They’re simply the greatest pop band since The Beatles… and anybody that says differently, probably doesn’t know their work. They started a quirky pop / punk band… they evolved into a deep dive band propelled by top-tier lyrics, and amazing tunes. “SENSES WORKING OVERTIME,” “DEAR GOD,” “THE BALLAD OF PETER PUMPKINHEAD,” “THE MAYOR OF SIMPLETON” were all semi-hits… and all good… but there’s also “COMPLICATED GAME” (From the same album as “Nigel”) that will blow you away. ..and “JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS,” “PAPER & IRON (Notes & Coins)”… and so many more. TALKING HEADS is a good comp… they were around at the same time on both sides of the Atlantic. In fact… they knew each other… and Andy Partridge (lead singer / lead writer / guitarist) of XTC was said to have given TALKING HEADS the name of one of their albums when quizzed about the next TALKING HEADS album… he quipped “More Songs About Buildings And Food”… and the tiltle stuck. Andy is an incredible lyricst. … than XTC are simply amazing. Great reaction! Cheers!
XTC is so good and so underappreciated. They were very much "the English Talking Heads" in that they popped up in ’77 with a kind of dorky weirdo vibe underpinned by a creatively funky post-punk beat that ensures their music is always infectiously energetic. But whereas Talking Heads petered out after a few years, XTC was still making masterpieces up till 2000, so they also have one of the all time deep album catalogs. It makes it hard to recommend their music, because I could genuinely point you to ten different brilliant albums of similar quality, each in a different style. But since you like "Nigel" I would recommend continuing with the whole Drums & Wires LP, or the closer "Complicated Game" if you only hear one track.
This whole album rules and I think you would enjoy doing a full album reaction. But if you're just looking for a few songs I would recommend Day In Day Out, When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty, Ten Feet Tall, Complicated Game...but really the full album is worth checking out.
Lifelong XTC fan here (note the shirt) If you fall into this rabbit hole you'll never get out. You could throw a dart at any of their songs and hit the bullseye every time.
I'm an American and moved to New Zealand like 8yrs ago...I'd never even HEARD the name "Nigel" before. But in the first job I had down here one of my coworkers was named Nigel. Then somehow it took a couple years to even hear this song. B/c, like, on the US Classic Rock radio we have stuff like Journey and Bon Jovi, while down here it is more XTC and Dragon. The big joke is that when this came out (just a few short years before British Steel collapsed), BS execs collected like 6 different dudes named Nigel from across the country to ask them...if they're happy in their work. In their work. Yeah. Tone-deaf AF. But it was the 80s and the Boomer parents thought they were helping by shoving their Gen-X kids into "stable careers" that were "profitable" and gave "a good pension" whether they like it or not. "You like working in the mills, don't you Nigel?" "Yes mum".
Walter, amigo! I've been lurking on your channel for a while and since I know you dig on the likes of Ween and Viagra Boys ... I think it's time I recommend you my favourite band: That Handsome Devil. They've just released a new album (Exploitopia) with two singles/videos I think you might enjoy ('Tonight' and 'Buddha was a Rich Boy'). Grimy, quirky, bitter, and weird. ... God, I love them.
Unknown Pleasures was released a month before this album. Really love this song, I haven't gotten super deep into XTC I just found out about them maybe a year ago but I'd recommend that you listen to Dear God next, that song really sold me on XTC.
Oh man - you're in for such a deep dive. Deep Dive. XTC in my and many other's opinions are possibly the best band right up there with - yes - since the Beatles. Yes. The drum sound - let's just say it's attributed to Phil Collins, but it started here. X T C !
Sadly, Nigel likely did not get the help he needed, because British Steel was privatized in the 1980s and many were laid off. Blame the parents for getting him the wrong job! XTC's sort-of sequel about a teen named Graham is "No Thugs In Our House", with the exact opposite problem, where the parents leave the kid alone to do his own thing. Have you heard "25 O'Clock" by the Dukes of Stratosphear? It's basically XTC pretending to be a psychedelic group from the 60s.
XTC, one of the greatest bands of all time.
They’re simply the greatest pop band since The Beatles… and anybody that says differently, probably doesn’t know their work. They started a quirky pop / punk band… they evolved into a deep dive band propelled by top-tier lyrics, and amazing tunes.
“SENSES WORKING OVERTIME,” “DEAR GOD,” “THE BALLAD OF PETER PUMPKINHEAD,” “THE MAYOR OF SIMPLETON” were all semi-hits… and all good… but there’s also “COMPLICATED GAME” (From the same album as “Nigel”) that will blow you away. ..and “JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS,” “PAPER & IRON (Notes & Coins)”… and so many more. TALKING HEADS is a good comp… they were around at the same time on both sides of the Atlantic. In fact… they knew each other… and Andy Partridge (lead singer / lead writer / guitarist) of XTC was said to have given TALKING HEADS the name of one of their albums when quizzed about the next TALKING HEADS album… he quipped “More Songs About Buildings And Food”… and the tiltle stuck. Andy is an incredible lyricst. … than XTC are simply amazing. Great reaction! Cheers!
Great assessment, XTC are simply amazing!!
my thoughts exactly since I first listened to "English Settlement" back in the day. The band since the Beatles!!!
You are absolutely correct. I almost think they came out at exactly the wrong time. Only because evrything they put out was sooooooo good
XTC is so good and so underappreciated. They were very much "the English Talking Heads" in that they popped up in ’77 with a kind of dorky weirdo vibe underpinned by a creatively funky post-punk beat that ensures their music is always infectiously energetic. But whereas Talking Heads petered out after a few years, XTC was still making masterpieces up till 2000, so they also have one of the all time deep album catalogs. It makes it hard to recommend their music, because I could genuinely point you to ten different brilliant albums of similar quality, each in a different style. But since you like "Nigel" I would recommend continuing with the whole Drums & Wires LP, or the closer "Complicated Game" if you only hear one track.
Nah, dude. They get a full album review.
One of thee best pop bands ever....no doubt whatsoever. This song awakened me to XTC back in '79....still as strong as ever
I love you did this song, one of my odd favorites, subbed!
You're gonna love the rest of their stuff. Incredibly thoughtful songwriting, pop perfection.
Most underrated British band of all time. The algorithm brought me here, so if you do album reviews check out their seminal album English Settlement.
Waterboys. Are right up there aswell.
This whole album rules and I think you would enjoy doing a full album reaction. But if you're just looking for a few songs I would recommend Day In Day Out, When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty, Ten Feet Tall, Complicated Game...but really the full album is worth checking out.
Their album Skylarking is a 10/10 for me
I remember a metal band called pitchshifter actually doing a very good cover of this.
Lifelong XTC fan here (note the shirt) If you fall into this rabbit hole you'll never get out. You could throw a dart at any of their songs and hit the bullseye every time.
I'm an American and moved to New Zealand like 8yrs ago...I'd never even HEARD the name "Nigel" before. But in the first job I had down here one of my coworkers was named Nigel. Then somehow it took a couple years to even hear this song. B/c, like, on the US Classic Rock radio we have stuff like Journey and Bon Jovi, while down here it is more XTC and Dragon.
The big joke is that when this came out (just a few short years before British Steel collapsed), BS execs collected like 6 different dudes named Nigel from across the country to ask them...if they're happy in their work. In their work.
Yeah. Tone-deaf AF. But it was the 80s and the Boomer parents thought they were helping by shoving their Gen-X kids into "stable careers" that were "profitable" and gave "a good pension" whether they like it or not. "You like working in the mills, don't you Nigel?" "Yes mum".
The reason this sounds like The Police is because right after it was released, The Police hired XTC’s producer to get the same sound for their album.
Now you've heard XTC, the natural progression is to Cardiacs.
Absolutely, after all Walter is a little man in his house. Should he listen to R.E.S. first or maybe Fiery Gun Hand?
I’m guessing you’re referring to a song, but my first instinct was to be like, “Hey, I’m not THAT little. I’m 6’1!” 😂
@@BigMcLargeHuge122 Is This The Life live in Salisbury of course. Probably the most accessible song for the uninitiated
@@BigMcLargeHuge122 Tarred and Feathered might be a bit much 🤣
@@walterooski 🤣 If you listen and love Cardiacs, you'll be bigger than 6'1"
Probably my all-time favorite XTC song, through the years, has been "Burning with Optimism's Flame".
So, I'll suggest that. 😃👍
Senses working overtime. The best Britpop song ever recorded
Perfect album to introduce the band with.
The album English settlements they put out has about five tracks that are all time. It is for sure worth an entire album check.
So happy you liked it!!
Cool. Good job.
Walter, amigo! I've been lurking on your channel for a while and since I know you dig on the likes of Ween and Viagra Boys ... I think it's time I recommend you my favourite band: That Handsome Devil. They've just released a new album (Exploitopia) with two singles/videos I think you might enjoy ('Tonight' and 'Buddha was a Rich Boy'). Grimy, quirky, bitter, and weird. ... God, I love them.
any song by them is great...
Unknown Pleasures was released a month before this album. Really love this song, I haven't gotten super deep into XTC I just found out about them maybe a year ago but I'd recommend that you listen to Dear God next, that song really sold me on XTC.
Oh man - you're in for such a deep dive. Deep Dive. XTC in my and many other's opinions are possibly the best band right up there with - yes - since the Beatles. Yes.
The drum sound - let's just say it's attributed to Phil Collins, but it started here. X T C !
uh yesss
Wearing a Dead shirt explains why you never heard of them.
I came across the song a few years ago and somehow I assumed it was from the 90s... ...'79? Damn! Sounds quite a way out of it's time.
Those lyric transcriptions are criminal - it's "In his world" not work!
Sadly, Nigel likely did not get the help he needed, because British Steel was privatized in the 1980s and many were laid off. Blame the parents for getting him the wrong job!
XTC's sort-of sequel about a teen named Graham is "No Thugs In Our House", with the exact opposite problem, where the parents leave the kid alone to do his own thing.
Have you heard "25 O'Clock" by the Dukes of Stratosphear? It's basically XTC pretending to be a psychedelic group from the 60s.
If you want a controversial (in the USA anyway) XTC song then I suggest Dear God...
Complicated Game - it will rip your face off.
English Settlement