Customer Reviews

Coat of Many Cupboards

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had this set for a while now, but recently discovered two hidden tracks.
The won't play automatically as most hidden tracks do as these are buried in the pre-roll BEFORE track 1. Insert disc 2, hit play, as the track begins to play, pause and rewind/review back past the beginning.
The First on is on disc 2. The next is on disc 3, and it is 9 minutes of live material.

Okay, maybe that wasn't the best analogy. XTC can be a little bit cheesy now and again, but cheesy in the sense of a rich Stilton marbled with thin blue-green veins, a wrinkled rind, and a dense, complex flavor. Or maybe a Wensleydale with a fine curd and complex undertones?

Enough about cheese, though. It's easy to forget what originality is all about. Even accomplished songwriters like Sting (who represents the high-end of the current mainstream pop spectrum) never throw a curveball at you, and seem more interested in preening their image than pushing the pop envelope and challenging their audience. XTC is nothing if not idiosyncratic, unexpectedly blending pop paradigms in new, original ways. Even when they expressly try to imitate a genre (like sixties psychedelia in "Chips from the Chocolate Fireball" or "Psychedelic Psunspot"), they bring a deftness and tone to the work that makes their songs become true originals.

I take some risks in saying this, but Coat of Many Cupboards may be as good a place as any for someone to start their XTC experience. It's risky for several reasons. First, if you start with Disc 1, you may be put off by the band's original, sparse sound and new wave sensibilities. You may ask yourself, "Does Joe Jackson sing for this band?" The answer is "No, no, a thousand time, no!" (But, as an aside, check out Joe's version of "Statue of Liberty" on the XTC tribute album "A Testimonial Dinner." Spooky.) But stick with it. I really think you need to walk with this band through the years to fully appreciate them and their musical development. (If you're tempted to throw the whole collection in the trash part way through Disk 1, at least listen to the demo version of Making Plans for Nigel ... ). Second, they've got some pretty crude demo versions sprinkled throughout. Some very rough gems, indeed. But, this is where Coat of Many Cupboards really shines. In the past, I get the sense that Andy Partridge's vanity kept him from releasing anything but the most polished "demos," and I can understand why. You don't like the world to realize that can actually sing off key sometimes. Finally, these four disks are a lot to cheese to bite off in one meal. You may need something to settle your head if you listen to all of it in one sitting.

All of which should give you some indication as to why I think that this set is necessary medication for all XTC fans. I, for one, have let XTC's early CDs gather dust for years. I can't tell you the last time I listened to Go2, White Music, or even Drums and Wires. After Coat of Many Cupboards, I'm ready to go back and savor those old vintages. I'm setting aside two full gigabytes of my iPod to XTC.

Of course, no review would be complete if it didn't include a mention of some of what I consider to be the highlights ... a previously unreleased version of When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty; a rejected single version of Towers of London; an early work tape of Senses Working Overtime; the live version of Yacht Dance (man these guys are good); a home demo for "All You Pretty Girls" (off-key singing and all); and Didn't Hurt a Bit (a Nonesuch out take).

And guess what? My copy is autographed!

Xtc...big business finally figures out that they deserve a boxed set or two. That's just what we get--two. This second boxed set collects rarities, unreleased tracks, alternate versions and demos/bsides that never made the albums. Sadly, much of this material would have been better served on the appropriate original albums as bonus tracks.

The fact that they were even realized makes me a happy camper. I'm not going to complain too much. Cupboard is actually a better overview of the band than many of the compilations Virgin has put out over the years. Although missing a number of key b sides (most notably My Paint Heroes, The Good Things and Down A Peg), Cupboard is a pretty good mix of the band's material.

The sound quality on the bulk of the material included is far superior to the bootlegs that have been floating about for years. Andy Partridge's blunt Terrorism sounds like is could only have been written after 9/11. What's amazing is the fact that Partridge wrote and released the demo recording 16 years ago. What's truly fascintating is to evasdrop on the band's stylistic shifts via the unreleased tracks and rehearsal tapes.

The liner notes and booklet are very illuminating and compliment the set very well. The comments from Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding are frank, honest and occasionally funny as hell. Harrison Sherwood's delightful essay is the comic foil to the more serious songs. Sherwood manages to break through the collective Xtc psyche and twist out again with a number of thoughtful, insightful observations about why the band's music has with stood the test of time (something that can't be said about many of the band's contemporaries).

I'm pleased as punch that most of this material has been remixed and remastered for CD. The sad part is that it took so darn long for this to happen. Still, after XTC's 7 year strike I'm happy this fine collection is finally seeing the light of day. Although not essential for new fans, Coat adds to the luster and reputation of this terrific English band. Let's hope that they have fans on the board for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. If Talking Heads, The Ramones and other bands than began in the same era can be recognized, surely these talented and consistent guys from Swindon deserve recogition as well.

The distilled genius of Partridge and Moulding (purveyors of superior pop to the gentry) in a box. Even the giggly out-takes and home demos from a damp room in Swindon sound a thousand times better than any of the over produced digital piffle in the charts today. Andy Partridge's gift for turning out dynamite pop songs as easily as blinking is magnified even more here than on the studio albums, the demos, rough cuts and live performances are just great. There's too much here to single out one great highlight, as they are all great for various and sundry reasons.

The packaging is superior, and the information on each track from Andy and Colin (and even Barry Andrews) is illuminating. Stop reading this review and buy it! But beware, it will make the rest of your record collection sound like very thin stuff indeed.

Finally, somebody cared enough for this most underated and talented group of musicians, to put them in a fine quality packaged box set that spans most of their career. The only drawback is the recordings are mostly comprised of demos and outtakes that (lets face it), were not intended to see the light of day. There is a recording of "Mayor of Simpleton" in the collection that is terrible, they certainly improved that piece later. If you thought the Beatle'"Anthology" recordings were great, then you'll likely find these great as well(simularities to The Beatles don't end there). Though these recordings reflect the bottom of the barrel of this bands material, it's still better than most band's best work these days. The energy of the live recordings is phenomenal. The drumming talents of Terry Chambers, injected a punch that gave XTC it's visceral edge and is sadly missed on later recordings. Along with all the rare recordings, there is also a smattering of album cuts of some rather less noticeable yet noteworthy performances (Jason and the Argonauts, Brainiac's Daughter, Chaulkhills). The 4CD set works like tour through XTC's career starting in their quirky punkish beginnings to their later progressively artistic works, sometimes experimental, sometimes psychedelic. No self-respecting XTC fan should be without this collection. This wouldn't be good for someone new to XTC though. My recomendation to them would be "English Settlement," "Oranges and Lemons" and for beginners, the "Upsy-Daisy Assortment."

XTC's Box set Coat of Many Cupboards is a delight for any XTC fan. The package is well designed with a cardboard drawer covering each of the four discs. The booklet bound into the package includes lots of old photos of the band, as well as an insightful history of the band, and Andy and Colin's commentary on each of the 60 tracks here. As for the music, well, for the die-hard fans, one tends to not hear the hissing and back-noise on the demo tracks included. It is fun to hear how some of my favorite XTC tracks sounded in the beginning, how they lyrics changed or a melody dropped in favor of something with a little more/or less ump! This set is the perfect bookend to the Transitor Blast box set from a few years back. As a lifelong fan this is the Ulimate Set of XTC recording for the completionist.

One of the great things about XTC is the way the band has grown musicaly over its history. This box set presents an insight into that growth as well as insight into the writing and demo stages of their craft. It is a fine compliment to their previous collections "Rag and Bone Buffet" and "Transister Blast". The only thing missing is some of the more recent live/in-studio radio recordings from "Apple Venus V1&2".
This is a must for any true fan and a great introduction for the novice.

Just when you thought XTC had cleaned out the closet, they reveal a plethora of leftovers in the cupboard (I suppose the attic is next...God help us!) "Coat Of Many Cupboards" is chock-a-block with outtakes, alternate studio/live versions and home demos from the band's Virgin Records period. Overall, a very listenable selection, the only misstep may have been peppering some of the band members' favorite album tracks throughout; thier slick, "finished" sheen sometimes makes for a jarring contrast against the odd "living room demo" or giggly outtake. According to the liner notes, there are 8 (?!) more volumes of similar compilations to come-this may be too much of a good thing (I eagerly await undiscovered gems like "Andy Partridge tuning" and "Colin Moulding Vocal Warm-Up, parts 3-6"). If you're a devoted fan, this set generally aims to please. If you're just discovering XTC, this collection might leave you somewhat overwhelmed-start with the studio albums!

Of the hundreds of unused tracks XTC has in their cupboard, they thankfully decided to release a few on Coat of Many Cupboards. The best tracks are 'Us Being Us' & 'Things Fall To Bits' (probably the best things Barry Andrews wrote for XTC), 'Terrorism', 'The Troubles', and the demo version of 'Dear God'. Unfortunately, the needless inclusion of a few album tracks break the continuity.

The CD version has a bonus track before track 1 on discs 2 & 3. Disc 2 is studio banter while recording Roads Girdle The Globe. Disc 3 is an edited (for swearing) version of Drunken Jam/Shaving Brush Boogie.

[DW]

This is one of my favorite bands ever. They have terrific songs with harmony, feeling, and meaning. Try a few if you are new to XTC...Books Are Burning, Grass, King for a Day, Peter Pumpkin-head, Mayor of Simpleton, Merely a Man....all great songs.