The cows did indeed come home! Happy days! XTC is defiantly one of those bands that to paraphrase Forrest Gump, "you never know what you're gonna get." I love this period of the band. They had plenty of energy. After 'English Settlement' they became a studio band. (which was no bad thing) But as a live outfit, they were sensational. I don't know if you would continue on with this album, but I'm truely grateful that you gave this track a crack. Ps. 'Complicated Game' is the standout track on this album for me. (Wink,wink)
It's funny, but I was about to recommend Complicated Game. Back in the day it was one track too many for me. Scissor Man being my favourite up until the day I got Complicated Game. That track is a masterpiece.
ah, drums & wires. a brilliant album that really has "changed my life", as it was the start of my new wave-conversion. (better than talking heads, for my taste, and i really do like the early talking heads until fear of music.)
One of the first indications that this band would become something special. The first two albums were decent, this one's on a different level. Andy seems to have been stimulated by Colin's emergence as a songwriter of real talent, and upped his game accordingly.
The vocal track is doubly awesome as Andy seems to be singing with a rough slightly blown out voice. Their textures and rhythms are tasty but dense and with a sense of humor imitating copter noises. This is a fantastic LP and same for the singles released at this time. A key to Andy's lyrics and rapid fire delivery come from his childhood love of Danny Kaye records.
"Drums and Wires" is an important album because it marks XTC's transition from punk to pop. Despite some wild takes, it's a more polished affair than the first two albums.
I had a chance to see them perform live, opening for The Police. They totally won the crowd over with their excellent songs and energetic performance and I became a lifelong fan. During the period they were touring they developed a fascinating two-guitar style that was totally unique to them. At a time when synthesizers ruled the day they had two excellent guitarist, one super-fluid and able to play anything, the other wild and percussive with machine-gun like precision and unique, sometimes atonal voicings. They still sound fresh to this day. Drums and Wires is their first masterpiece with banger songs throughout. No filler all killer.
This whole album is quirky new wavey fun. My second favorite behind English Settlement. Imagine playing this for friends in 1979 who are into the classic rock of the time. Typical response “WTF are you listening to “
@Owlstretchingtime78 what is wrong in requesting more xtc? My man hasn't done any xtc since he did English settlement! I was merely requesting he did a full album run-through of skylarking as its an album that requires to be listened to that way.
This unbridled energy is the sound of early XTC. After a somewhat slow start with White Music and Go 2, Drums and Wires is XTC's first 'classic' album. Don't forget to listen to the non-album singles: "Life Begins at the Hop", "Chain of Command" and "Limelight" (the latter two originally included as a free single with the first copies of Drums and Wires).
@@brewstergallery Apart from "Statue Of Liberty", "This Is Pop?" (single version because I don't like the one on the album), "Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!)" and the non-album single "Are You Receiving Me?" I never got hooked on XTC's very early work with Barry Andrews. To me White Music and Go 2 sound almost forced, as if the band had tried too hard to make themselves unique and original. Andy Partridge tries to grab attention and sings as if he has hiccups. His singing is totally unnatural on these first two albums. Musically it's bouncy all the time, sounding like Devo and Talking Heads on epilepsy. Even Andy Partridge later admitted that on White Music and Go 2 he was trying to grab attention by overdoing it, thinking that these might be their only albums and that they needed to get noticed by the public and the press. From Drums and Wires onwards it becomes much more effective and singular, without losing the energy.
Yeah I heard that interview where Andy was saying he overdid it forcing his voice. I love Are You Receiving Me . the video is awesome. I think that song is on my copy of GO 2 but it's a "hidden " track. As in not listed. I think Barry Andrews exit was the best thing to happen to them aside from genius Dave Gregory arriving. Do you know the Helium Kidz stuff ?? @@a.k.1740
They had a bunch of great non-LP tracks from this era - I would also point to the instrumentals "Homo Safari" and "Bushman President", and to the (definitive, imo) electrified take of "Ten Feet Tall" recorded for an American single.
No one did it like these boys, though among their new-wave contemporaries Talking Heads came closest. What a laughing giggly whirlybird of a song, every instrument (including Andy Partridge’s voice!) tuned for maximum bounce to the ounce. To me, this is the purest expression of rock 'n' roll.
There are some excellent fun tracks on this album which opened with 'Making Plans for Nigel'. This is more post-punk, still energetic but more refined, more craft, more layered. Looking forward to your reactions for the rest of it.
After hearing Making Plans for Nigel a few years ago, I finally decided to listen to this album in full a few weeks ago and it has been daily listening 😆
@@ijustneedmyself Drums and Wires is very good and consistent throughout. The same can be said of their next album, Black Sea (and of course their double English Settlement, which Justin has already listened to).
Drums and Wires is, to me, a clear transition between XTC's first two punk (or punk-adjacent) albums and the next, less frenetic, more melody-centred phase in their evolution, starting with Black Sea and continuing with English Settlement, Mummer and The Big Express.
🚁😂Bi-polar she may be. She does act like something built by Igor Sikorsky. She's just spinning blades all over town. Watch your hearts boys, she's coming down. Peace & Love.
Thanks for this one, JP. I've been missing your XTC reactions. Drums and Wires is the first album where XTC became the group that is widely recognised as one of the great groups of Rock. This album is one of my very favorites, but there would consistently be so many great albums to come. This is not one of the top tracks, but I hope there's more to come for your channel.
The Vapors! Great production, great bass, each songs goes right into your head. Normal singing, though. Made three albums: two in early 80ies, one more in about 2020 (!)
...OR Talking Heads have XTC energy... I think XTC were really getting noticed by other bands... and this album cemented their status as someone to watch. What an amazingly fun song... and this must have been an absolute blast to play. Andy's synesthesia - songwriting is perfectly encapsulated in this track.
I was really hoping you would do The Big Express, Skylarking, Nonsuch, Apple Venus volume 1 or Volume 2. That being said, this is a fun song. Speaking of fun music you need to do some Barenaked Ladies or They Might Be Giants.
One of the weaker tracks on this overall good transitional album, and where their musicianship started to really show. Helicopter, was still of their earlier punk style, which they began to move away from on Drums And Wires.
Man :) If you love exalted, miming singing, checkout Oingo Boingo "Nasty Habits" Yes. Them. Them nasty ones ;) Enjoy it as I enjoyed your reaction here !!!
If you start out listening to post-touring XTC, those first four albums come off pretty jarring. I'd started with Skylarking and O&L, then got Black Sea, and was like, WTF is this? But that's now one of my faves.
The band's early work was a lot more raw, and some of the experiments on the first couple of albums didn't really come off, but this captures the transition from their punkier first two albums to the more solid pop-rock of their fourth album very well. Again, on this album, there are a couple of near misses, particularly heavy-handed attempts at satire (Andy was still honing his writing chops), but this one is just sheer fun.
Hi JP I've stopped the video at the end of the song. A first time listen for me. If you're anything like me I expect you to mention Quirk Annoying A New Entry in the `Whodunnit League' of Memorable Left of Centre Cough Workouts Repetitive and Why are they so cherished - is it because they belong to : " They were the first to Do It" Dept . This song hasn't helped my XTC doubt. and now back to u.... u probably loved it.. although your laughter suggested contrary ... can't wait to hear actually... I should Pause the the video more often Anyways , whatever the outcome of it all DIOLCH
Sometimes colors or flavor ingredients need to be folded delicately as not to lose itself to a mass of brownish gray sludge… this song comes very close to over mixing. I can take it or leave it. I like quite a few songs on DAW but not this one as much.
I’d highly recommend listening to the track Generals and Majors from their,in my opinion ,best album,Black Sea. Very much needs to be heard ,in regards to the state of the world at the moment.
I suppose most people would be surprised to hear this, but this is one of my favourite XTC songs. :D Today I noticed something "Split Enz" in the guitars at times, but can't put a finger on what, exactly. There's another *Helicopter* song I like that's more "space-prog-trippy-trance" by a German band called *Sand* from long, long ago. You might enjoy it on a day whose mood matches the very rough description above. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ePRH09QxO9o.html
Nothing like early XTC, back when they sounded like absolutely nobody else. I saw a YT video years ago where this song was set to a bunch of clips from the Breakfast Club. It worked perfectly.
Funny song, but not one of my favorites in the album. Complicated Game or Roads Girdle the Globe, are other completely different history. Helicopter is the Xtc Obladi oblada.
This album is great, please please please do the rest of it! The first two disks with Barry Andrews are innovative and worthwhile, if a bit manic, but this one is where they really find their stride and start defining the true XTC sound. It's got a long way to go up the mountain to their finest masterpieces, but there are so many great tracks here, and more than a few that are really hard hitting and much deeper than the pop side. And when you get the chance, you really should also check out Barry Andrews' band Shriekback from after his departure. Surprisingly good mystical punky power pop, with haunting melodies, mind opening themes, and side splitting belly laughs - I would recommend 1985's Oil & Gold.
I don't know if I can agree with this, but I do love those albums, especially the debut, and I think they're wildly underrated simply because the kind of XTC fan that would value the greatness of 1978 XTC is far outnumbered by the ones who are more interested in the Penny Lane/Village Green chamber pop type stuff.
Absolutely! (I read that somewhere years ago). More Songs About Buildings And Food is a great album for Justin to react to. Possibly my favourite Talking Heads album.
@@a.k.1740 More Songs About Buildings And Food might be the most flawless album I’ve ever heard. There might be a few albums I like more or that peak higher, but that one really doesn't have a single moment wasted or a single song that stands out as "lesser".
@@sylvanm4216 Yep, but weirdly enough More Songs About Buildings and Food is rarely (if ever) cited as an important Talking Heads album, unlike Fear of Music and Remain in Light, even though in my opinion it's every bit as good, if not better!
