XTC

Even a quick comparison between the bleak and brooding drama of "Dear God" and the cheery folk lilt of the bright pop beauty "Love On a Farmboy's Wages" shows that XTC and its principal songwriters, Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, are no ordinary combo. Since the late '70s, when Stateside listeners got a taste of the rough-edged new-wave quirk of "Making Plans for Nigel," XTC has been the thinking person's pop band, blending brains, wit, and deep musical talent to light up everything from the black comedy and swooping sonic pulse of "Towers of London" to the rhythm-happy love song "Earn Enough for Us."

Now that you've got the Basics, take your Next Steps into the genius of XTC.

Few bands have ever shifted musical gears with the force and fluidity of XTC and its two brilliant songwriters. No one else but Partridge and Moulding could bring the same left-field perfection to a dreamy flight of fancy like "Chalkhills and Children" and the raucous assault on British propriety "No Thugs In Our House," and then turn around and whip up "This World Over," a moody, jazz-flavored tune about the end of days. Meanwhile, in the guise of their '60s-sytle alter egos, Dukes of Stratosphear, the guys pay tribute to Beach Boys psychedelia with their harmonic homage "Pale and Precious."

Dive deep into XTC wonders in Deep Cuts.

Deep Cuts concentrates on XTC mad genius Andy Partridge with a playlist of solo recordings that charges like a sugar-stoned kid from the twangy rock explosion of "Sonic Boom" to the dizzy sonic swirl of "Lightheaded" to the tenderly acoustic account of falling to pieces called "I'm Unbecome." There's more, including the sweet-and-juicy pop of "Cherry In Your Tree," the funked-up high-flyer "I Defy You Gravity," and the tongue-twisting carnival sounds of "End of the Pier," proving that Partridge is a rare bird indeed.

Anchored by the once-in-a-lifetime writing team of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, British outfit XTC may just be the greatest pop-rock band never to make it huge. That's a big statement, sure, so don't just take our word for it — download the XTC/Andy Partridge Essentials and hear the group in all its dynamic and gleeful glory. We've got the best of the best, from the sonic celebration of a fully functional organism, "Senses Working Overtime," to the military march of the anti-war ditty "Generals and Majors," to the giddy wordplay of the bouncy, brokenhearted comeback "That's Really Super, Supergirl." Only XTC could make a lawn sound sexy, on the sultry swooner "Grass," and only iTunes could bring you one click away from having the ecstasy of XTC at your fingertips.