While major commercial success might have never been quite within their grasp, XTC went on to pave the way other new wave acts in the UK. The Compact XTC , gives credit to a group worth remembering. And for those unfamiliar with XTC aside from the name and their place in music history, the Compact XTC is a nice introduction.
The selections strongpoint by far is their ability to show the group’s vast range in style and ever changing sound. Pulling from six LPs, the tracks are listed in chronological order starting with the group’s first charting single, “Life Begins at the Hop”. The more new waveish tracks such as " Statue of Liberty” and “Science Friction" display the band’s more experimental, off kilter early sound. While tracks such as "Making Plans for Nigel" as well as"Generals and Majors" show the band’s ability to at least court Britain’s charts. The later songs, taken from 1984’s The Big Express, show the resulting polish from the band’s final years.
While Compact is in no way a complete look at XTC’s musicial legacy, it offers a tidy summary sure to give educate younger listeners born after the band’s height. |