Just [#2]

We have three live B-sides here: "Bones" and "Planet Telex" off of The Bends, and "Anyone Can Play Guitar" off of Pablo Honey. Out of these selections, I have to say that "Anyone Can Play Guitar" is probably the most exciting, with Jonny adding a lot of distorted feedback noises during the intro and breaks that weren't featured on the album. The other two songs, however, are very good as well. If you've never heard "Planet Telex" live, then you probably have no idea how the live version puts the studio version to shame. There are actually noticeable GUITARS in the live version, and the entire recording is much, much more enthused (don't worry, that nice little tremolo piano is still there!). Once you've heard the live version, you'll realize how comparably tame and understated the studio recording is. I actually prefer the "Live at the 10 Spot" version of "Planet Telex," but this one is still quite awesome. And many people think that "Bones" gains similarly from a live performance, but I don't necessarily agree with that. Thom's voice is never as superb live as it is on record, and it hurts this song pretty badly. Still yet, every other member of the band is solid and the live recording featured on this single is good. On this version the band plays at a quicker pace: it neither hurts nor necessarily helps the song, but I just thought I'd tell you.

If I were going to put this single out, I would have probably substituted the live version of "Bones" with a live recording of "Just," but that's just me. And it's probably the only change I would have made. Overall, if you're a fan of live Radiohead (which you definitely should be), you can't go wrong with this single. You get three solid live tracks (one, "Anyone Can Play Guitar," that the band no longer plays), PLUS a studio track that's sure to blow you away.

And did I forget to mention the FREE postcards included in this pressing? WELL! You get two free postcards with this CD that feature the band in their Pablo Honey/Bends fashions and hairdoos (Thom with long, blonde hair, and Colin with long hair) posing in front of two different buildings. One is color, the other black and white (at least the ones that were in my copy were). These are REALLY cool, and I would imagine that they'll probably be a nice little collector's item someday. Well well well, a good buy just got better! :)


Great song, good B-sides   April 27, 2001
J Ryan Stradal (Venice, CA United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Chances are if you're reading this, you know and like the song "Just". Therefore I won't elaborate on it.

The B-Sides:

The U.N.K.L.E. remix of Planet Telex is pretty good; I would compare it to Fila Brazilia's remix of Climbing Up The Walls on the No Surprises single. Bolstered by acoustic percussion and "eastern" style instrumentation, the song wanders squarely into space-rock category. Jet-age bleeps and whistles scurry in and out of the mix, and Thom Yorke's delay-treated vocals bring to mind the dirty industrial parts of the city where bad stuff always happens in movies.

My only real complaint about this remix is that the heavy, guitar laden chorus comes as a bit of a jolt following the spacey bliss of the intro and first verse. This "Karma Sunra Mix" initally acts like a song you could get lost and float away upon, but it evaporates on you. DJ Shadow's scratching and sampled dialogue at the end ultimately leaves the song in a different state than how it started it; almost recycled, diminished from the mission statement.

Could be that the evolution within the song from acoustic, age-old instruments to samples and electronica is a subtext to the message of the song. I won't lose sleep thinking about it.

The "Mogadon version" of Killer Cars was a pleasant surprise. I'd heard the acoustic version and the "punk" version of this song, and "Mogadon" lands squarely in the middle, tempo-wise. An organ line and muted guitars guide you underneath Yorke's hushed vocals, and a sample of a man reading traffic statistics in the bridge is a nice effect. After a two second hush, the last minute erupts into guitar fury reminiscent of the "punk" version, but until then, this song is very much its own animal.

Overall, the "Mogadon version" is the most polished, "top 40" refutation of this great b-side that I've heard. I'd put Killer Cars right up there with Bishop's Robes and Maquiladora as my all-time favorite Radiohead b-sides, and this version (heck, this single) would certainly make a nice addition to anyone's Radiohead collection.


you do it to yourself   October 13, 2000
2 out of 12 found this review helpful

a breakthru song for a new start in Radiolife.probably the best known song from The Bends.Shakes you, takes you and definitely breaks you.

But what i really recomend is the video.

God please tell me what this is that's keepin' us from bein' us?

but you do it to yourself JUST you