Working with producer Todd Rundgren didn't necessarily bring XTC a sense of sonic cohesion -- after all, every record since English Settlement followed its own interior logic -- but it did help the group sharpen their focus, making Skylarking their tightest record since Drums & Wires. Ironically, Skylarking had little to do with new wave and everything to do with the lush, post-psychedelic pop of the Beatles and Beach Boys. Combining the charming pastoral feel of Mummer with   [ read more ]

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Following Go 2, keyboardist Barry Andrews left XTC and, rather than finding a replacement keyboard player, the band opted to recruit another guitarist (who could also play keyboards), Dave Gregory. The album that followed the lineup change, Drums and Wires, marks a turning point for the band, with a more subdued set of songs that reflect an increasing songwriting proficiency. The aimless energy of the first two albums is focused into a cohesive statement with a distinctive voice that retains    [ read more ]

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XTC continue on with the big drum sound of Drums and Wires, adding more polish and an even heavier-hitting approach for Black Sea -- their arrangements are fuller and they rock harder than ever before. Where Drums and Wires implied social commentary, Black Sea more directly addresses sociopolitical concerns, handling them not strictly in a theoretical sense, but rather showing a human response to the circumstances. Of course, the band's skewed outlook and mid-'60s pop sense keeps things fr   [ read more ]

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Andy Partridge's discovery of the 12-string guitar set the tone for English Settlement, an album that moved away from the pop gloss of Black Sea in favor of lighter, though still rhythmically heavy, acoustic numbers with more complex and intricate instrumentation. There are plenty of pop gems -- "Senses Working Overtime" stands as one of their finest songs -- but the main focus seems to be the more expansive sound; most of the songs are drawn out to near-epic length, ultimately taking some   [ read more ]

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XTC's first full album shows the band going full-throttle in true punk spirit. More dissonant than their later period, the young band shines with directionless energy and a good sense of humor. Highlights include the catchy singles "This Is Pop" and "Radios in Motion," as well as a jumpy version of "All Along the Watchtower." Their first release, 3D EP, has been appended to the CD version. [A 2002 re-release has the same tracks re-sequenced and remastered.] ~ Chris Woodstra, All Music Guid   [ read more ]

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Anyone expecting Wasp Star: Apple Venus, Vol. 2 to continue the majestic acoustic-orchestral blends of Apple Venus will be disappointed, because it's a straightforward collection of sharp, witty, well-constructed pop songs. Directness is perhaps the oddest thing about Wasp Star - it's unassuming pop from a band that operated on a conceptual plain for nearly 20 years. It could be argued that all the songs that fit a dark, introspective mood went to Apple Venus, XTC's first album after seven ye   [ read more ]

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4CD set including the complete Apple Works recordings including the demos of Apple Venus and Wasp Star which gives a fascinating insight into XTC's recorded works. Beautifully package in a square white box with the Peacock Feather motif varnished in gloss onto the box lid. Stunningly simple. Each disc is package with brand new artwork in a cardboard wallet and the 64 page booklet has for the Frst time all the lyrics to all the songs, plus new sleeves notes by Andy and Colin. Originally    [ read more ]

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Skylarking was an ambitious yet concise record, one that recalled such graceful concept albums as Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper, so it wasn't entirely a surprise that XTC embraced psychedelia on its double-album follow-up, Oranges & Lemons, especially if their celebrated Dukes of Stratosphear side project was taken into consideration as well. Oranges & Lemons lacks the singular focus of Skylarking, but at its best, it's just as impressive as its predecessor. Instead of revelling in t   [ read more ]

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Recorded in a rush less than a year after White Music, Go 2 predictably suffered. The album, while slightly more melodic, reprises much of the quirky, high-energy playing of White Music, but the material is considerably weaker this time out. Aside from a couple of standout tracks like "Mechanic Dancing," Go 2 is probably most memorable for its witty, word-heavy cover art. ~ Chris Woodstra, All Music Guide

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After a seven-year recording hiatus induced by contract strife, XTC returned with a vengeance: Just a few months after the release of Apple Venus, Pt. 1, and a few months before Pt. 2, the band issued Homespun, a collection of demo recordings laid down at bassist Colin Moulding's home. Its track list and sequence are nearly identical to Apple Venus, Pt. 1; most of these recordings are so close to the finished products that a casual listener might not even be able to tell the difference. Ho   [ read more ]

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Mummer, the first album to follow Andy Partridge's mental breakdown, which led to XTC's retirement from touring, is very much the work of an eccentric in isolation. The album is a collection that builds on the groundwork of English Settlement with gentle, acoustic songs that evoke pastoral images and peaceful times. There are moments of real inspiration, resulting in some of the band's finest songs to date -- "Love on a Farmboy's Wages," "Great Fire," and "Lady Bird" -- and the sound se   [ read more ]

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Since Skylarking, each XTC album was carefully composed and crafted, and Nonsuch is no different. Working with producer Gus Dudgeon (Elton John), XTC crafted their most immaculate album to date with Nonsuch. A measured and reflective record, recalling the Beach Boys more than the Beatles, the album retains some of their late-'80s psychedelic flourishes, but those have been integrated into an elaborate, lush pop setting that falls somewhere between Skylarking and {^Oranges &    [ read more ]

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