Music For Listeners 05/24/2014

1) Beastie Boys-"Country Mike's Theme"  From the CD compilation 'Anthology'.
2) R.E.M.-"Disturbance at the Heron House"  From the brand new compilation album 'Unplugged 1991-2001 - The Complete Sessions'.
3) Menswear-"Crash"  From the brand new digital single for "Crash".
4) Paul Weller-"Brand New Toy"  From the brand new digital single for "Brand New Toy".
5) Jake Bugg-"The Odds"  From the brand new EP "Messed Up Kids".
6) Morrissey-"World Peace Is None Of Your Business"  From the brand new digital single for "World Peace Is None Of Your Business".
7) Bob Mould-"Hey Mr. Grey"  From the brand new digital single for "Hey Mr. Grey".
8) Tom Vek-"Broke"  From the forthcoming album 'Luck'.
9) The Heartbreaks-"Absolved"  From the brand new album 'We May Yet Stand A Chance'.
10) Oasis-"Columbia (White Label Demo)"  From the brand new 20th anniversary box set for 'Definitely Maybe'.
11) The Horrors-"So Now You Know"  From the digital single for "So Now You Know".
12) Eat Lights Become Lights-"Time Enough"  From the brand new album 'Into Forever'.
13) Simian Ghost-"Summer Triptych"  From the brand new album 'The Veil'.
14) Elephant-"Skyscraper"  From the brand new album 'Sky Swimming'.
15) Honeyblood-"Drowsy"  From the brand new digital single for "Killer Bangs".
16) September Girls-"Some for Me"  From the brand new digital single for "Talking".
17) The Orielles-"Hindering Waves"  From the EP 'Hindering Waves'.
18) Tele Novella-"Let Her Dance"  From the brand new vinyl 7" single for "Let Her Dance".
19) Gold-Bears (featuring Emma Kupa)-"Yeah, Tonight"  From the brand new album 'Dalliance'.
20) Moons-"Body Snatchers"  From the brand new digital single for "Body Snatchers".
21) Words and Noises-"Forget Me Not"  From the brand new digital single for "Forget Me Not".
22) Catfish and the Bottlemen-"Homesick"  From the brand new EP 'Kathleen and the Other Three'.
23) Gruff Rhys-"100 Unread Messages"  From the brand new album 'American Interior'.
24) Gulp-"Diamonds (Live at El Sapo 2014)"  Exclusively recorded for broadcast on Music For Listeners.
25) Sweet Baboo-"The Boys Are Back In Town (Marc Riley BBC Session)"  From the forthcoming compilation 'The Marc Riley Sessions'.
26) Teleman-"23 Floors Up"  From the brand new album 'Breakfast'.
27) Wolf Gang-"Black River"  From the brand new EP 'Black River'.
28) Chromeo-"Ezra's Interlude (feat. Ezra Koenig)"  From the brand new album 'White Women'.
29) First Aid Kit-"Cedar Lane"  From the forthcoming album 'Stay Gold'.
30) Lily Foy-"Cornflake Girl"  From the brand new digital release "Cornflake Girl".
31) "The Mid-Morning Recording"         XTC-'Drums and Wires' (U.S. Vinyl Version)
Every now and then as a Mid-Morning Recording, I check to see when the last time an album by XTC was played. Certainly one of my favorite all-time bands, and tonight another classic album by them that seemed to always be overlooked by me in their catalog. Not to say this album isn't a masterpiece, but it still shows the band is figuring out their direction. They are trying new things by adding fresh elements, but also with their keyboardist Barry Andrews leaving, it tremendously changed up the style of their music. (Barry would soon after go on to help form the band Shreikback.) This third album shows XTC right as they start to hit their stride. Like most of their albums, it's an album that is still sounds quite fresh today, partly thanks to producer Steve Lillywhite, (who would go on to produce U2 and Kirsty Maccoll; amongst others), and partly because of the lyrics. "Real by Reel" sounds like something right out of the Patriot Act, but of course Partridge is always ten steps ahead of the "Complicated Game". There are so many great lyrics and you can see Andy and Colin are starting to find confidence in their song writing with this effort. The album features what could be XTC's, (certainly Colin Moulding's), most known and first big hit "Making Plans for Nigel". For a lot of people, it's the first place they heard the group. 'Drums and Wires' is certainly not my favorite XTC album, but it is a terrific album, and even better all the way through, on vinyl wax. "Documented down like rats, their catching up on every squeal on real by reel by reel by OH!" - Michael - MFL
32) James-"Sayonara"  From the CD 'Wah-Wah'.