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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine