Also it's kinda ace seeing TC play stuff like Peter Pumpkinhead
― PaulTMA, Monday, 11 April 2022 01:34 (two years ago) link
I would definitely go see them if I could. Just seems like these songs deserve to be played live by somebody, TC being involved is a bonus. I imagine he'd do a great "Peter Pumpkinhead" if he still plays like he used to
― Vinnie, Monday, 11 April 2022 05:05 (two years ago) link
I did go and see the Magic Band - though I got a free ticket - and they only had Drumbo... and he was singing (mostly).
― Rick O'Shea (Tom D.), Monday, 11 April 2022 06:32 (two years ago) link
Everyone on the band (incl. the session pros, obviously) is ridiculously talented. XTC is one of those bands that often gets slotted with plenty of prog bands despite its Beatles pop leanings, which is to say in its own way it has a surprising amount in common with '80s and '90s King Crimson (and not just longtime KC drummer Pat Mastelotto, who plays on Oranges and Lemons).
I sometimes think of Oranges & Lemons as Pat Mastelotto's first King Crimson album.
― Moniker? I barely know 'er! (SlimAndSlam), Friday, 24 February 2023 11:38 (one year ago) link
I passed on seeing Ex-TC last fall, but now I'm looking at that setlist and kinda kicking myself. My deciding factor was not wanting to hear Andy songs yelped by someone other than Andy.
But I'm going to see Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew perform Remin in Light tonight, so obviously I have no hard fast rules on this stuff.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Friday, 24 February 2023 13:54 (one year ago) link
I saw Ex-TC's final show (though sadly had to miss the end due to trains) and it was incredible. They did over half of Mummer. The drums on Beating of Hearts sounded startingly like the record.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 24 February 2023 15:36 (one year ago) link
new partridge project called the 3 clubmen came out with a new song called "aviatrix." weird, but i'm digging it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ILqSjlpe7M
― ludicrously capacious bag (voodoo chili), Thursday, 4 May 2023 21:04 (one year ago) link
Fantastic, hardly "weird". Bring on more!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 4 May 2023 22:16 (one year ago) link
the laurie anderson-esque multi-tracked, affected vocals are def not what i was expecting. agreed that it's great tho. fun to hear partridge-esque melodic tics come from other voices.
― ludicrously capacious bag (voodoo chili), Thursday, 4 May 2023 22:28 (one year ago) link
One of the guys is from Lighterthief, a band that put out a few EPs a decade ago or so. All good.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 5 May 2023 01:21 (one year ago) link
Reminds me of Dirty Projectors.
― The land of dreams and endless remorse (hardcore dilettante), Friday, 5 May 2023 04:05 (one year ago) link
^ yep very much. Not sure how much I actually like this, but it's the most interesting AP has sounded in ages
― Vinnie, Friday, 5 May 2023 04:31 (one year ago) link
yeah the various EPs he's put out have been fine, this is a lot more interesting. hope they do more than just the 4 song EP
― frogbs, Friday, 5 May 2023 13:40 (one year ago) link
Sold. Thanks for the notice!
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Friday, 5 May 2023 23:42 (one year ago) link
Just want to say while we're reviving how much I love 'Complicated Game' and how much I wish Nirvana or Alice In Chains would have covered it
― Do I look like I know what a jpeg is? (dog latin), Sunday, 7 May 2023 01:27 (one year ago) link
Any Twin Citians go to the Senses Working Overtime XTC tribute at the Turf last night? 8th annual, but it was the first one I’ve managed to attend. Splendid evening.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 7 May 2023 02:00 (one year ago) link
no! I had no idea it was going on but I wish I did
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 7 May 2023 02:42 (one year ago) link
Decided to listen to eight discs of Fuzzy Warbles, pretty much the last XTC I hadn't heard. Fun to hear all these weird sketches and instrumentals and detours that Andy never went further down, though I doubt I'll listen to it through again. I boiled down the "new" tracks I liked to a POX, which admittedly leans towards the more produced material on the albums. Think this almost stands up with Wasp Star though:
Dame FortuneWonder AnnualLightheadedGoodbye HumanosaurusWorkEnd of the PierSonic BoomI'm UnbecomeThrough Electric GardensI Gave My Suitcase Away
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 7 June 2023 23:08 (eleven months ago) link
Helpful post - thanks. When I’ve cafeteria picked from these releases, I’ve left feeling a little cold. Good to have a POX
― BlackIronPrison, Thursday, 8 June 2023 02:55 (eleven months ago) link
should really relisten to these, I remember thinking there was at least 2 decent LPs worth of material here but yea not being finished prevents it from being as strong as the other stuff.
― frogbs, Thursday, 8 June 2023 03:00 (eleven months ago) link
There's several tracks like "Young Cleopatra" that I think would have really shone in a more finished state
― Vinnie, Thursday, 8 June 2023 03:23 (eleven months ago) link
as much as I appreciate the Coat of Many Cupboards boxset I do think it reveals how much of the band's genius lies in the production and arrangements after the song has been written. maybe that's why the Dukes stuff is so good - it revels in all those little details
― frogbs, Thursday, 8 June 2023 03:51 (eleven months ago) link
folks I fucked something up
I got on a new poker site and entered "Bunguloj" as my permanent screen name. its a reference to a Tony Zaret video. but now every time I see it, I think of "Bungulow" by XTC. and I fucking hate that song! it's my least favorite track they ever did! this is kind of ruining my life!
― frogbs, Friday, 22 September 2023 02:38 (seven months ago) link
I feel your pain, though I'd rank "Stupidly Happy" as the worst thing they ever did.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 22 September 2023 02:40 (seven months ago) link
My Weapon
Bungalow rules
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 22 September 2023 02:55 (seven months ago) link
I wanted to describe the why Stupidly Happy is one type of annoying Paul McCartney novelty song and Bungulow is a different type of annoying Paul McCartney novelty song but I just ain't up for it right now. I guess the former doesn't just loop in your head whenever something reminds you of it. I don't even consider those Barry Andrews songs to be XTC really
― frogbs, Friday, 22 September 2023 03:20 (seven months ago) link
Barry's tunes are like the songs from the first Sparks album that were written by the other dudes. the ones that are really bad and unlike anything else they ever did.
― frogbs, Friday, 22 September 2023 03:22 (seven months ago) link
worst not-Barry song imo is likely Pink Thing. another easy target really.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 22 September 2023 03:27 (seven months ago) link
I'm surprised no one revived the thread to respond to Breihan's meh review of "Mayor of Simpleton."
https://www.stereogum.com/2235811/the-alternative-number-ones-xtcs-mayor-of-simpleton/columns/the-alternative-number-ones/
― hat trick of trashiness (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 22 September 2023 12:33 (seven months ago) link
Yikes. Bungalow I'd rate as Colin's best song
― PaulTMA, Friday, 22 September 2023 12:44 (seven months ago) link
It was essentially his solo showcase at the TC&I show and it was beauuutiful.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 22 September 2023 12:46 (seven months ago) link
I hate "My Weapon" and "Super Tuff" but think "Biology 2" and "Underground" are very good, and far from outliers in the Sparks universe.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 22 September 2023 14:57 (seven months ago) link
well "Biology 2" definitely is! had no idea "Underground" was the other one, I thought "Saccharin and the War" was the other Mankey tune! "Underground" is one of my favorte early Sparks tunes actually!
― frogbs, Friday, 22 September 2023 15:01 (seven months ago) link
"Saccharin and the War" and "Roger" are two of the very few Russell-only songs (both leftovers from the very early days of the band); I am extremely fond of them and think they have more in common with "Biology 2" than they do with the Ron songs. By the next album, the Zappaesque weirdness element has subsided and the songwriting is just slightly more homogeneous from all participants.I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of XTC but I suspect the worst Andy song is early-era and the worst Colin song is late-era.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 22 September 2023 16:12 (seven months ago) link
Partridge in turgid stating the bleeding obvious finger-pointing mode is my least favourite, and that came later.
― I Left My Harp In Sam Frank's Disco (Tom D.), Friday, 22 September 2023 16:23 (seven months ago) link
I really like, and in most cases love, basically every 90s XTC song except Crocodile
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 22 September 2023 16:25 (seven months ago) link
xps "Saccharin and the War" fits in pretty well with the Ron tunes, I think. "Roger" is more similar to "Biology 2," yeah, but it doesn't stick out the way the latter song does. I probably wouldn't mind someone other Russell singing lead if it weren't for the sped-up vocal effect.
On the XTC side, I'm in the pro-"Bungalow" camp. Apart from the organ, it could almost be a song from The Divine Comedy's Promenade, which I love. But I like the organ sound too.
― Vaguely Threatening CAPTCHAs, Friday, 22 September 2023 17:46 (seven months ago) link
Dunno why anyone would fuss about "Bungalow" when you have the total misfire "War Dance" on the same album. Repetitive, low-energy, music doesn't conjure war or dancing in the slightest
― Vinnie, Saturday, 23 September 2023 08:27 (seven months ago) link
And that fucking oboe!
Both among Colin's very worst songs.
― Hideous Lump, Saturday, 23 September 2023 09:55 (seven months ago) link
Andy dislikes War Dance. The oboe is a synth clarinet which he says sounds like a 'singing penis'.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:41 (seven months ago) link
Yes, it's rubbish.
― I Left My Harp In Sam Frank's Disco (Tom D.), Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:45 (seven months ago) link
Terrible song.
― hat trick of trashiness (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:47 (seven months ago) link
I enjoy it, or the music anyway, but it is sandwiched between two of the best songs they ever ever did
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Saturday, 23 September 2023 12:53 (seven months ago) link
Thought that this thread revival might be about Steven Wilson's 5.1 surround remix + Dolby Atmos mix of The Big Express which is being released on 29 September.
Preview podcast: https://whatdoyoucallthatnoise.transistor.fm/episodes/xtcs-the-big-express-in-5-1-and-dolby-atmos
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Saturday, 23 September 2023 19:55 (seven months ago) link
Haven't heard the new mix yet but I predicted that the segues would be removed, as with the others, and sadly it appears true.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Friday, 29 September 2023 23:29 (seven months ago) link
I kinda like War Dance, it's goofy
― ...eh you get the gist of it (dog latin), Saturday, 30 September 2023 01:32 (seven months ago) link
I like XTC, they're goofy
― ...eh you get the gist of it (dog latin), Saturday, 30 September 2023 01:34 (seven months ago) link
XTC talk about their legacy in Swindon and possible reunion
https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23994929.xtc-talk-legacy-swindon-possible-reunion/
― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Wednesday, 27 December 2023 16:27 (four months ago) link
Man you had me excited there for a minute (SPOILER: reunion not happening)
― Vinnie, Wednesday, 27 December 2023 17:49 (four months ago) link
yeah kind of a lame headline, nothing's changed since the split. I do respect Andy's reasoning a lot, I mean I do think there are plenty of bands from the 70's who still sound great today, and some of them are even recording good albums still, but I don't think XTC would be one of those bands. I wish he would do more solo material though, some of those tracks from the "My Failed Songwriting Career" EPs were quite good, but I feel like he needs to make a full album if he wants people to pay attention. and it's possible that he really doesn't, since Andy is the sort of guy who seems to think about his own legacy a lot.
― frogbs, Wednesday, 27 December 2023 18:07 (four months ago) link