XTC - 1996 - Fossil Fuel-The XTC Singles 1977-1992 (2CD)

Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-1992 is a splendid double-disc set that runs through every one of the group's 31 A-sides, from the nervy "Science Friction" to the lush, sighing "Wrapped in Grey." Between those two songs, XTC's craftsmanship grows remarkably fast — based on the edgy pop of their new wave singles "Statue of Liberty," "This Is Pop," "Are You Receiving Me?," and "Life Begins at the Hop," it's hard to believe that they would later write the subtle, near-pastoral Beatles, Kinks, and Beach Boys pastiches of "Love on a Farmboy's Wages," "Great Fire," and "Grass." And those songs just scratch the surface of the terrific pop singles available on Fossil Fuel: "Making Plans for Nigel," "Ten Feet Tall," "Generals and Majors," "Towers of London," "Respectable Street," "Sense Working Overtime," "This World Over," "Dear God," "The Mayor of Simpleton," "King for a Day," and "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" are wonderful songs and forgotten classics. Although XTC continually made carefully constructed albums, they were a dynamite singles band, releasing songs that were tightly constructed and impossibly catchy. They never had hits, because their unabashed pop was never in fashion; plus, Andy Partridge's voice was too pinched and his lyrics frequently too cerebral. But XTC's music stands as some of the best and most influential pop of their era, and nowhere is that more evident than on Fossil Fuel.

		1		Science Friction	Partridge	3:14
		2		Statue of Liberty	Partridge	2:52
		3		This Is Pop?	Partridge	2:40
		4		Are You Receiving Me?	Partridge	3:04
		5		Life Begins at the Hop	Moulding	3:47
		6		Making Plans for Nigel	Moulding	4:12
		7		Ten Feet Tall	Moulding	3:13
		8		Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down	Partridge	4:20
		9		Generals and Majors	Moulding	3:41
		10		Towers of London	Partridge	4:38
		11		Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)	Partridge	3:36
		12		Love at First Sight	Moulding	3:07
		13		Respectable Street	Partridge	3:07
		14		Senses Working Overtime	Partridge	4:34
		15		Ball and Chain	Moulding	4:29
		16		No Thugs in Our House	Partridge	5:10
		17		Great Fire	Partridge	3:50
		18		Wonderland	Moulding	4:15
		19		Love on a Farmboy's Wages	Partridge	3:59
		20		All You Pretty Girls	Partridge	3:59
		21		This World Over	Partridge	4:45
		22		Wake Up	Moulding	3:40
		23		Grass	Moulding	2:42
		24		The Meeting Place	Moulding	3:13
		25		Dear God	Partridge	3:37
		26		The Mayor of Simpleton	Partridge	3:57
		27		King for a Day	Moulding	3:36
		28		The Loving	Partridge	3:54
		29		The Disappointed	Partridge	3:38
		30		The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead	Partridge	5:03
		31		Wrapped in Grey	Partridge	3:46

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