XTC- Poor Skeleton Steps Out (REACTION//DISCUSSION)

[@davidstobie2751]

playin' the bones

[@edgeofnow]

I’m so glad you have discovered one of the best, yet underrated groups. There is so much more for you to explore. Great reaction video. I really appreciate you’re videos. Keep it up!

[@JustJP]

Ty so much Jeff!

[@geniousatqw]

Your music mirrors your mind Song suggestion: Insanity Band: Oingo Boingo Album: Boingo

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

Add me as another fan of "Jason and the Argonauts". As others have pointed out, it's also a title of an XTC song, off their "English Settlement" album. That use of xylophone to represent skeletons is a very old one - composer Camille Saint-Saens used it for his track "Fossils" in the 1880s! Glad you're enjoying exploring one of my all-time favourite bands.

[@1nelsondj]

Best movie with a skeleton in it, the correct answer is the classic "Jason and the Argonauts" with special effects by Ray Harryhausen. He brought a group of skeletons to life to harass Jason and friends, using stop-go animation. My favorite film as a child. Andy Partridge is so inventive, who else would think to write a song about a skeleton trapped in human flesh. Yesterday I listened to my favorite XTC album "Mummer" again, the opening track has that Indian flavored instrumentation you like, 'Beating of Hearts'. Great anti-war song.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

There's another great skeleton in The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, another old Saturday morning favourite. :)

[@TerrysQuest]

JUST WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY! Thank you!!!

[@WarrenCromartie2]

Another brilliant song from the XTC songwriting cannon.

[@garymcghee2249]

Oh well... packed with so much to commend it, as ever. x

[@sicko_the_ew]

Brilliant song. It was so sad that there was this hole in my muso-verse till just a few minutes ago, and now it's all healed up and the world is a better place. (Better still, I start out right away with a sensible possible/probable best interpretation of the lyrical mysteries of it all. And lyrical mysteries are something I tend to either dismiss too easily, or to just not hear very well. So thanks.) Good thing I didn't know how sad this lack in my life was, otherwise I might've gone in morbid instead of just curious, hey? If one lacks something it's generally best not to know this. OK other stuff: *Cardiacs* again. This time it's a ... not reminder, I suppose ... that it's just a few days past the 25th birthday of *Sing to God* - which is apparently on things like Spotify now, but is probably best approached via Bandcamp. If you want a quick reaction topic for something "out there", the start of this album has you covered. 2:20-something each for _Eden on the Air_ (which is mainly just a little gem), and _Eat it up Worms Hero_ (which as every bit as wild and crazy as its title would suggest). The rest of it is wonderful, too, but the songs become a bit longer, so asking you to verify the fact for yourself becomes a bit of an imposition. Mind you, when I was smoking 10 minutes is just "one cigarette" - hardly a breath of air in it. So the longer songs are not even close to interminable. They're all just one cigarette. And it doesn't damage the lungs. And the longer songs get quite fancy at times, too. (But for now it's easy enough to suggest the "low-cost" ones.) Oh, the link: alphabet-business-concern.bandcamp.com/album/sing-to-god-vol-i-ii

[@markspooner1224]

The first skeletons I ever saw on film was 'Jason and the Argonauts' (also a track by XTC) with Ray Harryhausen's animations, it frightened the **** out of me. You should listen to Saint Saens: Carnival of the Animals~Fossiles if you liked the sound of bones (it's only 1'22"). Good reaction BTW.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

That's a great call... Jason and the Argonauts: wonderful film... GREAT song.

[@ChipMatthews]

Great one! Harryhausen was a genius.

[@davidstobie2751]

Grimms fairy tales and nursery rhyms

[@RedVynil]

Best movie with a skeleton: Return Of The Living Dead. More, brains!! The song is more about how we, as people, don't let our inner selves come out and play anywhere near as much as we'd like to be able to. Inside, you WANT to step out of this image you project onto the world of what you "really" {wink wink] are but, dare you? There used to be a one-panel comic strip where it'd show a pretty ordinary scene but, the shadows of the people in the scene show you what they'd REALLY like to be doing! That's the poor skeleton stepping out and doing what IT wants to do without being held back by the projected facade we THINK the world wants to see! In `68' there was movie called, "What's So Bad About Feeling Good?". In it, a toucan gets loose in a big city and bites someone. What they don't know is the toucan is infected with some kind of "disease" whereby, anyone that's bitten by him, or comes into close contact with anyone that was bitten by him, feels so good that they shed their inhibitions and just do whatever they wanna do! Dance in the streets, sing on the subway, anything that feels good!! Poor skeleton steps out!

[@victorhawkins3461]

At the time Geffen Records released this, the record label often asked if I would test market stuff for them on the FM station I was programming. I was quite happy to oblige. I added ORANGES & LEMONS without even listening to it...it was freakin' XTC! It did pretty well for us...not as well as SKYLARKING, but decent numbers. Anyhoo...Geffen arranged a phoner interview with Andy Partridge for me. He was great! He really dug it that I liked the album as much as I did and that it was getting radio airplay. Then, I made the fatal mistake: I asked him about working with Todd on SKYLARKING. I STILL have tinnitius in my left ear from the verbal beating I took! Glad to say, I still love XTC, still love Andy, and -- sorry, Mr. P. -- but I do LOVE me some Todd! (And yeah, JP, Colin Moulding is one screaming bass player!)

[@mattjohn4731]

He said Bad Brains 🦁🌩

[@davidstobie2751]

I always think I am not in the mood for this song.............then I hear it and start dancing

[@mondegreen9709]

Whenever I feel smack dab in the middle and torn between different ideologies, opinions and points of view (and that happens a lot these days), I often find reassurance in Andy Partridge's lyrics. I always admired his ability to be clever, witty and humane without being a preachy, self-important smartass.

[@JustJP]

Tis a good quality to have!

[@kevtruth]

Whenever I hear this song, I know everything is gonna be alright. Life is just a ride

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

That song is pure delight.

[@asxtc]

Jason and the Argonauts XTC - English Settlement. JP, your an XTC fan now...i can tell.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

LOVE your reaction to this one, Justin... nailed a lot about what makes XTC so uniformly excellent. One of XTC's greatest strengths... and something (along with consistently brilliant songwriting) that separates them from most other bands, is their sense of humor that pairs up so wonderfully with their thoughtful lyrics. XTC has it all and I'm loving this journey. SO much great stuff to go!! Skeleton film: Jason & The Argonauts (which has been mentioned here)... and also the title of one of XTC's AMAZING songs from English Settlement (my favorite, along with Apple Venus). Onward!

[@Jonni1027]

Yay! You’re doing more from ORANGES AND LEMONS!!!! This is such a great song❤️

[@JustJP]

Ty Jonni!

[@kengregory6026]

had a think before i read comments..wasn't sure..then..of course it has to be Jason + The Argonauts...that's settled then lol....nice one JP..i know we're gonna get loads of XTC in the future...and I,for one,am v pleased about that...keep up the good work bud

[@amyk9175]

I agree- the marimba or glockenspiel which was used is reminiscent of a skeleton walking from a cartoon musical.

[@CsjunMick]

I recommend another song from this album: The Loving. Great song.

[@davidwoolbright3675]

He already did that one

[@brucer2152]

Golden voyage of Sinbad with the skeleton attack.

[@ramblerandy2397]

This album saved my life back in the 1990s. I had to drive 60 miles to work and then back in a lousy job every day for 4 years, and I sung every song on this album out loud to keep my spirits up. Usually Mayor of Simpleton only gets reacted to or appreciated. But it's the easily accessed track. The rest are better with listening experience. My favourite is the very Beach Boys influenced Chalkhills and Children, but Poor Skeleton and Pink Thing are great. Actually, there isn't a bummer on the album.

[@maruad7577]

I have to go with the folks who choose Jason and the Argonauts. Classic film. When you finish this album, it would be great if you finished Thomas Dolby's "Flat Earth" album. Lots of meat on those bones.

[@victorhawkins3461]

T. Dolby...Flat Earth...yes, please!

[@JustJP]

Definitely in the works!

[@joebrookscomedy]

Jason and the Argonauts.... also a very brilliant XTC song :D

[@richardhorky3717]

Golden Age Of Wireless!

[@raginhomosapien]

I know exactly what you mean when you say you're in after hearing the bass line. I am the biggest primus fan. I found out about XTC because of Les Claypool covering Making plans for Nigel and Scissorman. I think they are on drums and wires. If you have not heard Dear, God by XTC please do!

[@bobholtzmann]

Favorite movie with skeletons, started watching it on Roku last night - Jason and the Argonauts (1963) - with Ray Harryhausen's skeleton army, still scary to this day!

[@rogerpitcher6540]

Good analysis! When you get to the end of this album, Miniature Sun and Chalkhills and Children should be taken in as a pair.

[@a.k.1740]

These last two tracks are my favorites from the whole album !

[@palantir135]

Jason and the Argonauts is the classic skeleton movie

[@nope-z5y]

Did you notice that there are almost no chords at all in this song? There are a couple brief moments where the organ/synth plays two simultaneous notes (as well as brief vocal harmony), but the song is mostly carried by the bass line and percussion. I love this band so much.

[@ProgMannen]

My absolute fav album from XTC... great reaction as always Justin! Have a Scooby-snack and try Grobschnitt - Rockpommel's Land. Don't be scared.. you'll be the first to react to that album. You won't regret it. More people need to discover the greatness of that album. German prog at their best.. thou it's sung in english. And i never gonna give up recommending that particular album...

[@manhattenman6075]

Yo Justin I know your continuing this album but please check out The first 3 songs off XTCs album Skylarking. The Summer Cauldron/Grass/The Meeting Place. Some really cool psychedelic stuff

[@a.k.1740]

For some really cool psychedelic stuff, it seems to me that The Dukes of Stratosphear (XTC's psychedelic counterpart) is the go-to !

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Check out both entire albums. No a bad track on either. Fabulous band. It's unfortunate they get absolutely no aclaim.

[@a.k.1740]

@@rodneygriffin7666 No praise ?, not really because even if XTC was much less popular than other bands with which they went on tour (The Police for example!), They still had their little success between 1979 and 1982. Obviously, stopping doing concerts overnight has been quite damaging to the reputation of the band over time ... (Only the Beatles could afford that!).

[@JustJP]

Definitely planning on getting to that album!

[@lassesaikkonen501]

@@a.k.1740 I always found it confusing that the reason given for stopping to play live was 'Andy's crippling stage fright' because later Andy wound up working as an occasional radio and TV presenter while in XTC.

[@gregdavis4978]

Everyone is spot-on about Jason And The Argonauts, but I'd also like to offer a more modest yet fun skeleton movie, the original House On Haunted Hill.

[@delllittle5692]

Wizard of Oz? This track one of my favs on this album. These revisits to XTC has raised Colin Moulding up my list of bassists.

[@richardhorky3717]

Justin, you MUST watch This Is Pop!!!

[@robertjewell9727]

Best skeleton movie? JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS (1963). No doubt about it. See it if you haven't! Last scene in a great Greek myth movie.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Highly highly recommend the nightmare before Christmas love you

[@murdockreviews]

Now we're getting to the querkier parts of this album. Haven't heard this in a while. And it's really fun. The arrangements with XTC are often essential! This isn't my favourite XTC album, but there are several more gems to come on here 🙂

[@mariosandri4010]

You made four statements, and I agree with all of them.

[@murdockreviews]

@@mariosandri4010 lol. Re-read my post. It really is a bit staccato-style 😆 Thanks anyway 👍

[@mariosandri4010]

@@murdockreviews actually I appreciated your contemporary minimalist style, clear and straight forward 😀

[@murdockreviews]

@@mariosandri4010 😁

[@stevenolsen3162]

Jason and the Argonauts... the original stop action skeletons..

[@groovytribemedia9231]

Predictively, my answer to the skeleton question? 'Jason & The Argonauts'. It's an oldie but a goldie! I'm always glad to see an XTC reaction video. Great band. As a recommendation ? I think you would benefit from hearing a track from the least pop sounding album in their canon, 'Mummer'. If the bass is where your head is at, and you like the "odd" time signature, then you should listen to the track 'Me & The Wind'. Carry on the way you're going though. Good job as ever. 👍🏾

[@sylvanm4216]

I'm going to put a slight twist on your skeleton movie question and instead mention "Oceanographer’s Choice" by The Mountain Goats, probably the best song ever written about a depressed person watching a movie featuring a skeleton man. As for "Poor Skeleton Steps Out", love it! It's my girlfriend's favorite song on the album. "Here Comes President Kill Again" and "The Loving" were kind of the weak spot on Oranges & Lemons, but from here to the end it's all bangers.

[@Yaktahbay]

Gotta love The Mountain Goats!

[@Parmigiano502]

Loving this XTC journey mate, tinged with regret that I had ignored them for so long, cheers for putting me straight...not that I've watched the movie you refer to, but Mummies aren't skeletons are they, thought the whole purpose of mummification was to preserve the body after death...anyway...come on people, the greatest skeleton scene ever...when Mother is revealed in Psycho...I pooped at first sight ha ha

[@JustJP]

Good scene choice! Forgot about that one

[@silvertube52]

Great appreciation of XTC, thanks for this. Movie with skeletons: Jason and the Argonauts, if you haven't seen it you must. It's old school fantasy and stop motion special effects. Amazed that after I posted this I read the other comments and so many also mention Jason and the Argonauts!

[@jayburdification]

I don’t know about any movies but the best CGI skeletons I ever saw would have to be the skeleton-wights from Game of Thrones. They move like humans because they are humans in green suits. Also, the skeletons in the pool scene from Poltergeist were actual skeletons, so I suppose you could say they were realistic lol.

[@JustJP]

Those wights were pretty good!

[@jayburdification]

@@JustJP ya the ones from the fight scene with Meera Reed taking down like 10 of them on her own was the best action sequence I’ve ever seen with skeletons. These were D&D-style skeleton warriors that move fast and swing a mean sword.

[@warrenbutson349]

Psycho that mum in the chair at the end freaked me out as a kid! Btw I find orange and Lemons too produced it lacks a bit of warmth

[@jean-pierrebolduc2837]

My favorite movie with skeletons : Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet".

[@jean-pierrebolduc2837]

In a "poetic way".

[@bobholtzmann]

I know poor Yorick's skull makes an appearance in the play, not sure about the rest of him.

[@kevinm4138]

Fun track. Don’t forget to return to English Settlement!

[@rosenfield10]

Fave skeleton film: "The Nightmare Before Christmas" Music BY... Danny Elfman, who also provides the singing voice for Jack Skelington. Elfman, as you should know, is not only one of the most prolific film/TV scores of our day (Batman, Pee-Wee, Beetlejuice, The Avengers, The Simpsons, etc.), but he is also the front man for the band Oingo Boingo, whose lyrics did not excite you when you reviewed "No One Lives Forever". Most Oingo Boingo songs feature death or skeleton-type subjects while the music is energetic and fun, often featuring xylophone or wood percussion. LOL.

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

This is one of the better tunes from the album. XTC should have had more success in the States. I love the use of percussion in this song to emphasize the skeleton theme.

[@markdrechsler5660]

Like you said, a perfect song. As are the next two. Honestly. You are in for a treat. Plus, there are another half dozen XTC albums as good as this one.

[@courtneywallace871]

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite bands. Favorite skeleton movie? I like your answer and I also like whoever said Jason and the Argonauts. My person favorite, although not a full length feature, but a short, is Our Gang Follies of 1936. Before your time, but you should really get into some classic Little Rascals AKA Our Gang. Such wonderful stuff!

[@michaelakkerman407]

First thumbs up yeah... Army of darkness is the best skeleton movie, doesn't feature, but has some in it.

[@jasonbrandt5504]

You are doing a great job with the xtc boys. You would enjoy skylarking -- but you kinda need to do a side 1, side 2 listen -- like you just did with Moody Blues. You won't regret it.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Seems I arrived late to the bone-fest,so I will agree with everyone else. 'Jason and the Argonauts' and Harryhausens work chilled me as a kid! On a more grave matter if you dry and arrange rib-bones properly,they make a great instrument! Sorry if that story sounds a little Gorey,you'll have to thank Edward St.John, for my poor allegory.- Peace.

[@progqueen6219]

Wow, the timing of this song (for me) could not be any worse... I`ve just watched a seemingly extremely healthy 29 year old have what seems to be a cardiac arrest (football/soccer player on TV) on the pitch mid-game. Luckily for him, he is alive and stabil at hospital, but it`s not a strech to say that I`m quite rattled (I know I`m not the only one). I will revisit this video tomorrow when I`m more calm, as to give the music/video the time it deserves. Wishing everybody good health!

[@murdockreviews]

Oh yes, that game will not be forgotten easily 😥

[@Bob.L.Shirley]

Such a fun/dark song. But JP - The Mummy? Nah!😉 Not until you've experienced the pure terror that is "The Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra"! Trust me.😂 And as always, keep exploring XTC. Colin just released a new EP, BTW. Check the Burning Shed site for that and lots more XTC and Andy goodies.

[@Lwize]

Harold & Maude.

[@aderyncoch3346]

I feel this song is underrated among XTC reviewers. It tends to be seen as filler but I really like it.

[@pedronicoleti]

i know you alrealy listen to Os Mutantes, but i'll try and try and try until you listen to tecnicolor from mutantes, its from their english album with the same name as the song (tecnicolor) or to the song "Pitágoras" is only instrumental, but trust me, listen to that even without react bcz you deserve, the album from this song "tudo foi feito pelo sol" is one of the best psydodelic albuns of rock, is better than the cream or king crimson, man, for me os mutantes is top 3, together with pink floyd and the doors xD

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

I had this but it didn’t register - or I couldn’t dig deep enough at the time. Something bugs me about the Hype regardin bands of A Certain Stature - like XTC and Talking Heads - left of centre , idiosyncratic and faves of the music press in general , yet Dare i say A tad repetetive in their textures Armoury & Method. What’s Missing? Well Soul Music ! i need Yearning from the Spirit. A vulnerability It’s all dancey rhythmical and earthy groovey yet a bit Mechanical Like the Skeleton in Jason in the Argonauts... Which petrified and thrilled all at once back in 1973?!? No, this is good / ok - his voice a slightly higher David Byrne - no synth or guitar solos? - trumpets maybe? - but a lot of dense vibes without .... .... i dunno, it could be the voice u know... or a lack of female backing singers to give that - SPARK!!? now I know why The Lilac Time were “Looking for the Day in the Night”and bidding “all for love and love for all...”as Mr Partridge twiddled the production knobs... they had that tender sensitive angst with bells on... but that’s another kettle of fish.... diolch eto!✅nos da

[@jfergs.3302]

Fairly typical XTC, who i do like, but sometimes you really have to be in the mood for them. Right now... it was alright. Bit cliche, what sounded like xylophone to depict the skeleton i assume, but it is tried and tested. Vocals and harmonies sounded good too, but main vocal, i was struggling to make out what he was singing. I've not heard it in an age, and it probably deserves another listen, but not right now.

[@mattjsherman]

I like the song.

[@-davidolivares]

Dad joke alert: Measurements of bone density should be in skele-tons… crickets. Fun song. Movie skeletons? Mmm, any Ray Harryhausen movie, Jason and the Argonauts… Clash of the Titans? I think this song is one of the lemons… sour but, I like lemons. Peace and mg/cm2 Music

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Beard's gettin' good.

[@JustJP]

Haha ty Alan! I'm tryin :)

[@pentagrammaton6793]

@@JustJP it's doing ok! My moustache and beard didn't start to join up until I was nearly 40, lol.

[@vdggmouse9512]

Another Talking Heads clone song. They're everywhere around this time.