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MIXTC TAPE POLL

Which makes you most XTatic?

1) "Ball and Chain"	0 votes
2) "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead"	0 votes
3) "Dear God"	0 votes
4) "Generals and Majors"	0 votes
5) "Grass"	1 votes
6) "King for a Day"	0 votes
7) "Love on a Farmboy's Wages"	0 votes
8) "Making Plans for Nigel"	1 votes
9) "Mayor of Simpleton"	1 votes
10) "The Meeting Place"	0 votes
11) "Senses Working Ovetime"	3 votes

Edgy DC Aug 28 2007 09:40 PM Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Aug 29 2007 08:15 AM

XTC, often too clever by half, and so Beatle-headed that they even did an album under an alternative name --- "The Dukes of Stratosphere" --- in which they made a point of giving the drummer a lead vocal on one track, even though he was just the session drummer. They well might have been huge. Indeed, it's not too late to pick up your very own copy of Skylarking, a masterpiece which the band didn't even realize at the time how great it was because of their frequent clashes with producer Todd Rungren. In fact, the album's hit single --- "Dear God" --- wasn't even on the album, issued merely as a B-side until radio play forced them to add it on subsequent pressings. But they weren't huge, largely because of a Brian Wilson-type meltdown by the band's alphamember Andy Partridge, leading the band to forgo touring altogther, which led to their drummer quitting, and they've been a three-piece ever since. Scathing satire in sugary arrangements, you can't go wrong. XTC gives you, as Partridge later said about Skylarking, "a summer's day baked into one cake." If it was up to me alone, my first five votes would have been for tracks from that album. But it's up to you! Besides, I couldn't find a clip of "Earn Enough for Us." I originally had glut of dubious nominees, but purged a lot of their earlier singles from their punk days. Write in if you must and follow your gut. 1) "Ball and Chain" 2) "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" 3) "Dear God" 4) "Generals and Majors" 5) "Grass" 6) "King for a Day" 7) "Love on a Farmboy's Wages" 8) "Making Plans for Nigel" 9) "Mayor of Simpleton" 10) "The Meeting Place" 11) "Senses Working Ovetime"

TransMonk Aug 29 2007 07:06 AM

XTC is a heavily underrated band for sure. I voted for "Mayor of Simpleton" which was my first introduction to them in junior high. I remember buying Oranges & Lemons and Skylarking at the same time.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 29 2007 07:45 AM

Looking forward to watching each video. I'm an English Settlement guy, that's my intro record. Plus, "Nigel" is my intro video. Will check back later with my considered vote.

Willets Point Aug 29 2007 07:47 AM

Is "Peter Pumpkinhead" about Jesus?

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 07:53 AM

All songs are about Jesus. Including songs titled "This Isn't About Jesus." It's of course an allegory, but there are parallels to a broad range of martyrs. "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead."

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 07:58 AM

Eighties viedo staples in "Making Plans for Nigel": Traumatized childhood. Conditioning. Mental institution. Scary mimes. Chessboards. Video subjugation.

Willets Point Aug 29 2007 08:08 AM

Edgy DC wrote: All songs are about Jesus. Including songs titled "This Isn't About Jesus." That's a great quote.

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 08:12 AM

"Amazing Grace"? Jesus. "One-of-a-Kind Love Affair"? Jesus. "Eyes Without a Face"? Very Jesus. ""Meet the Mets"? Jesus, also.

HahnSolo Aug 29 2007 09:04 AM

I never knew XTC had such a following. Then again, in my sheltered NEW, APP, and PLJ 80s years, the only XTC song I new was Dear God.

Willets Point Aug 29 2007 09:15 AM

I often regret that I didn't know anything about all the great music being made in my youth. I blame the fact that I was too geeky to hang with the cool kids and that the internet hadn't been invented yet.

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 09:25 AM

HahnSolo wrote: I never knew XTC had such a following. Then again, in my sheltered NEW, APP, and PLJ 80s years, the only XTC song I new was Dear God. Buy it. Listen to it. Respond to it. Learn to play the songs on your geetar. Repeat.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 29 2007 09:36 AM

The whole world is football-shaped It's up to me to kick its face A vote for "Senses" here but woulda been tempted also with the new-wavy raggae of "Snowman." and it's great lyric: People have always been tempted to wipe their feet On anything with 'welcome' written on it

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 09:53 AM

Somebody also made a greeting card of this pretty song from Nonesuch:

seawolf17 Aug 29 2007 09:56 AM

Who?!?

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 07:07 PM

XTC: One of the finest of your X bands. Sub-question: Rank your X bands Generation X Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos King's X INXS X XTC

metirish Aug 29 2007 07:09 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Eighties viedo staples in "Making Plans for Nigel": Traumatized childhood. Conditioning. Mental institution. Scary mimes. Chessboards. Video subjugation. So true....good call..I voted for Nigel

TransMonk Aug 29 2007 07:20 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Sub-question: Rank your X bands 1. X 2. XTC 3. Generation X 4. INXS 5. King's X 6. Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos

Edgy DC Aug 29 2007 07:26 PM

Not bad.

Johnny Dickshot Aug 29 2007 07:28 PM

X XTC INXS ***

metirish Aug 29 2007 07:31 PM

King's X were a more than good band back in the day...I had the first album..Out of the Silent Planet ..damn good it was...as a black lead singer and bass player of a rock band Thin Lizzy were always brought up in interviews.

TransMonk Aug 29 2007 08:39 PM

They were no Thin Lizzy, but they had their moments. I have to say I wouldn't cringe listening to any of the bands on the X list.

metirish Aug 30 2007 06:46 AM

Can O please change my vote to "Senses Working Ovetime",listened to the songs this morning on the iPod and it's the best of the bunch..."Nigel" upon further listening was as annoying now as then....

Edgy DC Aug 30 2007 09:28 AM

XTC Songwriter Collaborates with Atomic Kitten Aug 30, 2007 Atomic Kitten Liz McClarnon is getting a bit of help from an unlikely source on her next solo album. XTC principal Andy Partridge collaborated with the Kitten on a batch of songs earlier in the year, and McClarnon's tapped one of them, "Shut Up and Kiss Me" for inclusion on her next effort. The song, which features a shuffling reggae-like beat, boasts music written by Partridge and lyrics from McClarnon.