English Settlement is one of my favorite albums but I don't thinks it's a particularly accessible one, it took me a long time to get into. If I was introducing someone to XTC I'd probably play them Black Sea or Skylarking.
In answer to your question it's probably so underrated because most people when discussing XTC go straight for Skylarking (I personally prefer English Settlement but I can see why Skylarking is more popular and I definitely think it's easier to get into.)
I mean, I love XTC, but I think it's not their best album. I'd put it behind White Music, Go 2, Drums and Wires, Black Sea, Skylarking, and Oranges and Lemons, and at about the same level as Psonic Psunspot and Nonsvch. May be time to revisit it though. _________________
👏 Thank you, guys. I was just cleaning out my email when I realized I have responses to my forum post from months ago. A little backstory: I was high out of my mind while I was listening to XTC - English Settlement and then was moved to post my reaction to it. I am not sure if the mary was the reason it sounded so good at the time. I will surely have to revisit under no influence. _________________ The more you suffer, the more it shows you really care... right?
I'll never understand. XTC's first or five albums were fantastic yet they're hardly ever talked about. And then after those albums they went so downhill, and started making all these albums that were praised to the High Heavens for God only knows what reason. Does a band have to get boring before people start praising them? There's not a single song on all those later highly praised albums that even comes close to the songs on Black Sea or English settlement or drums and wires. Go figure
I stopped buying XTC albums after Drums and Wires, although I continued buying singles up to Senses, as my taste became a lot more punk! But about 5 years ago I started revisiting XTC and was compelled to buy all the later LP's from Black Sea to Wasp Star. English Settlement took me a while to get into , but now really rate it. Stand out tracks for me are the singles (thugs, senses, Ball and chain) along with Melt the guns and English R'bout. I also love the album cover , so much so I was inspired to visit the White Horse this summer ! Later albums get very little play, Nonsuch, Oranges, Apple Venus, but glad I tracked them down and have them in my collection now.
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