XTC
Moderators: tom_cas1, Caitlin, MrMagpie
XTC
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
- Posts: 5588
- Joined: 24 Jan 2015, 17:34
- Location: Gorgeous Wiltshire
Re: XTC
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.)
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

(Obligatory reminder that XTC are not the only good thing to come from Swindon, for there is also Meat Beat Manifesto.)
- Mallard No. 22
- Posts: 2526
- Joined: 01 Oct 2014, 07:46
- Location: North East UK
Re: XTC
Liked their singles at the time. They had their biggest success with 'Senses Working Overtime', then faded from the scene. 

"Everybody's Doing It...So Do It Too...."
- AdvertBreak
- Posts: 5588
- Joined: 24 Jan 2015, 17:34
- Location: Gorgeous Wiltshire
Re: XTC
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
- Posts: 2526
- Joined: 01 Oct 2014, 07:46
- Location: North East UK
Re: XTC
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.
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.
"Everybody's Doing It...So Do It Too...."
Re: XTC
One of my favorite bands of all time, hands down.
The Rock and Roll Chemist: http://www.rnrchemist.blogspot.com
Twitter: @rocknrollchem http://www.twitter.com/rocknrollchem
- AdvertBreak
- Posts: 5588
- Joined: 24 Jan 2015, 17:34
- Location: Gorgeous Wiltshire
Re: XTC
I wouldn't call them jingly-jangly as such, I mean they were a very eclectic band, but I get what you're saying.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.
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.
-
- Posts: 1373
- Joined: 23 Feb 2015, 10:27
Re: XTC
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.
- AdvertBreak
- Posts: 5588
- Joined: 24 Jan 2015, 17:34
- Location: Gorgeous Wiltshire
Re: XTC
Well I actually kinda prefer Mummer to Murmer 

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



I put me trousers on, have a cup of tea, and think about leaving the house...
my gig videos https://vimeo.com/user19376405
my gig videos https://vimeo.com/user19376405
- AdvertBreak
- Posts: 5588
- Joined: 24 Jan 2015, 17:34
- Location: Gorgeous Wiltshire
Re: XTC
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
- Posts: 2526
- Joined: 01 Oct 2014, 07:46
- Location: North East UK
Re: XTC
AdvertBreak wrote:....they were a very eclectic band....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.
Lt Pinkerton wrote:I've always felt like XTC were the strongest influence on Blur during their britpop era.
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.rich wrote:and not just an 80s band - I saw them in 78...![]()
"Everybody's Doing It...So Do It Too...."
Re: XTC
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?
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?
The Rock and Roll Chemist: http://www.rnrchemist.blogspot.com
Twitter: @rocknrollchem http://www.twitter.com/rocknrollchem