That Difficult Second Album Options

[Steve]

How does it hold up for you?

[Duck Soup]

I still like it although for me it was the 3rd XTC album I bought (after Drums and White Music) It was still very different from anything else around at the time (even Devo)... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Jeff Truzzi]

I heard it after hearing Drums & Wires as well. I liked it much better than their first album, and perceived it as progress as opposed to a sophomore jinx. I never quite warmed to the keyboards on this or the first LP - a little too circus-y. But I dig Barry's work with Shriekback, and on Monstrance.

Having recently dug out an old Virgin cassette of this LP, I can say I really like "Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!)", "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" and "Beatown".

But for me, it was the album after this where XTC really came into their own.

[favoritething]

I heard it after hearing Drums & Wires as well. I liked it much better than their first album, and perceived it as progress as opposed to a sophomore jinx. I never quite warmed to the keyboards on this or the first LP - a little too circus-y. But I dig Barry's work with Shriekback, and on Monstrance.

Having recently dug out an old Virgin cassette of this LP, I can say I really like "Meccanik Dancing (Oh We Go!)", "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" and "Beatown".

But for me, it was the album after this where XTC really came into their own.

I also thought this album was progress, though Barry's songs in this context are a little jarring. "Us Being Us" should have been on this album! "Crowded Room" and "The Rhythm" are a great one-two punch.

[MXYZPTLK]

...for many years i used 'Red' as a gateway drug to ensnare hapless friends & associates to the wonderful, heady addiction of XTC...

Go2 is the album that fits the least comfortably within the canon which is the exact same reason why it still intrigues me & remains for me one of the most beloved. I love the way side 2 starts weird & the songs get stranger & more disorientating before we're left in the 'safe' hands of Mr Andrews, like some creepy uncle deliberately freaking out the kids!

Do you wonder why i look so fresh? I think life in the Go2 greenhouse has done this album wonders...

[Chrestus]

I don't know. It's tighter and more mature than the first one...it just seems less fun to me, somehow. But it was what it had to be, they both matured as songwriters so quickly there wasn't really any point in trying to duplicate what White Music was, I get that. "Life In The Greenhouse" IS fantastic.

"Do you wonder why I look so fresh..."

Ha-ha. Andy's unabashed narcissism over the first two albums is wonderfully sardonic, which is a compliment, I love it. I think his best moments in the early goings are the ones where he slyly pulls you into these dark little corners.

[Andy Partridge]

Sifting through my old writing tapes last week I was really shocked to hear that I'd written COMPLICATED GAME for this album {GO2}. There it is ,smack in the middle of all the material that went towards our second go at making an album.
Wonder now what the Barry band would have made of it?

[Mr Tein]

Sifting through my old writing tapes last week I was really shocked to hear that I'd written COMPLICATED GAME for this album {GO2}. There it is ,smack in the middle of all the material that went towards our second go at making an album.
Wonder now what the Barry band would have made of it?

I cant help but feel it may have the lost the simple plaintive clarity that this song has. Always been on of my favourites.

[Jeff Truzzi]

I cant help but feel it may have the lost the simple plaintive clarity that this song has. Always been on of my favourites.

I agree.

The Drums & Wires song I hear Barry playing on (in my head) is "Helicopter." Dave's guitar part really integrates with (and against) Andy's, whereas I can imagine Barry's 'listen to ME' organ.

Something fascinating about the Beatles Anthology stuff is hearing that "I Am The Walrus" originated from the tag of the Beatle studio demo for "Strawberry Fields" - those last 5 chords (B, A, G, F, E) being the first 5. (The demo that starts with "Living is easy with eyes closed....") I have a feeling many XTC songs may have evolved from little sections of discarded tunes, reinforced by reading Andy's MySpace conversations with Todd. Another interesting aspect (?) of hearing Andy's writing tapes.

[Andrew Swainson]

I have a feeling many XTC songs may have evolved from little sections of discarded tunes, reinforced by reading Andy's MySpace conversations with Todd. Another interesting aspect (?) of hearing Andy's writing tapes.

See also Things Fall To Bits >>>>>>>> Millions.

[geordiegav]

White Music and GO2 both suffer from Andy's John Lydon like quip of everything before 1979 was a bit crap!

Seems too many people listen to hard to that Partrige bloke and his embarrasment of early XTC.

I love a bit G02 and even now i'd put Beatown in any top ten....I still say Barry's lyrics, which are fantastic on all songs used and unused,had an impression on Andy....i'd perversely have loved to hear Barry playing on Millions....he'd have knocked out something like an I'm bugged killer line....more Hong Kong than China like me old china!

Anyone else played G0+ at 33rpm.....A Dictionary of Modern Marriage is just waiting to be sampled by A tribe called quest me thinks!

[geordiegav]

GO+ is such a great record, played it driving into work today,it's overlooked as a gimmicky freebie bit it's a really wonderful bit of deconstruction...I was so wishing the full album and the single tracks had of been pulled to bits and echoed out....did any others get the dub treatment Andy or just these 5? It could be my favourite Xtc album at the moment!

I was thinking of how bizarre the G02 packaging looked with GO+ shrink wrapped to the back of it..not even those black and white head shots on show...just more black cardboard and white type....even though not one of yours still a wonder of a sleeve...wish I had mine unopened and still shrink wrapped together!

£2.99 I think! bargain!!!....meant to say even though by all accounts this was a messy recording session for all concerned it seems like a doodle compared to those charged to clear up the mess left in your rented living quarters!

[donavan]

GO+ is such a great record


indeed it is.

[Andy Partridge]

My GRODD Don,you said something positive! I'm going to lay down now.

[donavan]

My GRODD Don,you said something positive! I'm going to lay down now.

Sorry, my bad, I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[donavan]

don't you let them make you............................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXR2UG4qxRY...feature=related