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XTC continue on with the big drum sound of Drums and Wires, adding more polish and an even heavier-hitting approach for Black Sea -- their arrangements are fuller and they rock harder than ever before. Where Drums and Wires implied social commentary, Black Sea more directly addresses sociopolitical concerns, handling them not strictly in a theoretical sense, but rather showing a human response to the circumstances. Of course, the band's skewed outlook and mid-'60s pop sense keeps things from becoming too heavy -- included are some of their finest songs, like "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Towers of London," as well as the thoroughly enjoyable pop fluff throwaway "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" to keep the mood light. All in all, there isn't a bad song in the bunch -- Black Sea is their most consistent album to date -- and although XTC always operated on the fringes, the album is their most commercial-sounding, fitting in perfectly with the new wave of the late '70s/early '80s. [The 1987 CD reissue adds three tracks -- "Smokeless Zone," "Don't Lose Your Temper," and "The Somnambulist" -- to the middle of the album. And while the extras are welcomed (especially "Don't Lose Your Temper"), they really should have been tacked on to the end rather than disrupting the original.]
© Chris Woodstra /TiVo
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Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, ComposerLyricist - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - colin ivor moulding, ComposerLyricist - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, Composer - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Colin Moulding, Organ, Vocals, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Partridge, Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Hugh Padgham, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Partridge, ComposerLyricist - XTC, MainArtist - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Ian Cooper, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Terry Chambers, Drums, Vocals, Rhythm Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2001 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2001 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
XTC continue on with the big drum sound of Drums and Wires, adding more polish and an even heavier-hitting approach for Black Sea -- their arrangements are fuller and they rock harder than ever before. Where Drums and Wires implied social commentary, Black Sea more directly addresses sociopolitical concerns, handling them not strictly in a theoretical sense, but rather showing a human response to the circumstances. Of course, the band's skewed outlook and mid-'60s pop sense keeps things from becoming too heavy -- included are some of their finest songs, like "Respectable Street," "Generals and Majors," and "Towers of London," as well as the thoroughly enjoyable pop fluff throwaway "Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)" to keep the mood light. All in all, there isn't a bad song in the bunch -- Black Sea is their most consistent album to date -- and although XTC always operated on the fringes, the album is their most commercial-sounding, fitting in perfectly with the new wave of the late '70s/early '80s. [The 1987 CD reissue adds three tracks -- "Smokeless Zone," "Don't Lose Your Temper," and "The Somnambulist" -- to the middle of the album. And while the extras are welcomed (especially "Don't Lose Your Temper"), they really should have been tacked on to the end rather than disrupting the original.]
© Chris Woodstra /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:59:48
- Main artists: XTC
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2001 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2001 Virgin Records Limited
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