XTC
No Thugs In Our House
Virgin
VS 490
(1982)
Rock/Pop
7 inch, 4
Tracks, 10:47
Length
|
|
|
01 |
No Thugs In Our House |
Andy Partridge |
|
|
04:30 |
02 |
Chain Of Command |
Andy Partridge |
|
|
02:30 |
03 |
Limelight |
Colin Moulding |
|
|
02:22 |
04 |
Over Rusty Water |
Andy Partridge |
|
|
01:25 |
|
Packaging |
Picture Sleeve |
Sound |
Stereo |
|
Guitar |
Andy Partridge |
Guitar |
David Gregory |
Bass |
Colin Moulding |
Drums |
Dennis Chambers |
Musician |
XTC |
Producer |
XTC; Steve Lillywhite |
Engineer |
Hugh Padgham |
|
Index |
#
3900 |
Owner |
Dave |
Tags |
New Wave, Pop Rock |
|
Purchased |
New |
Imported from |
England |
|
If "Making Plans for Nigel" was about (or could be said to be about) a family's all too involved planning for a kid's future, "No Thugs In Our House" is XTC's quasi-sequel to that situation, even if the son this time around is named Graeme instead. It's also one of XTC's most aggressive songs ever, all the more notable for being so since the band by the time of English Settlement was finding a calmer way around its music. Andy Partridge's first vocals are a recurrent, wordless snarl over a pounding beat, which even some acoustic guitar can't quite temper, while the verses and choruses feel steady and insistent, with the pre-chorus talk of Graeme's dreams providing a bit of respite. The lyrical portrait of the see-no-evil parents -- even when confronted by the policeman 'who just can't grow a mustache' for Graeme's misbehavior after 'too much beer' -- is both unsettling (thanks to the suggestions of Graeme's proto-fascist leanings) and hilarious, a classic example of expectations and reality not quite matching up. -- Ned Raggett (allmusic.com)