Record: Drums and Wires
Label: Virgin
Year of Release: 1979
Sounds like: Post Punk, Pop, New Wave, Britrock
England
XTC was a band from Swindon England that started making noise in the early 70's (1972 to be more specific) and found their ''fame days''' during the post-punk/new wave scene, they are recognized for their mutant and very eclectic sound that would go from simple guitar ballads to complex futuristic synth compositions, usually orbiting around the pop (British pop) sound, mostly. Led by the controversial Andy Partridge and the not so controversial Colin Moulding
Drums & Wires was their third production, it includes the famous ''Making Plans for Nigel'' which became one of the most famous hymns of the band.
XTC, and this record in specific, are the perfect example of the transition between the rawest Punk rock and new wave horizons that were experimented later,if you want to see a break point you will find it here. The punk base is there, but there are also a lot of tinges that make it different and entirely part of a new eighties spectre.
Regina says: This is absolutely one of those records that I can't stand to hear in the CD version, for some reason the ''polished'' plastic sound takes away some of the magic and charm and ruins the experience to me, if you have the chance to listen to the vinyl version, please, do it.
I'm totally sure that XTC was one of those bands that could not be fully appreciated at their time, no matter what, the bunch of bands that shared similar sounds must have overshadowed them a bit,
I think it happens in all decades, though in the end, the important fishes reach the surface.
Honestly, Drums and Wires can be a little repetitive, it's far from the best works by the band such as Skylarking or Oranges & Lemons and specially the underrated Nonsuch, I am not saying it is a bad record, it gives you an early perspective of the band and have memorable songs: ''Making Plans for Nigel, Helicopter, Day in and out,'' specially the A side is utterly brilliant, the whole record works fine and is really fun and carefree (something that I demand a little more from today's music) however, the bass lines tend to give it a funkish sound that leaves me a little extenuated by the end of the record, but it is still a classic that you must check if you want to understand the British music altogether.
Rate: Highly recommendable
Hugo Menanth Says: I think this is one of the happiest and most thrilling records ever, it is one of those records that you can't loathe, maybe at some point some shallow or distracted ears can feel that their are hearing the same song over and over again, which is a risk when it comes to punk rock (and this record is still very punk rock) but if you value the architecture of each song, its lyrics and the perfect assemble of instruments, you will find it amazing, even more if you are into Blur, Pulp, Suede and the like, you can find many of the checkpoints here. ''Making Plans for Nigel'' feels like taken from a SCI FI thriller, ''Complicated Game'' is Jarvis Cocker before Jarvis knew what he was going to be, ''Helicopter'' ''Real by Reel'' ''Scissor's Man'' are authentic odes to the hugest pop in the world, no matter if you are American, English, Russian or Romanian, a very local product that works universally.
Rate: Extraordinary