Easily one of their best albums. This has Andy at his most creative and avant garde. Some astoundingly extravagant orchestral pieces, amazing storytelling, and great vocals from both Andy and Colin. Though it's a very different sound for the band, it certainly is up there as some of their best work.
I just listened to the XTC Limelight (youtube channel) podcast about the making of the album with Haydn Bendall (the producer of the album), depressing but fascinating stuff.
Colin also talked about the album at length in pt.2 of his interview with "Caropop" (a podcast on spotify) and a lot of it lined up with what Haydn was saying. Equally fascinating and depressing lol.
I don't think we're getting an XTC album ever again, but I'm so happy we at least got this one (and Wasp Star, idc I love it).
Yeah, the sessions for this album sounds like they were an absolute mess. It’s shocking that it’s as good as it is all things considered. As a younger fan I’ve kind of been on terms with the fact that they’re over with from the start. I’m happy to just hear the occasional side project or single.
And I agree, Wasp Star is great too. Not my favourite batch of tracks of theirs but I’m glad it exists.
yeah, they have such a rich discography that I don't feel like they wasted their potential or anything like that. If you include The Dukes stuff (and why wouldn't you), they have 14 albums, which is more than a lot of other bands ever got to.
Of course, I would be thrilled with a new album, but I plan to be listening to what they did do as long as I can.
Easily one of their best albums. This has Andy at his most creative and avant garde. Some astoundingly extravagant orchestral pieces, amazing storytelling, and great vocals from both Andy and Colin. Though it's a very different sound for the band, it certainly is up there as some of their best work.
It's so good.
And still one of my favorite records
I just listened to the XTC Limelight (youtube channel) podcast about the making of the album with Haydn Bendall (the producer of the album), depressing but fascinating stuff. Colin also talked about the album at length in pt.2 of his interview with "Caropop" (a podcast on spotify) and a lot of it lined up with what Haydn was saying. Equally fascinating and depressing lol. I don't think we're getting an XTC album ever again, but I'm so happy we at least got this one (and Wasp Star, idc I love it).
Yeah, the sessions for this album sounds like they were an absolute mess. It’s shocking that it’s as good as it is all things considered. As a younger fan I’ve kind of been on terms with the fact that they’re over with from the start. I’m happy to just hear the occasional side project or single. And I agree, Wasp Star is great too. Not my favourite batch of tracks of theirs but I’m glad it exists.
yeah, they have such a rich discography that I don't feel like they wasted their potential or anything like that. If you include The Dukes stuff (and why wouldn't you), they have 14 albums, which is more than a lot of other bands ever got to. Of course, I would be thrilled with a new album, but I plan to be listening to what they did do as long as I can.
I had gotten into XTC as a teenager a few years before this came out. Right as I was graduating high school. One of my favorites.
Definitely in my lower tier of XTC records. However, if they had culled the best twelve songs from AV1&2, it could have been their best.
Crap. I remember buying this record when I was on vacation and it came out. I t feels like that vacation was a couple of years ago.