XTC- English Roundabout REACTION & REVIEW

[@manhattenman6075]

And that’s that. One of the best English albums ever! You either need to check out Black Sea or Skylarking next. XTCs music is so great either going backwards or forwards will lead to greatness.

[@johnmavroudis2054]

Thanks much for covering this epic album! Love this ska-fused ditty and the album ends perfectly with the brilliant “Snowman!” Lots of excellent choices on where to go next. Chronologically is great… with “Mummer”… or you could hit “Black Sea” or “Nonsuch”… can’t lose, either way. One big request: THE DUKES OF STRATOSPHEAR is a MUST. It’s such a brilliant homage to 60s music and XTC at their most inventive and fun. Cheers!

[@timfeeley714-25]

"Great fire burning, you suppled the spark, Fires burning spreading through the ark, Animals are panicking, I am animal and panicking" - XTC

[@richardfurness7556]

This was probably inspired by their home town of Swindon and its infamous 'magic roundabout' road junction. Next album should be Skylarking - the original version without Dear God (who on earth could listen to Mermaid Smiled and think 'yeah, that's the one we'll drop'?)

[@amnril]

That roundabout is just hilarious.

[@JonsCopyright]

That’s English Settlement! Glad to see your reactions to this amazing album. We STAN ENGLISH SETTLEMENT

[@JustJP]

🤘

[@michaelscarface]

XTC are the greatest British band since the Beatles. Every album got better and better. Their final pair were the finest.

[@a.k.1740]

Not really ! Their best productions were when Terry Chambers and Dave Gregory were both in the band! So Drums and Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement are a must. Apple Venus Volume 1 is half-successful and half-shaky while Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) is completely unremarkable.

[@jameswarner5809]

Because nobody else is likely to recommend it next (no idea why, because it's excellent), I'm saying The Big Express as the next XTC album to check out. Any album with a track called Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her has to be worth a look, right?

[@markdrechsler5660]

The Big Express is top notch.

[@a.k.1740]

The Big Express is a good album overall even if there are one or two things like "Reign of Blows" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" that have always annoyed me. I like all the other songs on it (although it lacks the magical presence of Terry Chambers).

[@Starclimber]

'Dead deck chairs under shrouds, and life belts gape like minstrel mouths', so yeah, brilliant songs. And 'This World Over', with Partridge seemingly rage-weeping as he sings the most ironic of Christmas songs: Will you tell them about that far off and mythical land And how a child to the virgin came? Whoa Will you tell them that the reason why we murdered Everything upon the surface of the world So we could stand right up and say we did it in his name?

[@jameswarner5809]

@@a.k.1740 Personally, I like those two tracks a lot, in fact Reign Of Blows is probably my favourite on the album.

[@a.k.1740]

@@jameswarner5809 Concerning "Reign Of Blows" the song itself is rather good but it's its sound treatment that I don't like, especially Andy Partridge's saturated voice on this one. It's painful for my ears.

[@yes_head]

Black Sea next. Full stop.

[@a.k.1740]

I agree without reservations. English Settlement, Black Sea and Drums and Wires are the three essentials of XTC.

[@murdockreviews]

​@@a.k.1740i third that.

[@sheldonhowells3083]

I recently watched an interview with Dave Gregory, on KZbin, where he mentions that the band was being influenced by some of the new ska bands which were massively popular in the UK at that time, such as the Specials and Selecter. Of course, XTC's hometown of Swindon is famous (or infamous) for its roundabouts, particularly the, "Magic Roundabout", which terrifies a lot of people. I live not too far away in Oxfordshire and have been over it many times. Just give way to the right and just amble on through!

[@ConglomerationCat]

Your reaction to this was so infectious. I just recently discovered English Settlement and it stuns me as to why it took so many years to have it land on my musical lap. Better late than never. My job lately has been very challenging and often depressing and this whole album has given me the best uplifting that I really need to press forward. I've known bits and pieces of XTC for years but English Settlement has officially made me a die hard fan and a very deep appreciation for it's complex creativity. Thank you so much for doing this.

[@JustJP]

Thanks so much Cat! Really glad you enjoyed this one as well :)

[@ConglomerationCat]

@@JustJP Absolutely!! Take good care.

[@a.k.1740]

That's Dave Gregory on Prophet V synthesizer (in addition to his 12-string electric guitar) on the great "English Roundabout". Justin, you could also listen to some single B-sides from these sessions from English Settlement, notably the superb “Blame the Weather” written and sung by Colin Moulding !😉 Otherwise for a next reaction/review to an XTC album, I would direct you to Drums and Wires from 1979 and Black Sea from 1980 with the strong presence of Terry Chambers on drums on these two!🥢

[@RexGroovi47]

Best LP EVER … I REPEAT … EVER

[@dougperry504]

As the above poster mentioned Google the Magic Roundabout in Swindon England where XTC is from. It aint your average roundabout and was the inspiration for this song.

[@kevinmottram9491]

I would suggest that you do their final album for Virgin next, Nonsuch, seeing as you have already done the first track from it, The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead. An album of varying styles, that finishes with two of my all time favourite tracks of theirs, Bungalow and Books Are Burning. Although, all their albums are great, so take your pick!

[@michaelakkerman407]

Boy...i forgot how great this song is. What an epic finish!!!

[@SmartCookie2022]

A lot of these tracks blend into each other, like a lot of albums did in the 70s and 80s, hence the music box ending.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Some tasty guitar on this one. Yes to an English Roundabout. We have a few here in New England as well. But thats a bridge I'll cover later!&💌.

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

It's worth mentioning that the town of Swindon, where XTC are from, has an experimental roundabout constructed of half a dozen separate roundabouts. It's a nightmare if you meet it for the first time, and was no doubt an inspiration for the song! PS - I'll add to the suggestions for your next XTC album with the wonderful "Black Sea".

[@jamesadkisson7510]

They decided to put Roundabouts in when I live in Austin Texas a few years ago and it’s terrifying. You never know who is going to treat them as a 4 way stop or as a big dick contest.

[@jtenaz]

Yes, a very nice song. Thanks for do English Settlement,Justin. And now? I like the b side of the Senses Working overtime single, two songs, Blame the weather and Tissue tigers. And if some day you do another XTC album reaction, my vote goes to Mummer (1983). Some musicians love that album(Steven Wilson, Mike Keneally or David Sylvian)

[@Lwize]

Hints of Gentle Giant's Derek Shulman in the vocals.

[@TheProgCorner]

Colin Moulding was almost as talented as Andy Partridge. Amazing band!!! And don’t get me started on Dave Gregory’s guitar work…

[@scunner6828]

The only time I can remember getting stuck in an English Roundabout was when all the idiots were panic- queuing for rationed over-priced petrol nearly two years ago and causing gridlock. Other than that roundabouts are fine. They do their job . And he'll have to be more specific than "English" otherwise how are we going to track down this underperforming roundabout? We'd be going round in circles. Track was OK. Definitely had its moments. Don't test me on what those moments were .FIVE STARS Great reaction JP

[@markdrechsler5660]

Can’t wait until you pick another XTC album to do. I will suggest “Mummer” next. It is sequentially the next one, and the first after they quit touring and became more studio oriented. It’s got some great Mellotron on it.

[@kevinmottram9491]

And Terry Chambers left during the recording of it.

[@a.k.1740]

@@kevinmottram9491 Unfortunately ! His fiery drum playing is also sorely missed on all subsequent XTC albums.

[@rogerpatton2242]

​@@kevinmottram9491he drummed on Beating Of Hearts and Wonderland

[@Starclimber]

And songs that, unfortunately, remain tragically timely: Deliver Us From The Elements, say.

[@markdrechsler5660]

@@Starclimber and “ Human Alchemy”

[@jasonbrandt5504]

It’s impossible to site all the bands influenced by these lads. After this album, things got more difficult for our heroes. Though Mummer and Big Express got critical props, and had great great songs, both were commercial disasters. Skylarking saved their career. That should the next one- in full album reaction.

[@-davidolivares]

Next, Nonsuch.

[@AdolphSaxOfficial]

My favorite XTC album.

[@-davidolivares]

@@AdolphSaxOfficial It floats around my top four… feeling more aggressive, Black Sea, want an earful of British+ brilliance, English Settlement, want a perfect album, Skylarking, another lovely thoughtful relevant album, Nonsuch.

[@pentagrammaton6793]

It doesn't work, but at least they attempted a tune here. Maybe don't bother with any more from them 🙃

[@jtenaz]

Try the song Me Train Running Low On Soul coal. Or Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss her XTC is not a first love band. They are a grower band.

[@jfergs.3302]

We get it, you're quirky... what else you got 🙄

[@pentagrammaton6793]

Nooooot too much.

[@jtenaz]

Interesting music and lyrics? What Do you like about XTC?

[@paulcollins5586]

Most overrated band ever.

[@jtenaz]

Exactly all the contrary for me and other fans. I Don't see XTC albums in Best of lists. They are a grower band

[@disconsolatemoose6637]

What's difference between a roundabout and an English Roundabout? The "Magic Roundabout:" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)