“The Big Express” by XTC

By Evan Ferstl

During the rise of post-punk, XTC served as the movement’s pop consciousness. Their upbeat, peppy tunes counterbalanced the dour moodiness of some of the genre’s big-name bands like Joy Division or The Cure. Their wittiness, sense of humor, and astute lyrical prowess allowed them to combine a wide array of melodies and emotions, making their releases routinely better than those of their more popular peers. However, some of their lesser-known albums are hardly ever discussed. Take “The Big Express,” released in 1984. In Showtime’s XTC documentary “This Is Pop,” it is only mentioned as the record that was outsold by the band’s April Fool’s Day album. 

Listening to “The Big Express,” however, it’s clear that this isn’t just some throwaway release from a band in the midst of a mid-career transition. The content of the songs remains as provocative as ever. “This World Over,” for example, is a ballad about one of the band’s favorite topics, the Cold War. Andy Partridge’s lyrics evoke vivid post-apocalyptic imagery, giving his audience a heart-wrenching trip into a world doomed by irresponsible leadership and stripped of all hope. Not only is it the best song on the album, but there’s a case to be made that it’s the best of the band’s entire catalog. “Reign of Blows” is a faster, punchier song that touches on similar themes about imperialism and war, whose message is succinctly summed up by the lyric “Joe Stalin looks just like Uncle Sam.” Partridge also takes on the pressures of the music industry in “I Bought Myself a Liarbird” and “Train Running Low on Soul Coal,” gives some practical advice about love in “Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her,” and generously provides some great sing-along choruses on “All You Pretty Girls” and “You’re the Wish You Are I Had.” Put together, these songs ensure that the album stays entertaining from start to finish.

The most challenging part of listening to the album is the production, which is occasionally overpolished enough to get in the way of a good song. However, this is still a fantastic album. XTC proves on “The Big Express” that even their less remembered albums contain more than enough firepower to reinforce their position as one of the best bands ever.