Andy is such a bummer on twitter. he's single right? it's always "oh, nothing in my recording shed works, I drank too much tonight, I'm not in a good place, fuck Dave and Colin," etc. So sad
― flappy bird, Saturday, 18 May 2019 20:43 (four years ago) link
No, he's not.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 18 May 2019 20:47 (four years ago) link
Just dropping in to say that the 5.1 mixes by Steven Wilson of Black Sea, Skylarking and Oranges & Lemons are terrific.
― Naive Teen Idol, Thursday, 6 June 2019 01:38 (four years ago) link
So there's a TC&I live record coming out, there's a teaser of Wonderland here -
https://jammerzine.com/first-listen-tci-wonderland-live/
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 9 July 2019 20:10 (four years ago) link
This is kinda neat, I always wonder where he gets the stems from - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TntNxv8wFR4
― Maresn3st, Saturday, 26 October 2019 17:07 (four years ago) link
Oh the band sent it to them! No way
― Maresn3st, Saturday, 26 October 2019 17:09 (four years ago) link
Not very good tbh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoK489YeetQ
Some background for our non-UK readers:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_of_the_Pops_(record_series)
― 'Skills' Wallace (Tom D.), Monday, 11 November 2019 20:05 (four years ago) link
lol that's terrible
― Οὖτις, Monday, 11 November 2019 20:07 (four years ago) link
Sounds like they spent about 15 minutes recording it before moving on to *consults record sleeve* "The Model" or "Arthur's Theme".
― 'Skills' Wallace (Tom D.), Monday, 11 November 2019 20:10 (four years ago) link
I like that the singer is trying out about six different accents there, none of which sound like Andy Partridge.
― Gavin, Leeds, Monday, 11 November 2019 20:15 (four years ago) link
I have an uncle who finds XTC really obnoxious for some reason and I would guess this is what they always sound like to him
― frogbs, Monday, 11 November 2019 20:16 (four years ago) link
(xp) LOL. I just listened to the Top of the Pops album version of "Pretty Vacant", which is surprisingly good and is actually enhanced by the singer occasionally going a bit Norman Wisdom "Mr. Grimsdaaayyyyle".
― 'Skills' Wallace (Tom D.), Monday, 11 November 2019 20:19 (four years ago) link
What are they singing instead of "I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste"? "I can see his swell turned taste"?
― dorsalstop, Monday, 11 November 2019 20:59 (four years ago) link
The five senses, sight, hissing, swelling, gyration and taste.
― dorsalstop, Monday, 11 November 2019 21:01 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWfaMTk4o9I
― Maresn3st, Monday, 11 November 2019 22:01 (four years ago) link
Someone needs to compile them "punk" "Top of the pops" versions.
Their version of "Automatic lover" sounds like The Vibrators. All well and good, but it's supposed to be the Dee D Jackson song.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 12 November 2019 13:59 (four years ago) link
Record store dude was blasting Apple Venus Volume 1 in store the other day. Sounded great. Wish it was streaming.
― triggercut, Tuesday, 12 November 2019 14:33 (four years ago) link
https://vimeo.com/318598567
― Maresn3st, Tuesday, 26 November 2019 19:12 (four years ago) link
Great doc
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 26 November 2019 20:06 (four years ago) link
Coulda been, but no indication that Colin even existed until 8 minutes in is not the way to tell that band's story.
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 27 November 2019 07:39 (four years ago) link
Yeah that's understandable. They focus on Colin for a while soon after that, but the whole doc is from the perspective that Andy is the de facto leader of the band. Which IMO he was, so I guess it didn't bother me much
One small thing I liked: using "Dear Madam Barnum" to soundtrack the moment when Andy had his breakdown and made the decision to stop touring. I never made the connection but it seems possible the song was inspired by that time
― Vinnie, Thursday, 28 November 2019 02:20 (four years ago) link
The Chalkhills interview with Andy about 'Dear Madam Barnum' doesn't mention the connection with XTC stopping touring, but I'm sure there's a link, conscious or otherwise.
TB: I was going to ask about the lyrics, because it's another of your "my marriage is in trouble" foreshadowing songs, along with "Crocodile" and "The Disappointed."AP: Oh yeah, sure. My marriage was going off the rails -- I can see that. I think I was part blind to it, and partly it was coming out subconsciously that I could see it.
AP: Oh yeah, sure. My marriage was going off the rails -- I can see that. I think I was part blind to it, and partly it was coming out subconsciously that I could see it.
http://chalkhills.org/articles/XTCFans20090222.html
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Thursday, 28 November 2019 08:29 (four years ago) link
Makes more sense for it to be about his marriage, given the timeframe. It maps remarkably well onto the touring thing though
― Vinnie, Thursday, 28 November 2019 10:29 (four years ago) link
So yesterday there was a 6 or 7 hour plus stream of videos in place of the annual XTC convention, usually held in Swindon, which I thought would be quite good in places but it transpired to be a bit special overall. The actual highlight wasn't the exclusive interview with Andy, nor the discussion/quid feat. the likes of Stewart Lee, Paul Putner, Kevin Eldon and others, but this incredibly joyous cover of Desert Island which got a couple of airings.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mziIBHDv1As
― PaulTMA, Sunday, 20 September 2020 17:36 (three years ago) link
my god, that guy's Partridge impression is incredible
― Simon H., Sunday, 20 September 2020 20:29 (three years ago) link
XP - Oh nice! Are the streams available or easy to find?
― Maresn3st, Sunday, 20 September 2020 20:38 (three years ago) link
yes would love to see those! great video
― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Monday, 21 September 2020 16:33 (three years ago) link
I saw them say they were going to post them once they've tidied up technical faults and whatnot
― PaulTMA, Monday, 21 September 2020 16:42 (three years ago) link
starting to relisten to my XTC albums and can anyone explain why Partridge keeps slipping into pidgin English on like a third of his songs?
― frogbs, Tuesday, 24 November 2020 03:46 (three years ago) link
He thinks it's funny?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 24 November 2020 04:35 (three years ago) link
Like Ray Davies?
― Mark G, Tuesday, 24 November 2020 06:57 (three years ago) link
I don't think of it as pidgin, more like a depiction of infantile enthusiasm.
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 24 November 2020 15:10 (three years ago) link
how about "Shake You Donkey Up", what exactly is that
― frogbs, Tuesday, 24 November 2020 15:28 (three years ago) link
He's sort of singing in a hee-haw braying donkey style. It's fun.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 24 November 2020 16:28 (three years ago) link
i get the impression he was just listening to a fuckload of rocksteady at the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdHpM0zMZT8
― Specific Ocean Blue (dog latin), Tuesday, 24 November 2020 17:34 (three years ago) link
Am I misremembering, or did Andy say somewhere that his infamous stage fright was attributable, at least in part, to overindulgence in cannabis during those years? I don't want to be reductive, but as an ex-pothead myself, I feel this explains a lot about those records which would otherwise remain inexplicable.
― handsome boy modelling software (bernard snowy), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 08:41 (three years ago) link
Andy Partridge and any kind of drug does not sound like a good idea.
― Naughty Boys Hoo! (Tom D.), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 09:53 (three years ago) link
If I remember from the XTC documentary correctly Partridge started taking Valium at a young age (something to do with his Mum?). I think he said that while on tour his then wife dumped all his stash of it down the toilet. The withdrawal from it caused his existing anxieties to explode to the point where he couldn't face being on stage any more.
― treefell, Wednesday, 25 November 2020 10:40 (three years ago) link
Yes, I'd heard about the Valium addiction.
― Naughty Boys Hoo! (Tom D.), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 10:41 (three years ago) link
Kind of amazing that it going cold turkey overnight after a decade didn't kill him
― PaulTMA, Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:20 (three years ago) link
Jesus, I didn't know anything about the valium! Benzos are scary stuff.
― handsome boy modelling software (bernard snowy), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 12:35 (three years ago) link
The moment he walked offstage for good:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZrCL1aF_Zg
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 13:21 (three years ago) link
the valium was straight up child abuse, absolutely fucked to sedate a child for years and yearsI can't imagine how bad the withdrawal must have been but he easily could have diedcouldn't believe that part of the doc
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 14:00 (three years ago) link
because he's in a rock band it gets referred to as "addiction" but call it what it is
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 25 November 2020 14:02 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJktzmj_mk0
― Maresn3st, Sunday, 7 February 2021 22:44 (three years ago) link
I have a daughter who's turning 4 in two weeks. the song "I Can't Own Her" made me cry the other day. god, this lockdown needs to end
― frogbs, Monday, 15 February 2021 04:14 (three years ago) link
XTC adjacent: "Daughter" by Peter Blegvad, you may have the same reaction.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 15 February 2021 04:37 (three years ago) link
Coming soon:
https://burningshed.com/andy-partridge_my-failed-songwriting-career_cd_vinyl-bundle
― Maresn3st, Thursday, 17 June 2021 18:15 (two years ago) link
Skylarking is 35 years old today.
The middle eight (and remainder) of Season Cycle still gives me such major goosebumps, even after all this time.
― Maresn3st, Wednesday, 27 October 2021 14:52 (two years ago) link
The "Grass" 12" came out in August 1986 but I didn't get a copy in the US until September and played it on my radio show non-stop. 3 perfect songs, with "Extrovert" being my favorite at the time though I did love the audacity of "Dear God". When "Skylarking" came out in October, it was incredibly exciting, especially watching the rest of the world suddenly take notice of one of my favorite bands. At this distance, I must say I feel like "Skylarking" has become a bit overrated compared to the rest of their catalog. That and I've probably overplayed it.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Wednesday, 27 October 2021 17:59 (two years ago) link