XTC

Moritz · Post by **Moritz** » 31 Mar 2016, 21:05

I'm not sure if this was treated before. But in my opinion, XTC is one of the best british groups in the 80s. They had success, but it seeme that they are a bit forgotten. In my opinion, "Black Sea" and "English Settlement" are they best albums. It's a pity that they disbanded and just realese some reissues.

AdvertBreak · Post by **AdvertBreak** » 31 Mar 2016, 22:45

One of the greatest bands of all time of course. What would life be without XTC? For me anyway.

Apple Venus Volume 1 is my favourite album of theirs. Rivers of Orchid is of course one of the best opening tracks ever. (YouTube comment reading "I teach this song to Year 12 students as a stunning example of layering/texture/polyphonic writing. In the coda there is at least 7 different melodic ideas simultaneously. It would make Bach proud,") yeah, that's sure one thing, but at the same time those 7 ideas are far from overwhelming when put together, and they blend perfectly, the whole thing is perfect, and basically its just perfect. :p But rather than describe all the tracks, hey hey, Greenman and Your Dictionary are close favourites too.

I always used to prefer the similarly perfect Drums and Wires, but its a close second. English Settlement is third (I printed out an enlarged album cover it, cut out Uffington White Horse, stuck what was left on my garden wall and spraypainted in the whole, so I have the Uffington White Horse on my wall

And that was my introduction to XTC, 11 years ago.)

(Obligatory reminder that XTC are not the only good thing to come from Swindon, for there is also Meat Beat Manifesto.)

Mallard No. 22 · Post by **Mallard No. 22** » 09 Apr 2016, 06:50

Liked their singles at the time. They had their biggest success with 'Senses Working Overtime', then faded from the scene.

AdvertBreak · Post by **AdvertBreak** » 10 Apr 2016, 00:12

But they were at their most prolific up until the end of the 80s. They released an album in every year of the 1980s except 1981 and 1988. This includes the Dukes of Statosphere albums. After 1992's Nonsuch there was a 7-year break leading up to their surprise masterpiece.

Mallard No. 22 · Post by **Mallard No. 22** » 15 Apr 2016, 07:00

Their commercial success dried up after 1982. I don't remember much airplay interest in them after that. Which to my mind was a shame.

Like Julian Cope, they made great songs but struggled to make an impression on the Top 40. Probably the jingly-jangly guitar pop kept them firmly in a niche as that decade moved towards drum machines, big hair and even bigger venues.

Both of these artists had a 'Britpop' style in the wrong decade.

MrMagpie · Post by **MrMagpie** » 15 Apr 2016, 17:29

One of my favorite bands of all time, hands down.

AdvertBreak · Post by **AdvertBreak** » 17 Apr 2016, 03:44

Mallard No. 22 wrote:Their commercial success dried up after 1982. I don't remember much airplay interest in them after that. Which to my mind was a shame.

Like Julian Cope, they made great songs but struggled to make an impression on the Top 40. Probably the jingly-jangly guitar pop kept them firmly in a niche as that decade moved towards drum machines, big hair and even bigger venues.

Both of these artists had a 'Britpop' style in the wrong decade.

I wouldn't call them jingly-jangly as such, I mean they were a very eclectic band, but I get what you're saying.

Fortunately, this meant no decline in quality. Alongside English Settlement, 1986's Skylarking is usually considered their best album. In fact 1978's Go 2, and at a push 2000's Wasp Star, are their only albums that isn't considered outright classics. Consistent as hell, XTC.

Lt Pinkerton · Post by **Lt Pinkerton** » 17 Apr 2016, 13:13

I've always felt like XTC were the strongest influence on Blur during their britpop era. I could totally see them covering songs like Ten Feet Tall or Love at First Sight.

Moritz · Post by **Moritz** » 18 Apr 2016, 17:38

Yeah, they had great melodies and also good, straight guitar lines (exept on "Murmur"). They made a real Output on Britpop, but today, they are realy forgotten.

AdvertBreak · Post by **AdvertBreak** » 19 Apr 2016, 04:17

Well I actually kinda prefer Mummer to Murmer

rich · Post by **rich** » 19 Apr 2016, 19:00

and not just an 80s band - I saw them in 78...

Moritz · Post by **Moritz** » 19 Apr 2016, 19:09

Sorry for my typing error

I think I was a bit worried cause of the R.E.M album. Well, they are a 70s and 80s band, but in my opinion, they done they best stuff in the 80s.

AdvertBreak · Post by **AdvertBreak** » 19 Apr 2016, 20:17

I find it somewhat funny that their peak for me was 1999. Old Blur and SFA peaked that year too for me. I guess that had seven years to make Apple Venus, except they didn't, they spent one or two years.

Mallard No. 22 · Post by **Mallard No. 22** » 21 Apr 2016, 05:37

AdvertBreak wrote:
Mallard No. 22 wrote:Like Julian Cope, they made great songs but struggled to make an impression on the Top 40.
Both of these artists had a 'Britpop' style in the wrong decade.
....they were a very eclectic band....

Lt Pinkerton wrote:I've always felt like XTC were the strongest influence on Blur during their britpop era.

rich wrote:and not just an 80s band - I saw them in 78...

Yes, I think of them as a New Wave-era band rather than '70s' or '80s'. Their songs were refined by the standards of this genre. As such, a precursor to Blur.

MrMagpie · Post by **MrMagpie** » 25 Apr 2016, 15:51

Posted this in my book review thread but since it's pertinent to XTC...

Newest review: Complicated Game: Inside the Songs of XTC --> http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2016/04/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... nside.html

Great book! Andy is interviewed about 30 of XTC's songs and goes in depth into the writing process, his inspirations and methods, and how they were recorded and realized in the studio. I only wish the book were longer.

Anyone here read it? What did you think?

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