XTC one more time

Human Alchemy ...

debrewguy wrote: if they get in, then the X vs Y arguement starts for many an intelligent pop band.

If there's one thing worse than the X vs Y argument it's the argument against the X vs Y argument.

And anyway, X isn't here nor is there any band called Y.


Edited by Slartibartfast - May 19 2009 at 07:07

jammun wrote: Unless you've been hanging out on Zzyzx Road too long.  It's on I-15, a bit south of Baker, CA.

Now I'm curious, what kind of people or other living creatures hang out there?


Edited by Slartibartfast - May 19 2009 at 07:07

C'm on, I love XTC since the early eighties when I bought the LPs of  Black Sea and English Settlement. They're great at writing intelligent, quirky pop/rock songs but the band is not progressive at all. There are no extended instrumental sections, extended solos and intricate metres. XTC didn't influence any prog bands, they weren't influenced by prog bands, they never considered themselves a prog band. XTC is a great band but it's NOT prog...

Hell, I can make a better case for Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark to be included on this site. At least OMD wrote a number of longer, mostly instrumental songs (Sealand, Statues, Stanlow), used Mellotron on songs like Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) and they wrote a mostly experiemtal album called Dazzle Ships. OMD was also heavily influenced by Kraftwerk on their first LPs so that settles it: let's include OMD!

http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/list.php?show=x

XTC really is a great band; however, I don't think they belong in the Archives, either.

And I LOVE Apple Venus Vol 1. Disc just blew me away.

E

XTC is a tricky one. Yes, I love 'em to bits but can't help thinking they could be considered as creators of freshly minted antique coins. They are certainly influenced greatly by prog but I fear this is maybe a one way street ? In many ways XTC have come to resemble a multi faceted version of Black Bonzo i.e the latter can mimic with insouciant ease any manner of heavy prog from the 70's while the former can do the same with any manner of pop music from the 60's through to now. (a considerably wider and harder remit to be sure and deserving of the status of curators of popular music)

Partridge & Co's early post punk output was palpably influenced by Talking Heads (and David Byrne in particular) before they moved into the realm of retro psychedelica (Skylarking - Oranges and Lemons - Dukes of Stratosphear etc) and along the way, there is probably no conceivable style or genre of pop music that they have not assimilated into their writing during a very long career.

So where would they fit in PA ?

Eclectic Prog - Nah, not predominantly progressive enough methinks ?
Crossover Prog - Nah, not predominantly progressive enough methinks ?
Prog Related - Blend characteristics of Progressive Rock with mainstream elements creating a final product that despite not being part of the genre is evident that are close to Prog. - borderline, as they fit the foregoing but have only been influence by prog ?

Having said all that, the strictures of definition belonging to all the available genres cannot possibly be applied to the letter (Music is not an exact science after all) and given the inevitable history of hullaballoos re Bowie, Doors, Miles Davis, Roy Harper and Sabbath etc I catch a whiff of red misty incense in the air round these parts real soon y'all....

So kick out Sabbath and Roy Harper and let XTC in (only kidding - just)

No please , Peter Pumpkin Head by your leave.

jimidom wrote: How about Dukes of Stratosphear for Psychedelic/ Space Rock?

Amen!

clarke2001 wrote: Great post! Just adding a few things to spice things up: Barry Andrews played with XTC and Robert Fripp's League Of Gentlemen. Pat Mastelotto played for XTC and King Crimson. Dave Mattacks played for XTC, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. Todd Rundgren played keyboards and did backing vocals (as well as production) on "Skylarking". "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" is dedicated to Brian Eno. Primus covered two songs from "Drums and Wires". "The Magic Roundabout" from the "English Settlement" is in 5/4. They used classical guitars, prepared pianos, a battery of analog synths, flugelhorns, trumpets, horns, saxophones, oboe, harmonica, various ethnic percussions, gamelan angklung, sound effects, alive frogs, tiple, sitar, violas, cellos, violins, Hammond organ, both Chemberlain and  Mellotron. "25 O' Clock" is a psyche record, with psyche music and psyche cover. The album was recorder on a four-track to replicate overdubbing techniques of the era. "Bike To The Moon" is obvious example of Barrett/Pink Floyd influence. There's more, but that will do. Of course, each of these points might mean nothing, but alltogether they could be rellevant in The Grand Scheme Of Things

I think that makes a good case for prog related.  I also think Talking Heads should be there. 

Which XTC album was Pat on?