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Title: XTC @ Their Best
Review: The songs here are very much the epitome of what "New Wave" is supposed to sound like, with the possible exception of Elvis Costello's early work. Barry Andrews' plastic organ was essential to XTC's flavor at this point in their history. This is a much darker album than their debut, WHITE MUSIC. Darker because Barry and Andy Partridge were fighting for dominance within the band. The tense competition between these two made for some really exceptional tunes. Unfortunately, Andrews was to leave the band after this record.The first track, Meccanic Dancing, alludes to "a disco song from Germany." It is followed by the second track, a mechanical sounding Battery Brides wherein Partridge tips his musical hat to German techno-heads Kraftwerk in tribute.Barry Andrew's two tunes, Super Tuff & My Weapon are good enough to be on the album, but he would later make a much bigger mark for himself as a songwriter with the band SHRIEKBACK.
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