Go 2 (Lp-Facsimile) [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

XTC | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 25, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1978
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Caroline
• ASIN: B00005ATHK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,163 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe the snipes, it's their best, September 3, 2004

By 

Stephen Ashley Holt "thrdgll" (South Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Go 2 (Lp-Facsimile) (Audio CD)

Yes, I was once like you. Enraptured by XTC's more lush productions like Skylarking. But maturity encouraged me to pay closer attention to GO 2 and it has proven to be their finest hour. Pure, raw, creative energy captured on tape. This is what Andy and Colin are capable of when not distracted by their more Beatlesque leanings. There are lots of good tunes on the later albums, of course. Drums and Wires and English Settlement are personal favorites. But XTC never exploded with this level of combustion again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars XTC @ Their Best, October 6, 2000

By 

Borg9 "Borg9" (MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Go 2 (Audio CD)

The songs here are very much the epitome of what "New Wave" is supposed to sound like, with the possible exception of Elvis Costello's early work. Barry Andrews' plastic organ was essential to XTC's flavor at this point in their history. This is a much darker album than their debut, WHITE MUSIC. Darker because Barry and Andy Partridge were fighting for dominance within the band. The tense competition between these two made for some really exceptional tunes. Unfortunately, Andrews was to leave the band after this record.

The first track, Meccanic Dancing, alludes to "a disco song from Germany." It is followed by the second track, a mechanical sounding Battery Brides wherein Partridge tips his musical hat to German techno-heads Kraftwerk in tribute.

Barry Andrew's two tunes, Super Tuff & My Weapon are good enough to be on the album, but he would later make a much bigger mark for himself as a songwriter with the band SHRIEKBACK.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of their top 3 albums, October 16, 2007

By 

Matthew Sahlgren "Matt Sahlgren" (Kalamazoo, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Go 2 (Lp-Facsimile) (Audio CD)

This album is brilliant. It's an edgy clash of direction. I can understand fans of later-XTC not digging "Go 2" but I was really into them when I picked this up (on vinyl) sometime in 1983. Truthfully, I really have not much use for later-period XTC. I find them too predictable and maudlin. "Oranges and Lemons" pretty much bookends their place in my collection. "Go 2" came out before the term "New Wave" defined anything and, put into the context of the musical times it was released, the album finds the band staking their claim and announcing themselves to their contemporaries (and audience) of that short and exciting era. Namely, The Talking Heads, Wire, Gang of Four, Oingo Boingo, Devo, and a few forgotten but pretty neat acts. All bands initially founded on principles of edgy, arty, and unique new ideas of melody and structure. Almost all steadily moved towards entirely predictable and traditional styles of their chosen subgenre of popular song. (Whew!)
I'm aware XTC isn't particularly fond of this release. They have a wealth of fantastic records but given their output of, say; the last ten years, that opinion matters little to me. "Go 2" is XTC's most interesting release. The smartly-designed LP (CD art boringly altered) cover required you to pull out the inner-sleeve and place it just so to read the entire spiel. The songs are interesting, ponderous and open to wide interpretation. Like good jazz, it requires the listener to pay attention. If you prefer your messages spoon-fed to you, messages you know you'll agree with anyway, download, "Dear God."