Mummer

Mummer was XTC's sixth album, their first one after they stopped touring, and the first one that I bought when it was released.

Opinions seem to be divided on it, but I'm from the side of the divide that likes it. Mummer suffers in comparison to English Settlement (as well as a similarly titled album by another three lettered band that came out at the same time) but it's a nice little understated album. Drummer Terry Chambers left the band during the sessions, so it was their studio-bound record as a trio. Other than some ill advised 80s period synths on songs like "Wonderland", I think it holds up fairly well -- acoustic guitars never go out of fashion!

"Love On A Farmboy's Wages" might be my favorite XTC song ever.