Product Description

XTC has always been influenced by psychedelia, but not since the DUKES OF THE STRATOSPHEAR album has it been so obviously displayed--even the record's jacket illustration is basedon the animation of YELLOW SUBMARINE. In addition to the psychedelic influences, the band also demonstrates more political awareness than previously, as shown by "Here Comes President Kill Again", and "Across This Antheap".
The band even scored a hit single with the chiming, gorgeous "The Mayorof Simpleton", (ironic considering that it contains the line "Well I don't know how to right a big hit song",) which extols the virtues of the heart over the head. Other standoutsinclude the herky-jerky funk of "Poor Skeleton Steps Out", complete with whistles, xylophones, and assorted odd noises.The upbeat "Pink Thing" features a lively acoustic guitar, handclaps, and some vocal gymnastics from Andy Partridge, while the expansive "Chalkhills and Children" is an introspective, dreamlike number built on swelling synth tones and rolling drums. ORANGES & LEMONS would make an excellent startingpoint for future XTC fans. Collectors should note that the CD was initially available in a limited-edition format consisting of several three-inch CDs.

Track Listing

1. Garden Of Earthly Delights
2. Mayor Of Simpleton
3. King For A Day
4. Here Comes President Kill Again
5. Loving
6. Poor Skeleton Steps Out
7. One Of The Millions
8. Scarecrow People
9. Merely A Man
10. Cynical Days
11. Across The Antheap
12. Hold Me Daddy
13. Pink Thing
14. Minature Sun
15. Chalkhills And Children

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10345 in Music
• Released on: 2001-06-11
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

THE 'THREATLES' TAKE FLIGHT
In the late 80's XTC were once again the critics darlings. Their last long player, the sublime Skylarking, was hailed as the Sgt Pepper of the 80's and no one 'did' Beachboys/Beatles homages quite like messers Partridge, Moulding and Gregory. The jagged punk/powerpop of hits such as 'Sgt Rock' and 'Towers Of London' had been jettisoned in favour of intricate harmonies, McCartneyesque bass lines and big Beatley melodies.
Oranges & Lemons appeared in the late 80's and, whilst not quite the equal of it's illustrious predeccessor, still manages to impress today, nearly 20 years later.
From the dayglo cover artwork to the parping horn arrangements and lashings of Penny Lane style mellotrome, Oranges and Lemons wears it's 60's influences with pride. 'Mayor Of Simpleton' eloquently makes it's case for best XTC single ever (the lyrics and bass playing are jaw dropping), 'King For A Day' is an ultra catchy and commercial Moulding penned gem and 'Hold me My Daddy' one of Partridge's warmest and most emmotional songs.
Yes there are some fillers, but with tracks as strong as 'Chalkhills & Children' - (the greatest Beachboys pastiche ever) and the effortlessly clever 'Miniature Sun' the odd compositional misstep is easy to forgive. The over fussy production can also grate a little at times - stand up Mr Paul Fox - but with this much inventiveness and musicality on show it's easy to overlook these flaws.
Oranges & Lemons was a landmark record for XTC. If you like late period Beatles/Kinks/Beachboys then you'll adore this record.

cw

Swindon's finest
The heart seems to be worn (literally) on the sleeve with this one - psychedelia. Garden of Earthly Delights kicks off with Eastern promise, but The Mayor of Simpleton is McCartney pop, one of Partridge's best songs with its infectious cascading bridge/chorus. King for a Day is a nice Moulding contribution. Next up is the only weak song, the dreadful Here Comes President Kill - its sledgehammer message and leaden arrangement have me reaching for `skip' every time. The rest is a varied garden of delights, via the bizarre Pink Thing (I thought it was a single entendre, but I've just got the joke - it could be about a baby), culminating in the dreamy and lovely Chalkhills and Children, about rockstars and roots - "I'm getting higher - lifted up by fame's fickle fire till the chalkhills and children anchor my feet".

Without the Beatles, this album would probably not exist (true of much else besides), and I yield to none in my admiration of that band - but they never put together a collection as on-the-money as this. Punk threw up a lot of quality music when the noise died down, but nothing to be cherished so much as XTC.

A bowl of many fruits
Released on vinyl as a double album, 'Oranges And Lemons' saw XTC attempting to stretch a bit further than the potential hit single territory of 'Skylarking'. In that respect, though, they were only adopting the approach of their early-1980s albums. 'The Mayor Of Simpleton' and 'The Loving' are the obvious commercial items, the former irresistible with its relentless circular riff and engaging lyric. Elsewhere, some tracks require more patience than others. Andy Partridge sometimes becomes absorbed in his lyrical structures at the expense of his music and this album is no exception. Where it wins out over earlier albums though is in its imaginative, sometimes complex rhythms. 'Oranges And Lemons' is lighter on its feet than most of XTC's other albums. Consequently, 'Garden Of Earthly Delights', though not instantly memorable, provides a bright opening. 'Poor Skeleton Steps Out' is striking for its use of xylophone, while 'One Of The Millions' is a grower, one of those slightly experimental songs that pays off.

Sometimes, Partridge over-reaches himself, as on 'Across The Antheap', whereas the closing, fragile epic, 'Chalkhills And Children' comes off spectacularly. 'Oranges And Lemons' is yet more proof that XTC never settle for the easy option, but I'd look elsewhere for an introduction to their music.