Nonsuch [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

XTC | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 6, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Caroline
• ASIN: B00005ATHM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,629 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Patently incapable of making substandard records and equally hopeless at actually selling them, XTC's 10th studio album, Nonsuch (produced by Gus Dudgeon and benefiting from the crisp drum work of former Fairport Convention sticksman Dave Mattacks), was yet another sublime, literate and unpredictable Anglo-pop masterpiece, brimming with tuneful deviousness, intelligent arrangements and interesting subject matter but nevertheless avoided by the public as if it were an approaching tramp with a personal hygiene problem. That quirky Canadians Crash Test Dummies actually had a hit with an exact replica of "Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" can only be attributed to their choice of deodorant. A similar injustice befell single "The Disappointed" (Andy Partridge's anthem for the amorously disenfranchised and surely one of their best ever recordings), which narrowly failed to win an Ivor Novello Award. Still, typically for a band who've never enjoyed the full rub of the green, some of the finest moments on Nonsuch deal with either underachievement (as on Colin Moulding's "Smartest Monkeys", which questions how mankind can get to the moon but can't solve problems of hunger and homelessness); such anti-showbiz mundanity as walking the dog ("Humble Daisy"); or aspiring to a retirement home by the sea (another forlorn Moulding number fusing Noel Coward with the Beach Boys' pocket symphonies). Other than "The Disappointed", the real must-hear is the anti-censorship "Books are Burning", inspired by the Salman Rushdie affair and by German poet Heinrich Heine's famous quote, and musically pitched halfway between "Hey Jude" and Leo Sayer's "When I Need You", ascending to a climactic duel between the frying guitars of Partridge and Gregory. --Kevin Maidment

Product Description

Remastered reissue of 1992 album. Virgin Records. 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nonsuch, September 6, 2005

By 

B (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nonsuch (Audio CD)

A whopping 17 songs on this effort, which would be XTC's last album for many years. It's a mature, well rounded work that combines the lush, orchestrated pop of "Skylarking" with the bright, bubblegum psychedelia of "Oranges & Lemons". Thus, more Beatlesque bliss for XTC.

Both Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding wear their influences on their sleeves big time; Lennon, McCartney, Wilson, Davies, even Burt Bacharach.

"Then She Appeared" is a major standout with spot-on Beach Boys-like harmonies, shimmering guitar lines, and all the like. A sunny, upbeat pop masterpiece. And it wasn't even released as a single!

Also pop perfect is "The Disappointed" which sounds like XTC doing Tears for Fears doing The Beatles. This album showcases a band who can obviously write beautiful hooks and melodies in their sleep at this point.

Partridge is also a great storyteller; witness "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead", a more guitar driven pop/rocker. Is it about JFK? Jesus? An actual pumpkin? Total lyrical mastery. The wonderful "Holly Up On Poppy" musically combines brooding psychedelia with bouncy pop in yet another wonderful song. Also worth noting is "Dear Madam Barnum", another guitar-driven pop number with great lyrics. Who writes lyrics this clever anymore? He really is one of the most gifted songwriters of all time..his wit even puts some of his idols to shame at time.

Partridge reaches a new level of sophistication on songs like "Rook" and "Wrapped in Grey". The former is a cryptic, downbeat piano-led poem (of sorts) which Partridge said reduced him to tears when he wrote it (as it just came out of nowhere). The latter showcases that Bacharach influence I eluded to before (as well as a heavy dose of Brian Wilson); like "Rook", it's also a piano/string section led chamber pop number. This one alternates from somber verses to a cheery, celebratory chorus. Both are among Partridge's best compositions.

Colin Moulding also turns in his most musically mature composition to date with "Bungalow"; The song travels from a cheesy organ-laden intro to rich, lush piano passages. It sounds like some long lost Tin Pan Alley classic.

Mouldings other tunes are also very good. "Smartest Monkeys" travels down a cliched lyrical path, but the music is strong and catchy. And Dave Gregory turns in an awesome solo (which sounds like a processed guitar, but is actually a synth I believe). "My Bird Performs" is sublime, and features some nice trumpet work.

Other album highlights include the lush, psychedelic "Humble Daisy" (think Lennon meets Brian Wilson), the tense "That Wave", the celebratory "Omnibus" (which sounds like something out of a musical), and the closer "Books Are Burning", a mid-tempo masterpiece which makes a common chord progression sound fresh.

XTC are so good at making sophisticated, smart pop music that it's depressing. Why? Because I can't find many other bands who can equal them. It's a shame that very few people have even heard of them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars musical medicine for the mind and soul, November 9, 1999

By 

chris ([e-mail]) (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nonsuch (Audio CD)

after reading all the reviews on nonsuch , i cant believe anyone would have a negative thing to say about this beautifull collection of soul relaxing songs . i must admitt this was my first xtc disc ,i bought it when it came out gave it a listen or two and it collected dust for years , thats because like others who had negative comments , i didnt give this eclectic, interesting work of art enough time or plays to realize what a jewel of a band i had stumbled upon . since disovering xtc i have become a huge fan,cant say a bad thing about the english thugs , for the exception that some of the earlier stuff might be a little too punkish for me , but then again maybe all i need to do is listen a little harder before judging so quickly , I feel the same way about apple venus volume 1 and i am presently awaiting the release of 2 , i am sorry to hear that the guitarest wont be joining him , i think its a great loss to the band and i heard andy partridge was going to take on most or all of the guitar work on that disk , well for the price nonsuch is one of the best musical bargins you will ever find , buy buy buy

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievably rich and entertaining, October 8, 1998

By 

Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nonsuch (Audio CD)

I really can't find enough superlatives to describe this album. When so many groups seem to exhaust their creative abilities in one album, Partidge and Moulding continue to grow as songwriters, producing better melodies, arrangements and lyrics with every record.

XTC started as a sort of punk band with "White Noise" but rapidly evolved into one of the best exponants of the melodic British Pop tradition that seems to have started with the Beatles and continues on through groups like 10CC, Squeeze and a few others.

Nonesuch has an amazing range of styles, from the hard-rocking Peter Pumkinhead to the lyrical "My Bird Performs" and the dark "Rook". There's fiercely biting social commentary in "The Smartest Monkeys", traditional English ballad in "Wrapped in Grey" and many other delights.

The more I listen to Nonesuch, the more I become absolutely enchanted with it. Certainly one my desert island albums, and maybe, just maybe the finest British Pop album ever.