I know. I should just shut up about it I suppose. It's one of very few things that I dislike about XTC/Andy (besides the bitterly frustrating whole my-favorite-band-won't-tour thing). And the somewhat recent repackage, reissue, repeat trend.

Cool avatar by the way - Wacky Races!

P.S. What's worse is I know several older comparatively on-the-fence fans who saw them multiple times in 80-81 in New York.

Are you kidding? You are soo lucky!

Where did you see them?

LOL!

Now I need to hear it (how could you not relate it after that).

(Braintree College? What a wonderful name)

Okay, but promise not to hate me.

I fell asleep.

I was entirely unused to alcohol (I think that I'm right in saying that the first time I had been drunk was only a week or so before - at an Adverts gig), I was young, I had school the next day. I leaned up against a pillar, and fell asleep. I woke up when I hit the ground, but I remember nothing of the concert.

That's actually pretty funny. Not hitting the ground mind you, but the thought of sleeping at an XTC concert circa 77-78. They weren't exactly quiet and mellow. That's all alcohol and nothing more. The first time I ever drank was at age 14 with friends before a Ramones show at a local - I never saw the show and passed out in my friends' sisters' car. I never got to see the Ramones in any case.

At least you got to see XTC after this.

I forget, has the I'd Like That line
"I wouldn't Hector if you'd be Helen of Troy"
ever been discussed/ explained?

An English Prof friend of mine was noting that it doesn't make much sense. Hector was never a romantic interest of Helen of Troy, he probably didn't like her in the least, silly woman caused a war that destroys him and his city.

I understand the appeal of the alliteration and double meaning but the bragging/bullying definition of "hector" is obscure and clumsy.

My friend suggested it might have made as much/more sense to say
"I wouldn't perish[Paris] if you'd be Helen of Troy"


...not that it makes much difference, it's still my favorite song on the album.

Having had an 18 month abstinence from listening to XTC I've suddenly got back in with something of a vengence. This morning during my long, tube-strike necessitated walk to work, I managed most of Mummer. I've also listened to D&W, Skylarking, 25 O'Clock and Wasp Star a fair bit (as well as a sprinkling of Warbles).

The two stand-outs for me are Oranges & Lemons and, top of the class, Apple Venus. It's a very grown up record. I love the contrast between Colin's matter of fact bouncy songs and Andy's angst. Easter Theatre is obviously a class act but, as spidey mentioned earlier in the thread, the album is a complete body of work. and not a duff track in sight - the only XTC album to achieve that IMHO. (Actually there are very few albums by any artist that don't have some filler. Even OK Computer - my favourite album by far - drags a bit through Climbing Up The Walls and Electioneering).