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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Mark Eichelberger" <markeichelberger@comcast.net> |
| Subject | Re: Radiohead |
| Date | Wed, 16 Jul 2003 17:16:56 -0400 |
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Actually, what's really weird is that I was going to reply to this post, but
then I read Michael's response and realized this was exactly what I was
planning to say. Like you, I loved The Bends and OK Computer, but was
completely confused by Kid A and Amnesiac. But I really do like most of
Hail To The Thief. It does keep some of the expermental stuff from the 2
former albums, but yes, the song structures are back...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Bennett" <mrhonorama@hotmail.com>
To: <audities@smoe.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: Radiohead
> It's weird -- while the band certainly achieved an annointed status, also
> afforded to Wilco and Flaming Lips, IMO, that leads to worship rather than
> objective analysis, I think that Radiohead is a great band.
>
> THE BENDS was simply an awesome record -- one of the most influential
albums
> of the last 10 years. Great songs rendered with superb production.
> Everything from the hooks to the playing to the arrangments and details
are
> top notch.
>
> OK COMPUTER upped the arty ante. Before it came out, record company folks
> were alarmed by what they saw as a lack of songs. But numbers like "Karma
> Police" and "No Surprises" still had conventional melodies and hooks
(though
> they were spooky as hell) and rubbed elbows with oddball stuff like
> "Paranoid Android".
>
> For me, the KID A and AMNESIAC duo were near the "fart in a bag"
territory.
> I think they were self-indulgent discs by a band doing their lab
experiments
> in public, putting the results on display regardless of whether they were
> coherent. Each disc has it's moments, but the praise heaped on the band,
> IMO, was misguided, as they were being lauded for the output, which wasn't
> that great, rather than the attempt, which was somewhat daring.
>
> However, HAIL TO THE THIEF is a different animal. I think all of the
> experimenting they did on the last 3 albums comes to fruition brilliantly.
> The band brings back an emphasis on song structure (I've seen reviews and
> such stating to the contrary -- "This isn't much different than KID A and
> AMNESIAC" -- and I think those people must have been smoking crack --
there
> are more structured songs on this album than since THE BENDS, me thinks)
> while incorporating a lot of the things they have learned along the way.
In
> so doing, they have really made a statement that encapsulates the tension
> inherent in their music - technology based alienation from society,
> expressed in music that embraces technology in seemingly every form. I
> think the album is addictive and is littered with great songs.
>
> Mike Bennett
>
>
>
> Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: AssociationWorks@aol.com
> >Reply-To: audities@smoe.org
> >To: audities@smoe.org
> >Subject: Radiohead
> >Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 12:09:21 EDT
> >
> >I haven't seen much list discussion on "Hail to the Thief" yet....
> >For quite some time now, I've felt that Radiohead was one of the
> >most over-rated bands on the planet...and the collective drool
> >fest most critics have had over their latest reaffirms my belief...
> >I think Spin Magizine Editor-in-Chief Sia Michel said it best several
> >months back that the band could virtually "fart into a bag", put in
> >on a record and critics and music journalists would call it the best
> >thing ever recorded. Does anyone else out there just see these guys
> >as a by-the-numbers indie rock band that's mediocre at best....or am
> >I missing something completely? Just curious for some other feedback...
> >
> >Jeff
>
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