Not bad. The singing got better. Somewhat self-indulgent in places.
C+

Actually one of my favourites, it was listening to this album the other night which led me to go to the old forum to post some drunken comments about how brilliant it was but found it in a collapsed state.

The forum that is, not the album.

Anyone know where to get "Sargasso Bar," "Us Being Up," and "Things Fall to Bits"?

I have "Sargasso Bar" on a "7 vinyl-single. Does anyone know how to convert it to a MP3-file?

First XTC album I bought. Loved it then, love it now.

I adore Go 2 (and GO + for that matter). It was the third XTC album I ever heard in late Summer 1988, I was 12 years old (the first two LPs I heard were the Epic editions of Drums & Wires and Black Sea). It was the Virgin International (i.e. the first U.S.) version of the album that included the single version (the most common version) of "Are You Receiving Me" as well.

An okay XTC album is still better than many other artists' "okay" albums. It's better than White Music but White Music isn't bad by any stretch either.

I love "...Greenhouse", "Super-Tuff", "Buzzcity Talking", "I Am The Audience" and "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)".

Here's My Review for the Caroline Reissue:

XTC's Explosive Funhouse Art Rock Album!

Go 2 is THE definitive early XTC album. "Meccanik Dancing (Oh we go!) is one of the most unusual catchy songs I've ever heard. The psychedelic "Battery Brides (Andy Paints Brian)" sounds like brainwashed factory workers at work. "Buzzcity Talking", "Crowded Room" and "The Rhythm" are some of Colin Moulding's most exciting contributions to the XTC cannon. Check out the crazy ascending/descending chords in "The Rhythm". "Red" sounds like a hot, sweaty nightclub somehow but does feature some interesting saxophone from Barry Andrews. "Beatown" and "Jumping in Gomorrah" are hyper Partridge workouts. "My Weapon" and "Super Tuff" are both amusing and entertaining. Although the Andrews songs that SHOULD have appeared here are "Sargasso Bar" and "Things Fall To Bits". "I Am The Audience" features the yob chorus of Terry and Barry.

But the MOST innovative and interesting track here is "Life Is Good In The Greenhouse". Psychedelic perfection! Sure it's far from Partridge's
best by a long shot but the "dub" process used as far as emptying things out is brilliant. Very unique drumming from Terry Chambers
on this one. The excellent "Are You Receiving Me?" single is the featured bonus track here. There's really no reason why its B-Side, "Instant Tunes" isn't on this issue of GO 2. Virgin screwed up the first time and incorrectly added it as a bonus track to White Music. Why they screwed up a second time is beyond me. It's also creatively in line with the production-line concept behind GO 2. Barry's playing makes a bit more sense and in place on this album and Terry and Colin prove, once again, to be a rhythmic force to be reckoned with. Andy and Barry are uninhibited mavericks scribbling merrily over Terry and Colin's canvas.

The only LP in existence like this one is Adam And The Ants debut Dirk Wears White Sox but that's way more of a sour experience than this. This record delights, surprises, entertains, rocks, baffles, innovates and inspires.
Highly recommended!


I was so upset that the Go 2 recording of "Sargasso Bar" wasn't on Coat Of Many Cupboards but the lesser (IMHO) "Things Fall To Bits" and "Us Being Us" were. A much lesser version of the song appears on Barry's solo debut 7" EP 'Town & Country'. There's also (version one of) "Strange Tails/Tales" and "Looking For Footprints" as outtakes/B-Sides. I only have "Sargasso Bar" on an old 'XTC Demos' cassette from the late 80's.

Thanks, Bill. Very interesting.

i love 'sargasso bar' and 'strange tales' from the GO2 out-takes

i love the way andy makes his guitar sound like glass breaking on the intro to 'i am the audience' or 'i am the onions' as my caifornian girlfriend loves to sing

i love the album....every tiny bit of it.....and can easily remember racing home with it under my arm after buying it on the day of release from virgin in newcastle and reading every last bit of writing on sleeves,inset and record labels on the bus

great gig at newcastle uni on the go2 tour possibly my favourite xtc concert......skinheads,sweat,spit,sixteen and getting backstage to get a warm bottle of beer from terry and a chat with andy RESULT