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
xp
― 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