From: watts@csa3.lbl.gov (PAUL N WATTS)
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative
Subject: Re: XTC Recommendations
Date: 15 Oct 1992 23:34 PST
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
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In article <1992Oct12.182239.18910@pellns.alleg.edu>, stuarts@carr62.alleg.edu
(Scott Stuart) writes...

What follows is a list of "reviews" for XTC albums.  I include them to prove
the point I make at the end of this post.

>	1.  White Music (1977) -  Interesting debut.  Vocals are very  
>forced and "hiccuppy."  It's an uneven record, but one can see immature  
>talent. Features "This Is Pop" and the outstanding "Statue of Liberty."

>	2.  Go 2 (1978)  -  Strange.  Hyperactive music, again weird  
>vocals.  Way out-there.  One Single, the good "Are You Receiving Me?"

>	3.  Drums and Wires  (1979)  -  Dave Gregory has replace Barry  
>Andrews, taking some of the strange keyboard work out of the mix.  Better  
>songs than previous records, and better realized.  Strongly produced by  
>Steve Lillywhite who went on to produce U2 among others.  All three  
>singles are by Colin: the autobiographical "Making Plans for Nigel", "Life  
>Begins at the Hop", and "Ten Feet Tall."

>	4.  Black Sea  (1980) -  Their finest achievement to this point,  
>it features good songwriting and inventive playing.  A strong anti-war  
>message pervades the album, which only adds to its power.  Highly  
>reccomended.

>	5.  English Settlement  (1982) -  Overlong, complex album, that on  
>some parts doesn't quite work.  This was originally released as a double  
>album, and the US CD issue, puts back some songs.  There are not quite  
>enough songs, leading to a substantial amount of filler.  The first five  
>songs are exempleray, and I listen to this more than I would care to  
>admit.  Includes "Ball and Chain", "All of a Sudden (It's too Late)", and  
>the exemplary "Senses Working Overtime."

>	6.  Mummer  (1983) -  Quiet, gentle album, with a relaxed flavor.   
>Not everyone is in to this sort of thing but for those who are it's fun.   
>I heard it described once as "Music for Picnics."
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hmmm, I wonder where you heard this.  See below.

>	7.  The Big Express  (1984) -  Back to standrad XTC form.  A  
>harsher, more chaotic record than the previous, which falls into the  
>common XTC flaw of overlength.  Among a mixed bag, standouts are "All You  
>Pretty Girls" and the touching "This World Over" about nuclear war.

>	8.  Skylarking  (1986) -  Their finest acheivement ever.  The  
>saongs range from wistful to pastoral to scorn.  Thanks in part to the  
>outstanding production and arrangement of Todd Rundgren, it, like no other  
>XTC album, comes off as one unified whole.  A brilliant ode to nature, and  
>one of rock greatest albums.  The singles "Dear God", "Grass", "Earn  
>Enough For Us", and "The Meeting Place" come from a brilliant crop.

>	9.  Oranges and Lemons  (1989) -  Another double album which has  
>enough good material to cover maybe three of its four sides.  It is a  
>joyous album with a large emphasis on children and the birth of life.  An  
>excellent work.  Spawned the singles "Mayor of Simpleton" and "King for a  
>Day."

[Review of _Nonesuch_ omitted; it's actually an original review]

>	11.  Explode Together  (1980) -  A collection of dub experiments,  
>which has Andy "playing games" with tracks from Go 2 and Drums and wires.   
>Interesting musically and creatively but only for serious fans.  Pretty  
>hard to find.

[Review of _Rag_and_Bone_Buffet_ deleted--see _Nonesuch_.]

>	Well, I hope that helps someone.  The last two items are not  
>full-fledged albums, so that's why they're listed last like that.  If  
>anyone has any criticisms, comments, or correspondence, please drop me a  
>line or post it and let me know.

Yeah, I have a criticism.  If you're going to copy something nearly
word-for-word from the _Trouser_Press_Record_Guide_, at least have the balls to
credit the book.  This is basically plagarism.  (For those of you who are
skeptical, compare this post with Ira Robbins' and Scott Isler's section on XTC
in the TPRG.)  Nauseating.

>					Scott Stuart
				  
Paul Watts



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