Who Were Xtc's Arch Rival Band?, particularly in the 80s Options

[donavan]

You'd all have a different position if REM came from Swindon.That would have killed their career.

Maybe they just got the breaks that you didn't.


Gilbert O'Sullivan - In 1960, aged 13, his family moved to Swindon, Wiltshire, England. He attended St Joseph's and the Swindon College of Art, where he briefly played drums in a band called Rick's Blues, founded by Rick Davies (who later founded Supertramp) and where he developed his lifelong interests in music and art. Worldwide he has charted 16 top 40 discs; including six number one songs.

This post has been edited by donavan: May 10 2012, 04:49 AM

[Jeff Truzzi]

(IMG:https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/206198_351249314944652_1027812066_n.jpg)

The Facebook poster said REM even played some XTC songs!

[Kendley]

This one's available @ xtc4u.org ...

[marcus h]

I also think The Cure best qualifies as the arch rival.

Both XTC and the Cure started around 76 and were a little rawer at first, but could have a singles compilation by mid-career - with some of the best singles coming later. . They both got more popular in the US, especially college campuses with more melodic music in the mid-late 80's, culminating with 1989's "Oranges & Lemons" and "Disintegration." Both continued making pop music through the 90's.

Now if only Andy would attempt to mimic Robert Smith's vocal stylings. That would clinch The Cure as the rival.

Dipping my toe back into XTCness again. Due to the fact my nostalgia meter is rising again for the B-sides, Waxworks and 5 Senses E.P.

I disagree with The Cure as rivals. The Cure were a complete different kettle of fish. Darker for starters...listen to Seventeen Seconds, Faith, Pornography. Don't get the vocal stylings comparison. The only thing similar were both bands went through a psych phase (The Top - Cure), which alot of bands did in the early to mid Eighties. The Damned comes to mind with The Shadow of Love album and their rediscovery of Love's Forever Changes. The Cure and Xtc both had American success in the late Eighties. While I write this I do recall The Cure and XTC being heavily rotated on my turntable. Some people said Joe Jackson. A musical conumdrum or should that be Chameleon can only described that fella.

For me apart from the late 70's, Talking Heads and the dreadful cod reggae of The Police. Xtc were on their own. Sticking like a sore thumb in the mainstream UK music scene. Then again despite the Eighties producing some forgettable sounds, the musical differences in bands pigeon holed to the alternative side of the coin was and still is very refreshing. Compared to the dark alternative days of today.