Advantages: A good example of power pop
Disadvantages: Sounds a bit weak by todays standards

...White Music was XTC's debut album released in 1978. While the UK was still recovering from the onslaught of punk XTC emerged with a new spiky version of it. White Music is not so much punk, as power pop! The best example of XTC circa 1978 is the single "Science Friction" (included on the CD reissue of WM Listening to this album 22 years after it's release makes me think that this is more of a period piece than a good album! Not to say that it doesn't have great moments. "Statue of Liberty" is still an impressive example of a catchy pop song and it does include the lyric "You've been the subject of so many dreams, since I climbed your torso!" (Mmm!) XTC's principle songwriter Andy Partridge was developing his unique style on this album with mixed success. Bassist Colin Moulding, on the other hand, had yet to form his style and his... Read review

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Advantages: Got some catchy tunes!!
Disadvantages: Got some forgettable ones too!!!

...Released the same year as their debut "White Music" Go 2 showed that XTC were capable of growing musically in a matter of months. The songs on this album are a lot more concise than on WM "Meccanic Dancing", "Battery Brides" and "Are you recieving me?" being the best examples. If you are a fan of XTC's recent work then this album may come as a bit of a shock but it does reward after a couple of listens One of the most innovative things about this album is the cover. Simply lots of white text on a black background. It reads like a record company press statement and shows a humourous side to the band (which always helps!!) The music within is the sound of a band who have nearly found their technique for writing class pop tunes! (4 years after this, they cracked it with English Settlement") If you are an XTC completist you need to buy... Read review

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Advantages: 15 stunning pop tunes
Disadvantages: I'll get back to you.........

...By 1981 XTC had released 4 albums and made enough noise to get themselves noticed by the public at large. They had amassed a large following of loyal supporters who were eagerly awaiting the next release. They were not dissapointed. English Settlement contains 15 songs and none of them sound like fillers! It even spawned a hit single for the band with the seminal "Senses Working Overtime" Sonically the record has a more acoustic feel than previous albums, but this doesn't mean that it lacks any power. This is certainly evident on "No Thugs In Our House", one of the bands most driving tunes Andy Partridge's lyrics shine throughout adding volumes to the catchy yet angular music. Other stand outs include the melancholic "All Of A Sudden" and the downright noisy "Melt The Guns" This album should be placed high in any list of great english... Read review

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Advantages: A Sprawling Eclectic Pop Epic
Disadvantages: Some Tracks Are A Touch Too Long

...Artist: XTC Album: English Settlement (1982) The year is 1982. Andy Partridge, chief songwriter and musician of XTC has a long player's worth of pure gold up his sleeve. The charts are full of meaningless tosh and lightweight pop. All the decent punk and post-punk acts have either dried up, fallen apart or gone off into fringe areas far away from the charts. Only XTC can save pop-rock !! In January of 1982 "Senses Working Overtime" became the Swindon outfit's first top ten single. In February the band's fifth album was released to widespread acclaim amongst the music press and managed to get as high as No.5 in the album charts. XTC had broken through...for a short while at least. On opening track "Runaways" bassist Colin Moulding explores, with some empathy and honesty, the plight of runaway children. No punches are pulled... Read review

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