XTC – Apple Venus – LP

XTC – Apple Venus

Apple Venus Volume 1 brought XTC back to orchestral pop in 1999, with strings, acoustic guitars, and keyboards pushed to the front of the band’s writing. As XTC’s thirteenth studio album, it has a distinct late-catalog feel, moving away from straight alternative rock toward more arranged, acoustic-minded material. Themes of paganism, middle age, romance, and rebirth run through songs such as “River Of Orchids,” “Easter Theatre,” and “Greenman,” giving the record a thoughtful, seasonal pull. This is a new vinyl pressing priced at $36.00, a nice option if you want a fresh copy rather than a used one. The record is sealed in its original shrink wrap, with the pressing still unopened and no used-vinyl wear to account for.