XTC - Skylarking
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Music CD Cover Artist: XTC Edition: Music CD Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered CD Release Date: 2002-05-14 Music Label: Caroline Soundtracks:
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Free Music Notes for Skylarking Album
Free Music Review: Possibly their best...
Hit: 5 Stars
"Skylarking" may be XTC's finest hour. It's the most cohesive, consistent, and focused of all their albums. That it came so deep into their lengthy career is a testament to the band's resourcefulness and ability to continually challenge themselves. The songs form a beautiful, seamless, melodic tapestry that covers amazingly diverse territory, yet still sounds focused. Along with the Beach Boys' "Smile," Love's "Forever Changes," Echo & the Bunnymen's "Ocean Rain," Skylarking" is an awesome example of "baroque pop," and was also constructed as a loose song-cycle.
Partridge and Moulding are in top form, and this time Moulding scores more points than he'd managed on the last few albums with his lazy, lush "Grass," the hook-filled "Meeting Place," the moody, gorgeous "Big Day," and the spare, melancholy "Dying." Meanwhile Partridge conjures up some truly effective, moody storms, like the powerfully dramatic, all-string "1000 Umbrellas," and the brooding, beautiful classic "Dear God." Elsewhere, Partridge exudes a more playful side with the Beach Boys-influenced "Season Cycle," the catchy "Supergirl," and the upbeat "Earn Enough for Us." The emotional depth and sheer beauty of these songs is unparalleled. Take Partridge's embittered delivery on "1000 Umbrellas": you can totally feel his agony, as if you were the one to have just been unceremoniously dumped.
"Mermaid Smiled" was bumped off US pressings and replaced by "Dear God" when the latter became a surprise hit. "Dear God" is a polarizing tune (some diehards adamantly dismiss versions of "Skylarking" with "Dear God") but I quite like it and don't mind its presence on the record at all. However, "Mermaid Smiled" has to be one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard: a lush, rich, manic, and surging rush that sends chills up my spine whenever I hear it. I would highly recommend finding a version that contains both "Dear God" and "Mermaid Smiled."
One complaint: Todd Rundgren's production is a bit plastic-y in places, especially on "Supergirl" and a few others, and I prefer the fuller, more organic sounds of "Mummer" and "English Settlement." Despite that, the guitars still sparkle and shimmer, while the string sections make for some deeply moving listening. "Skylarking's" songs are mostly top-notch, and sadly, XTC couldn't repeat the same level of quality on their next album, the flawed "Oranges and Lemons." It's a close call, but to me "Skylarking" just takes the lead over the rest of their output.