yeah I'm not particularly fond of any of those (Obscene Procession has its virtues)
― Οὖτις, Wednesday, 1 October 2014 17:25 (nine years ago) link
Also "The End", "The End Of The Pier" and "My Land Is Burning".
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 2 October 2014 01:19 (nine years ago) link
And the b-sides like "Chain Of Command", holy crap. Or "Extrovert". Or "Red Brick Dreams". Or or or...
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 2 October 2014 01:20 (nine years ago) link
main reason I wanted to do this poll is that opinions about their catalog are all over the map. Unlike a lot of other artist-polls I expect this to be pretty unpredictable.― Οὖτις
― Οὖτις
I was really active on the XTC forum while it lasted and I was always amazed by the diversity of the forumites. People who came from the punk/indie underground world, people who came from the 10CC/Steely Dan muso axis, pop fans, rock fans... even people who weren't much into music but were really into XTC.
― hardcore dilettante, Thursday, 2 October 2014 01:49 (nine years ago) link
Senses might make my ballot, but it won't be near the top.
― it's taco science, but it works like taco magic (WilliamC), Thursday, 2 October 2014 02:12 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, I never understood the adoration of "Senses", it's not even in top songs on English Settlement. It's so much more restrained.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 2 October 2014 02:25 (nine years ago) link
twothreefourfive
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, September 29, 2014
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 2 October 2014 02:26 (nine years ago) link
I don't really like 'Senses' very much at all.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 2 October 2014 11:04 (nine years ago) link
I'd like to stan for 'Wrapped In Grey' though. Beautiful song that just manages to rescue itself from mawkish sentiment via sublime execution.
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 2 October 2014 11:05 (nine years ago) link
Think I'll end up with a 20 or 25 song ballot - no 'Senses' for meProbably end up repping for the goofy numbers
― nxd, Thursday, 2 October 2014 13:11 (nine years ago) link
per Senses non-voters, I rest my case re: total lack of consensus
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 15:15 (nine years ago) link
Jason is the Big Pop moment for me on English Settlement
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 2 October 2014 15:18 (nine years ago) link
I like Senses, but I can't imagine Nigel not being at least top 2.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 2 October 2014 15:28 (nine years ago) link
I've always been meh on nigel
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 2 October 2014 15:35 (nine years ago) link
Hey I voted!
― Shepard Toney Album (dog latin), Thursday, 2 October 2014 15:40 (nine years ago) link
5 ballots in already, would seem to indicate this is gonna be a p high turnout
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 15:48 (nine years ago) link
Just sent you number 6; this was the hardest artist poll to sort by far. 3 of my top 5 songs sound like completely different bands and it's so hard to compare - I've never before thought about which one I liked best. I could have spent all day shifting rankings around but I'm pretty happy with what I landed on.
― Vinnie, Thursday, 2 October 2014 18:31 (nine years ago) link
if anyone votes for "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" you'll make an enemy of me.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:12 (nine years ago) link
aaaaany kind of love is alllriiiight
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:19 (nine years ago) link
dw soto its like the worst track on nonsuch
there's competition
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:23 (nine years ago) link
u dissing nonsuch!! o lord
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:25 (nine years ago) link
I literally don't think I've heard PP in about a decade, I always just skip straight to My Bird Performs. I remember it felt like it had about 12 verses
― Angel Brain (soref), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:25 (nine years ago) link
'omnibus' has more ham on its fist than mike tyson but i can't think of any other disasters
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:26 (nine years ago) link
there are things I like about it but it's def not their best. terrible video too
worst on Nonsuch is an unpleasant battle. The hamfisted bookends are both contenders.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:26 (nine years ago) link
booksareburningepicguitarsolo.wav, also gasface
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:27 (nine years ago) link
it's the 90's' answer to hotel california
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:28 (nine years ago) link
but there was no question asked
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:29 (nine years ago) link
I like "Dear Madam Barnum"
yh apart from PP and omnibus it's a gr8 album & I will vote for loads of its trax
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:32 (nine years ago) link
I do wonder if other people have a de facto 15 track Nonsuch that begins with MBP and ends with Bungalow
― Angel Brain (soref), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:34 (nine years ago) link
did gangsta andy partridge really just give me the gasface
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:34 (nine years ago) link
my version of Nonsuch is 11 tracks - sorry Omnnibus, That Wave, Books are Burning, Bungalow and whatever else I've forgotten and didn't like
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:35 (nine years ago) link
that was pato haha
the one I get into big trouble with is The Smartest Monkeys aka Colin's Best Song *fucking flees*
you hate That Wave????!
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:36 (nine years ago) link
*continues fleeing*
yeah I hate the vocal effect on That Wave, the wandering melody, the ugly chords, pretty much everything about it
I do like the Fuzzy Warbles outtake of Andy doing funny voices to it tho
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:38 (nine years ago) link
forgot "The Art Song (Something Good With Your Life)" from Fuzzy Warbles in my recs list upthread. lyric is a bit over the top but good tune overall imo.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:43 (nine years ago) link
Before buying Nonsuch I knew XTC as the guys who recorded "King For a Day," "Dear God," and "Making Plans for Nigel." It horrified me: "Smartest Monkey," "War Dance," "Then She Appeared," "Holly Up on Poppy," these not particularly winning attempts at Beatles and Rundgren-esque pop.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:47 (nine years ago) link
Ugh war dance and smartest monkeys...
I like then she appeared tho
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:57 (nine years ago) link
yea Smartest Monkeys fucking SUCKS
― MaresNest, Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:13 (nine years ago) link
one poll to divide them
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:14 (nine years ago) link
Only kidding, but I don't think it's worthy of that epic breakdown that you wrote LJ :)
― MaresNest, Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:17 (nine years ago) link
haha oh god there turned out to be like 16 reasons why it was a great song, none of which anyone else agreed with :D
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:18 (nine years ago) link
Well, not all 16 at least
― MaresNest, Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:21 (nine years ago) link
think i lost everyone at SIREN
― Ƹ༑Ʒ (imago), Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:22 (nine years ago) link
Moulding's writing is my biggest problem with Nonsuch - My Bird Performs is fine, but his other three songs are sub-par. I like the solo on Smartest Monkeys though; that partly redeems it for me.
― funk79, Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:42 (nine years ago) link
first 40-entry ballot received do I hear 50, 50...?
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 October 2014 20:46 (nine years ago) link
What would win a worst-of poll? Fruit Nut?
― cc: Peniston (Paul in Santa Cruz), Thursday, 2 October 2014 21:03 (nine years ago) link
NO
― Angel Brain (soref), Thursday, 2 October 2014 21:04 (nine years ago) link
Fruit Nut is great