XTC
"Skylarking"
Released: 1986
This album is England and Summer to me, simply because that's what it sounds like!
A very warm record, produced by Todd Rundgren. XTC hated his production, but that's
really ridiculous. Besides, one has to wonder about their judgement as one of the
best songs recorded during the sessions, "Dear God", was omitted from the album on
their request. It was released as the b-side of the single "Grass" instead. This
is definitely the best collection of "songs" that XTC ever recorded. Not as quirky
as most of their other albums. Great songs? "Grass", "Earn Enough For Us", "Sacrificial
Bonfire", "The Meeting Place"...well, all of them, really.
If you like this album, also try "Nonesuch". And the same band's excursion into psychedelia
under the monicker The Dukes of Stratosphear "Chips From The Chocolate Ball". Great!
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