Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Some nice sounds. Pedestrian lyrics.
Ihan jepa!
The parts that weren't your generic 80's pop music were pretty cool!
Meh
enjoyed a lot of this, but also some was difficult for me… standout- summer’s cauldron
This was pleasant, I'd probably Listen again.
Some lovely and interesting compositions paired with rightly-lauded production. Varied, arguably progressive. Album opens with a two-part in Summer's Cauldron/Grass that feels as warm as that season's sun, complete with some birdsong. I'd describe it as baroque pop. The album closes with a run of varied tunes on introspection that sound a bit more like pop jazz (The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul), a modern composition of English trad folk (albeit with 1986 production - Sacrificial Bonfire) and a 60s folks protest song written to God instead of the government (Dear God). It's an effective album, and I can hear its influences now. Having said that, it remains somewhat ephemeral -- perhaps just a little bloated in the middle. Unlikely to get another full listen, but I'm glad I visited Skylarking.
Nice sound on the reworked album. Original not so good. Sixties sound to a lot of the tracks but has Andy's stamp all over them.
this rock hard fortnight long constipation turd of an album makes me yearn for the classic 70s style 2 hits and filler album. XTC have 2 decent songs, neither of them were on this utter wank. this is so shite i'm annoyed i had to listen to it.
Fun fact: Skylarking is a colloquial term for bumming
For a long time I got mixed up between XTC and INXS, but no longer. XTC are the good ones. It's a really beautiful and atmospheric album, and one I'll definitely come back to, even if there are no truly standout tracks.
I don’t think this is really my vibe but it made nice background music for tidying up! I found Dear God pretty chilling. It was otherwise kind of hard to distinguish between the songs, they all sounded very similar
3.5/5
Failed to trigger any meaningful emotions. I’d classify this as just another one of many (most) albums.
I don't think this stands the test of time very well. Seemed really bland and trying to be a bit Beatlesy in places. A couple of standout tunes that weren't so bad give it an extra star.
I like XTC and I liked this album, but I had never heard any of the tracks from Skylarking before. I didn't find any new immediate favorites from the band, but I'm worried I'm being too critical. I do have some strong favorites from the band, and this album didn't quite reach those levels. Could I listen to this album again? Yes. Will I listen to this album again? ¿Maybe? XTC has enough layers to their music in general, that I'm pretty sure that this album could be work listening to again.
Reminds me of a knock off of the Beatles at times. Makes me tired. Not my thing.
8/10
Weird
At its best, this album is reminiscent of a late stage Kinks record; at its worst, it sort of forgets what it is in its attempt to be whimsical and weird. Overall a fun listen with some catchy pop rock hooks that sound outside the new wave format.
I’ve come to realize I really only like “Making Plans For Nigel” from XTC, and, reader, that song's not on this record.
A gorgeous and lush 80s prog prop album that evokes pure joy. It's very Beatles-esque: the dissonant strings in "1000 Umbrellas" sound like "I Am the Walrus", and the vocals in "Big Day" sounds like "Lucy in the Sky". It's a very welcoming and accessible album, with countless hooks and plenty to pay attention to on each listen with coming off as overwhelming. Really, it's just like the Beatles during their Sgt Pepper-era mixed with other 60s sounds (the sunshine pop of Young Rascals) and of course the contemporary scene (the synth-pop of Depeche Mode, the power pop of Elvis Costello). Todd Rundgren and Alan Partridge did an amazing work on production, despite the disagreements. Everything is well-mixed. Nothing is out-of-place or hidden. Synth effects are appropriately used, maintaining this consistent bright sound while at the same time throwing new cool effects with each track. Tracks flow seamlessly between each other, it's hardly noticeable due to how smooth it is. The only downside is that the songs get weaker in the second half. They're just as creative and innovative, but there are less hooks and energy. This leaves most people to lose interest. I'm almost tempted to lose a star due to how many songs this affects, but you'd still enjoy it to the fullest extent as long as you're paying attention, and the mellow mood does work to gently close the record. So I can't say the lack of hooks alone is enough to detract from the full score; you'd just need to put extra work and change how you were listening to fully appreciate it.
I've always enjoyed XTC, but sometimes I felt it was a band that people were like "you should listen to XTC." Me: "Why?" And no one could give a great single reason. Is it their quirky lyrics? The hooks that suddenly go completely askew from what you expect? The fact that the songs sound like they're pop songs but from another planet? It's like aliens listened to the music of the 60s and tried to make their own version and so the music sounds a bit... off. Regardless, there's something about them I always enjoy. And then there's "Dear God", the non-album single that made its way back to the album. I like the song quite a lot, but putting it back on the album in repressings... it doesn't feel like it fits the overall tone of the rest of the album. A lot of the songs run together so well, and that's just... thrown on there. I remember hearing Rundgren on a podcast about this album and how rough it was because Partridge was so difficult. I like this album a good deal, but it's not my favorite: "The Meeting Place," and "Grass" are the two standouts for me.
If only this was a best of XTC album, I could probably give them a 4 or 5. They have some songs that I really love (many not on this album and from a bunch of different albums) but they're so all over the place. Their lyrics are usually very good, and this album is no different. In some ways I wish someone else got ahold of them and added different music to back up the vocals or changed the melodies altogether. Take That's Really Super Supergirl. So cheeky and clever, and so ahead of it's time (I think a lot of 90's rock had the song's sardonic MO) but the tempo and the instrumentation is just a bit off. It could really kick ass if remade with a different sound. Other songs, like Summer's Cauldron sound cool at times and then off other times - just as I'm getting into it I find myself saying why'd you do that/make it sound that way? They can do it (harmonize) because they have some nice segues from song to song (Summer's Cauldron to Grass, Ballet for a Rainy Day to 1000 Umbrellas), they're just inconsistent. Dear God is the one song that they really nail - the lyrics are both cheeky (I pray you can make it better down here, I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer) and incredibly deep (did you make mankind after we made you? and the devil too?) and the musical accompaniment is so on point. Earn Enough for Us is another song where they seem to better match up vocals and music. All in all, like their whole catalogue, this album is an admirable but even collection of songs.
Quirky and melodic goodness
Album #8 This the first album/artist for which I have zero expectations. First impressions is that it sounds like 80s British music, but there's an odd, almost psychedelic and world fusion aspect to it. The sound is pretty airy with interesting samples of birds, clocks(?), horse trots and other sounds. Synthesized percussion as well. Pretty neat. Not my deal, but I can see the appeal. As the album goes on, it starts to feel more like rock album with clearer guitar, bass, and drum. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul is pretty cool with its flute, horns, surf guitar and jazz groove. My favorite on the album.. Dear God is quite intense and almost doesn't fit the rest of the album. Seems like an atheist anthem. Despite the subject matter, it's quite good and powerful. I started with 2.5* but bumped it to 3*.
Not really for me but ok
first listen i think this is actually quite good
BL: Never heard of XTC, interested to hear, like the album cover although it is incredibly 80s AL: I liked this. A very solid record. I did feel I would maybe appreciate it more on a repeat listen however the first time around it was very solid. FT: “Summer’s Cauldron”, “Season Cycle”, “Dear God” 3/5
3.5 - bump up for Dear God
J'ai toujours pensé que jouer de la flûte tout nu n'était pas un concept d'album assez fort pour se lancer dans une telle entreprise et je crois que ça s'est vérifié ici.
Cet album pourtant relativement court m'a paru interminable, la marque des plus grands albums de tous les temps visiblement.
Mais um pop dos anos 80, não ficou nenhuma reminiscência.
Meh
Decent album with a great closing track. Its a little stodgy, and not to my personal taste. 3/5
An incredibly unusual album. Needs further listens, but like a combination of the strangest ends of 80s pop - like Scritti Pollitti doing Kate Bush covers, or Duran Duran produced by Robert Smith. I honestly don't know of I like it or not - which usually means I'll love it in about 6 months.
If the Beatles chose to go New Wave they’d sound nothing like this, but kind of close. Dear God was pretty awful.
I'm doing dull repetitive stuff for work right now... this album got put on. I've not yawned this much in hours.
I listened to it twice. I want to have an opinion but I just can't make myself form one.
Een beetje een meh album. Er staat 1 nummer op wat me aan Blur doet denken, de rest is vergeetbaar. Maar niet heel vervelend.
Interesting as a concept album, but I just hate his voice. Sorry.
Not bad, but not really great.
I was really annoyed by this album. I'll acknowledge their uniqueness and creativity, but I could rest in peace without having to hear XTC ever again.
As an XTC fan, I feel this list is lacking some key albums (Drums & Wires, for example, would have been an obvious choice for inclusion). I also feel that Skylarking is generally somewhat over-represented in their discography, but man is it an immaculate listen. Jam-packed with great songwriting and little brilliant moments that add up to such a rich whole. As an album experience, it’s probably the most cohesive XTC ever got. I also want to mention that Andy Partridge is one of my favourite lyricists in pop, as someone who usually doesn’t put so much importance into lyrics in music. He uses wit, poetry and humour to make texts that are great in their own right, and combined with his songs elevate eachother even higher. This is not to ignore Colin Moulding’s role, as him getting 5 songs on the album rather than the usual 1-2 per album is another thing that helps to make the album so special. Dave Gregory also needs to be mentioned for his musical contributions, for example his tasteful(ly short) guitar solo on ”That’s Really Super, Supergirl” and impressive string arrangement for ”1000 Umbrellas”. What a great band :)
Chill och cool musik men idk inte helt min grej
A really strange album, not quite rock, not quite pop and not quite psychedelic - a real mix of all three with leanings towards the rock/pop side. Despite all of the issues they had with the recordings and the abundance of choices they had with their demos, XTC managed to capture the feeling of significant life milestones including birth, young love, family, labour, illness, death, sprinkled with moments of wonderment. Best: Dear God Worst: Dying 2.5 stars
Ok...I enjoyed about a third of it and could leave the rest. 2.5/5
I had expectations that this would be more of a dance/electronic album, but found it to be too “pop” and more mellow than I expected. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song:
Whimsical, 80s synth pop. Not really really it.
3.5/5. So I suppose this is proto-Britpop.
I just didn't care fir this. Overly twee.
Just boring
When the final song came on, Dear God, I thought thank god. Although, it was probably my favourite track of this drab drab album.
Dear God is the best song of 1986, quite possibly of the 1980s. It’s the atheist’s swan song; it has such a high place in my heart. Interesting that Todd Rundgren produced this. Even more interesting that XTC thought this was a subpar album. It’s a great album with a singularly lovely tune.
Rock. Muy bueno!
Lightweight sound, drenched with 80s feeling. Inoffensive but a bit boring
As with the 10cc album I got the main first impression I had was wow, Field Music owe a lot to these. Only knew Making Plans For Nigel by them. Stuck this on in the car in a rush to get to Stockport before the parts place closed, so I couldn't really hear it or concentrate on it much. Came back several weeks later, having heard Grass, excellent, lots of times slotted in between other stuff. I still drift away again for a few tracks after that high point but find 1000 Umbrellas catches my attention again, what a great song. Then I drift off again. I feel like I should be loving this more than I am. It's good, no doubt.
the beginning of summer's cauldron really got me hooked, I felt like I was ascending. i am not usually big on this genre but this album was so unnecessarily good. I also genuinely appreciated how most of the songs blended together.
Sometimes in the pocket with Tears for Fears, sometimes providing a melodic power pop link, it had been long enough since this list served us up a random 80s British new wave album I was open and ready. Really enjoyed and saved for a re-listen
Kind of Genesis-y. I'd heard of XTC before and this is absolutely not what I was expecting. I enjoy being surprised. But also it wasn't that impressive.
I like XTC's sound and when they find a hook for their songs. But too often their songwriting just meanders until it gets back to the catchy hook. That's fine unless the song doesn't have that hook. "Mermaid Smiled" is a perfect example of a hookless, meandering mess. "Earn Enough For Us", "Season Cycle" were decent songs. "Dear God" is just whining that seeks to blame somebody else for humans being assholes to one another due to our own folly and hubris. It became a hit simply because it gave d-bag, hipster college students the illusion that they were rebelling against their upbringing. Not so edgy.
Great songs very unique... Ween, Phish, 80s music, experimental. Dear God, Grass, and others were great.
An interesting album that I don't think is really my sound. Nonetheless, standouts lie in Summers Cauldron, Season Cycle, and Dear God.
some British nerds trying their hand at music closest to indie rock 2.5
Þessar raddir gera ekki mikið fyrir mig, en það er eitthvað töff við þessi lög og production. Ég hlustaði tvisvar og mæli. Þetta kom ánægjulega á óvart.
This one took me by surprise, I think I had these lads pegged as annoying 80s synth pop but they are closer to 10cc than ABC. Loving how blasphemous the last track is, loads of interesting production going on. The vocals irk me a little though, maybe I need a few more listens to become a proper fan.
Terrible, dry and boring
Idk I generally like XTC and was actually thinking about listening to this one a few days ago, but it just doesn't click with me. There are some pretty instrumental passages here and there, but largely I just found a lot of the music itself more boring than anything. 2.5/5
Didn't click for me at all. There were glimpses and moments where i connected but as a whole I found it pretty grating and disjointed. Maybe I'll like it more if I listen again at some later date but who knows. 2/5
now they tell me they made more Beatles tracks
I mean I have been really looking forward to see what this album was actually like for a while but honestly dear god is by far the best song and then it’s average 3/5
This is definitely one of the more unique albums I've listened to thus far. I was kind of ambivalent about it, though. I think I'll listen to it again as I had a hard time wrapping my brain around it the first time as I was somewhat distracted during the first listen through.
It confused me when I heard this album referred to as psychedelic after my first listen. But after my second, I get it. While it's pop at its core, many of the songs have that same dreamy feel present on many late Beatles recordings. It's sort of all over the place, while still sounding like every song belongs to a piece. It's a great, dense pop album, if maybe a little too whimsical at times.
This is one of those albums where every song sounds like a single, the pop sensibilities are so strong. I come back to this album often, there are so many great songs and the lyrics are fantastic: Grass, Supergirl, Earn Enough, Big Day, Mermaid Smile. My least favorite song is probably the one that was actually a single, Dear God. Despite its year of release, it does not sound dated given the avoidance of many of the 80s musical excesses, which may be attributed to the production from Todd Rundgren, although his impact is sometimes questioned. There is a dreamy fantasy feeling to this album in terms of sound and instrumentation, but also a working class Englishman vibe given the lyrical subject matter, the two meld oddly well together, presenting a surprisingly optimistic take on some benign topics. Love this one.
this is not the best xtc album and has adult contemp vibes at times. though i will say it has some interesting instrumentation and when it goes sparse it is electric, buzz buzz. they are more experimental with style and timing than most bands ie. insect sounds, combining rock with traditional folk styles, paired back instrumentation and pauses. i like xtc, but i would have picked a different album. still suffices.
алкоальбом: кисло сладкий травяной коктейль на джине очень умиротворяющая музыка
В целом, только позитивные впечатления. Очень лёгкий альбом, музыка тебя не нагружает, её приятно слушать. Но нудновато как-то слегка. Не могу сказать, что испытал какой-то прям вау-восторг от прослушивания, но и блевать не тянет.
я бы не сказал, что отсутствие его в списке как-то бы повлияло на итоговый список :////
Zzzzz... Tydelig datert musikk. Kjedelig melodi, kjedelig tekst. Her er vi litt som Beatles, bortsett fra at det ikke er Beatles.
It sounded of the 80s (ironic ik bc it was made 1986 but in a way unexpected): I was unsure the whole way through on whether to enjoy or hate each and every song. After some time I can see myself vibing to this album on repeat but at the end of the day none of it stuck in my head and screamed to me "FUCK THIS IS GOOD". On that note it's just underwhelming.
banco igual mid 7/10
6,5/10
Really like this album!
Not bad, but it sounded like fairly generic electro-pop
I have a lot of time for XTC and Black Sea, Drums and Wires and English Settlement are brilliant albums. Hope they come up later. I don't quite buy the 'late stuff is even better' - this has some lovely songs but it doesn't quite cut through, feels a bit 'classic' to me, though the occasional cut-through of the Wiltshire burr is always a joy.
Really not into that 90's Britpop thing
Kind of forgettable, but fine. ‘Dear God’ is a great song, though. Close to a 3, but I’d say more of a 2.
Some good tracks. But it's kinda weird overall. Never really got into a groove for me.
This was a surprise. After dreading yet another British 80s band, the first half of this album really roped me in. Excellent tunes and flow. Bit of a drop off though.
Jackson Pollock: Cant be fucked, sounds fine. Best: Worst: Overall:
Underwhelming.
This is not good. The lyrics are a bit too cheesy and in places godawful, the music is quite simplistic. Seems to be trying really hard to make a big hit, but it just sounds too constructed to be good, and there's nothing memorably good about this. The last track is as close as it gets to being interesting, but the lyrics are a bit obvious and in your face. 2/5.
Today we have yet another artist that has never come up on my radar. It’s always exciting when this happens, but also makes me question how sheltered my music listening must be to have never heard these apparently essential artists. Anyway, let’s listen! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Summer’s Cauldron, That’s Really Super Supergirl, Mermaid Smiled This is the first album I’ve heard in a long time where I felt truly blown away. Admittedly, it was the remastered version that I listened to, but the sound was so full and rich, and the mix of typical rock instruments together with orchestral sounds was magnificent. After listening, I looked a little more into the album and was astonished to find it came out in 1986. This sounds remarkably more modern than you might expect. Overall, this was fantastic. I’ve definitely found an album I’ll be returning to a lot.
I was always worried about listening to a full XTC album because I really liked the songs I'd heard (like "Dear God" and "Earn Enough For Us" are pretty brilliant) and was worried that the rest of their catalog wouldn't live up to my expectations. Turns out I was right. This album has a handful of great songs and the rest are pretty aggressively average. The great songs pull it up a little, but I wouldn't listen to the whole album again.
Before today, I'd never heard of XTC, so I had no idea what I was in for. Turns out that these guys are another obscure British rock band (this generator seems to love that genre a lot). It sounds like a shittier version of Tears for Fears. The album cover for Skylarking, upon first glance, looks like a woman laying down with a man squatting over her, and the woman performing fellatio on him. Upon further inspection, they are both playing flutes for some reason. That was probably done on purpose to look that way, because the first few songs on the record were about banging in the wilderness. XTC's sound was weird to nail down. They were kind of all over the place. For example: Season Cycle sounds like a Beach Boys song. The song Dying was a terribly morbid song. Dear God is an anti-religious anthem that would make anyone with a strong faith cringe. This is one of those bands that either put out bangers, or complete garbage, with nothing in between. This record had a strong start, but dropped off and slammed into a wall on the second half of the record. Overall, a weird one today. Not something I can ever see myself listening to again, and not really sure what this influenced, so I don't really know why it's included in this list? Favorite songs: Grass, Summer's Cauldron, Earn Enough For Us Least favorite songs: 1000 Umbrellas, Another Satellite, "That's Really Super, Supergirl", Mermaid Smiled, The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, Dear God 2/5
I don’t know what I expected but this wasn’t it. I quite enjoyed the album enough to give it a 3*
Yeah it was fine.
Brittipoppia mikä ei valitettavasti muhun nyt hirveesti iskenyt. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul oli mielenkiintoinen jazzi vivahteinen kappale ja lopetus Dear God ihan ok. Muut kappaleet ei jääneet oikein mieleen.
Reaaaaally good! 4+
Oh, this is fun
I don't know. It has it's good moments, just not enough to get 4. Unfortunately as whole it does not sound very interesting
Fine. Not really for me. Didn't hate it but won't be back. Found it abit one dimensional.
Really surprised with the sound on this. I’d only heard a couple of XTC songs before and always had them down as more punky. A few songs have the new wave / post punk sound, but quite a few are almost Beatles at times without ever sounding exactly like The Beatles. Then theres songs like Earn Enough For Us that is pretty much the blueprint for most late 80s / 90s US rock (REM / Guided by Voices etc). Cracking album though, slows down a bit at times in the middle though. Grass / Meeting Place / Really Super, Supergirl / Big Day were my highlights
Very eclectic, over the course of the album I thought parts sounded like blur, madness, the Beatles, jazz and other stuff I've already forgotten. Really interesting for one listen but not sure it would grow on me.
This was fine for me as background music. Can't really say much more.
Couldn't even manage to finish this album. Thought it was god awful.
Had absolutely no idea what to expect from this. Kinda wish I still didn't My initial impression was it was very 80s, but there's quite a lot of different styles in here. Don't think I really like much of it though! Most of it sounds like it's trying to sound like something else. Supergirl was quite catchy. 1000 umbrellas sounded a bit like Elvis Costello. The best track by far is dear God but that alone cannot redeem it. The rest is utter rubbish. I would feel guilty giving this the same as jay z as I much preferred that so this is getting a 1. Dear God is good though!
Damn were the 80’s lame! Even the alternative pop scene was shit
Would I listen again? Probably not. Did I enjoy listening once? Absolutely. Creative and great use of layered, orchestral sound. Amazing flow across the album and some really enjoyable tracks. Favorite by far was The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul. Also good: That's Really Super, Supergirl; Ballet for a Rainy Day; Season Cycle.
Pop-rock suavecín. Me ha gustado.
Empieza bien. Pero por el medio se enrolla un poco. 3
English rock alright
So, a confession. Another XTC album (The Big Express) is, for personal reasons, my most listened to album. And yet I'd never listened to their most successful album. Here I am, so thank you. So, many of us know 'Dear God' (make sure you listen to an album version that includes it), but this is just a luscious, expansive album that sounds like nothing else, yet sounds so... Swindon? I loved it, but will jump into the reviews now to find out what my non-English cousins make of it.
Very good find. 80s British pop and rock that actually sounds good.
I like the instrumentals in this album. The lyrics and singing style are kind of corny though. I normally love 80's cheese, but this was too much.
I thought I would need to give this another listen after the weekend but I don't want to haha! This was ok and I'd like to listen to something else from XTC maybe but this did not excite me. I can't remember anything standing out about this album and I cba to listen again - says it all.
I quite enjoyed this! Not as much as plans for Nigel era perhaps. Some were a little too jaunty and reminded me of Elvis Costello but on the whole I thought it was good
Yeah I liked this. Some bits were much better than others and there were a few duff ones but a pleasant listen.
This album has told me absolutely nothing :/
Not a big grabber on this one for me, but I do love this vibe. It was fine background that deserves a closer listen.
Extraordinary. A concept album that sounds utterly of it's time, but also has smudges of ELO, Joe Jackson and 1960s pop in there. It all comes together brilliantly. This is squarely in pop rock territory, but occupies the more questing, ambitious end of the spectrum. Why am I not surprised that Todd Rundgren had a hand in it? Regardless, for music of this ilk, this is about as good as things get.
Interesting, interesting. Not really familiar with this band. I liked some (the umbrellas tune), and disliked others. ("the man who sailed around his soul") Surprised by others - was that a kid singing the opening of "Dear God"? I hear stuff like this album and think: this is VERY British. But even I don't really know what that means. Sorry, Alex!
Just not too much into the 80s sound these days. This album had a nice relaxing feel though. I like the crickets chirping.
production/arrangements. yacht rock
I mean, this is OK. I don't really have an opinion on it. 100% neutral. What is it that makes a man neutral, Kiff?
A unique and enjoyable album. Some Beatles-esque tracks, and lots of unique uses of "found sounds".
Its not bad, just remarkably uninteresting
4 Tracks gehört, absoluter trash
There are about 15 songs by XTC that are absolute bangers. Every time one of them comes on I think "I should listen to more XTC." Then, I listen to more XTC and remember why I don't listen to more XTC. This is roughly a yearly occurrence. I struggled through this record, but I really liked 2 songs.
"Due to poor management, XTC never received a share of profits from record sales (of which there were millions), nor from touring revenue, forcing them into debt throughout the 1980s and 1990s." Wow... that.... sucks. Anyway, there was a pretty good song or two, but it was pretty hard to listen to straight through without skipping halfway into a song that I couldn't stand.
Please respect my privacy at this time.
The individual songs are pretty and move along sprightly one to another making the album quite pleasant to listen to in its entirety, even if lyrically it is pretty grim. But ultimately there's nothing to really sink your teeth into. Most of the songs are in one ear and out the other, like the inane but (weirdly) cheerful That's Really Super, Supergirl. Grass is a lovely song and I can still remember something about it by the end of the album. I have always liked Dear God, so extra star for that. Not sure there's enough here to be top 1001 but I certainly don't hate it. 2.5
This is a fun, bright album. It has that little sour flavor that comes with all British music. Nothing really grabbed me or offended me.
Har gjort mycket bättre album. Det här var ju bara moget och tråkigt.
‘Skylarking’ is a beautiful, musically sophisticated pop album about life and death, tinged with 60s psychedelia. Funnily enough a lot of albums from the mid 80s were tinged with 60’s psychedelia, but this is one of the best.
kinda annoying, kinda entertaining. The whole sound of this album is just off; like 1 riff will be fun or a chorus will be catchy but the rest of the song doesn't sit well with it. some standouts and some stinkers. best tracks: grass, ballet for a rainy day, season cycle
This was my first ever listen to this album (and an album by the band). I'm quite smitten. It is quirky and beautiful. Psychedelic pop brilliance.
This album was a pleasant surprise to me. I knew them from Making Plans for Nigel and Senses Working Overtime, both not on this album. Those songs are OK, but didn't make me check out an entire album. I should have. It's great. Todd Rundgren was supposed to make this sound less European. I don't think it worked. Reminds me of lots of other artists - older artists like Duran Duran, ELO, Joe Jackson and newer like Blur and the Kaiser Chiefs - but it sounds consistent. Most songs are great, but they could have left the last 2 off. Favorite song: Mermaid Smiled.
Gar nicht mal so gut. Gelegentlich ganz nett, sonst aber bestenfalls langweilig.
What a strange album. Exists in some weird space between pop and rock with some orchestral elements thrown in. Not really sure what I listened to there. Standouts: Summer's Cauldron, The Meeting Place, Earn Enough For Us, Sacrificial Bonfire, Dear God
Even though this album loses its way toward the end, I’m gonna give it a 4 because I loved how strange it was. First few songs were great and Dear God was a strong closer. Man, this was a doozy.
I thought that this album was interesting and conceptual with no boring parts. It wasn’t really my type of music, I have no complaints but it’s just something that I don’t love. I understand why people would listen to this- I would listen again but wouldn’t go out of my way to.
Love it. This album is somehow both poppy and melodic while being incredibly complex. Sometimes Andy Partridge's often unorthodox vocal melodies are hard to follow (he's a bit quirky that one) that I know that I didn't immediately always gravitate to back in their heyday but it fits the music to a T. Also noting the production on this album that you don't necessarily notice at first, there are tiny gems in each song that makes it all worth multiple plays - one little example is the chime melodies that parallel the vocal lines (e.g. "The Meeting Place") - just gives it an extra boost and sounds fantastic. The melodic influences bleed all over this album (Beach Boys; Beatles; Badfinger) - but also you can hear how they influenced the next generation of melodic pop rock; e.g. one of my alltime favourite bands is "Jellyfish" and holy hell you can hear how XTC influenced them, especially on a song like "Season Cycle" - the propelling melodies and unorthodox chord changes are never boring, and the vocals are Beach Boys level of smooth and complex. Keeper for anyone who likes power pop/rock and a bit of complexity. 8/10 4 stars.
I’m confused
Es como si hubiera viajado a una realidad paralela y estos la hubieran pegado en serio en vez de los Beatles o alguno más conocido que haga brit-pop
Dear God och Grass sticker ut. Haft den förstnämnda som tolvtummare.
Last one was the best
3.75
Als een soort Marty McFly zitten we nog steeds vast in het verleden, de jaren tachtig in dit geval. Ik vond dit een vrolijk en afwisselend album, eentje dat je rustig nog een keer kunt opzetten en dat is altijd een goed teken. Het doorstaat de tand des tijds een stuk beter omdat men niet achter alle elektronische modes (de al genoemde blikkerige keyboards en hakketakkerige drumcomputers) aan is gerend. En naar het schijnt gaat Grass niet eens over drugs.
Lekker jaren '80. Het luistert allemaal wel prima weg, maar er is niets wat er uitspringt.
Ik waan me in Thatcheriaans Engeland na de overkill aan britpoep 80s zo deze week. Gooi er dan ook nog een zeurderige stem tegenaan en ik ga er spontaan van demonstreren. Of een eilandengroep voor de kust van Argentinie bestormen. Echt heel slecht is het niet, huismerk Tears for Fears, maar ik voel op dit moment een enorme behoefte om even iets totaal anders dan 80s op te zetten.
This is another fave album of all times. I enjoyed the linked version of the album that included Dear God at the end. It's a great song but it breaks up the continuity of the album. For those not aware, it was added at the last minute and was not initially in the set roster. It's a great song, again, but does not fit the flow of the rest of the album.
80s
My favourite XTC album. Each track is a unique masterpiece, and I never got tired listening to them over all those years since I buyed this record.
That's just kind of a mess, isn't it? Why is this held is such high regard? There's not a single track that stands out and the whole album is riddled with random sound effects scattered around the mix like ants crawling around a picnic blanket. What a waste of time.
The Sgt. Pepper vibes are strong with this one. Maybe Andy Partridge and Todd Rundgren really did hate one another with the white hot intensity of 1,000 suns. Does it really matter if it leads to this sort of magic?
Some tunes on here but feels 10-15 mins too long
Not for me. I truly did not like any of the tracks.
I always liked XTC, but I didn't love them. I like this album well enough.
Shout out to Charles for bringing this one over to spin. I really enjoyed this record. A lot of records take several spins before I start to “get” it but there is something about “Skylarking” that just speaks to me. Every single song was filled to the brim with stuff that made me just say “wow”. The drum programming, the guitar tone, the vocal harmonies, the HOOKS (“Ballet for a raaaainy daaaaay // Silent film of melting miracle plaaaaay”). Oh! Also! The transitions between songs are so seamless that when we were spinning the thing I didn’t even realize a new song started, just thought it was a long bridge! I loved every bit of this album. It is so fun to listen to even with darker tracks like “Dying” and “Dear God” (speaking of which, Partridge’s delivery of why he can’t believe in God in the final verse is an incredible performance). This is most definitely going to be an album I return to again and again and so, thusly, verily, it is a 5/5 from me. Favorite track: “Earn for Us” with “Dear God” as a very close runner up.
I think “Dear God” is an important song, and sure, hear it before dying. But if you’re going to hear one XTC album, I don’t know that this is the one.
This is a little too cutesy for me, but it reminds me of the first two Eno records in a way, so it’s got that going for it, which is nice.
Really struggled to decide which way to rate this album. Some really interesting and creative sounds, definitely unique but at the same time it felt a bit 2-dimensional and not something I'm in a huge rush to listen to again.
It was good
I don't like it, it's really annoying.
I loved this. I will be listening to their whole discography.
Wow, I was worried at first, but as thw album just went on I loved it more and more, then I went back and I loved the songs I was initially questioning, and the whole album really clicked for me. It's really interesting, as I hear the 60's sound people say they here, but I also hear some music that would come from the 90's britpop era, but like, not bad? It's hard to explain, but I encourage if you think this album was close to clicking with you, listen again, it was really lovely, and I think this album is great. Can be a tad whiney at times in the vocals, but it doesn't detract past a small part of a song near the beginning.
Great stuff, quite possibly XTC's best. This record plows it's way through so many genres and feels at home in all of them
Esto estuvo fome
Whoops I forgot to listen but I already know I don’t like this album.
Started off fantastic, loved the first few songs, trickled off in quality down the stretch, but ended pretty good. 3.5/5
Meh, not my style. I liked the second half better.
I weirdly enjoyed this album! It felt like a bunch of 40 year old dads making a band. The arrangements and sonics were actually great, nothing was uneasy to listen to. The vocals sounded a lil goofy at times but nothing that wasn’t still at the very least fun to listen to. All of the songs sounded different enough that I never felt like they were repeating ideas too much. At times felt like a poor man’s Peter Gabriel or somethin haha. Really dope album and a cool listen, though I probably will not be revisiting.
Lush. This is about the album I expect Brian Wilson might have made if his brilliant, 20-year-old self had lived sometime in the mid-1980s instead of the late 60s. Which is high praise. It's not without its musical associations with the mid-80s zaniness of, say, Oingo Boingo and Danny Elfman, which I could take or leave generally. But this also reminds me of a British work that distinctly predates Talk Talk’s post-rock turn as far as experimentalism, multi-instrumentalism, recording/editing process, production, and genre-bending. This is art pop at its best. And I quite like it. It's so bright and warm and has layers not just in its sonics but in its lyrical content as a concept album. I liked almost every song. Though, by the time we got round to “The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul” and “Dying,” I was feeling tired and maybe could have skipped those two. Perhaps it could have been shorter, but it really isn’t all that long. I think it’s just a lot to take in at once, especially given there isn’t much quite like it; ie, I’m not bringing anything to the table that might help me ease into this album. It’s a completely fresh sound and I think these songs will grow on me. I’m going 5 stars. I’ve listened to a few songs off this album before, but never really sat down with it. It’s pretty incredible. And I bet it sounds great on a hi-fi speaker system.
Loved this album. Have loved a few songs off it for a few years now but never sat down and listened to the full thing until now. I've always considered the 80's to be simultaneously the best and worst decade for music. This albums definitely leans more towards the best part of it. Such a strong and specific sound. Lyrical content in some songs is also great (Dear God obviously) considering a lot of music from that time was words that sound cool. The album had a really strong start but it does kind of fall off in the middle a little for me, less clever song writing, sounds aren't as interesting. But it picks up again for the last few songs. Great cover art too.
This is the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and bitter to me. It's got tons of that anxious, foot-tapping energy, mixed with a tiny bit of that Steely Dan cynicism, but plenty of wacky fun in the production. Lots of Beach boys backing vocals, funny early Fairlight sampling, just silly songs performed seriously. Sounds like an extremely contentious recording process, from reading the Wikipedia. On that page, there's a picture of Andy Patridge self-seriously belting into a mic while reading from a comic book, and I think that pretty much sums it up for me! So wacky and fun and also serious. Gets me in all the right ways.
-"Ballet For A Rainy Day" sounded like an Electric Light Orchestra song -"Grass," "That's Really Super, Supergirl," "1000 Umbrellas," "Season Cycle," and"Earn Enough For Us" are all catchy fun tracks. -All the songs were good and cool to jam along to, but nothing stood out as impressive. I still enjoyed listening, and didn't mind doing a second listen, so that just bumps it up to 4 stars
Like XTC but this wasn't the best collection of their songs.
Hokey.
Competent, airy and not my thing.
I remember liking -- and probably owning? -- this album when it was released back in the 80s. It came out at a time when I was into this kind of pop and even though it's been decades since I've listened to it, it holds up better than I would've expected. My present-time ears hear a little too much of the typical mid-80s production things (sorry, not well-versed in music production so I can't name the techniques, but it seems around the kind of effects they use, the synths, and the mixing), so that sets it back a wee bit for me, but overall this shows some really nice songwriting and performing. But to this day, 'Dear God' is one of the finest songs I've ever heard. It's still brilliant to me.
Ik lige min kop te
Highlights: That's Really Super, Supergirl, 1000 Umbrellas, Earn Enough for Us.
pretty catchy, but the lyrics did get on my nerves. 6/10
7/10. Some of the songs were really good, others rather annoying. Still, didn't know I knew and liked so many XTC songs
Enjoyable enough. 7/10
Fine I just don't think I like the instrumentation/production which I recognize was of its time and seminal.
Interessante, bem agradável
I have a feeling that the more I listen to this album, the more I’ll like it. On my first listen, it had enough high points that I don’t remember the lows, but it was by no means perfect
i love that xtc
I’m more familiar with their earlier stuff, but this was excellent.
This was a lush well orchestrated album that reminded me of The Beach Boys with English folk revival and experimental folk like the Kink’s ‘Village Green Preservation Society.’ The biggest issue for me was the length and the fact that the album sounded a bit dated. In its greatest moments, it was absolutely gorgeous.
Wednesday, actually do some work, work out, back tight, chill, mice, walk, uneventful
Honestly, they’re just kind of a mediocre Tears for Fears
Voice reminds me a lot of tears for fears. A but yelpy.
Nothing really grabbed me but it wasn’t terrible either. I really have nothing to say about this one
It’s fine
Couple of these songs really pulled me into alternative music in the late 80s, notably Dear God. These guys were ahead of the game in my book, especially when you think about bands like Modest Mouse, Death Cab, and the Indie movement that emerged in the background of the 1990s. Not to mention some pretty good guitar work.
A breezy 1960s-esque quasi-psychedelic soft rock record. Pleasant and enjoyable with nice harmonies and interesting instrumentation. Tailed off a bit towards the end. I thought the band name sounded like a mobile phone until I said it out loud. Now I get it. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Grass Date listened: 27/10/22
Pretty good, enjoyed listening to 80's Brit sound
Stylish but the only read stand out for me was Dear God
It was kind of fun and new and interesting at first, but grew more tedious as the album went on, finally turning into boring 90s sitcom music toward the middle (I mean, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a show with the exact plot as Earn Enough For Us and Big Day). I love 80s punk as much as the next guy, but this is definitely skippable.
Interesting listen. I'd heard the name of the band before but wasn't familiar with their music. It was interesting, pretty inoffensive stuff. Could be put on the background and let it fade. Nothing really stood out for me. Perfectly bland middle ground.
First listen. Never heard of them. Decent British stuff.
Dated production bubbling pop
XTC is boring! Sorry!
Summer cauldron- samples are ingenious here👍 Grass- catchy but not my thing The meeting place - the bells in the chorus really remind me of the ring doorbell sound That's really super, supergirl - love the production on this one, is quite kitsch Ballet for a rainy day - great imagery in this song👍 1000 umbrellas- lots of strings on this one, very angst Season cycle- V cute👍 Earn enough for us- vocals a bit whiny on this one Big day- cynical wedding songs are not my genre. Another satellite - gotta respect dedication to the metaphor👍 Mermaid smiled- more tropical instrumentation diversifies this song The man who sailed around his soul- almost a bossa nova feel here, enjoyed this track👍 Dying - quite simple musically. Lyrics capture that some memories remain in your mind however trivial Sacrificial bonfire - sounds like a song in a shit musical about pagans Dear God- bars at the end tbh👍 I liked the first side more but all in all a very pleasant listening experience Very Beatles esque 4/ 5
Pop treballat però afable, d'estiu crepuscular. No hi ha temes que destaquin molt per sobre dels altres, però és un treball elegant, sofisticat i d'escolta agradable. El treball de producció de Rundgren es deixa notar i és un disc d'aquells que millora a cada escolta
4.2 - It might take a few minutes to get back into to this 80s pop sound that's a blend of INXS, Tears for Fears, Simply Red and other adult contemporary acts of the era. But the songs and the themes definitely warrant a close listen. The observation that this record feels like a "summer day baked into one cake" is an apt one. There are copious references to seasons, weddings, grass, rain, the ocean, punctuated by sounds of buzzing insects, waves, fire. I especially love the two-song suite of "Ballet For a Rainy Day" and "1000 Umbrellas" that explores the pleasures and pains of love. The latter song features some strange and intricate strings and vocal harmonies that are remarkable. I also love the synthesized drone in "Another Satellite" that evokes ocean waves, combined with staccato xylophone and Beach Boys-style harmonies. A couple of cloying moments ("That's Really Super, Supergirl", "The Man Who Sailed...") don't do enough to detract from an overall refreshing record.
Not my style.
I've listened to this band more this year than any other. While Earn Enough for Us & Dear God are the radio friendly hits, I'm blown away by 1000 Umbrellas. I love the strings & structure of the song. I'm wowed! Love me some XTC.
Expectations are a b. I knew Dear God and love the song. Knew nothing else about the band. Was expecting an angry punky gen x brit vibe and the album was a lot more like Sgt Peppers in the park on a Sunday. It was light and fun and the music was good. Wish the whole album had a Dear God vibe to it though.
Dear God is a beautiful ambitious song - hard to believe that they almost left it off! And the rest of the album is not too bad. Definitely original
- Never heard an XTC song before - First album from this that I didn't really enjoy - Liked a couple of songs, disliked a couple, meh on most - Fav songs: Grass, Ballet for a Rainy Day
Ethereal. Makes me feel like I'm floating on clouds, maaaaaan. "Dear God" is one of the best songs of all time. So good in fact, that it has a two paragraph long "Controversy" section on Wikipedia - that's how you know a song is bangin'.
Way better than I was expecting. Definitely going into my regular rotation.
ok not one i would bother with again.
Great XTC songs are true gems to be admired, but there is a quality to most of their music that is best described as "circus-like" which I cannot stand. Both are present in this record.
basically 80s garbage, just not in the way you think
Best Song: Dear God. Simple but earnest lyricsc, with a nice build towards crescendo in the end. Worst Song: Season Cycle. Sounds like the opening to a sitcom I wouldn't like. Overall: Other than a few highlights, a big bunch of British boredom. Certainly doesn't belong on this list, for how little reaction it manages to elicit in its nearly hour long runtime.
huilusta miinusta. alku ei ollut niin paha, loppu meni toisesta korvasta sisään, toisesta ulos
Tämä 80-lukulainen tribuutti 60-luvulle yhdistää hyviä melodioita outoihin (väkinäisiin) sointuvaihdoksiin. Ei saa minua ansaan.
This was a new one to me, I knew of XTC but was only familiar with a couple of their hits. I really enjoyed it, kind of like a weird cross over between Tears for Fears and the Beach Boys. Definitely think I'll be back for more of this, and will check out their other albums!
An odd'un. I enjoyed every minute of this album as it went past, but simultaneously don't remember much of it now it's passed. I love the idea of a song cycle as life span, and I *think* they succeeded here, but equally I can't remember if they did... It's mostly just nice, rather than mind blowing. But I can live with nice. Going to come back to it and see if it grows.
Beatlesque in the best possible way. Lush and layered and sweet-natured, with the exception of the stunning and irreligious closer, "Dear God." Partridge is a skilled lyricist (with a slightly endency toward cuteness [e.g., "pushing the pedals on the season's cycle"]) and, as a chamber pop composer, knows how to make excellent use of the strings. It approaches a kaleidoscopy swirl at times, which was cutting-edge in the day but still works pretty effectively, thanks to very strong overall content and strong production.
sounds felt like a modern twist on the Beetles. kept getting their melodies triggered.
Like, don't love
A few enjoyable songs
A really solid album with some eclectic songs. I’ve never listened to this band before. I’m going to check out some of their other albums.
Turn it on. It was ...
Not my style
Such mixed feelings. The album flows incredibly well but the album is kind of a mess. Then again, it is skylarking.
So I've straight up never heard of this band. Never heard of the album, never heard any of the singles. And it was terrific. It's like a Talking Heads sort of thing, with a lot of cool vocal harmonies. Like if the Beach Boys were an 80s new wave band. Anyhow, loved it.
An awesome album and XTCs best in my book...and that's saying something. This album is legendary for the acrimony between band and producer, Todd Rundgren. Apparently Andy Partridge and Rundgren were at each other's throats throughout the sessions. I don't know what the source(s) of the conflict were, but if music this inspired is the result then it was well worth every hurt feeling and acrimonious gesture. This is the album where XTC picked up the gauntlet of best British Psychedelic Pop band since the Beatles threw it down oh so many years ago. And I feel like Rundgren plays no small part. Favourite songs; Grass, Supergirl, Ballet for a Rainy Day, the jazzy The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul, the brilliant Dear God (which was not included on the original release and frankly seems a little out of place with the albums theme) and Sacrificial Bonfires. But really pointing out individual songs defeats the point of this album as every song is a little pop gem that deserves rapt attention. No brainer 5 stars.
Nope, did not like at all
Nah
Fantastic album! The first time it was okay, but the second time I listened to it was amazing. Can’t wait for the third try. The start of the album is the best and dear god is a good finish. Love the way some of the songs flow over into eachother. Favourite songs: - Summer’s cauldron - Grass - The meeting place - Dear God Honourable mention: ballet for a rainy day + 1000 umbrellas
Wow. A genuine find here. I sort of knew about XTC ('Making Plans for Nigel' etc), but had never troubled to explore further. Rundgren I met thanks to an earlier selection of 1001. 'Dear God' has left me in a puddle of inchoate emotion
I know the XTC has a cult following and has been very influential in the music industry, but this elicited a heavy 'Meh'.
New wave/pop album with only one exceptional song, tragically standing out in comparison to the rest of the album. XTC isn't a well known band, it doesn't have any strong position in any genre, and hasn't done anything revolutionary for music progression. In my opinion, the whole album actually feels like a filler for the single Dear God, which is a really good song, probably causing controversy even nowadays. Very smart lyrics and accompanying beats and melodies work amazing on this song, it's something I'm going to revisit every once in a while. Meanwhile, the rest of the album is totally anonymous. Nothing stands out, nothing caught my attention. There has to be something that I am missing, because there is no chance that Skylarking is on this list only for the song Dear God. Well, maybe time will tell, but at the moment the rating won't be too high.
Weird but good
cool
Lovely, smart, quirky pop songs. Lyrically clever, absolutely beautiful arrangements. There's a complexity and depth to these songs that lends itself to repeat listening. The album is new to me, but I imagine you could listen to this many times over and find something new and interesting every time. It's that kind of album. Fave Songs: Season Cycle; Ballet for a Rainy Day; 1000 Umbrellas; Sacrificial Bonfire; That's Really Super, Supergirl; Big Day. I didn't include "Dear God" in my rating, which wasn't on the original version of the album. It's the best song on the album, really brilliant. But musically it sounds like it doesn't belong with the others.
I swear I tried to like this but I find XTC one of those impossible bands that most of my friends love that I just don't get.
Occasional diatribes against God aside, this is a fun, intelligent, hook driven smart pop record with plenty of wit and verve. It is fascinating to see the move away from the early spiky punk to something more mellow and finely crafted. A great reminder that not all albums from the eighties were terrible.
Kooky and catchy
I like this a lot. Very eclectic with interesting arrangements and great melodies.
Really enjoyed the vibes on this one! Worth adding to the regular rotation
This is the real indie, very weird and relatively unsuccessful in its time. I liked it, it seemed like a genuine product of unique individuals.
Probably my favorite XTC album
Not bad, but quite an "easy to forget" album. At least it ends with an absolute banger.
Is it possible that I would have such a strong reaction to Queen if I hadn't heard it a million times growing up on the radio? Because actively choosing to push play on this album for the first time was not one of my best decisions. There are plenty of similarities between Queen and XTC ... like they're both British. One thing I thought interesting is that Todd Rungren produced this album... I bet that wasn't his best decision either ... or was it(?) Todd Rungren 'working' with XTC may've been the catalyst for this brilliant earworm... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Tcggo45TQ
A prolific English band places their 9th and 13th albums on the list. I wonder how many artists on the list took nine albums to generate something worthy. But here comes XTC, with a British album from the mid-80s that doesn’t have synths! Potential? Not really. “Skylarking” is much more cohesive than “Apple Venus vol. 1,” but also more consistently annoying.
At first I thought I didn’t like this because it was kind of boring. But then the nasally vocals got to me. And then I hit some really not good songs. All around thumbs down.
I did not find auditory ecstasy while listening to XTC.
Some ok parts but nothing to write home about.
I quite enjoyed this. The vocals weren’t amazing, but the instrumentation was cool.
I find XTC weird...I didn't dislike anything, but I also just find everything a bit off-kilter in a funny way. I dunno.
I liked this one! Reminded me a bit of the Flaming Lips.
May downgrade later but really enjoyed this yesterday
3.4 - decent album. Good melodies and interesting transition from the beginning to the end. Really enjoyed the final track, “Dear God”.
Actually really enjoyed this one
Better than expected
New Wave megalith XTC takes a left turn after their last album, taking inspiration from late 60's psychedelic pop. This sound is a perfect fit the songwriting talents of Andy Partridge, who expertly weaves various different sounds in and out of each song. Listening to Skylarking feels like listening to something special, like what the Beach Boys' Smile was meant to be. It genuinely feels like there are no low points in this album. Excellence.
This album was pretty dumb
I know a good amount of XTC but the only track I knew from this one is Dear God, which I've never been a fan of. Happily the rest of the album was much better to my ears, it's all quite smooth and poppy compared to their earlier post punk work but the tunes are great.
I have always loved this release. XTC has always defied categorization. Each song exists as stand alone gems. Smart pop? Chamber pop? Whatever we call it works for me. Also, Todd Rundgren as producer is a good match for the guys.
Nothing exceptional about this. Boring and at its best sounds like a derivative of Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson
Not unpleasant, but forgettable.
Probably my favorite XTC album. Never realized Todd Rundgren produced it, but it makes sense that he'd be the perfect fit for their unique arrangements and structures. Too bad he and Andy Partridge didn't get along, but they ended up making great work together.
I can appreciate what their going for, but it's not my thing. A bit too poppy.
A few bops. Real fuckin 80s tho
Didn't make it through this one. It's fine, but not my thing
I'd tell anyone who asked that I like XTC but this album isn't doing it for me. Dear God is a phenomenal song - the kid singing the first verse give me chills - but they decided to leave this song off the album! You've gotta be kidding.
It’s interesting, the many directions that the ‘new wave’ bands of the 70s wandered off in. This has a psychedelic, sixties, almost orchestral pop feel, with hints of the Beatles (especially Ballad for a Rainy Day followed by 100 Umbrellas). Dear God is a great song and I especially like bringing in a guest vocalist. It was the only song that caught my attention on the first lesson, but everything’s better second time around.
This album is lush and complex. It foreshadows quirky, witty and nuanced indie groups like Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, The Antlers etc. XTC was definitely ahead of their time.
Niet geheel mijn ding. Nogal zagerig soms
Inoffensive very 60s but pretty bland
XTC never did anything for me
Pretty dull
The jazz elements of the album stopped me giving it a 4 star.
There's a good album in here somewhere... appalling lyrics though kill any chance of finding it though
Many would consider this unpopular pop but I love it the arrangements are beautifully presented and you can sense Todd Rudgrens production presence. A mix of genres like psychedelic rock and alternative pop, as well as a sound I can only describe as spacey, I love this record! My favs were Dear God and The meeting place!
Really intriguing album!
Solid and enjoyable album with some Britpop and 60s pop elements. I can't tell you why I like it specifically but I can tell you that I do!
I had no idea what to expect from this album but it was pretty good. I really liked 1000 umbrellas and the rest of the songs were enjoyable too
Don't get it, seems at once twee and pretentious
What a weird, varied, and fantastic album.
Es interesante
Oh, this album was a breath of fresh air. I know for a fact that had I known it existed in 1986, it would have been a favorite. Why did it take this long? Interesting instrumentation, interesting lyrics, and all so enjoyable I listened to it four times today. "Umbilical" is much more fun to say when it rhymes with "cycle." Favorites are "Grass," "Ballet for a Rainy Day," "Season Cycle," "Mermaid Smiled," "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul," and "Dear God," but there's not a song I don't like. It's so much fun to get an album I've never heard before that I love so much!
I remember XTC being a band, but only recall hearing Dear God. The album sounds like one that I would have acquired back in the day had I known it. Kinda quirky with and upbeat happy vibe. I like it!
Delightful. Once again, I wonder why I wasn't in love with this band in college. They're great!
I hadn’t listened to this group before. It’s a happy sounding album, even when the songs deal with misery, breakups and death. The lyrics are rambly and witty, with an interesting 60s-meets-the-80s feel to it all. The song I really liked I learned was left off of the original release and hastily re-added after its success as a B-side in the US, “Dear God.” Ironic because this is the song I see myself revisiting from this album. There were a variety of instruments and arrangements, but struck me with a sameness that felt less interesting to me than it should have. I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed.
Solid in the first half, with interesting and unexpected melodies for an 80s Brit pop effort. Unfortunately gives in to its roots on the back, resorting to that intolerable sniveling vocal delivery the Brits were so fond of at the time plus overdramatic yet somehow equally bland songwriting.
A decently catchy album. Nothing groundbreaking, but enjoyable.
not for me
Pop suave y discreto. Canciones un tanto monótonas. Se puede escuchar, pero le falta algo de más variedad y de chispa
Didn’t like
Dear God was a great story telling song! Also liked Sacrificial 🔥 Bonfire. Very interesting album, each song was different than the last one. Never heard of this band but found it intriguing to listen to. Super, Supergirl!!
This album was listed as alternative but it feels more like something you'd hear at some 80's dive bar or night club. Very interesting and quirky, like many of the others that have been popping up. I wouldn't consider this worthy of this list but it was enjoyable.