing vocals are lovely and plaintive, I like the little squirly keyboard decorations at the mention of the song's title (can't really call it much of a chorus)
― MaresNest, Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:53 (six years ago) link
*good outweighs the bad - haha what a clod
― MaresNest, Thursday, 28 September 2017 19:56 (six years ago) link
Yeah, 'Human Alchemy' and 'War Dance' are both horrid.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 28 September 2017 20:13 (six years ago) link
'Blue Overall' is down there with the worst of Andy Partridge, alongside 'Human Alchemy', side three of English Settlement etc.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 28 September 2017 20:16 (six years ago) link
War Dance always makes me think of Partridge's comment about the sampled clarinet sounding like a 'singing penis'.
― MaresNest, Thursday, 28 September 2017 20:22 (six years ago) link
Heh! That's a very Andy Partridge thing to say...
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 28 September 2017 20:44 (six years ago) link
Haha as if that song needed to be worse
― Vinnie, Friday, 29 September 2017 01:15 (six years ago) link
Phucking Photobucket now charges to let you post images on 3rd party websites, to the tune of $400 a year for phuck's sake!
I've got all the images in 2 albums--here's the links:
XTC ILM Top 60
XTC ILM Top 60 Runners Up
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 29 September 2017 02:40 (six years ago) link
Good to see dog latin and flappy bird with "Beating of Hearts" in their top 10--it was my #1.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 29 September 2017 02:53 (six years ago) link
On many days it's mine, too.
I love the video so much:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT4zz2b50kg
― flappy bird, Friday, 29 September 2017 04:39 (six years ago) link
It's all about the gorgeous guitar sound, repeating drum pattern and the way "bombers in flight" is emphasised.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 29 September 2017 06:04 (six years ago) link
Thanks, Turrican and many others, for insisting I return to the well. Now I love Murmur. I revised my favorites list.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 5 October 2017 01:41 (six years ago) link
I think I'll dig Mummer out for a listen today too. 'Great Fire' doesn't seem to be a track that gets talked about much, but it was a big favourite of mine when I first heard the album.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 06:02 (six years ago) link
Great Fire was the only song from Mummer that caught me when I first heard it as a teen who came on board with O&L, but now it sounds like "O shit, I need another Senses Working Overtime" while most of the rest of the album just slays me.
― bumbling my way toward the light or wahtever (hardcore dilettante), Thursday, 5 October 2017 06:06 (six years ago) link
And yeah, that bomber synth under "fliiiiight", damn
― bumbling my way toward the light or wahtever (hardcore dilettante), Thursday, 5 October 2017 06:07 (six years ago) link
The middle 8 on it is fucking superb - yet another one of Partridge's awesome middle 8's...
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 06:13 (six years ago) link
Great song
― flappy bird, Thursday, 5 October 2017 06:14 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buENneEy4bc
― flappy bird, Thursday, 5 October 2017 06:15 (six years ago) link
Great Fire is so jarring. I love it. Mummer remains my favourite of their albums
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Thursday, 5 October 2017 08:00 (six years ago) link
Check out the demo:
http://youtu.be/8DkjwCn5bqs
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 5 October 2017 12:11 (six years ago) link
'Happy Families' was originally demoed for Mummer wasn't it?
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 13:16 (six years ago) link
That demo with the tuneless saxophone wailing, so mad when you consider that Great Fire was written to order after Virgin were asking for more single material.
― MaresNest, Thursday, 5 October 2017 13:28 (six years ago) link
XP - Yeppers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p0fA0KBfuU
― MaresNest, Thursday, 5 October 2017 13:31 (six years ago) link
Americans: how can we watch THIS IS POP when it airs this weekend on Sky?
― flappy bird, Thursday, 5 October 2017 16:47 (six years ago) link
I was trying to figure that out too but it looks like we can't afaict :(
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 5 October 2017 16:52 (six years ago) link
Sky not available as a streaming channel through Roku
Alfred you have Jason & the Argonauts twice on your list.
― campreverb, Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:08 (six years ago) link
Damn I have a Roku too & I get Sky News for free, thought that might be an in. i'll keep looking
― flappy bird, Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:18 (six years ago) link
Sky News is actually something different, I think?
There are a couple other random channels w Sky in their name but they are unrelated
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:22 (six years ago) link
I don't think we'll be seeing XTC on Sky News any time soon, unless they decide to cover the 1st anniversary of this story:
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/14906850.XTC_frontman_recovering_after_varnish_accident/
― Tom's Tits Experiment (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:25 (six years ago) link
yes, it is different
― flappy bird, Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:33 (six years ago) link
ohh yeah I forgot about the varnish incident, that had me worried for a bit, reminded me of Paul Westerberg fucking up his hand with candle wax
― campreverb,
Circular guitar hook, circular list, see.
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:45 (six years ago) link
Wasp and the Maypole eh
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:49 (six years ago) link
Which Sky channel is it on?
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:55 (six years ago) link
Oh, Sky Arts... I shoulda known!
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 17:59 (six years ago) link
Kinda surprised that BBC 4 aren't showing it, although it seems like the sort of thing they'd show eventually.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:08 (six years ago) link
I don't think we'll be seeing XTC on Sky News any time soon
I don't think we'll be seeing the Americans watching Sky Arts any time soon, either.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:11 (six years ago) link
I'd put money on it.
― Tom's Tits Experiment (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:13 (six years ago) link
the only reason it's on Sky Arts in the first place is because BBC 4 (which commissioned it?) rejected it iirc
I don't understand how British TV works tbf
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:14 (six years ago) link
Why would they reject it, I wonder?
― Tom's Tits Experiment (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:16 (six years ago) link
XTC aren't popular enough, lack of interest, idk. I remember Andy being pissy about it on Twitter earlier this year.
― flappy bird, Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:17 (six years ago) link
^^^
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:17 (six years ago) link
I think I said it on ILM before, but if the story of Graham Parker & the Rumour can end up on BBC4, I don't know why XTC can't, unless they think it isn't interesting enough - which is possible. Not sure Graham Parker's that interesting either.
― Tom's Tits Experiment (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:21 (six years ago) link
I'm sure there's a lot of less popular acts than XTC have been covered by BBC4. Though I suppose there's a problem in making the story of Andy Partridge retiring from the stage to spend the next 30 years playing with toy soldiers and train sets interesting for non-fans.
― Tom's Tits Experiment (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:23 (six years ago) link
Yeah, BBC 4 has showed documentaries on world music and Dolly Parton/Linda Rondstadt/Emmylou Harris' collaborations etc. recently ... I'm actually confused as to why they wouldn't show it - seems tailor made for that channel.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 5 October 2017 18:31 (six years ago) link
Any good? I have it saved on my Sky box please tell me it wasn't just a parade of semi famous heads waffling on.
― MaresNest, Saturday, 7 October 2017 23:02 (six years ago) link
so did anyone see this?
― Οὖτις, Monday, 9 October 2017 21:10 (six years ago) link
some friends caught a youtube rip before it was taken down. look out for more uploads
― flappy bird, Monday, 9 October 2017 21:23 (six years ago) link
I saw it, it was very good.
I can only imagine there's not much available in the BBC vaults to play alongside (sight and sound, ogwt, top, most of those would be stopping by 1980 or thereabouts)
― Mark G, Tuesday, 10 October 2017 07:03 (six years ago) link
Totp not top
― Mark G, Tuesday, 10 October 2017 07:04 (six years ago) link
The scorching Another Satellite live on Pebble Mill at One :)
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 10 October 2017 09:58 (six years ago) link
lack of images on this thread is sad-making
― Οὖτις, Monday, 23 April 2018 19:29 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Xx0XkOm.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:03 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/TFP9TZN.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:05 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Xr6GXKZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/52EFiCw.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Tfz7Nn7.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SegnCxW.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:06 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/yuMe9hc.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/AosNjFZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZVRJmIm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Q1Lk682.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:07 (five years ago) link
OK, so I've finally gotten around to joining Imgur.
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:08 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/rVluUys.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:12 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/iovQ77p.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/seF0uh6.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:13 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/SCD0aEI.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rfxdmxn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/v0TQqYp.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:14 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/lhkdCxf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xE9BQ5n.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0xOrLOd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/9e5IH56.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:15 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/RTVkaiQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4OCba2F.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:21 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/LHUd2Rt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Miji5u0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zFliQ2k.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:22 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/0SKryYK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xDN4vkT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VXy1uMZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/61p8vX1.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:23 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/kIxszuX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QugeVzp.jpg
I'll upload the rest tomorrow.
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:24 (five years ago) link
so. gorgeous. many thanks.
― Hunt3r, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:48 (five years ago) link
thank you HL!!!!!!
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 03:50 (five years ago) link
YESSSSS
can't let these Partsy-approved images vanish into obscurity!
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 24 April 2018 18:06 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/EOq8JCJ.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:19 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/oyRnZgt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mStOTLY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iuoMEBt.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:20 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/Kd61rsf.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/15kk4nR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pnKpkTl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/e7CcdGx.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:21 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/pJdhbS6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0u1OC2k.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8hkmW1D.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iYuMaxN.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:22 (five years ago) link
(Guy looks like David Gilmour)
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:23 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/zwLo8Xu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NwIGpRJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rAqAdps.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2Q5sFSF.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:24 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/PbCSH3N.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bCMynty.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wr1uFVF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/adokJaq.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:25 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/QPEOMVE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ACXtysx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ei2lePe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pVzC7HO.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:26 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/FY9btfM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Nq7IOQX.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/i2NFre3.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:27 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/iY3Be3P.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4uRLyFR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mC2qF3y.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:28 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/H3EDW69.jpg
@xtcfans Did you see last week's poll of ILX members' Top 60 XTC tracks? Great graphics http://t.co/itpnLMJaoi— Paul Joyce (@PaulJoyce11) October 21, 2014
@PaulJoyce11 BEAUTIFUL CHOICE of illustrations.As for the poll,totally disagree,but fun eh?— XTC (@xtcfans) October 21, 2014
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:35 (five years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/9eO2l3b.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 04:36 (five years ago) link
ha! i never saw that tweet from Andy. this poll was run a year and a half before i got into XTC, bummed i didn't participate. was curious to see where Snowman placed, #23 sounds right (maybe a little low).
― flappy bird, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 05:01 (five years ago) link
lol he shudda done a ballot
the entire graphic for grass is one of my favourite things, so beautiful
thanks for reposting these :D
― nxd, Wednesday, 25 April 2018 08:41 (five years ago) link
one of the shittest things about Spotify is the fact The Wheel And The Maypole isn't on it
― brand new universal harvester (dog latin), Wednesday, 25 April 2018 08:50 (five years ago) link
the entire graphic for grass is one of my favourite things, so beautiful― nxd, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 3:41 AM (seventeen hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― nxd, Wednesday, April 25, 2018 3:41 AM (seventeen hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
One of four works by Albrecht Dürer
GrassEaster TheaterThe DisappointedDear God
I could have done the entire poll with Dürer.
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 26 April 2018 03:00 (five years ago) link
those illustrations are marvellous. it's got me wanting to listen to the albums again (it's been a while).
re the initial poll: i have no fucking idea what i would pick as my favourites because they change almost daily, but the wheel and the maypole would always be top 3. what a way to end a career.
― karl wallogina (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 26 April 2018 08:29 (five years ago) link
this. thread. rules.
― Hunt3r, Thursday, 26 April 2018 15:38 (five years ago) link
'Empires crumble in / Wedding cake starts to turn and spoil...' yeah it's undeniable. If it hadn't been for this poll I'd never have heard it.
― brand new universal harvester (dog latin), Thursday, 26 April 2018 15:58 (five years ago) link
Let's rank my favorites, mm?
― The Silky Veils of Alfred (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 8 September 2018 01:33 (five years ago) link
I think I agree. As much as I love half of or most of or some of all the other albums, Black Sea is the only one that's really even in terms of songwriting - quality, sound, and style.
― flappy bird, Saturday, 8 September 2018 06:10 (five years ago) link
Wouldn't put many of the tracks on a personal best of, but it's the album I'd choose to listen to in full over all the others.
I'm one of those must-have-every-note-Andy & Co-produced:
1. Big Express2. Black Sea3. Drums And Wires4. English Settlement5. Skylarking6. Apple Venus7. Oranges And Lemons7. Mummer8. Nonsuch9. Go 210. White Music11. Wasp Star
And if I could include these two they'd place:4.5 Psionic Sunspot6.5 Rag & Bone Buffet
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 8 September 2018 06:26 (five years ago) link
I apparently voted in this but never participated -- my ballot (which upon reflection seems a little too simplistic):
1. Jason and the Argonauts 2. Senses Working Overtime3. Complicated Game4. Generals and Majors5. Travels in Nihilon6. No Thugs In Our House7. Respectable Street8. Making Plans for Nigel9. When You're Near Me10. Summer's Cauldron 11. Grass12. Rocket from a Bottle13. Sgt. Rock14. Your Gold Dress15. The Meeting Place16. Chalkhills and Children17. Harvest Festival18. Down in the Cockpit19. Helicopter20. Vanishing Girl
― Naive Teen Idol, Tuesday, 4 June 2019 14:00 (four years ago) link