XTC Albums - Ranked & Reviewed
by emptysquares

When punk rock emerged in late 70's it provided a welcome injection of youthful energy to a flagging music scene. But for many, rebellious fashion and three chords soon itself became passé and bands with a little musical inventiveness began to emerge – XTC were one of the first. Of course, we all know that the recipe of quirky rhythms and catchy songs about random topics was stolen from the Beatles, but the boys from Swindon added their own twist and for me at the time, provided a welcome alternative to the increasingly bland offerings from 80’s pop. Thanks guys.

• Chart updated: 08/09/2023 14:15
• (Created: 12/17/2021 00:53).
• Chart size: 15 albums.

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1. (=)

Black Sea 

 XTC

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With the twin-guitar attack of Gregory and Partridge now established, it was probably inevitable that the band would embrace their love of '60s pop - in particular mid-period Beatles, and they did it brilliantly on 'Black Sea'. The album opens with Partridge sneering at the British aspirational-classes on the excellent 'Respectable Street'. Though the album yielded no big hit-singles, there were no weak songs in the set and things relentlessly built in intensity before finishing with the dark and dense 'Travels in Nihilon'.
v,g&k:Partridge; v&b:Moulding; g&k:Gregory; d:Chambers; Produced by Steve Lillywhite [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1980

Appears in:

221 charts

Rank Score:

1,538

Rank in 1980:

28

Rank in 1980s:

176

Overall Rank:

1,128

Average Rating:

 79 (237 votes)

Comments:

8

2. (3) 1

Skylarking 

 XTC

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Andy Partridge had difficulties with a number of XTC producers, but non more so than Todd Rundgren on 'Skylarking' with whom he seemed to disagree on everything. When the album was finally released, Partridge gave an interview where he was openly lukewarm about the record and UK sales were poor. But gradually, fans realised that it was rather good and the single 'Dear God' (originally omitted from the album) was even a minor hit in the US. The opening salvo of 'Summers Cauldron' and 'Grass' was certainly as good as anything XTC had ever produced and the album is considered by some as the bands finest.
v&g:Partridge; v&b:Moulding; g&k:Gregory; d:Prince; k&mla:Rundgren; v:Veillette; Produced by Todd Rundgren [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1986

Appears in:

594 charts

Rank Score:

4,404

Rank in 1986:

5

Rank in 1980s:

52

Overall Rank:

384

Average Rating:

 80 (639 votes)

Comments:

38

3. (2) 1

Oranges & Lemons 

 XTC

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Freed of the oppressive Rundgren production style, Partridge let his urges run unfettered like never before on 'Oranges and Lemons' - although the album does retain production elements from its predecessor suggesting that however much Partridge hated the idea, the band owed a debt to Rundgren. In truth, there are some issues with 'Oranges & Lemons', now and then things sound mechanical and also the band try to to squeeze too many ideas into each track. But ultimately the genius of Partridge and Moulding shines through with not a single bad song in the sixtyish minute run-time.
v&g:Partridge; v&b:Moulding; g&k:Gregory; d:Mastelotto; tr:Isham; k:Fox; Produced by Paul Fox [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1989

Appears in:

151 charts

Rank Score:

590

Rank in 1989:

32

Rank in 1980s:

394

Overall Rank:

2,638

Average Rating:

 77 (196 votes)

Comments:

6

4. (=)

English Settlement 

 XTC

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Partridge by now was on a song-writing roll and so it was that 'English Settlement' would inevitably become a double album. Reflecting their rural west-country Englishness, the instrumentation was more acoustic and occasionally folky - although Chambers' earthy drumming ensured that things never went too far down that path. Colin Mouldings confident openers 'Runaways' and 'Ball and Chain' kicked things off nicely before Partridge followed them up with a volley of inspired songs including 'Senses Working Overtime' and the 'Respectable Street' sequel - 'No Thugs in Our House'. The album definitely dipped somewhat on side 3 before finishing strongly with Mouldings 'English Roundabout' and finally Partridges beautiful 'Snowman'. But behind the scenes things were not good as Partridges acute stage nerves would abruptly end XTC's life as a live touring band and Chambers would subsequently leave changing their sound for good.
v,g,k&sx:Partridge; v,b&k:Moulding; g&k:Gregory; d:Chambers; Produced by Hugh Padgham [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

298 charts

Rank Score:

1,575

Rank in 1982:

16

Rank in 1980s:

169

Overall Rank:

1,103

Average Rating:

 79 (359 votes)

Comments:

15

5. (=)

Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) 

 XTC

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The final offering from XTC (by now a duo) was thankfully a pretty upbeat affair and demonstrated that Partridge at least still had the mojo right up to the end. 'Wasp Star' had an inherent energy and consistency rarely found on a final album following a 22 year stint. 'Stupidly Happy', 'My Brown Guitar', 'Church of Women' and 'The Wheel and the Maypole' all sounded great to me and even if this time Mouldings two efforts didn't quite match up, the fact that nothing came after this was a loss to all concerned - especially us listeners.
v&g:Partridge; v,ha&b:Moulding; d:Prince/Sabo; hrn:Gardner; k:Davis; Produced by Nick Davis [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

2000

Appears in:

41 charts

Rank Score:

191

Rank in 2000:

121

Rank in 2000s:

1,160

Overall Rank:

6,698

Average Rating:

 71 (65 votes)

Comments:

0

6. (=)

Apple Venus Volume 1 

 XTC

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When this album finally appeared after a very long silence, some of were hoping that this could of been a new era of XTC music - where in fact it was the beginning of the end as musical and personal differences led Gregory to quit during the recording. Originally intended as a double album (not enough money), the album has an orchestral sound with little guitar. The songs tend to cover grown-up middle-age topics and a few, such as 'Easter Theatre' and 'The Last Balloon' possess a genuine and original beauty which hinted at a possible future direction - which was sadly not to be.
v,g&k:Partridge; v&b:Moulding; g&k:Gregory; d:Prince; tr:Barker; k:Bendall/Sidwell; Orch arr:Batt; Produced by Haydn Bendall & Nick Davis [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1999

Appears in:

130 charts

Rank Score:

772

Rank in 1999:

38

Rank in 1990s:

375

Overall Rank:

2,123

Average Rating:

 77 (162 votes)

Comments:

4

7. (=)

25 O'Clock 

 The Dukes Of Stratosphear

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This 6-track mini-album released under the pseudonym The Dukes of Stratosphear, made on a tiny budget with minimal (and reluctant) record company support ended up selling significantly more than XTC's previous two albums combined - even selling well in the US. Written in the style of mid-period Beatles or Syd Barratt, it just sounds like the band are having great fun and enjoying the chance to create music without worrying about hit singles or sales potential.
v,g&b:Partridge; v,g&b:Moulding; g&k:Gregory(D); d:Gregory(I); Produced by John Leckie [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1985

Appears in:

65 charts

Rank Score:

303

Rank in 1985:

59

Rank in 1980s:

665

Overall Rank:

4,611

Average Rating:

 76 (76 votes)

Comments:

2

8. (=)

White Music 

 XTC

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XTC just about managed to grab hold of the coat-tails of the British punk scene just as it was morphing into 'New Wave' and this debut collection of imaginative creations delivered at a frenetic pace in an almost demented fashion suited the mood of the day perfectly. As they sounded nothing like the Pistols or the Ramones, inevitably a large section of the then all-powerful music press quickly dismissed them as too-clever-by-half-arty-farty-types but the immediacy of numbers like 'Science Friction', 'This is Pop', 'I'm Bugged' and 'Statue of Liberty' complete with manic scratchy guitar sounds and Andrews' steam-organ soon won an audience.
v,g&ha:Partridge; v&b:Moulding; k:Andrews; d:Chambers; Produced by John Leckie [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

89 charts

Rank Score:

407

Rank in 1978:

66

Rank in 1970s:

630

Overall Rank:

3,618

Average Rating:

 72 (109 votes)

Comments:

1

9. (10) 1

Drums And Wires 

 XTC

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With keyboardist Barry Andrews ejected and replaced with fellow Swindon guitarist Dave Gregory, 'Drums and Wires' marks a distinctive move away from the frenetic quirkiness of the first two albums, instead embracing a more mainstream guitar-pop sound - albeit infused with an arty-edginess and distinctive lyricism. Just when Partridge seemed poised to assume full creative control with creations like 'Roads Girdle the Globe' and 'Real by Reel', bassist Colin Moulding chipped in with the brilliant breakthrough single 'Making Plans for Nigel' and it seemed like XTC's path to superstardom was back on track.
v,g&k:Partridge; v&b:Moulding; g:Gregory; d:Chambers; Produced by Steve Lillywhite [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

275 charts

Rank Score:

1,313

Rank in 1979:

22

Rank in 1970s:

258

Overall Rank:

1,307

Average Rating:

 78 (325 votes)

Comments:

10

10. (11) 1

Psonic Psunspot 

 The Dukes Of Stratosphear

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This second full length outing of the Dukes of Stratosphear followed closely the formula of the first. For me, a mixed bag as although on one hand it lacked some of the freshness and energy that made '25 O'Clock' so fun, on the plus side Partridges 'Collideascope' and especially Mouldings 'Vanishing Girl' were truly fab.
v,g&b:Partridge; v,g&b:Moulding; g&k:Gregory(D); d:Gregory(I); Produced by John Leckie [First added to this chart: 12/17/2021]

Year of Release:

1987

Appears in:

59 charts

Rank Score:

154

Rank in 1987:

109

Rank in 1980s:

1,171

Overall Rank:

8,103

Average Rating:

 77 (68 votes)

Comments:

0

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Total albums: 15. Page 1 of 2

XTC Albums - Ranked & Reviewed composition

Country	Albums	%
	15	100%

XTC Albums - Ranked & Reviewed chart changes

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
85/100  !	08/14/2022 20:11	MadhattanJack	276	85/100

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