Customer Reviews

Go To Sleep

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of course, this ISN'T released domestically, but hey... what's LimeWire for? ;-)

Go to Sleep: You've probably heard it if you're looking at this page, if not then please do yourself and buy Hail to the Thief. It's a good, solid rock song that I think was a pretty good choice for a single (although I'm still begging for Backdrifts, Where I End And You Begin, and 2+2=5 to be released). 4/5

I Am Citizen Insane: Good, melodic techno song. If you like this, then check out Amber by Autechre, which is pretty much in the same vein, only darker. I don't know why people don't like this that much; it's a lot better than Meeting in the Aisle. 4/5

Fog (live): I liked the studio version better, but it's still a great song. One of the few true rarities that actually makes it into the set now and then at shows. Really nice piano playing on it. 4/5

The Go To Sleep single is worth every penny. While Go To Sleep isn't one of the best songs off Hail To The Thief it's b-sides are worth the purchase. The first B-side, "I Am Citizen Insane" is a dose of electronic sounds with a sporadic bass beat that creates a song full of an infectious melody that runs like musical bliss. Then comes the broken down live version of "Fog." The studio version features the likes of bass, guitar, drums, vocal harmonies and a tamborine. All the live version features is Thom and his piano. It might sounds like the live version is the lesser but the piano rolls like a harp and Thom's voice is perfect. As soon as Thom's voice kicks in with the line "There's a little child.." you feel like everything before it was just white noise. If you there were an image that Fog could bring to mind it would be Thom playing a piano in a noizy bar and as soon as he starts singing people gradually stop talking and drinking and eventually the entire bar is all ears and as soon as it's over everyone goes home, renounces alcoholism and tells their family they love them. That is the Go To Sleep Single 1. 9/10

I will review only the b-sides because if you are a fan than you are probably familiar with the song Go to Sleep. It is a good tune but can be found on the Hail to the Thief album.

It pains me to say this, but these are the worst b-sides(along with the there there b-sides) that radiohead have ever released. Weak songwriting and bad production value make these b-sides fall way short by radiohead standards.

1. I am a wicked child- I was never a big fan of this song when I heard it played live, but I thought if recorded well it could be a pretty enjoyable listen with a decent groove. Unfortunately, They decided to record it with what I believe is intentionally bad sound quality and intentionally bad guitar playing and I'm not sure why. What's worse, is the lack of energy in general I feel that they display in their performance. I have a live bootleg recording of "wicked child" that is far superior to this. On this official recording they sound very bored and tired and halfway through I feel the same way.
2. I am a citizen insane- It's pleasant at best, but nothing here that comes close to moving me in any way. Their weakest instrumental to date.
3. Fog(live)- The studio version of this song had already been released as a b-side for the knives out single and is one of radiohead's most beautiful recordings. A live version is fine but whats the point when they have songs like big ideas and lift which have not seen an offical release.
4. Gagging order- the one b-side from this single that has some emotional weight and meaning. The acoustic guitar and stripped down voice is refreshing. Not the best of rh songs but among the rest of these it feels like a gem.

As the other part got more traditional songs, this part gets the experimental stuff. I Am Citizen Insane is mostly instrumental (except for the voice going 'hey' over and over), but unlike many of their other instrumentals, this one sounds friendly and happy. Fog (again) is a live version done on piano, and adds a different slant on the track, like the two Morning Bells. These are both on Com Lag, but still decent on their own.

Radiohead's single for "Go To Sleep", the second for Hail To The Theif, has some interesting non-LP b-sides. The most important and best on here (even better than the single itself, in my opinion) is the live version of "Fog". This was an older tune from the Kid A days, and was played live with just Thom and a piano in those days. It was released as a b-side for the "Knives Out" single, but this live version is a lot superior. Once again, Thom and a piano, and it is beautiful in all it's glory. Really great quality for a live recording too, as you would think it was a studio recording until the end, when you hear the audience. The other song, "I Am Citizen Insane", is good but is inferior to the other tracks on the singles (including the others, "Gagging Order" and "I Am A Wicked Child"). It is essentially an electronic experimental instrumental with some cool electronic textures and is quite good, but my least favorite among the b-sides. The single itself, "Go To Sleep", is one of my least favorite songs on Hail To The Theif, though i suppose it does have some slight commercial appeal.

Overall, this is worthy alone just for the live version of "Fog", which is really good and might of even fit on Hail To The Thief with more more arrangements and production.

dont easily take the advice of the skeptics. they are all spoiled. The reason b sides dont make it are because in the eyes of the producers, band, etc. they arent as good cuts. so by nature they are inherently worse. however radiohead has released incredible b sides. personally i love the new b sides. the only problem i see is that its short for the money but the bsides are good fog (live) is a thom and a piano and I citizen insane is an organic electronic sound remining me alot like mum.
i am probably biased because they are my favorite band and if they released a 10 dollar cd with 9 and a half minutes of silence and a interlude with jonny on the saxaphone. then i would not get it but this is far from that. it gives insight into there music before it goes through hours of reproduction

Sometimes, when I wake up in the morning, I ask myself if I am Citzen Insane. But, then again I think we all do. I own the vinyl of this album (which is difficult to play), I did not pay a penny for it (I was penniless at the time). The guy at the record shop gave it to me. If you like the gloaming, I mean you got a case of the paranoid...androids, then you will love a non-discript voice saying "hey" to you. Hey, wake up get going, get all your credit cards, get the ex, get the flam in your face. To say it's "the Gloaming" meets Unkle's "Rabit in your headlights." It's a really cool b-side, and if you are serious about Radiohead (I sure am) then, of course you'll love it...'nough said.

this single, which only contains 3 songs (only 2 unreleased) is a good one - simple as that -. the title song is a good radiohead rock song which goes a bit back to THE BENDS era with a sophisticated touch and I AM CITIZEN INSANE shows only the need to hear an entire IDM album by radiohead instead of getting theyre electronic material in small amounts. The live version of fog show just how much radiohead are great at live shows. This single shows the many sides of radiohead in his simplicity. a great work all in all.