I've said it before, but it is worth saying again and it might generally hold true (and I am generalising here, for hsits & giggles) that amongst Cardiacs fans there are two distinct groupings regarding STG, each with sub-groupings with variations
1. Those old guard fans who were fans long before STG, often since the first cassette album in 81, and consider STG to be their least favourite album, if only sonically, as opposed to not liking the lyrics and music. Also often true of this grouping is that they have come to Cardiacs via new wave, punk, post-punk, synth and Neo. I.e. they have been fans of bands like Squeeze, XTC, Devo, Kraftwerk, Stump, Bauhaus, Stranglers, Madness, PIL, Joy Division, Spandau Ballet, Elvis Costello, Kate Bush, Lene Lovich but also late period Genesis, Marillion, Pallas, Twelfth Night etc.
AND
2. Those who "found" Cardiacs post-STG, who generally love it, and who are still struggling to really appreciate the early punkier Cardiacs. Also often true of this grouping is that they have come to Cardiacs via indie pop, post-rock, post-folk, freak-folk, avantgarde and RIO I.e. they have been fans of bands like Henry Cow, Oingo Boingo, Mr Bungle, The Residents, Zappa, Magma, SGM, 5UUs, Bob Drake, Joanna Newsom etc.
I belong to group 1.
That is my learned observation, based on coming up to 30 years of listening to Cardiacs, and close to 30 years reading the reviews of Cardiacs music and views of Cardiacs fans and talking to Cardiacs fans.
And although certain albums work well in both groupings i.e. OLAITS, ALMAAHATWWW, SFS&I, Live, Rude Bootleg, Sea Nymphs.
Group 1 tends to prefer The Seaside and HB&EB
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Group 2 tends to prefer STG and Mares Nest
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