Every XTC Album Ranked!

Here are my personal rankings of the 12 XTC and 2 Dukes of Stratosphear albums. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments! Hope you enjoy!
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[@MikeGodetteMusic]

Check out my other Tier Lists... kzbin.info/aero/PLz-voH7EJ1YPFoimWWHajwx5r09BdzhH_ Check out my top 5 albums by year videos… kzbin.info/aero/PLz-voH7EJ1YOdHgm2R95ctqH-03Qt-O7g&si=ceVzVhQaUgja1glN

[@budrowconye4928]

Only person on KZbin to not absolutely slander the majesty of oranges and lemons

[@germanchocolatecake8143]

I'm also surprised by how many XTC fans seem to think so low of Oranges and Lemons. That record kicks total ass!

[@windyhillbomber]

A fantastic and considered ranking of the band’s discography. A must listen to guide for any newcomers to XTC and The Dukes. Completely spot on.

[@petercarr8325]

Great video mate. Only thing I will bring up is my love of the songs Crocodile and Then She Appeared!!!!

[@garyolshan4177]

I totally agree mate

[@garyolshan4177]

Just to add this is by far the best, most comprehensive album ranking ever done on KZbin. Brilliant!

[@laurencehogg6010]

This is the most objective, most informed xtc album ranking I have come across on KZbin. I'd swap drums and wires with big express and 25oclock with psonic sunspot but thats the only changes I'd make personally. You're also one of the few who's commented on the main thing that set them apart - not just the sky high quality but the astonishing consistency of it (till wasp star - your track by track assessment of that album was perfect). Edit - some thoughts on your nonesuch comments: 1) go back to crocodile just once more 😊 and listen to the counterpoint - vocal speaks, guitar replies - it's all the way through. 2) Im kind of with you on Books are burning but the andy/dave guitar dual at the end makes it for me, especially as they never went in for long quitar parts generally and their styles are so different.

[@germanchocolatecake8143]

Originally, I intended to write complete thoughts on each individual album, but I'd rather keep this concise. S-tier albums: Black Sea, English Settlement, Skylarking, Oranges and Lemons, Nonsuch A-tier albums: Drums and Wires, The Big Express, Apple Venus, 25 O'clock B-tier albums: White Music, Mummer, Psonic Psunspot, Wasp Star D-tier albums: Go 2 Best songs per album: White Music: "Radios in Motion," "This Is Pop," "Statue of Liberty," and "Neon Shuffle" Go 2: "Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!)" Drums and Wires: "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Complicated Game" Black Sea: "Generals and Majors," "Living Through Another Cuba," "No Language in Our Lungs," "Towers of London," "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)," and "Travels in Nihilon" English Settlement: "Ball and Chain," "Senses Working Overtime," "Jason and the Argonauts," "No Thugs in Our House," "All of a Sudden (It's Too Late)," "Melt the Guns," "It's Nearly Africa," "Snowman" Mummer: "Wonderland," "Love on a Farmboy's Wages," "Human Alchemy," and "Ladybird" For this album, I really want to mention the six bonus tracks released in 2001. All of those songs are great, and they all belong on the album proper. Do yourself and favor and check them out if you haven't heard them before. "Toys," especially, is just wonderful. The Big Express: "All You Pretty Girls," "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her," "This World Over," "You're the Wish You Are I Had," and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal." 25 O'Clock: All six tracks are great, but the title song is by far the best. Skylarking: "Summer's Cauldron/Grass," "That's Really Super, Supergirl," "Ballet for a Rainy Day/1000 Umbrellas," "Mermaid Smiled," "Dear God," and "Sacrificial Bonfire." Psonic Psunspot: "Vanishing Girl," "You're a Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel)," "Brainiac's Daughter," and "Pale and Precious" Oranges and Lemons: "Garden of Earthly Delights," "Mayor of Simpleton," "The Loving," "Scarecrow People," "Hold Me My Daddy," "Pink Thing," and "Chalkhills and Children" Nonsuch: "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead," "Humble Daisy," "Rook," "Omnibus," "Wrapped in Grey," and "Books Are Burning" Apple Venus: "Easter Theater," "I'd Like That," "Knights in Shining Karma," "I Can't Own Her," and "The Last Balloon" Wasp Star: "Playground," "Stupidly Happy," "I'm the Man Who Murdered Love," "You and the Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful," "Church of Women," and "The Wheel and the Maypole" Yeah, so much for keeping it concise, huh?

[@blackjockofmangertonpele]

A really comprehensive and well reasoned tier and ranking, some brilliant food for thought here, spurring me on to properly evaluate the XTC canon - AGAIN! ❤

[@star_dust007]

love these guys there so good

[@kevtruth]

2 XTC albums I need to give more listens: The Big Express and Apple Venus Vol 1. I think you did a bang up job on the ranking. My S tier would consist of 4 albums in ranked order: Skylarking, Drums And Wires, English Settlement and Black Sea. I don't really dig the first 2 with Barry Andrews. I generally favor Wasp Star - a nice way to go out. BTW I like the song Crocodile, haha. They truly are great songwriters

[@_moonmoth]

For me Psonic Psunspot is at least A tier, it’s one of my fav psych pop records of all time. But your S tier is spot on!

[@llewellynGS1]

I am glad i found your channel- half way through the video at this point. I think you do a far better job than a lot of reviewers on KZbin, with your musical knowledge and details. I was agreeing with everything up until “mummer”- while I agree it’s a worse album than the previous 3; I have never liked “love on a farm boys wages”- to me it’s twee and too soft. But I love “deliver us from the elements”- one of Colin’s best; so dark and foreboding. Also love “funk pop a roll”. One thing I did notice is that you don’t go into the lyrics or meaning of them…. Also I love “train running low on soul coal”- best on the album imho. Lastly what are your thoughts on the non album singles, such as “are you receiving me?”

[@179rich]

Well done mate!

[@pauldavis7318]

Wow! Crocodile is one of my favorite XTC songs. I can't believe you dislike it so much

[@deanjonasson6776]

Great ranking, Mike! Your explanations made a lot of sense and the song-by-song references will have be going back to those albums over the next few months. Other than the singles, I have a hard time getting into the first two XTC albums. Once Gregory joins, they're like a different, much improved band. DRUMS & WIRES is definitely 'S' tier. I would probably rank ENGLISH SETTLEMENT and ORANGES & LEMONS a little lower, despite many strong tracks. The former just feels too padded while the latter has a few tracks that I tend to lose focus during (though it ends well). I'm glad to see you gave NONSUCH its due: I think it's their best latter day release. I just recently acquired MUMMER and enjoyed it as a precursor to the perfection of SKYLARKING. Your review of BIG EXPRESS will inspire me to seek it out. The Dukes albums are fun and I like to play "spot the influence" throughout. I'd probably rank the final two APPLE VENUS albums higher, both for the strong songwriting and adventurous arrangements. It's a shame that Gregory wasn't around for the more guitar-driven Vol. 2. A great band with a discography that continues to reward. Thanks!

[@fotoajojo]

1. Skylarking 2. Nonsuch 3. 25 O’clock 4. Oranges 5. English Settlement 6. Black Sea 7. Psonic 8. Apple Venus. 9. Drums et. al. Probably because introduction was Eng. Settlement and then Skylarking sealed the deal and I went backwards and forwards from there. Still listing XTC records is going from Perfect to Pretty FN Awesome. As an album, yes I am old, Skylarking is in my Pantheon with Dark Side Of The Moon, Back in Black, Tres Hombres, Fear of Music, Giant Steps, Sgt. Peppers, Pet Sounds, Between 10th & 11th. Not only not a single misstep from front to back, but cohesively headphone worthy greatness for the duration.

[@sharktroubles]

MUMMER is incredible. Someone below ranked it “S” and I’m really surprised you didn’t.

[@Nickblanchettemusic]

Really cool stuff you have on your page mike. Just introduced me to a really cool new band. Been listening to drums and wires.

[@MikeGodetteMusic]

Appreciate you checking out the videos Nick! Glad you have a new band to check out, let me know what you think

[@179rich]

My notes from my recent deep dive: 14) Nonsuch (1992) 3/5 13) Mummer (1983) 3.25/5 12) The Big Express (1984) 3.75/5 11) Apple Venus (1999) 4/5 10) Wasp Star (2000) 4/5 09) Oranges and Lemons (1989) 4/5 08) Black Sea (1980) 4.5/5 07) English Settlement (1982) 4.5/5 06) Drums and Wires (1979) 5/5 05) Skylarking (1986) 5/5 04) Go 2 (1978) 5/5 03) White Music (1978) 5/5 02) Psonic Psunspot (1987) 5/5 01) 25 O'Clock (1985) 5/5 Ratings Scale: 0 stars - irredeemably terrible/insultingly bad/the worst .5 stars - terrible 1 star - bad 1.5 stars - pretty bad 2 stars - weak/mediocre 2.5 stars - meh 2.75 stars - "It's OK, but quit playing it." 3 stars - OK/decent 3.25 stars - pretty good 3.5 stars - good 3.75 stars - really good 4 stars - very good 4.25 stars - very, very good 4.5 stars - excellent 5 stars - a bug in brandy Chronological Order: 1978 - 5.00 - White Music 1978 - 5.00 - Go 2 1979 - 5.00 - Drums and Wires 1980 - 4.50 - Black Sea 1982 - 4.50 - English Settlement 1983 - 3.25 - Mummer 1984 - 3.75 - The Big Express 1985 - 5.00 - 25 O'Clock 1986 - 5.00 - Skylarking 1987 - 5.00 - Psonic Psunspot 1989 - 4.00 - Oranges and Lemons 1992 - 3.00 - Nonsuch 1999 - 4.00 - Apple Venus 2000 - 4.00 - Wasp Star Notes: * I got into XTC as a teen when I first heard/saw "Dear God" on MTV. I picked up Skylarking not long after and enjoyed it quite a bit but never explored their back catalogue until much later. However, I did pick up nearly all of their subsequent albums when they came out. * I really fell in love with the quirky herky-jerky early stuff. It was a bit irritating at first, but I found that alcohol really unlocked this music for me. To quote "Meccanik Dancing" - "alcohol is an easy key." This is not me saying that alcohol (or any drug) is necessary to enjoy this music. It just helped me appreciate it by putting me in the right mindset. * White Music is indeed a good drinking album. Frantic, bizarro post punk/New Wave/What Have You with some excellent rhythms. However, I have some issues with the title. They originally wanted to call the album "Black Music" in reference to "black comedy." When that was rejected (rightly so), they went with White Music which was supposed to reference "white noise" - and I think they would have been better off calling it that. The title imports an uncomfortable racial element, although this is undeniably white music made by white people. And what is with that cover? Seems to be some sort of pro-gay message, what with Andy Partridge bending over towards the camera with arrows on his pants pointing up to his ass while his bandmate suggestively stands there with his finger on his mouth. I'm very pro-gay so this is not a problem for me, but it's kinda weird, and weird that no one seems to talk about it. * I'm crazy about the cover of "All Along the Watchtower." The bass is funky as hell, the mouth harp is off the chain, and the vocals are completely unhinged. This thing gets me dancing like a crazed rooster. I thought Hendrix had the final word on this song, but no. * I'm a fan of Barry Andrews, the keyboardist on the first two albums. And Colin Moulding is probably one of my favorite bass players. * These guys are melodic masters, and as such they occasionally drift off into sing-songy territory, but in most cases, this doesn't annoy me. * Mummer introduces some cool new sounds, but the songs aren't very catchy. "In Loving Memory of a Name" is fun though, and very good. * The Big Express is really good but with no major standouts, and points off for the weird baby talk lyrics. * 25 O'Clock is my number one because I think it's perfect and every song is 5 stars. I don't mind that it's short. I hear people complaining all the time about long albums. Then enjoy a short one muthafukkas! Anyway, this album is a blast, the songs are exceptional, and they really nail the 60s psyche pop influence. In particular, Magical Mystery Tour is an obvious inspiration. * Skylarking is positively brilliant, undoubtedly their best produced album, but some of it is a bit limp and wimpy for my tastes. And I had the American version with "Dear God" which I think is markedly superior. But since that version doesn't count, it hurts the album to some degree, and I might've even ranked it higher. Still 5 stars, though. "Mermaid Smiled" is a nice jazzy tune, but it can't hold a candle to "Dear God." Which also has a supercool violin solo! * Psonic Psunspot is a fantastic continuation of what they were doing on 25 O'Clock, but it takes second place because the second side isn't as strong as the phenomenal first side. * I used to be at 2 stars for Nonsuch. Truth be told, I found the album annoying. I love the opener "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead," but it felt like a bait and switch because the rest of the album doesn't really rock like that. Much of it is too twee for my tastes and it gets preachy in places. But today, I'll give it credit for having some good songs. "Books Are Burning" in particular went from "meh" to "very good" and it's got a great guitar solo. * I think it's fair to say the trumpet is XTC's favorite brass instrument, considering how often we hear it in their music. * I love this band!!! Cheers mates!!!!!!!!!! Top 20 songs: 20) Runaways (English Settlement) 19) Helicopter (Drums and Wires) 18) Vanishing Girl (Psonic Psunspot) 17) Season Cycle (Skylarking) 16) Bike Ride to the Moon (25 O'Clock) 15) That Is the Way (Drums and Wires) 14) Making Plans for Nigel (Drums and Wires) 13) Crowded Room (Go 2) 12) Radios in Motion (White Music) 11) Spinning Top (White Music) 10) Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!) (Go 2) 09) Statue of Liberty (White Music) 08) Collideascope (Psonic Psunspot) 07) Complicated Game (Drums and Wires) 06) What in the World?? (25 O'Clock) 05) The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead (Nonsuch) 04) Mayor of Simpleton (Oranges and Lemons) 03) One of the Millions (Oranges and Lemons) 02) Summer's Cauldron/Grass (Skylarking) 01) Dear God (Skylarking - American version) Honorable mention - All Along the Watchtower (White Music)

[@JCStorm76]

Great summary of a great band. I like the first two albums but they would have been better if the singles Science Fiction and Are You Receiving Me were included on each. But Black Sea is my favourite. Their two most underrated albums for me are The Big Express and Wasp Star which I like more than you and I would have it in the A category. Boarding Up and Standing In For Joe I both really like unlike you. I’m in the minority as I actually prefer it over Apple Venus which just bores me and is my least favourite.

[@MikeGodetteMusic]

Thanks for watching! Definitely agree about the Big Express, I’m always shocked when I see it ranked so low on peoples lists. Maybe I need to give Wasp Star a few more chances, I’ve always resonated more with apple Venus volume 1. Black Sea is a totally fair number 1, it seems like most people either do skylarking, Black Sea or English settlement for their number 1. Thanks again for watching!

[@octoroksam6448]

I’m confused as to why you don’t count songs like limelight, chain of command and life begins at the hop on drums and wires and also the last three tracks on Black Sea. Especially since these tracks are all bangers and add a lot to these albums.

[@stevenswift7263]

Great work - for what it's worth, we disagree! Apple Venus Nonsuch English Settlement Skylarking The Black Sea Mummer Oranges and Lemons Wasp Star The Big Express White Music Drums And Wires Go2

[@garyolshan4177]

Great great video by Mike, who is someone who shares my love of XTC, which one of my favorite all time bands. Agree with most everything you say. oiGreat catalogue, but I think Nonsuch is a fucking masterpiece.

[@patricklee4316]

You should rank Genesis sometimes. Love this list though

[@raygower2527]

White Music is my favourite

[@llewellynGS1]

I’ve listened to the whole video and I like your thoughts, though we do disagree especially on the late 80s early nineties period. You seem to love the more orchestral side of the band, which for me doesn’t always work, but has also some great work. Here’s my list 1. Drums and wires 2. Black Sea 3. Wasp star 4. English settlement 5. Apple Venus 6. 25 o’clock 7. Psonic sunspot 8.Skylarking 9.The big express 9. White music 10. Mummer 11. Oranges and lemons 12. Nonsuch 13 go 2 I feel like I forgot one…. Anyway I feel they began to try too hard with Oranges and nonsuch, almost too complicated and it has a reverse affect for me. (But I like some tracks from those albums such as “books are burning”) 13.

[@Htoeisjbfj61]

Mummer is s

[@thrdgll1]

As always, XTC's best album gets the lowest ranking.

[@AbsoluteNut1]

English Settlement/Black Sea/Drums and Wires/ 25 O'Clock/ and the rest...