It's too easy to compare them to the Stranglers, but there's a reason for that. They started off full of raw energy which featured heavy and dirty bass with some Doors-esque keyboard tones, then they moved to a more melodic and polished sound as the 70's ended and the 80's began. Obviously, this had different outcomes for both bands: XTC's music and maybe their relationships with one another (probably more to do with not being on the road with each other as long as The Stranglers) benefited moving into this style whereas The Stranglers, most will agree went down hill (although early XTC and later Stranglers MK1 still made brilliant music) due to the more accessible music and this played a part in things between Hugh and JJ becoming complicated
I think XTC peaked (or at least my favourites are albums) between Drums and Wires and Mummer. I can't think of much to add or take away from those four albums and I'll always find myself leaning heavily towards them when I go to listen to XTC. I'll dip in to Skylarking, Oranges & Lemons and the two Apple Venus albums also, because they're all brilliant records in their own right.
Has anyone seen XTC at the manner (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46MllXtIcq0)? Brilliant insight into my brilliant period of the band. I always wished The Stranglers had done something like this when making The Raven or Meninblack