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at a glance...
Hometown: Swindon, England
Formed: 1976
Members:
Andy Partridge -songwriting, vocals, guitar
Colin Moulding -songwriting, bass, vocals
Chuck Sabo -drums
Prairie Prince -drums
Holly Partridge -backing vocals
Nick Davis -production
Bands in the family :
The Dukes of Stratosphear, Thomas Dolby, Blur, The Tubes, Todd Rundgren, The League of Gentlemen, Shreikback, Martin Newell, Mark Owen, The Colonel, Aimee Mann
Notes:
Originally a punky four-piece from Swindon (the most unfashionable place in England) masterminded by Andy Partridge, gained moderate success with their first two albums, then hit bigger with their poppier next three albums. They earned a top five hit in the U.K. with "Senses Working Overtime," and were just about to dominate the world when Partridge came down with massive stage fright. Shortly thereafter, they retired forever from touring, lost their drummer, and continued on as three-piece. Virgin Records freaked out about the band's studio-bound status, especially when their next two albums didn't do so well. 1986's Skylarking almost broke through over here due to "Dear God," a near hit and oh so controversial. Their next two albums were bigger and more orchestral, but due to disappointing sales, unsympathetic Virgin Records reps sat on their newer demos forcing the band to quit for five years until finally getting released from contract. Dave hated his decreased role and quit, leaving Andy and Colin as the core of XTC. XTC is massively influential and truly important -- our children will wonder why they weren't "GODS."
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XTC
Wasp Star
(Apple Venus Volume 2)
TVT, Released 2000
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Perched in front of his computer, Cibula takes a deep breath. He is faced with the biggest conundrum of his short career as a music critic: can he be truly objective about the new album by XTC, one of his favorite bands? Or will he succumb to blatant boosterism? O, how he wrings his hands! Ah, how he gnashes his teeth! His fear-crazed and bloodshot eyes dart back and forth, searching for something that sounds neutral, or even - gasp! - negative...
At first, Cibula thought he could say that "Playground" wasn't an inspired opener, but then he listened to it a little harder and now thinks it's just peachy, with 14-year-old Holly Partridge on backing vox. What exactly is there to complain about in "Stupidly Happy"? The whole song has only one chord. Literally; one chord. Sounds and details and verses jump in, but the riff and the looped drumbeat just keep pounding away so you can remember what dumb love is all about. And what a cold unfeeling lizard-neck Cibula would have to be to complain about "In Another Life," a Colin Moulding track that takes equal parts Kinks, skiffle, lo-fi pop, and alt.country and pours them all over a wise and profound lyric about two people keeping love alive.
Cibula gets up and starts to pace wildly, as the modified Beatleskank of "My Brown Guitar" fills his dank study. Finally, something to hold onto! Cibula hates the Beatles and all their works! But the melody here subdues him, and those gently-fucked-up lyrics: "You want some lovely/I've got some lovely/In my head/(In my head)/Where the lions/Wear the right tie/Where the gems roar/There be lovely" - And suddenly Cibula remembers that he used to love The Beatles too, and that Partridge is a genius, and he hangs his head in shame because he knows he's no critic - he's just a guy who loves a band, and this is going to be a rave review, and he's pissing away all his integrity, and he just doesn't care.
And as he rocks back and forth, idiot grin on his weatherbeaten visage, alone but not lonely in his lair, we'll just list some more relevant information: 1.) "The Wheel and the Maypole" might be the greatest song the band has ever recorded, and has just made its into my all-time top ten after five days. 2.) "We're All Light" is very close. 3.) The percussion on "Boarded Up" is Colin and Andy walking and hitting the backs of guitars. 4.) "Wounded Horse" is a country blues song. 5.) They're using guitars again. 5 ½.) Chuck Sabo and Prairie Prince are absolute geniuses on the drums. 5 ¾.) Colin's songs are really tight on this record. 6.) We could go on about a lot more songs but our editors are making us shut up now. 7.) This album makes us very happy. Even poor old miserable Cibula is dancing now.
If you like XTC, check out:
XTC Apple Venus Volume 1
XTC Homespun
XTC Skylarking
Prince and The Revolution Parade
Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home
Super Furry Animals Radiator
The Beatles Revolver
Lambchop Nixon
-- Matt Cibula
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