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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 19, 2013 5:27:53 GMT -5
I know we had one, but then we went and banned him!
I've been listening to my old albums and enjoying them thoroughly.
I admit I like the lusher, more melodic second phase of their career. The early jagged material had moments but doesn't connect as well with me. Saying that, the bridge album (between those two styles) Black Sea is great.
Favorite albums would be (in no particular order) Black Sea, English Settlement, Skylarking, Oranges and Lemons and of course their Dukes of Stratosphere stuff.
I also like Nonsuch more than others do.
Right now I'm grooving on Black Sea, and in particular the brilliant album closer (before the CD bonus tracks). The epic, booming drums and bass of "Travels In Nihlon"
Great lyrics I think --
You've learnt no lessons all that time so cheaply spent there's no youth culture only masks they let you rent Travels, travels in Nihilon we've seen, no Jesus come and gone Fashion, their vampire drapes itself across your back as you fall from style it waits rebirth on its rack Building your whimsy hypnotising you to need dance goes full circle one step ahead of your greed You've learnt no lessons all those years to get it right flashes of promise burn out faster than strobe light
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 19, 2013 5:28:30 GMT -5
The song that made me a fan - and still one of their best.
Senses Working Overtime
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Post by Emperor Cupcake on Jan 19, 2013 14:20:09 GMT -5
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 19, 2013 15:31:53 GMT -5
Cool - great song too. I love "No Thugs in Our House" - My favorite part of English Settlement was the 3 song string of Senses, Jason and No Thugs (course in '82 I had to flip the record to get to Thugs. It's nice to be able to just sit back and bask in all 3 today)
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Post by GProopdog on Jan 19, 2013 16:15:46 GMT -5
King for a Day and Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead are two of my favorite XTC songs ever!
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Post by Skyroniter on Jan 19, 2013 16:26:38 GMT -5
Drums and Wires was my first. Bought the LP when it first was released. I could smoke, uhh... incense and listen to it over and over. Bought everything they released for over a decade even though my tastes mostly leaned to raw punk. They were a pop band of integrity.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 20, 2013 11:09:10 GMT -5
I like a good poppy hook, my favorite track from Nonsuch was "Then She Appeared". I thought the lyrics were brilliant, the way Partridge incorporated all this historical and artistic imagery into it. I thought it was one of the cleverest written love songs I'd ever heard.
Then she appeared, apple Venus on a half open shell Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbot's gel I was a little frightened Flying with my senses heightened Cherubim cheered When she appeared
Then she appeared, as the giggling crew of Marie Celeste Then she appeared, pale Atlantis rising out of the west I was a little dazzled Catherine wheeled and senses frazzled Know it sounds weird Then she appeared
And the sun which formerly shone In the clearest summer sky Suddenly just changed address Now shines from her blue eyes
Then she appeared, brittle shooting star that dropped in my lap Then she appeared, dressed in tricolour and phrygian cap I was a little troubled Hookah with my senses bubbled All Edward leared Then she appeared
And the moon which formerly shone On the marbled midnight mile Suddenly just packed its bags Now shines from her bright smile Then she appeared Out of nowhere
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Post by Emperor Cupcake on Jan 20, 2013 20:32:20 GMT -5
Andy Partridge is definitely one of the best lyricists around.
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Post by Skyroniter on Jan 21, 2013 18:47:45 GMT -5
Andy Partridge is definitely one of the best lyricists around. Sometimes he wasn't nice to Danny or the rest of the family.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2013 23:31:17 GMT -5
Been a fan since '78 when my high school music teacher played me "Scissor Man" from "Drums and Wires" I belonged to somewhat of a fan club in the days before the internet where I had a subscription to a magazine called "The Little Express" This was produced in, of all places, Barrie, Ontario and had a circulation worldwide. I think it was bi-monthly and basically kept you up to date with what was happening with the band with pictures and interviews with Andy, Colin Dave and Terry. On the Fender guitar case I had back in the day (early 80's) I painted "This Is Pop!", so yeah, I'm a fan. Can't say I have a favorite album (luv em' all), although I wish Skylarking was produced by someone else, because as much as I love Todd Rundgren, I was never a fan of his engineering or production. His philosophy was to basically engineer his sound for AM radio and the finished product always ends up with a very compressed mid-range sound. Of course Andy and Todd went together like chalk and cheese. Here's a link to a Rundgren fansite podcast where you can listen to Andy talking about the Skylarking project. It's quite good. www.blogtalkradio.com/runt/2008/02/17/Rundgren-RadioAnyone own Fuzzy Warbles? It's all of Andy's stuff that never made it to an XTC album, 8 CD's in all. I bought that set a few years back and I'm very happy with it. I'm glad I did as I just checked for what it's going for on Amazon One of my favorite warbles: I gotta say it's REALLY cool to know there are other XTC people here. Cheers
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 22, 2013 0:24:21 GMT -5
Awesome song. I recently found out about the Warbles so that's on my wish list. Sadly vol 3 and 5 are unavailable at itunes and the box set is out of my price range (hope they re-issue it). What is Ootheca? I see it listed but can find no info on it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2013 7:31:58 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2013 9:15:05 GMT -5
Wow, I found copies of The Little Express! Not having the pack rat gene, I tossed mine years ago but in the days before the internet it was one of life's simple pleasures to find these in my mailbox. www.xtcvademecum.org/little_express.html
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Post by Skyroniter on Jan 24, 2013 7:49:27 GMT -5
Nice one, Bud! Bookmarked to read later. Looks like I'll be breaking out my XTC and incense. Actually swore off incense long ago.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Jan 25, 2013 0:29:15 GMT -5
They've legalized incense in my State, so now you've planted an idea in my head sky. I've switched discs to "Drums and Wire" (sans incense. lol) Loving the bonus tracks, but the orginal album closer was one of the greats. "Complicated Game". I had that on replay for quite a spell.
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