I'm sure most of you have heard the new album by now, but in case you haven't, I found a stream. I'm still trying to find a way to post it on here, but in the mean time, head over to prefixmag.com to check it out.
too bad that album is blowing donkey balls. to be fair if I had never heard of radiohead and this was just some new band releasing its first cd I would be crowning them the next greatest thing. but alas, they are not. Their bar is set much higher. And they fucked it all up. that cd ranks right before the bends and pablo honey as shittiest radiohead cd. And by 3rd shittiest radiohead cd I mean 5th best album of all time.
It just kind of plays. Nothing stands out. Thom Yorke sounds alot more mellowed out. Beats are not as interesting. In general it just a step backward. They arent trying anything new which u can usually count on them to do.
What do you think they did new on In Rainbows? It was basically a mellow version of Hail to the Thief.
I think they are just finally settling into a sound. They are getting to old to wail on the drums and guitars and microphones, so they are slowly retreating into electronics and quiet lyrics so the tours don't wear them out. This way they can play better live shows when they are 80.
yeah In Rainbows wasnt my favorite radiohead album either......but to answer your question I thought In Rainbows was different and new for Radiohead in that it was MUCH more mellower than their previous albums. But it still let loose every now and then. Unlike king of limbs. I like lotus flower on king of limbs and then everything else fades out for me. Still great music just nothing like getting your face melted by OK Computer. If i had to rank their cd's i would rank them as follows: OK computer is my favorite....Then Amnesiac. then Kid A. then Hail to the Theif then In Rainbows then the Bends, then King of Limbs, then Pablo Honey.
and i dont know what you mean slowly retreating into electronics. Quiet lyrics, yes. But they very rapidly retreated to electronics with Kid A. Then followed it up with Amnesiac. King of Limbs is a retreat from electronics compared to those two......for me at least.
The King of Limbs is almost entirely electronic. Give Up the Ghost is the only song in which a guitar is prominently heard throughout the song, and the rest of the songs have drum machines along w/ Phil playing the drums. Kid A and Amnesiac differ from King of Limbs in styles of electronica because they were more upbeat AND included songs with some kick ass guitars, like I Might Be Wrong and Optimistic, but would still throw in some quiet and very experimental songs like Motion Picture Soundtrack and Life in a Glass House. That's what makes the so awesome.
Also, I find it astounding that you rank The Bends so low, and OK Computer as your favorite. Considering that your other favs are Kid A, Amnesiac, and HttT, it seems as if you really like the more electronic sound of radiohead, and only threw OKComp up there to be a hipster conformist(<---sarcasm) because The Bends is one of the best rock albums of our time.
It all depends on my mood really. On a rock out kind of day: 1. OK Computer 2. The Bends 3. Hail to the Thief
On a techno day 1.Kid A 2. Amensiac 3. Hail to the Thief
Everything else is on equal terms, minus Pablo Honey, which is a good album in its own right, but let's be honest, no one is riding around jamming out to Nirvana anymore either.
All that being said, I completely agree w/ your take on The King of Limbs. Lotus Flower kicks ass, and Codex is a beautiful song that reminds me of Pyramid Song, but the rest could all just be B-sides.
I've found the best way for me to enjoy radiohead is to make my own playlists. I have Radiohead - Piano, RH - Rock, RH - electronic, etc. That makes for some good listening.
P.S. Kid A and Amnesiac were recorded at the same time and released 6 mo. apart, therefore can be considered 1 giant 2 part album. And they took 4 years to record it, and the reaction of fans was very inconsistent. History could be repeating itself.
Hipster conformist my ass. Listen here sonny. I was jamming out to Radiohead when u were listening to Hootie and the Blowfish. Just because u beat off to them way more furiously than me does not give u the authority to question my rankings. Ok computer is the best album because it combined rock and electronica in the most awesome way ever done. Kid a amnesiac and theif were all steps towards more electronica but were still incredible. The bends is not even anywhere near the best rock album of all time fir me. Ok comp and bends are nothing alike. If u like ok comp the best it is not a given that u like bends next. Ok comp is a hybrid of everytging they have done. From there u pick which direction u liked best......rock or electronica rock. For me the latter.
I have to say I mostly agree with HDL's analysis. I also like Separator, though. And the first three lines of His Eminence's retort might be the funniest thing I read all day. Of course, I'm spending today manually keying in population and homicide data from the 1970's so that isn't saying too much.
too bad that album is blowing donkey balls. to be fair if I had never heard of radiohead and this was just some new band releasing its first cd I would be crowning them the next greatest thing. but alas, they are not. Their bar is set much higher. And they fucked it all up. that cd ranks right before the bends and pablo honey as shittiest radiohead cd. And by 3rd shittiest radiohead cd I mean 5th best album of all time.
ReplyDeleteI like the album. What specifically do you not like about it?
ReplyDeleteIt just kind of plays. Nothing stands out. Thom Yorke sounds alot more mellowed out. Beats are not as interesting. In general it just a step backward. They arent trying anything new which u can usually count on them to do.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think they did new on In Rainbows? It was basically a mellow version of Hail to the Thief.
ReplyDeleteI think they are just finally settling into a sound. They are getting to old to wail on the drums and guitars and microphones, so they are slowly retreating into electronics and quiet lyrics so the tours don't wear them out. This way they can play better live shows when they are 80.
yeah In Rainbows wasnt my favorite radiohead album either......but to answer your question I thought In Rainbows was different and new for Radiohead in that it was MUCH more mellower than their previous albums. But it still let loose every now and then. Unlike king of limbs. I like lotus flower on king of limbs and then everything else fades out for me. Still great music just nothing like getting your face melted by OK Computer.
ReplyDeleteIf i had to rank their cd's i would rank them as follows:
OK computer is my favorite....Then Amnesiac. then Kid A. then Hail to the Theif then In Rainbows then the Bends, then King of Limbs, then Pablo Honey.
and i dont know what you mean slowly retreating into electronics. Quiet lyrics, yes. But they very rapidly retreated to electronics with Kid A. Then followed it up with Amnesiac. King of Limbs is a retreat from electronics compared to those two......for me at least.
ReplyDeleteThe King of Limbs is almost entirely electronic. Give Up the Ghost is the only song in which a guitar is prominently heard throughout the song, and the rest of the songs have drum machines along w/ Phil playing the drums. Kid A and Amnesiac differ from King of Limbs in styles of electronica because they were more upbeat AND included songs with some kick ass guitars, like I Might Be Wrong and Optimistic, but would still throw in some quiet and very experimental songs like Motion Picture Soundtrack and Life in a Glass House. That's what makes the so awesome.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I find it astounding that you rank The Bends so low, and OK Computer as your favorite. Considering that your other favs are Kid A, Amnesiac, and HttT, it seems as if you really like the more electronic sound of radiohead, and only threw OKComp up there to be a hipster conformist(<---sarcasm) because The Bends is one of the best rock albums of our time.
It all depends on my mood really. On a rock out kind of day: 1. OK Computer 2. The Bends 3. Hail to the Thief
On a techno day 1.Kid A 2. Amensiac 3. Hail to the Thief
Everything else is on equal terms, minus Pablo Honey, which is a good album in its own right, but let's be honest, no one is riding around jamming out to Nirvana anymore either.
All that being said, I completely agree w/ your take on The King of Limbs. Lotus Flower kicks ass, and Codex is a beautiful song that reminds me of Pyramid Song, but the rest could all just be B-sides.
I've found the best way for me to enjoy radiohead is to make my own playlists. I have Radiohead - Piano, RH - Rock, RH - electronic, etc. That makes for some good listening.
P.S. Kid A and Amnesiac were recorded at the same time and released 6 mo. apart, therefore can be considered 1 giant 2 part album. And they took 4 years to record it, and the reaction of fans was very inconsistent. History could be repeating itself.
Hipster conformist my ass. Listen here sonny. I was jamming out to Radiohead when u were listening to Hootie and the Blowfish. Just because u beat off to them way more furiously than me does not give u the authority to question my rankings. Ok computer is the best album because it combined rock and electronica in the most awesome way ever done. Kid a amnesiac and theif were all steps towards more electronica but were still incredible. The bends is not even anywhere near the best rock album of all time fir me. Ok comp and bends are nothing alike. If u like ok comp the best it is not a given that u like bends next. Ok comp is a hybrid of everytging they have done. From there u pick which direction u liked best......rock or electronica rock. For me the latter.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I mostly agree with HDL's analysis. I also like Separator, though. And the first three lines of His Eminence's retort might be the funniest thing I read all day. Of course, I'm spending today manually keying in population and homicide data from the 1970's so that isn't saying too much.
ReplyDelete"Of course, I'm spending today manually keying in population and homicide data from the 1970's so that isn't saying too much."
ReplyDeleteDude, I'm worried about you.
Worry not, Lord. For it is for a paper I am writing.
ReplyDelete