Apple Venus Volume 1

View Author

Mon Sep 18 2023

3

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)

👍

View Author

Sun Aug 27 2023

2

Bleh.

👍

View Author

Tue Aug 29 2023

4

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

👍

View Author

Tue Aug 29 2023

4

Not too bad!

👍

View Author

Tue Oct 10 2023

3

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.

👍

View Author

Mon Aug 28 2023

2

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.

👍

View Author

Sat Oct 28 2023

2

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.

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 31 2023

5

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

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 01 2023

5

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

👍

View Author

Tue Sep 05 2023

5

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*.

👍

View Author

Wed Sep 27 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Thu Oct 05 2023

5

Stunning amazing album.

👍

View Author

Wed Oct 18 2023

5

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!

👍

View Author

Thu Oct 19 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Sun Oct 22 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Wed Nov 08 2023

5

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.

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 31 2023

4

Hard to find, easy to listen to. 4 stars/

👍

View Author

Mon Sep 18 2023

4

Dreamy and lush. Very beautiful.

👍

View Author

Sat Sep 23 2023

4

You know, XTC.

👍

View Author

Mon Sep 25 2023

4

As an appreciator of a good portmanteau, I'm on board with the band's description of this as an 'orchoustic' record. The combination appeals, and this album delivers the promised sound, along with lush harmonies and themes of paganism and the seasons. Whimsical and beautifully recorded, I like this a lot. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Greenman Date listened: 24/09/23

👍

View Author

Tue Sep 26 2023

4

Album number: 1048 First listen for this album. I know XTC and have never really been a big fan - until now. This album is something really terrific. Even without a well-known hit single. Every song on the album is quite nice to listen to. Standouts: River of Orchids, I'd Like That, Your Dictionary, Others: Easter Theatre, Knights in Shining Karma, Frivolous Tonight, Greenman, Fruit Nut, I Can't Own Her, Harvest Festival, The Last Balloon. River of Orchids is simply fantastic. What a powerful way to start the album. Complex and beautifully arranged. It sets the tone for the rest of the album. 3.75/5

👍

View Author

Thu Oct 12 2023

4

I guess, that's how the Beatles sounded were they still making music. No real banger on the album but a creative and surprising variety of pop music with some Bachian elements.

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 16 2023

4

A lushly, orchestrated Beatlesesque album from UK favs, XTC. I am a huge fan of the band and there have at least a couple records that I would deem essential, but this isn't one of them. It is a very good record with several excellent songs, but I would hold off in calling it a classic. I like it a lot, but I wouldn't place it in XTC's top 5, but still better than most music from it's era.

👍

View Author

Wed Oct 18 2023

4

After undergoing the kind of record label hell that would extinguish most bands, XTC reconvene for the type of album only they could make. Even if they were now a brand as opposed to a band, they didn't fall for the grandiose bombast that characterizes most albums after a lengthy hiatus (that was self-imposed). Instead, they went for something a little orchestral and symphonic whilst keeping an eye on the pop scheme of things. It's largely a success, even if the whimsical nature of songs does induce a feeling of indifference. Overall, it's a stellar return for an outfit that was approaching a bittersweet end. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzm-I9MllufIRZHTd8NFpjxPP3cGyFvvy&si=xfDhWQ0lJzeWSk7n Favorites: River of Orchids, I'd Like That, Knights in Shining Karma, Greenman, Your Dictionary, Fruit Nut, I Can't Own Her, Harvest Festival, The Last Balloon.

👍

View Author

Thu Oct 19 2023

4

This album was only my second exposure to XTC. I found the music very reminiscent of the Beach Boys, Burt Bacharach, and the Beatles in instrumentation, song structure, and singing style. The orchestral elements were incredibly well placed and elevated the album into something that reminded me of SMiLE, Brian Wilson's unfinished masterpiece. Lyrically, the album deals primarily with themes of paganism though personal matters as reflected on the song 'Dictionary' occasionally seep in. I would consider this album a triumph of symphonic pop and though not every song grabbed me, the ones that did more than make up for it.

👍

View Author

Fri Oct 27 2023

4

The was a creative art-y album that worked well. Orchestra elements, some middle eastern influence. Overall beautiful sounding.

👍

View Author

Sat Nov 04 2023

4

Alan Partridge works with the London Session Orchestra to produce a modern version of Pet Sounds-era Brian Wilson. From the chamber vocals, the triumphant atmospheric sound, and the whimsical instruments and effects, the arrangements are all lush, beautiful, and catchy pop tunes. I don't understand the hate; I thought it was all pretty good. There were a few tracks I didn't care for much (especially in the 2nd half), and the song structures are pretty simple, so I wouldn't put it up to par with Pet Sounds or even Skylarking, but it was hard for me to hate any of it. Favorites: River of Orchids, Easter Theatre, I Can't Own Her

👍

View Author

Sun Nov 05 2023

4

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: River of orchids, I’d like that

👍

View Author

Wed Nov 08 2023

4

River of Orchids me deixou bem confuso do que seria esse álbum. Definitivamente diferenciado, isso é inegável. Só não entendi direito o que é isso. I'd Like That já foi algo bem mais compreensível, achei bem gostosinha, boa de ouvir. Adicionaria se fosse possível... Esse álbum é muito doido cara, essa Easter Theatre me fez perceber que essa banda tá me lembrando os beatles na época doidera LSD deles, do Sgt. Pepper e do Magical Mystery Tour. Com sons fora do comum, coisas meio tensas, bastante instrumentos de sopro, mas com melodias legais, interessantes e grudentas no meio disso tudo. Knights In Shining Karma começa bonita, profunda, calminha mas meio "pesada". As harmonias e melodias desse álbum são muito diferenciadas. Complexo de entender. Frivolous Tonight me lembrou um pouco música de natal, não sei porquê.. E foi antes dos chimes do final dela. Ah pronto, Greenman é a cota de George Harrison indiano da inspiração dos Beatles. E pior que ficou boa pra caralho kkkkkkk Your Dictionary é mó boa também. As músicas são muito distintas umas das outras. E é sempre uma surpresa agradável. Ah lá, foi só falar isso e do nada Fruit Nut começa com sonzinho estilo Donkey Kong uahseuasheuashuauhse I Can't Own Her e Harvest Festival baita músicas também, bonitas pra cacete. The Last Balloon fecha o álbum de forma mais darkzona. Esse álbum me chamou muito a atenção pela inspiração na época lá de 1967 dos Beatles, porém sem perder a própria personalidade. As músicas ainda se mantiveram características e únicas. Além disso, a diversidade ao longo do álbum, cada música era bem diferente uma da outra e tinha sua própria sensação. E a medida que fui ouvindo o álbum, eu ia ficando curioso pra saber qual a próxima coisa que viria, e nunca decepcionava. Fiquei positivamente surpreso. Músicas extremamente bem feitas, e muitas vezes meio complexas. Leva um tempinho pra digerir algumas. Acredito que esse álbum deve ficar ainda melhor com o tempo.

👍

View Author

Fri Nov 10 2023

4

Alternatief, maar vrolijk en melodieus.

👍

View Author

Fri Nov 10 2023

4

Weird & enjoyable. Will revisit.

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 16 2023

4

I like the mix of strings and 60s folk. It's sounds like XTC meets Pet Sounds. The Colin Moulding songs have more of a Scott Walker feel. It was brave to release such an ambitious and eclectic LP, that would not regiater on the commercila charts, since they were more or less broke. Andy Partridge's voice isn't at the same level as the arrangements.

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 16 2023

4

Bien meilleur que l'album moyen de Britney sorti au même moment.

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 21 2023

4

Didn't think this was worth being on the list as we already have two XTC albums worth enough praise, but the magnificence of Easter Theater is enough to make me believe in the beauty of sound. It is unfortunate that Colin Moulding's two songs (Frivolous Tonight and Fruit Nut) drag down the overall quality. Otherwise, what a spectacular final showing for a band that should have peaked in the 80's.

👍

View Author

Wed Nov 22 2023

4

Pretty good

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 28 2023

4

Embarrassingly I don't think this is the first time I felt like I knew this band, got confused by what I was hearing, then realized I was thinking about INXS. This anyway was interestingly wierd and pretty unlike anything else. I enjoyed it.

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 28 2023

4

This list needs some Dukes of Stratosphere

👍

View Author

Thu Sep 07 2023

3

Clearly some beatles influences here but not really doing it for me.

👍

View Author

Mon Sep 18 2023

3

3.6

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 29 2023

3

Interesting! Whiny voice but a good vibe??? 3.5

👍

View Author

Wed Oct 11 2023

3

Very interesting.

👍

View Author

Fri Oct 13 2023

3

Not bad, not great. Started off quite energetic and become more chill as it progressed.

👍

View Author

Fri Oct 13 2023

3

Rock pop alternativo. Ecléctico. Sinfónico.

👍

View Author

Sun Oct 15 2023

3

3.4 - The first two tracks got my hopes up but the record takes a sharp nosedive after that, and the quirky arrangements mostly sound annoying in a try-hard-y way (see "Greenman"). By the end, I struggle to understand why Dimery chose to include this record as it doesn't fall into his common "record-out-of-left-field" tropes (e.g. a late artist's "return to form", a genre-defining work, a record with a cult-like following, etc.).

👍

View Author

Sun Oct 15 2023

3

Beatles like, a fun record

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 16 2023

3

There were parts of this album that I really liked, but I also often felt like there was too much going on. There were a few songs where it felt like they just kept adding layers until there was too much to keep track of. It's not a bad album, and it's crazy that a band that formed in the 70s was still producing innovative music in 1999 3/5

👍

View Author

Wed Oct 18 2023

3

Partridge's term for it "orchustic", sums it up well in feel, vibing like animated-movie music at times and feel-good flows other times. Good lyrics, with a paganism twist across a number of the scores.

👍

View Author

Thu Oct 19 2023

3

Faves: River of Orchids, Easter Theatre

👍

View Author

Sat Oct 21 2023

3

Musically ambitious and mostly lovely on the ears, although the vocals are a little hit and miss. Lyrically odd and eloquent at the same time, which is fun. The not so good part: This comes off as music by someone who has listened to the Beatles way too much, but fails to understand what made the Beatles great in the first place. The skill is there, the songcraft is (mostly) there, the heart is not. Unavailable on Spotify, but easy to find on YouTube. Fave Songs: I'd Like That, Knights in Shining Karma, River of Orchids, Easter Theatre

👍

View Author

Wed Oct 25 2023

3

Not my style of music. I can see that other might like it.

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 30 2023

3

Listened to a couple songs I only liked the first one because it sounded like a rain forest or a jungle

👍

View Author

Tue Oct 31 2023

3

Molt notable que després de tants anys la banda continués mantenint el puls per la melodia i l'experimentació dins del que ha de ser una bona cançó pop. Preciosisme en les seves melodies i una voluntat de seguir recargolant l'habitual estructura de la cançó; a mi em recorden més al power pop suau de Jellyfish que a The Beach Boys, amb qui comparen a la guia de la llista de referència

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 02 2023

3

I like: River of Orchids Easter Theatre Greenman

👍

View Author

Fri Nov 03 2023

3

Periaatteessa aika väsynyt valinta listalle, kun bändillä on jo kulta-ajoiltaan niin monta hyvää levyä. Mutta oli tääkin yllättävän jees. Eittämättä kova bändi.

👍

View Author

Sat Nov 04 2023

3

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.

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 06 2023

3

Easter Theater wears its Beatles influences on its sleeve, and Harvest Festival sounds like it could be a Paul solo track. Still, I suppose its not startlingly original to say that XTC sound like the Beatles, and I rather enjoyed this set of songs. A high three, on the cusp of four.

👍

View Author

Wed Nov 08 2023

3

Had precies nog meer symphonische muziek verwacht

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 13 2023

3

Ni siquiera existe en Spotify. Imposible opinar

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 13 2023

3

3++ Knights in Shining Karma Your Dictionary Fruit Nut

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 14 2023

3

5/10. Yeah, I feel like they're taking themselves too seriously with this album, which is not a good look for XTC. It had some cool moments, the first song sounded pretty cool before he started singing over it.

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 16 2023

3

XTC nous propose un nom bien générique qui ne nous permettra jamais de nous souvenir de quoi ce groupe retourne.

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 20 2023

3

Kinda like British Beach Boys

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 20 2023

3

I'm surprised by how much better this album is than "Skylarking". It's weird, don't get me wrong. Like... unnecessarily weird. But far less offensively weird than the hot mess that is "Skylarking". That doesn't make it good, mind you. Because it's not. It's still a scattered, disconnected mess of an album. But it IS better than "Skylarking" so there's that...

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 20 2023

3

I preferred it when they were making plans for Nigel

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 21 2023

3

Very interesting sound. I wasn't expecting the vocals at all and thought this would be an orchestral instrumental band. I think the vocals are cool but the cacophony is a little bit annoying. Maybe it's because it's 7:42am on a Monday, I'm a little hungover and I haven't had any coffee, but there's so many conflicting things in this first track. Alright the second track is out of left field after hearing the first one. I'm intrigued with where the rest of the album will go. Definitely eclectic, at times cool, and at times intriguing, but ultimately it felt just OK to me. Not sure I would come back for a listen.

👍

View Author

Wed Aug 30 2023

2

Sounds like every song was made for a pretentious film

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 31 2023

2

Honestly only one decently good song on the whole album in "I'd Like That", which funny enough reminded me of the movie "Me, Myself, & Irene" since it's part of the soundtrack. Outside of that it wasn't very good and thought the lyrics sucked ass in a few spots but hey, at least it compliments the crappy singing. 4/10

👍

View Author

Thu Aug 31 2023

2

I was a big fan of XTC's 1989 Oranges and Lemons. This didn't have the vibrancy of that album or the sense of originality. I became bored quite quickly.

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 29 2023

2

Couldn’t find it. Listened to Skylarking instead and GODDAMN it was bloody awful

👍

View Author

Sun Oct 01 2023

2

Different, not what I was expecting. Does that mean I liked it? No, not really. I thought it was pretty boring overall. Favorite track: I'd Like That

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 02 2023

2

XTC is very dramatic. Every line is like a declaration against some thing.

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 02 2023

2

Ehm.... ik kan dit niet echt duiden. Maar ik neig er toch wel naar dat dit te zoetsappige muzak is.

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 02 2023

2

Heb wel eens betere XTC gehad... dit is echt slap spul, of misschien moet ik nog een 'halfje' nemen.

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 02 2023

2

It's literally not available anywhere. I considered buying it, but the other couple of albums were very average, so I elected not to.

👍

View Author

Sun Oct 08 2023

2

"Apple Venus Volume 1" by XTC is an album that marks a departure from the band's earlier work, moving toward a more orchestral and experimental sound. Released in 1999, it's a departure from the angular new wave and post-punk sound that defined much of their career. Tracks like "River of Orchids" and "Easter Theatre" showcase the band's ambition and desire to explore new musical territory. The album's production is lush and intricate, incorporating orchestral arrangements and intricate melodies. However, while "Apple Venus Volume 1" is a testament to the band's willingness to evolve, it may disappoint fans of their earlier, more guitar-driven sound. The album's complexity and departure from their signature style can make it a challenging listen for those seeking the XTC they knew and loved. In summary, "Apple Venus Volume 1" is a departure that might not resonate with fans of XTC's earlier work. While it showcases their artistic growth, its experimental nature may not appeal to a broader audience, warranting a 2/5 rating.

👍

View Author

Thu Oct 19 2023

2

Cant find on spoof :( 2

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 30 2023

2

The album was not that good. Unnoteworthy. I tolerated it.

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 02 2023

2

Favorite Track[s]: Easter Theatre

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 02 2023

2

Meh

👍

View Author

Fri Nov 03 2023

2

Green man jopa musikaalimainen kappale. Ylipäätään kyllä aika unohdettava levy vaikkakin ihan kiva. 2/5

👍

View Author

Fri Nov 03 2023

2

Varsin keskivertolevy. En pahemmin saanut otetta. 2/5

👍

View Author

Fri Nov 03 2023

2

Not even a hastily arranged orchestra could save this mid tier Beatles cover band of an album.

👍

View Author

Sat Nov 04 2023

2

Yet another of way too many of the albums here that apply to the pretentious more than they do to the music lover.

👍

View Author

Mon Nov 06 2023

2

Definitely not cool enough in 1999 for this one.

👍

View Author

Wed Nov 08 2023

2

First song felt like something from yoshis island mixed with terraria, really repetitive, can't really understand what they are saying, lyric wise. First song is kinda strange, not my thing Second song has a nice intro, but the first words of the song being it's name just seems lazy for me, the songs are very mellow and calm, but repetitive I'm getting sleepy from hearing these songs, maybe if you like the beatles and those types of bands this one can bring some feeling of "something new" in regards to the calm rock style, but I just can't listen to it for an extended period of time.

👍

View Author

Wed Nov 08 2023

2

Your Dictionary might be the single worst song I've heard in my life. The rest of the album ranges from good to fine to bad, but Your Dictionary is horrific. Favorite track: Greenman

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 09 2023

2

It was the song where the frontman kept cheekily spelling out curse words in a hilariously unsubtle attempt to be cutting that reminded me of an episode earlier this year at the community radio station I volunteered at where a 30s-something man couldn't bring himself to say fuck, instead replacing every instance in the song title with a simple 'F.' It was a little sad, but mostly pathetic, an attempt to seem cool and hip well beyond one's prime or when they should have quit long ago. That sums up this album for me, an ending chapter for a band that had long since died an ungraceful death.

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 14 2023

2

What I really don't like about this album is that it's no fun at all. People can try to draw parallels to the Beatles or Beach Boys because there are some unique instrumentations and production choices, but this completely lacks the sense of humor and genuine soul of projects like Rubber Soul and Pet Sounds. It's not horrible in a vacuum but seeing it in this context made me like it a whole lot less than I otherwise would have. Your Dictionary is also utterly terrible. 4/10

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 16 2023

2

There’s no Nigel or Generals and Majors here, but Andy Partridge’s quirky voice is ever present. This one is for the die-hard XTC fans

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 21 2023

2

Dan, it's funny that you mentioned Dirty Projectors the other day in your review of the Pentangle album because I hear their sound in this album too. Especially in the vocals and the layered production of the first track "River of Orchids." I like the line "The grass is always greener when it bursts up through concrete." I was just talking yesterday about this idea of taking a cliche phrase or saying and changing a part of it to freshen it up and make it new again. (There was a line in an Arctic Monkeys song that made me think of this concept: "I don't mean to rain on anybody's cabaret." What a fun writing trick!) The second track "I'd Like That" almost sounds like solo Paul McCartney. A lot of these songs sound influenced by the Beatles. I’m liking this less and less as it goes on. A lot of these songs are corny. The vocals frequently made me cringe. And aside from a good first impression, I don’t like the lyrics. “Your Dictionary” struck me as particularly clunky. This album started interesting but by the end, I was happy it was over.

👍

View Author

Thu Nov 23 2023

2

This actually had some really interesting production and instrumentation, but the song writing didn't really do it for me. Meh.

👍

View Author

Sun Nov 26 2023

2

Interesting and quirky, I can see why it's on this list. Definitely original too, can't imagine many other bands have written a love song set at a harvest festival service. There's probably a reason for that, though. I probably won't listen again but I'll give it a extra star because at least I wasn't bored

👍

View Author

Tue Nov 28 2023

2

Premier League, corrupt as fuck

👍

View Author

Sun Aug 27 2023

1

Tedium

👍

View Author

Tue Aug 29 2023

1

Simply did not enjoy anything here

👍

View Author

Fri Sep 01 2023

1

Not available on Spotify

👍

View Author

Tue Sep 12 2023

1

could not find on spotify

👍

View Author

Thu Sep 28 2023

1

Miese Vocals Babies first orchestral sample library Ein weiteres "britisches Meisterwerk" dieser Liste

👍

View Author

Sun Oct 01 2023

1

What is this? NO! No. Stop. This is the worst. This is as generic as it gets and should have been elevator music when it was NEW.

👍

View Author

Mon Oct 09 2023

1

Doesn't belong on this list. This is like B grade Pixar soundtrack stuff. Repetitive in a bad way, gets on my nerves.

👍