XTC - Drums and Wires reissue - Spring 2014

Along with Neville Farmer, an old friend of the band who wrote the fabulous book 'XTC : Song Stories'.

 

Too bad this group could not tour in their prime late 80s period. They would have larger fan base.

 

Fantastic book. Andy, Colin & Dave participated and comment on virtually every song they recorded.

 

I just checked, and I was mistaken--it's a German pressing. Side 1 Matrix DM303475 - A - 1/2 - 89; Side 2 DM303475 - B - 1/2; Side 3 DM303476 - A - 1/2: side 4 DM303476 - B - 1/2, all machine stamped so faintly it's damn near impossible to read!

 

For an XTC fan, it's every bit as essential as Lewisohn's 'Complete Beatles Recording Sessions' is to a Beatles fan; you HAVE to go listen to the records after reading a chapter.

 

A while ago Andy spoke about doing another run of the corrected Skylarking on vinyl...has there been any further mention of this?

 

He says "Hopefully". Check out his twitter feed (lots of other great info posted there) - here's the most recent mention of another pressing of Skylarking vinyl (in the comments section): https://twitter.com/xtcfans/status/489371977313185793

 

Why read any review then?

 

Sorry, my mistake. I was referring to Thanks for Christmas not Bags of Fun with Buster.

 

Out on 10/27:

CD+Blu-ray: http://www.burningshed.com/store/ape/product/405/6070/
CD+DVD-A: http://www.burningshed.com/store/ape/product/405/6069/

 

Is this album regarded as significantly better than Nonsuch? I really disliked that one.

 

Depends who you ask. Drums and Wires is the beginning of Dave Gregory's tenure with the band….the album has one foot in their past punk sound and one foot in their pop future. I think it is an excellent album. That said, if you really disliked Nonsuch maybe XTC is not the band for you.

 

I would say it is significantly better and also quite different, with a much more aggressive and angular sound. The first XTC album with two guitar players. I think the songwriting standard is also better. Nonsuch has some great songs but also many weak ones and it is too long IMO.
Having said that, if you really disliked Nonsuch perhaps you should sample Drums And Wires first. It should not be too difficult between Amazon/Allmusic/Spotify/whatever.

My only gripe with this re-issue series is that it seems to move at snail pace. Yes and XTC SW-remixed re-issues started at the same time but Yes will have their third album out in October while this only the second for XTC with no hints about more releases on the way.

 

They're slower because EMI can't find the multitrack tapes (!).

If everything's OK, the next installment will be Oranges & Lemons, which is being finalized.

 

Now that is great news. Hopefully we will get English Settlement too in the not too distant future.

 

I hope so, but for the moment they can't find the tapes...

 

That's a pretty strong statement. I never heard Nonesuch when it came out. I tried to stream it a couple of times when the remix came out and could never make it all the way through. I also bought Oranges & Lemons for $1 at a thrift store and was unimpressed. I love Drums & Wires, Black Sea, and English Settlement. XTC was one of the few New Wave bands I could stand back then.

 

My Fav XTC album in 5.1!!!!!! Ordering was a no-brainer.

 

Some details here:

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/xtc-drums-and-wires-cdblu-ray/

Nonsuch never did much for me, but Drums and Wire has always been a favorite.

 

Pre-Ordered! A signed postcard from Andy is a nice touch!

 

Wow. Loved the Nonsuch editions, this could be even better. Includes demo sessions and rehearsal tape. What are the DJM re-recordings?

 

Hopefully they won't eliminated the cross fades with the remix for O&L

 

Wasn't it one of the "track zero" recordings on "Coat of Many Cupboards"? (Where you have to "rewind" at the beginning of the CD?)

 

Steven Wilson has been quite faithful to the originals so far. Any changes to crossfades would only be by request of Mr. Partridge, methinks.

 

If they could just add cardboard cutouts of Steve Lillywhite and Hugh Padgham this re-issue would be perfect.