•
Rating:
The negative prejudice against 80s music is really hard to shake off. Many are accustomed to thinking that a certain cultural climate (including Reaganism, yuppism, the "Milano da bere" era, as well as a certain disengaged backlash) so pervaded society at the time that even artistic products, primarily pop music, inevitably came out compromised. This generalization, which only accounts for one side of the multifaceted decade, proves flawed as soon as one lists the numerous excellent works produced in that much-maligned period, not inferior, either in quality or quantity, to other decades, except for the 60s. Those still hesitant and seeking confirmation of the arguable thesis of this humble reviewer can certainly consider the 80s work of XTC, starting right from "Skylarking."
The group led by the brilliant Andy Partridge, an adjective used in this case without hyperbole, has always stood out, from their debut, for its imaginative, brilliant, psychedelic, ironic pop. In "Skylarking", these characteristics are exalted by an exceptional producer, the "wizard" Todd Rundgren, who, despite having quite a few conflicts and differences with the band members during the recording of the album, manages to bring out the best of the band.
Partridge, Moulding, and company continue right where Lennon - McCartney consensually paused their musical discourse, however, trying to delve deeper into the many prolific veins of the Fab Four, particularly the most crazy and visionary one, that of "Yellow Submarine", "Sgt. Pepper's", to be precise. But it's not just the Beatles with their colorful uniforms present; the more somber and melancholic Brian Wilson also peeks through, the author of "Pet Sounds", the artist with the early signs of the "darkness" that would plague him for much of his life, who long ago put the hated surf music in the closet. On this noble "beachbeatlesian" line (but note, we are not merely looking at excellent epigones), stands the initial triad of the album "Summer's Cauldron", "Grass", "The Meeting Place", with bucolic and dreamy atmospheres.
In the album, however, there are other memorable songs and also other perfectly "metabolized" references. "1000 Umbrellas" is the unexpected R'n'B with quirky string harmonies and Andy's flexible voice chasing around. "Season Cycle" is carefree, sunny, with choruses halfway between the Beach Boys, yes, them again, and CSN & Y. "The Big Day" is pure flower power, psychedelia chewed to the point of producing this rainbow-colored bubblegum, truly a small wonder. But there's also the hypnotic and sinuous progression of "Another Satellite", which could have entered the Joy Division repertoire if Curtis had preferred pastel hues over black. There are also forays into jazz, fused with the more deviant pop, as in the case of "Mermaid Smiled", or more regular, almost Gershwin-esque, as in the syncopated "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul", a title that speaks volumes. It closes with Moulding venting his radical skepticism in the evocative acoustic crescendo of "Dear God", the B-side of the single "Grass" and not present on the original LP, but included by popular demand in the CD.
These are the 80s that should be (re)discovered; the perspective, especially for the younger generation, might change.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
02 Grass (03:05)
Laying on the grass my heart it flares like fire
The way you slap my face just fills me with desire
You play hard to get
'Cause you're teacher's pet
But when the boats have gone
We'll take a tumble excuse for a fumble
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
If you fancy we can buy an ice-cream cone
Your mate has gone She didn't want to be alone
I will pounce on you
Just us and the Cuckoos
You are helpless now
Over and over we flatten the clover
Shocked me too the things we used to do on grass
It would shock you too the things we used to do on grass
Grass, grass.
Things we did on grass
03 The Meeting Place (03:14)
Meet you in the secret place
Scuffling in the dirt I wait
Whistle will blow, whistle will blow,
Share a joke the laugh's on me
But when I get you on your own we'll see
Someone might hear, someone might hear
You're a working girl now
You've got money of your own
Hmmm The meeting place
Hmmm The meeting place
Strolling under grimey skies
Machines that make you kiss in time
Smoke on your breath, smoke on your breath
Chimney never looked so good
Never looked the way it should
From lying in the bracken wood
Coat on the ground, coat on the ground
Take a walk down the lane
We'll be late back again
Hmmm The meeting place
Hmmm The meeting place
05 Ballet for a Rainy Day (02:53)
Orange and lemon
Raincoats roll and tumble
Together, just liked fruit tipped from a tray
Pineapple wet heads
Watch new hairdos crumble
As scenery sunlight shifts away
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Apples and cherries
Are varnished in water
Despite, striped awnings bright dismay
I push my paintbrush
To conjure a new world
While this one is slowly washed away
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Dancing out there through my window
To the backdrop of a slow descending grey
When it rains it rains
All the colors in my paintbox
When it rains it rains
Tickets for the front row seats
Up on the rooftops
Orange and lemon
Raincoats roll and tumble
apples and cherries
Together, dropped in diamond disarray
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Dancing out there through my window
Behind the curtain silver falling
Ballet for a rainy day
Silent film of melting miracle play
Dancing out there through my window
To the backdrop of a slow descending grey
06 1000 Umbrellas (03:41)
One thousand umbrellas
Upturned couldn't catch all the rain
That drained out of my head
When you said we were
Over and over I cried
'Til I floated downstream
To a town they call
Misery oh oh misery
Misery oh oh misery
And one million teacups
I bet couldn't hold all the wet
That fell out of my eyes
When you fell out with me
Now I'm crawling the wallpaper
That's looking more like a roadmap
To misery oh oh misery
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
And you'll soon forget her
If you let the sunshine come through
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
If you never let a girl rain all over you
And just when I thought that my vista was golden in hue
One thousand umbrellas opened to spoil the view
One million salt seas
Recalled from school atlas
Alas would be filled to the brim
Sunny Jim couldn't jump it
How can I be pleased
When I'm handed the keys
To a town they call Misery
Oh oh Misery
So with a mop and a bucket
I'll just say forget her
And carry on sweeping up
Where I've been weeping
The Jesters will creep in
To strike down the newly crowned Monarch
Of Misery oh oh Misery
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
And you'll soon forget her
If you let the sunshine come through
How can you smile and forecast
Weather's getting better
If you never let a girl rain all over you
Just when I thought that my skies were a June July blue
One thousand umbrellas opened
Two thousand umbrellas opened
Ten thousand umbrellas opened to spoil the view
07 Season Cycle (03:21)
Season cycle moving round and round
Pushing life up from a cold dead ground
It's growing green
It's growing green, well
Darling don't you ever stop to wonder
About the clouds about the hail and thunder
'Bout the baby and its umbilical
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Summer chased by Autumn
Autumn chased by Winter
season cycle go from death to life
Winter chased by Springtime
bring a harvest or a man his wife
Springtime's turning
it's growing green
It's growing green, well
Darling, don't you ever sit and ponder
darling did you ever think
About the building of the hills a yonder
all this life stuff's closely linked
Where we're going in this verdant spiral
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Round and round and round and round
I really get confused on who would make all this
is there a God in Heaven
Everybody says join our religion get to Heaven
I say no thanks why bless my soul
I'm already there!
Autumn is Royal
As Spring is clown
But to repaint Summer
They're closing Winter down
Darling don't you ever stop to wonder
darling did you ever think
About the clouds about the hail and thunder
all this life stuff's closely linked
About the baby and its umbilical
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Season cycle
Darling, don't you ever sit and ponder
darling did you ever think
About the building of the hills a yonder
all this life stuff's closely linked
Where we're going in the verdant spiral
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
08 Earn Enough for Us (02:54)
I've been praying all the week through
At home, at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Found a house that won't repair itself
With it's windows cracking
And a roof held together with holes
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I've been praying all the week through
At home at work and on the bus
I've been praying I can keep you
And to earn enough for us
So you're saying that we're going to be three
Now, a father's what I'll be
Don't get me wrong, I'm so proud
But the belt's already tight
I'll get another job at night, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
Just because we're at the bottom of the ladder
We shouldn't be sadder
Than others like us
Who have goals for the betterment of life
Glad that you want to be my wife, but honest
I can take humiliation
And hurtful comments from the Boss
I'm just praying by the weekend
I can earn enough for us
I can earn enough for us
10 Another Satellite (04:16)
My heart is taken it's not lost in space
And I don't want to see your mooney mooney face
I say why on earth do you revolve around me
Aren't you aware of the gravity
Don't need another satellite
I'm happy standing on my feet of clay
I have no wish to swim your milky milky way
I say why on earth do you send your letters 'round here
Only to gum up the atmosphere
Don't need another satellite
So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away
Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite
Abort your mission let's just say you tried
Before you glimpse I have a darker darker side
I say why in Heaven's name do you come on these trips
Only to freeze in a total eclipse
Don't need another satellite
So circling we'll orbit another year
Two worlds that won't collide
So circling we'll orbit another year
Moon still tries to steal the tide away
Don't need another satellite
Don't need another satellite
12 Dear God (03:34)
Dear God,
Hope you got the letter,
And I pray you can make it better down here.
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer,
But all the people that you made in your image,
See them starving on their feet,
'Cause they don't get enough to eat
From God,
I can't believe in you.
Dear God,
sorry to disturb you,
but I feel that I should be heard loud and clear.
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears,
And all the people that you made in your image,
See them fighting in the street,
'Cause they can't make opinions meet,
About God,
I can't believe in you.
Did you make disease, and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!
Dear God,
Don't know if you noticed,
But your name is on a lot of quotes in this book.
Us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look,
And all the people that you made in your image,
Still believing that junk is true.
Well I know it ain't and so do you,
Dear God,
I can't believe in,
I don't believe in,
I won't believe in heaven and hell.
No saints, no sinners,
No Devil as well.
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always letting us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown.
Those lost at sea and never found,
And it's the same the whole world 'round.
The hurt I see helps to compound,
that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Is just somebody's unholy hoax,
And if you're up there you'll perceive,
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing I don't believe in...
It's you,
Dear God.
13 Dying (02:25)
It frightens me when you come to mind
The day you dropped in the shopping line
And my heart beats faster when I think of all the signs
When they carried you out your mouth was open wide
The cat went astray and the dog did pine for days and days
And we felt so guilty when we played you up
When you were ill, so ill
What sticks in my mind is the sweet jar
On the sideboard. And your multicolored tea cosy
What sticks in my mind is the dew-drop hanging off your nose
Shrivelled up and blue
And I'm getting older, too
But I don't want to die like you
Don't want to die like you
14 Sacrificial Bonfire (03:45)
Fire they cried
So evil must die
And yields are good
So men pull back hoods and smile
The scapegoat blood spilled
Spittled and grilled it crackled and spat
And children grew fat on the meat
Change must be earnt
Sacrificial bonfire must burn
Burn up the old
Bring in the new
Burn up the old
Bring in the new
Assembled on high
Silhouette against the sky
The smoke prayed and pranced
And sparks did their dance in the wind
Disguises wore thin with less and less skin
And the clothes that were draped
Was all that told man from ape
Change must be earnt
Sacrificial bonfire must reign
Reign over good
Banish the bad
Oh,Reign over good
Banish the bad, oh, ohh
Loading comments slowly
