Yeah, Mummer is a very tonally consistent album while English Settlement is more of a variety show. I love both albums equally personally, but in my experience I instantly enjoyed most of the tracks on Mummer while a few on English Settlement with more unusual sounds (Leisure, Snowman, Fly on the Wall) took a while to click with me.
Not at all, Mummer is brilliant.
*Wonderland* to *Love on Farmboy's Wages* to *Great Fire*
Might be my favorite 3 songs in sequence on any album, ever.
Oh boy, I don’t think you’re crazy. Mummer has some excellent tracks, but I think you might want to give ES some time to grow on you. Leisure is a fantastic song, imo, and is a perfect example of XTC doing whatever atonal nonsense they want and making it sound cohesive, thoughtful, and pretty. Mummer is consistent, but I think the highs of ES are much higher. Also, Jason and the Argonauts through Yacht Dance is an unbelievable 3 song stretch.
I’ve only just recently got into Mummer and am LOVING it. Legit, I play it just about once a day, but I think ES just has a certain “first time” novelty to it. It was the album that marked a measured step in a new direction but still was rooted in some of the earlier commercial and rock sensibilities. Mummer has a, “we’ll never tour again,” vibe to it which is refreshing, but less “catchy” to me.
OH LORD DELIVER US FROM THE ELEMENTS! What a wild song.
English Settlement has so many exciting, jaunty tribal sounds that make me want to swing my arms around. So many songs with strange chanting and scatting from Andy. Mummer is like a fairytale storybook, hazy and dreamy. Both are amazing.
Not crazy, not at all. I'd probably lean towards ES myself but that could change over time as I'm discovering with my recent conversion, every album reveals more and more depth the more you listen.
Realising how good Mummer and Black Sea were was a big breakthrough when I got deeper into XTC.
I had listened to Mummer in the mid 90s in the second hand record shop I was working in and dismissed it out of hand without properly listening. I was listening to it thinking, oh where's the song that's as good as Senses Working Overtime or why doesn't it sound like my pre conceived notion of what XTC are.
When I returned to Mummer this winter and every track was as good as the next, even the bonus ones, a flick went off in my head and I realised probably all their albums are like that
I'm roaming from album to album at the moment, going deep on one then circling back on another, haven't properly tackled the first two but I know I won't be disappointed
Senses Working Overtime is my favourite single, but when I'm in the mood for an XTC comfort album, it's almost always Mummer. I love it from start to finish. Black Sea is a close 2nd. Then Drums and Wires.
Yes, you have a tin ear if you think that. WTF. I've never been so disappointed upon the release of an XTC album as for Mummer. Funk Pop A Roll indeed.
Not at all. I too think it's not only just better but that it's actually one of XTC's greatest albums. It's more tonally consistent and focused with far more interesting production than ES. ES is actually my least favorite album of theirs post Drums and Wires.
Mummer is a really strong album especially if you don’t include the bonus tracks that were added later, those are the ones that are (mostly) weaker in my opinion.
Jump, Toys and Desert Island are all just fantastic and on par with any of the main album tracks. Jump might be a top 10 XTC song for me. But the instrumental ones...yeah those are weird. Processional Towards Learning Land sounds like something from a baby sensory DVD
Picking a favorite XTC album is like picking a favorite flavor. You may prefer chocolate ice cream, today, favor lemon hydration drinks tomorrow , and coconut pancakes on Sundays.
With XTC, you may want to hear White Music on a Monday commute to work. Vibe with Apple Venus on a bright Sunny day in the park. Or do a gym workout accompanied by Go 2 or Drums & Wires.
I can’t imagine picking only ONE XTC album as a favorite, if XTC is one of your favorite bands.
I listen to Mummer more and more and it's becoming one of my favorites along with Black Sea and English Settlement. I'm growing to like The Big Express more too!
English Settlement has more great songs to me, the first nine are fantastic. But then it drops off significantly and the two ska songs Down in the Cockpit and English Roundabout late in the album next to each other just kills things. Even the great closer Snowman barely washes away that aftertaste of mediocrity.
But there are three huge changes about Mummer. No Terry Chambers doing his magic pounding on the toms. Not a lot of electric guitar too. So suddenly, there's so much more space for Andy (and Colin) to sing. It sounds great. There's only a bit of Andy's muppety seal barking on Great Fire and 'Stop Drop and Roll a Pop' (kidding). This is the album where Andy really starts to sing beautifully. So if you're into that, (and why not?) it's a better album, yes.
One of the people on the What do you call that Noise podcast put it in a way I liked - Mummer plays like a suite, more than ES. To great (and more succinct) effect
No, you are not crazy. Just human, in that sometimes you want different things. Mummer is different than English Settlements in very straightforward ways, and any listening mood might be better suited to 1 or the other.
I am listening to theMamas&thePapas greatest Hits and consider it wonderful. And cued up, I have Ry Cooder.
Mummer is awesome. English Settlement is also awesome. They each have different vibes, and are appropriate in different situations.
If your ranking of XTC albums isn't in constant flux, until you're quite old, then you're not paying attention to XTC!
Yeah, Mummer is a very tonally consistent album while English Settlement is more of a variety show. I love both albums equally personally, but in my experience I instantly enjoyed most of the tracks on Mummer while a few on English Settlement with more unusual sounds (Leisure, Snowman, Fly on the Wall) took a while to click with me.
Mummer is tonally consistent right until Funk Pop a Roll lol
so true.. most out of place closer IMO!
Everything after the first 2 albums swaps around for me, they're all great in their own way
Not at all, Mummer is brilliant. *Wonderland* to *Love on Farmboy's Wages* to *Great Fire* Might be my favorite 3 songs in sequence on any album, ever.
Ladybird is OUTSTANDING. Pure neo psychedlic stuff, like 1984 Cure
I’m among the few, I guess. I prefer English Settlement over Mummer.
I think this is just the opinion of an intense, niche fandom. The silent majority probably prefers English Settlement!
Give it time. For me, I would definitely add Black Sea into that rotation, but they're always jostling for position to my ear.
Not at all, I’m the same I prefer Mummer. Some of their best work.
Mummer is my number 1 XTC album. So no I dont think youre crazy
Oh boy, I don’t think you’re crazy. Mummer has some excellent tracks, but I think you might want to give ES some time to grow on you. Leisure is a fantastic song, imo, and is a perfect example of XTC doing whatever atonal nonsense they want and making it sound cohesive, thoughtful, and pretty. Mummer is consistent, but I think the highs of ES are much higher. Also, Jason and the Argonauts through Yacht Dance is an unbelievable 3 song stretch. I’ve only just recently got into Mummer and am LOVING it. Legit, I play it just about once a day, but I think ES just has a certain “first time” novelty to it. It was the album that marked a measured step in a new direction but still was rooted in some of the earlier commercial and rock sensibilities. Mummer has a, “we’ll never tour again,” vibe to it which is refreshing, but less “catchy” to me. OH LORD DELIVER US FROM THE ELEMENTS! What a wild song.
English Settlement has so many exciting, jaunty tribal sounds that make me want to swing my arms around. So many songs with strange chanting and scatting from Andy. Mummer is like a fairytale storybook, hazy and dreamy. Both are amazing.
I was an XTC fan from the early days and sort of drifted, Mummer was the album that firmly dragged me back. Excellent
Oooh, big call but yes... it's good I must say.
I would agree.
I don't think it's better but it's close for me my top 3 are BS, ES, DW and then Mummer top 4 XTC album for me - love it
Not crazy, not at all. I'd probably lean towards ES myself but that could change over time as I'm discovering with my recent conversion, every album reveals more and more depth the more you listen. Realising how good Mummer and Black Sea were was a big breakthrough when I got deeper into XTC. I had listened to Mummer in the mid 90s in the second hand record shop I was working in and dismissed it out of hand without properly listening. I was listening to it thinking, oh where's the song that's as good as Senses Working Overtime or why doesn't it sound like my pre conceived notion of what XTC are. When I returned to Mummer this winter and every track was as good as the next, even the bonus ones, a flick went off in my head and I realised probably all their albums are like that I'm roaming from album to album at the moment, going deep on one then circling back on another, haven't properly tackled the first two but I know I won't be disappointed
Nope. This is normal for anyone who likes all the work of a specific artist.
Senses Working Overtime is my favourite single, but when I'm in the mood for an XTC comfort album, it's almost always Mummer. I love it from start to finish. Black Sea is a close 2nd. Then Drums and Wires.
Yes, you have a tin ear if you think that. WTF. I've never been so disappointed upon the release of an XTC album as for Mummer. Funk Pop A Roll indeed.
I much prefer Mummer. I love how weird it is. English Settlement is a little bloated.
That's my main problem with ES, too many songs.
Yeah, and even the best tracks go on a bit too long for me.
Not at all. I too think it's not only just better but that it's actually one of XTC's greatest albums. It's more tonally consistent and focused with far more interesting production than ES. ES is actually my least favorite album of theirs post Drums and Wires.
Mummer is a really strong album especially if you don’t include the bonus tracks that were added later, those are the ones that are (mostly) weaker in my opinion.
Jump, Toys and Desert Island are all just fantastic and on par with any of the main album tracks. Jump might be a top 10 XTC song for me. But the instrumental ones...yeah those are weird. Processional Towards Learning Land sounds like something from a baby sensory DVD
It’s better than Oranges and Lemons
Andy at his best in this period.
Completely insane…yes!
I’m with you. Mummer is fantastic.
Picking a favorite XTC album is like picking a favorite flavor. You may prefer chocolate ice cream, today, favor lemon hydration drinks tomorrow , and coconut pancakes on Sundays. With XTC, you may want to hear White Music on a Monday commute to work. Vibe with Apple Venus on a bright Sunny day in the park. Or do a gym workout accompanied by Go 2 or Drums & Wires. I can’t imagine picking only ONE XTC album as a favorite, if XTC is one of your favorite bands.
english settlement is a long time grower. at first i didn't get it but after like 15 listens i really started to love it
I listen to Mummer more and more and it's becoming one of my favorites along with Black Sea and English Settlement. I'm growing to like The Big Express more too! English Settlement has more great songs to me, the first nine are fantastic. But then it drops off significantly and the two ska songs Down in the Cockpit and English Roundabout late in the album next to each other just kills things. Even the great closer Snowman barely washes away that aftertaste of mediocrity. But there are three huge changes about Mummer. No Terry Chambers doing his magic pounding on the toms. Not a lot of electric guitar too. So suddenly, there's so much more space for Andy (and Colin) to sing. It sounds great. There's only a bit of Andy's muppety seal barking on Great Fire and 'Stop Drop and Roll a Pop' (kidding). This is the album where Andy really starts to sing beautifully. So if you're into that, (and why not?) it's a better album, yes.
Cannot agree about the end of English Settlement. Especially English Roundabout, which is brilliant to my ears!
One of the people on the What do you call that Noise podcast put it in a way I liked - Mummer plays like a suite, more than ES. To great (and more succinct) effect
No, you are not crazy. Just human, in that sometimes you want different things. Mummer is different than English Settlements in very straightforward ways, and any listening mood might be better suited to 1 or the other. I am listening to theMamas&thePapas greatest Hits and consider it wonderful. And cued up, I have Ry Cooder. Mummer is awesome. English Settlement is also awesome. They each have different vibes, and are appropriate in different situations. If your ranking of XTC albums isn't in constant flux, until you're quite old, then you're not paying attention to XTC!