XTC | ||
| Allmusic Biography : XTC was one of the smartest -- and catchiest -- British pop bands to emerge from the punk and new wave explosion of the late 70s. From the tense, jerky riffs of their early singles to the lushly arranged, meticulous pop of their later albums, XTCs music has always been driven by the hook-laden songwriting of guitarist Andy Partridge and bassist Colin Moulding. While popular success has eluded them in both Britain and America, the group has developed a devoted cult following in both countries that remains loyal over two decades after their first records. Partridge, Moulding, and drummer Terry Chambers formed the first version of the band in Swindon, Wiltshire around 1976, calling themselves Star Park. As punk rock took off in 1977, the group changed their name to Helium Kidz and added keyboardist Barry Andrews. After being turned down by CBS Records, the band changed their name to XTC and secured a record contract with Virgin; they released their first EP, 3-D, in October of 1977. White Music, the bands first full-length album, was recorded in a week and released by the end of the year. Critics praised the angular yet melodic pop, and the album reached number 38 in the U.K. charts. However, none of the singles released from the album charted (including "This Is Pop"), nor did "Are You Receiving Me?," the teaser single for their second album, Go 2 (1978). After returning from a brief U.S. tour, Andrews quit the band; he would eventually form Shriekback as well as the League of Gentlemen (the latter with Robert Fripp) and also pursue a solo career. Instead of another keyboard player, the band decided to hire guitarist (and fellow Swindon resident) David Gregory was added to the lineup after Andrews departure and the group recorded their first charting single, "Life Begins at the Hop." XTC released their third album, the steadier, more pop-oriented Drums and Wires, that summer; the record climbed to number 37 on the charts, thanks to the hit single "Making Plans for Nigel." XTC continued to smooth out their edges on 1980s Black Sea, bringing in elements of mid-60s Beatles and Kinks to their guitar-driven pop; thanks to the singles "Generals and Majors" and "Towers of London," it was the groups most successful American album, peaking at number 41 while reaching number 16 on the British charts. Released the following year, English Settlement featured more complex arrangements, as well as more intellectual lyrics, particularly from Andy Partridge. Nevertheless, the album was XTCs biggest success in the U.K., reaching number five on the album charts and launching the Top Ten single, "Senses Working Overtime." While on tour in March of 1982, Partridge collapsed while on-stage, suffering from exhaustion. Less than a month later, he collapsed again with a stomach ulcer. The band canceled the tour shortly after his second collapse, prompting Chambers to leave the group. In November, Partridge announced that XTC would never play live again, concentrating on recording instead; he also blamed his collapses on intense stage fright. As the band completed their new album, a compilation called Waxworks -- Some Singles (1977-1982) was released at the end of the year. Mummer, the first album the studio-bound XTC recorded, appeared in the summer of 1983; former Glitter Band member Pete Phipps recorded the drum tracks for the record. XTC refused to tour for the record, which caused some tension between the band and Virgin, and was presumably the reason why "Love on a Farmboys Wages" didnt make it past number 50 on the charts. Recording under the name the Three Wise Men, the group released the holiday single "Thanks for Christmas" at the end of the year. Released in the fall of 1984, The Big Express essentially followed the same pattern as Mummer, yet it charted higher in the U.K. XTC released a psychedelic parody album, 25 OClock, under the name the Dukes of Stratosphear in 1985. After a difficult recording session with producer Todd Rundgren, the pastoral Skylarking appeared in the fall of 1986. Upon its release the album was hailed as a masterwork by critics, even though the band were claiming they were unsatisfied with the production. Skylarking was a bigger hit in the U.S. than it was in the U.K., spending over six months on the charts and peaking at number 70. XTC recorded another Dukes of Stratosphear album, Psonic Psunspot, in 1987; the two Stratosphear albums were collected on one disc the following year. Oranges and Lemons (1989) reworked the psychedelia of the Stratosphear side-project, leaving out much of the loopy humor and replacing it with a Ray Davies-inspired nostalgia. The album was a minor hit in both Britain and America, reaching number 28 and number 44, respectively; "Mayor of Simpleton" became XTCs only charting U.S. single, reaching number 72 while peaking at number 46 on the British charts. Three years later, the group released Nonsuch, an album that recalled both Pet Sounds and Revolver. Like every XTC record, its critical acclaim was greater than its sales -- the album dropped out of the British charts after two weeks. In America, Nonsuch was more successful, reaching number 97 and staying on the charts for 11 weeks. Years of internal difficulties and label battles kept the group from releasing any new material for much of the decade, however, and not until 1999 did the next XTC album, Apple Venus, Pt. 1, finally appear. Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2) followed in mid-2000. XTCs lack of commercial success isnt because their music isnt accessible -- their bright, occasionally melancholy, melodies flow with more grace than most bands -- it has more to do with the group constantly being out of step with the times. However, the band has left behind a remarkably rich and varied series of albums that make a convincing argument that XTC is the great lost pop band. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 32 Title: 3D EP Released: 1977-10-07 Tracks: 4 Duration: 09:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Science Friction (03:13) 2 She’s So Square (03:06) 3 Dance Band (02:41) 4 Goodnight, Sucker (00:20) |
 | Album: 2 of 32 Title: White Music Released: 1978-01-20 Tracks: 19 Duration: 53:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Radios in Motion (02:53) 2 Cross Wires (02:05) 3 This Is Pop? (02:40) 4 Do What You Do (01:16) 5 Statue of Liberty (02:55) 6 All Along the Watchtower (05:43) 7 Science Friction (03:13) 8 She’s So Square (03:06) 9 Dance Band (02:41) 10 Hang On to the Night (02:09) 11 Heatwave (02:11) 12 Traffic Light Rock (01:40) 13 Instant Tunes (02:31) 14 Into the Atom Age (02:33) 15 I’ll Set Myself on Fire (03:02) 16 I’m Bugged (03:58) 17 New Town Animal in a Furnished Cage (01:53) 18 Spinning Top (02:40) 19 Neon Shuffle (04:27) |
| White Music : Allmusic album Review : XTCs first full album, White Music shows the band going full-throttle in true punk spirit. More dissonant than their latter 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. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 32 Title: Go 2 Released: 1978-10-06 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) (02:36) 2 Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian) (04:35) 3 Buzzcity Talking (02:40) 4 Crowded Room (02:52) 5 The Rhythm (02:59) 6 Red (03:00) 7 Beatown (04:36) 8 Life Is Good in the Greenhouse (04:39) 9 Jumping in Gomorrah (02:02) 10 My Weapon (02:19) 11 Super‐Tuff (04:25) 12 I Am the Audience (03:37) |
| Go 2 : Allmusic album Review : 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. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 32 Title: Drums and Wires Released: 1979-08-17 Tracks: 15 Duration: 55:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Making Plans for Nigel (04:12) 2 Helicopter (03:54) 3 Day In Day Out (03:08) 4 When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty (03:22) 5 Ten Feet Tall (03:16) 6 Roads Girdle the Globe (04:51) 7 Real by Reel (03:47) 8 Millions (05:39) 9 That Is the Way (02:56) 10 Outside World (02:41) 11 Scissor Man (04:00) 12 Complicated Game (05:04) 13 Life Begins at the Hop (03:49) 14 Chain of Command (02:33) 15 Limelight (02:25) |
| Drums and Wires : Allmusic album Review : 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 their clever humor, quirky wordplay, and decidedly British flavor. Musically, Drums and Wires, titled to reflect the big drum sound they developed for the album, is certainly driven by the powerful rhythms and angular, mainly minimalistic arrangements, but the addition of a second guitarist also allows for some inventive and interesting guitar work (the "wires") that made up for the lack of Andrews odd flourishes -- the tension between the two sounds creates some truly inspired, nervy pop. Colin Moulding also comes into his own as a songwriter, penning XTCs first substantial hit, the new wave classic "Making Plans for Nigel." | ||
 | Album: 5 of 32 Title: Black Sea Released: 1980-09-12 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:17:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Respectable Street (03:39) 2 Generals and Majors (04:08) 3 Living Through Another Cuba (04:52) 4 Love at First Sight (03:11) 5 Rocket From a Bottle (03:37) 6 No Language in Our Lungs (04:53) 7 Towers of London (05:27) 8 Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) (04:20) 9 Burning With Optimism’s Flames (04:22) 10 Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) (04:02) 11 Travels in Nihilon (07:16) 12 Respectable Street (single version) (03:08) 13 Smokeless Zone (03:50) 14 Don’t Lose Your Temper (02:32) 15 Take This Town (04:09) 16 Ban the Bomb (02:40) 17 Towers of London (early version) (06:11) 18 The Somnambulist (04:37) 19 History of Rock ’n’ Roll (00:21) |
| Black Sea : Allmusic album Review : 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 bands skewed outlook and mid-60s pop sense keeps things from becoming too heavy -- included are some of their finest songs, like "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Towers of London," as well as the thoroughly enjoyable pop fluff throwaway "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" to keep the mood light. All in all, there isnt a bad song in the bunch -- Black Sea is their most consistent album to date -- and although XTC always operated on the fringes, the album is their most commercial-sounding, fitting in perfectly with the new wave of the late 70s/early 80s. [The 1987 CD reissue adds three tracks -- "Smokeless Zone," "Dont Lose Your Temper," and "The Somnambulist" -- to the middle of the album. And while the extras are welcomed (especially "Dont Lose Your Temper"), they really should have been tacked on to the end rather than disrupting the original.] | ||
 | Album: 6 of 32 Title: 5 Senses Released: 1981-09-18 Tracks: 5 Duration: 15:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Smokeless Zone (03:53) 2 Officer Blue (02:39) 3 Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (04:24) 4 Don’t Lose Your Temper (02:37) 5 Strange Tales, Strange Tails (02:20) |
 | Album: 7 of 32 Title: English Settlement Released: 1982-02-12 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:11:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Runaways (04:51) 2 Ball and Chain (04:30) 3 Senses Working Overtime (04:45) 4 Jason and the Argonauts (06:03) 5 No Thugs in Our House (05:16) 6 Yacht Dance (03:52) 7 All of a Sudden (It’s Too Late) (05:20) 1 Melt the Guns (06:31) 2 Leisure (05:01) 3 It’s Nearly Africa (03:54) 4 Knuckle Down (04:26) 5 Fly on the Wall (03:11) 6 Down in the Cockpit (05:35) 7 English Roundabout (03:50) 8 Snowman (04:26) |
| English Settlement : Allmusic album Review : Several new instruments within the band -- Dave Gregorys Rickenbacker 12-string, Andy Partridges new acoustic guitar, and Terry Chambers new drum synthesizer, along with Colin Mouldings fretless bass -- set the tone for English Settlement, an album that moved away from the pop gloss of Black Sea in favor of light, 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 away some of the songs impact. Despite several terrific tracks, English Settlement seems more a transitional album than anything else, although the textural sound of the album is quite remarkable, indicating the direction they would take in their post-touring incarnation. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 32 Title: Waxworks: Some Singles 1977–1982 Released: 1982-11-05 Tracks: 12 Duration: 44:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Science Friction (03:14) 2 Statue of Liberty (02:27) 3 This Is Pop? (02:40) 4 Are You Receiving Me? (03:05) 5 Life Begins at the Hop (03:47) 6 Making Plans for Nigel (03:55) 7 Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (04:35) 8 Generals and Majors (03:42) 9 Towers of London (04:39) 10 Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) (03:38) 11 Senses Working Overtime (04:34) 12 Ball and Chain (04:31) |
| Waxworks: Some Singles 1977–1982 : Allmusic album Review : Though it has been since supplanted by more comprehensive XTC collections -- the most notable being Fossil Fuel, which repeats all of the Waxworks tracks plus the later singles -- Waxworks: Some Singles 1977-1982 remains the classic compilation of the bands first, pre-studio-bound period. Originally, the album was packaged with a second record, Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977-1982, later made available separately. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 32 Title: Waxworks / Beeswax Released: 1982-11-05 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:15:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 She’s So Square (03:07) 2 Dance Band (02:41) 3 Hang On to the Night (02:14) 4 Heatwave (02:09) 5 Instant Tunes (02:31) 6 Pulsing Pulsing (01:37) 7 Don’t Lose Your Temper (02:32) 8 Smokeless Zone (03:50) 9 The Somnambulist (04:31) 10 Blame the Weather (03:40) 11 Tissue Tigers (The Arguers) (03:57) 12 Punch and Judy (02:45) 1 She’s So Square (03:06) 2 Dance Band (02:41) 3 Hang On to the Night (02:14) 4 Heatwave (02:09) 5 Instant Tunes (02:33) 6 Pulsing Pulsing (01:37) 7 Don’t Lose Your Temper (02:33) 8 Smokeless Zone (03:51) 9 The Somnambulist (04:31) 10 Blame the Weather (03:41) 11 Tissue Tigers (The Arguers) (03:57) 12 Punch and Judy (02:45) 13 Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass (remix) (04:24) |
 | Album: 10 of 32 Title: Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977–1982 Released: 1982-11-05 Tracks: 13 Duration: 39:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 She’s So Square (03:07) 2 Dance Band (02:41) 3 Hang On to the Night (02:14) 4 Heatwave (02:09) 5 Instant Tunes (02:31) 6 Pulsing Pulsing (01:37) 7 Don’t Lose Your Temper (02:32) 8 Smokeless Zone (03:50) 9 The Somnambulist (04:31) 10 Blame the Weather (03:40) 11 Tissue Tigers (The Arguers) (03:57) 12 Punch and Judy (02:45) 13 Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass (remix) (04:21) |
| Beeswax: Some B-Sides 1977–1982 : Allmusic album Review : A nice companion to Waxworks, Beeswax does a fine job of collecting the B-sides to the singles up to 1982. While these songs were often as engaging as the A-sides, their addition to the CDs as bonus tracks now makes this collection redundant. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 32 Title: Mummer Released: 1983-08-30 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Beating of Hearts (04:00) 2 Wonderland (04:54) 3 Love on a Farmboy’s Wages (03:58) 4 Great Fire (03:48) 5 Deliver Us From the Elements (04:36) 6 Human Alchemy (05:11) 7 Ladybird (04:33) 8 In Loving Memory of a Name (03:16) 9 Me and the Wind (04:18) 10 Funk Pop a Roll (03:03) |
| Mummer : Allmusic album Review : Mummer, the first album to follow Andy Partridges mental breakdown, which led to XTCs 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 bands finest songs to date -- "Love on a Farmboys Wages," "Great Fire," and "Lady Bird" -- and the sound sets a pleasingly consistent mood, although the sameness tends to work against the lesser material. Only the out-of-place afterthought of "Funk Pop a Roll," a tirade against the music industry, breaks things up, recapturing the abrasive Partridge of past. [When Mummer was reissued on CD, six tracks were added to the middle of the album. While "Jump," "Toys," "Gold," and "Desert Island" are welcome additions of pop confection, the atmospheric instrumentals "Frost Circus" and "Procession Towards Learning Land," from the simply bizarre Homo Safari Series, serve to disrupt the albums flow.] | ||
 | Album: 12 of 32 Title: The Big Express Released: 1984-10-15 Tracks: 14 Duration: 53:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Wake Up (04:39) 2 All You Pretty Girls (03:40) 3 Shake You Donkey Up (04:19) 4 Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (03:50) 5 This World Over (05:36) 6 The Everyday Story of Smalltown (03:54) 7 I Bought Myself a Liarbird (02:49) 8 Reign of Blows (03:27) 9 You’re the Wish You Are I Had (03:17) 10 I Remember the Sun (03:10) 11 Train Running Low on Soul Coal (05:19) 12 Red Brick Dream (02:01) 13 Washaway (03:01) 14 Blue Overall (04:33) |
| The Big Express : Allmusic album Review : XTC took full advantage of their studio-bound status with The Big Express, creating their most painstakingly detailed, multi-layered, sonically dynamic album to date. The more upbeat material and brighter sound recall some of the bands earlier moments, but most of all, The Big Express signals a turning point for the band, setting the blueprint for their later approach -- a combination of studio perfection matched with impeccable songcraft that results in a thoroughly consistent and enjoyable album beginning to end. Skylarking, the album that followed, gets much more glory, and certainly its impact was greater (this one was virtually ignored), but really, The Big Express covers much of the same territory and is just as strong an album in many ways. [Three songs were added to the middle of the CD reissue -- "Red Brick Dream," "Washaway," and "Blue Overall" -- but they fit seamlessly into the complete picture.] | ||
 | Album: 13 of 32 Title: The Compact XTC: The Singles 1978–85 Released: 1986-06-30 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:09:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Science Friction (03:13) 2 Statue of Liberty (02:26) 3 This Is Pop? (02:40) 4 Are You Receiving Me? (03:04) 5 Life Begins at the Hop (03:47) 6 Making Plans for Nigel (03:53) 7 Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (04:34) 8 Generals and Majors (03:42) 9 Towers of London (04:38) 10 Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) (03:36) 11 Senses Working Overtime (04:34) 12 Ball and Chain (04:31) 13 Great Fire (03:51) 14 Wonderland (04:03) 15 Love on a Farmboy’s Wages (04:00) 16 All You Pretty Girls (03:59) 17 This World Over (04:46) 18 Wake Up (03:43) |
 | Album: 14 of 32 Title: Skylarking Released: 1986-10-27 Tracks: 14 Duration: 45:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Summer’s Cauldron (03:19) 2 Grass (03:05) 3 The Meeting Place (03:14) 4 That’s Really Super, Supergirl (03:21) 5 Ballet for a Rainy Day (02:53) 6 1000 Umbrellas (03:41) 7 Season Cycle (03:19) 8 Earn Enough for Us (02:54) 9 Big Day (03:32) 10 Another Satellite (04:15) 11 Mermaid Smiled (02:26) 12 The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul (03:24) 13 Dying (02:31) 14 Sacrificial Bonfire (03:45) |
| Skylarking : Allmusic album Review : Working with producer Todd Rundgren didnt 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 its focus, making Skylarking its tightest record since Drums and 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 the classicist English pop of The Big Express, XTC expand their signature sound by enhancing their intelligently melodic pop with graceful, lyrical arrangements and sweeping, detailed instrumentation. Rundgren may have devised the sequencing, helping the record feel like a song cycle even if it doesnt play like one, but what really impresses is the consistency and depth of Andy Partridges and Colin Mouldings songs. Each song is a small gem, marrying sweet, catchy melodies to decidedly adult lyrical themes, from celebrations of love ("Grass") and marriage ("Big Day") to skepticism about maturation ("Earn Enough for Us") and religion ("Dear God"). Mouldings songs complement Partridges songs better than before, and each writer is at a melodic and lyrical peak, which Rundgren helps convey with his supple production. The result is a pop masterpiece -- an album that has great ambitions and fulfills them with ease. The initial release of Skylarking didnt feature "Dear God," which was originally the B-side of "Grass." After "Dear God" became an unexpected hit, "Mermaid Smile" was pulled from the album so the hit single could be added. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 32 Title: Oranges & Lemons Released: 1989-02-21 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:00:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Garden of Earthly Delights (05:03) 2 The Mayor of Simpleton (03:58) 3 King for a Day (03:38) 4 Here Comes President Kill Again (03:34) 5 The Loving (04:12) 6 Poor Skeleton Steps Out (03:27) 7 One of the Millions (04:42) 8 Scarecrow People (04:13) 9 Merely a Man (03:26) 10 Cynical Days (03:18) 11 Across This Antheap (04:49) 12 Hold Me My Daddy (03:48) 13 Pink Thing (03:48) 14 Miniature Sun (03:49) 15 Chalkhills and Children (04:59) |
| Oranges & Lemons : Allmusic album Review : Skylarking was an ambitious yet concise record, one that recalled such graceful concept albums as Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper, so it wasnt 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, its just as impressive as its predecessor. Instead of revelling in the form of psychedelic pop, as they did with the Dukes, XTC bring the genres sensibility to the mature pop of Skylarking, spiking it with a wry, occasionally absurd sense of humor missing from its predecessor. The result is a record exploding with details, not the least of which are backward guitars, sound effects, and head-spinningly eclectic arrangements. Its sonically rich and filled with immaculately crafted songs, but Oranges & Lemons falls just short of being a tour de force, since each song feels like an island -- they work well as individual tracks, but they dont form a cohesive statement. However, thats a minor complaint, because Colin Moulding and Andy Partridge in particular are in peak form, contributing some of their very finest songs in "Garden of Earthly Delights," "The Loving," "One of the Millions," "Merely a Man," "Pink Thing," and the elegiac "Chalkhills and Children." Such songs make the relative weaknesses of the album well worth enduring. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 32 Title: Rag & Bone Buffet: Rare Cuts & Leftovers Released: 1990 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:18:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Extrovert (03:34) 2 Ten Feet Tall (03:11) 3 Mermaid Smiled (02:26) 4 Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen (02:47) 5 Respectable Street (03:05) 6 Looking for Footprints (03:28) 7 Over Rusty Water (01:28) 8 Heaven Is Paved With Broken Glass (remix) (04:21) 9 The World Is Full of Angry Young Men (03:39) 10 Punch and Judy (02:42) 11 Thanks for Christmas (03:50) 12 Tissue Tigers (The Arguers) (03:56) 13 I Need Protection (03:39) 14 Another Satellite (BBC session) (04:20) 15 Strange Tales, Strange Tails (02:18) 16 Officer Blue (02:39) 17 Scissor Man (04:22) 18 Cockpit Dance Mixture (06:02) 19 Pulsing Pulsing (01:35) 20 Happy Families (02:45) 21 Countdown to Christmas Party Time (04:12) 22 Blame the Weather (03:38) 23 Take This Town (04:09) 24 History of Rock ’n’ Roll (00:20) |
 | Album: 17 of 32 Title: Explode Together: The Dub Experiments 78–80 Released: 1990-08-06 Tracks: 16 Duration: 54:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dance With Me Germany (03:31) 2 Beat the Bible (02:20) 3 A Dictionary of Modern Marriage (02:40) 4 Clap Clap Clap (02:26) 5 We Kill the Beast (02:20) 6 Commerciality (03:07) 7 The Day They Pulled the North Pole Down (03:51) 8 The Forgotten Language of Light (04:19) 9 Steam Fist Futurist (03:10) 10 Shore Leave Ornithology (Another 1950) (05:34) 11 Cairo (01:52) 12 The Rotary (03:20) 13 Madhattan (03:17) 14 I Sit in the Snow (03:14) 15 Work Away Tokyo Day (04:04) 16 New Broom (05:27) |
 | Album: 18 of 32 Title: BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert Released: 1992 Tracks: 13 Duration: 56:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Life Begins at the Hop (03:55) 2 Burning With Optimism’s Flame (04:24) 3 Love at First Sight (03:10) 4 Respectable Street (03:51) 5 No Language in Our Lungs (04:58) 6 This Is Pop (02:49) 7 Scissor Man (04:49) 8 Towers of London (05:23) 9 Battery Brides (07:20) 10 Living Through Another Cuba (03:29) 11 Generals and Majors (04:28) 12 Making Plans for Nigel (04:29) 13 Are You Receiving Me? (03:15) |
 | Album: 19 of 32 Title: The Tiny Circus of Life Released: 1992 Tracks: 16 Duration: 56:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 History of Rock n Roll (00:19) 2 The Mayor of Simpleton (03:59) 3 Scarecrow People (04:15) 4 Dear God (03:37) 5 Season Cycle (03:20) 6 Grass (03:07) 7 Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (03:52) 8 Great Fire (03:49) 9 Runaways (04:33) 10 Senses Working Overtime (04:51) 11 Knuckle Down (04:29) 12 Fly on the Wall (03:16) 13 Blame the Weather (03:39) 14 Respectable Street (03:06) 15 Making Plan for Nigel (03:53) 16 This Is Pop? (02:39) |
 | Album: 20 of 32 Title: Nonsuch Released: 1992-04-01 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:03:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (05:00) 2 My Bird Performs (03:50) 3 Dear Madam Barnum (02:53) 4 Humble Daisy (03:39) 5 The Smartest Monkeys (04:17) 6 The Disappointed (03:23) 7 Holly up on Poppy (03:04) 8 Crocodile (03:56) 9 Rook (03:47) 1 Omnibus (03:20) 2 That Wave (03:33) 3 Then She Appeared (03:52) 4 War Dance (03:22) 5 Wrapped in Grey (03:46) 6 The Ugly Underneath (03:55) 7 Bungalow (02:49) 8 Books Are Burning (04:50) |
| Nonsuch : Allmusic album Review : 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 & Lemons. While it lacks the thematic unity of Skylarking, as well as the grandstanding eclecticism of Oranges & Lemons, Nonsuch is in many ways more musically consistent, presenting a set of 17 wonderfully detailed and immediately catchy pop songs, ranging from the relatively rocking "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" to the sweet "Holly Up on Poppy." Occasionally, the album dips slightly lyrically -- Colin Mouldings "The Smartest Monkeys" and "War Dance" are a little too preachy -- but never musically, making Nonsuch a modest, minor masterpiece. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 32 Title: Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977–92 Released: 1996-09-16 Tracks: 31 Duration: 1:57:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Science Friction (03:13) 2 Statue of Liberty (02:52) 3 This Is Pop? (02:40) 4 Are You Receiving Me? (03:04) 5 Life Begins at the Hop (03:47) 6 Making Plans for Nigel (04:12) 7 Ten Feet Tall (03:11) 8 Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down (04:20) 9 Generals and Majors (03:41) 10 Towers of London (04:38) 11 Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) (03:36) 12 Love at First Sight (03:07) 13 Respectable Street (03:07) 14 Senses Working Overtime (04:34) 15 Ball and Chain (04:31) 16 No Thugs in Our House (05:09) 1 Great Fire (03:50) 2 Wonderland (04:15) 3 Love on a Farmboy’s Wages (03:58) 4 All You Pretty Girls (03:59) 5 This World Over (04:46) 6 Wake Up (03:43) 7 Grass (02:42) 8 The Meeting Place (03:14) 9 Dear God (03:37) 10 The Mayor of Simpleton (03:58) 11 King for a Day (03:38) 12 The Loving (03:54) 13 The Disappointed (03:38) 14 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (05:00) 15 Wrapped in Grey (03:46) |
 | Album: 22 of 32 Title: Upsy Daisy Assortment Released: 1997-06-17 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:15:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Life Begins at the Hop (03:47) 2 Making Plans for Nigel (04:12) 3 Generals & Majors (03:42) 4 Respectable Street (03:07) 5 Senses Working Overtime (04:34) 6 Ball and Chain (04:31) 7 No Thugs in Our House (05:09) 8 Love on a Farmboy’s Wages (03:58) 9 Funk Pop a Roll (03:03) 10 This World Over (04:46) 11 Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (03:50) 12 Grass (02:42) 13 Dear God (03:37) 14 Earn Enough For Us (02:55) 15 The Mayor of Simpleton (03:58) 16 King for a Day (03:38) 17 Chalkhills and Children (05:03) 18 The Disappointed (03:42) 19 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (05:00) |
| Upsy Daisy Assortment : Allmusic album Review : Instead of releasing the complete double-disc set Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-92, the American division of Geffen decided to assemble Upsy Daisy Assortment, a 19-track budget-priced collection that follows XTC from 1979s Drums & Wires to 1992s Nonsuch. Such a decision was conceivably driven by the idea that casual fans and the curious will want all of the bands familiar songs -- "Making Plans for Nigel," "Generals & Majors," "Respectable Street," "Senses Working Overtime," "Dear God," "The Mayor of Simpleton," "King for a Day," "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" -- on one disc, and on that level Upsy Daisy Assortment works. However, its not the compilation it should have been, since it bypasses such essential early singles as "Statue of Liberty," "Science Friction," "Are You Receiving Me?" and "This is Pop," which captured the band at their nerviest. It also contains several idiosyncratic selections like "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her," "Chalkhills and Children" and "The Disappointed," which were album tracks that worked better on their original albums. But, given its budget price and generous selection, Upsy Daisy Assortment makes a good introduction for indiscriminate listeners. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 32 Title: Apple Venus, Volume 1 Released: 1998 Tracks: 11 Duration: 50:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 River of Orchids (05:53) 2 I’d Like That (03:50) 3 Easter Theatre (04:37) 4 Knights in Shining Karma (03:39) 5 Frivolous Tonight (03:10) 6 Greenman (06:17) 7 Your Dictionary (03:14) 8 Fruit Nut (03:01) 9 I Can’t Own Her (05:26) 10 Harvest Festival (04:15) 11 The Last Balloon (06:40) |
| Apple Venus, Volume 1 : Allmusic album Review : Seven years is a long time between records, so it shouldnt come as a surprise that Apple Venus is a significant step forward from Nonsuch, but the sparse strings and circular arrangements of "River of Orchids" nevertheless come as a shock, especially since its slow build-up feels as ominous and intellectual as 20th century classical music. It provides the keynote for the album, setting the stage for an ambitious, unpredictable, and strangely beautiful record. Although there are similarities with the pastoral Skylarking or parts of Nonsuch, there is really no comparable record in XTCs canon, given its sustained mood, experimentalism, and glimpses of confession. Colin Moulding wrote the brightest tunes on the record, and while the bouncy "Frivolous Tonight" and "Fruit Nut" will be endearing to any longtime XTC fan, they dont fit the tone of Apple Venus, which feels like an Andy Partridge solo album -- not just a confessional, but a grand outpouring of ideas. Partridge insisted that Apple Venus be released in two parts -- guitarist Dave Gregory left partially because he believed the album would be stronger if it was consolidated to one record -- presumably because all his songs on Pt. 1 are of a piece, sharing similar lyrical and musical themes. Split between orchestral and acoustic pop, Apple Venus is alternately lush and melancholy, sometimes within one song. Some of Partridges darkest work is here, such as the vindictive "Your Dictionary," yet the album overall has a hopeful note -- the perfect aural encapsulation of their long, bitter struggle of the 90s. The strike was frustrating for the band and fans alike, but perhaps the extended layoff paid off in sharpening Partridges focus, since Apple Venus, Pt. 1 easily ranks as one of XTCs greatest works. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 32 Title: Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions Released: 1998-11-16 Tracks: 51 Duration: 3:14:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Speech (00:50) 2 Life Begins at the Hop (04:19) 3 Scarecrow People (04:13) 4 Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her (04:21) 5 Ten Feet Tall (02:53) 6 Garden of Earthly Delights (05:33) 7 Runaways (04:41) 8 When Youre Near Me I Have Difficulty (03:07) 9 Im Bugged (03:35) 10 Another Satellite (04:20) 11 Youre the Wish You Are I Had (03:24) 12 Crosswires (02:10) 13 Roads Girdle the Globe (05:04) 1 No Thugs in Our House (05:24) 2 One of the Millions (04:26) 3 Real by Reel (03:48) 4 The Meeting Place (03:08) 5 Meccanic Dancing (02:36) 6 Poor Skeleton Steps Out (03:27) 7 Into the Atom Age (02:27) 8 The Rhythm (02:55) 9 This World Over (04:32) 10 Snowman (04:42) 11 Dance Band (02:40) 12 Making Plans for Nigel (04:06) 13 Jason and the Argonauts (05:43) 1 Radios in Motion (03:21) 2 Crosswires (02:06) 3 Science Friction (03:34) 4 Statue of Liberty (02:58) 5 The Rhythm (02:55) 6 Ill Set Myself on Fire (03:27) 7 Newtown Animal in a Furnished Cage (01:55) 8 All Along the Watchtower (05:58) 9 Beatown (03:24) 10 This Is Pop (02:37) 11 Dance Band (02:49) 12 Neon Shuffle (04:32) 1 Life Begins at the Hop (03:55) 2 Burning With Optimisms Flame (04:29) 3 Love at First Sight (03:03) 4 Respectable Street (03:52) 5 No Language in Our Lungs (04:58) 6 This Is Pop (02:49) 7 Scissor Man (04:58) 8 Towers of London (05:13) 9 Battery Brides (07:20) 10 Living Through Another Cuba (03:29) 11 Generals and Majors (04:37) 12 Making Plans for Nigel (04:21) 13 Are You Receiving Me? (03:15) |
| Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions : Allmusic album Review : XTC finally shook themselves loose of Virgin Records in early 1998, freeing themselves to finally begin recording and releasing records. The first album out the door was not the long-anticipated sequel to Nonsuch, but Transistor Blast: The Best of the BBC Sessions, a four-disc set chronicling the majority of the groups BBC recordings, from White Music through Oranges and Lemons. There have been a handful of limited releases of this material, most notably on Drums and Wireless, but usually these tracks havent been seen anywhere outside of bootlegs -- and a significant number of cuts on the collection havent even appeared there. All of this makes Transistor Blast seem like an ideal release for collectors, and it is. However, its a little more than that, since the performances here are often exhilarating. Essentially, the earliest material -- and much of this dates from the pre-stage fright years, meaning White Music to English Settlement -- boasts identical arrangements to the recorded versions, but quite a few live cuts crackle with nervous energy which is undeniably exciting. Similarly, the acoustic arrangements of latter-day songs from Skylarking and Oranges and Lemons arent necessarily revelatory, but they do present familiar songs from a welcome, different angle. And thats whats neat about Transistor Blast -- nothing here is essential to understanding XTC, but it only enhances a dedicated fans appreciation of the group. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 32 Title: Homespun: The Apple Venus Volume One Home Demos Released: 1999-09-17 Tracks: 11 Duration: 48:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 River of Orchids (04:10) 2 I’d Like That (04:47) 3 Easter Theatre (04:52) 4 Knights In Shining Karma (03:38) 5 Frivolous Tonight (03:06) 6 Greenman (06:01) 7 Your Dictionary (03:14) 8 Fruit Nut (02:44) 9 I Can’t Own Her (05:06) 10 Harvest Festival (05:17) 11 The Last Balloon (05:17) |
 | Album: 26 of 32 Title: Apple Venus, Volume 2: Wasp Star Released: 2000-05-17 Tracks: 12 Duration: 50:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Playground (04:17) 2 Stupidly Happy (04:13) 3 In Another Life (03:35) 4 My Brown Guitar (03:51) 5 Boarded Up (03:23) 6 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (03:44) 7 We’re All Light (04:39) 8 Standing In for Joe (03:42) 9 Wounded Horse (04:11) 10 You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (04:18) 11 Church of Women (05:06) 12 The Wheel and the Maypole (05:55) |
 | Album: 27 of 32 Title: Homegrown Released: 2001-05-22 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:03:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Playground (04:25) 2 Stupidly Happy (03:45) 3 In Another Life (excerpt of original demo) (02:02) 4 In Another Life (jug band version) (03:44) 5 Some Lovely (03:57) 6 Boarded Up (02:56) 7 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (early other song cassette) (02:36) 8 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (Tamla demo excerpt) (00:39) 9 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (03:33) 10 We’re All Light (early cassette idea) (01:14) 11 We’re All Light (04:32) 12 Standing In for Joe (lounge version) (02:41) 13 Standing In for Joe (03:34) 14 Wounded Horse (04:22) 15 You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (03:46) 16 Lie for a Lie (cassette demo) (01:43) 17 Church of Women (04:36) 18 The Pot Won’t Hold Our Love (early cassette idea) (01:38) 19 Everything Decays (early cassette idea) (02:26) 20 The Wheel and the Maypole (05:33) |
| Homegrown : Allmusic album Review : It goes without saying that a collection of demos is only for the diehard, only for the cult, but XTC has the kind of cult that ravenously seeks this material out, craving every note the group has recorded. So, it makes perfect sense for XTC and TVT to release collections of demos of the two Apple Venus albums, since it not only makes them easier to find, they get to profit from it as well. Where Homespun, the companion volume to Apple Venus, revealed that the songs were essentially finished when the demos were recorded, thereby only sounding like a slightly less-elaborate version of the final product, Homegrown, the demo companion to Wasp Star, takes great lengths to show how the songs were written. Several songs are presented in "early cassette ideas," sometimes followed by a finished demo (the most fascinating of these are for "The Man Who Murdered Love," which went through two separate incarnations, including a bizarre Tamla/"Motown" version, before arriving at the finished product -- and that demo is looser, slightly different than the one on the finished album). Though there are some songs that are quite similar to those on Wasp Star (such as the opener, "Playground"), there are a lot of little things that are different, not just in the stated early and alternate versions, but in the final demos, that make this utterly fascinating for the devoted. And that fascination is only enhanced by Andy Partridges brilliant, self-deprecating, funny, revelatory liner notes that help make this already-worthwhile package essential for the collectors who would have bought this album in bootleg form. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 32 Title: Coat of Many Cupboards Released: 2002-03-25 Tracks: 60 Duration: 3:40:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Science Friction (CBS demo) (03:32) 2 Spinning Top (live) (03:00) 3 Traffic Light Rock (live) (02:06) 4 Radios in Motion (White Music version) (02:54) 5 Let’s Have Fun (White Music outtake) (01:19) 6 Fireball XL5 / Fireball Dub (White Music outtake) (03:24) 7 Heatwave MKII Deluxe (White Music outtake) (01:47) 8 This Is Pop? (single version) (02:42) 9 Are You Receiving Me? (03:23) 10 Things Fall to Bits (Go 2 outtake) (02:26) 11 Us Being Us (Go 2 outtake) (02:55) 12 Life Begins at the Hop (first rehearsal extract) (01:09) 13 Life Begins at the Hop (first recording, unused) (03:58) 14 Making Plans for Nigel (demo from Swindon Town Hall) (04:15) 15 Ten Feet Tall (03:16) 16 Sleepyheads (Drums and Wires outtake) (04:52) 1 Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) (live) (02:34) 2 Atom Medley: Into the Atom Age / Hang On to the Night / Neon Shuffle (06:52) 3 Life Begins at the Hop (single version) (02:57) 4 Real by Reel (unused single recording) (03:44) 5 When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty (unused single recording) (03:21) 6 Helicopter (unused single recording) (03:30) 7 Towers of London (rejected single recording) (06:07) 8 Generals and Majors (rehearsal tape) (05:02) 9 No Language in Our Lungs (Black Sea version) (04:51) 10 Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) (Black Sea version) (03:37) 11 Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) (live) (04:08) 12 Crowded Room (live) (04:03) 13 Senses Working Overtime (early work tape) (03:31) 14 Snowman (live) (05:06) 15 Ball and Chain (unused single recording) (04:21) 1 Punch and Judy (unused single recording) (02:35) 2 Fly on the Wall (English Settlement version) (03:17) 3 Yacht Dance (live) (04:31) 4 Jason and the Argonauts (English Settlement version) (05:59) 5 Love on a Farmboy’s Wages (home demo) (03:47) 6 Wonderland (home demo) (04:23) 7 Ladybird (Mummer version) (04:36) 8 All You Pretty Girls (home demo) (04:13) 9 Wake Up (home demo) (04:12) 10 The Everyday Story of Smalltown (Big Express version) (04:13) 11 Grass (home demo) (02:55) 12 Lets Make a Den (home demo) (02:25) 13 The Meeting Place (home demo) (03:51) 14 Dear God (band demo) (04:10) 1 Brainiac’s Daughter (Psonic Psunspot version) (04:03) 2 Vanishing Girl (Psonic Psunspot version) (02:44) 3 Terrorism (home demo) (03:20) 4 Find the Fox (home demo) (02:37) 5 Season Cycle (Skylarking version) (03:21) 6 The Troubles (home demo) (03:17) 7 Mayor of Simpleton (early work tape) (02:47) 8 King for a Day (home demo) (03:14) 9 Chalkhills and Children (Oranges & Lemons version) (05:06) 10 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (early home demo) (05:34) 11 Omnibus (Nonsuch version) (03:20) 12 The Disappointed (home demo) (03:20) 13 Bungalow (Nonsuch version) (02:49) 14 Didn’t Hurt a Bit (Nonsuch outtake) (03:54) 15 Books Are Burning (live) (04:48) |
 | Album: 29 of 32 Title: Waspstrumental Released: 2002-10-17 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Playground (04:17) 2 Stupidly Happy (04:13) 3 In Another Life (03:35) 4 My Brown Guitar (03:51) 5 Boarded Up (03:23) 6 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (03:48) 7 We’re All Light (04:43) 8 Standing In for Joe (03:42) 9 Wounded Horse (04:11) 10 You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (04:18) 11 Church of Women (05:01) 12 The Wheel and the Maypole (06:06) |
| Waspstrumental : Allmusic album Review : XTC are notorious for releasing a torrential amount of "for hardcore fans only" products (all of the Fuzzy Warbles volumes come to mind), but they may have outdone themselves with Waspstrumental, an instrumental version of 2000s Wasp Star (Apple Venus, Pt. 2). Long admired as immaculate craftsman in the studio, Wasp Star was resplendent with clever parts and hooks galore, all of which grow tedious without the groups similarly slaved over vocal takes. For hardcore fans only. | ||
 | Album: 30 of 32 Title: Instruvenus Released: 2002-10-17 Tracks: 11 Duration: 49:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 River of Orchids (05:52) 2 I’d Like That (03:50) 3 Easter Theatre (04:37) 4 Knights in Shining Karma (03:39) 5 Frivolous Tonight (03:10) 6 Greenman (06:17) 7 Your Dictionary (03:13) 8 Fruit Nut (02:55) 9 I Can’t Own Her (05:26) 10 Harvest Festival (04:03) 11 The Last Balloon (06:51) |
 | Album: 31 of 32 Title: Apple Box Released: 2006 Tracks: 54 Duration: 3:33:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 River of Orchids (05:53) 2 I’d Like That (03:50) 3 Easter Theatre (04:37) 4 Knights in Shining Karma (03:39) 5 Frivolous Tonight (03:10) 6 Greenman (06:17) 7 Your Dictionary (03:14) 8 Fruit Nut (03:01) 9 I Can’t Own Her (05:26) 10 Harvest Festival (04:15) 11 The Last Balloon (06:40) 1 Playground (04:17) 2 Stupidly Happy (04:13) 3 In Another Life (03:35) 4 My Brown Guitar (03:51) 5 Boarded Up (03:23) 6 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (03:44) 7 We’re All Light (04:39) 8 Standing In for Joe (03:42) 9 Wounded Horse (04:11) 10 You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (04:18) 11 Church of Women (05:06) 12 The Wheel and the Maypole (05:55) 1 River of Orchids (04:10) 2 I’d Like That (04:47) 3 Easter Theatre (04:52) 4 Knights In Shining Karma (03:38) 5 Frivolous Tonight (03:06) 6 Greenman (06:01) 7 Your Dictionary (03:14) 8 Fruit Nut (02:44) 9 I Can’t Own Her (05:06) 10 Harvest Festival (05:17) 11 The Last Balloon (05:17) 1 Playground (04:25) 2 Stupidly Happy (03:45) 3 In Another Life (excerpt of original demo) (02:02) 4 In Another Life (jug band version) (03:44) 5 Some Lovely (03:57) 6 Boarded Up (02:56) 7 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (early other song cassette) (02:36) 8 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (Tamla demo excerpt) (00:39) 9 I’m the Man Who Murdered Love (03:33) 10 We’re All Light (early cassette idea) (01:14) 11 We’re All Light (04:32) 12 Standing In for Joe (lounge version) (02:41) 13 Standing In for Joe (03:34) 14 Wounded Horse (04:22) 15 You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful (03:46) 16 Lie for a Lie (cassette demo) (01:43) 17 Church of Women (04:36) 18 The Pot Won’t Hold Our Love (early cassette idea) (01:38) 19 Everything Decays (early cassette idea) (02:26) 20 The Wheel and the Maypole (05:33) |
| Apple Box : Allmusic album Review : After a long recording hiatus, Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding gave XTC fans something to shout about when they unveiled Apple Venus in 1999. Certainly one of their most ambitious and sweeping projects to date, Apple Venus painstakingly orchestrated tunes left no doubt that XTC had been working overtime behind those closed doors, and it served to reestablish the band as a prime pop repository. Where Venus was all atmosphere and strings, its follow-up, Wasp Star, was all about upfront guitar -- jangly, loopy, crunchy, and fun. The two albums complemented each other (by design) and fit so well together (musically and thematically) that one wonders what it would have been like if the two records had been packaged together (as they were originally intended) in a two-CD set. Far less exciting were the collections of demos for the two records. The "strike while the iron is hot" award was firmly in Andy Partridges hand when the Homespun and Homegrown demo albums hit the shelves in late 1999 and early 2000 (respectively) -- too bad that neither of these releases offered anything to write home about. Where XTC were concerned, the journey from demo to finished studio take was a very short one and Homespun and Homegrown sounded too little different from their polished siblings to warrant any critical dissection. For fans who were poised for more forthcoming astonishment, these throwaway releases were a letdown. For all the good and bad that comprised the Apple saga, its almost a relief that Andy Partridges own Idea Records has amassed the whole thing into an exhaustive, redundant (but complete) chunk of work. Apple Box collects all four of the Apple-related releases and packages them together in a lavish box, along with a lengthy booklet. Nothing earth-shattering here, save for one tiny (but "oh so enticing") bonus. Included in the box is a card that allows the owner to download an additional EP (called Apple Bite), which just so happens to include two new XTC songs (thats right, Colin and Andy...together), "Spiral" and "Say It," making this redundant collection less redundant by two songs -- shrewd Andy, very shrewd indeed. | ||
 | Album: 32 of 32 Title: The Complete and Utter Dukes Released: 2009 Tracks: 48 Duration: 2:46:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 25 O’Clock (05:01) 2 Bike Ride to the Moon (02:24) 3 My Love Explodes (03:54) 4 What in the World??… (05:01) 5 Your Gold Dress (04:38) 6 The Mole From the Ministry (05:50) 7 [locked groove] (00:01) 1 Vanishing Girl (02:30) 2 Have You Seen Jackie? (03:45) 3 Little Lighthouse (04:36) 4 You’re a Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel) (03:38) 5 Collideascope (03:23) 6 You’re My Drug (03:18) 7 Shiny Cage (03:17) 8 Brainiac’s Daughter (03:59) 9 The Affiliated (02:17) 10 Pale and Precious (05:05) 1 25 O’Clock (05:02) 2 Bike Ride to the Moon (02:22) 3 My Love Explodes (03:49) 4 What in the World??… (05:00) 5 Your Gold Dress (04:41) 6 The Mole From the Ministry (05:50) 7 25 O’Clock (demo) (02:26) 8 Bike Ride to the Moon (demo) (01:30) 9 My Love Explodes (demo) (01:53) 10 What in the World??… (demo) (03:40) 11 Nicely Nicely Jane (demo) (01:18) 12 Susan Revolving (demo) (01:24) 13 Black Jewelled Serpent of Sound (Radio Caroline edit) (02:17) 14 Open a Can of Human Beans (04:44) 15 Tin Toy Clockwork Train (03:16) 1 Vanishing Girl (03:00) 2 Have You Seen Jackie? (03:21) 3 Little Lighthouse (04:36) 4 You’re a Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel) (03:38) 5 Collideascope (03:23) 6 You’re My Drug (03:18) 7 Shiny Cage (03:17) 8 Brainiac’s Daughter (03:59) 9 The Affiliated (02:31) 10 Pale and Precious (04:55) 11 No One at Home (Vanishing Girl demo) (02:52) 12 Little Lighthouse (demo) (05:19) 13 Collideascope (demo) (03:06) 14 Shiny Cage (demo) (03:13) 15 Brainiacs Daughter (demo) (01:50) 16 The Affiliated (demo) (02:29) |