Apple Venus Volume 1

This album is so essential that you can’t listen to it in America on a streaming service. Instead you get to hear it as the artist intended: broken up by commercials for reverse mortgages and carb-cutting diet fads on YouTube. Real talk though, this album’s alright. If you like the corniest of all the Beatles’ psychedelic pop experiments from the late sixties, you’ll love this record.

I've never heard any XTC before, and I'm not sure this was the best place to start; sounds like a bunch of middle-aged men in a shed in Shropshire doing a Beatles-prog crossover on the weekend. It's fine, but not great.

Fun and quirky and melodic. I was going to go with 4 stars because this is very much my kind of music, but I need to drop 1 whole star for "Your Dictionary" which has some of the dumbest lyrics I have ever heard in my entire god-forsaken life.

Second album by these guys here, their THIRTEENTH overall. English (ofc), mostly just an orchestra with the singer waxing lyrical over the top. Pompous and overblown, ambitious but directionless. etc etc. As a general rule, albums 30 years into a band's career just shouldn't be here. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but not today. Wikipedia says the album was plagued by "personal conflict", and to hazard a guess: the singer wrote the whole thing by himself and rest of the band told him to stick this vanity project nonsense up his arse. Eventually the singer had it released anyway. Wiki also says it was "praised by critics" - I'm not gonna go looking for reviews, but.... I bet it wasn't. lol. 2/5.

Interesting for sure. But *essential*? I'm not even certain that *Skylarking* and *English Settlement* will be included in my own list (*Drums And Wire* will be in it, of course). So selecting this late-career album by XTC sounds a little dubious on paper. On paper at least, I'll grant that to Dimery and co. The orchestral arrangements are top-notch on quite a few tracks, for instance. It was surprising to read that those arrangements were all recorded in Abbey Road in a single day, and that the original sessions were somewhat botched. That protools software can work wonders, can't it? Pretty useful when you don't have the ressources to record an orchestra for a whole week. At times, there are strings arrangements that reminded me of Dead Can Dance or Michael Nyman. Gorgeous, gorgeous work. Thanks to those orchestrations, great compositions such as "River of Orchids", "Easter Theatre", "I Can't Own Her" and "Harvest Festival" shine on this record--to which you could maybe add single "I'd Like That" and closer "The Last Balloon". To be honest, I find those highlights even more endearing than the ones of *Skylarking*, that mid-eighties LP that saw XTC take a radical left turn towards more artsy landscapes. Maybe one of the issues pestering *Apple Venus Volume 1* is that it was released long after that initial left-turn-into-art-rock-thing, and even longer after the band's commercial peak. Which might be an unfair way to dismiss *Apple Venus...*, once again. If those songs had appeared on *Skylarking*, chances are that they would have been praised just like the tunes on that album were. Maybe even more so. That being said, I think that all the other cuts in this record are far less effective, and even annoying to an extent. As often with this band, said cuts go from unobtrusive to twee--a trend that often rubs me the wrong way during XTC's later albums. That reliance on lush layerings, soft textures, and an overabundance of major chords started with *Skylarking*, once again. The thing is, as talented as he is, Alan Partridge is no John Lennon, no Paul McCartney, and no 60s-era Brian Wilson. His tunes always *sound* nice, I agree. But some of them are way too naive. And most of them are not that memorable compared to the ones routinely written by the genius songwriters XTC fans often compare Partridge with. On top of that, there's the issue of overall dynamics. If you take away the post-punk energy of the band's early career, you actually end up taking away a lot of the stuff that made their compositions so remarkable in the first place. I agree that when they age, composers and songwriters should find ways to make the sound of their youth evolve with them. But doing so doesn't necessarily mean you have to lose a sense of youthful enthusiasm, so to speak. And early-XTC had *a lot* of those thrilling, enthusiastic moments. I'm OK with the idea of intellectualizing things a little. It's just that there are ways to do so and still remain straightforward once in a while. You can do this through a soaring chorus, basic chords at key points of a song, or anything that would make it a little catchier, Abbey-Road-recording-sessions-of-a full-blown-orchestra notwithstanding. Because, let's face it, this LP is a little stingy when it comes to catchy moments, isn't it? And this, even for its highlights. I haven't yet listened to *Apple Venus Volume 2* (not in Dimery's list, if my memory serves), but it sounds reasonable to assume that if Partridge and Moulding had at least gathered the highlights from both volumes into a single package--and dismissed the rest for B-sides and whatnot--you would have a stronger entry here. It's a story everyone has heard before. The talented leader of a band is such a victim of his own hubris that he botches his own desire for success when he becomes unable to self-edit so as to separate the whiff from the chaff--and this even when his entourage advised him to do so. Reading stories about Alan Partridge and his occasional temper tantrums with other band members, it seems that he is a character that could fit those shoes. Human makes mistake, I imagine. Number of albums left to review: 437 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 263 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 134 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 170 (including this one)

I listened to an XTC album for the first time only a few months ago and was seriously impressed. I love the blend of rock music with orchestra, and it made for such a nice experience. Today’s album seems hard to find as it isn’t on Apple Music, so I’m having to resort to streaming it on YouTube. Not ideal, but still excited to hear it. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Greenman, I’d Like That I’m happy to report that this album was just as lovely as the last one. Google and Wikipedia seem to indicate XTC are a post punk band, but this was much more folky than anything. Previous reviews of mine have expressed a joy for music that makes me want to run around naked in fairy circles, and this is no exception. The vocals and Melodie’s are very imaginative and creative, and it makes for a very lovely listening experience. I might have to add this to my record collection soon.

Really great album. I had never heard a single song on it and it's not at all what I expected from XTC. A little bit mellower and more Beatles-y than what I'm used to, but it really hit the spot for me. I liked almost every song on first listen and the rest kind of grew on me after repeated listens. This was the first album that was not on Spotify that I wished was.

corny corny CORNY bullshit i don’t understand how so many people can take this music seriously never mind actually THINK IT’S GOOD. i cannot take seriously any song that says “i don’t give a hoot” in earnest. it’s all the worst bits of a paul mccartney song turned up to 11. the melodies really are quite lovely and complex but there’s something so tacky and stupid about the lyrics/vocals/harmonies that i simply cannot ignore. UGH.

Bleh.

A little irritating that this was only available on YouTube for me - Your Dictionary was really good. Okay - lyrically quite daft, sort of knowing but unaware at the same time, total lack of self-consciousness, but also quite childish. The rhythms throughout are fun and varied. Much more interesting than the previous XTC album actually. Really fun.

Never felt the urge to actively seek out XTC; like Squeeze (who I often confuse them with), their radio songs are pleasant enough but uninspiring. Now, having been forced to seek them out today (due to this being unavailable on Spotify), my opinion remains the same. Professional sounding but dull; dorky lyrics and clumsy song structures abound

Goofy lyrics, but some interesting melodies. Belongs on the "1001 albums it wouldn't kill you to listen to" list

Sorry, but this shit blows.

Not available on Spotify, had to use YouTube instead. Really strong, atmospheric yet almost theatrical opener with River of Orchids. Standout Tracks - River of Orchids - I'd like that (say a sunflower) - Easter Theatre

Apple Venus Volume 1 I do quite like XTC, but am only really familiar with Drums and Wires because of Making Plans for Nigel, so this was a new one on me. It’s a genuinely fascinating listen. And in fact I think it’s a bit of a gem, with some undoubted high points, and a very singular and engaging sensibility. You can hear echoes of people like Vaughan Williams and Elgar, and The Beatles and Brian Wilson in the orchestral arrangements and ambition. I really like the folklore-ish themes running through it, and it feels very connected to its Englishness, similar to Let England Shake, although obviously musically very different. I guess one sticking point might be the thin, nasally tone of the vocals on some tracks. It feels like sometimes a richer, fuller voice might work better with the themes and ideas here. River of Orchids has a bit of that - I love the almost pizzicato strings and the horns, the melody is great and the overall feel is very English and idiosyncratic, however that nasal quality is a bit distracting in parts. I’d Like That is a very nice bit of acoustic folkiness, building on the pastoral theme with an added touch of romantic excitement. Easter Theatre is excellent, a great example of combining a paganistic sense of Englishness with those orchestral arrangements. The horns are superb, very George Martin-eque Knights in Shining Karma has some strong White Album vibes, particularly in the intro, evoking Dear Prudence and Julia with its folk guitar pattern, but I really like the atmosphere of gentle melancholy it conjures. Frivolous Tonight, although the upbeatness is welcome it does have a strong 80s TV sitcom theme feel to it, and it’s one of the weaker tracks for me. Greenman, however, is my highlight, the eastern-esque strings with the folkish triplets and flute, and the lyric about one of the cornerstones of folklore is very evocative and overall it’s a superb song. Your Dictionary is a great bit of caustic bitterness tacked onto a spare and thoughtful arrangement of guitar, piano and strings, before blossoming into that fully fleshed out outro. It’s a nice contrast to some of the more outward looking and pastoral themes and lyrics elsewhere. A lot of Sgt Pepper era vibes to Fruit Nut, and a great track, the upbeat nature working really well, in the way Frivolous Tonight’s doesn’t. I Can’t Own Her really does suffer from the nasal vocal thing, even if musically it’s good, with an interesting layering of instruments. Harvest Festival perhaps falls a bit close to being something you’d have to sing at a primary school Harvest Festival, because your slightly hippy-ish teacher loves XTC and because it’s very literally about going to a school Harvest Festival. I’m not as keen on The Last Balloon’s melody, even if it does cast a suitably atmospheric climax to the album. It’s a bit annoying having to listen on YouTube with adverts disrupting the flow, and if this was on streaming properly I’d put it into rotation as I thought it was a great album and a real grower. Musically and thematically ambitious with a strong sense of its own vision, but it does have a bit of unevenness in places, and the nasal vocals do just nag away - I can’t quite help but think the album is diminished somewhat by them. It’s close to a 5, but I’ll settle on a solid 4. 🍎🍎🍎🍎 Playlist submission: Green Man

Surprenant. En voyant le nom du band et le nom de l'album, je ne m'attendais pas à grand chose. Un genre d'album de Jazz expérimentale probablement. Mais ce n'est pas du tout cela. J'ai beaucoup aimé les arrangements. La voix aussi est en harmonie avec le reste et il y a beaucoup de substances et de différents styles pour les chansons. Une très bonne écoute. 4.5

A pretentious load of whimsical nonsense, this. Review definitely influenced by the fact I had to jump through a few hoops to listen to it, but it really wasn't good. "By the time of its release, Partridge no longer viewed XTC as a band, and preferred it to be known as a 'brand'" pretty much sums it up, a 2/5 because it's listenable.

This was fuckn excellent! I doubt I would have appreciated it when it came out had I heard it then, but I sure can now. I can hear the Pet Sounds influences! Would love to find this on vinyl.

Magnificent, ambitious, glorious pop. Wonderful melodies and harmonies, thought-provoking lyrics, and great arrangements, beautifully recorded.

Awesome off-centre music.

[I've only recently realized that I can queue my reviews. I will have to use this here. First time I've heard of this band, I think(?) and this is certainly interesting, maybe more.] Nah, it's easy actually. My 5 star ratings here don't necessarily adhere to my usual musical preferences only but also to how much I enjoyed being shown a particular album. Like this one.

I was hugely surprised by just how great this album was. It has a shot at having the highest quality-to-popularity ratio on this list. The compositions and arrangements are little Beatlesque, or perhaps Brian-Wilsonian, especially in the slower, more string-oriented tracks. The strings are the album’s point of focus, along with the smooth, emotional vocals. Really, the only slightly weaker track is Your Dictionary, because of the horrendously goofy lyrics – but that can be overlooked. The rest of the album sounds really good, cementing its place as an obscure classic in the world of British baroque-pop. Key tracks: I Can’t Own Her – Beautiful shimmering strings and some sitar-like instrument in the back. Very cool. Takes a darker, more aggressive turn in the B-section halfway through the song. River of Orchids – Man, that orchestration is haunting. Cool, dark, nature-overgrown alleyway. A little haunting. Easter Theatre – Fun, poppy, well-produced. Greenman – Hard-to-place genre. Some quasi-medieval hints – possibly mode related? Again, great use of strings – adds so much colour. (This is a consistently strong theme throughout the album.)

This was a really great album. Shame it’s not on Spotify because there’s multiple songs I really enjoy. River of Orchids, Easter Theater, and Your Dictionary were all really solid listens. 10/10

9.5/10

This album is not on Spotify and after reading comments on YouTube, this album is apparently really hard to find. Which is a shame because it's well crafted. This parallels The Beatles. This is my favorite albums off this list of albums I have not heard before. I wish this was so spotify for my convenience. I have added this album to the list of albums that I would like to add to my vinyl collection. I've heard it's difficult to find.. But I'm hopeful because it's a fantastic record. The song Your Dictionary was, to my surprise, really good. I'm a lyrics guy and the lyrics come off a bit cheesy.. But it's the first time I have heard a song with that style of lyrics - it was really well done. I listened to it 4 times before I moved on to the next song.... Which is one of my favourites off the album: Fruit Nut. To me, this sounds like it could have been written by one of my favourite artists, Ween. It's whimsical and almost goofy but done in a serious and purposeful. It's contrasting styles blended beautifully. I wonder if the brothers' Ween took inspiration from XTC? The final song has a slow trumpet build up that accompanies the rest of the instruments really well and it ends with a fantastic solo but the trumpet. Loved every second of that. What a gem. This record makes me want to explore XTC further. I will definitely listen to this again and again.

Listened to this while playing Aeon's End with my partner against Magus of Cloaks. We lost twice. What an unexpected joy this album was! I had seen the groups name before, but had no idea what kind of music they performed. As an instrumentalist, I lived for all the creative orchestrations. There was an occasional cringe lyric here and there...but the dictionary song was super clever and had me laughing. I kept waiting for things to get less interesting, but each song was like a little auditory gem. I would absolutely come back to this for inspiration in my own compositions. Was not expecting to have a 5 album out of the blue...but I loved this!

Incredible from start to finish. "River of Orchids" sets the tone for an acoustic yet diverse and intense musical experience. "I Can't Own Her" was another highlight, although I think every song is worth listening to.

This is what The Beatles (and the Davies brothers and Brian Wilson) would sound like if they had been born a hundred years later. The same old pop motifs re-interpolated a thousands times into banality but also looping back into sensory overload and euphoria and surreal half truths. You can't really handle the tremendous weight of it whether you've heard the classics or not.

What a phenomenal album. It deviates from earlier XTC not only because of the other instruments used and the use of The London Sessions Orchestra, but also the song structures. Don't expect the cynical wave rock from the 80's but great atmospheric arrangements, often in an orchestral guise, but never over the top or bombastic. Apparently the creation of this album and the songs on it took years. Years of exploration, of contention, of separation. And that is audible. And palpable. It's not a full 5* album though, because the 2 songs that Mouldin contributed to the album (Frivolous Tonight and Fruit Nut) are not up to the level of Andy Partridge's songs. It might not be an innovative album, but how much beauty do you want on an album? Standout tracks are Easter Theatre, Greenman, Your Dictionary and the absolute incredible ending of The Last Balloon. 4,5*.

Usually, when an album I’m looking for isn’t available on streaming, it’s either so underground or extreme that no one wants to be associated with it, or it’s a really old recording whose rights have lapsed. So, it raised some red flags to discover Apple Venus, Vol. 1—an album released as recently as 1999 by XTC, a band with notable commercial and critical acclaim—was missing from all the major streaming services. In this case, the extra effort to track it down was worth it. I was familiar with XTC before, particularly their single "Making Plans For Nigel" (which I relentlessly sang at a co-worker for a full year—sorry, Nige!), but Apple Venus, Vol. 1 caught me totally unprepared. Expecting New Wave and Post-Punk leanings, I found lush orchestrations and layered arrangements instead. The music marks a dramatic shift from their earlier sound, leaning heavily on orchestral elements like strings, woodwinds, and brass. Tracks like “River of Orchids” open with sparse, percussive plucking before blossoming into a rich tapestry of overlapping instruments, while “Easter Theatre” is a baroque pop number that feels like a celebration of renewal and nature. There's an underlying pastoral quality to much of the album, with songs like “Greenman” blending mysticism and whimsy. The orchestral arrangements on Apple Venus, Vol. 1 feel integral to the songs, not just decorative. The result is an album that feels focused and deliberate, with XTC returning from their seven-year break with a clear and cohesive vision. Also gone is the band's previous cynicism. This album feels upbeat and optimistic, which is surprising considering its recording was marked by turmoil within the band. Dave Gregory, their longtime guitarist, left during the sessions due to frustrations with the heavy use of orchestration, and tensions between Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding grew increasingly strained. Despite this discord, Apple Venus, Vol. 1 emerges as a cohesive record that showed the band moving forward artistically. The end result combines Paul McCartney's melodic sensibilities, Peter Gabriel’s adventurous arrangements, and a touch of Tears For Fears' grandeur. It must have sounded completely out of place in 1999, especially when contrasted with the era's dominant musical trends. • Did/Do I own this release? No. • Does this release belong on the list? Skylarking feels more essential, but this album has plenty of captivating qualities. • Would this release make my personal list? Frankly, no. • Will I be listening to it again? Despite the effort it took to find it, it was an enjoyable experience with some clear highs.

Not too bad!

XTC, or more specifically their album Skylarking, was one of the most recent big surprises for me. I couldn’t have ever imagined enjoying that record as much as I did. But it was so out there in all of the right ways, and I was very intrigued by all of it. I didn’t know whether or not they would appear again, but I was not at all opposed to hearing more. If Skylarking merged the ideas of new wave with psychedelic pop, this leans far more on the latter genre. It came 13 years after that album as well. And I wasn’t really aware how far into the 90s they were putting out music. But it’s weird to see a band release something like this in 1999. Considering this was right around when nu-metal would begin to take off, plus hip-hop was still going strong, people really weren’t looking for something like this. I think it’s one of this records admirable traits. They chose to take a risk. Except it’s probably a miracle this album came out in the first place. Tensions were high within the band, and that caused a very rushed production. Specifically with the orchestral arrangements. And unfortunately this is felt. At least I feel it is. For as grandiose as they are with the limitations, they still could sound fuller. And although each song is doing something unique, there is much less variety to keep things interesting. I’m a little disappointed, because I really wanted to hear something that both challenged and surprised me as much as their other album did. Rating: 5/10

Aika hauskaa ja leikkisää poppia. Tosi progressiivistä, kuin hidastempoista Yes:iä. Kappaleiden sanat aika humoristisia, mutta ei silti mitään vitsimusiikkia. Parhaat: River Of Orchids, Your Dictionary, The Last Balloon, I'd Like That

In popular culture, nostalgia tends to run in 30-year cycles, the rationale being that 30 years is the time it takes for kids to grow up, settle down, and think back longingly to the time before adult life just got so darn hectic. In probably unrelated news, this album was released 30 years after Abbey Road.

Yep, Apple Venus Volume One is not something that should be on this list and definitely only a 2/5 candidate, although the first 3-4 rubbish tracks do at least give way to something that's listenable and occasionally interesting. I quite liked Green Man as well as the closer, The Last Balloon, but it's all too whimsical and directionless overall.

The one playthrough I’ve allowed myself confused me. This has the aroma of inspired personal statement and is weird, reminding me of theme tunes from 90’s British TV shows, or The Beatles, but a The Beatles as interpreted by a stranger in a pub coming up to one and saying hey, listen to these new The Beatles tracks I’ve just written. And he sings them to you, in front of everyone. And you can’t move.

Meh

What? Why? This thing with including late era work from significant artists of the 70s/80s is so silly. XTC have some great albums, but this is not one of them. Trying to get beyond what I hoped this would be, to hear it for what it is... Heavily orchestrated, fussily composed verging into prog, an indulgent tribute to the most over indulgent bits of the Beatles. It's lush and somber, very adult (there's a song about having a shed), but that, as usual, mostly means boring (there's a song about having a shed).

I found this very hit and miss. It's also kitbon Tidal or Spotify, so was annoyingly interrupted by ads between each song. Although there were elements of it I liked, I'm giving this a 1 star, because it's not "essential" in any way. Skylarking, on the other hand, does very much belong on this list. It's one of the best discoveries I've had from the generator so far. I just don't think XTC are significant enough to have multiple albums on this list.

Sounds like a kid who's just discovered the 'samples and sound effects' buttons on their first keyboard. I preferred when they were making plans for Nigel

I was interested to listen to this one because I've enjoyed XTC's first album from 1978 every once in a while. I'm not a huge fan but have enjoyed their songs in the past. I also didn't know they were around into the late 90s. I was disappointed by this album. I don't hear anything on it that reminds me of their music I've liked. In my opinion these are some of the most cringingly bad lyrics I've heard in a while (ex. 'I'd Like That', 'Your Dictionary'). I wish I could have ignored them but they're also pretty high in the mix, so they're hard to avoid. I really didn't like this one at all. Pretty blown away at the relatively consistent positive reviews it received as well. Not sure what I'm missing. Standout Tracks: N/A

I’m going to go ahead and say that I’m the biggest XTC fan in New Jersey. Or the US. Or the world for that matter. Who’s going to read this and dispute it. Andy & co can do no wrong in my eyes. However, I found that more often than not I needed more than one listen through to form a legitimate opinion. I find the opening track, River of Orchids, the most difficult track. I have to be in the mood to listen to it. I appreciate it, I think it’s brilliantly composed, but it may be my least favorite XTC track. It still is a 10/10 for me and I can listen to it every day. Too bad part 2, Wasp Star, isn’t on here because I might like that album even better.

Wow!! This album and band are why I started this project. Never heard of them but absolutely love the album. 5 Stars

Loved this one. Note that it's been removed from most streaming services that I've found...I only happened to find it as a playlist on YouTube Music.

Genius

I am getting a lot of Beatles vibes from this record. Frivolous Tonight has to be an outtake from "13" by Blur. It may be hard to convince me otherwise. Same thing for "I Can't Own Her." There are some Kinks sounds in here too. It's like XTC took all of their influences and just melded (is that a word?) them together to create these songs. It's very well done and the songs are very strong and catchy. Had never heard an album by XTC and I'm annoyed that I was missing out. This checked a lot of the boxes I look for in an album and I am excited for Skylarking to see if I like that one as much. The only negative is this album isn't on Spotify, which is the only music app that I really use.

Such a beautiful album! Such a shame it was not more popular.

YAYYYYYY ONCE MORE can't stream this! listened here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A593Ic_uEkY&ab_channel=SonyaTheSquirrel really love this very up my alley... green man!

I've heard good things about XTC from some online friends, so when my group got this album, I figured it'd be a good start. Wasn't expecting it to be THAT good, however. Solid 5 Stars.

[9/10] Fun and weird, reminded me of they might be giants.

The Brass. Everything is better with brass. This is like Genesis with brass and we are all richer for it.

Ok, this increases my liking of XTC. It really captured my attention right from the beginning. I guess this album kind of marks the beginning of the end for XTC. Faves: River Of Orchids, Your Dictionary, Harvest Festical

"your dictionary" is probably the best f.u. to an ex-lover i've ever heard.

Since this unfortunately isn’t on streaming, will be listing the songs that caught my ear here (well shit it’s gonna be all of them this album rocks so hard I love you XTC so glad I own this shit on CD) (okay nvm just starts with three heaters) River of orchids I’d like that Easter theatre (classic wow) Your Dictionary Harvest Festival And maybe the last one too sending this review in early…

Right up my alley. Need to listen more

An album full of imagery and inspiration, which could only have been made by an experienced band with a firm hand behind the desk.

I went into this with zero expectations and left feeling like I truly experienced something.

This album really surprised me. It feels like I'm listening to a stage play. While the songs may sound very "unorthodox", every song has a unique theme in it's lyrics paired with distinct and catchy instrumentals. Really good album.

XTC seems to be one of those bands that all my favorite musicians love and adore but I've never gotten into. I'm not sure why either. The albums I've heard are really enjoyable, and this one is no exception. The instrumentation and vocal arrangements are strong throughout. The person playing the horns on The Last Balloon are a highlight for me. I listened to the YT upload by SonyTheSquirrel with no interruptions. This album really is a work of art.

This album has been constantly on my mind for the last few days, as with each re-listen I became more and more entranced in what it had set out to do, and if it succeeded in that fact. I've been, what I consider, a fan of XTC for about a year-and-a-half now, and never has an album of theirs made me want to explore their catalog and their lives more than this album. The instrumentals are methodical and calculated, yet oddly rhythmic. Very similar to the sounds of post-punk acts from the late 70s, everything feels off and strange, but the pleasant instrumentals and "running through a field of flowers"-esque vocals allow the once sterile and cold rhythms to instead make me cling to a brighter future. There's an air of sadness throughout the album, but a hope at the end of the tunnel keeps things bouncy and Summer-y, and even the more nocturnal tracks feel like getting ready for the forever sleep, but being satisfied. Of course, Andy Partridge's vocals are still comedic and light, but the melancholic nature of the whole album just makes it, quite contradictory, becalmed and floaty. This album is not a stereotypical slice of Heaven, but it just feels like this is XTC's view take on it, and I'm at peace with the idea. Light-hearted, yet the weight of the world on its shoulders, I can't imagine a better swan song and depiction of the band's situation at the time. Seeing this album as the true finale of the band, and Volume 2 as a bonus encore makes everything just make sense, and while I don't adore every song on this album, I think it is good enough to be considered one of the band's best.

Love you Andy.

Difficult to find, and with a shaky start, it's actually pretty good.

NICE

Phenomenal pop album. Atmospheric, optimistic, beautiful. I was instantly hooked and they didn't lose me. Stand-out: Easter Theatre, Greenman

Such a shame this isn't on spotify, this needs to be heard by more people. The melodies are endlessly beautiful and there are plenty of them scattered throughout every song especially it's choruses. The lush arrangements are also incredible

I really enjoyed this album. It's string heavy baroque pop album that ends with a melancholic call to adventure. Some tracks seem a bit too long and it takes a momet to get into it but it's quite something.

Whoaaa I knew of a few XTC songs but this was something else! Really whisked me away on adventure.

A beautiful, beautiful album.

If I could give it more than 5, I would.

What?! Where did these Beatles-like bliss come from? The blend of orchestral, psychedelic rock and pop is George Martin adjacent for sure. A delightful surprise.

Es magico. Me dejó hipnotizado. It's an amazing and well written, produced and beautifully made project. 10/10.

Tuvo bien en fucking bomba

A very interesting journey on this one. I didn't always love it, but I loved the ride it took me on.

It's a playful album with plenty of musicality, being chock full of nifty chord changes, complex arrangements (with plenty of orchestrations) and superb vocal harmonies. I really like the song titles as well. It benefits from a modern crisp production and this sounds like the sort of music the Beach Boys could've made in the nineties or noughties if they could have been bothered. In fact, I think secretly Andy Partridge would like to join the Beach Boys. XTC made some highly esoteric music but probably were just a bit to odd to ever break the mainstream in a big way, despite the obvious quality of their catchy songs (my own personal favorite being the autumnal Skylarking).

slet ikke hvad jeg havde regnet med. Chokerende godt imho! Brian Wilson med Peter Gabriel-vokal. Syntes Your Dictionary var ret fjollet men alle de andre numre var fantastiske

Ecstasy it is.

Very nice album. It's as if the Beatles got interested in progressive rock and weren't so upbeat. The vocals were great. Like most good music, it'll take me a few listens before I really understand the

Já fiquei puto que não tem no spotify... No começo fiquei "que porra é essa...", aí do nada gostei do que veio, as gotinhas de água, a música com ritmos diferenciado, gosto dessas paradas mais experimentais que fogem um pouco do padrão. Gostei. I'd Like That: Orra, to gostando da música, violãozinho da hora, baixo caminhando legal. Vibe massa, carai. Até fiquei triste que não dá pra adicionar no Spotify. Easter Theatre: mano, que porra é essa, eu realmente to curtindo essas músicas, tão me tocando, que interessante... não sei se lembra algumas músicas da época psicodélica dos Beatles, mas orras... Fui ler os comentários, as pessoas comentaram dos Beatles também huahuahua. Agora tá fazendo sentido... Knights In Shining Karma: cacete, mais uma música da hora, gosto dessa vibe, ainda tá lembrando um pouco de blackbird, com kansas, sound of silence, curto essa vibe. Frivolous Tonight: mais uma vibe Beatles, estilo Maxwell Silver Hammer, parece muito as músicas hippies psicodélicas felizes do Paul. Não teve uma música que não gostei até agora... Greenman: os caras são muito criativos, parece muito uma música de tribo feliz da Disney. Your Dictionary: que isso, começou "F U" pensei "ah não" HUAHUAUH, que musiquinha massa cara. I Can't Own Her: A voz do back vocal é muito vibe Paul mesmo, os caras devem ter uma inspiração forte nos Beatles, vou pesquisar. Pesquisei, a galera até comparou vários álbums dessa banda com os dos Beatles em diferentes épocas, me interessou pra ouvir depois. Esse foi o primeiro álbum desse rolê que me fez parar tudo pra ir pesquisar sobre a banda, era o que eu esperava desde o início. Que foda isso, e como eu to avaliando isso aqui por sentimento, vou dar 5 estrelas pelo que me fez sentir. Acho que nenhuma outra banda vai criar o sentimento que tive ouvindo toda a discografia dos Beatles na adolescência (The Who chegou muito perto), mas essa banda me fez lembrar daquele momento.

10/17/23. Never listened to XTC before this album but wow was I blown away with what I heard. Did not expect such a vast, art like journey. Really surprised and had a pleasant listen, just wish this album was more accessible!

Stunning amazing album.

Beautiful Album. Highlights: River of Orchids, Easter Theatre, Your Dictionary, and Greenman

Infinitely better than their other entry on this list. Even the couple of tracks with corny lyrics sound incredible. Triumphant. Best track: Easter Theatre

maybe I'm generous but this is the first album on 1001ag that was a complete unknown to me that i really liked. great layers, great melodies, fun instrumentation.

Thank you Internet Archive; this wasn't on Spotify. I didn't realize I knew the second song. This sounded like a bridge between the Beatles and Guster. A fun listen.

vraiment bien, très chill, j'en avais besoin

First song is very good, greenman also very good. there's a weird mix of genres and mashup of different artists but i'm here for it. First song is sort of like kishi bashi x animal collective x system of a down, there's also some very interestings early 2000s feel, the swap to paul mccartney midway is fucked though 4/5 woudl save river of orchids and greenman if on spotify

Okay I actually enjoyed that a good bit more than I expected. Definitely some stuff to go back and relisten to.

This is the first of the albums where I found myself immediately wanting to dive back in and listen again. Earnest and whimsical.

Delightful! I love this band but had never heard this particular album before, and I really loved its chamber-y, spring-like whimsy. There were a few songs with goofy lyrics, but overall a very pleasant listen. Easy 9/10

I've always enjoyed XTC and this is different but still great. Heavily-melodic and if I'm a little disappointed in perhaps losing nearly all of the edgier sound of their earlier material it seems to more-than make up for that with simple melodic lines intertwining (... like a Mach piece...?) amidst lovely but not overly-done orchestration, excellent clear guitar work, etc etc... Always melodic and unpredictable - right up my alley. Definitely need to find a hard copy of this one. 8/10 4 stars.

I like XTC just fine but come on! This is the 2nd album of theirs I've had m here. The multiple albums by niche or very taste dependent artists is really starting to annoy me. In regards to this album specifically, chamber pop is ok but it gets old fast for me personally. This one is better than most both for it's production and songwriting.

XTC again? Already? I feel like I just got Skylarking. Whatever. At least I loved that album. Here we have their 1999 album Apple Venus Volume 1, which is not on streaming for some reason. It’s pretty good! It’s not as good as Skylarking, but I wasn’t expecting it to be, so I can’t say I’m disappointed. One thing that I didn’t do in my Skylarking review that I’ve seen a lot of people do for XTC in general is compare them to the Beatles. I did feel that Skylarking was somewhat comparable to the Beatles, but like, who hasn’t been inspired by the Beatles? I definitely noticed that Apple Venus has more songs that are comparable to the weirder Beatles tracks. You know? Stuff like “I Am the Walrus,” right? The songs are good though. “Easter Theatre” is a particular highlight. I wouldn’t say I loved every single song, but they’re all at least good. The production is pretty different. It’s a bit more sparse, which I wouldn’t call a bad thing. The instrumentation is pretty solid. The writing is good, I think. I’m still not huge on Andy Partridge’s singing, but it fits the vibe. Overall, I’d still say I like XTC. I don’t like this album as much as my first album I heard of theirs, but I still enjoy all of what I’ve heard of them so far. 4/5.

A feast for the headphones, especially "River of Orchids". XTC is one of those bands I wouldn't really recommend one album - I'd rather you sign up for my semester-long lecture series so we can discuss them at exhausting length. There will be field trips to Swindon and extra points will be awarded for throwing eggs at Todd Rundgren's house. That said, this is a good one, like glimpsing one last gallop of a unicorn before it disappears into the woods.

Lovely album. Listened through twice. Enjoyed it.

Nice one. Liked it pretty much.

Overall: 8/10 I'm obviously not the first person to mention this but this album is very reminiscent of Pet Sounds/Smile era Beach Boys. Lush orchestration and beautiful harmonies dominate and I love it so much. We need more modern music like this in my opinion. I've never listened to XTC before but they definitely have a new fan. It's a shame this isn't on Spotify cause I want to add so many of these songs to my playlists. Fav Song: I'd Like That Least Fav Song: I Can't Own Her

“River of Orchids” is incredible

What a good day. 400 album checked off, this album was a pleasant surprise, AND we got the Skrillex album/mixtape full of unreleased music. Can you believe I took the time to listen to AVV1 before the Skrillex project? I did, and I loved it! By the time “Id Like That” came around in the track list, I had an inkling that I’d like the whole project. Then “Easter Theater” came on and I KNEW I’ll be loving this whole project. Nothing gets me locked tf in like some baroque/art pop done well. Such a fantastic song, by far my highlight of the record and will be replayed many times over. “Frivolous Tonight” continues the theme of fun, silly, unique art pop that keeps the spirits high. Big fan of the quirky, arabesque instrumental on “Greenman”, which kinda feels like when a sonic game sends you into the ‘desert level’. Even the misses on here like “Your Dictionary” are very harmless and campy at worst. I love the portrait of a man “Fruit Nut” paints, how he’s so happy to just go about his hobbies. Big big fan of that. My goal of being more attentive since the beginning of 2025 paid off big on this album. Having to go to YouTube for this one was no big deal. Am I giving more 4’s as a result of this, or are we just on a hot streak? Time will tell, but this album earned its 4 with some timeless production elements, art pop, and fun vibes.

Interesting. I only knew the 80s hits from them and was surprised to see a 13th album from a band on this list. It sounds very inspired by the Beatles with the string and orchestra arrangements. I liked the first half but the second half didn't really capture my attention. Overall a nice experience and a lot better than most middle of the road albums that I gave 3 stars.

Self-produced album after a decade fight with the former label. "Orchustric"