XTC : Classic or Dud.

because he's in a rock band it gets referred to as "addiction" but call it what it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJktzmj_mk0

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

XTC adjacent: "Daughter" by Peter Blegvad, you may have the same reaction.

Coming soon:

https://burningshed.com/andy-partridge_my-failed-songwriting-career_cd_vinyl-bundle

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.

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.

It's only quite recently that I've come to fully appreciate Skylarking. It's just jam packed with great moments. That said, what it's missing are some of the spikier edges from previous albums and for anyone who prefers more leftfield or slightly harder-edged stuff I'd say Mummer is the one to go for

I love Skylarking and it was my gateway into XTC when I first heard it in the late '00s. Picked up Fossil Fuel after that, then a few more albums.

The whole "reverse polarity" thing still baffles me. Todd Rundgren disputes the idea that anything was wired in backwards or whatever during the mixing and recording, and I still prefer the MFSL mastering over the new "polarity-corrected" mastering. Also, the uncensored artwork is no improvement.

FWIW, the official documentary is pretty good - a paint-by-numbers approach but if you just want good interviews and good stock footage, it does the job.

slightly harder-edged stuff I'd say Mummer is the one to go for

Heh, I always felt "Mummer" was the weakest until "Wasp Star". It's certainly grown in my estimation over the years but it's never been a go-to.

The Big Express is a certi step down from Mummer I'd say

Completely disagree, but then "The Big Express" was my entry to XTC so that colors my judgement.

first 3 tracks on Mummer are incredible

Beating of Hearts, number 1 on my XTC poll ballot.

I was almost surprised--I knew it would be top 10, but it kept inching everything else out.

Much to my surprise, all the images I did for the XTC poll, which disappeared when Photobucket went subsciption only, have now reappeared. Except now they've got big Photobucket watermarks across them.

Long ago I re-uploaded them to Imgur and re-added them to the bottom of the thread, so unadulterated versions are still visible.

The Big Express is a certi step down from Mummer I'd say

To say this is not the consensus opinion might be understating somewhat.

first 3 tracks on Mummer are incredible

― frogbs, Friday, October 29, 2021 1:52 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

first 4 I'd say are essential XTC. Great Fire is amazing. I'll admit it smoulders out a little on the second side. They've both got real highs, but neither Mummer nor TBE are as stylistically or qualitatively consistent as Skylarking and that's why it's considered the best one

Hideous Lump, those images were incredible.

I’ve never understood the appeal of Great Fire; it’s nakedly an attempt to rewrite Senses Working Overtime & feels a little desperate as such. I eventually came to love Mummer and TBE, but I still feel like together they’re the low point in an incredible catalogue.

Wasp Star was maybe an objectively worse album, but it’s a coda (if not quite a Coda).

Mummer was the album that turned me from being a huge XTC fan into not wanting to listen to them for over a decade. Can't recall a similar allergic reaction to a formerly adored band, apart from 10cc's Dreadlock Holiday.

The pastoral gubbins really wasn't what this Drums and Wires & Black Sea supporter was looking for as a callow youth, and Partridge's hectoring vocals on 'Funk Pop a Roll', 'Human Alchemy' et al. were a major turn-off. Might be fun to listen to Mummer again with fresh ears and see if my perspective has changed.

The first side of Mummer's fine, I'd pluck "Ladybird" from the B.

Oh, god, I had completely forgotten about “Funk Pop a Roll.” Their worst song ever?

It and "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" can scratch each other's eyes out.

I’ve got a soft spot for Peter Pumpkinhead, but I get where you’re coming from.

Andy Partridge has written quite a few annoying songs tbf.

After prodding a younger music writer to check out their first eight albums, he texted me something like, "Remind me why we still talk to each other."

Was it a “you had to be there” thing, then?

Weirdly, The Big Express isn’t on Spotify (Canada). I wonder what gives.

Andy Partridge has written quite a few annoying songs tbf.

its kind of his calling card. imo that's the most endearing part of Big Express; who else would write so many obnoxious vocal lines?? "a train running low on soul coal...AIII-EEEE!!"

I once tweeted something about Side A of Mummer being great and that it was disappointing that Side B was so mediocre in comparison.
Someone I don't know randomly popped up with a "Are you sure you've listened to it enough? Cos It's great" reply.

At this point I doubt anyone is going to change their minds about this band. I'm in the "I love Andy's eccentricities" camp, his goofy vocal lines, his heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics, and the brilliant failures some of his songs can be (like the aforementioned "Human Alchemy" and "Train Running Low On Soul Coal").

My issue with "Mummer" at the time was that I was a callow youth and wanted everything spiky and upbeat. I have long since embraced the pastoral and gentle.

Andy is putting out new material at long last, though to be honest I listened to his latest EP twice and it didn't linger in my mind.

I love “Soul Coal” FWIW.

xps: I suffered permanent psychic damage when I discovered the people in the YouTube comments of "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" saying the song's hero reminded them of Donald J. Trump

No discussion of the Andy Partridge EP? The songs sound like they could have been on Wasp Star - nothing as good as the best tracks on that but definitely pleasant and hooky. My favorite was "Maid of Stars" which sounds a bit more like Apple Venus. Would have been nice to hear with real strings

This is an Extc setlist from Tuesday in DC, interesting setlist, perhaps kinda fishy how many Colin songs there are, I mean, Standing In For Joe? gtfo

This Is Pop
Statue Of Liberty
No Language In Our Lungs
Towers Of London
Wonderland
Scatter Me
Sacrificial Bonfire
Big Day
No Thugs In Our House
Standing In For Joe
Ball & Chain
The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
-
Dear God
King For A Day
Earn Enough For Us
The Mayor Of Simpleton
Where Did The Ordinary People Go
Grass
The Meeting Place
Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)
Respectable Street
Generals And Majors
Making Plans For Nigel
-
Senses Working Overtime
Stupidly Happy
Life Begins At The Hop

'Standing in for Joe' sounds a lot like Steely Dan's 'Barrytown', so perhaps they thought it would go down well with an American audience.

Saw them tonight in Boston. I have nothing critical to say, just really thrilled to hear these songs live at all! Super fun to be part of a crowd where everyone knows every lyric.

Colin was involved at first, but didn't want to become a touring group

wait XTC are touring? without Colin?!

It’s “exTC” with Terry Chambers. I had to check too.

Love XTC but without Colin and Andy it’s a cover band.

No Colin OR Andy? That’s ridiculous.

Love XTC but without Colin and Andy it’s a cover band.

It’s literally a cover band

Tribute bands featuring original members

Hold on a minute, no Dave Gregory either! WTF!

It's a cover band for sure, but the lead singer is from Swindon and sounds a lot like Colin. We'd never get to hear these songs live any other way so - why not?

that gets a big all caps NAH from me

I was assuming no former members, so one is a nice bonus?

I wouldn't see em myself, but I get why you might

I think seeing them would make me sad.

It’s funny, I always thought there’d be an outside chance somewhere down the road that I’d get to see XTC, but I never thought there’d be an opportunity to see Terry Chambers in any capacity, ever. He was a significant contributor to their earlyish greatness, so I’d definitely be interested in hearing him live…though hearing him on, say, Skylarking tracks would feel odd-to-unnerving.

But he’s in his mid-‘60s and wants to play. What better way to do that than to mine your past for audiences who never heard those songs live before?