XTC – Big Express

Virgin CDVX2325
1984 reissued 2001
Big Express was XTC’s second album after Partridge gave up touring, decamping to become studio band. This has always been one of my “second favorite” XTC albums, in that it never finds its way to the top spot. Highlights are the underrated “Wake Up”-a Moulding song that actually found itself released as a single to complete indifference. But I love the way the duelling stereo guitar intro fools my ear everytime, sounding like four-four, but turning out to be backbeat when the drums come in. It also has a great “Walrus”-like ending. Big Express also contains a suite of songs that look at life in England: “Red Brick Dream” “Washaway” and “The Everyday Story of Smalltown” which celebrate as much as they criticize village life. The remaster is sparkling, although the album has always sounded good, even on the cassette copy I had 10 years ago. My only complaint is that sticking so close to rendering the original album art has resulted in the lyric sheet being unreadable.
Pros: Terrific production, great playing, wonderful pop melodies
Cons: “Train Running Low on Soul Coal” goes on and on.