Black Sea (studio album) by XTC

From Jboy56 12/14/2021 14:03

As an old fart, this is a new band to me, and XTC sounds great. This record is lots of fun.

Tried getting my cousin into them...especially since he likes Echo and the Bunnymen and Depeche...but oh well. Great pop...

Who knew Swindon could be so dark?

From joannajewsom 03/29/2018 12:46

Living Through Another Cuba is incredible.

Great album - the singles are strong and the rest are in no way ‘filler’. Certainly their most consistent so far and that’s consistently good. Even the three b-sides on the Apehouse reissue are quality. I think more people need to hear this, I’m sure it should be more highly rated.

Best Tracks: Rockets From A Bottle, Towers Of London

Most of the songs that originally convinced me of XTC's greatness come from Black Sea. I loved the meticulous attention to detail. I remember listening to Generals and Majors over and over trying to pick out everything, the humming, the barking, the numerous counter melodies. I loved the unexpected transitions, like where Respectable Street comes crashing back into the chorus on "Sony Entertainment Centers", both changing key and refusing to rhyme! I loved the ridiculous lyrics, the feeble fantasist ramblings of Sgt Rock. "Get the experts at kissing and stuff", is such a perfectly inarticulate lyric. Most of all though I loved the driving infectious rhythms. Living Through Another Cuba, Love at First Sight and even the complex poly-rhythms of Burning with Optimisms Flame defy anyone not to dance to them. The fact that this isn't unanimously considered XTC's crowning glory is a testament to their massive well of talent.

I'm not quite sure how this is only rated as XTC's 6th best album on BEA. Perhaps people are listening to the CD reissue which for some strange reason added the bonus tracks Smokeless Zone, Don't Lose Your Temper & The Somnombulist right in the middle of the original track listing instead of tagging them onto the end. Respectable Street is a classic with a timeless English subject matter. Other great tracks follow including Generals & Majors, Love at first sight, Towers of London, the brilliant Burning with Optimism's Flame and the catchy pop of Sgt Rock.