Skylarking [Original recording remastered]

 

 

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I bought this for 3 reasons: 1) remastered version; 2) includes the original version with "Mermaid Smiled" (but it also has "Dear God" at the end as a bonus track); 3) price was right (about $10). The remastering sounds great (noticeably better than the previous released CD version), very clean and clear; it's louder but it still has lots of dynamics (i.e. not over compressed). I like having "Mermaid Smiled" (the track Andy Partridge wanted on, he wanted "Dear God" removed), but I prefer "Dear God" and feel that the CD doesn't flow as well with "Mermaid Smiled".

The only thing I dislike is the booklet, because everything is too tiny to read... the previous booklet had more pages and larger font, to read this CD booklet I need a magnifying glass. However, it's only lyrics and credits anyways. It's a phenomenal album, every XTC should have it, as well as any collector of classic rock/pop music albums. Enjoy.

I'd forgotten how much I loved this band back in the eighties. In fact, I drove them to a concert in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada when I was in the limo biz. This album brings it all home. The sound is as fresh today as it was then.

This band has a big fanbase, but they never really got the recognition they deserve. I haven't listened to all their albums. But this album is among the ones I have listened to. As most people have already said, XTC sounds a lot like The Beatles, only if they were an 80s band.

Now I'm sure most people reading this are people who listened to "Dear God" and are thinking of buying this cd. I'm telling you, there's much more to this album than "Dear God". As I said before, there's a lot of Beatlesque moments and also some Beach Boys influenced songs. Imagine a band with those influences and with a decent 80s production, and that'll give you an idea of what XTC (on this album) sounds like. You can also notice how much they've influenced recent bands. For example, some of the music on here sounds like it could've been on a Franz Ferdinand album. Some might disagree but I can't help but think that it has influenced them. I can also see it influencing Blur. I think it's partly because all these bands have that quirky-guitar-pop style going. And even though I think an album like "Black Sea" might've influenced those bands more since it sounds quirkier and more guitar-oriented, "Skylarking" has moments just as quirky and upbeat.

The first couple of songs are connected and are some of the best music on the CD. Then comes the single "The Meeting Place", one of the few songs written by Colin Moulding on the album. It's a pretty decent song, very catchy stuff. "That's Really Super, Supergirl" is just as catchy and fun, though I've noticed that some people find the song too produced and cheesy. I don't see that though, I think it's awesome.

Now I'm not gonna go into every single song, but I'll mention other standouts. "1000 Umbrellas" is one of the most unique songs on the CD. It's full of strings and stuff. You know, with cellos and violins brought to the forefront... Very nice stuff. "Earn Enough For Us" is also a standout. It's the only compltely guitar-driven song on the album. Kinda reminds you of the stuff on "Black Sea". "Another Satellite" is another standout. Probably the mellowest song on the cd. Very well-written stuff. "Big Day" is another song by Moulding...very Beatlesque. I didn't like the song at first, and although it might not hit you right away, it's an awesome song. "The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul" is jazzy. It offers a nice change of style to the album. "Sacrificial Bonfire" is another favorite of mine (Another one by Moulding). I really don't know how to describe it. It's mainly a mellow, acoustic song with a nice rhythm to it. Then halfway through the song, violins kick in and interupt the mellowness, which results in one of the best songs on the album IMO.

This band never got credit for what they did. Not enough people have listened to this album. You need to listen to this album.

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3.0 out of 5 stars The Todd Rundgren Show
Forget the Who, the Kinks, the Beatles and even the Spice Girls, XTC are the most intelligent, sublime British pop band, ever. Lisez davantage

Published on Jun 2 2004 by Chet Fakir

5.0 out of 5 stars XTC's Best with a 'little' help from Rundgren
This must be a classic album, otherwise why would I possess five versions of it on CD? There's the original UK and US presses, the Gold Ultradisc CD, the Japanese paper sleeve... Lisez davantage

Published on May 5 2004 by Christopher Minjoot

5.0 out of 5 stars Dear Who???
Yeah, this album is quite amazing. I was in the record store looking for a Christmas gift for my sister, and I picked up Skylarking at the suggestion of the clerk. Pheww! Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 19 2004 by Christopher Pease

5.0 out of 5 stars XTC, who took the beatles mantle
Skylarking is not just one of the great British albums of the 1980`s, it is an all time great album. Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 8 2004 by Mitchell Howard

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to this album again!
I put this CD after not listening to it for a few years, and I was amazed to hear again how great these songs really are. Lisez davantage

Published on Feb 3 2004 by anonymous

5.0 out of 5 stars Drowning Here In XTC
Everyone, when discussing "Skylarking", bring up the arguing between Rundgren and Partridge like it's a huge problem. Lisez davantage

Published on Dec 24 2003 by michael49108

5.0 out of 5 stars Xtc's best
I really enjoy listening to this CD along with Chips from the Chocolate Fireball, English Settlement, and Go2. Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 25 2003 by maximumhawklord

4.0 out of 5 stars feel the ecstasy
Pro: Sklyarking is full of beautiful moments of ecstasy. "Summer's Cauldron" and "Grass" serve as a moving introduction to the album, and "That's Really... Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 20 2003 by joey

5.0 out of 5 stars Skyloving
All of the reviews herein hit it right on the head: At first listen, Skylarking is just "o.k.". It takes a few times to really get it. Lisez davantage

Published on Nov 8 2003 by Paul Kyles

5.0 out of 5 stars Involving
Out of all the XTC albums I have absorbed and investigated it took me a long time to fully appreciate the brightly satin sheen of "Skylarking". Lisez davantage

Published on Sep 12 2003 by Andre' S Grindle

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