XTC : Song Stories (The Exclusive Authorized Story Behind the Music)
Best known in the United States for their controversial 1986 hit "Dear God," Britain's XTC ranks as one of pop music's most enigmatic and talented bands. In their own words, the three current members give a song-by-song memoir covering the band's entire career, including their upcoming album, the first in seven years. Taking an analytical approach, the book never attempts serious musical analysis, but even the most banal stories are made fresh and hilarious by the wit of XTC leader Andy Partridge. With the exception of a harrowing chapter detailing Partridge's 1982 nervous breakdown and the band's subsequent retirement from live performance, the book touches lightly on biographical information. For more details on XTC's history, refer to Chris Twomey's XTC: Chalkhills and Children (Omnibus, 1992). Essential for diehard fans but of limited broader appeal.?Lloyd Jansen, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., CACopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.