Post by athompsen on Nov 23, 2003 23:28:52 GMT -5
Today's album is:
XTC- "Nonsuch"
released in 1992
After reading Pete70's wonderful review of "Skylarking", I got out all of my XTC albums and started listening to them again. No one writes pop songs like Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. What sets them apart from the other pop singers out there is that they're smart. Really, really smart.
I think that most artists know better than to put more than one song dealing with overt political messages on an album. Too many such songs make an album feel heavy-handed and preachy. The messages get in the way and the music tends to fall flat (Madonna's "American Life"). XTC is the one exception (and maybe REM). XTC is a band with strong beliefs and has no fear of sharing them.
The majority of songs on Nonsuch are bleak and cynical, yet they are flawless. The album requires repeated listenings (keep the lyrics handy). And you'll probably find your favorite song changes after every 4 or 5 playings.
The album opens with "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", one of the few songs that got radio play. It's speculated that this song is about JFK, but I'm not sure. "Peter Pumpkinhead came to town, spreading wisdom and cash around Fed the starving and housed the poor, showed the Vatican what gold's for But he made too many enemies of the people who would keep us on our knees Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead! Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkinhead?"
A few tracks later, we have "The Smartest Monkeys".
"Well man created the cardboard box to sleep in it
And man converted the newspaper to a blanket
Well you have to admit that he's come a long way
since swinging about in the trees...The evidence is all around, out brains are bigger this we've found. We're the smartest monkeys" A very cynical message, but still it's a well crafted song.
But of course, there's an awful lot more to the album than just these songs. XTC also goes for the more familiar ground of traditional pop song themes...ie; the pain of breaking up...which can be found in songs like, "Dear Madam Barnum" and "The Disappointed" are both very catchy.
As of now, my favorite songs on this album are "Then She Appeared", I love the lyrics..."Then she appeared, apple Venus on a half-open shell Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbot's gel I was a little frightened Flying with my senses heightened Cherubim cheered, then she appeared" And I also love "Wrapped In Grey"...quite brilliant.
All in all, a good album. I like the way Rolling Stone describes XTC..."XTC makes alternative music for people who don't like alternative music."
XTC- "Nonsuch"
released in 1992
After reading Pete70's wonderful review of "Skylarking", I got out all of my XTC albums and started listening to them again. No one writes pop songs like Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding. What sets them apart from the other pop singers out there is that they're smart. Really, really smart.
I think that most artists know better than to put more than one song dealing with overt political messages on an album. Too many such songs make an album feel heavy-handed and preachy. The messages get in the way and the music tends to fall flat (Madonna's "American Life"). XTC is the one exception (and maybe REM). XTC is a band with strong beliefs and has no fear of sharing them.
The majority of songs on Nonsuch are bleak and cynical, yet they are flawless. The album requires repeated listenings (keep the lyrics handy). And you'll probably find your favorite song changes after every 4 or 5 playings.
The album opens with "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", one of the few songs that got radio play. It's speculated that this song is about JFK, but I'm not sure. "Peter Pumpkinhead came to town, spreading wisdom and cash around Fed the starving and housed the poor, showed the Vatican what gold's for But he made too many enemies of the people who would keep us on our knees Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead! Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkinhead?"
A few tracks later, we have "The Smartest Monkeys".
"Well man created the cardboard box to sleep in it
And man converted the newspaper to a blanket
Well you have to admit that he's come a long way
since swinging about in the trees...The evidence is all around, out brains are bigger this we've found. We're the smartest monkeys" A very cynical message, but still it's a well crafted song.
But of course, there's an awful lot more to the album than just these songs. XTC also goes for the more familiar ground of traditional pop song themes...ie; the pain of breaking up...which can be found in songs like, "Dear Madam Barnum" and "The Disappointed" are both very catchy.
As of now, my favorite songs on this album are "Then She Appeared", I love the lyrics..."Then she appeared, apple Venus on a half-open shell Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbot's gel I was a little frightened Flying with my senses heightened Cherubim cheered, then she appeared" And I also love "Wrapped In Grey"...quite brilliant.
All in all, a good album. I like the way Rolling Stone describes XTC..."XTC makes alternative music for people who don't like alternative music."
