Radiohead

I've searched around the boards to find discussions about Radiohead, but I haven't found any. It being one of my favourite bands ever, I had no choice but to start one!

Are there any other fans of Radiohead around here? From The Bends' awesome rock music to Kid A's experimental songs, Radiohead has proved that it's one of the most creative popular band in the world.

How can one not admire the beauty of songs such as Street Spirit (Fade Out), How To Disappear Completely and Let Down? They're all wonderful ballads that are really emotional while never going near the corny-area.

If you're more into rockier songs, Paranoid Android and Where I End And You Begin are some of the best stuff I've heard from recent music.

Their album OK Computer and Kid A show up on a lot of the world's most prestigious magazine's top 10 rock CD of all time (i.e.: Rolling Stones) and I believe I have to agree with all the praise it's getting.

Keep in mind that yes, Radiohead isn't easy-listening music, it can sound weird, dissonant, and many people hate Thom Yorke's voice. However, learning to like their music can result in quite an awesome experience as it is one of the most complex, multi-layered and all-around GOOD music I've heard.

Discuss.

How ya doing, buddy?

It's kind of funny that I didn't even know about radiohead until a few years ago, after hearing a solo piano version of paranoid android by Brad Mehldau.
After someone had told me who it was originally by I decided to look into them, and since then I have enjoyed some of their music. Melhdau also does Exit Music (For A Film) by them, which is also very quite nice by both artists.

Despite being slightly biased towards the piano, I do enjoy Creep quite a bit. I like how just before they go into the chorus you're hit with some short, but heavy, power chords. Someone had told me that those chords were never suppose to be recorded on the final track. Do you know if there is any truth to this?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

In my honest opinion these guys have made some fantastic songs there is no doubt; but they peaked far too early into their career.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by josho

Despite being slightly biased towards the piano, I do enjoy Creep quite a bit. I like how just before they go into the chorus you're hit with some short, but heavy, power chords. Someone had told me that those chords were never suppose to be recorded on the final track. Do you know if there is any truth to this?

I actually haven't heard anything about that, I must say I'm much more familiar with Radiohead late work (OK Computer and on...)

And if you're into piano a lot (like me), you should definitely check out Christopher O'Riley's 2 full albums of Radiohead piano arrangements, very nice stuff.

And in answer to you El Ray Fernando, I don't believe Radiohead peaked early into their career (I'm assuming you're speaking about OK Computer being the peak here). They could've went the easy way and come out with OK Computer #2, #3, etc. (which would be doing what 90% of the bands are doing these days), but instead, they chose to go more experimental, to constantly change their sound, which I believe is what turned a lot of people off. I think that they shows how much of a great band they are.

I must agree though, that some of their recent more experimental work has gone somewhat wrong (mainly referring to some of Amnesiac's stuff and Hail To The Thief's myxamotosis). However, I still don't think they've yet to peak, and the stuff they're preparing for their next album (due in 2007) already sounds great from what I've heard.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

They are a band in constant reinvention, so there's really no peak to speak of. This is one of the few bands where I will buy their CD without question, and enjoy myself while listening to their music no matter what. I have yet to be dissapointed with their style and their directions.

As for touring, I caught their show outdoors when they were on the Hail to the Thief tour. It was an extremely good show, and hope to catch them as they come through Vancouver again.

I was speaking idiomatically.

One of my favorite bands. Though I'm normally pre-disposed towards alt/indie-rock kind of stuff, my favorite album by far is Kid A.

Anyone heard Thom's solo album (The Eraser) yet? It comes out early in July, but it's been leaked for a couple weeks now. It's excellent, along the lines of Kid A/Amnesiac, since it was all done by Thom. It's more low-key as a whole than any Radiohead album so far, but all the songs are top-notch.

Lastly: Jonny Greenwood is my hero.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by josho

Despite being slightly biased towards the piano, I do enjoy Creep quite a bit. I like how just before they go into the chorus you're hit with some short, but heavy, power chords. Someone had told me that those chords were never suppose to be recorded on the final track. Do you know if there is any truth to this?

Real story: Jonny Greenwood hated "Creep". So, as they were recording it, he slammed on the distortion pedal and banged out some "KA-CHUNK" noises right before the chorus in an effort to ruin it. They're not even notes, really, just loud, distorted noises. Ironically, everybody loved the "KA-CHUNK" noises, and now Jonny's rather forced to play them when they perform the song live. Funny how things work out that way, huh?

I am a huge Radiohead fan, myself, and I'm terribly sad that I was unable to see them on their summer tour. I tried to catch them at the Boston Pavillion, but the tickets sold out in literally under a minute. Anyway, you should get ramoth in here. He's also a Radiohead nut.

Also, Jonny Greenwood effin' destroys. I love his work with the Ondes Martenot on the latter three albums, in addition of course to his excellent guitar work.

In other news, my favorites of theirs would include "Let Down", "How to Disapper Completely", "The National Anthem", and the obvious "Paranoid Android"

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Admiral Amara

In other news, my favorites of theirs would include "Let Down", "How to Disapper Completely", "The National Anthem", and the obvious "Paranoid Android"

*agrees*

I should also mention Pyramid Song as one of Radiohead's best work, its haunting piano and strings make for an awesome piece of music. And... just TRY playing it on the piano, the time measure is so hard to grasp, it took me literally 2 weeks to learn to play and sing the song at the same time!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I LOVE "Pyramid Song". I can play and sing it as well, it's rather strange to do it without drums, though. I have done it, though, at a local coffee shop (local to college, anyway), and to warm reception. I think I actually stamped my foot during the latter half to emphasize the truly jazzy nature of it! It's really well-composed, I think, in the way that you can't tell the metre or that everything is on the off-beat until the drums enter in 3/4 with breaks of 2/4 and such.

I'll make a recording sometime, maybe!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Radiohead is awesome. I originally got into them by purchasing Kid A (of course) years ago. Now, I own all of their albums and count myself as an avid fan. They're one band that continually progresses and seems to be trying to be aware of how they can improve and reinvent themselves. While I used to love Kid A at first, my favorite album of theirs has got to be The Bends.

I just wish they'd come near/around Columbus sometime on one of their tours.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I really love them, but unlike most people I don't seem to have a favorite album - seems to me there's a few really amazing songs on each album. I like all their songs, but I tend to skip over all the guitarry songs with some sort of political message - I've outgrown that stuff by now. The reason I like them so much is their specialty - absolutely beautiful, melancholy songs.

I'm not usually a big fan of this sort of music, either - at first I thought they were terribly dreary and depressing, but every time I listen to an album I appreciate another song more. A lot of people don't like Hail to the Thief at all, but I genuinely enjoyed it - it was different, yes, but not too drastic a change in quality or style. One of my favorite songs (There There) is on that album. Other favorites: Let Down, How to Disappear, Optimistic.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

"There There" friggin' rocks. So does "Where I End And You Begin" - what a great bass groove, I always want to air-bass along while I'm driving, then I realise that I'll crash if I do, so I don't. Or I do it at stop signs. And why is "Sail to the Moon" so completely underappreciated? I think it's an absolutely gorgeous song, and Thom's cracking falsetto is used perfectly. It always gets me when he breaks off at the end of the line "know right from wrong~" - the delivery is so emotional throughout the whole song, and the contrasting "spacey" major key sections with the minor key sections is perfect. I don't understand why people hate this song. Can anyone assist me here, or do you all like it as well?

Other note: Radiohead has better B-sides than many bands have A-sides. Case in point: "Talk Show Host".

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Radiohead is a great band, whether it's the mainstream stuff (Creep, You), and their experimental stuff, they make it quality. I had the privilege of seeing them live, which was another experience that cannot be put into words.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I actually have started liking these guys more as I hear them. They still aren't one of my favorites (yet), but they are definitely very talented and aren't afraid to go out on a limb and totally reinvent themselves for a different sound. They just have a different sound to begin with, and I like it. I guess I can respect them because that's kind of how Queen was .

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I started listening to Radiohead since my brother introduced Karma Police to me. That song's chorus struck me as impressive, especially when Yorke belts out "I lost myself" over and over. Of course I've heard Creep on the radio way too many times; it's still a good song.

If I had to choose an album as my favorite, it would probably be the rockish The Bends, with such songs like (of course) The Bends and Street Spirit (Fade Out). I actually read somewhere that Yorke's inspiration for Street Spirit was a dream he thought was from the devil; he refuses to perform it live because of that. Someone refute this if it's untrue.

FELIPE NO

The only album of their that I have no qualm with is OK Computer. Other than that they're a singles band to me.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

They're great! One of my favourite "Western" bands. My favourite album would be O.K. Computer, the whole album is simply excellent.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I find it amusing how the last two posters said rather different things, but still had one thing thing in common: You both like OK Computer from start to finish. OKC was my first Radiohead album, and it's still my favorite. However, I don't consider Radiohead a "singles" band. Pablo Honey is a relatively weak offering, with "You", "Creep", and "Thinking About You" clearly being the highlights, but I think the closer "Blow Out" is very strong offering that hints at where the band would go next. The Bends I find very solid all the way through, there's not a track that I tend to skip.

Majin, have you listened to Kid A at all? The album had no singles, but as an album, I consider it an artistic achievement. The whole thing flows from start to end, and it has absolutely no right to - It consists of such diverse elements as sparse electronica, soundscapes, Free Jazz, IDM, and tracks such as "How to Disappear Completely", which is one of the most well-composed songs I've heard in a long time. The song makes so much use of elements set against each other, like the guitar in six and the bass in four, or strings playing a tone cluster which against very tonal music. And the moment where the strings rise and rise and choke out the rest of the music, and the tension builds and builds, then suddenly breaks is absolutely perfect. "HTCD" is, in my opinion, a masterpiece.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Admiral Amara

Majin, have you listened to Kid A at all? The album had no singles, but as an album, I consider it an artistic achievement. The whole thing flows from start to end, and it has absolutely no right to - It consists of such diverse elements as sparse electronica, soundscapes, Free Jazz, IDM, and tracks such as "How to Disappear Completely", which is one of the most well-composed songs I've heard in a long time. The song makes so much use of elements set against each other, like the guitar in six and the bass in four, or strings playing a tone cluster which against very tonal music. And the moment where the strings rise and rise and choke out the rest of the music, and the tension builds and builds, then suddenly breaks is absolutely perfect. "HTCD" is, in my opinion, a masterpiece.

I have listened to Kid A (it's on my Zen). However, I only really like 'The National Anthem' and 'How To Disappear Completely'. TNA is one of my fave Radiohead tracks actually.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I'll admit Kid A is weird and different, and I agree that "TNA" and "HTDC" are the best tracks. But I'm a weird and different kind of guy, I guess. I think I gave the album about three listens straight through before passing judgement. But, hey, not everybody is me, so you're entitled to your opinion. "TNA", though, we can both agree, kicks serious ass. I have a video of them performing it live on SNL if you want me to upload.

Changing the topic. I see you're a big Muse fan. What do you think of the Radiohead/Muse comparisons? Any credibility to them, or just a load of bunk?

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I think it's a load of bollocks to be honest. The sound nothing alike and I'm quite confused as to how it came about to be honest.

I was speaking idiomatically.

One of the things I don't like about Radiohead comparisons (like Coldplay... seriously, what?) is that they base it solely on the band's origin. Or maybe very weakly on the vocalists, who still sound nothing alike.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Yea I don't get the comparisons either...I'm sure bands are highly influenced, but there's not really a direct ripoff.

As of lately, i've been heavily listening to them. I seriously cannot get enough of their music, it's too beautiful and too haunting. Hell, right now i'm listening to Knives Out...which is a fantastic song btw. They're definitely a profound band that can make music that can appeal to many people. My favorite song by them has to be hands down, 'Where I End And You Begin', also...who DOESN'T love 'Talk Show Host'? I mean, come on lol.

FELIPE NO

Karma Police and Paranoid Android are the two that do it for me. Just such beautiful tracks.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

<<<RAGH DELETE. please.>>>

Jam it back in, in the dark.