Skylarking is a lush and layered masterpiece that works best as a whole listen over time. Producer Todd Rundgren polished a great record from XTC that stands apart from the rest of their catalog, far different from the earlier, punchier pop hooks the band is known for. Casual fans (especially of their later work) often are unfamiliar with Skylarking, save for the single “Dear God” which ironically opened them to new audiences. That song was originally a b-side to the single “Grass,” but then was quickly added to subsequent issues of Skylarking, and became the bona-fide single from that release. A pop-perfect Sunday morning summer backdrop, it never fails as an overall listen.