XTC [again]

[TristezaOrange]

I found some japanese reissues of XTC's back catalog at a record shop last week and I just had to get at least three [they are very pretty too, original paper sleeve design and stuff, I love them ] - so I got Oranges and Apples [or is that the other way around, let me check], Skylarking and English Settlement. And let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, they all ROCK but my fav is Apples and Oranges. Such invention and melodic beauty. I always liked their music but AaO is just fantastic. Skylarking's too cool too English Settlement has some great songs [esp. Jason And The Argonauts] but I'm still getting used to it.

If you haven't got them, please do go and get them immediately. Trust me.

[Soniccat]

I have all their albums, mostly on cassett, and have been a big fan since I first heard Black Sea back in 1979-80. I really like English Settlement, to me that was their white album, "Jason and the Argonauts got played over and over that I wore the tape down and it is hardly listenable anymore. Must upgrade that to cd soon. i don't think there was an album of theirs that I did not like all are jems in my view, great songwriting and their playing is always top notch. Best band of the eighties in my view. If you can get Drums and wires and Black Sea, both great Power pop from the eighties.

[TristezaOrange]

I can get Drums and Wires with Black Sea for about 24euros. I guess it's a bargain, right? I'll get them as soon as I can, question is, should I go with Nonsuch and Mummer first?? Hmm...

[Joxer the Mighty]

Yep, best band of the 80's in my opinion also. Oranges and Lemons is about as perfect as a pop/rock album gets. Wonderful stuff! Even their weaker albums contain some gems.

Oh, I'd go for Mummer and Nonsuch, those are two of my favorites.

[vurt]

ah but drums n wires is one of my faves

[rockola]

ah but drums n wires is one of my faves

But of course it is! Anything and everything they did between Drums and Wires and Oranges and Lemons is simply sublime. Well, parts of Black Sea I'm not too crazy about. Nonsuch was a big disappointment for me.

[whyterabbyt]

Personally, I'd say the two others you have to have are Big Express and Mummer.

Oh yeah, and the Dukes of Stratosfear stuff.

[Juke]

I saw XTC live when they were just starting out. They were terrible.

Sometime later, Drums and Wires came out and I was instantly hooked. In my view, they are the finest English band since the Beatles (though the Smiths are contenders too).

I have had all their albums in my time, mostly on vinyl, even "Go 2".

Its gratifying to know I'm not alone in my appreciation of the one the most underrated bands ever.

Juke

[Phaedo]

I've got the lot (although I've not listen to the Dukes as much as I should). Always buy remastered versions, incidentally.

Quick opinions:

(Line-up 1)
White Music & Go 2: Pretty entertaining but not classic. Although Go 2's album cover is a classic...

(Line-up 2)
Drums & Wires: An album you can play five times a day seven days a week and still feel like listening to the next week. Their first great album and the pinnacle of their early style. Make sure you get a remaster with the extra tracks, cause the bonuses are crackers.

Black Sea: If anything, the first four tracks are better than D&W, but the quality isn't maintained, sadly. Still, I'd own this album just for the guitar riff on Living through another Cuba.

English Settlement & Mummer: Not as taken with these, although there's some great stuff. Definitely the flowering of their mature style, which shoots through the later stuff. Talking about "style" on the next few albums is a bit hard. Big Express has a style, Skylarking has a style, Oranges and Lemons has a style, but they're nothing to do with one another. They've all got something to do with English Settlement and Mummer, though. Weird. Ironically, Mummer has about five bonus tracks which are some of the best material on the album, although Ladybird I couldn't be without.

The Big Express: There isn't a bad tune on this album. Actually, I'm not sure there's anything less than excellent. Try to work out the guitar parts on the first track. Absolutely can't recommend this enough. (There's actually a j-rock band called "Seagulls screaming kiss her kiss her.) The bonus tracks aren't of the same quality, but wouldn't have been out of place on Mummer. (This is unfortunate, because if you listen to it and stop after Train Running Low on Soul Coal, it sounds like a better album. Not really a problem with the bonus tracks on the

Skylarking: I know everyone loves Oranges & Lemons, but this album is actually better. Not on the first listen, but keep listening, it's a true, true classic. Make sure you get Dear God on the end.

Oranges & Lemons: I think musicians find it very hard to listen to this album and not be overwhelmed. For many other bands it would be far and away the best thing they ever did, but I don't think it's as much of a keeper as Skylarking. There's a few indifferent tracks on it, but nearly everything is amazing. (President Kill strikes me as a turkey, for instance).

Nonsvch: If the last three albums had different styles, Nonsvch has practically none. It's a massive grab bag of tunes, including enough absolutely brilliant material to be justly described as a classic. Actually an album of remarkably consistent quality, even if you often have no idea what you're going to hear next. For sheer beauty, listen to Rook and My Bird Performs.

(Line-up 3)

Apple Venus: To some extend the last two albums aren't "true" XTC albums, but there's easily enough great material here to warrant purchase. Some of the tunes are just good tunes like Mummer, but there's some really odd and interesting stuff as well, including the massive fugue of River of Orchids.

Wasp Star: A much more conventional album than most of the stuff that came before, saved by the fact there's barely a bad song on the album. A divisive one, in that some people I know can't see the point, but imho brilliant. The Wheel and the Maypole is exceptional, but really the only "flashy" song on the album.

[Phaedo]

I think I just exceeded my internet bandwidth quota for the month. Did I mention I really like XTC?

[TristezaOrange]

Oh yes, it's Oranges and Lemons, not Apples and Oranges My mistake The cover artwork is stunning You know it's going to get psych-y.

So, it should probably be Nonsuch eh?? I have a compilation of theirs called Fossil Fuel, and the Nonsuch tracks are fantastic IMO. So I'll probably go for Nonsuch and Drums and Wires next. But i definitely will get all of them. Unfortunately they are about 17euros each, so I have to take it slow...


Thanks for the advice people

[Phaedo]

You can get them for cheaper than that on Amazon. Appallingly, most of my XTC collection cost me a fiver each (7.5e). The others set me back about 15 each... The quality of the album was entirely unrelated to the price, natch.

Nonsuch is a cracking album and you're not going to be disappointed. Fossil Fuel appears to be the singles, so needless to say, there's a fair amount that's actually superior than the tracks on Fossil Fuel. Although Wrapped In Grey* is pretty much impossible to better.

*Of course, Wrapped in Grey hardly qualifies as a single, because the studio pulled it after about a week. And that's when the relationship with the studio and XTC completely collapsed...

[vurt]

yeah antonis get yerself a credit card and hit amazon
it will cost you half the price

but yeah the dukes stuff is cool too

[Phaedo]

I saw XTC live when they were just starting out. They were terrible.

I have a feeling they knew they were terrible...

Mind you, Steely Dan are more a live band than anything these days, having spent most of their original career as studio geeks.

[MickGael]

Thrilled to see XTC getting some love!

I've been a serious fan since "Black Sea" first came out....

Smart, skewed, tuneful and immaculated crafted....

Though I love all their stuff from "Drums & Wires" to "Nonesuch," for me, "Black Sea" and "English Settlement" are the definitive records....

I have fond memories of seeing Peter Gabriel's Security tour - they were playing "Melt the Guns" as part of the pre-show music....

I do confess to having lost interest when Dave Gregory left the band. Part of the genius of the band was, well, the band! Especially his contributions to the arrangements and his brilliant guitar work...

PS - Anyone heard all of the remastered stuff? I've upgraded my "English Settlement" CD, but not the rest yet...