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XTC - The Big Express Audio CD

A fair review of the XTC "The Big Express" 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.

XTC Band: XTC
Title: The Big Express
Rating:
Release Date: 2002-08-06
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Wake Up 2: All You Pretty Girls 3: Shake You Donkey Up 4: Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her, Kiss Her 5: This World Over 6: Red Brick Dream [*] 7: Washaway [*] 8: Blue Overall [*] 9: Everyday Story of Smalltown 10: I Bought Myself a Liarbird 11: Reign of Blows 12: You're the Wish You Are I Had 13: I Remember the Sun 14: Train Running Low on Soul Coal

Quite unique
It's very loud (especially the drums), but has that signature distinctness that's an XTC trademark. The Big Express is an album that explodes out of your speakers, and maintains a certain boldness throughout. No two XTC albums are similar (with the possible exception of White Music and Go 2), and it's so nice that they have an album for every mood you're in. The album starts off with Wake Up, which is a poppy, MTV-type mainstream track, as is All You Pretty Girls. I really appreciate Shake You Donkey Up, which is a catchy and zany barn dancing piece that has you wanting more. Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her is just brilliant, with the brass thrown in. Just the title alone is so cool. This World Over sounds just like the Police, and is one of my all-time favorite XTC songs. The Everyday Story of Smalltown is a masterpiece, with its addictive melody. I Bought Myself a Liarbird was probably meant to be a filler song, but it's one of the best on the album. It has to do with their manager with whom they had a strained relationship with. Reign of Blows is probably the loudest track, and is hard to listen to at first, because of the loudness. This album takes some getting used to, but the songs are brilliantly-crafted. You're the Wish You Are I Had is a melodic pop song, with some nice changes. I Remember the Sun sounds like Sting (not the Police), and is a Moulding classic (or should be). Train Running Low on Soul Coal is a complex arrangement of aggressive guitars, followed by a steady and softer melody and chorus. It takes some getting used to, but is great. Red Brick Dream sounds a little like Pink Floyd, with good acoustic work. The last two tracks, Wash away and Blue Overall are mediocre, and are listed as bonus tracks. This album took me 3 or 4 run-throughs before I realized just how brilliant it is. I initially thought that I'd give it 3 or 4 stars, but each time I played it, it got better and better, and is one of XTC's greatest albums, in my opinion. 9. 5/10.


Second Best
This album reissue has the same crime as Mummer did. This is XTC's second best album, Mummer being their best. They put the bounus tracks in the middle of the original albums sides. Reburn it so the original album is intact and the bounus tracks are at the end. .


I Think I Oughta Change My Name to Vinyl Man
They are little more modern,the vinyls I have by these guys are late 70's to the 90's. Yeah! You guessed it,I own tons of vinyls by these guys also. Almost all of their singles, several of their lps,free singles and extra free lps that came with lps. For example, there is a single that came free with the lp, "Black Sea" called Don't Lose Your Temper. Actually, it was a double single and the other tunes along with Temper were "Smokeless Zone" and "The Somnambulist". Another was a single with the lp "Drums and Wires" called "Chain of Command" b/w "Limelight". I also own, the extremely rare "3D EP" a 12-inch mind-blower. Then, all their lps and lots of other singles,12 inch singles and ep's, and lots of them with picture sleeves. Now,I own the mini lp sleeve replicas of most of their lp's. This one is no exception. It is one of their best lp's,if not their best. A truly amazing work of art. A REAL CLASSIC! I think a lot of people may agree. .


Absolute perfection
It is my favorite XTC album among many strong contenders and one of my favorite albums all-time. This album took a little while to grow on me, but when I finally got it, it was absolutely life-changing. The mystery of this album is the fact that those of us who get it have little luck trying to convey its majesty to those who don't. To those folks I say keep trying, you will be amply rewarded. "Wake Up" and "Train Running Low on Soul Coal" are tracks beyond description. With encroaching age, I feel the pull and power of the latter track more every year. Consider this an album to grow up and old with - gracefully! .


what's the confusion? it's an underrated classic, that's all
after all, this isn't 'ascension' by john coltrane or 'zero tolerance for silence' by pat metheny or something highly dissonant like those recordings. while we all are entitled to our opinions, i'm having difficulty understanding why this classic release would leave people scratching their heads. in my opinion, there are few albums that are as creatively, tunefully, and beautifully crafted as 'the big express'. from start to finish, it flows as one complete artistic statement, while each individual track has plenty to offer in and of itself. and contrary to other reviews, i would venture to say that 'mummer' and 'skylarking' are the weaker recordings (particularly 'mummer', although there are certainly great songs on it), with 'the big express' the superior, overlooked one sandwiched in between. a desert-island disc that i never tire of - HIGHLY recommended.


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.

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