Fretplay.com XTC guitar tabs CD reviews Oranges & Lemons

XTC - Oranges & Lemons Audio CD

Band: XTC Title: Oranges & Lemons Rating: Release Date: 2001-08-07 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Garden of Earthly Delights 2: Mayor of Simpleton 3: King for a Day 4: Here Comes President Kill Again 5: Loving 6: Poor Skeleton Steps Out 7: One of the Millions 8: Scarecrow People 9: Merely a Man 10: Cynical Days 11: Across This Antheap 12: Hold Me My Daddy 13: Pink Thing 14: Miniature Sun 15: Chalkhills and Children

Overall, the remastering job is EXCELLENT! As stated in another review, percussion elements on "King For A Day" stand out--as if they'd never been there before! I'd wondering if they'd even remixed this! I A-B'ed this with the original CD version and the new one is 1000 times better! I'm ready to replace and add to my XTC collection with these new versions!. I personally think this ranks as one of XTCs BEST albums! First of all, it contains one of the best pop songs ever, "Mayor of Simpleton," A true 3 minute gem! True, there are some weaker tracks, but I'd hardly call them filler.

Top dog
Although it is a tad inconsistent (a bit of filler scattered throughout), O&L does have a number of songs that rank as the finest written and performed by Partys, Mouldy & Gregsy. While not their best album Oranges and Lemons starts off with a killer one-two punch.

The packaging on the limited edition Japanese import is the best of the lot; this edition duplicates the vinyl packaging and includes a lyric sheet written in Japanese and English. The jewel box edition is another matter entirely; it is actually inferior to the original edition in terms of packaging.

Ian Cooper has done a marvelous job of remastering O&L. I didn't think anyone could improve on the MFSL gold disc released a number of years ago (it was a huge improvement on the original edition issued by Geffen in the US and Virgin elsewhere). The sound is cleaner with better definition and rediscovered detail (such as the extra percussion on King For A Day. It was always there but not as clear or shaply reproduced as here).

Well worth purchasing for the improved sound, O&L is still a rough gem that has many great moments.

great fire!
multi-layered, multi-tracked and with more than a few high-flying, memorable tracks. This is one of the great XTC albums. In its remastered form it offers incredible insights: quite a different animal from its original-release format. There is so much for the listener here, and so much is utterly denied by the utter failure of Virgin to provide a half-decent package. If you want to read the lkyrics - and they are worth reading, as usual - this reissue may not be for you. In terms of real value you can't beat it, but for initiates it won't be of much help. What to do? Dunno. But definitely complain.

In musical terms, this is one of the band's best, capabl;e of sustained thrashing on stereos at home or on the road (I received mine a few days ago and it has been played incessantly). All the classic tracks are here, and not a bonus one inseerted: just the way it should be - no messing. Timeless music for all those in awe of the Chalkhill Estate. Go for it boys, and may the force be ever with you, regardless of your present status. It is a fine, fine waxing.

Julian Freeman.

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.