Customer Reviews

Testimonial Dinner: Songs of Xtc

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most songs by quirky rock/pop composer-performers don't survive being covered; If they do, it's often only by slavishly copying the original note for note. But Partridge and Moulding's songs are so strong that they often do very well in other hands.

Some of the songs on this collection don't survive the individualistic treatment; the first three cuts on this album are pretty forgettable. But some are gems. Reuben Blades changes "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" from XTC's Rundgren-produced spy movie theme into a steamy Latin tune. TMBG's"25 o'Clock" is as much fun as the original. Sarah McLachlan's "Dear God" is as good in its own way as the original. And "The Good Things" by Terry and the Lovemen is probably unique in the history of recorded music- a band covering itself!

If you're an XTC fan you'll need this album to complete your collection, of course. If you're not already a fan, buy the XTC originals, but buy this one just for McLachlan's cut.

There's a fundamental problem with tribute albums - big fans of the original band won't like them ("they've ruined the songs!") and fans of the covering bands tend not to listen to much else but their favorite band's one track. That said, TE has compiled an impressive and varied group to take a stab at XTC's oeuvre. Highlights include: Sarah McLachlan's haunting remake of "Dear God", the Rembrandts' straight "Making Plans for Nigel", Ruben Blades recasting of "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul", Crash Test Dummies' odd reworking of "All You Pretty Girls" and They Might Be Giants' typically odd "25 O'Clock". Only Spacehog's glam "Senses Working Overtime" doesn't quite work. Oddly, Joe Jackson's "Statue of Liberty", which should be a match made in heaven, is simply good. XTC fans, approach with an open mind...and be pleasantly rewarded.

Can't believe I've been listening to this CD for 15 years....

Was a casual fan of XTC's when I found this in a listening kiosk at a chain music store while on vacation in New Orleans, and snapped it up based on the fact that I was a huge Verve Pipe fan at the time.
(They were a local band for me, making the big time....)

XTC writes fantastic music. Talented artists with strong pop sensibilities can't do much better than to cover some of XTC's better songs.

R. Blades' version of Man who sailed Around His Soul is still amazing, after 15 years of listening. Vocals, instrumentation, latin flavor... just freakin' amazing.

Freedy Johnston's Earn Enough For Us is terrific, in that it's true to the original, yet still very.... Freedy Johnston.

The Verve Pipe totally rocked Wake UP. My only complaint is that B. VanderArk's vocal's seemed restrained.

Another band with a unique sound, Crash Test Dummies, get creative with All You Pretty Girls, and the finished product works great.

The occasionally quirky side of XTC was well-served by They Might Be Giants participating on this project. Their version of 25 O'Clock shows off THEIR talent as well as XTC's song craftsmanship.
A touch psychedelic, it's just a fun, raucous tune.

These are the standout tracks, buffered by less inspired offerings, but no truly bad songs. As a bonus, XTC appears on their own tribute album, under a pseudonym, with The Good Things.

Surprised to find that this is still in print, and as it is, I strongly urge you to pick up a copy.

If you're new to XTC, and like other artists better (maybe some that are on this CD) then maybe this is the one for you.
For me, this was a little disappointing. I think too many of the artists stuck too close to the original and didn't try injecting anything of themselves into the songs. But that is the problem with XTC songs, they are so indelibly stamped with XTCishness, it's hard to imagine them being covered.
Granted, there are many singers who can carry off an XTC song better than Moulding or Partridge, but when you've heard the sheer quality of their work, you can't imagine anyone else singing them really.
I am a fan of Sarah MacLachlan, but to be honest, I found her rendition of the song a little bit boring. The songs lyrics can be sung out with either venom or sadness, it seems she did neither, which is surprising because she can be quite melancholy and wistful on her own tracks. She didn't seem to take this anywhere.
Ruben Blades version of "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" is absolutely stunning, and dare I say it, as good as the original. He made this song his own, and he sounded like he cared. It gives this CD authenticity, and is the only track worth it apart from the following . .
The Verve Pipe's "Wake Up" and Terry & The Lovemen's "The Good Things". Verve Pipe because they made the song their own without losing what makes the song recognisable as an XTC song, they put enough of themselves in without forgetting that the song is great with or without them.
And "The Good Things" because it's XTC, and it's one of the best things Colin Moulding has written in the XTC canon. He may write less than Partridge, but he absolutely comes up with very observant, life catching songs without being pretentious.

The rest of the songs are a mixed batch -- the strongest being They Might Be Giants "25 O'Clock", which matches the original in sound and texture, but beefes up the solo section a bit, making it a bit snappier and less psychedelic.
And those are the only ones I remember from this disc worth mentioning. Just an opinion.

The 'Testimonial dinner' set of covers is smart, well produced, and interesting to people who know the XTC material already. Except Ruben Blades's brilliant rework, most people will find that the artists' original recordings of their own music is fulfilling and that XTC did a sporting job at recording their own work. That is, XTC didn't need the testimonial.

Nonetheless, it's sound listening. The common complaint is that neither Partridge nor Colin Moulding have the voice to carry their songs. If that's so, you will like this varied album.

The subtle reworkings of "Earn Enough for Us" and "Senses Working Overtime" are smart interpretations, staying close to the original but being different enough to get (and keep) your attention. The letdowns are limited to 3: Joe Jackson (quite surprisingly!), Sarah McLachlan (it just seems tired and uninspired in this post-Lillith era), and an utterly verbatim chord-for-chord replay of "Nigel" by The Rembrandts. That last one is probably the least insightful, least creative, and most pointless contribution to the overall effort. [Though what else would you expect from an act known only for the "Friends" theme?]
TMBG and Mr. Blades are exceptional, and L. Hux's "Another Satellite" is a transcendent reinterpretation of an already phenomenal & groundbreaking song.
Bottom line: If you like XTC and have an open mind, buy it immediately.

I thoroughly enjoyed this CD. I purchased it after being blown away by hearing XTC's classic "Dear God" covered in a new, unique manner - a manner which payed great homage to the original by giving it a new sound. Other songs on the CD are very good also, but expect your CD player to find itself repeating "Dear God." END

If you are a fan of XTC, DO NOT listen to this. You will want
to kill yourself. I almost did.
This compilation is the biggest insult to
one of the greatest (and underrated) bands of all time. I don't need to single out any tracks since they all completely suck. With the exception of the hidden XTC track. Think of it this way, no one needed to re-do Michaelangelo's 'David' so why on earth would this have been released at all, except for a big joke. I am not a big fan of any covers of any kind any way (see NIN's sloppy cover of Joy Division's 'Dead Souls'), but these are atrocious. Reading some of these reviews just sets in stone that these authors are not true XTC fans. If you weren't an XTC fan before listening to this, and you like this tripe, don't bother picking up an XTC album because you are musically stunted and are not ready for the real deal.

p.s. And to the writer who stated there are other bands who could do XTC's songs better than them....I say this:
1. Burn all your music
2. Shove a pencil in both ears because you obviously don't use them anymore.