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Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (vocals, guitars) and Colin Moulding (vocals, bass), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in a variety of styles that ranged from angular guitar riffs to elaborately arranged pop.
Dec 28, 2023 · XTC have spoken about the possibility of reuniting the band in the form of new music, with each member sharing varying perspectives.
Jun 3, 2024 · XTC, one of the most influential yet underrated bands to emerge from the post-punk era, played a significant role in shaping the landscape of British pop music. Known for their intelligent lyrics, intricate melodies, and eclectic influences, XTC’s music has left an indelible mark on the industry.
- Dear Madam Barnum
- Making Plans For Nigel
- All You Pretty Girls
- Senses Working Overtime
- This Is Pop?
- Generals and Majors
- Earn Enough For Us
- Life Begins at The Hop
- Dear God
- The Mayor of Simpleton
XTC’s 1992 album, the Grammy-nominated Nonsuch, benefitted from the early 1990s popularity of quote-unquote “alternative” music, but that doesn’t take away from the quality of the music as a whole. Many will point to “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” as the standout on Nonsuch. Still, thiswriter would like to disagree respectfully and instead sugge...
It’s a little unsettling when you realize that a song from 1979 foreshadowed the helicopter phenomenon so well, but that’s sort of what “Making Plans for Nigel” did. From the band’s third effort, Drums and Wires, this Colin Moulding-penned track tells of a child (with the somewhat unfortunate name of Nigel) whose parents are trying desperately to s...
“All You Pretty Girls” was the lead single on 1984’s The Big Express, and while it registered as a bit more than a blip on the UK Singles Chart (it hit 55), it’s not one that immediately comes to mind when you’re asked about XTC’s big songs. That doesn’t take away from its awesomeness, though. First of all, the subject of the song is, at its heart,...
If you went to college in the 1980s, this song was everywhere. The lead single from 1982’s English Settlementis one of XTC’s biggest hits and most well-known tunes. Partridge’s somewhat erratic vocals on the first verse might not sound like single material, but just wait: when Moulding comes in on the chorus and the “1-2-3-4-5” gets going, you can ...
The band’s first ever single, off of 1978’s White Music, “This is Pop?” is as much a commentary of the day’s music as a challenge to it. “What do you call that noise that you put on?” is part of the chorus, echoing the voice of parents and disapproving elders everywhere, and while the song itself is fun and catchy, its rebellious nature is a big pa...
If you had to pick a song that epitomized the XTC sound, 1980’s “Generals and Majors”would be a solid choice. Colin Moulding wrote the track and sings the lead, and it offers up a sound that is radio-friendly and experimental. The melody walks up and down the scales in the verses, the chorus is wonderfully high energy, and in the middle of it all, ...
Old gender roles die hard — a sentiment summed up nicely in this track from XTC’s 1986 album Skylarking. As it opens with one of the band’s more memorable guitar lines, we hear Andy Partridge lamenting over his paltry income and hoping it’s enough to support the song’s “you,” who wants to be his wife. While it’s an idea that makes feminists cringe ...
This 1979 track has a ‘50s-inspired title with a ‘50s-inspired sound to match, and it’s high on the list because it’s so much fun. It’s hard to point to the one thing that really makes it — the plucky guitar lines, the high-pitched oooooh-oooooh backing vocals, or Colin Moulding repeating, “Tell me what do you say?” over and over (not ad nauseam, t...
However, if you prize intellectual lyrical content above catchy pop sounds, you’ll be pleased to know that 1986’s “Dear God” ranks even higher on our list. The simple acoustic strumming and pleasant enough melody draw the listener in, and then a child’s voice is singing the first verse. It’s a risky move, but the innocent sound is just what the tra...
This 1989 track, one of XTC’s biggest hits stateside, is about as perfect a pop song as you’re likely to hear. Where to even start with this one? The melody is gorgeous, from Partridge alone in the first few lines to Moulding harmonizing on the chorus to Moulding responding to Partridge’s call in the later verses. You can dance to it, thanks to a s...
- “Rook” (1992) Never has the sound of impending death sounded so beautiful. With orchestral and brass arrangements by Dave Gregory, “Rook” begins with stark ominous piano chords as Andy’s melody floats above like hovering spirits showing the depths of Andy’s songwriting and how far it had matured since White Music.
- “That’s Really Super, Supergirl” (1986) The album Skylarkingwas XTC’s first time recording outside of England. Settling in Woodstock at Utopia Sound Studios, producer Todd Rundgren reined in the indulgences and ripened their songs to their fullest potential.
- “Easter Theatre” (1999) Partridge’s rep as a pastoral songwriter is taken to the next level as he turns his musical “painting” into a stage play. With a chorus reminiscent of the Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home,” the frontman buoyantly tells the story of love requited and reborn.
- “King For A Day” (1989) Colin Moulding is a damn fine songwriter. He wrote XTC’s first three UK hits then ended up the band’s George Harrisonas Partridge assumed both the Lennon andMcCartney roles.
Nov 10, 2023 · XTC initially rose to prominence during punk, but in truth, they were ambivalent about the movement. They admired its energy, but less so its musical strictures, as all four band members were...
Jul 20, 2024 · As critic Michael Azerrad of Our Band Could Be Your Life fame would put it, XTC had become “the dean of a group of artists … who make unpopular pop music.”
