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Label: EMI Int'l
Release Date: 2001-08-21
List Price: $24.99
Buy Now: $19.99 - $34.88
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(Limited Edition, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Import)
Additional Info: Tracks Reviews
One of XTC's finest moments (5 stars)
XTC is a love them or hate them type of band. I've found very few folks that fall between these extremes. Skylarking is an album that almost everyone in the latter camp likes and for good reason; it's a stunning song cycle that recalls the greatness of the Beach Boys, Kinks and Beatles best recordings without apeing them.
This edition returns the album to the glory it deserves; the sound quality is comparable to the MFS gold disc and the packaging is terrific. Ian Cooper should be commended for his work here--he manages to turn his craft into a fine art. Thankfully, Cooper returned to the original configuration of the album (Skylarking was resequenced for the US market when Dear God became a alternative hit. Sadly one of Andy Partridge's finest songs Mermaid Smiled was dropped in the process)and added Dear God as a bonus track. While the import version was like this in many countries, there wasn't a consistency to the album. It reminded me of the way the Beatles, Stones and Kinks albums were reconfigured for the US market; while doing so helped market more commerical product it slighted the original works. The same is certainly true here as well.
The band has struggled over the years to come up with an album as consistent (Nonsvch and Apple Venus Volume 1 come darn close) as this work. Despite the unpleasant time the band had working with Todd Rundgren, their collaboration resulted in the best collaboration between producer and performer since the days of George Martin and The Beatles.
My only disappointment is in the fact that Virgin chose not to include the demos that were released as b sides.
While they weren't of the same production quality (and in some cases lacked the cohesion of the best songs here), Skylarking would have been more complete with them (even if they were put on a second disc) than without them. They are available on the "Coap of Many Cupboards" box set however.
A great big fan's thank you to both Ian Cooper, the band and, yes, even Virgin for the extra effort that went into getting this right.
I'd also recommend: "Nonsuch", "English Settlement", "Black Sea", "Apple Venus Volume 1", "Drums and Wires", "Oranges and Lemons", "The Big Express" and "Wasp Star"
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Buy $19.99 - $34.88
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