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"Skylarking"
by XTC
By Webjockey Feral Cat Roundup
Check out Webjockey Feral Cat Roundup's Rifflist:
XTC- Skylarking
XTC was one of the most notable pop bands of the latter third of the 20th century, with songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding releasing a veritable fountain of gems. They seemed to be on the same page throughout their approximately 20 years together, from the angular pop-punk of their early work, to the lushness of their final duo of Apple Venus albums (though Partridge was responsible for the lion’s share of XTC songs.) "Skylarking" is arguably their masterpiece, though its production and sense of lyrical focus is unique in their catalog.
The creativity of Todd Rundgren’s production is immediate, as a choir of chirping birds and cricket noises form the initial rhythm track for "Summer’s Cauldron" that continues throughout the song and repeats at the end of "Grass," forming a miniature suite.
This is the first intimation that Skylarking is a concept album about seasons, though there are too many outliers for that to hold true (such as highlight "That’s Really Super, Supergirl," about a spiteful man jealous of his girlfriend’s tendency to save the world, and other men.) That said, songs such as "Ballet for a Rainy Day," "Season’s Cycle," and "1000 Umbrellas" (featuring a splendid string arrangement by guitarist David Gregory) must have pushed Rundgren to make the whole album sound perfect on a summer’s night.
The second half of the album shifts focus towards aging, a metaphorical cousin to the change of seasons. Some of XTC’s most mature songs are here, including "Dying" and near-hit "Dear God." Few bands could blend such catchy melodies with clever lyrics (only Elvis Costello comes to mind as a competitor,) and nowhere was XTC more successful than they were on "Skylarking".
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