Andy Partridge

Advantages First Good XTC album
Disadvantages The track "Millions"! (Dreary!)

...XTC's third album "Drums and Wires" stands apart from it's predecessor's due to the fact that it's consistently good (sometimes superb!) Wheras "White Music" and "GO2" were obviously recorded by a very young and inexperienced band, "Drums and Wires" was their coming of age album. It gave them their first hit single "Making Plans For Nigel" which was Colin Moulding's first good song! (sorry Colin!) It also contains one of Andy Partridge's most powerful vocal performances in the stunning "Complicated Game". The production throughout the album is also excellent, unlike the very dated sound of the previous two. Overall, this album still sounds pretty fresh even today, and it's worth buying for "Complicated Game" alone, because it's the first example of Andy Partridge's genius!... Read review

Advantages Eclecitc, Thoughtful Collection Of Songs
Disadvantages At Time Unfocused

...Title: Mummer Artist: XTC Released: August 1983 XTC's unenviable task of following up the brilliant "English Settlement" lead to the release of something of a "mixed reviews album"...namely, Mummer. Mummer is XTC at their most eclectic. The band mix a range of moods and musical styles on what is fundamentally a "pop" record in a way which would sound oddly out of place in the cling film bubblegum musical wasteland of 2004. Opening track "Beating Of Hearts" is typical XTC. A deliberately quirky chorus serves to underpin some slick, icy guitars and a grumpy drumbeat. Andy Partridge's lyrical attempts at a lovesong are, as ever, a tad more interesting than most of his contemporaries; "Louder than tanks on the highway Louder than bombers in flight Louder than noises of hatred Dancing us from darkest night Is the rhythm of love Powered... Read review

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