Reviews (page 4 of 7)
I don't think I'll be putting this on for fun. It's okay though but why wouldn't I just listen to the Beatles?
I have this record. Not my favorite XTC record but still some good songs.
bien, es raro pq tiene flow cool pero se me hizo aburridito
I didn't get much from this album, tbh. I also couldn't quite give it enough attention.
I thought I knew who XTC was when I first saw they were the album for today, but I then realized I was mistaking them for the punk band X. This album came out in 1986, and I’m going to guess XTC is from the United Kingdom and is a new wave band. Okay, according to our good friend Wikipedia, XTC is a rock band coming out of the punk and new wave scene in the U.K., but for Skylarking, the genre is listed as pop, psychedelic, and rock. Color me intrigued. The album is also a concept album of sorts with Todd Rundgren as producer. Now I’m really getting excited about listening to this album. Skylarking is often looked upon as XTC’s best album and was heavily influenced by the 1960s, according to Wikipedia. The band was fronted by Andy Partridge, who sang and played guitar, and Colin Moulding, who sang and played bass. Both were the primary songwriters of the group. Of the 15 songs on the album, Moulding wrote five. Track 1 is Summers Cauldron. The song starts with what sounds like robotic crickets and frogs on a summer night. Then what sounds like a recorder begins playing a simple melody. This is already giving me 80s new wave vibes. Synths are the music makers for the first verse, then bass, guitar, and piano come in. It's definitely new wave 80s now. I'll admit music like this doesn't really do it for me. I find it bland. But I can appreciate the songcraft. It's a good song. Partridge wrote and sang it. Track 2 is Grass. The immediate change from Summer’s Cauldron to the beginning of Grass is very subtle. There's less recorder sound and more guitars and strings. The lead singer sounds different. Moulding wrote this one, so I assume he's singing. I hear the psychedelic sounds bubbling up in the song. There's a sitar or at least a guitar made to sound like one. I like this song. It's got a fun, breezy feel to it. It feels like a summer song. It was the first single off the album. The robotic crickets and frogs are back. This is a concept album, or loosely is. The songs weren't written to be a concept album, but producer Rundgren kind of talked the band into it. It's kind of a day in the life or days throughout a season. I'm not sure the band even knows for sure Track 3 is The Meeting Place, and it starts with a bit of Pink Floyd’s Money-type noise, but there’s a familiarity to this song. It sounds like it could have been made in the 90s. Yes, it reminds me a bit of Jane’s Addiction. I really like this song. It’s another Moulding song. So at this point I seem to like Moulding’s songs more than Partridge's’s. Track 4 is That’s Really Super, Supergirl and I could tell it’s Partridge immediately, as I didn’t dig it right off the bat. It’s not bad, but I just don’t connect with it. It almost sounds like something I’d hear on a Steve Vai album, without all the guitar wankery, of course. Track 5 is Ballad for a Rainy Day and this song sounds like it could have come out in the mid-90s. Wikipedia said XTC proved an influence on the Britpop and power pop revival in the 90s. I can see why with this song. It’s very poppy, but it still has these odd motifs that sound sad. The title says it's a ballad, and most ballads aren’t happy. So, I shouldn't be surprised, I guess. It’s the first Partridge song I’ve enjoyed. Track 6 is 1000 Umbrellas, and these songs just kind of bleed into one another. I wasn't sure another song had started, really. I just noticed a slight change. This song has a beautiful string section. I think I’m starting to buy into the concept, as all the songs are different but include slight similarities. Track 8 is Earn Enough for Us and it’s more of a power pop song. I really like it. It’s the first song that kind of sounds different from the other songs. It’s another Partridge song. It’s fun, and though the lyrics are a bit dark, the singer is praying he can earn enough wages to take care of himself and his significant other. My favorite song on the album, so far. Track 10 is Another Satellite, and it’s a little slower than most of the songs. It’s about a fan who once came between Partridge and his wife. Partridge’s singing is very soulful. It’s got those jangly pre-Britpop guitars in the background. It’s odd because it’s in between the new wave that was dominating radio at the time, with definite shades of where modern rock would go in about 10 years or so. Track 12 is The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul. This song sounds like the free-form jazz or rock that someone would play behind a beat poet doing avant-garde poetry in the 60s. However, it doesn’t sound corny. I like it. It’s got that swinging 60s sound mixed with spy music. Track 11 Mermaid Smiled was also kind of 60s jazzish. I really like this song. I’m not sure this is an all-time album, but XTC is slowly winning me over with each song. This album is eclectic, but it all works. Track 13 is Dying, and it’s about an older neighbor of Moulding’s who passed away. Moulding grapples with his getting older and not wanting to die like his neighbor did, sick, heartbroken, and alone. It’s a sad song. Now I’m bummed out because I’m older now than Moulding was when he wrote this song. Track 15 is Dear God and it was a B-side to the first single off the album, Grass. Dear God wasn't even on the album in the US. However, college radio started playing it, and it became a bit of a hit on campuses across the country. So the song was added to later pressings of the album. Oh yeah! I remember this song. It’s got a kid singing the first verse before Moulding takes over. The song is an agnostic writing a letter to God, challenging His existence. The song, of course, caused some controversy in the U.S., with Christians being upset about the lyrics. Some “Christians” threatened to blow up a radio station, while a “heathen” held a college DJ at knife point, forcing him to play the song over and over. It’s nice to see how we can all come together over an issue violently. As usual, the song didn’t bring about the end of Christianity or welcome the kingdom of satan, and it was essentially forgotten about. Much like all these silly little “controversies” and dumb issues that keep us fighting amongst ourselves rather than focusing on the real issues and… You know, I. Digress. Dear God may be the best song on the album. As a whole, I liked the album, but nothing really blew me away. I can see how they were about 10 to 15 years ahead of their time, though. It’s just a fun rock album to listen to if you liked new wave in the 80s and Britpop in the 90s.
It was a charming album. I enjoyed it
Entre al album con cariño porque conoci Earn Enough For Us por Gilmore Girls, pero ningun tema esta a la altura de ese dentro del album y por mas que esta entretenido no se si volvere 7/10
pretty easy to listen to but i wouldn’t seek it out.
ну норм, но не вот чтобы сильно впечатлило в 1000 зонтиков прикольно используют оркестр
very fun sound #MUSICSKY #ALBUMSKY
I don’t know. XTC clearly have written some great pop songs but they’re not on this album, which sounds like Bo Burnham signing Elvis Costello. There are some standouts but does Dear God warrant inclusion on this list? Earn Enough For Us is also good
NEEDS A REVISIT..
A very nice sound but the back half drags a bit.
Low key album. Pretty good
An average album from the 80s.
Quite like Crowded House, not bad in parts
Decent album. It had a sound I couldn’t put my finger on.
Not exceptional but interesting
lowkey good vibes 7.5/10
Weird but in a good way. I'd revisit. 3.5
Nothing really notable here. Not offensive either. 3 stars!
Great stuff. Another high 3.
A little bit more interesting than another XTC album I listened to on this list. Their embrace of Beatles-style psychedelia seems to prefigure Britpop by a few years, and “The Meeting Place” sounds like it could be a decent Roxy Music b-side. But then they come up with dissonant pop melodies like “Supergirl” that seem specially designed to annoy me. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Nice album
I actually really like XTC but somehow had never listened to this album through. Its pretty good, but definitely not my favourite of theirs.
Dear God was intense. By far the standout track on the record. The rest was acceptable but not incredible.
Okay easy listening
Enjoyed this, can see how it inspired britpop. Needed to do more for 4
fine
It was a pleasant listen, but also utterly forgettable. Not a single song stuck
Je ne connaissais pas ce groupe et ça m'a semblé pas mal oubliable, même s'il y avait de temps en temps un peu des passages qui m'ont semblé un peu plus expérimentaux et ambitieux. Dans l'ensemble, ça ne me semble pas être un mauvais album, mais je ne crois pas non plus que c'est quelque chose sur lequel je reviendrais.
2,5 Highlights: Grass, Season Cycle
I wavered on this one a bit but ended up enjoying it in the end. Dear God was a solid album closer, if a little on the nose. The super theatrical tracks weren't really my favorite, but they were interesting. The drums on a few tracks really had me hooked in.
No private session used for Spotify as I have definitely listened to this album before. I like this album, nice pleasant rock. I like the entire feel of the album and how it flows together. Notable exception in that is "Dear God", but it's a great song so I give its poignant anger a pass.
First one I've genuinely never heard of. Sounds like fairly straightforward quirky pop, although quite early and therefore maybe influential. I can hear parts that sound like Grant Lee Phillips, You Am I, and Neil Finn. It's quite enjoyable, but not revelatory and doesn't seem like the best example of its type
Average at best.
Weird pop and also slightly trad? 3.4
Didn't love it, didn't hate it
Cool album, awesome production and songwriting. Last song leaves a bad taste in my mouth
suena bien pero no me parecio tan interesante su musica 7/10
Dear God is fantastic, the rest of the album is ok but not much stood out
New Wave Synths, keyboards and chorus-pedal guitars combine with a high, almost falsetto, vocal and lots of poppy arrangements and an art-rock approach to songwriting. At it’s best (Earn Enough for Us), it’s bright and upbeat power pop that presages a lot of 90s Brit-Pop. Other good bits head for the weirder artsy end of New Wave, with spacious deconstructed songs like Another Satellite, based on bizarre sparse soundscapes. But there are also some over-elaborate fussy songs with lots of strings that give have a bloated, annoying feel, like bad Sgt Peppers imitators. Some jazzy stuff that mostly sounds out of tune.
If I hadn't been in my alt-goth 80s emo phase, I may never had heard of them and this would just be an interesting synth pop throw back to the 60s... but I was and so it has a least a little more value to me. 3.
I was familiar with Dear God and Earn Enough For Us but had not listened to this album before though it's considered among XTC's best. I l9ve singles like Nigel and Senses Working Overtime and also many of the bands that cite them as an influence and yet somehow I just find I don't really connect with them over the course of an album. This was better than the turn of the century album of theirs on the list, but it was still a bit underwhelming given I think they can at times be brilliant.
3.5
This is definitely one of those bands that by all means I should really like but always strikes me as good but underwhelming. To me they are a bit of a cross between Elvis Costello, the Beatles (more specifically when McCartney and Martin are left to their own devices), and a touch of the Beach Boys harmonies. And all that seems like it should at least fit in my ballpark, with the exception of Elvis Costello, which I think is the biggest sticking point for me. There is a certain thread of nerd Rock, I think starts with Costello continues through XTC and moves on to Weezer, that for some reason just doesn't really fit my feel, even though all the sonic elements are there. This album is definitely in full force of that type of songcraft. And although there are some songs that I did enjoy , for the most part this album just didn't do much for me . Quite honestly my favorite song in the album was one that's not even on the original album, and that's "Dear God". (even that does something I typically dislike which is using a child vocal for emotional effect, but when Andy takes over it's a fkin great song) (7.25) ★★★½
I'm not a fan of this band outside of a few songs. I kind of feel like they want to be the Beatles, but Partridge and Moulding are no Lennon and McCartney. Or even a Ringo. Todd Rundgren's production makes me think he was trying to goof on *Revolver* the same way he was trying to goof on *Born to Run* with *Bat Out of Hell*. There's a few decent songs here, but other songs, like "That's Really Super, Supergirl" are the musical equivalent of waterboarding. If not for "Dear God", which isn't technically part of the tracklist, this would be in sub-3 territory, but I'll count it and go with a light 3 stars.
C'est intéressant mais un peu plat
Not my thing
Fortfarande lack sen förra gången xtc var uppe och presenterade en av de sämsta skivorna hittills, så de har uppförsbacke. De får lite revansch ändå. Efter en första lyssning är det mycket jag gillar. Vissa saker, exempelvis dear god, är väl ett steg för gymnasiepretto möjligen, men det mesta är trevligt. Kanske är det toddans närvaro som gör det? Smålyssnar en andra gång och tycker de två första låtarna är röva. Tar sig från och med the meeting place. Knapp 3a får det bli.
A fine new wave pop album, some interesting compositions and some annoying ones. Overall not bad, but not something I’ll return to.
Very odd and unique. Some songs sound like theyre straight out of an anime soundtrack. Clearly novel and inspirational to bands that came after.
Interesting, very eighties
A bit cheesy at times, but the psychedelic vibe is great. Dear God is a standout of emotion in the album
Favorite Track: Dear God
Cool album, was not familiar with the band
Pretty cool. I really liked Mermaid Smiled. I think it pulled off being playful in a “reminiscing youth” kind of way.
"Dear God" is really cool. Shame you have to sit through 45 minutes to get to it. The rest of the album is fine enough. Had a friend who was really into XTC. But asides from "Dear God", "Making Plans for Nigel", and "Love on a Farmboy's Wages", XTC has just never clicked for me. Like it's not offensive or inherently bad, just not my style. The lyricism feels really on the nose.
I liked dear God but that was about it. The rest was just meh pop rock
Did not especially enjoy. Vocals a bit annoying, music a bit boring. What was this? 80s indie pop perhaps.
man, i really really wanted to like this more than i did! Dear God is of course the atheist anthem of my teenage (and adult dreams) and i played it a few times in a row before i wrapped up my album listen. but the rest of the album has such corny production and a big cheesy sound... it just didn't really add up for me.
Definitely interesting. Definitely standing on the shoulders of giants. But also didn't really like the songs that much. Not bad though.
07/03/26
XTC has all of the elements of something I would enjoy but it never really comes together for me
Not much to say - okay, but not for me
Quite weird and wacky, and quite fun.
I’ve always enjoyed XTCs sound, but I’d never listened to a full album. This was fine.
I liked this better than the other XTC I've listened to. Not sure if it's really different or I'm just in the right mood or it's growing on me.
Dear God is a banger... rest is nothing special to me.
Previously rated: #191 - Apple Venus Volume 1 (2/5) **************************************** Album #1,059 I forgot I had heard one from them before. I liked this one a lot better. I'd call it sophisticated pop. It's missing a big standout track to elevate it more.
Run of the mill brit pop
I don't really know what to do with this. But giving it 5 stars is certainly off the table. Almost every sound here is very slightly confusing – enough to give me pause but not enough to completely tank the rating. Strings are used, but to add quirk rather than sentiment. The bass, though passable, is mixed in a strange, almost "rumbly" manner. Summer's Cauldron feels like a track that wants to pick up steam but can never quite get there. The drumming is deliberately hesitant, and in my opinion this fact works against it. For the whole three minutes, I'm waiting for an explosion away from unplaceable exotic subtlety into harder rock. Instead, it transitions (flawlessly, I might add) into Grass, which is a sonically similar track. It feels more self-assured though, featuring a more grounded vocal delivery and slightly better melody. The choruses towards the end of the song ("graaaaaasss") are the song's high points. Regardless, both of these opening tracks are too weird (cerebral?) for my taste, and XTC responds to my demands with the simple, Bowie-/ABBA-esque The Meeting Place. Ballet For A Rainy Day has the strongest melody so far and a sick chord progression that blows the others out of the water. The lyrics sound a bit goofy but I'll let it slide because the instruments are played well. Harmonies remind me of ELO. The next song, 1000 Umbrellas, is extremely unsettling and I've half a mind to put it on the naughty list. But it gets a pass. (Those strings, though creepy, are extremely distinctive. And any music that ventures into uncharted territory should be acknowledged.) Earn Enough For Us marks a return to "normal" rock, if briefly. The guitar riff is easily the highlight, mainly because there aren't many other candidates. After this point, the album hits a rough patch with the underwhelming Big Day and Another Satellite. But then XTCsomewhat bounces back with the aggressive acoustic guitars of Mermaid Smiled and the circusy whatever that's happening in The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul. Dying's singing is extremely off-putting (very much living up to the song title) Dear God isn't part of the original album release, but it's on the Spotify version, so I'll include it in my consideration. Dear God handily outshines most other tracks. Great guitar, gruff vocals, a healthy dose of violins and cellos... Why aren't all the songs like this? 3/5 Key tracks: The Meeting Place, Earn Enough For Us, Dear God
Très sympa, printanier avec le chant des oiseaux derrière ;p ! Je trouve que l'album a une note assez joyeuse J'aime bien quand les musiques s'enchainent ça forme une sorte de continuité qui ne nous sort pas de cette bulle l'espace d'un instant, on reste ancré dans les sensations que nous procurent l'album Je voudrais mettre 3.5 mais on ne peut pas donc je vais mettre 3, parce que je n'étais pas été emportée non plus
It was really good but there are some ups and downs with this one. A solid 3.
Some nice variety, but the dude’s crooning voice is so irritating after only a couple songs.
Some interesting stuff on here. Unique melodies and song structures. I’m not in love with the vocals but they weren’t always terrible. Not something I’d return to but not that bad either.
A fun romp through what seems like a carefree, drug induced world. Rife with emotion yet lighthearted, all the same, reminds me of the freedom of existing in a place where you don’t belong.
I'm only really familiar with XTC thanks to my younger brother's copy of "Nonsuch", so I wasn't really sure what to expect of this earlier album. I guess I kind of got what I expected, since I didn't expect all that much, but what an odd and sort of throwback album for something released in 1986. I can kind of see why producer Todd Rundgren envisioned it as a concept album, but it doesn't really feel all that cohesive, and honestly seems a bit trite at times, kind of a precursor to something Barenaked Ladies would make later ("That's really super, supergirl" and "Earn enough for us" especially seem to channel this), or maybe a later version of prog rock from Yes or the like (tracks like "The meeting place" or "Ballet for a rainy day" or the somewhat charming "The man who sailed around his soul" follow this vibe). I suspect diehard XTC fans have a very different experience of this album, but I was mainly left feeling a bit confused and nonplussed for much of the album, although the latter half seems a bit more consistent and solid (I enjoyed "Another satellite", their big hit "Dear God" and the following track "Dying" (very Pulp/Kinks). And after reading the incredibly long Wikipedia entry for this album, and all the conflicts between Rundgren and Andy Partridge, I now have a pretty low opinion of Partridge--what an overbearing jerk (although Rundgren sounds like a challenging producer to work with too).
Unmemorable, sorry.
Oikein positiivinen yllätys ja sopi mukavasti aamun levyksi. Tekis mieli heittää jopa nelonen mut niitä on tullu pohdittua sen verta että luikautetaan vielä kolmosen ovista sisään
Tää oli mukavan hyväntuulista ja rentoo meininkiä. Tuo "isoin hitti" nyt ei niin erikoinen ollut, mutta kolmosen arvoinen kokonaisuus silti.
On tää ihan viehkoo, mutta ei näillä kuunteluilla pääse iha XTCiin asti. Mietin jopa nelosta, mutta jotenkin vähän välimaastossa jäi piippuun ja vaatis enempi kuuntelua, mut IHA KIVA.
Not their best album.
This is a really interesting album. The US version of this album includes the song Dear God which is a great tune
An ambitious album which works in places. XTC was an unusual band, responsible for some great songs.
Always want to like XTC more than I do. Clever lyrics. Nice tunes. But somehow it doesn't get my fire lit - perhaps it's the faint whiff of prog that just won't go away. That said, I'm giving it 3* cos if you're from Swindon you need all the help you can get (sorry Swindon, meant in a generous spirit. And yes, I have been). 3*
Forgettable but it's alright
The most Beatles sounding non Beatles album I’ve ever heard but hey I’m not complaining I like it
This is quirky, I feel like XTC are a highly underrated band particularly in the streaming age
The album was initially sold to me as a spritual successor to the Beatles' and the Beach Boys' catalogue -- which led to much disappointment when I first listened to it. Because there are some genuinely good and interesting songs when judged on its own merits, particularly in the first half. However, XTC ran out of gas towards the end of the album, concluding with an uninspiring last few songs.
This is from “my era” but not a fav.
#35/1001🇬🇧 I know XTC as more of a punk band and the style of this album has suprised me. Having said this i've listened to it twice today and its not that memorable. I enjoyed Grass and The Meeting Place but there is nothing really to bring me back to listen more. Best Tracks: Grass, The Meeting Place.
I don’t know why, but XTC just don’t work for me. Like so great songs, but I think in general it’s just the singer’s voice
This album is a departure from earlier radio friendly releases. Its all the better for it as the mood going from song to song gives a feeling of being in summer 85 with all the uncertainty and unhappiness in thatchers Britain. Couple of missteps and the vocals are distracting at times but overall a very rewarding listen.
Their ninth album. Alternative Rock. A decent enough album. It flows quite well and has whimsical, fun and hard hitting lyrics. The influences on this album are obvious with who they're trying to sound like. That last track, Dear God, certainly packs a punch in terms of it's subject matter.
This album had a juvenile pedestrian vibe that sort of reminded me of Huey Lewis and the News with Jack Johnson of the 80's. It started off making sense and being like a nice summer day moving through the seasons. But then I got a little confused as we entered a spy movie and then focused on death so hard. I didn't mind 1000 umbrellas and Earn Enough for Us. But nothing is sticking out as amazing.
Enjoyable but not incredible
This one's kind of fun. Enjoyed listening.
Not bad not my favorite
Memorable first half. Second half of the record was a desperate attempt to sound lke mainstream 60s music especially the beatles. Despite that, it remains a very fun album that gets repetitive and boring as you listen along.
Synes det har været virkeligt rart at lytte til mens jeg arbejdede. Lidt beatles lyd nogengange. Noget af det blev dog lidt shrek-soundtrack- agtigt...i det her tilfælde, på en ikke-fed måde
I know nothing ab this......excited to listen Interesting and complex instrumentals.....that said, don't know if this is for me......don't feel strongly negative but this is not particularly exceptional (in my opinion!!!!!!) also LOVED yesterday (my first 5!!!) so I might be coming off that high too lol this is growing on me a bit....
was unfamilly with this band, but from fist song i was intrigued there’s a goofy vibe that im enjoying dear god threw me tho i wasnt expecting a child
Not bad.
I was introduced to this album by a coworker at my first real job out of law school. But I probably haven’t listened to the album front to back in a decade. I remembered it being 4-ish, with “earn enough for us” the clear standout and the only song I regularly revisit. I think it’s a bit of a letdown today. More in 3 territory.
Vs Adam Ant, I probably enjoyed antmusic more. Little pretentious and sure shits catchy, but c'mon if ur gonna take on God, you gotta come harder than a jingle.
I don't know about this one Will I listen to again: 15%
I don't know why, but I have a built-in aversion to New Wave. It has just never done anything for me. That said, this is undeniably a well put-together record, and the production really elevates it especially when played through a good set of headphones. 3/5.
It started out pretty good, but turned into a lot of sameness.
Great background music
It was fine
It had some interesting melodies and riffs, but I didn't care for the lead singer's voice.
This is OK
Interesting, but I wouldn't say inspiring for me.
Bestes Lied: dear god
At no point did I have any idea what they were singing about, but I’m not made about it. It was just a fun silly album Fav songs: Dear God, That’s Really Super, Supergirl
Tarde o temprano tendré que admitirlo: nunca voy a entrar del todo en la música de XTC. Llevo años pensando que quizá no los había escuchado en el momento adecuado, pero a estas alturas de la vida, creo que ya no tiene remedio. Puedo disfrutar de canciones sueltas, algunas incluso me gustan mucho, pero los discos se me acaban haciendo cuesta arriba.
Quirky music written by dorks, but I kind of like it. I'm not sure how often I would listen to it again in the future however. I do have the feeling that whoever wrote the lyrics would probably be insufferable at a party.
Good album. Someone said x but worse and this is v accurate. Dear God was disappointing imho. Grass is the best song argue with a wall
this is interesting, kinda theatrical, cute but forgetteable, probably won't listen again but it was sort of a vibe, so can't be too mad.
This one felt less innovative than the other one that we did by these guys, but I still appreciated a more creative take on this kind of indie pop.
I know I'm supposed to love this, and I appreciate a decent amount of the songcraft, but I'm really not hot on their voices. It feels just a *bit* too sanitized. 3/5
Buen album. Un estilo igualmente que no me llegó. 5/10
From what I had previously heard of XTC, I thought I'd like this a lot more than I did. I had heard it years ago as I once downloaded all XTC albums but couldn't remember much about it. Dear God is the song most people will know and the best track on the album. Might be one that grows with multiple listens but so far I prefer a punchier XTC with great hooks, a la Senses Working Overtime.
Not my favorite XTC album, but this one is pretty decent-listened to it 1.5 times.
Skylarking is clearly smart, carefully constructed, and immediately catchy. The melodies stick, the lyrics are clever, and the sequencing gives the album a sense of intention rather than just a pile of songs. From a craft perspective, there’s a lot to admire here. That said, it never quite resonates with me. The cleverness creates a kind of emotional distance, where I’m appreciating what the band is doing more than actually feeling pulled into it. The songs feel designed rather than lived in, and while that makes for a pleasant listen, it also keeps the album from really landing on a deeper level. I enjoyed it well enough and understand why it has such a devoted following, but it doesn’t spark a strong desire to return. For me, it sits squarely in “respect, not love” territory. A solid three stars: well made, engaging in spots, but ultimately a bit too detached to fully connect.
It’s just… there. Some songs seemed memorable for a moment before I forgot them. Dear God was at least memorable, as sophomoric as the arguments in it sounded. Not horrible, but not great.
I was kind of expecting some 90s dance or electronica, but this is some very gentle rock. It reminds me a bit of early Wright/ Waters Pink Floyd with its constant reminiscing about childhood and happy memories. I like the sentiments, but the music is just not quite for me. Another Satellite and Mermaid Smiled also remind me strongly of Neil Innes's Bonzo Dog Band songs, specifically I Want to Be With You and Piggy Bank Love. In fact, a more than few of these XTC songs are quite Bonzo-ish, goofy and varied. It's interesting, and I don't love it, but I quite like it.
Not familiar with XTC. Sounds like '80s Ben Folds. I liked Season Cycle. Dear God was great aside from the singing child.
3.47/5 Stars Top Songs: That's Really Super, Supergirl, Dear God, Summer's Cauldron,
Wouldnt skip wouldn't pick
great
Although I don't think I will revisit it, this is one of the few brit-pop albums that actually deserves a place on this list.
Much prefer this album to Apple Venus although that was a pretty low bar. Skylarking is a very listenable collection of pop songs with beatlesque vibes. Perhaps if I listened a hundred times I would like them more. As it was after two listens they were all pretty forgettable. Nothing offensive but nothing to get my juices going.
XTC has done better albums. No idea why this one is on the list, but hey: let's review. The version without 'Dear God' is pedestrian. The version with 'Dear God' is pedestrian-ish. The end.
A nice listen but didn't find it to be anything special.
Quite enjoyable but not very noteworthy 3/5
I somehow made it to the second to last song...but everything has just been such a drag. Can't even force myself to push through. Can't even tell if I liked the album or not...but it's not the worst crayon in the box.
It was fine. On par with the other XTC album
I just happen to be in the mood for this. I don't mind a bit of New Wave but this was different. More like New Wave Theatre.
Ok
A pleasant listen to me. Weirdly the only song I was familiar with was the last track “Dear God” which is quite different than everything else. 3.5/5
ok
this was weirder than I expected. The production is super glossy 80s pop but the songs take some twists and turns esp as the album progresses. Some tonal ideas that would pop up later in a lot of 90s indie. I don't like how "Dear God" is just tacked on at the end though. Sounds like it's from a totally different project.
I like the first track and the last. Apart from that I was disappointed because I like XTC because they were ok at best and annoyingat worst. Sneaks a 3 because it's better than the albums I've given a 2. There's some complex logic in my ratings :)
Liked some of this. Really could do without the weird new-wavey parts or stuff that sounds generically 80's. At the very least this one isn’t boring.
Sounds good. It is also pretty fucking goofy.
i prefer English Settlement, but this is ok
I was initially intrigued and enjoyed the start but my attention wasn’t held all the way through. A few nice moments but equally as many that weren’t so good.
I was expecting another throwaway mid-80s British pop-rock record and got something a cut above the rest. Enjoyed this much more than I expected. More interesting ideas and deft execution than some of its peers. Flows together beautifully. Bits of it (“1000 Umbrellas” comes to mind) reminded me of The Beatles without being outright mimicry. It could be leaner. I’d revisit.
mooie pop liedjes... Dear God is relevanter dan ooit maar Andy mocht gerust wat kwader klinken ...
Unique voices. God was an unlikely hit.
On first listen it sounds like a fun pop album with enough quirkiness throughout to make it interesting. Rundgren’s dynamic production shines. However, some of the lyrics are cheesy and full of contrived rhymes; “the man who sailed around his soul, came back again to find a hole” or “fire they cried, so evil must die” “did you make disease and the diamond blue.” Overall I feel like I should be at some posh garden party, just outside of London, sipping G&Ts, surrounded by obnoxious people and revolting small talk.
Im sure I have heard an XTC album before, and to be honest it didn't live up to expectations. So I had lowered my sights for this one, but it was really quite good. It doesn't have any of the big 3 on it but its still quite a pleasant album. Now for the score, its kind of between the previous two, its about a 3.0 so three it is, but not as good as the Black Crows.
Even though it has nothing like 'Making Plans For Nigel's etc, it has still got that old XTC quirkiness which I like. As a whole I enjoyed it, but there just wasn't any particular standout tracks.
This one is pretty good. Its a bit of a mess, but mostly that is a good thing I thiiiiiiiink i prefer apples. How do you like them apples?
Pretty good, but can be a bit repetitive.
Some good songs
Went into this one blind. I have heard the name XTC, but had no idea what they sounded like. Definitely expected some very, VERY, 80s shit a la The Human League or something, but this is some kind of (very 80s) psychedelia. Liked this way more than I expected. If you ignore the eyeroll inducing lyrics it's pretty fun.
Found this a bit pretentious but did enjoy some of the songs
very interesting flavor of british pop from this era, i see the potential
this was a surprise. Always liked the hits of XTC but never really explored them any further. Therefore this was a worthwhile deep dive into this album which holds up well with some good tracks.
A lot of interesting things going on (echoes of influences and influenced) and some high points (Dear God), but it's just a sound and result that doesn't do much for me.
I can't figure out XTC. They are talented and interesting songwriters, but they lack overall punch. I can't decide if it is their overt cynicism or the lack of quality to their artists claims. They are at least interesting to listen to, even if they don't quite connect.
3.5
I'm always charmed by a b-side of a single taking over, the only song I knew was 'Dear God" and it's not on the original track list!
3.0 I liked XTC in the 80's I remember this album more favorably then than I do now. Just OK. I love some of their other radio hits. Probably would love it more in 1988 but my tastes have changed a lot since and a lot of people since have improved on this sound. Still a solid and fun album.
could have been a four if they skipped a bit of the latter part of the album. but i must say i like the overall sound. could absolutely listen again
XTC is a strange band where I absolutely love 20% of their output and am indifferent to the other 80%. There’s a few songs on here that I adore, but the rest are just meh. Great production though!
Somewhere between the Beatles, mid 80s UK indie and Genesis. Not a mix of influences I'd go for 3*
It pretty good
This album isn't all that bad, in fact it sounds very competently put together. It does, however, seem to lack any real hook, instead it feels a bit on the sterile side. Not bad as such, but there's nothing here that'll blow you away.
It's the type of album where I have nothing bad to say because I enjoyed all of the songs but there's no way it could ever go above a 3. It's a harmless album.
Still not a fan of partridge’s voice
Pretty good but I wouldn't listen to this again.
Interesting but OK.
# Album Name: Skylarking # Artist: XTC # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: This is what i would call a very safe, mid album. Doesnt really take the safety belt off. Its not bad. Couple of decent tracks ive added into my playlist. Nothing on nigel though. # Top Tunes: Grass / Meeting place / supergirl / earn enough # Would I listen to it again? Just the singles
A new one for me, and that's always exciting. First impression: I never would have guessed this was from the mid 80s. This is straight out of 1964. I get the Beatles comparison but I don't think I agree. I get more of a Donovan vibe from this. As it goes on it gets maybe a little more 80s but still clings to the 60s sound. It's a really interesting blend. I like that it's kind of silly - like the lyrics are sort of serious but it's done in a playful way. It kind of transitions to a 'what if Huey Lewis was a 60s psychedelic band?'. I'm not sure I'd really listen to this again or seek out anything else from them but I did really enjoy this play through. I might buy this in the record shop if I came across it there and didn't find anything else that day. 3.5/5 but rounding down because it's just not a 4 for me.
Alright. Not sure if I'd revisit.
3.5
After the god-awful mess that was Apple Venus Volume I, I was pretty scared of what I would have to sit through this time but thankfully this was actually listenable. Kind of diet Beatles but there were some good songs here and there.
Seemed like a continuation of The Beach Boys, but with new wave tech and expanded sensibilities. The jazzy moments aren’t my favorite, but the playful instrumentation is fun. The last track “dear god” was my favorite. More social commentary please!
3,3
Had some Beatlesque moments and nice symphonic elements Solid concept piece and flows as an album
I am pretty indifferent I don't like or hate this group. They definitely had that sound of the era as well as the band drama 🙂 However I would not consider this Rock!! I
TLDR: 3 Stars for an interesting album concept and history, thoughtful (albeit goofy) lyrics, and one song I could take away. My first impression of this album is goofy and strange to say the least. Don’t love the singing or music. Feels very earthy/hippie with the crickets and background noise and funny/creative lyrics throughout. From ‘That’s Really Super, Supergirl’ and ‘1000 Umbrellas’ sounds like somebody went through a rough break up…. I can see what they tried to do with the seasonality theme of the album and songs throughout, but overall this was too goofy for me. ‘Dear God’ was quite the statement and the standout to close the album.
Skylarking is an okay album, though I have a soft spot for Dear God. But recently found out that it wasn't included in the original release, so now I'm overthinking "which version of the album is worthy?", yup, who cares?! Dear God is still a great closer.
It's very typical of 80s alternative music. It's very pop-y and even though it can be a little catchy at times, it's always at least a little cheesy. It's moody, but you can never fully enjoy it out of the fear that your music taste would get worse.
80er indiepop?? merci sache glöscht. find die erste paar song easy aber ehner dünn. sie sind sehr e 80er bri'ish alternative band. ballet for a rainy day cooli hook cooli gitarreparts und so. gute. 1000 umbrellas macht gsd wiiter super cools arrangement. season cycle sehr cute. another satellite chli mid wnl.
han glaub s letschte album vo ihne nöd gad guet gfunde? summer's cauldron und grass hani na lustig gfunde aber s isch halt scho nöd mini musig hahahah supergirl isch mega lustig aber au blööd d 80er perkussion isch najaa chli too much hmm jaa alles gaht chli ah mier verbii, aber finds nöd schlecht d striicher simmer chli too much dear god isch cool!!! joo sie mached ihres ding und ziehnds durre und das isch so kinda cool, aber au nöd meh
Ok, only some songs good
This started out good. I really connected with that song “Grass”. But I think the album is 3 or 4 songs too long and it starts to rely too heavily on its inspirations.
Dear God одна з найкращих поп-пісень евер з погляду тексту. Втім, як на мене, всі інші треки на альбомі навіть близько не дотягують до неї.
Some good. Some forgettable.
This one barely holds the rails for me. There's enough interesting elements to it to keep me engaged, and a few "let's move on" moments as well. I can say this: it isn't something you're going to find a lot of comparisons to.
2.6
Only ever heard of "Making Plans for (R)igel" from XTC. This one is an intriguing album. The band was more than just Skylarking on this project as it is well put together. Liked the theme and introduction of nature sounds throughout. Def glad they put the song "Dear God" back on since it is one of the top tracks...what is wrong with management? And why such controversy in the US over the release? Gotta be the uptight religious extremers pissed that the band can't believe in God...what a bunch of whiners. Not sure what we got on the album cover. Maybe some nudists flutists frolicking through the lands? Like the band name to boot. 3.14 stars.
Pretty good entry for 1001. I'd never heard of XTC previously and was pleased to be met with something pretty original. They've got a unique whimsical sound and I can't say I've heard another band quite like them previously. Nothing really blew me away, but it's got some decent tracks. The album mainly just coasts along as something easy to consume that has an approachable sound. Something about this sounded more contemporary than something that was released in 1986. Didn't love, didn't hate it. 2.65 stars
I liked this album. It had a Beatles kind of vibe.
Another OK album
Not as interesting as I thought it was going to be, boarderline jangly annoying in places (weak start), pretty average for me in general but suspect it might grow on me, would probably seek a physical copy ⭐⭐⭐
Proto Brit Pop nonsense. Very pleasant listen, but not what I was in the mood for this morning.
They kind of sound like the Beatles, but also kind of sound like little kids music? Cutesy for my taste, but still fun to listen to. Doubt I’ll come back to it, although I did like “Dear God”.
Dear God carries this album so hard
Definitely sounds a bit dated, but ultimately unique for its time. From the various sound effects to the perfectly transitioning tracks, the mix of multiple genres and different styles of instruments, this album offers a time capsule to the various different timely sounds from almost 40 years ago.
Fue un poco como los Smiths o los Beatles, pero hay somos elementos que me paracen mas modernos. Muy fantástico. El album es bonito. Un poco repetivo, un poco menos canciones fureis sufficamente. 7.5/10
First impression pre listen: I've been meaning to check this band out for a while. They belong to an era of music I generally appreciate. The cover does look a bit bland, though I'm hopeful that there's more to it than it appears. Individual track notes: Summer's Cauldron Don't love the effects. They're mixed really loudly which is pretty distracting. Very typical 80's new wave vocals. I like how the main vocal melody resolves. A bit formless. Fine. 3/5 Grass Great transition. I like the eastern motifs. Decent chorus, like the subtle psychedelia of it. Very pleasant. Decent. 3.5/5 The Meeting Place Don't love the vocals. Sounds at times kinda shrill. Has some decent synth effects, but otherwise kind of forgetable. The world's most boring bassline. Dislike. 2/5 That's Really Super, Supergirl Fun title. A bit too in your face for my liking. Really campy, kinda fun. Honestly a bit irritating with the very busy instrumental. Average. 2.5/5 Ballet For A Rainy Day Kinda weird. It's a lot. Nothing ever gets any time to breathe, it just moves onto the next thing. Messy and difficult to process. Dislike. 2/5 1000 Umbrellas Really cool transition. Interesting premise. I kinda like the string heavy instrumental. Pretty creative, but not entirely pleasant. Fine. 3/5 Season Cycle Kinda quirky. I like the backing vocals, fun harmonies. Has some catchy moments. Okay premise. Fine. 3/5 Earn Enough For Us Blends into the background. Doesn't really do anything for me. The vocals are kinda annoying. Dislike. 2/5 Big Day I like the reverby eastern inspired sound. Has some really cool psychedelic moments. Interesting atmosphere. Decent. 3.5/5 Another Satellite Can't really tell what that watery mechanical effect is supposed to be, but it's pretty cool. Fits with the space theme. Wish it did more with it. Really don't like the vocals despite the fun presentation. Average. 2.5/5 Mermaid Smiled Really like the instrumental. Very unique composition and structure. Ebbs and flows really satsfyingly. Decent. 3.5/5 The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul Has some fun jazzy progression which really makes it stick out on the album. Love the flute. Surprisingly catchy. Instrumentally varied with a lot of fresh and fulfilling ideas. Great. 4.5/5 Dying Cool harmonies. Pleasant sound. Lovely break from all the chaos. Fine. 3/5 Sacrificial Bonfire. Fun percussion in the intro. Don't like the vocals here at all. He has some strange inflections that kinda throw me off. I like the violin a lot. Solid ending. Fine. 3/5 Dear God Interesting change of vocals, the lyrics are really interesting coming from what sounds like a child. Love the simple guitar riff. The religious critisism is a bit on the nose, but it's nice to have something that's easy to follow along to for once. Catchy and concise. Striking changeup with powerful rhythm. Good. 4/5 Final review: It's really creative and different from a lot of stuff I associate with that particular era, but it's just so much. I really like the risky, diverse and ambitious instrumental choices. Love how they go from eastern inspired motifs, to classical violins, to weird jazzy progression and finally to more contemporary synths. What I don't always love is how overbearing and busy it can get, frontloading the songs with so many different elements that they end up a bit all over the place. Another minor complaint I have is that the vocals don't always sound great to me, which combined with the often times busy instrumentals leads to the songs not always sounding too pleasant. I appreciate the effort to sound different and diverse, but the album never really finds its footing because of it. It's never able to explore a sound concisely to the fullest, leaving me a bit unfulfilled. That being said it's good moments are really good, and even some of the bad have a solid amount of charm to them. I've heard plenty worse and will hear plenty better, but at least it was interesting. 3/5
good, but not for me. i heard the last song before and i like "dying" but it didnt quite call out to me
Interesting
Interesting listen. Nice musicality, rich organic sound, but not 100% sold on the vocals. Does seem a bit like a less stereotypically-80s Tears for Fears. Will revisit to see if it grows on me.
This is #day363 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this is already my second XTC album. I remember I wasn't that impressed with the first one I got on my #day216 and gave it a 2. This one? It's like Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper got married in the mid-'80s. "A loose concept album about a nonspecific cycle, such as a day, a year, the seasons, or a life." Honestly, "nonspecific" is a fitting word to describe how I feel about this band/album. "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" is a standout, though. A very The The, Talk Talk circa The Colour Of Spring sounding piece. And then there was "Dear God," which rang a bell instantly. Let it be a loose 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day364.
I appreciate the album’s concept and the way it moves through different moods and styles. It’s diverse, detailed, and pleasant to listen to, but it didn’t grab me enough to make me want to return. More of an interesting one-time experience than a future favourite.
Fine, but unremarkable 3.5 stars.
One stunner of a song - Dear God - and a lot of perfectly fine English, bookish pop. Fascinating band and, like many others on this list, I'm impressed they built a whole career out of this even if it's not something I would regularly put on.
Fine
Pretty good.
Grass Dear God
Decent. Worst Song: 1000 Umbrellas Best Song: Summer's Cauldron Added to Liked Songs: Grass, Ballet For A Rainy Day, Earn Enough For Us, Another Satellite
***An ok album, easy listening
A weird mess with the exception of Dear God. That song felt like a treat at the end of the album for getting through the rest of it.
Pop like 80’s
70’s / 80’s British pop rock
I wouldn't put this on a list like this, but it's listenable. 2.5.
I enjoyed this during listening but very little stood out afterwards. Maybe I had this one while really absorbed in writing, maybe it's a forgettable album - and I kind of lean to the second because I did that with 'Heaven or Las Vegas' but came back to it.
Pretty decent
Like a not quite alternate 80s tasting menu. some of it good, nothing really bad but nothing I’ve added to relisten lists so pretty much the definition of a 3/5
Pretty front-loaded but the front isn’t great to begin with. “Dear God” is a great closer but it is a bonus track so I can’t factor that in too much.
Something very European about this 1001 album list
Didn't listen, but have heard before. It ight.
yeah sure
I wanted to like this, and I think I would have more if I'd discovered it when I was sixteen and living in the 80s. As for now? Meh.
I have heard of this specific album by this band, so it must be one that people really like. This was not what I was expecting as far as 80s music goes. Pretty fun and interesting music. Listed to this a few times, and really liked it.
Jazzy, interesting, not for me
Didn't know much about them but a pleasant listen...just not great
I enjoyed how the album flows together and the sense of life and colour emanating from it. But I’d struggle to name one track I really love, despite all that. From the two XTC albums I’ve heard now I conclude that I generally like their ideas, but not necessarily their execution. Or maybe I like their style, but not their substance?
I found it quite nice, easy listening. I liked the concept. Felt that it fell a little bit flat and got a bit boring/didn’t have my attention the whole time listening.
Some classic XTC tracks on this one. Still sounds great.
This was a solid listen. Do I think it was revolutionary? No. Is it something I’m probably going to listen to again? Also no. But for an hour it was a pleasant soundtrack to my work day.
I love Dear God. The rest is not bad. There are some interesting arrangements, and it does not get boring, but then, nothing I remember was outstanding.
Very weird album, I wouldn’t call it bad but I don’t know what I would call it
Interesting to hear an 80s album that sounds like it’s out of the 60s.
Not bad, but too comicky
Beatles-vibes. Koringa kunne hatt lengre toner, så det ble mer polyfonisk og harmonisk. Gøy overganger mellom låtene - føles ut som albumet henger sammen og er en kjempelang låt. - var visst bare mellom første og andre låt. nei, det var det faktisk ikke. høres ut som sitar, så beatles-vibes fra mer 70-80-tallet - da lucy in the skys with diamonds kom ut. Pianolyden også er miksa funky. ikke helt honky tonk, men ligner litt. leker mye med reverbs og effekter - sikkert rundt nå de har oppdaget dette som en effekt og gøy? uuh, strykere og cello! fortsatt beatles-vibes. spor nr. 12: ble plutselig veldig jazzete i forhold til resten. alt annet er mer 70-80-talls rock, men så ble det jazz med kontrabass og tverrfløyte som improviserer over? også litt sting-aktig over det.
well, I had one XTC track on my liked songs playlist already (not on this album) so wasn't completely unfamiliar with what I was getting in to - though this album is definitely more on the artpop side of things you can hear some Spandau Ballet in tracks like Super Girl and Ballet for a Rainy Day its approachable, inoffensive and catchy tho.
This has really held up well for me. Listened to this a ton as a young teen. When I saw it was my album today I was worried it would seem really dated or cheesy, but to my surprise I really remembered and enjoyed it all. Almost a 4 for me. Almost. 3.90
Not what I expected in a good way….
Dear God is a fabulous song. Otherwise, I find this album just pleasant pop and a bit bland. Andy Partridge's voice is distinctive and good.
Rather a timely selection today. XTC were never a favourite of mine but I never listened to them intently. This album came to my notice a year or so ago. It was mentioned by Steven Wilson in his and Tim Bowness’s Album Years podcast which I have followed religiously and as a result have discovered a treasure trove of previously unknown albums. This particular XTC album was one that they both raved about so I made a mental note to give it a listen but then immediately forgot about it. That is until getting this reminder today. It is a good album and one which I shouldn’t have ignored but still screams 1980 vibes. So being children of the 80’s I can understand why Steven and Tim relate to this but I’m not and don’t. 3/5 14/5/25
The album is good in places, but not great, and boring in some places.
this is a great example of an album that i don’t think deserves to be on this list. not because it’s bad, but because it’s just so middle-of-the-road uninteresting. admittedly the last two songs are at a higher level than the rest of it and that’s why it gets 3 stars instead of 2
Kind of Beatles vibes
I saw that this album was an alt record from the 80s, and I didn’t have my hopes up. But it was much better than I expected! There are definitely some sounds in this album that were influential to later bands.
Good stuff. Not offensive.
Had best veel zin in deze plaat, maar hij viel me eerlijk gezegd een beetje tegen. Met Summers Cauldron begint de plaat nog goed, en de overgang naar Grass vond ik erg verrassend. Maar later op de plaat zitten er ook wat mindere tracks en heb ik zin hier en daar wat door te klikken. Dear God heb ik wel gehaald. Gelukkig, want dat is een pareltje. 7/10 Highlights Summers Cauldron Dear God
I'll level with you: I didn't much fancy this today. It started ok but I found the overall experience a bit too twee. I'm rating it a 3 just now as I suspect there might be stuff that's worth revisiting - but I didn't really feel I 'got it' on today's playback.
I knew the name of the band and the album cover. But not the music on the album. I associated a different genre with the name of the group. But I was wrong. I found the album quite enjoyable in parts. However, nothing really impressed me and so it droned on in the background, not disturbing, but not inspiring me either. 3/5
Complex concept album with orchestral support.
Best song is last song. The album flows very well as others have noted. It’s just not a great album, but there really aren’t any bad songs.
Lidt gammelt poprock, et sjat gode numre
This took me some time to warm up too, though ultimately I still wasn't crazy about it. A lot of Beatlesesque songs and a few that felt more like new wave. Sometimes the lead vocals reminded me of a singer I love, Joe Jackson, but a lot of the times the vocals annoyed me. I think too often the music is a little too cute or something. "Earn Enough for Us" is my favorite song here. The lyrics on "Dear God" are really strong too. That 'Hey, God, what are you doing up there while we suffer?' sort of theme is something I think about it a lot.
This was an enjoyable listen, even if I had remembered that XTC was on this list already but I totally forgot what their sound was like. "Earn Enough For Us" is probably my favorite on the record, and it reminds me of older Weezer (even though it should be Weezer sounding like this), which is great. Solid melody with a ton of catchiness, and fun bop-around drum beats. I really enjoyed the chamber strings on the chamber pop track "1000 Umbrellas" too. Really unique song here that pulled me in. Unfortunately I'm pretty conflicted with this rating album. The instrumentation is cool and I like the vocalist most of the time, but not all of the time. I think it's a high 3, but not quite enough for a 4.
Mid 3s for me, very few bands sound like XTC in their prime.
I enjoyed it but it hasn’t stuck in my head so I’ll be unlikely to revisit
One of the bands that defined the New Wave of British Pop/Rock in the post-punk era. Not my fav album from XTC, still afine effort.
Ничего особенного
Mediocre album, but I enjoyed listening to it.
What a funny album. My first reaction was that it was a little too chipper. There are some bad songs on here and there are some astoundingly bad songs on here. Super girl is so bad I can’t even bring myself to skip it. It’s like a train wreck. It’s a work of art to create something that corny and intolerable. It was the first song that grabbed my attention in the initial play though and formed my first impression. Then there's that last song that is relentless in condemning god and the whole religious right for kidding themselves when there's awful shit happening in the world all the time. Couple of listens later I realize there's a lot of dark stuff in this album. It’s one of the things that I think is interesting and makes this worthy of paying a little more attention. There’s a heavy gloss of commercial pop with a lot of trouble going on under the surface: Summer's Cauldron - Don't try and rescue me, I'm just going to lay here in this lava flow Earn Enough for Us - We're broke and now you're pregnant? Dying - they wrote a song called 'dying.' Dear god - when I asked my wife if this was the band that plays "don't change" she told me no they wrote this song. True, a lot of this is pretty cliche, but it is present and that's worth something. Songs I liked: -The meeting place. -Ballet for a rainy day (reminds me of One Tin Soldier by Mad Parade) -Season Cycle -Earn enough for us What I think each of these songs do is temper some of the more obnoxious aspects of songs like Supergirl and the Man Who Sailed Around His Soul. All of these have a characteristic sound. Bright, cheery pop music. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like music you would put into an ad for furniture or play at the mall. It's a very 80's sound. Vocals somewhere between Depeche Mode and Echo and the Bunnymen. Sunday church music. I donno. It's working for me. Songs I really liked: -Another Satellite is my favorite song on the album. It’s almost a really good song. Reminds me of Invisible Sun by the Police. Another standout song on an album I can't entirely get behind. -Sacrificial Bonfire. I've thought a lot about ritual sacrifice. There's nothing about that that's part of my culture so it's entirely exotic. I've read about contemporary accounts that are less religious and more communal, but still with some ritualistic aspects. I worked with a lady whose relatives in Mexico would slaughter goats. Read about a family slaughtering a bull in Syria. In either case the whole community gets involved. Neighbors, friends, everybody. Grab your slice. Build a fire. We're feasting. It sounds great. In ancient contexts, I'm sure that was certainly an element. But then supercharge that with the presence of the divine. Greek temples are bone white today, but imagine them back then - brightly painted, the sounds of prayer and chanting, the smell of smoke and blood, the electric feeling of animal fear and death. There's also the fact that the religious feeling that would have been the most powerful element of that experience is utterly incomprehensible to us. The gulf is too great. Time has obliterated it. All we can do is imagine. So is that what this song is engaged in? Maybe. I have no idea. But this song is good. I think the piano and vocals go really well together. It conjures a really clear image. I think I'm giving this a three. If you make a playlist of only the good songs on this album, it's pretty listenable. Do they rehabilitate the truly bad stuff that's all over this album? Probably not. But I do think there's something unique and listenable about the good stuff that makes this worthy of a listen.
I wrote a whole thing and it didn’t save. Here’s the bullets Weird album. Dug it, but probably need to listen again. The band hops genres like no other
Meh. Kind of like the British version of Steely Dan.
clocked that this was the "Super Supergirl" band right away, love that one this did not feel like a 1986 album but what do I know? Def liked this one but not really special
Some nice acid/psychedelic touches to pop songs; felt a bit tentative in their approach, if only they went all out.
Album 752 of 1089 XTC - Skylarking (1986) Rating : 3 / 5 Enjoyable enough album but one that I likely won't think about again.
An unusual record, hard to characterise, I will listen again, tuneful but eclectic, not what I was expecting more experimental in many ways, they were obviously a band not focussed on hits.
Favorite song: summers cauldron. Overall score: 7/10
Oh, this was lovely! I didn't expect it to love the sound so much and I'll definitely be checking out more of XTC's discography. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it through the whole album due to lack of time, but having listened through the first half, I really enjoyed the whimsy of the overall tone. My favourite song from the ones I managed to get through was Ballet For A Rainy Day!
It sounds a little too grunge to me, but I really really loved the man who sailed around his soul and summer cauldron
Decent listen. Dear God is a classic and somewhat fitting in today's times. Still think Drums and Wires is their best album.
Czasami brzmią jak słabsi, mniej utalentowani Beatlesi z lat 80. Chwytliwe kawałki pozbawione duszy i oryginalności. Słucha się przyjemnie, ale wielkich emocji raczej nie dostarcza. 2-3 dobre kawałki, do których można wrocic, ale niewiele więcej. 6.5/10 równane w dół, bo nie lubię aż tak oczywistych inspiracji Wielkimi.
🎧Decent enough
Hmmm. I really like Grass and Dear God. Some of the rest are slightly irritating. I find this with XTC, some good shit, some annoying shit.
They’re an ok band. I skimmed all their early records; for me there’s too much keyboard and too many mid-tempo tunes. I don’t care for it, but I’m glad to have heard it.
My knowledge of XTC stops at Senses working overtime. So I was interested when this album came up on the list. And you know what I quite enjoyed it. Wouldn’t say it was mind blowing but it was definitely steady with some great, good and a few bland tracks on there… now what album is Senses working overtime on cause that’s a banger….
Not sure who I was thinking of but I thought XTC was a hip hop band. This album was not bad considering I didn’t expect it. Some songs seemed like 69s sons. 1 song could have been a James Bond them. Interesting.
not too bad. i like a new-wave adjacent vibe. Dear God was probably the best track.
I like to imagine someone has used that “it’s your big day” song in their wedding
Skylarking would be an excellent EP or drastically pared down album. Summer’s Cauldron, Grass, The Meeting Place, Dear God, Earn Enough For Us, and Another Satellite anchor an album that tends to drift in to mediocrity with its bloated middle. Look to their Black Sea album for classic hits like General Majors and Respectable Street.
New wave. very upbeat
It's fine. I always feel like I should like XTC more than I do.
Some interesting musical ideas, but kinda bland overall.
I enjoyed this album for the 80’s nostalgia. You can hear some Beatles influence on a few songs but it’s not heavy handed as some reviews would suggest. It’s a well written and crafted and a pleasure to listen to.
This is a good pop record with some good songs. I can hear the Beatles influences here. All the same not a huge fan.
Only knew XTC from their excellent hits. Looked forward to an entire album. Altough it's good, it never lived up to my expectations...Dear God is 5+ stars worth of course!
Bit bland
Very English, sounding like a 60's concept album with a prelude to the 90's Brit sound. And all wrapped up in 80's production. Solid.
Good enough
Pretty different than a lot of the 80s stuff I have heard.
I really couldn't get a read on this album, but I will say there were many moments where I was hooked into a song with a catchy moment. Supergirl was a particular favourite. A curious 3.5, definitely one that's up for a re-listen.
One decent song, the rest were okay.
3.1 - Ah I really wanted to like this and was looking forward to it. Felt like first and last song where great and the rest was a bit filler
Actually, that wasn't a bad album, in fact it was pretty good, possibly even enjoyable at times. I would definitely recommend this for background listening but if you are listening to this on your headphones while walking on the street, it would be a bit meh. Also, this definitely doesn't feel like a 1986 album, but instead like something from this century. The last song "Dear God" was the best one and it definitely improved my experience and rating because they left me with that song in mind, and it also has the most listens on Spotify, which I hadn't noticed until I started enjoying it a bit too much.