Greetings. I thought I'd start off this series of brilliant musicians (or musicians who put out a brilliant album or song) by highlighting the single most brilliant band that hardly gets their due... XTC. Sure they've had the occasional hits or semi-hits... (songs like "Senses Working Overtime," "Dear God," "Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead," "Making Plans for Nigel," "Mayor Of Simpleton"... etc.) but for a band with as many releases as they have... as much musical and lyrical depth as they have... it's simply criminal that they don't have a MASSIVE following... What other band has put out a such a back catalog?... From their inception in the midst of the "punk" movement riding through the "New Wave" era into the Beatle-esque land of introspection... Brilliant album after brilliant album... and then... they go on strike against their record company for SEVEN YEARS... and, after finally being release from that horrible contract, they put out a masterwork: "Apple Venus." They've got great tunes... they've got sharp wit and they tackle every topic under the sun... Give them a listen... ..fans of The Beatles, The Kinks, Franz Ferdinand, The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs, The Strokes... hell fans of any band... give them a listen... Here's a brief history...ARE YOU RECEIVING ME?MAKING PLANS FOR NIGELALL OF A SUDDENDEAR GODTHE BALLAD OF PETER PUMPKINHEAD
ZenPop says
I forgot to mention that I did two 6-hour specials on XTC for KFJC radio... I got to interview Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding for a couple of hours... and their producer (for Oranges & Lemons) Paul Fox gave me an interview... along with the demos for the album.... A completely amazing experience.... During the actual special... right in the middle of "Making Plans for Nigel"... Andy called up from Houston, TX!! (They were in the middle of their "Radio Tour" for O&L)... what an amazing and cool thing to do... I spoke to Andy and Colin again (Live on the air)... ah... good times...
annieander says
Why did no one tell me there was a new XTC fan on the MOS...Welcome to anyone who loves my four-eyed fool. And to think you met, and interviewed Andy (kinda unpredictable I hear)...I feel so close to greatness....call me Icaris. My first post was XTC...English Settlement to be exact...now I soooo have to trust you.
dermahrk says
I love XTC. Mostly.
I've bought all of their recent releases, going back as far as "Apples and Oranges" (I think that's the title). So I thought I would amass a complete collection. Then I bought what is apparently their first CD "White Music", which I found unlistenable. Not a punk fan, and not a fan of whatever that could be called. So I've been unable to draw the correct line regarding how far back to go. Suggestions?
ZenPop says
Thanks for the comments!...
Annie... I saw that you were one of the early boosters around here!... (So was Lizzie, I see!) "All Of A Sudden" used to be my LEAST favorite song on "English Settlement" (which to this day remains tied for my favorite XTC album... along with "Apple Venus")... but after listening to it over the years it has become one of my faves... "Snowman" probably is still my fave off that album... so much good stuff to pick from!
dermahrk... one man's opinion: Their third album "Drums and Wires" was when XTC really found their voice... It's still pretty raw compared to their later work, but there's so many gems on that one... I think the best way to collect XTC is to go directly backwards... If you've got "Oranges & Lemons" (they cover the whole fruit stand!) then you've still got three of their most pastoral albums to go... "Skylarking" (which is considered by some fans to be their best...), "Mummer" (a really underrated album, in my opinion) and the previously mentioned work of genius "English Settlement"... Pick up those three (assuming you already have "Nonsuch") and you'll be in lush pop song heaven...
I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend "Black Sea" and "The Big Express"... but their both slightly "louder" albums... but still filled with amazing tunes...
...oh... and being able to type while listening to "All of a Sudden" is great! Thanks again! ...funny... I don't want to hit the "publish" button until the song is over!
annieander says
I have to agree with you about "Mummer". I always felt like this was the "change" album. Nevermind that "Big Express" came out soon after "Mummer"...I just thought that these were songs compiled for one album, but they were sorted out by sound, and that "Mummer" was just released 1st. Anything before "Mummer" has that certain sound that I think dermahrk isn't that wild about.
Ok, I can spend all day discussing this band...I got to get to work.
Apple Venus favorite track..."Greenman". Least favorite track(s)...anything by Colin (it is all shite, and should have been removed).
Now I will get back to work.
ZenPop says
yeah, Annie... "Greenman" and "Harvest Festival" are my faves... followed closely by "Your Dictionary" and "River Of Orchids" (PERFECT album opener!)....
I didn't like the Colin stuff that much... "Frivolous Tonight" has grown on me a bit... but "Fruit Nut".... ug... it's such a far cry from "Sacrificial Bonfire" (which I LOVE)...
cpetersonart3 says
Glad to see someone post about XTC . I've been a fan since the Black Sea album that came in a green wrapper. I also loved Mummer Because I actually Did mumming For a number of years but English Settlement is my favorite- not a bad song on the record and great lyrics ,its on my favorites that I play every week.
FastRMacR says
Wow wow wow wow - thanks for the thread! Please my friendly moggers, chalk me in too as a SERIOUS fan! I haven't had enough of XTC since a friend turned me on to them in '90 ("Mayor of Simpleton" pulled me in). (I can cite 5 close friends, including ZeppoNoir, that feel the same way I'm sure). I can only bolster all of the albums/songs that were mentioned here so far - there really isn't a sound/work that I don't like listening too, really. My iTunes shows the most ripped from the Wasp Star album: I think "Church of Women" is one of the finest songs I've ever heard in my life! I could go on .. and on.. "...Angry Young Men", "Summer's Cauldron", "Generals and Majors", "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", "This World Over", "All You Pretty Girls" ... so many!
Two things that really jazzed me when I got them (and secured my conviction that Andy Partridge is a genius): The _BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert_ release and the odd little _Dukes Of Stratosphear_ project. The first because it's simply early live, amazing performance (rare live Andy (and Colin's playing is INsane)); the second because it covers all of the 60s 'taste' I could ever want in a group of songs in one play (an incredible music exploration side-project). I think those albums are well worth the pennies too, dermahrk - "Oranges & Lemons" is a definite library staple. (I liked _Rag & Bone Buffet_ too). ZenPop, news of your chat with Andy has me really STOKED! That is soooo cool!! (I'm gonna go surf around now and get the latest) - thanks so much for the post. ;-)
ZenPop says
Thanks for the posts...
Did some "mumming" CP?... that sounds like a whole post in itself...
I remember when that album came out... with the cool newspaper costumes... what a cool concept... had to look it up... (being an American and all, I was completely unfamiliar with the concept...)
...and thanks, for pointing out an obvious omission, Fast... The Dukes stuff was absolutely stunning..... they not only nailed all these great songs, but they nailed an entire decade of music within an album and a half... "Chips From the Chocolate Fireball" is a MUST HAVE....
I'm still in the process of transferring my show to cds... maybe I can pop the live interview on here sometime... (I sound like a dork, but Andy is in fine form...)
Cheers!
FastRMacR says
That would be SWEET!
UR welcome indeed (hard to choose which tune - thank dermahrk for the selection) :)
Thank _you_, ZenPop, for coming aboard here - many welcomes!
< clinks your vino glass > Sliante!
Greetings. I thought I'd start off this series of brilliant musicians (or musicians who put out a brilliant album or song) by highlighting the single most brilliant band that hardly gets their due... XTC. Sure they've had the occasional hits or semi-hits... (songs like "Senses Working Overtime," "Dear God," "Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead," "Making Plans for Nigel," "Mayor Of Simpleton"... etc.) but for a band with as many releases as they have... as much musical and lyrical depth as they have... it's simply criminal that they don't have a MASSIVE following... What other band has put out a such a back catalog?... From their inception in the midst of the "punk" movement riding through the "New Wave" era into the Beatle-esque land of introspection... Brilliant album after brilliant album... and then... they go on strike against their record company for SEVEN YEARS... and, after finally being release from that horrible contract, they put out a masterwork: "Apple Venus." They've got great tunes... they've got sharp wit and they tackle every topic under the sun... Give them a listen... ..fans of The Beatles, The Kinks, Franz Ferdinand, The Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs, The Strokes... hell fans of any band... give them a listen... Here's a brief history...ARE YOU RECEIVING ME?MAKING PLANS FOR NIGELALL OF A SUDDENDEAR GODTHE BALLAD OF PETER PUMPKINHEAD
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