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Black Sea

XTC - Black Sea Audio CD

A fair review of the XTC "Black Sea" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all XTC reviews here, or go back to the XTC tabs.

Band: XTC
Title: Black Sea
Rating:

Release Date: 1991-03-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Respectable Street 2: Generals and Majors 3: Living Through Another Cuba 4: Love at First Sight 5: Rocket From a Bottle 6: No Language in Our Lungs 7: Smokeless Zone 8: Don't Lose Your Temper 9: Somnambulist 10: Towers of London 11: Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins) 12: Burning with Optimism's Flames 13: Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) 14: Travels in Nihilon

A Close 2nd to English Settlement
For the most part, it's new wave, and it shines. Black Sea is outstanding. What strikes me the most about the album is its super-rich sound--not just from the remaster, but the original product dating back to 1980. The guitars on Black Sea are nothing short of amazing. In a lot of the songs, it's a shreddy and crisp sound, and the drums and percussion are clear, crisp and bold. Of course, the great music is the icing on the cake, and this album has several standout tracks. I particularly like "Burning with Optimism's Flames", with its catchy chorus and great guitars. It's a mixture of new wave and pop-rock that best depicts their sound on this album. Other standouts include "Respectable Street", "Generals and Majors", "Rocket from a Bottle", "No Language in our Lungs", "Towers of London", "Paper and Iron", "Sgt. Rock", and "Smokeless Zone. " Black Sea is the middle album between the edgy DRUMS AND WIRES and the more pop-rockish ENGLISH SETTLEMENT. What I can't understand is how this album didn't make it big, because it has so many songs that should've been singles. This is a fun album, and it manages to keep me in a good mood long after I listen to it. 10/10 .

Black Sea: Remastered
The Dukes of Stratosphear was interesting though. This was XTC'S best record, they put out one more with long time drummer Terry Chambers, then after that the band changed for the worse, and slowly after that I lost interest in them. Black Sea sounds better remastered and worth checking out. This was a strong album for the group, who stopped touring after this record.

One of the best pop bands throughout history...
Influenced for sure by the Beach boys and the Beatles - but that's two bands not to be ashamed at being influenced by! The big thing is that they somehow take those influences and make them even better. That's big shoe's to fill but they are just that - one of the best pop bands on the planet. Yes, I'm saying that XTC is better than the Beatles and the Beach Boys. . . Well, 'better' is a relative term. . . nah, what the hell, let's be honest here - they pretty much blow both of those bands out of the water!.

A Transition To Musical Maturity
The group still displays its angular melodies and new wave chops, but the songwriting begins to show a newfound eloquence and some great harmonies. From 1980, a transition album, of sorts. "Respectable Street", "Generals And Majors", "Love At First Sight", "Towers of London", and "Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)" were all great hit singles. . . in the U. K. , at least.

Extremely Fun, Catchy, Varied, and Musical
Thanks XTC! Of course, they didn't really take their strengths and made garbage. If XTC IS New Wave (when it genres, I am quite stingy, sometimes loose in classification), then I know comes to where so many bands synth pop bands get there inspiration. What does this have to do with the review? Absolutely nothing.

XTC's Black Sea absolutely glows with pop perfection-ambitions, and it works to great effects for the most part (not for the all part, though). This album has it all. Those drums, check them out. You can find bits of disco, but Terry Chambers plays with rock energy and doesn't become timid and I love the South American like drums on LIving Through Another Cuba, the Pounding Tribal Drums on Travels in Nihilon, the plodding drums. The Guitars are catchy, the bass throbs, just listen to this band play! There are some layers or subtle playing that you might have to listen to closely. Highly, highly dance-able. And Andy Partridge's vocals (along with backing), well, you can't go wrong with his cool, catchy voice. He isn't totally 100% sane, either, Living Through Another Cuba always makes me laugh.

Here's an overview of the songs on this record.

1. Respectable Street-Catchy stuff, and a great opening for Black Sea. I love the beginning as well, sets the tone nicely. Great drums, who can complain. The lyrics, poking fun at the rich, well, I think most could easily like this.
2. Generals and Majors-The chiming guitar is catchy beyond belief, it will have you marching along singing at the top of your lungs, and it even has Making fun of the people in the title, it pretty much mocks their ways.
3. Living Through Another Cuba-I'd say this song seems to be based around a cuban or South American groove, with lot's of shouting and singing. Andy does some of his most obnoxious vocals here, and I mean that in a good way.
4. Love at First Sight-Straight up great pop, XTC style, and extremely catchy (what else?). The guitars are some of the best (I like the one that goes out of control), and
5. Rocket From a Bottle-Well, this is where it goes downhill a bit. This one isn't that bad, I find it to be alittle boring and doesn't really always sound that great. Still a good pop song, just not as good as the rest. Love the guitar solo!
6. No Language in Our Lungs-This ballad sometimes drags on kind of long, but a good ballad. Still, not great all the way.
7. Towers Of London-Why the ______ was this a big hit? This one wears out it's welcome toward the end, though it sounds great at a lot of the points. SOmetimes repitive, but it's a good song and I always enjoy most of it.
8. Paper And Iron (Notes and Coins)-The Drums start up, and it sounds like a work anthem, especially with those drums, and explodes into a raw chorus ending with a dance passage. Great song.
9. Burning with Optimism's Flames-The verses have Andy going off a lot, and I think that's hilarious. The reggae/tropical style are great, and it goes on to the chorus. Gotta Love it.
10. Sgt. Pepper-A stupid song, but an absolute blast. To me, it's about using rock music to boost your masculinity, or using it to get girls.
11. Travels in Nihilon-FOr me, kind of a showcase of atmosphere for this band, and those drums are deep, booming, tribal. Though it may be a little long, it still is worth more than a few listens.
12. Smokeless Zone-Can't stand this song.
13. Don't Lose Your Temper-This one may be a bit farfetched, but I absolutely love this song. I really don't know why, but it's dang good.
14. The Somnambulist-A drone, but soothing song, perfect at the end. Quite minimalistic, but that's one reason why it's a great listen.

That's about all I got for this record. The remastered version sounds great, loud, clean, crisp. This record owns. All I can say is that I hope you own a copy.

8. 5/10.

You can see a complete list of all XTC discography, or go back to the XTC tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.