Reviews (page 3 of 6)
Between 1979 and 1982, I loved XTC. They had a really great and unusual sound. But then I thought they fell off the planet. I presumed they were resting on their laurels in a farmhouse somewhere spending the royalties. Little did I know that 20 years later they were still making music. And it ain’t half bad. Andy Partridge has such a distinctive voice you can recognise it is XTC without being told. Interesting that the album cover as depicted here is the wrong way round. Don’t know what to infer from that. I can hear lots of Neil Innes and The Kinks and that notable English whimsy. It’s incredibly witty and I was so intrigued I listened to it twice. It touches a quirky spot in a way that I recognise and love. XTC spells great in my dictionary.
XTC is clever and fun. I wasn’t familiar with this album but I enjoyed it very much.
More people would sing this album's praises if it was more readily available. Trust me, it's worth searching out. This little band had a lot more cooking besides "Dear God" and "Senses Working Overtime". I'd like something different for the album cover though if I'm being completely honest.
I wrote a long speel about the Beatles and Icarus but realised after Dictionary that it was nonsense. The album started a bit orchestral but then it was like they changed their mind or something and just gave up on that idea.. not sure if that was a good thing or not.. All that being said, it was an okay album which I'll probably never listen to again because its not on spotify. Thanks to Cheese Man. Favourite track - The Last Balloon - great outro song, trumpet?
Rating: 8.5/10 Great album, a lot of fun to listen to. The songwriting was consistently great throughout, loved the orchestral elements that were implemented. A lot of catchy vocal and instrumental melodies, the lush production really complemented the instrumentation. A lot of beautiful elements on this album as well, very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. There was enough variety on here that it was interesting to listen to the entire time while having a consistent sound throughout. Favorite songs: River of Orchids, I'd Like That, Easter Theatre, Frivolous Thought, Greenman, Your Dictionary, I Can't Own Her, The Last Balloon. Least favorite song: Knights In Shining Karma.
Have I grown higher standards, or the illusion of such through such a thing like shorter patience? Initially a 2, a 1 but for Greenman. But honestly, this is a hell of an album. It's not a smooth ride. It feels like it should be, but it's not. But I was able to listen to it all the way through for a second time, just minutes after finishing it the first time. I can't say so much about too many other albums. There are few albums easily finished the first time. I'm not sure if I easily finished this the first time. The albums on the 1001 generator list are just background music for other stuff I'm stuck doing anyway, mainly CS practice. But this album was definitely something. And that means something, for whatever it's worth.
River of Orchids is an amazing opening track. Never heard it before, but it is incredible. The whole album gives me Beatles-vibes. Standouts: River of Orchids, I'd Like That, Your Dictionary 4.25
XTC turn their talents to acoustic-inflected pop and the result is predictably great. I simply and generally enjoy the band's output; Apple Venus starts with neither a hook nor a lyric, and that establishes the record's entire tone. All the band's stalwarts will return, less a pronounced rhythm section. Time figures, then, are up to the voice, resulting in a rather ancient mood.
I would really like to give this a 5, because it contains some of my favourite XTC songs with some truly fantastic arrangements and melodies, but then it also has a slump in the middle with songs that don’t hit the mark. It’s like 65% excellent. Definitely worse ways to close off your career (although they still released volume 2 after this one) but there’s still a bit of lost potential felt. I also find it a little strange that this is the only other XTC album included here besides Skylarking. Albums like Drums & Wires, Black Sea, English Settlement or Nonsuch would’ve made better candidates, I feel. All that said, there’s still a lot of great songs on this one
Smooth and melodic. A bit sing songy at times but really enjoyed the listen.
‘Apple Venus Volume 1’ doesn’t quite hit the same highs, and as consistently as ‘Skylarking’, but it’s still pretty great, even if it all sounds a bit familiar and Andy Partridge’s Beatles/PMac/Brian Wilson influences are more obvious than usual.
River of Orchids is pretty great. What a way to start the album! It's followed by the Beatle's-like "I'd Like That" and "Easter Theatre". Standouts: River of Orchids, I'd Like That, Easter Theatre.
At first I questioned why an album outside of their prime years of the late 70s and 80s was included, but the arrangements they crafted here really make this stick out in their catalog. Freed from major label scrutiny, they were able to tickle their own fancy to their hearts content. British eccentricity on full display.
Let's begin with the cliché surrounding this XTC album: shut your eyes, forget who you're listening to, and take in "River of Orchids" as it trickles into life. "Apple Venus Volume 1" could easily have been a hidden treasure of 1968, sitting neatly between The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Kinks. Instead, it came thirty years later, from a band about fifteen years past their prime. It's a real curio even by 1999 standards, begging the question why it ended up included in the 1001 canon. All I can say is that I'm thrilled it was: after a few listens, I've decided it's a modest triumph. This, along with Vol. 2 which was released as "Wasp Star", were XTC's final albums. Principal singer and songwriter Andy Partridge suffered from severe stage fright which meant the band never performed live, and spent the best part of a decade refining these tracks in studio. I'm casually familiar with "Skylarking" and have always liked it, but this is something else altogether. "Apple Venus Vol. 1" is their "orch-oustic" manifesto: a blend between pastoral, acoustic-guitar driven folk and bombastic, symphonic arrangements. "River of Orchids" begins this in a stirring, hypnotic way, with droplets of pizzicato strings slowly building up to a bubbling stream. Layers of brass and vocal ripple over each other until there's a whole river of sound laid out before us: an entrancing introduction. "I'd Like That" is more of a lightweight acoustic ditty, but charming in its way with a satisfying flamenco outro. And then "Easter Theatre" misdirects us through meandering verses to an absolutely knock-out chorus. The moment the backing "stage left" lyric comes in, it's like the sky explodes in green and gold, and XTC are here to carry us all home. Later, "Greenman" is a grand old giddy joy that makes me want to dress as a shrub and dance round a maypole. "Harvest Festival" harks back to children's assembly, complete with recorders. And I can't not mention "Frivolous Tonight" and "Fruit Nut", the two tracks penned by Colin Mould. A little divisive with critics at the time, I'm happy to report that their vaudeville stylings work perfectly for me: they're shuffling music hall ditties which perfectly suit the songs of innocence package. If anything threatens to sink the album, it's the constant tension between superb music and really quite embarrassing lyrics. The ultimate example is "Your Dictionary": the lyrics are trite, corny and absolutely should not work. But in the end, I'm charmed by its sparse, acoustic instrumentation and the sudden, charming baroque-pop outro. Elsewhere, there's the middle-8 of "I Can't Own Her" - "when I say I can't own her, I don't mean to buy her, it's nothing at all to do with money" - hopelessly clunky. But in context of the song, surrounded by multi-layered vocals and swirling harmonies, it becomes breathtaking. So there we have it: "Apple Venus Volume 1" is a near-masterpiece. I'm stopping slightly short of full marks ("The Last Balloon" is a little underwhelming as a closer) but this is one of the best 90's albums I've been introduced to in a long time. And for all the talk about its forebears, what hasn't been picked up on so much is the subsequent albums "Apple Venus" may have inspired. "River of Orchids" and "Easter Theatre" could be straight out of an Animal Collective record, and there are shades of Flaming Lips' more symphonic work (which, incidentally, was drawing from the same sources in the exact same year).
Trippy throwback.
I was super impressed with this, and honestly only think that the CD era bloat typical among this era is what drags it down.
This list needs some Dukes of Stratosphere
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.
Pretty good
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.
Bien meilleur que l'album moyen de Britney sorti au même moment.
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.
Weird & enjoyable. Will revisit.
Alternatief, maar vrolijk en melodieus.
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.
c est plein de choses qui pourraient me deplaire mais jaime encore ?
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: River of orchids, I’d like that
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
The was a creative art-y album that worked well. Orchestra elements, some middle eastern influence. Overall beautiful sounding.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I’ve never had much interest in XTC but this caught me by surprise in the most unexpected way Dreamy, reflective, nostalgic, melancholic I loved this
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
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
You know, XTC.
Dreamy and lush. Very beautiful.
Hard to find, easy to listen to. 4 stars/
Not actually sure how I felt about this... the lyricism was not always my jam, but the instrumentals were dynamic and interesting the whole while. And it DID remind me of The Beatles and McCartney in particular. And even if it reminded me of the "over-indulgent" era of the Beatles, I love them in every form, soooooooo I think 3 stars will do it.
The first edition of a fruit on a planet.
hmm. fine
I have never heard of these guys and most of the songs were not songs I vibed to. But there were 2 songs that were so good and the first had some indian elements mixed in it that made it pop... Songs I liked Greenman Your dictionary Review - 5/10
This is a weird experience. Mid to high 3.
ALBUM #100. Finally reached the triple digits and about 1/10th of the way there. Now for this album I think it had a weak start for me but towards the second half I actually started enjoying it a lot more. 7/10
XTC is super nostalgic for me. This is a good album but not my favorite. The second of theirs so far on this list.
그냥 평범했다. It was just ordinary.
I listened to XTC quite a bit in the 1980s and loved their stuff. But I have to be honest and had no idea they were still together and had made albums into the late 90s' and 2000's. This wasn't at all what I was expecting from XTC. A lot of the songs have a very "Beatles sound" to them. There is a pretty big range of music from mellow and almost folksy, to very eclectic. I really liked a few of the songs and others I just didn't care for. Just an ok album for me and not one I'd listen to again as a whole, but I did add a couple songs to my playlist.
8/06/2026 I slowly warmed up to this! Spotify listeners: 732.2k
Yet another completely irrelevant record by some British blokes who nobody outside of the UK gives a shit about AKA 1001 records you must listen to before you die #301.
un álbum raro pero que dentro de todo se llega a disfrutar
gente a origem do Imagine Dragons e derivados
cool sounding sort of, not memorable.
I enjoyed this but I think it would get annoying if I heard it too often. 3/5
Was not familiar with XTC outside of Peter Pumpkinhead. This was a departure from that song or vice versa. This music is heavily influenced by the Beatles in a good way.
I know I'm jaded whenever we get another British rock album on the list, but this wasn't bad. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again, but it was actually a fair enough entry. It seemed a little more personal compared to what else was coming out around this time, and from what I've seen on the list so far. 3.5 if I could.
Wasn't as bad as their other album on here, significantly less dreary. I quite liked Greenman. That dumbass dictionary song after that can get to fuck though lmao
British to a fault with stupid lyrics. The instrumentals were nice, though.
liked it more than i thought i would - easy to have on as background
A good collection of songwriting, production and performance by Andy Partridge/XTC. Why they never were hugely successful after 'Making Plans For Nigel' and 'Senses Working Overtime' is a mystery.
3 for Greenman. Shit slaps.
Light 3
Beautiful album- I enjoyed all the different instruments contained within. None of the songs really grabbed my attention, but it was a pleasant listen.
At a certain age, bands become more interested in art and experimentation than tunes. Safe to say this happened to XTC for this album. There are some tunes, but there's a lot of indulgent noodling too.
3/5
I don’t know I keep starting this and getting through half of it and something interrupts and then repeat so I don’t know tf yo tell you. Definitely taking queues from Paul and Brian. Need to circle back.
An absolute must revisit this one, I can see its potential. I was a big fan of XTC up to the big express, then I just sort of moved on. I’m sorry I did now based on what I’ve heard today. I’ll be on their back catalogue this week
I had no idea what to expect with a group called XTC. I think I thought it was something akin to 90's Deee-Lite style house/techno/funk/rap. Nope! Sure isn't! Kind of a random Beatles meet Moxy Fruvous choir boy + instruments + 60’s Brit pop/prog mash.
There's a few interesting songs on this album (the first track has an almost Steve Reich quality in the orchestral contribution), but overall, its just okay and not particularly interesting to me.
Все-таки цікавий гурт цей XTC. Слухаєш і не знаєш що на тебе чекає. Мені сподобався цей альбом і сподобався більше ніж той єдиний який я в них слухав повністю (там де dear god). 3.5
Fun with while listen…gonna check out more
peacock feathers are really fascinating
XTC has a pretty good sized catalog. That's why this choice is somewhat confusing. I suppose it means that there's several more XTC albums to come? I mean, there has to be; This can't be their only representation here. So basically, pretty good album. Just not a great XTC album.
Not my kind of music, but it's alright.
man this is kinda rough. 2.6
This album is a beautiful, gentle return after years away. While listening I felt calm, a little enchanted, and sometimes quietly moved — like wandering through an English garden in spring with a touch of magic in the air. It’s not really a concept album with a single story, but the whole thing has this strong “orch-oustic” vibe: lots of warm acoustic guitars, rich strings, and orchestral touches that give it a lush, almost pastoral feel. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding lean into themes of nature, paganism, rebirth, middle age, and romance, wrapping them in clever, thoughtful lyrics. Songs like “River of Orchids,” “I’d Like That,” “Easter Theatre,” and “Harvest Festival” stand out with their playful-yet-deep energy. The arrangements are intricate without being showy, and the melodies have that classic XTC cleverness mixed with real warmth. It’s not their rockingest record (that’s more Volume 2), but as a mature, melodic, and slightly eccentric piece of British art-pop, it’s really lovely. I enjoyed sinking into it. Not everyone will click with the orchestral side, but if you’re in the mood for something thoughtful and pretty, this one rewards you.
I think I'm only familiar with the song "Easter Theatre" because of the "Strong Songs" podcast. Otherwise, I don't really know much of anything about XTC. I feel like I thought "Easter Theatre" was just an odd song based on the podcast episode, but we'll see what happens with the rest of this. I think the vocals are just too off-putting. It's like they're constantly way at the top of their own range. It also seems like they might have taken a lot of drugs during the making of this, but not the right kinds of drugs that for great music... not that I'm condoning doing drugs. It's not bad, but I thoroughly don't get why it's on this list.
Why does this feel like a Disney movie soundtrack
3 1/2 Stars: It's kinda like if the Beach Boys did the soundtrack for Midsommar.
Meh
I felt like I was listening to show tunes. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, but it was a little weird. At least it wasn’t unpleasant, and I’ll give them points for the 40 person orchestra in the studio.
World's okayest beatles soundalike band. Not terrible, not great. Not going to become part of my rotation, but I didn't hate it.
Not bad, unexpected. Beatlesesque in spots for sure. Might listen to more from this band
Technically good, just not my style
Not bad
River of orchids - 3 I'd like that - 4 Easter theatre - 4 Knights in shining karma - 2 Frivolous tonight - 3 Greenman - 3 Your dictionary - 2 Fruit nut - 2 I can't own her - 2 Harvest festival - 3 The last balloon - 2
Ah shit I don't know. I actually really think the songwriting is great. But it is on the cornier and overly happy-go-lucky side at times. My concentration fell off at the end of the album, so I think I will have to return for this one. For now: 3. Potentially 4 in the future.
Equal parts quirky, melancholy, and mysterious, just as any XTC release should be. I consider my self a fan and had never heard of this one. Not much of a fan, apparently.
i didnt love it but it was interesting
Not my favorite XTC
een niet onaardig plaatje maar ook een plaatje dat niet echt in deze lijst thuishoort
3/5
XTC Exist on the edge of my consciousness but never listened to them seriously until today. Always make me think of Nigel which is a name apparently nearing extinction. My wife’s b-in-law is called Nigel but as far as I know he isn’t an XTC fan. If I was called Nigel I think I would be more attracted to this album in the same way I’m attracted to Wreckless Eric or Clapton. 3/5 16/3/26
Jumping into this album having no clue what this thing is. Alrigth this sounds very experimental so far. Yeah this is so weird, but in a cool way. Easter Theatre is really good wtf. The lyrics of "your dictionary" are so bad lmao. Its very diverse in sounds actually. Its not for everyone so I can see the very low rating of this album (on this site atleast). I liked it. Id give it a 3.5 if I could.
Not what I expected but a cool album cover can do wonders. It was fine
75
Thought this would be more band past their prime than it was - I enjoyed it not sure if it’s going on repeat but I enjoyed more than I thought for sure - a 3.5
Will listen to this at some point. I usually listen to music at work and can’t get more rate options for some reason since I skipped this one for now.
Pretty chill, doesn't stand out much though
This was great! A solid album that I will come back to and very nearly a 4-star album, because it introduced me to a completely new band. Until, that is, I listened to some more of XTC’s music. AVV1 is good, but not great like some of their earlier albums.
Good to let it run in the background. But I don’t need to listen to it again.
There is definitely a huge Beatle-influence here. Somewhat enjoyed it 3/5
La primera canción no me gustó pero conforme fue avanzando el disco fue creciendo dentro de mi Greenman es mi highlight
Overall Rating - 2.86/5 (5.73/10). Not bad, but not great, either. Very middle of the road.
Very interesting music. Enjoyed it.
I liiked the album. "Elaborately arranged pop", Quirky, well produced. Lots to listen too, it's not background music. I am familiar with their popular songs but will listen to more if them.
Never heard of XTC. Liked some of the songs. At times sounded a bit like musical theater music lol. The last song with the trumpet is awesome.
Derivative in the best way. Like listening to a mixtape of your favorite bands without knowing any of the songs
I hear a fair amount of Beatles influence here. This didn't really grab me but I think it might grow on me if I bothered to listen to it again. (Don't hold your breath!) 2.5/5
Somehow ok
Dit is een weird album, wel positief weird, maar er is gekozen voor een soort super experimenteel progrock achtig album. Het bevat invloeden van bijna elke cultuur die je mogelijk kan bedenken, kan me heel goed voorstellen dat dit een super ambitieus album was toen. Niet alles werkt even goed, maar bijvoorbeeld Greenman is een heel grappig nummer, bijna een beetje Midden Oosters? Het is allemaal gewoon nogal spacey en klinkt bij tijden heel vreemd. XTC voelt een klein beetje als een progrock band, een beetje als een ontzettend experimentele band, maar toch klinkt het grotendeels niet zo spannend als ik denk dat had gekund. Wel een grote shout-out voor de prachtige saxofoon solo aan het einde van The Last Balloon, sowieso een heel mooi nummer om het album mee af te sluiten. Kende deze band niet, maar was zeker niet verveeld of dat ik het een saai album vond. Maar ik heb heel sterk het idee dat het nog wat vreemder en spacier kan, daarom 3 sterren. FAVO: Greenman, The last balloon
Nomás no le doy 2 estrellas porque las letras son top aunque esté chaforro
I don't mind XTC, however this album is a bit of a mixed bag, there are quite a few I really enjoyed, but there are a few that are quite weak.
I am surprised. I've never heard it before. Most songs are interesting when it comes to songwriting.
The Beatles knock off. Not terrible but like come on.
Fun listen from a fun group
It's nothing special but I kinda liked it. It was good background music while I was working.
An almost pleasant listen. But nothing really remarkable on. Weak three stars. 2,5
I wouldn't have guessed that XTC were still making music in 1999. XTC are fine bt never really clicked with me. Same with this one.
Musically interesting, too many cutesy lyrics
Definitely different than Skylarking - a lot less 80s and more instrumental, experimental styles. The music made sense.
Lät bra och med intressanta och varierade inslag. Kan nog behöva fler lyssningar för att jag riktigt ska sätta mig in i det mer.
Jävligt konstigt, men också ganska välgjort o najs? Oklart.
Definitely different like a mix between the talking heads and late Beatles, but never as good as either of them in their own.
Приклльна
This was a curious album, swinging between genre influences. The final track was interesting in that it seemed like a down tempo, bluesy Beach Boys song. I'm inclined to give it an average rating of 3 because I liked it but don't necessarily see returning to it often—but I think I may return some time. The cover art seems really fitting too—just as abstract and open to interpretation.
Meh. This was fine but not for me. 2.7
Although I'm not a big fan of Indian music, it was nice. The Last Balloon was a great ending
Good for sure, but far from my favorite XTC album and I don’t really think it’s in the top 1000.
Really mellow, much different style than I am used to from XTC
Kinda like the beetles. I actually like some of their songs though. they had a calming feel but toward the end of the album they lost me.
*Cool and different sounding album *At times gets a little too unique for its own good
I appreciate that XTC are a very clever band, but perhaps by 1999 they'd gotten a bit too clever? "Dictionary" is super cringe. Other than that, there's an awful lot to like here sonically (and lyrically, too, sometimes). Makes me want to dive into some of the classic XTC records, but I'd file this one as just ok.
Good
I love XTC but this album doesn't really do it for me
Lite gulligt, påminde mig om soundtracket till någon Disneyfilm(?), men blev lite bored. Svag 3a.
Vad var det där? Man slår på webben och ser XTC, 1999, då förväntade jag mig absolut inte det här! Mycket kul. Sen blev jag snabbt besviken när jag insåg att bandet bildades redan på 70-talet. jaja. Albumet startade bra, men blev något segt mot slutet. Hann tyvärr bara en lyssning men skulle faktiskt vilja höra mer.
What a beautiful little album late in XTC's run of making great-sounding records. Definitely not that popular but should be listened to more. Opening track with the long delay was weird though.
A few great songs here and there. Might have to listen to it again.
Pretty nice music, not brilliant. Nice sleeve.
Sadly, another example of a great high-energy band going flaccid in their middle age. Sure, recording and performance-wise it's of high-quality, but the songs don't move me at all.
I've never heard this one before. Only flashes of what I liked about XTC. Green Man stands out for me.
I thought that some of this was fun and some of it was unbearable. Seems like the kind of band that the more you listened to them, the more you'd like them though. It was definitely an interesting listen though which I appreciate.
This was.. not what I was expecting? It was definitely cool and unique. I really liked a few songs. The more indie / post rock songs definitely drew me in, but then some of the more "musical theater" vibing songs kind of took me out of it. I bet this has a cult following, I'm sure some people absolutely love this shit.
Perfectly serviceable Britpop. That's all, folks.
chilliges, ich glaub eigentlich eher unbekanntes album. Kann man gut durchhören. Wird glaub ich ein großer für mich. Aktuell an der Grenze zwischen 3 und 4. Highlights: Greenman
delightfully quirky.
I did not know this band. Pleasant music to listen to. Overall a good album.
Give it at least one star for the album cover art, but after that, this is odd. Experimental? Instrumentation syncopation is good (harpsichord and other unusual instruments). Follow that up with I'D LIKE THAT (given the Abbey Roads influence, I got a kind of had a Beatle-esque vibe although the vocals weren't quite on the same par as Beatles). And I get a bit of Indian influence in Greenman. Overall, I like this album though I cannot state exactly what attracts me to it. Listened before? N Saved tracks? Y Favorite tracks? I'd Like That, Knights in Shining Karma, Greenman, Your Dictionary, I Can't Own Her, ⭐⭐⭐ Liked it. Saved a few tracks.
Love the cover. 🦚 I appreciate the anti-car sentiment of River Of Orchids. Cars are killing us. Don't think walking on your hands is a very efficient mode of transportation, though. I'm getting Beatles and Ben Folds, and I don't hate that. I love Greenman. Otherwise, it's okay but probably not going to listen again. Despite the trumpet, The Last Balloon was not a great ending.
Interesting lyrics, and nice vocal harmonies in many songs. Difficult to find a specific direction though
Not for me at all.
ça va
Odd, new agey. Not bad. Not great.
sonically interesting, lyrically a bit weird
This is apparently number two from XTC on this list for me. I don't really remember the first much so we'll see if this one is any better. I think I said this about the last record of theirs but I find it hard to believe this came out in 1999. Totally unlike anything else happening at the time. Not that they were ahead of themselves or anything, quite the opposite - this still sounds like Donovan in the 60s to me. It's ok. There's some fun things on this one but given the time difference between the two albums of theirs I've listened to, there isn't a whole lot of growth as a band. If any growth at all. There are a couple of high spots here and there but this one is not something I would come back to and I think I'm done with XTC as a band. 2.75/5
It's weird from the get go. And at first I thought "this is my kind of weird." But it took it a little too far and while I didn't enjoy it, I was glad when it was over.
Orchestral pop, blah Greenman Your dictionary
Uno de esos casos en los que las partes superan al todo. Es extraño, pero aunque varias de las canciones me gustaron, como que el disco en general me pareció algo aburrido. No tendría ningún problema en escuchar las canciones que me gustaron por separado, pero echarme de nuevo el disco completo, la verdad me da pereza. Está bien, pero sí aburre un poco.
achei super bom! mas em alguns momentos achei meio theatrical demais pra mim,,, tipo a musica "i cant own her" me lembrou de um dinsey song
Paul McCartney-esque with a mixture of Brian Wilson thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed this much more the further into the album I listened. By the last track, I was wanting more.
Strange 3.25
XTC were one of the more interesting and art damaged bands of the original post-punk and new wave scene. But frankly, I didn't know they were still making new music in 1999. And it doesn't sound a ton like their old stuff, but it's still interesting. The sound here is kind of an orchestral/psych/pop-rock thing, but honestly, the top review on this site kinda got it in one by saying that this sounds like the weirdest and silliest Beatles songs. This is kind of a series of Beatles-esque experiments, with a lot of color willingness to experiment and a strength of vision, but the results end up as a mixed bag. Even the best songs here aren't precisely my thing, but they *are* interesting. River of Orchids is compelling, and a couple of eye-roll inducing lines aside, I like I'd Like That too. Knights In Shining Karma has cool textural work. Harvest Festival is pleasantly pastoral. And my favorite here is probably the beautiful The Last Balloon. But the bad here is a real problem. Firstly, I'd more say I have mixed feelings on Frivolous Tonight: the music is a little silly, but I like the sentiment a lot. But I just think that Greenman is a straight-up slog. And Your Dictionary manages to be the worst song here. The music is actually good, it should be a good song: but the lyrics on this song are so bad that they need to be studied. It's frankly improbable, it is so bad that I cannot really enjoy the song at all. But despite this, I did enjoy a lot here. And the sound here is so unique and interesting that I am willing to throw XTC a bone. I do know they've made much better though.
Hvað skal segja? Áhugaverðar hugmyndir og stundum áheyrilegt og fínt, en samt ekki eitthvað sem ég myndi leita uppi til að setja á aftur. Tæpi þristurinn.
River of Orchids // Easter Theatre // Frivolous Tonight // The Last Balloon 3.5/5
Strange album for me, it came across as a very good tribute band compilation.
Kind of fun, kind of irritating, weird music.
Very cool. I think I had some blindness about this artist. I never heard them before and somehow build the idea that they were some kind of commercial pop act. Really pleased to discover that this has some very credible soulful music. Their is something about the vocal style that feels quite experimental. Not a very smooth listen for me, but one I can imagine learning to really love
It sounded to familiar and similar to the Beatles
Flaming lips and Beach Boys with a hint of Talking Heads and yet it's not a slam dunk. It's got some of that surrealist lyrics from the Love era but it's just not working that well for me. Lots of ideas but nothing to return to while not being terrible. It's a hard one.
Weirdly I did not expect XTC to sound like this, from what I heard of them before it was pretty standard new-wave post-punk type of stuff which I liked. This is more like baroque pop, beatlesque type of stuff. Not bad, but I don't care about it too much either so probably yet another 3 stars. Rated 3.5/5.0 on RYM. I think I should REVISIT this artist, not neccessarily this album though. I want to check out their stuff from the 80s
499/1001 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
This was a weird one. Yes, some strange lyrics, although some of the music was ok. Vocals sounded like Paul McCartney but of course nowhere nearly as good. Overall nothing significant. Not awful enough for a 2 although nothing I’d care to listen to again.
Some songs would have made a great acapella arrangement
Spotify keeps trying to push early XTC on me. I can understand why, as I like a lot of similar music from that time but, Making Plans for Nigel aside, I've never really got into it. This album is quite different to their 80s stuff, with more melody and less edges. It was fine apart from Your Dictionary, which was a bit shit, but nothing more.
Never realized these guys had such a boner for the Beatles. Jesus. Good stuff, but I prefer the hits. 3.3
6/10 Interesting ideas but it doesn't quite come together. Highlights: Greenman Easter Theatre Your Dictionary Frivolous Tonight
Nice
Ne Drei, weil Einheitsbrei
es dudelt so dahin, hab mir mehr erwartet, wenn eine band xtc heißt. dudeldidu
Interesting
i was pleasantly surprised by this album.
M'eh
Quirky, strange, Beatle-esque kind of album. Description says that the band was not on good terms… you could sort of tell. It had a ton of intricate and complex melodies, but some of these lyrics REALLY should have been cut. Overall, pretty solid 👍
McCartney-ish vocals and pop sensibilities mixed with art/prog interludes.
No conocía a los XTC tardíos. Si te gustan The Beatles y The Beach Boys apreciarás este disco con arreglos orquestales. Resulta de agradable escucha.
Pure XTC.
Is the cover meant to be a vagina? If the Beatles had made half of these tracks they would probs be heaped with praise. A lot of good tracks with some quite wacky topics and approaches taken!
Not sure why this is on the list. :-/
good
Apple Venus Volume 1 is a pretty good album. It is one of those albums that has so much going for it. The music is very unique by often relying on more orchestral sounds which gives it a vibe of it's own and it is also brought up by the absolutely top notch production. The lyrics are also pretty solid here as well especially in Your Dictionary. The only thing that's keeping me from giving this album 4 stars is the fact that for an album from 1999, it feels like it is stuck in the 80s. A lot of 80s sounds are here mainly through the vocals. I feel like if this album came out in 1989, I'd probably give it 4 stars. This album is still a good listen and i would put it above Skylarking. Best Song: The Last Balloon Worst Song: Greenman
This one was weird. Like the first two were good then some weird songs. Overall good though. I liked the weird Greenman song
Solid. Kinda tiring, tho.
It's "fine." Don't love it. Don't hate it. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea.
Alright. The punniness was good but not really my taste. I liked Greenman a lot.
Art Rock done right. 3.5/5
3.0
Has a similar grandiosity as Skylarking but not as memorably catchy and cutting.
6/10
I really enjoyed this album and look forward to hearing this bands other album on the list.
3.4 stars rounded down
Not sure what to rate this. I think I liked it
3.5
It was fine.
Instrumentation: 4 stars Vocals: 3 stars Lyrics: 2 stars
A bit too clever for me I think. I had no idea XTC had kept going for anything like this long. I imagine that if I were to spend long enough with this I’d probably really enjoy it. In places it reminded me of ELO - the orchestration - and Gabriel era Genesis - vocal elements. But without the obvious catchiness of either. This would probably grow on me given repeated listening, but it’s a bit too boring for me to put in the time.
This was catchier than I expected. Very beatlesesque. I remember a song they had from the 80s that was on MTV all the time. It was called dear god. That was a great song. I enjoyed listening to this record.
This was rather quirky and interesting for significant portions of its running time. Equally, however, it disappears up its own backside a touch too much for my liking. It's a bit like a symphonic The Beatles crossed with Dead Can Dance and maybe even some Steven Wilson - if that sounds pretentious to you, then you're right, it absolutely is. I'd happily re-evaluate this one down the line, not sure if it's essential enough to warrant a spot on the list however.
6/10
That was pretty neat, but it wasn't Drums and Wires.
Know of XTC as a band from around the early 80s, so surprised at a 1999 album. 300 plus albums in I have gotten over the subjective should this be on the list, it’s the editors list, It’s just a case of did I enjoy the record and would have listened to. See in the keywords the Beatles, beachboys(Wilson) well there’s no getting away from that is there, should be the Kinks(Davis) too. And I liked this quiet a bit. Drags a little by the end maybe needing a little quality editing? Which brought the score down for me. 3 Star
I really enjoyed early XTC. This sounds like XTC has become grandpas and just decided to throw a record out there. Not as quirky and fun as previous stuff. It's fine and all, but just kind of meh. 2.75 / 5 stars
A weird thing happened when I listened to this album. from the 2nd song on, I envisioned this being a Paul McCartney album. It has lots of similarity to Sir Paul, and interestingly, I feel that if this album had actually been made by Paul, it would have been an amazing turn in his late career. Even XTC benefits.
A confusing one... Instrumentals were simultaneously pretty but gimmicky, kind of in a theatrical or children's music kind of way. I think the combination of the orchestra with the more nature focused songs worked well but the rest was forgettable. 5/10
Mostly interesting.
Not the XTC I was expecting but very nice. Like a bunch of Beatles ballads
OK. Admittance: I am a gen X'er and am not sure if I remember who XTC is? Sounds like Paul McCartney had a spin off band but went way pop. It isn't bad or anything. Maybe because it is so pop oriented, so radio play (with exceptions!) and I was always so "fringe" and into alt/ techno/ post punk that I just never paid attention. But I also somehow felt I knew the name and had "heard of them" before. So... I looked them up. They are not affiliated with McCartney, just share a similar voice in a way. Also, they were a post punk band so they probably have much more interesting (for me) earlier stuff. This album, coming late, was not ... FOR ME, much to write home about. I suppose to be fair I ought go into their archive. I imagine I might even like them if I do.
This is cool. I haven't listened to it before, but it was funky and fun.
Very boring but didn't have anything bad about it, at least there was some enjoyable parts
I was not expecting such a bizarre, occasionally beautiful, album from the guys who made Drums and Wires. Do they have other surprises in their discography I should look into?
That was... weird. I have no idea what I just listened. I don’t even know if I like it or not, since I can’t decide what it was exactly. I’m not familiar with XTC, so I have no idea about the context. But "cheesy musical theater meets new wave meets psychedelic orchestral pop" was certainly not what I expected when I woke up this morning... There’s not a single song that struck me as something I’d want to save for a playlist or listen on it own ; but at the same time, the album as a whole was super intriguing from start to finish, and certainly made me curious about the band. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and rate this album a 3* for now – mainly because I still haven’t been able to process it, and I don’t want to be unfair. I’ll certainly come back to it in a few weeks or months and try to get a new perspective on it.
good effort
A very nice surprising album
Första låten konstig, sen blev det bättre. Ganska repetativa delar i många av låtarna, så lite tjötigt.
Ok album. At times it sounded like a movie soundtrack. I din not like River of Orchids (1st track) very odd and at times annoying. The rest was just there, not very good or bad.
TLDL
Unbelievably inoffensive
Slightly disappointing. Whimsical to the point of irritating at times. Best track Greenman
Pretty inoffensive pop by a band who were always inoffensive new wave rockers. It really doesn't sound like a dawn of the millenium style piece, the elaborate lush arrangements feel more like the late 60s style.
Kinda quirky alternative; kinda good?
This album had so much potential but its a bit slow and meandering. I was hoping for me but this album never grabbed me like I hoped.
Was completely unfamiliar with this band, and had no idea what to expect. Some of it sounded a bit Beatlesque, which is good for me. All in all I liked this, and will probably try it again. But I thought it did go a bit downhill as it went on…I started thinking this one was going to be a four, but it slid down to a three.
I don't really like Oranges & Lemons. 2* I like Skylarking quite a bit. 4* This album lands in the middle. 3* It starts out with a WTF? then Colin starts singing and it's okay. Definitely a change but not in a bad way. I will definitely listen to this again, because it's interesting. But I don't get all the Beatles comparisons. What Beatles album, specifically, does this sound like? I personally don't hear it.
Forgettable but ok background music for working
Chill album that I have never heard before. It is very creative and different from what I was expecting. Some great lyrics and interesting music that uses a lot of instruments. I enjoyed this one and would definitely put some of these songs on a chill playlist.
Pretty good.
good tunes to be fair but it’s corny “s-h-i-t is that how you spell me in your dictionary”… yeah, kinda hard, kinda corny i enjoyed the songs but some lyrics were just a bit thing
Starts brilliantly but tails off
It's OK.
Better than I was expecting
Didn't really know what to expect. For the most past a pleasant surprise
Easy listening and a bit quirky. I don't think it will stick in my mind for very long, however.
Neat album, but nothing really spectacular that caught my ear.
I need to ruminate on this one for a while.
This was an odd album that sounded a lot more reminiscent of sounds from previous decades. At times, this group sounded Beatles inspired, and at other times, they sounded Barenaked Ladies inspired. The musical arrangement on most of the songs was intriguing. It was a very light, very easy to listen to album. I didn't love this album, but I at least found it to fairly likable, and appreciated the uniqueness. High 2, rounding up to 3.
could not get on spooterfy
The music is friendly and nice -- maybe a little too nice for my tastes. And there are times when the lyrics are too whimsical or just plain stupid.
Sehr viel David Byrne und Talking Heads Energy, was mir sehr fest pässerlet. Irgendwie fun, irgendwie au sehr experimentell. Jetzt aber au keis extasischs Erlebnis. Lieber mal mit 3/5 Pille ahfange und denn luege.
Nothing of note.
Last summer, I started going to a weekly pub music quiz where the format is usually 'songs by bands in alphabetical order'. So, I've probably heard more XTC in the past 12 months than in the rest of my life. This album shows XTC deserve to be more than just the band you shoehorn in when you can't think of anyone else starting with X especially if you like anything Beach Boys/McCartney-esque. Which I do.
I guess I like xtc more than I used to but this is still just ok
An aggressively melodic and harmonic psychedelic journey, throwing a variety of strange sounds and orchestral instrumentation as you listen Everything isn't the most memorable on a song-by-song basis, the second half gets a little snoozy, and I'll need this album to produce even more drugs in order for me to ignore some of the lyrics, but it was a fun experience to go on
Strange
Just okay. Nothing wrong with it, nothing great as well.
Was impressed by the variety of sounds. They do well with dissonant melodies.
This was aaaallll over the place. First few tracks I thought maybe I’d found a new favorite band, but by “Your Dictionary” I realized that was NOT the case. Will have to check out more from them. Assuming they will pop up on this list again.
soul music for people with adult braces
I think it's ok
It's a bummer they didn't manage to record all the instrumentation. The synths/samples really drag the whole thing down, especially when contrasted with what they did manage to get on tape. While I enjoyed it, I don't think there's anything revolutionary here, so if they had managed to finish the record, I would've given it 4 stars--and maybe consider listening again in the future. 3 stars for the ambition.
Well, it's certainly no Skylarking, but by no means is it terrible. This is one of those records where my initial reaction is: "it's interesting!" And then after some reflection: "it's interesting!" Nothing really reached out to grab me, but I was relatively engaged throughout. I get the sense it would reward relistening, but there's not quite enough gravity to pull me back in. Oh, and that dictionary song is bad. Like bad bad. Like I worry about people who think it's good bad.
Was decent! Not super my thing but not bad at all.
Me gustan cuando son más poperos, pero este es bastante bonito. No me guardo ninguna canción en favoritos, pero otra vez me ha servido para recuperar sus otros discos. y eso al menos merece la pena.
I'm not sure what to make of this album which Wikepedia says is Pop / Symphonic Pop / Orchestral Pop / Alternative Pop - it's a far cry from their earlier New Wave offerings such as "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime", but at the same time it seems like a natural progression. Apparently ranked number 47 the "Top 50 Eccentric Albums" by Mojo in 2003. Reminiscent of the Beatles (e.g. "Easter Theatre") and Genesis (e.g."Knights in Shining Karma"). My favourite track on the album is "Greenman".
Yeah it’s fine. Lots of Brian Wilson and McCartney influence obviously, but overall pretty pleasant. Idk why it was an XTC album from 1999 tho and not when they were relevant.
Not available on Spotify or Tidal. Only YT
Favorite Track: Easter Theatre
An observation: For artists with large discographies (e.g. Rod Stewart, The Cure, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen - Hell, The Beach Boys, even - and now XTC), they seem to think the least accessible album is the one "you need to hear before you die" rather than any of their more commercially successful albums that would better fit the moniker. Maybe the latter are also on here, and the algorithm just so happens to be giving me the deep cuts first (since Abbey Road and Purple Rain would be counterexamples), but I'm in the business of identifying patterns, and this pattern seems puzzling and a bit disappointing to me. On the one hand, I guess it's nice not hearing the things you already know, but on the other hand, not hearing the best an artist has to offer can unfairly disincentivize you from further exploring what could be a great new find. Anyway, about this particular album. It's OK. One of XTC's weaker outings but still OK.
Interesting and different
This album is quite the mixed bag. A lot of great tracks and a lot of real stinkers too. Things feel very Abbey Road, with a lot of different attempts at experimental tracks. Some pay off, some don’t Fav tracks - I’d like that - Easter theatre - knights in shining karma - frivolous tonight - fruit nut Worst tracks - green man - your dictionary
A bit quirky and different, but still interesting. That said, I definitely prefer the earlier albums.
River of Orchids kicks this record off with such a cool track that the rest of the record doesn’t quite measure up to. Still, I get why XTC is on the list (in general).
This was fine. Some of the lyrics seemed childish
Another perfectly fine album. Not bad, not great.
Never heard this before, and I liked it. I have heard of XTC - even have one song in my favorites list, but this isn't available on Spotify.
Not available on Spotify so marking as three stars
Don’t know why it gets any hate really, I guess the lack of streaming? But yeah just kinda an average album to me. Almost sounded like a worse version of some of the stuff the beach boys were doing in the mid 60s. Anyway 3 stars
"English rock band" isn't my favorite phrase, but we'll see how this is... UPDATE: Okay this was actually really nice! The songs were fantastical and whimsical, the instruments were impressive, the arrangements were fresh. I thought I would hate this but it came through.
Not much to say about this
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Still, it came across as "ELO for elitist music geeks" (no offense). Obviously Beatlesque in its production, I kept my attention more than other stuff I've heard from XTC.
This is pretentious. I don't think that's an inherently bad thing, as art can also get pretty pretentious while also still being able to make a point. This album does get to a point where the pretentiousness hurts it, though. Like it just goes a little too far without having a ton of qualities to justify that. I do really love the orchestration, though! I will always encourage and enjoy albums that include strings, woodwinds, or other orchestra instruments in their music. That ends up being the only major highlight for me, though. The rock instruments have a couple of good moments but mostly live in meh. The lyricism doesn't do anything for me specifically. His voice is fine, and, in the end, the pretentious attitude of the album ends up hurting it for me. Favorite Song(s): Easter Theater
I’ve never listened to a full XTC album before so it was interesting dropping into their 13th with little context. This doesn’t sound like the 80s XTC I’m familiar with. I’ve always felt I should dive into their catalogue more deeply because of their influence on Britpop and post-punk revival (I feel like I say something like this every second album). Not sure if this is really representative of their other music but I’d definitely listen to more. This is a pretty record, full of Beatles-esque melodies and lush orchestration. At times it sounds like baroque twee pop I would sometimes listen to in the 2010s. This was made in 1999? It sounds out of time. Songs I liked: -Easter Theatre - pagan/Easter/pastoral is a musical niche I never thought of until now -Fruit Nut - lol I guess I like pastoral pop -Harvest Festival - I will excuse rhyming “festival” with “best of all” Not so good: -Your Dictionary - had to look this one up because it sounded out of place on this album. It’s a bitter post-divorce song… I could’ve done without this juvenile spelling exercise.
2.5.
It feels weird to say, but I really enjoyed the mixing and mastering of this album. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 1/5
Not available.
Since this wasn't available on my streaming service, I listened to dabs of this on Youtube. It sounded like a more experimental version of earlier XTC with a touch of Beatles. Well, more specifically, like the Beatles songs written by Ringo.
This was... different. I had to listen to this a couple of times to shift into the mood it was creating, and then it came into its own.
Favorite track: Easter Theatre. Overall score: 6,3/10
A new experience in a setting that evoques a calm and serene listening experience. The tracks are well composed and well put together, despite the difficulties.
It's pleasant and upbeat. Chamber pop has always felt a bit cloying to me though. As far as that goes though it's relatively inoffensive.
I can’t tell if I love it or hate it. What a weird listen. Like Paul McCartney as the Walrus over an orchestra the entire time.
I always start off a little bitter when I realize that the album isn't on Spotify, but I try not to hold that against them. I like some of XTC's work, but this one didn't blow me away. Their stated goal was for a mix of orchestral and accoustic, which I can see. I kept thinking that it sounds a bit like the Beatles, if they had a different balance to some of their material. Think a very stripped down version of "Eleanor Rigby". I don't know if that's a fair description, but it was my main impression here. The pagan themes didn't particularly stand out to me. I probably could have stood to spend more time with this one, but given the difficulty of finding it, I'm unlikely to in the near future.
Very interesting album. Standout songs: River of Orchids Greenman Fruit nut
This reminds me of a fun curious time when they might be giants, Ben folds and xtc reigned supreme, I like their cleverness and creativity and unique sound
It feels like environmental music that would be piped in on Mars...or a voyage through space. Maybe it's the synthesizer. Not sure. I like it, but it feels specific to alien abduction.
A clear eyed master class of clean orchestral pop production and songwriting. I am more awed than moved. Mad respect. But I would ask why this is one this list. Good as it - and it is damn good - not nearly as cultural relevant their late 70s/80s work. More like a good solo album than a band confection of their early days.
The fault is mine, but i only listened to this once and without attention. What i heard was pleasant and seemed ok, but im not qualified to comment
I really dug the instrumentals, most tracks have a lot of layers to them. Other than some fuckass lyrics here and there (the dictionary song has straight stinkers from line 1) there really is a lot to enjoy here. 2.8 ⭐
This album was very complex for me. At first, I really liked it. I thought the first half was extremely imaginative and weird and I was ready to give the whole thing a 4. However, the second half took a sharper bend into convention and it reminded me unfavorably of Pet Sounds or the Paul McCartney baroque Beatles stuff, and that was a 2. So I settled on 3.
It's not on Spotify and I only bothered to listen to a few songs on YouTube so I honestly didn't get much from this. The songs I did listen to were interesting but not all that "good". I put quotations here because there are obviously two categories of what "good" is -- subjective and objective. This album I found was not subjectively good to me. Again, I didn't listen to much of it so I don't like to pass it off as all the way "bad". I'll have to return to it at some point to really give it a good listen.
Too long, good moments.