Your four second-favorite castaways have managed to find a wi-fi connection and send you another episode. This time, they’ll frolic in the meadows with XTC’s 1986 concept album, Skylarking. This Todd Rundgren production inspired music journalist Michael Azerrad to say the band had become “deans of a group of artists who make what can only be described as unpopular pop music, placing a high premium on melody and solid if idiosyncratic songcraft.”

BRIAN WILSON PRESENTS SMILE – Marooned Tunes
Later, singer, songwriter and Lennon-glasses-wearer Andy Partridge wrote, on the record, “Musician and producer Todd Rundgren squeezed the XTC clay into its most complete/connected/cyclical record ever. Not an easy album to make for various ego reasons but time has humbled me into admitting that Todd conjured up some of the most magical production and arranging conceivable. A summer’s day cooked into one cake.”
And yes, this is the album that promoted the earthshaking pop hit, “Dear God,” a favorite quote for high school yearbook scribbles for the next decade. Enjoy!
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