The Alt-Pop Artistry of XTC

Let’s begin!” These two seemingly innocent words gleefully open the 1992 Nonsuch track “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead,” yet another notch in the sonically pleasing crown of the British new-wave collective known as XTC. Vocalist/guitarist Andy Partridge’s opening yelp is quickly followed by a melded burst of melodic harmonica, dramatic drum attack, jangly soundstage-challenging guitar, and somewhat quirky lyrics. Let us all raise a hearty “Hooray!” in unison for dear old “Peter Pumpkinhead,” a song that’s wholly typical of the infectiously clever earworm confectionaries that can be found all across XTC’s still somewhat underrated catalog, now entering its sixth decade …