XTC’s fifth album, “English Settlement,” will have its 30th anniversary in February 2012. As on all their albums, XTC put the strongest track up first. In this case, “Runaways” sets off the album, featuring the signature big drum sound for which engineer Hugh Padgham was renowned. The list of great tracks on this album is much too long to list, but it includes “Senses Working Overtime,” “Ball and Chain” (both released as singles), “No Thugs in Our House” and the percussion-heavy “It’s Nearly Africa,” on which XTC almost make the step into world music (let’s say, they dip a toe in). While utterly catchy, XTC grapples with topics too serious for chart hits and pop radio. Among the issues tackled in these songs are domestic violence, disarmament, emancipation, racial discrimination, unemployment, and even the stress induced by rush hour traffic. This album marks the end of XTC as a touring outfit, since singer and main song writer, Andy Partridge, suffered a mental breakdown related to his stage fright during the corresponding tour.

by artistxite