XTC one more time

clarke2001 wrote: ExittheLemming wrote: XTC is a tricky one. Yes, I love 'em to bits but can't help thinking they could be considered as creators of freshly minted antique coins. They are certainly influenced greatly by prog but I fear this is maybe a one way street ? In many ways XTC have come to resemble a multi faceted version of Black Bonzo i.e the latter can mimic with insouciant ease any manner of heavy prog from the 70's while the former can do the same with any manner of pop music from the 60's through to now. (a considerably wider and harder remit to be sure and deserving of the status of curators of popular music) Partridge & Co's early post punk output was palpably influenced by Talking Heads (and David Byrne in particular) before they moved into the realm of retro psychedelica (Skylarking - Oranges and Lemons - Dukes of Stratosphear etc) and along the way, there is probably no conceivable style or genre of pop music that they have not assimilated into their writing during a very long career. So where would they fit in PA ? Eclectic Prog - Nah, not predominantly progressive enough methinks ? Crossover Prog - Nah, not predominantly progressive enough methinks ? Prog Related - Blend characteristics of Progressive Rock with mainstream elements creating a final product that despite not being part of the genre is evident that are close to Prog. - borderline, as they fit the foregoing but have only been influence by prog ? Having said all that, the strictures of definition belonging to all the available genres cannot possibly be applied to the letter (Music is not an exact science after all) and given the inevitable history of hullaballoos re Bowie, Doors, Miles Davis, Roy Harper and Sabbath etc I catch a whiff of red misty incense in the air round these parts real soon y'all.... So kick out Sabbath and Roy Harper and let XTC in (only kidding - just) Great post! Just adding a few things to spice things up: Barry Andrews played with XTC and Robert Fripp's League Of Gentlemen. Pat Mastelotto played for XTC and King Crimson. Dave Mattacks played for XTC, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. Todd Rundgren played keyboards and did backing vocals (as well as production) on "Skylarking". "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" is dedicated to Brian Eno. Primus covered two songs from "Drums and Wires". "The Magic Roundabout" from the "English Settlement" is in 5/4. They used classical guitars, prepared pianos, a battery of analog synths, flugelhorns, trumpets, horns, saxophones, oboe, harmonica, various ethnic percussions, gamelan angklung, sound effects, alive frogs, tiple, sitar, violas, cellos, violins, Hammond organ, both Chemberlain and  Mellotron. "25 O' Clock" is a psyche record, with psyche music and psyche cover. The album was recorder on a four-track to replicate overdubbing techniques of the era. "Bike To The Moon" is obvious example of Barrett/Pink Floyd influence. There's more, but that will do. Of course, each of these points might mean nothing, but alltogether they could be rellevant in The Grand Scheme Of Things

Sadly 25 O'Clock is a pastiche of psychedelic records so probably doesn't count. Oh, and it's English Roundabout, not Magic Roundabout.

Great post! Just adding a few things to spice things up: Barry Andrews played with XTC and Robert Fripp's League Of Gentlemen. Pat Mastelotto played for XTC and King Crimson. Dave Mattacks played for XTC, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. Todd Rundgren played keyboards and did backing vocals (as well as production) on "Skylarking". "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" is dedicated to Brian Eno. Primus covered two songs from "Drums and Wires". "The Magic Roundabout" from the "English Settlement" is in 5/4. They used classical guitars, prepared pianos, a battery of analog synths, flugelhorns, trumpets, horns, saxophones, oboe, harmonica, various ethnic percussions, gamelan angklung, sound effects, alive frogs, tiple, sitar, violas, cellos, violins, Hammond organ, both Chemberlain and  Mellotron. "25 O' Clock" is a psyche record, with psyche music and psyche cover. The album was recorder on a four-track to replicate overdubbing techniques of the era. "Bike To The Moon" is obvious example of Barrett/Pink Floyd influence. There's more, but that will do. Of course, each of these points might mean nothing, but alltogether they could be rellevant in The Grand Scheme Of Things

C'm on, this is getting silly. I can do the same thing for U2:

Bono sang with Luciano Pavarotti (whooh! Opera/Classical music link)
Brian Eno played keyboards and produced many U2 albums
Daniel Lanois has collaborated with both U2 and Peter Gabriel albums
Bono and Peter Gabriel both contributed songs to a 1995 Leonard Cohen tribute album
The band has used keyboards, synths, piano, french horn, violin, boy soprano, madolin, pedal steel, harmonium, cello and mellotron on their albums
A number of bands on prog archives have been influenced by U2
Dream Theater covered a U2 song

See how easy this is?

Edited by Saskia - May 19 2009 at 13:01

StyLaZyn wrote: Who is XTC? Are they like a-Ha?

StyLaZyn wrote: Dean wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Who is XTC? Are they like a-Ha? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xtc    So they could actually be maybe Quasi-Neo-Prog?

I've been waiting a long time for that sub genre to be added here.

Whatsamadda with you people?


Edited by Slartibartfast - May 19 2009 at 13:31

StyLaZyn wrote: Dean wrote: StyLaZyn wrote: Who is XTC? Are they like a-Ha? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xtc    So they could actually be maybe Quasi-Neo-Prog?

I think XTC would make a wonderful addition to the archives.