Nonsuch

Rating

Album: Nonsuch
#	Song Title		Time
1)	The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead	More Info...
2)	My Bird Performs	More Info...
3)	Dear Madam Barnum	More Info...
4)	Humble Daisy	More Info...
5)	The Smartest Monkeys	More Info...
6)	The Disappointed	More Info...
7)	Holly Up On Poppy	More Info...
8)	Crocodile	More Info...
9)	Rook	More Info...
10)	Omnibus	More Info...
11)	That Wave	More Info...
12)	Then She Appeared	More Info...
13)	War Dance	More Info...
14)	Wrapped in Grey	More Info...
15)	The Ugly Underneath	More Info...
16)	Bungalow	More Info...
17)	Books Are Burning	More Info...

Album: Nonsuch
#	Song Title		Time
1)	The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead	More Info...
2)	My Bird Performs	More Info...
3)	Dear Madam Barnum	More Info...
4)	Humble Daisy	More Info...
5)	The Smartest Monkeys	More Info...
6)	The Disappointed	More Info...
7)	Holly Up On Poppy	More Info...
8)	Crocodile	More Info...
9)	Rook	More Info...
10)	Omnibus	More Info...
11)	That Wave	More Info...
12)	Then She Appeared	More Info...
13)	War Dance	More Info...
14)	Wrapped in Grey	More Info...
15)	The Ugly Underneath	More Info...
16)	Bungalow	More Info...
17)	Books Are Burning	More Info...

Performer Notes

XTC: Andy Partridge (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica, synthesizer, percussion); Colin Moulding (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, bass); Dave Gregory (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, Hammond organ, synthesizer, percussion, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Stuart Gordon, Gina Griffin (violin); Florence Lovegrove (viola); Rose Hall (cello); Guy Barker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Dave Mattacks (drums, percussion, samples); Gus Dudgeon (percussion, background vocals); Neville Farmer (background vocals).
Recorded at Chipping Norton Studios, Oxfordshire, England from July to October 1991.
All songs written by Andy Partridge except "My Bird Performs," "The Smartest Monkeys," "War Dance" and "Bungalow" (Colin Moulding).
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
XTC's NONSUCH falls somewhere between the high-polish shine of ORANGES & LEMONS and the pastoral reverie of SKYLARKING. The album also marked the end of the band's dealings with their original label, the beginning of protracted legal maneuverings, and a seven-year gap in releases (which ended with APPLE VENUS VOLUME ONE in 1999). The generous total of 17 songs was also the result of the three-year recording gap preceding it. Included are ample rewards ranging from the rocking ("The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead," "Crocodile," "The Disappointed") to the soothing ("My Bird Performs," "Holly Up On Poppy," "Humble Daisy"). As always, a distinctly British sense of place, manner, and language pervades the songs (in a manner not unlike The Kinks' VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY).

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (5/28/92, p.55) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...Too lovely for college radio, too challenging for legions of baby boomers unwilling to progress, XTC has built itself a very gorgeous golden cage..."

Spin (6/92, p.72) - Highly Recommended - "...the 17 songs on NONSUCH comprise a mature collection..."

Entertainment Weekly (5/8/92, p.58) - "...a kaleidoscopic, highly intelligent collection of off-kilter pop craft..." - Rating: B+

Q (5/92, p.87) - 3 Stars - Good - "...17 dense, melodic, intelligent and occasionally irritating pop songs..."

Option (Nov.-Dec./92, p.152) - "...pop songs of artistry and imagination..."

Musician (7/92, p.96) - "...17 solidly constructed songs...a dense hour of music..."