From: stuarts@carr62.alleg.edu (Scott Stuart)
Subject: XTC Recommendations
Organization: Allegheny College
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 18:22:39 GMT

To respond to those of you who posted seeking recommendations of XTC  
albums, here is a brief review of the albums in their US catalog:

	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."
	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."
	10.  Nonsuch  (1992)  -  Now we come to the album everyone has  
been writing all concerned about.  Well, there is nothing really to worry  
about, this album is overall pretty average for XTC.  It has its moments,  
but strains too far in the electro-drum sound of Oranges and Lemons and  
the music overall, sounds too bright, almost like "showroom brilliance" a  
common speaker malady.  It's not bad by any measure, but it isn't what I  
would have hoped for, either.
	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.
	12.  Rag and Bone Buffet  (1990) -   A collection of B-Sides, a  
few remixes and other hard to find recordings.  Not uniform, but there are  
some great tunes, including one of my all-time favorite "bounce-around"  
songs, the Moulding-penned "Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen." (Possibly  
second only to "Purple Toupee")  A good value, with almost 80 minutes of  
music.

	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.
					Scott Stuart