XTCACOTD or Getting Off On Ecstasy

Posted by Fretless (A) on September 12, 2007 at 17:57:51

XTC, that is. Despite a nice little accumulation of their LPs, I'm a relative newcomer to the band. I bought a minty UK copy of "Wasp Star" a couple of years back based on the rantings of Art Dudley in Listener and got myself hooked on their excellent songwriting and musicianship. I've subsequently snatched up every clean UK title I find at Amoeba (see all the pretty yellow price tags?) and I've discovered what seems to be a consistent pattern in my appreciation of their music:

The older it is, the less I like it (somewhere around '85 seems to be my cutoff point)

and, within that constraint:

I like most everything by Andy Partridge, while Colin Moulding's songwriting and solo vocals do nothing for me ("Standing in for Joe;" what the hell is that?), though fortunately for me, the latter are comparatively scarce.

The two bottom rows are more or less my favs, while the stuff on top I can pretty much take or leave, though I haven't given all of the older albums a second listen yet.

What happened to turn the band around? I know that at some point Partridge lost his nerve and quit performing live; was that part of it? The early MTV-flavored New Wave 4/4 pounding and Talking Heads style frenetic vocal work really gets on my nerves, whereas I love their lush, complex, introspective, and occasionally dissonant and challenging songs like "Knights in Shining Karma," "Your Dictionary," "You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful," "Greenman," "River of Orchids," etc.

How do other XTC fans feel about the music? Given my preferences, can anyone make some recommendations?

BTW; oranges, lemons, apples...what's with all the fruit anyway?

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Topic - XTCACOTD or Getting Off On Ecstasy - Fretless 17:57:51 09/12/07 (20)

I'm late to this one... - RickMac 16:29:27 09/15/07 (1)

RE: I'm late to this one... - Fretless 17:38:37 09/15/07 (0)

Thanks to all youz guys for the suggestions - Fretless 19:53:32 09/13/07 (2)

Good to see you're still aboard the VA... - powermatic 19:57:00 09/13/07 (1)

Thanks, PM - Fretless 22:44:47 09/13/07 (0)

I too prefer the "mature" XTC - johntoste 15:56:37 09/13/07 (1)

"And move Mummer into heavier rotaion. " - Fretless 17:41:21 09/15/07 (0)

Very nice! - soundnut 06:42:11 09/13/07 (0)

RE: XTCACOTD or Getting Off On Ecstasy - old junk 05:59:47 09/13/07 (1)

RE: XTCACOTD or Getting Off On Ecstasy - Fretless 16:40:48 09/13/07 (0)

Some of the most intelligent pop music around. By the way you're missing Nonesuch, maybe their best. - hukkfinn 05:21:18 09/13/07 (1)

Recently rediscovered Nonesuch... - MaxwellP 07:07:39 09/13/07 (0)

RE: XTC - Brian_T 02:02:51 09/13/07 (2)

RE: XTC - Fretless 17:29:45 09/13/07 (0)

RE: XTC - oldjunk 04:28:22 09/13/07 (0)

Nice collection... - newdreams 18:42:53 09/12/07 (4)

RE: Nice collection... - welly 20:03:04 09/12/07 (0)

RE: Nice collection... - Fretless 19:35:13 09/12/07 (2)

Here's more on the Dukes - newdreams 19:56:38 09/12/07 (1)

RE: Here's more on the Dukes - Fretless 19:40:31 09/13/07 (0)

XTCACOTD or Getting Off On Ecstasy

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