XTC
albums
Beatles as the greatest pop band of all time. They are just as good, some would say better. Don't miss the point,
and that point is that people are missing out by not knowing XTC. The band came out of the punk era as a
nervous, excitable bunch of kids. They stood out from the crowd though, becoming visionaries of the pop song and
melodic greats. They take some getting used to, that is for sure, but there is not a band I can think of that is more
likeable that this one. When I used to love say, Barenaked Ladies or Ben Folds Five, I had always heard of
Skylarking being an influence on them. When listening to any "indie" band in the 00's, it is impossible not to hear
White Music or Drums and Wires as inspiration. This makes XTC easily one of the most influential bands sadly
unknown to the average person (and no R&R hall of fame induction yet? You gotta be joking). One of the reasons I
do this site is to educate others like myself who love rock music and trust me, if you like music you'll appreciate XTC
in a very large way.
Band Members: Andy Partridge - Vocals, Guitar
Colin Moulding - Bass, Vocals
Barry Andrews - Keyboards (White Music and Go 2)
Terry Chambers - Drums
David Gregory - Guitar, Percussion (Drums and Wires - Apple Venus)
Best Album: English Settlement
Biggest Influences: The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Bonzo Dog Band
An Interruption if you Will - Ignore the bonus tracks at firs ton these albums. Each XTC recording has
been bastardized with re-releases and bonus tracks in the middle of albums, stuff like that. Do yourself a favor and
listen to the records in their original orders and THEN see if you like the bonus songs. There are many great bonus
tracks, don't get me wrong, but it can all be very distracting.
1978
White Music - 7/8
Have the mindset of twisting and torture when turning on your stereo and bam - you have XTC's first album. You
can dance and bop to the pop, but you also must have a unique sense of humor and get what they are being
sarcastic about. I mean, this review is starting off like XTC is a hard band to get into, which is the total opposite of
the truth (but early XTC is different from their classic era stuff). Most of the band's short, punchy songs sound
effortless and spontaneous at the same time. Songs like "I'll Set Myself on Fire", "I'm Bugged", "Crosswires", and
"Spinning Top" have this quality, though they are great songs. There are some standouts pop single ready songs-
"This is Pop", "Radios in Motion" and radical closer "Neon Shuffle" are the easiest to like, but the "filler tracks"
might be considered just as good. Really its all one nervous, mechanical, fun ride. There is not one song I don't
like on here, though the variety of good to great songs does vary. Comparisons to Devo, The Police, Talking
Heads and The Clash are right on, but XTC has a uniqueness of their own and this album can stand right by all of
those early punk band's debuts (save The Clash which is in a league of its own). The best song off of here, which
also illustrates where I am coming from, is their version of Dylan's classic "All Along the Watchtower". They give a
paranoid, drug-out twist on the song which completely gets down to the core of why it is so great, something I had
personally not seen before! White Music has a flow to it, a unique little universe that establishes the band as a
talent different then their contemporaries. What they might do in the future after a first album like this is unsure,
but for a debut this is very unappreciated (and also simultaneously very influential on all 'naughties' rock music).
- Trevor e.y.
1.radios in motion- 4
2.crosswires- 4
3.this is pop- 4
4.do what you do- 3
5.statue of liberty- 3
6.all along the watchtower- 4
7.into the atom age- 3
8.i'll set myself on fire- 4
9.i'm bugged- 3
10.new town animal in a furnished cage- 4
11.spinning top- 3
12.neon shuffle- 4
1978
Go 2 - 5/8
The inevitable sophomore slump shows the band with less of the same - the album has a little worse production, is
less consistent, and just shows a band that should have waited longer between albums for more material. Where
White Music was a factory of quirky fun, Go 2 feels like its out of ideas. Basically I don't feel like writing a lot about
it but I'll try; that is the impression it leaves upon us. "Red" and "The Rhythm" are the best thought out songs,
which no one ever agrees with me on, and even the tunes that have a good reputation don't match up like "Are
You Receiving Me" and "Mechanic Dancing". Still, it is hardly as bad of a slump as some records have been on the
second go around, and it is worth hearing for the die hard fan. "Battery Brides", "Jumping in Gomorah" and
"Beetown" are fun little novelties, and of course there are keyboardist Berry Andrews' two songs at the end that
also make it a fun act. Andrew's added a lot of dementia to the bands sound, and I guess he begged for a spot for
his songs "Super Tuff" and "I am the Audience", and what a surprise we all got! He just sounds like a not so
talented Colin Moulding to me, and these songs are certainly more of an oddity than anything. It is hard to find any
in-depth reviews of this record, which is a shame, but when the search is done and the effort is made the results
are always the same: Go 2 is ok, but not essential listening. - Trevor e.y.
Note: I don't actually own this and it is hard to find song listings in order, so if I am wrong about the
order here please email me and tell me
1.mechanic dancing- 2
2.battery brides- 3
3.buzzcity talking- 2
4.crowded room- 3
5.the rhythm- 4
6.red- 4
7.beetown- 3
8.life is good in the greenhouse- 1
9.jumping in gomorah- 3
10.my weapon- 2
11.super tuff- 3
12.I am the audience- 2
13.are you recieving- 3
1979
Drums and Wires - 8/8
For fans of the band in the late 70's, the slump of Go 2 was hardly noticeable at all because the bands third
album, Drums and Wires, was their crowning achievement by far. Simultaneously fulfilling the promise of White
Music and making Go 2 seem like a bunch of b-sides (which is likely), Drums and Wires finds the band without
permanent keyboardist Andrews. Replacing him on guitar/keyboards is David Gregory, finalizing the band's classic
line up. And classic album this is, right from the get go with "Making Plan for Nigel", songwriter Moulding tells the
tale of a very traditional British family who want nothing more than to plans their son's life for him. It is set to a crazy
guitar and drum loop that is the best single song the band had done do this point. The rest of the record measures
up though, whether its the similar working class tale of "Day in Day Out", the observations of "Roads Girdle the
Globe", or the maniacal struggle of "Complicated Game", which will most likely scare the hell out of anyone on first
listen. What changes in XTC's legacy with Drums and Wires is the grown up attitude the band develops. These are
no longer the child like songwriters of White Music, they have traveled the world and have made some very real
observations about society, as well as grown some musically. So they evolve, but it is very natural and, again,
effortless like all good music should be. It is not a perfect record in my opinion, "That is the Way" and "Outside
World" could have been switched for the even better "Life Begins at the Hop" and "Chain of Command" (b-sides
and bonus tracks of the time) and "Ten Feet Tall" never has fit to me. But in all, the record has strong songs and
each could be taken on its own (again showing necessary maturity from White Music) and it is just such great
music. Its all here: power pop, dementia, crazy rhythms, lyrical genius, and it is all combined in a way only XTC can
do it. - Trevor e.y.
1.making plans for nigel- 4*
2.helicopter- 4
3.day in day out- 4
4.when your near me i have difficulty- 4
5.ten feet tall- 3
6.roads girlde the globe- 4
7.real by reel- 4
8.millions- 4
9.that is the way- 2
10.outside world- 3
11.scissor man- 4
12.complicated game- 4
(13.life begins at the hop - 4)
(14.chain of command- 4)
(15.limelight- 3)
1980
Black Sea - 8/8
On the fourth record, it seems like the band has gotten into the "habit" of making perfect pop records. Just as
good as Drums and Wires, Black Sea is actually a little tighter and punchier to boot. Most of all, stellar songs run
rampant from the political sarcasm of "Respectable Street", "Generals and Majors", and "No Language in our
Lungs" to the more straight pop rock of "Rocket from a Bottle", "Sgt. Rock", "Burning with Optimisms Flames" and
"Towers of London". Oh, don't forget the dementia of tribal closer "Travels in Nihilon" and the guitar break in "Love
at First Sight". Wowsa! Just how perfect can a band make pop music and why do more people not worship this
band? A question for another day I guess. Black Sea is not quite a 9/8 because of the lame "Paper and Iron" and
the drawn-out hokeyness of "Living Through Another Cuba" which is cute, but not as cute as they want it to be. I
can't think of much else to say except this is more of the same from Drums and Wires, a band at the top of their
game and enjoying every second of it. XTC inherit the British tradition of telling tales of old merry England form
The Kinks before them, but they are a better band than the Kinks were because they saw beyond pure pop and
pompous and into the dark heart of human beings (well that and they stayed more consistent over the years).
They see the big picture, and have learned from their forefathers, and Black Sea shows off that strategy
stunningly. - Trevor e.y.
1.respectable street- 4
2.generals and majors- 4
3.living through another cuba- 3
4.love at first sight- 4
5.rocket from a bottle- 4
6.no language in our lungs- 4
7.towers of london- 4
8.paper and iron- 2
9.burning with optimisms flame- 4
10.sgt. rock- 4
11.travels in nihilon- 4
(12.smokeless zone- 2)
(13.don't lose your temper- 3)
(14.the somnambulist- 1)
1982
English Settlement - 9/8
Here is a record that shows a band growing, but also rising above all eXpectations. Drums and Wires and Black
Sea really showed the world we are dealing with a special band here, a band that can effortlessly toss off some
consistent pop albums, which is a pretty rare feat in rock music. Add to that formula mysticism, style
experimentation, expanded instrumentation, and more specialized production, and you have an idea of English
Settlement. It is just as consistent as the albums before it, but its 72 and a half minutes long, so that puts it in a
class of its own. Songs lengths are expanded but not to annoying effect like so many double albums (though some
would not agree); each of these songs feel like they should be as long as they are. The balance of music is perfect
too: Moulding opens it up with a one-two punch of "Runaways" and the Beatles' "Getting Better" homage "Ball and
Chain", which sound like they were written by completely different people, and later his "Fly on the Wall" and
"English Roundabout" show great versatility and melodic depth - it's his best batch of songs for an XTC album.
Partridge writes the other eleven tracks and with the exception of the passable "Leisure", they all shine. "Senses
Working Overtime", "No Thugs in Our House" and "All of a Sudden" all bear his stamp of being single ready,
inherently English, and complex. However, things really shine on the political rap of "Melt the Guns", the pacifism of
"Kuckles Down", and clash of styles in "Snowman", "It's Nearly Africa", and "Yacht Dance". English Settlement is
often referred to as a fan favorite, but really I just think it strikes at the core of what makes XTC great: it is the
ultimate showcase of their melodic fantasies. - Trevor e.y.
1.runaways- 4
2.ball and chain- 4
3.senses working overtime- 4
4.jason and the argonauts- 3
5.no thugs in our house- 4
6.yacht dance- 4
7.all of a sudden- 4*
8.melt the guns- 4
9.leisure- 2
10.it's nearly africa- 4
11.knuckle down- 4
12.fly on the wall- 4
13.down in the cockpit- 4
14.english roundabout- 4
15.snowman- 4
1983
Mummer - 6/8
And after the breakdown, all he could let out was a small sound. Yes, Partridge had a nervous breakdown about
performing live after English Settlement, and from then on (1983 - present) XTC has been only about studio
records. It has been said that is the reason for this records more "produced sound", which is a false statement.
Where as the last album had timeless production, this one is more of a 1980's kind of sound. This fact makes
Mummer a difficult listen for sure, because even when wanting to enjoy some of the band's more laid back songs it
is almost impossible; the over production gets in the way. Sometimes it works, like on "Deliver Us from the
Elements" and "Funk Pop a Roll" which are some of the band's trademark demented rock songs (the bonus track
"Gold" that was left off the album is better than any song on it in my opinion), or on the relaxed "Wonderland" and
"Me and the Wind". The rest of the album is hardly bad, but not great either, to the point where naming songs
becomes a moot point. The album comes off as feeling longer than it is and more of a strain then it should be
even though it is a good, entertaining listen throughout. Now don't misunderstand me people, the "production"
more the most part is genius and very enjoyable - it is just that it over shadows the music to the point of instead of
remembering "songs" you remember "sounds" about Mummur. - Trevor e.y.
1.beating of hearts- 3
2.wonderland- 4
3.love on a farmboys wages- 2
4.great fire- 3
5.deliver us from the elements- 4
6.human alchemy- 3
7.ladybird- 1
8.in loving memory of a name- 2
9.me and the wind- 3
10.funk pop a roll- 4
1984
The Big Express - 6/8
What is strange about the band's seventh record is it's almost exactly like the previous one: the production
stands out more then the songs! The difference, just about the only difference, is that there are more stand out
tracks on this record and also more complete misfires. It starts off with three killer tunes: "Wake Up" is a genius
single that makes good use of the band's new studio mastery; "All You Pretty Girls" is defiantly 1980's in a good
way; and "Shake Your Donkey Up" makes you wonder how exactly the band rights these unique pop songs. There
are multiple misfires after that ("The every story of Small Town", "I Remember the Sun", "scream Seagulls") and
the album is somewhat of a chore to wade through, the largest misfire being the closer "Train Running Low on
Soul Coal", the band's worst attempt ever at a song. But there some moments of glory latter on two songs, the
moody ballad "This World Over" and one of the greatly overproduced tracks of the band's career "Reign of
Blows". The six good songs on The Big Express make the album worth getting for the die hard, but like Mummer, it
is not essential listening. - Trevor e.y.
1.wake up- 4
2.all you pretty girls- 4
3.shake your donkey up- 4
4.screaming seagulls kiss her, kiss her- 2
5.this world over- 4
6.the every story of smalltown- 2
7.i bought myself a liarbird- 2
8.reign of blows- 4
9.you're the wish you are i had- 3
10.i remeber the sun- 2
11.train running low on soul coal- 1
1986
Skylarking - 8/8
An Interruption If You Will - There are at least 3 versions of this album, but this is the most prominent one
these days AND it contains all possible songs, so I'm going to rate this version. This matters a lot to me yes,
because I rate by consistency and if certain tracks are not on here ("Dear God" and "Mermaid Smiled" especially)
it does indeed make a difference.
Skylarking is the band's great attempt at an ultimate statement, at least this is how it comes off. It is a concept
album about life and death that you can actually relate to, certain songs flow from one to the other continuously
and it sees Moulding and Partridge working together like never before. Pure pop is the goal here, unlike The Big
Express and Mummer where random studio trickery seemed to 'propel' the ideas. Seriously, the ideas on
Skylarking are just better and it is right up there after English Settlement as the band's best work. Accessibility?
Yes, get this XTC album first and you will be hooked for life - "The Meeting Place", "That's Really Super Supergirl",
"Earn Enough for Us", and "Big Day" are the most likeable right off and "Summer's Cauldron", "1000 Umbrellas",
"Dying" and "Dear God" are the ones you love once you REALLY get into the flow of things. Todd Rundgren's
production cannot be ignored of course because the man just does a great job of knowing how the band should
sound though the band quite disagreed with this and their feud still goes on to this day! The album is one of those
you can listen to with anyone, and recalls the best part of the band's great works: the diversity of English
Settlement, the conciseness of Black Sea, and some of the hooks from Drums and Wires while adding a kind of
toned melodic sense. In other words, what is missing form the demented and 'in your face' kinda style is replaced
with an adult kind of understanding of how music works (or should work). It makes pop music seem easy to do,
because it is so fun to listen to and that is quite an accomplishment for a 45 minute record. - Trevor e.y.
1.summer's cauldron- 4
2.grass- 4
3.the meeting place- 4 *
4.that's really super super girl- 4
5.ballet for a rainy day- 4
6.1000 umbrellas- 4
7.season cycle- 4
8.earn enough for us- 4
9.big day- 4
10.another satellite- 4
11.mermiad smiled- 3
12.the man who sailed around his soul- 2
13.dying- 4
14.sacrificial bonfire- 4
15.dear god- 4
1989
Oranges and Lemons - 5/8
Sigh. That is all I can really say about this one. It is not horrible, but maybe it was necessary with the bands
career to show why they succeeded before. You see, XTC was never band that gave you too much music per
album (except for English Settlement and they could bakc that up with their best songs), and even when they tried
too hard for all tastes (Big Express, Go 2), it was fairly short and too the point. Here the band crosses the line into
pure excess and who knows why they did it but it is just to long! Where Skylarking was 15 songs in 45 minutes,
Oranges and Lemons is 15 songs in 65 plus! Even if they could pull this length off (again see English Settlement),
they don't have the songs and try too make it up in production. See the opener "Garden of Earthly Delights" where
there is absolutely nothing going on musically, but it goes on somehow for five minutes. The same is true more
much of the album, and some songs like "Scarecrow People", "Hold Me Daddy", and "Miniture Sun" should have
been completely trashed. "Pink Thing" is unintentionally funny also because Partridge keeps singing about the
mysterious "pink thing" he loves so much...we'll leave that one open for discussion.....
Even if the album was say, 10 songs, it still might not save it. "Mayor of Simpleton", "King for a Day", and "The
Loving" are the sole reasons fro this album to exist and having them there just casts a bad light on how shabby
the rest of the production is. These three singles are everything great about the pop music side of XTC, and in all
honesty the world is a better place for having those songs in them; "Mayor of Simpleton" is perhaps the band's
greatest song period. XTC is known for being a singles band more than an albums band, and while that is not true
for most of their discography and a grave misjudgement of the band's talent, Oranges and Lemons is the one
record where that kind of rings true. - Trevor e.y.
1.garden of earthly delights- 2
2.the mayor of simpleton- 4 *
3.king for a day- 4
4.here comes president kill again- 3
5.the loving- 4
6.poor skeleton steps out- 2
7.one of the millions- 3
8.scarecrow people- 2
9.merely a man- 3
10.cynical days- 2
11.across the antheap- 3
12.hold me my daddy- 2
13.pink thing- 2
14.miniture sun- 1
15.chalkhills and children- 3
1992
Nonsuch - 7/8
This album is a divider among the band's fans, but I think it is great. It might be a little longer than the early
records, but it marks a new transformation for the band: a kind of laid back comfort seeps through on Nonsuch
that shows Partridge and Moulding growing up as artists. Surely, the XTC of the 90's is a far cry from the 70's and
even the 80's. While it takes a different kind of ear to appreciate, I think the band comes off with one its better
efforts with this record. Moulding pleases us with his "War Dance" and "Bungalow", while making more defiant
statements on "Smartest Monkeys" and "My Bird Performs" with the great lyrics "Fine art never moved my soul, no
vintage wine designer clothes". Partridge also succeeds in this laid back style, creating an album of his own at 13
songs that has everything form pure rock music ("Ugly Underneath", "The Ballad of Pete Pumpkin Head") to
melodic ballads ("Wrapped in Grey", "The Disappointed") to the poppiest of pop music ("Omnibus", "Dear Madam
Barnum"). Perhaps the only thing keeping the album from a 8/8 are the duds "Crocodile", "Rook", and the more
difficult "That Wave", but even those songs are more out of place then out-right bad. Though it is quite a long
listen, it succeeds in being relaxed, adventurous, and life affirming. Nonsuch rejuvenated the band in a new
decade and is the best post-Skylarking XTC release. XTC's legacy in being underrated is best expressed through
Partridges lyrics in the closer "Books are Burning", "You know where they burn books, people are next."
- Trevor e.y.
1.the ballad of peter pumpkin head- 4
2.my bird performs- 4
3.dear madam barnum- 4
4.humble daisy- 3
5.the smartest monkees- 4
6.the disappointed- 4
7.holly up on puppy- 4
8.crockodile- 2
9.rook- 2
10.omnibus- 4
11.that wave- 3
12.then she appeared- 4
13.war dance- 4
14.wrapped in gray- 4
15.the ugly underneath- 4
16.bungalow- 3
17.books are burning- 4
1999
Apple Venus pt. 1 - 7/8
If you enjoyed "Wrapped in Grey" from Nonsuch, it kind of paints the picture of what Apple Venus pt. 1 sounds
like. Originally part of a double album (though it holds up much better viewed separately), this was the band's
"experimental" attempt later in their career. It honestly just sounds like a natural successor to the previous record
with it's laid back orchestration and comfortability. Some element sof the record really soar, like the breathtaking
"Easter Parade" and "Greenman", epic sounding songs that bring even more to Partridge's ability as a songwriter.
Some of them are more subdued, like "Knights in Shining Karma" which carries with it a kind of new age feel, and
latter moments of "Harvest Festival", "I'd Like That" and "I Can't Own Her" also stand out. Moulding has his final
great XTC moment with "Frivolous Tonight", one of his best songs, with a Beach Boys beginning and lyrics that
make fun of upper class living. Truly a fun and fantastical voyage through pop music form the band's 60's icons
and beyond. Last but not least we have "River of Orchids", the opener and stunner of this whole set that really
makes you wonder, "Will these guys ever stop morphing and outdoing everybody?" They might not be as prolific
as they used to be but I'd have to say that is a good thing, most band's don't know when to stop. Truly, XTC has
preserved through 20 years of great albums, sounding very different form White Music for sure at this point, but
still on top of their game. - Trevor e.y.
1.river of orchids- 4
2.i'd like that- 3
3.easter theater- 4
4.knights of shining karma- 4
5.frivolous tonight- 4
6.greenman- 4
7.your dictionary- 3
8.fruit nut- 2
9.i can't own her- 3
10.harvest festival- 4
11.the last balloon- 3
2000
Wasp Star - 1/8
I do not count Wasp Star when I think of XTC. I can't because it is so bad I want to cringe?@?#!?#!R$?$#? I
can't believe there are even decent reviews of this record, it is the worst kind of mistake and the worst kind of
bad. Planned a successor to Apple Venus it couldn't be further from that great work. I don't know if the band was
joking around or what, but I don't find it funny. Horrible music and they never should have made this, I can't talk
anymore about garbage sorry! - Trevor e.y.
1.playground- 1
2.stupidly happy- 1
3.in another life- 1
4.my brown guitar- 1
5.boarded up- 1
6.i'm the man who murdered love- 2
7.we're alright- 1
8.standing in for joe- 1
9.wounded horse- 2
10.you and the clouds will be beautiful- 3
11.church of women- 2
12.the wheel and the maypeople- 2
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