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Label: Geffen Records
Release Date: 1990-10-25
List Price: $11.98
Buy Now: $1.49 - $4.87
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Additional Info: Tracks Reviews
Quintisentially English (5 stars)
First heard this in 87 whilst driving across a Spanish plateau in seering heat framed by corn fields and distant Moorish castles. Gave me goose bumps then and still gives me goose bumps now. It is quintisentially Engish and is an example of "pop" in its purest form. Park yourself up by a lazy river, lie on the grass, put your head phones on and listen. Sheer quality. |  | | | The "Perfect" XTC Album (5 stars)
Don't let the title mislead you. I do not believe that this is the best XTC album (on most days I'd give that nod to "English Settlement"), but, when you look at the sound, the production quality; the complete absence of flaw in "Skylarking"... you cannot help but call it anything put "perfect".As much as I couldn't really care less about the whole birth to death concept, it does work insanely well here, if for nothing else then to properly place the tracks from beginning to end. Everything just seems to go where it should. "Summer's Cauldron" is the only song that can really start off this album, in my opinion. "Sacrificial Bonfire" is the only one that could truly finish it off. "1000 Umbrellas" is the only song that could follow "Ballet For A Rainy Day", which, in turn, is the only one that I'd imagine ever following "That's Really Super, Supergirl" (probably the best back-to-back-to-back tracks in any album ever). The guitar, piano, and orchestral pieces are just so well-recorded or well-produced (perhaps both) here to a point where they both just reach inside and grab your feelings by the throat. Couple this with the lyrics which are among XTC's finest. This album has a mood to it that just paints the perfect picture of the romantic wuss of a man... trying his best to love but always ending up on the wrong end of things. I can really identify with this and I find myself using this record rather often as a support album for my obsessive antics. It works very well as such for all you hopeless romantics listening. Not all the songs are absolutely amazing. "Big Day" gets on my nerves. "Dying" is annoying. Actually, now that I think of it... Colin Moulding doesn't really have any big winners except for "Grass" on this album. But on the other hand you have Andy Partridge's tear-inducingly beautiful and catchy as all heck ("Season Cycle" will burrow into your head and live there for weeks if you let it) tracks at every corner. I could rant all day about this album and its very hard for me to resist that. While not being my favorite (that honor goes to "Villains" by The Verve Pipe), its definitely in my all-time top 10 and has an indescribable effect on the human soul. Buy it, and enjoy. | | | | Well-Constructed Baroque Pop (5 stars)
Todd Rundgren managed to infuriate the band during the recording of this LP, but he did a great job helping them to pick and sequence their material, and to frame it sound-wise and mix it into a beautiful record.The songs are strong. At least one of Partridge's overly wordy and effete clunkers creeps ("Supergirl") and "Season Cycle" is overly derivative (of the Beach Boys). But the rest of the material is well worth a spin. And Todd the Godd retains his ability to knock out wonderful-sounding LPs (file this one next to Patti Smith's "Wave" and the Psychedelic Furs' "Forever Now"). In the end the arrangements mix strings, an effective rhythm section (Prairie Prince does the drumming), guitars, idiosynchratic vocals, and various other effects into a satisfying stew not unlike something the Beatles might have come up with had they been working together during the late 80's. | | | | My Third Favorite Album of All Time (5 stars)
To anyone who thinks XTC has better stuff...you're way off. This album is not only the best XTC all round, but one of the best of all time! I don't say that lightly, either! The whole cycle of life is covered here as highlighted with "Season Cycle". A picture of life is painted so well it feels more like you're listening to a soundtrack to a wonderful movie. This album does what good art should; it evokes feelings. It goes further by covering the whole spectrum of emotions. Vivid imagery, chord structure, use of a massive variety of sounds and instruments, and intentional and precise song placement all add up to a nearly perfect album. The only warning I will give is that if you let the music take you, you will be exhausted by the end. Todd's influence is very apparent. It's too bad there were not more projects together. Although some great individual songs, most XTC albums will put you to sleep by the end. XTC should have learned that "creative tension" is the key for them instead of trying to avoid it. They really missed the point. | | | | without a doubt... xtc's best album (5 stars)
i've read some of the other reviews on here...with the dukes of stratosphear coming a close second,
skylarking is the best XTC album in the catalog.
it's my 2nd favorite album of all time. number 1?
double nickels on the dime by the minutemen. when i first heard 'skylarking' i didn't get it.
like many albums, i set it aside for about a year.
luckily, i revisited the record and it never ceases
to amaze. give it a chance and you will be rewarded. | | | |
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