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Apple Venus, Pt. 1 [Import]

~ XTC

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

Audio CD (23 Feb 1999)
Number of Discs: 2
Format: Import
Label: Tvt
ASIN: B00000I4JT
Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 119,293 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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1. River of Orchids

2. I'd Like That

3. Easter Theatre

4. Knights in Shining Karma

5. Frivolous Tonight

6. Green Man

7. Your Dictionary

8. Fruit Nut

9. I Can't Own Her

10. Harvest Festival

11. Last Balloon

Product Description

From Amazon.com

Because of record contract litigation, Apple Venus Volume One is XTC's first album of new material in nearly seven years. The now-duo of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding sure seem to have been using their time off to smell the flowers, as their lyrics are ripe with fruit, nuts, dandelions, orchids, sunflowers, and harvest festivals. Billed as the "orchestral" album that precedes its "rock" bookend, Apple Venus is XTC's most obvious nod to the lush, intricate sounds of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds and the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper (those familiar with 1986's Skylarking know that's a bold statement). Cellos, flutes, and other highbrow instruments provide the backdrop for the flowery lyrics. The whimsical "I'd Like That" is the perfectly understated pop song that has always eluded Partridge. The album's lone touch of angst comes courtesy of "Your Dictionary," which is spiked with four-letter words, but Partridge, ever the genteel Englishman, merely spells them out. Essential? No. Innovative? Hardly. But Apple Venus is a solid, cohesive work by one of rock's most artistic artists. --Bill Crandall

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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The sophisticated side of XTC, 15 Sep 2006

By	D. J. H. Thorn "davethorn13" (Hull, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

XTC's songs became gradually more Beatlesque during the 1980s, until that influence became obvious on 'Skylarking' (1986). This album also carries that influence but is dominated more by orchestral arrangements, though not usually the full works. Lovingly-crafted, it lies somewhere between 'Pet Sounds'and 'Sgt Pepper', though trademarks which are purely XTC abound. Complex vocal arrangements are weaved in and out of each other and the instrumentation to produce exquisite textures, none more so than on 'River of Orchids', which starts as a drip and develops into a flow, and on the highly memorable 'Easter Theatre'. 'Green Man' stands out for its mystical Eastern flavour while 'Knights in Shining Karma' is warm and tingling. Colin Moulding's two songs both possess his usual engaging chirpiness and 'I'd Like That' is a similarly typical Andy Partridge song. The slow menace of 'Your Dictionary' is perhaps the one dark moment, but is nevertheless compelling.

'Apple Venus' shapes up most of the way as a minor classic, then, but is let down by the last three tracks which, despite similar care and attention, lack that spark of inspiration found across the rest of the album. This is, though, one of the classiest albums of the late 1990s. Buy.

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5.0 out of 5 stars adventures in hifi, 26 Mar 2009

By	S. fraser "silverman" (boro uk) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

superior orchestral intelligent pop for grown ups.i love it,its superb especially thru a decent hifi.

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4.0 out of 5 stars VENUS IN FURS, 30 Jan 2008

By	Mr. Christopher J. Welch "hippymusicman" (Essex, Uk) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After finally managing to extricate themselves from their Virgin contract XTC signed to the small indie label Cooking Vinyl and released this gem of an album. Both Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding had 6 years of unused demos to pick from and the resulting record is almost as good as the startling Skylarking. That it shares the formers love of accoustic guitar, orchestration and intricate vocal harmonies is also a big plus.
Apple Venus is chock full of strange songs about Englishness, loss, love, passing of youth, seasons and mother nature. Partridge's typically erudite lyrics are as sharp as ever and a handful of these tracks - 'Greenman', 'Easter Theatre', 'Harvest Festival', 'Your Dictionary' and the Moulding penned 'Frivolous Tonight' are absolute classics.
This is one of the best albums of the late 90's and anyone with a love of Beatlesque pop could do a lot worse than hunting down a copy. Great stuff.

cw

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