XTC one more time
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=55949
Printed Date: February 23 2025 at 02:15
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Topic: XTC one more time
Posted By: jammun
Subject: XTC one more time
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 16:58
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Can we revisit this band? They have impeccable prog-someting credentials. I realize the early output is some sort of 80's power pop (hey, that's what it was), but beginning with English Settlement they started moving into a more prog direction, with regard to songwriting and general sound (give a listen to Jason and the Argonauts or English Roundabout). By the time we get to Skylarking and The Big Express it's as prog as it gets. Skylarking: concept album, running through the seasons. Rhythmically not very challenging, but those chord changes are quite sophisticated. Nice use of 'noisy' little segues between the songs, not to mention Beatle-esque melodies. The Big Express: more rhythmically challenging, with the usual first-rate songwriting, with waves of proginess that come streaming out of the speakers. It's almost the sort of album The Beatles might have made had they still existed in the '80s. Then of course we get what is probably the ultimate re-creation of '60s psychedia with the Dukes of Stratosphear. I could go on,and will if you wish. |
Replies:
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 17:08
| I am not terribly familiar with XTC's output, but I've seen them discussed enough times here to understand the suggestion has some merit. As to their being "80s power pop", we have other bands here part of whose output can be described in the same terms (think Split Enz or Talk Talk) - so, I don't see any problem there. |
Posted By: Pnoom!
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 18:19
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Based on what I've heard (Drums & Wires, English Settlement, and Skylarking), they don't belong here, and would be very tenuous even in prog related. They're an excellent pop band, but they're still a pop band. No need to force them into the prog mould just because they're intelligent and occasionally complex. Here are some songs from Skylarking, for those who actually do the final evaluations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozu8KGFH-CU - Grass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41ws8trjL0I - That's Really Super, Supergirl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRQGZUKS2Y - The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul |
Posted By: Captain Capricorn
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 18:23
| I second the notion - they're perfect for crossover...have you guys hears English Settlement? Classic... |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 18:40
Realistically, the Skylarking songs need to be heard within context. Not to compare to Sgt. Pepper's, but if I posted links to When I'm Sixty Four and Getting Better would that really represent the album?
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Pnoom! wrote:Posted By: Pnoom!
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 18:55
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No, but the transitions between songs don't make it prog anymore than the transitions in Sgt. Pepper's make it prog. I picked three songs from the album. Grass is probably most representative of the album as a whole, That's Really Super, Supergirl is the poppiest on the album, and The Man Who Sailed Around his Soul is the closest it comes to prog (IMO). I chose songs that would give a good look at the range of the album, and, realistically, we can't expect all the collabs to hear the entire album before making a decision. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 18:56
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I'll third the notion. My intro was English Settlement by a friend who was a fellow prog fiend. Not conventional prog, but I've always considered them to be. Not so much in the albums that came before though. Also a side note of interest, though not really a prog credential. Their first keyboardist Barry Andrews also worked with Fripp in the League Of Gentlemen. |
Posted By: Pnoom!
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 18:59
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English Settlement is definitely the proggiest of the ones I've heard (but still not prog IMO)... Here's one of the songs on the album it wouldn't be a huge stretch to call prog related: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGc5h1yWHQ - Melt the Guns |
Posted By: Captain Capricorn
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:08
I agree - that's probably the most pop-ish song on the album...
Give this one a listen...
http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#xtc%20jason - http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#xtc%20jason
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:13
I would have included Summer's Cauldron. Agree that the transitions do not make it prog, but they are iterative and tie at least the first three songs together.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:28
| Based on my thread search it hasn't been put to a vote. You should have made this a poll. |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:31
The poll would be, "How do you spell 'me' in your dictionary?" S H I or T
 |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:36
I think we need a Hell Yeah It's Prog To Me, What's The Matter With You People? Subgenre.. 
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:41
Suggestion of the decade  ! |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 19:51
Slarti, if you are not already you should be looking at a career in psychoanalysis. Because that get's right to the point. XTC was one of a few bands I enjoyed back during the early '80s: Wall of Voodoo, Talking Heads, Dire Straits come to mind immediately and I'm sure there are a few others. So if I liked them they must be proggy, because I did not care for yer average pop (ABBA and other Europop always granted special dispensation).
I still think that given the best of their songs they at least need to be considered.
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Posted By: Pnoom!
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 20:01
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It's worth noting that the site policy is that they need a full on prog album to qualify for a full prog genre. XTC certainly have some songs that approach prog, but in terms of full albums, I don't think they do (though I need to hear that one album you mentioned in your first post). Regarding Talking Heads, if King Crimson's Discipline is considered a full prog album, rather than just a new wave album by an ex-prog band, then they should be included, because Remain in Light is definitely in the same genre as Discipline (though my personal view is that neither are prog). |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 20:17
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Talking Heads is another controversial one I'd like to see here, as well as Joe Jackson, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Eric Johnson, Jimi Hendrix, Bela Fleck, Les Claypool (as solo artist), Jon Hassell, Praxis, Arcana, Buckethead, Automatic Man, Stereolab, Bruce Hampton, The Police, Pere Ubu, The Psychedelic Furs, The Allman Brothers, Mark Isham, Laurie Anderson, Joni Mitchell, Nine Inch Nails... I'm probably leaving out some. Some of these may yet make it one day.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 26 2009 at 20:29
I would say the Dukes of Stratosphear album qualifies for psychedelic, at least. The obvious problem is that it came 20 years after the fact. (Note to self, that would be a good name for a band: 20 Years After).
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 06:02
| I love XTC and English Settlement certainly has its proggy moments but I don't consider them to be a prog band and I doubt that Andy Partridge does. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 07:15
Well, the important thing would be whether or not his pink thing thinks so. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 07:25
It may well be true, but then, neither do Fripp or Steven Wilson consider their bands to be prog (and even Cedric of The Mars Volta has said something to that effect). What shall we do then - remove PT, KC and TMV because their leaders disagree with the prog label? |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 08:00
Fair point, mind you Fripp might not consider KC to be prog but everyone else does! |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 10:13
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They don't get to decide whether or not their music is prog. We here at prog archives do.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 11:09
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What happens when a band calls themselves Prog .... and we don't? ------------- What? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 11:10
I think we're obligated to ridicule them or something.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 19:11
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Here's a link to Summer's Cauldron:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHvvDyBoyMQ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHvvDyBoyMQ
I don't know. Maybe they are just a great pop band.
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Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: February 27 2009 at 21:49
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I'm not sure what band I was listening to lately (Beardfish, Moon Safari???), when I started to wonder if maybe a solid case could be made for the inclusion of XTC. Any fair evaluation would have to be based on listening to English Settlement, Mummer, Skylarking, and Apple Venus. And yes, Crossover is the place where we should be looking for comparisons. Travels in Nihilon, Sacrificial Bonfire ,Deliver us from the Elements. Indeed both sides of thet LP/Cassette release of Skylarking are suites that contain more than a bit of shared concept per side . And more than a few of their "pop" tunes share a definite prog influence that XOver groups like Supertramp & Split Enz were famous for. But, the big question - are they really just master pop musicians ? The Beatles we accept as Proto-Prog. 10CC we accept as prog related. SO are XTC damned because of their abilities to write memorable melodies, and their reticence to compose 10 minute opuses ? Do we disregard their instrumental complexities, including the orchestral backing that many of their better tunes have ? ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: February 28 2009 at 21:27
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Let's take a -- sorry -- not so brief look at Skylarking. Summer's Cauldron. Ya got yer chirping crickets, tweeting birds, and some weird wavering synth, aurically sending out heat waves. Then there's that Beatle-like piano and that harmonium-like thing. A little sitar sound thrown in here and there is a nice touch. Grass. Sounds like an out-take from Magical Mystery Tour. Nice plucked string thing going on there. The Meeting Place. Segue into the song echoes the beginning of Summer's Cauldron. Again beautiful instrumentation and harmonies. That's Really Super Supergirl. Obligatory hit single attempt by Partridge -- hey a guy's gotta try to assuage those folks paying the bills. Nice phased keyboards. Nice guitar solo, no arena rock bombast here. Ballet for a Rainy Day. Pure psychedelia. Maybe it's just the natural 80's version of say, a Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds tune 1000 Umbrellas. Andy ain't happy and he's channeling Eleanor Rigby to prove it. Season Cycle. Yeah, poppy. But as with all of the songs, the chord progressions are never your standard I-IV-V. More great harmonies. Andy's decided to channel Pet Sounds for this one again. Earn Enough for Us. Great rock tune. Another attempt at a hit in case Supergirl ain't the one. But even as a rock tune it's full of nice melodic twists. Big Day. Yeah, poppy. But again perfect instrumentation and melodic development. You're the new recruit. In your wedding suit. Another Satellite. If this song was on an Eno album -- the resemblance is palpable -- it would be commonly accepted as a prog mini-masterpiece. Mermaid Smiled. Nice acoustic guitars recalling those on Rubber Soul. Someone there is banging on the bongos like a chimpanzee. The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul. XTC meets beatnik jazz. Dying. Simple piece, driven by acoustic guitar. But nice orchestral (synth, ya think?) backing and as usual perfect vocals. Sacrificial Bonfire. Almost anthemic end to this great album. Simple yet evocative melody and instrumentation, with very nice orchestration. Dear God. Well now Andy's really pissed off. XTC channeling John Lennon in a really bad mood. Again, nice orchestration over the acoustic guitars. I have not done a great job of describing the little nuances in instrumentation that enhance each song. Nor have I dwelt on the incredible vocals. Maybe they are just the finest pop band of the '80's. Or maybe the are one of the few prog bands of the '80's. |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: March 02 2009 at 04:59
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I love XTC, great albums, fantastic music. The Andy Partridge Fuzzy Warbles set is also very worthwhile.
They'd certainly get my vote.
Crap! Now I've jinxed it!
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: March 02 2009 at 05:11
Split Enz is here for their early careeer (early Art Rock albums) and Talk Talk for the end of their career (late post rock albums) which both happen to be out the 80 to 86 time range when they were both considered new wave
XTC's proposed albums are exactly in this time frame
(and if X and Y .... then how about Squeeze????
 )
Exactly!!!
Not perfect for crossover. A few months back, I went torevcisit this album that was supposed to be their proggiest (way more than Black Sea and Drums & Wires) and I found nothing more on ES than the others.
Demented drumming, yes!! Prog? No!!! ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: March 02 2009 at 06:18
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with a ringing endorsement like from one who didn't recognize Japan as Xover.... XTC might be perfect As Raff says... it has merit... so the team will look at. Who better to decide what is perfect.. or even right for Xover.. but the team hahhaha. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Carl Snow
Date Posted: March 15 2009 at 16:10
as could i... menbe i'm too late to this , but as a 43yr-olde prog freak with a big love of 'song' i have to agree with the above 1st (and only) post i've read 'on' this... i've lurked forever awaiting some sign from god or lester bangs (same?) about 'that 1st review ya said ya were gonna write a few years ago" this brings me out progressive = to progress (and yes, i know a pile of other stuff as well ...But) were "punk/pop" allowed the pleasure of a seating in more 'serious' prog-lounges (think Fripp & Hall) such as their stepkids enjoy, the world would be a better and, thank god, more interestng perch. i'll only add to the quoted (and nicely put) post , this one 'lil update Apple Venys 1 and 2 (Wasp Star) are far more progressive than most prog (think we called it neo-prog then, but still) out those days .. XTC was/is one of those rare progressive units that could make a quadrupal-layered cake (Part-Prog Part-'punk' Part-Pop(in its true form) and Part interpretation an enjoyable thing. not excess. no over adornment. just perfect progressive music (of whatever genre traps it) played as flawlessly as it was writen. from spin #1 'White Music' (1976) to the latest "Wasp Star - Apple Venus Pt. 2"., these guys never duplicate themselves... these guys have been amazing and progressing towards-?? for well over 30 years now. they should get in , prog-related, at the very least. |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: March 15 2009 at 17:30
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Apple Venus is a good exhibit for the claim of XTC being prog. Orchestral arrangements, intelligent lyrics. I'm not so sure about Vol II, which showed how important Dave Gregory's guitar is to their sound (outside the orchestral compositions). Apples & Oranges could stand in good company with 10CC's (the Godley. Creme, Gouldman, Stewart unit) output. The Big Express is a stretch, but I've had friends tell me they thought that Wake Up was a Pink Floyf song when I first played it for them . And to my ears, some of the other songs on that album, like Seagulls Screaming, All you Pretty Girls, This World Over, and Train Running Low on Soul Coal , do match the prog credentials of groups like XoVer groups like Moon Safari & Beardish. XTC's failing - no lengthy compositions. Outside of the Skylarking suite-like arrangements, they stick to your usual 3-5 minute long song structure. But then it strikes me that we're making the wrong comparisons. Who am I thinking about ? Steely Dan. David Bowie. Supertramp. 10CC. Apart from Supie, they didn't write 10 minute opuses. They showed a class pop sensibility. They had the occasional experimental bent. SO maybe the case we're making is based on the wrong approach. Instead of looking at Symphonic bands, Prog metal or Eclectic, we should really look at the Crossover bunch of bands and see if XTC is a good fit. Or even a better fit than some already there. ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: March 15 2009 at 17:44
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Several classic albums (if you haven't got Skylarking, go out and buy a copy right now - your life is sadly incomplete) that should be in every open minded prog fan's collection, but they are in no way prog. Likewise Talking Heads and Pere Ubu. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: Carl Snow
Date Posted: May 13 2009 at 11:02
Pere Ubu ? definitely! ...esp. Modern Dance & Dub Housing (& soon we'll arrive at Mission Of Burma -etc) |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: May 13 2009 at 14:35
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Unconditional yes for prog-related from me.
It's not prog, obviously, but somehow they take each track and give it some off-kilter twist that makes it unsuitable for radio play. Very commendable and very interesting.
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Posted By: jimidom
Date Posted: May 13 2009 at 15:16
How about Dukes of Stratosphear for Psychedelic/ Space Rock?  ------------- "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - HST |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 13 2009 at 17:26
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I still think that if I took the time, i could post a good 20 songs that would compare favourably to many a crossover band's prog ...
------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: May 13 2009 at 23:17
debrewguy, I've sorta (and I'm sorry, I said I'd give it up
 ) referred back to XTC in the Dire Straits thread recently going on here. XTC was one of the great, ever-evolving, ever-innovating bands of the 80's. They should have at least a shot in some category here based on Skylarking alone. And as I said in the DS thread, quickly, will someone here please tell me what exactly differentiates the following, all released in '82 (and I am yes simplifying the issue), other than some prog 'pedigree':
Peter Gabriel's Shock The Monkey
Dire Straits' Industrial Disease
Rush's New World Man
XTC's Sense's Working Overtime
These were all in constant play on MTV at the time. I could probably throw in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Street of Dreams if we need yet another reference.
My friends, this was what prog sounded like in the 80's, like it or not. It also sounded like Asia's Heat of the Moment.
Just sayin'.
------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 02:46
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The debate about XTC's inclusion (or not) has me more excited than any other of these discussions in the past that I've witnessed.
I really, really would like them included here, and I don't see that anybody can deny the prog elements dominantly featured in Skylarking and Apple Venus alone.
And as an added bonus, you get the marvellous gems contained on their other albums as well, all of which are worth exploring.
Partridge as a hell of a character. I read an interview with him once where he was asked how he was using the cash from one of XTC's singles that was a (minor) success, and he answered that it had enabled him to pay for his kitchen extension. Rockstar talking.
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Posted By: jimidom
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 09:10
I also recall Andy explaining how he comes up with an album's worth of songs. He said, "You build up some good creative roughage, and then you take a good creative dump." ------------- "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - HST |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 12:13
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Human Alchemy ...
------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 12:18
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Quick note - the problem that will be encountered in considering XTC - if they get in, then the X vs Y arguement starts for many an intelligent pop band. I love the Cars. My favourite album of theirs is Panorama. I'm sure that given a big effort, I could present a semi logical case for their consideration. Not that it would pass muster. But it could get a small firestorm started if any one else from Admin or the Collabs pitched in some support. Same with Ric Ocasek's debut. Art Rock would have been the perfect place for it. Unfortunately, Ric went more commmercial with his next one. ------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 21:33
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. |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 22:00
Unless you've been hanging out on Zzyzx Road too long. It's on I-15, a bit south of Baker, CA. ------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 22:41
Now I'm curious, what kind of people or other living creatures hang out there? |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: May 14 2009 at 22:47
Well that area's pretty much the Mojave Desert, and having only driven by a few times I'm guessing yer average habitant is something small, scaly, and highly poisonous. Maybe a rattlesnake or two, or a scorpion, ya get the idea. And now my XTC post has come to this ------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: Saskia
Date Posted: May 15 2009 at 12:37
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! |
Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: May 15 2009 at 14:53
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I agree with OMD and Pere Ubu. They deserve a place 100%. I wouldn't mind seeing XTC here, in prog related. Even their "poppier" albums, closer to punk/new wave contain a few things to scratch your head about. My favourite is "Black Sea": The Somnambulist, Paper and Iron and Travels In Nihilion are incredible and as close to prog as you can get. The other songs are more pop, but not more straightforward: they're full of little tricks, polyrhythmical chunks of drums and guitar, bass is unconvential ,synth and sound effects so unusual they could be called avantgarde. 'Smokeless Zone' is pure pop (with a hint of a reference to the early Beatles) but it sounds like it was recorded almost 20 years later - in the heyday of techno music. And this was recorded in 1979. And 'Respectable Street' is the most straightforward punk song - but guess what? - in the background there's a noise of vinyl record crackling. Guess which one was used for that? Andy was a big fan of Genesis and Peter Gabriel. |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: May 16 2009 at 02:29
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http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/list.php?show=x - http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/list.php?show=x ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: debrewguy
Date Posted: May 16 2009 at 18:09
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'm curious as to why no mention of Apple Venus Vol 1
------------- "Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case. |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: May 16 2009 at 18:45
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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 ------------- 
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Posted By: npjnpj
Date Posted: May 17 2009 at 07:39
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@debrewguy:
I did, I did, I did, look look look, it's there, one page back, one page, one page, look look look, go on ,go on, go on.
There, there, there, see it? It's there, right there: Apple Venus.
Oh dear, I have to lie down now.
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Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: May 17 2009 at 09:29
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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) ------------- 
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: May 17 2009 at 09:52
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Please be upstanding for the Mayor of Simpleton... ------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: May 17 2009 at 10:35
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No please , Peter Pumpkin Head by your leave.
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: May 17 2009 at 10:46
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  |
Posted By: Carl Snow
Date Posted: May 18 2009 at 16:16
Amen! |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 18 2009 at 18:06
Unfortunately the "psyche" in Psychedelic/ Space Rock refers to Psychedelic Progressive Rock, which the Dukes are not. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 07:12
I think that makes a good case for prog related. I also think Talking Heads should be there. Which XTC album was Pat on? ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 07:43
Hear, hear! However, I urge you to be careful about suggesting bands for PR just because of collaborations... There have to be musical reasons too, or else I hate to think about what we could end up finding here . Personally, I think TH qualify for musical reasons, not just because of Brian Eno and Adrian Belew... Their influence on King Crimson's Eighties trilogy is too big to be overlooked. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 10:30
Sadly 25 O'Clock is a pastiche of psychedelic records so probably doesn't count. Oh, and it's English Roundabout, not Magic Roundabout. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 11:16
^ however, English Roundabout was written about Swindons Magic Roundabout (I assume the 5/4 time is something to do with the mini-roundabouts on each of the 5 exits  ).------------- What? |
Posted By: Saskia
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 12:59
C'm on, this is getting silly. I can do the same thing for U2: Bono sang with Luciano Pavarotti (whooh! Opera/Classical music link) Brian Eno played keyboards and produced many U2 albums Daniel Lanois has collaborated with both U2 and Peter Gabriel albums Bono and Peter Gabriel both contributed songs to a 1995 http://www.atu2.com/news/connections/cohen/ - Leonard Cohen tribute album The band has used keyboards, synths, piano, french horn, violin, boy soprano, madolin, pedal steel, harmonium, cello and mellotron on their albums A number of bands on prog archives have been influenced by U2 Dream Theater covered a U2 song See how easy this is? |
Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 13:01
| Who is XTC? Are they like a-Ha? |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 13:09
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xtc - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xtc
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Posted By: StyLaZyn
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 13:18
So they could actually be maybe Quasi-Neo-Prog? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 13:30
I've been waiting a long time for that sub genre to be added here. Whatsamadda with you people? ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 13:32
You're right, Sask. The things could be stretched to fit any case from Bob Marley to INXS only if you dig deep enough, I guess. But I hear the difference in music itself. I'm not saying XTC is prog, I say they are a case suitable for prog-related. And their music is often innovative, avantgarde (oh, yes) and complex, which may be or may be not connected with the statements above. U2 does not contain a single particle of prog not even under an electronic microscope, and collaboration with 100 Emersons and Wakemans won't changed that if they had not any significant impact on the music itself. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 13:33
Personally, I think to be around in the early 1980s and not be Neo-Prog kind of negates any chance of Quasi affiliation. Possibly Virgin management prevented any association with the neo-prog scene at the time, but musically there were not related - XTC are Art (School) Rock of the English variety. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Saskia
Date Posted: May 19 2009 at 14:26
I'm sorry. I love XTC but IMO they shouldn't be on prog archives because every single song they've written fits the rock/pop mould. Just because those songs are so clever, the instrumentation so inventive and the lyrics so witty doesn't make them progressive because the foundations those songs are built on are not progressive at all. |
Posted By: moe_blunts
Date Posted: June 12 2009 at 10:32
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I think XTC would make a wonderful addition to the archives.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/moe_blunts/?chartstyle=minimalDarkRecent"> 
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