Catchy Music from XTC
I just started listening to XTC. I've heard Black Sea and Skylarking. I really liked Black Sea. I thought that it had fast, catchy tunes for a listener to actually enjoy. This album has three extra tracks that are worth "Smokeless Zone," and "Don't lose your temper." A lot of the songs have very interesting lyrics, ranging from war to love. My favorite songs are "Generals and Majors," and "Burning with Optimisms Flames."
A herky-jerky masterpiece
Part of the holy trinity of absolutely flawless XTC albums (the other two being Skylarking and Chips From The Chocolate Fireball, with the upcoming Wasp Star a possible contender from what I've heard), because the band perfected the twin-guitar attack they introduced earlier. This album ROCKS. True, a lot of it is "noise," as a reviewer below stated, yet that's a given for most early XTC. What matters is that this album contains some of the best frigging songs ever written. "Respectable Street" is in the band's top ten for sure, and "Paper And Iron," "Travels In Nihilon," "Towers Of London,"(which almost blatantly lifts from the Beatles' "Rain" but succeeds on its own) "Generals And Majors," and "Burning With Optimism's Flames" aren't far behind at all. If you want some early XTC but aren't too heavily into jerky rock, this is probably your best bet. The band started onto a more atmosphere/melodic path with "English Settlement" next but this album shows a glimpse of the band at their most rocking, fun, and wonderful. Out of 11 songs (fourteen with bonus tracks), not one is a dud whatsoever. Considering that you're sitting at an Amazon page where you have the ability to buy the album at your fingertips, by all means, BUY IT. NOW.
The first XTC I ever heard
I remember hearing "Generals and Majors" on the old Denver radio station KBPI in 1980 or 1981. It was in the middle of the night. I was just drifting off to slumber-land.
It blew me away. It changed my life. I tossed the REO Speedwagon, Foreigner and Styx into the trash cazn and dove head first into this new British wave.
Almost 25 years later I still get goosebumps hearing the opening "record scratches" that are the precursor to the electric guitar's "Bow Wap! Wo NA NA, Bow Wap!" of "Respectable Street".This album is a must! And in the remastered miniature album replica format, it is even better!!
Now, let's hope Virgin releases a set of XTC Single replicas (like Costellos', Duran Duran's and the Beatles). That would round off my collection.
Superb, Tense Pop
This is a fine, fine record. I just listened to it, and I was yet again impressed by XTC's peerless talent at composing pop music that is it once highly intricate and unshakeably tuneful. With XTC, the listener need not choose between tune and texture: both are floridly abundant. I would rank this particular record even above its acclaimed follow up, English Settlement, if only because of its more consistent calibur of songwriting. But both albums feature the earthquake of a rhythm section in Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers, who provide an impossibily solid foundation for Andy Partridge's supple guitar work and spastic vocal workouts. Fans of Elvis Costello's own records from this period would do best to check out this album! If you are interested in guitar based-new wave, this is the one. And if you just want to hear some great, intelligent pop music, by all means, check out Black Sea.
A Close Second
This is also a must have for anyone looking to fill their 80's best of collection. Outside of their English Settlement which I believe is their finest work, this runs a close second. And that could go either way. This release blends their unconventional with the conventional. Great melodies and wild little guitar riffs running through your brain combine to please your appetite. When I first bought this album When it first was released I listened to it for 4 days straight. A great buy especially to the XTC fan.
Remastered reissue of 1980 album features the classic 'Generals And Majors'. Virgin Records. 2001.
One of XTC'S Most Commercial Albums, features Three Bonus Songs: "Smokeless Zone," "Don't Lose Your Temper," and "The Somnambulist."
