Radiohead Tour

[linkster]

Nude is great, so is 15 Steps

[Big Loud Mouth]

Right.

I wasn't being totally serious, of course.

Anyway, 15 Step is my new favourite... it sounds like a the happy bastard reggae off-spring of Idioteque and Talk Show Host. Barmy but fantastic! And the 'dance' Thom does to it is nuts as well!

[Eighthours]

I really like Open Pick, Spooks and Videotape.

Actually, I like them all. The new album's going to be great.

[Timmo]

You're all wrong, the best new song is 4 minute Warning. Nearly all of them sound brilliant, though. So much better than the underwhelming HTTT. (Underwhelming with the exception of 2+2=5, Sit Down. Stand Up., There There and Wolf at The Door)

Friday at The Apollo was incredible. Never have I wanted a gig to end less in my life. Looking forward to seeing them at V, although of course they won't be nearly as good outside.

[Timmo]

Also, I agree to whoever mentioned people singing along loudly. Fair enough on the louder songs, or the end of Karma Police, but for goodness sake - SHUT THE HELL UP DURING EXIT MUSIC. A quiet song, beautifully song by Thom, I don't want to hear your mong voice over the top. And stop rubbing your horrible leather jacket against me. Man, how can you even wear a jacket crushed against all those people? It must have been 30 degrees in there. You mong.

[Big Loud Mouth]

Also, I agree to whoever mentioned people singing along loudly. Fair enough on the louder songs, or the end of Karma Police, but for goodness sake - SHUT THE HELL UP DURING EXIT MUSIC. A quiet song, beautifully song by Thom, I don't want to hear your mong voice over the top. And stop rubbing your horrible leather jacket against me. Man, how can you even wear a jacket crushed against all those people? It must have been 30 degrees in there. You mong.

You know, I don't really mind the crowd singing along with the quiet songs... it can add to the atmosphere. What I really hate are the wankers who shout "COME ON THOM!!!!!" during the quiet songs. I mean, why the fuck would people do that? It's not fucking tennis, is it? Tossers.

[Joj]

At the Hammersmith gig on the friday night I saw two guys in the crowd, the bigger one of the two had a microsoft jumper and the other guy had this T-Shirt

with some weird fishing hat.

Were either of these people one/some of you guys?

[biglime]

Just for another perspective on the whole "Radiohead decline" thing...

My girlfriend loved their first two albums. I thought their first was mainly pish. I thought the Bends was okay, but a bit ho-hum. No big deal.

OK Computer passed me by too. There are a couple of nice songs on there, no doubt...my girlfriend hated it.

Kid A made my ears prick up a little.

Amnesiac made my ears prick up a bit further.

I thought Hail to the Thief was absolutely fantastic. I was all "Ah. So this is why people rate them so highly."

Just a different perspective. Hail to the Thief is fucking wall to wall glory in my book. You should all just be so glad that you are fans of a band who GENUINELY evolve their sound.

[Kyoshiro]

Just to reiterate my perspective I see everything they've done after pablo honey with more or less equal weight, OK Computer still being my favourite. But generally I see all their songs across their albums as having the same core radiohead craftsmanship, at the risk of sounding snobbish or what have you I really find it hard to understand how one can consider one album to be worse than the others... I mean I understand how I just don't get it, the songs across every album may sound superficially different but they all resonate with the same emotional power, the same feel radiohead are so good at bringing out.

I've gone on about this a bit too many times now but I browse rllmuk compulsively during revision periods and the only topic interesting enough to get my fingers tapping away is radiohead...

[linkster]

You're all wrong, the best new song is 4 minute Warning. Nearly all of them sound brilliant, though. So much better than the underwhelming HTTT. (Underwhelming with the exception of 2+2=5, Sit Down. Stand Up., There There and Wolf at The Door)

Friday at The Apollo was incredible. Never have I wanted a gig to end less in my life. Looking forward to seeing them at V, although of course they won't be nearly as good outside.

In my experience this is sadly true. Saw them in a tent in Wales in the mud pre Kid A and it was totally the wrong set, but they didn't care. Bastards.

[superpretend]

Just to reiterate my perspective I see everything they've done after pablo honey with more or less equal weight, OK Computer still being my favourite. But generally I see all their songs across their albums as having the same core radiohead craftsmanship, at the risk of sounding snobbish or what have you I really find it hard to understand how one can consider one album to be worse than the others...

It's not hard for me. No doubt the craft is still there but there are a couple of things that Radiohead always did well that they've lost over the years:

1) a knack for melodicism. All the best Radiohead songs have great tunes, whether it's Fake Plastic Trees, Let Down, Idioteque, There There, etc. Even their best b-sides had great tunes, Talk Show Host, Fog, for example. At their *peak* (or what I consider their peak), they combined both the melodic side and their craft to superb effect.

Then compare to something like Go To Sleep. I always bring that song up, because I think it has a terrible melody, and Radiohead must've thought differently, seeing as it was a single. Same a good portion of HTTT. I don't even remember the song names, that's how unmemorable some of the songs were. So, all the craft in the world is no good without a song. You can't polish a turd, etc.

2) Man, I know Thom Yorke was pissed off because millions of bands stole his singing style, but that didn't mean he needed to adapt a whinge for a singing voice. I used to think it was because he couldn't sing the same way as he used to before, but evidently not, on the basis of live performances. I personally think his vocal performances on Sail To The Moon and Wolf At The Door ruined potentially great songs.

Anyway, I'm a populist, so if you don't think a great tune is a pre-requisite for a great song, then my arguments are totally invalid.

[Kyoshiro]

It's not hard for me. No doubt the craft is still there but there are a couple of things that Radiohead always did well that they've lost over the years:

1) a knack for melodicism. All the best Radiohead songs have great tunes, whether it's Fake Plastic Trees, Let Down, Idioteque, There There, etc. Even their best b-sides had great tunes, Talk Show Host, Fog, for example. At their *peak* (or what I consider their peak), they combined both the melodic side and their craft to superb effect.

Then compare to something like Go To Sleep. I always bring that song up, because I think it has a terrible melody, and Radiohead must've thought differently, seeing as it was a single. Same a good portion of HTTT. I don't even remember the song names, that's how unmemorable some of the songs were. So, all the craft in the world is no good without a song. You can't polish a turd, etc.

2) Man, I know Thom Yorke was pissed off because millions of bands stole his singing style, but that didn't mean he needed to adapt a whinge for a singing voice. I used to think it was because he couldn't sing the same way as he used to before, but evidently not, on the basis of live performances. I personally think his vocal performances on Sail To The Moon and Wolf At The Door ruined potentially great songs.

Anyway, I'm a populist, so if you don't think a great tune is a pre-requisite for a great song, then my arguments are totally invalid.

When I was talking about radiohead craftsmanship and emotional power I was including the tune. I don't think that's changed at all, even though the latest batch of new songs don't do anything for me. I'm not too bothered because I just remember my thoughts when first hearing the bends, then ok computer, then kid a and amnesiac, and without fail everytime I would wonder what the hell is this, I would listen through the whole album and not remember a single tune I could hum. I remember someone sending me a how to disappear completely and I had to ask him if there was something wrong with the mp3, it sounded so bad...

But yeah at the end of the day it's just personal differences, I'm just trying to understand why some people can see songs across all the albums that are just as amazing as each other and others consider one period to be the best... I guess it's like the Muse breathing thing, some people just notice his constant breathing in others don't. Neither is right or wrong, but personally I think that's not an issue with the band, it's more of a psychological thing with people who are annoyed with the breathing because they found something to be annoyed with and can't see passed it. It's the same when you start thinking of a band as having a whingy singing voice, or a band as declining etc...

Interesting about Thom Yorke being pissed off at others "stealing" his singing style, I never heard anything about that...

[Timmo]

Oh dear, biglime. HTTT "wall to wall glory"? I'd actually say it's easily their most inconsistent album. So many tracks that go nowhere. When There There kicks in I tend to greet it with a big sigh of relief, the saving grace. Then there's more crap afterwards. On reflection it's really quite a poor album, and I adore Radiohead. Ok Computer washing over you? Can I suggest you give it another listen? It wasn't instant with me either, and although it's a common view, it's my favourite album ever. By some margin.

Pablo Honey is pretty underrated too. It's not great (in the true sense of the word), but it's one of the best Britpop/rock albums out there.

[Paulando]

Also, I agree to whoever mentioned people singing along loudly. Fair enough on the louder songs, or the end of Karma Police, but for goodness sake - SHUT THE HELL UP DURING EXIT MUSIC. A quiet song, beautifully song by Thom, I don't want to hear your mong voice over the top. And stop rubbing your horrible leather jacket against me. Man, how can you even wear a jacket crushed against all those people? It must have been 30 degrees in there. You mong.

The sweaty cunts.

Get your fucking long hair out of my face too, you dirty bastards.

[linkster]

Oh dear, biglime. HTTT "wall to wall glory"? I'd actually say it's easily their most inconsistent album. So many tracks that go nowhere. When There There kicks in I tend to greet it with a big sigh of relief, the saving grace. Then there's more crap afterwards. On reflection it's really quite a poor album, and I adore Radiohead. Ok Computer washing over you? Can I suggest you give it another listen? It wasn't instant with me either, and although it's a common view, it's my favourite album ever. By some margin.

Pablo Honey is pretty underrated too. It's not great (in the true sense of the word), but it's one of the best Britpop/rock albums out there.

"Britpop"? Why the labels? Why not say it's one of the best albums out there, which it is. Certainly their best. Followed IMO by Hail to the Thief, which similarly just doesn't have a bad song on it. OK Computer has some true beauty with Paranoid Android & Let Down, but Motion Picture Soundtrack, Fitter/Happier, Lucky, Climb up the Walls are just wankfests for eternal miseries. It's easily my least favourite of theres, although everything's relative of course.

[iloverage]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7762/nme331ss.jpg

then

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c287/italox/DSC09339.jpg

what happened here?

[thingymajig]

...even a couple of crowd surfers prompting Yorke to interrupt his performance with a stern "CHILL THE FUCK OUT" at the kids involved.

Hah, he's turning into Ian McKaye.

[superpretend]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7762/nme331ss.jpg

then

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c287/italox/DSC09339.jpg

what happened here?

Some guy got a haircut?

Sounds to me like Radiohead might lose a fan. "4 Minute Warning is the worst song Travis have ever done." Serves you right for being so hardcore.

[Timmo]

Humph, I love 4 Minute Warning.

And yes linkster, I was close to omitting the label there, it is however necessary. Perhaps a better label would have been simply 'early 90s'. It isn't a great album, and it's nowhere near their best. I'd place HTTT and Pablo Honey pretty far below the rest. Saying HTTT doesn't have a bad song boggles my mind.

[linkster]

Well, takes all sorts.

I just can't wait until the next one. I've listened to this concert at least once a day since I got it. This album is going to be immense.

[Timmo]

Well, at least we can agree on that. Incidentally, if Thom Yorke's solo album hits somewhere between Radiohead and Postal Service I'll be a very happy bunny. Can't see it happening though - I'm thinking more Autechre. Whatever happens though, it can't be as bad as Bodysong.

Can it?

[Roboplegic Wrongcock]

Saying HTTT doesn't have a bad song boggles my mind.

As well it should because it doesn’t have a single 'bad' song on the entire album. It all hangs together beautifully.

Point out below which are the 'bad' songs because i don't see any...

2 + 2 = 5

Sit Down. Stand Up

Sail To The Moon

Backdrifts

Go To Sleep

Where I End And You Begin

We Suck Young Blood

The Gloaming

There There

I Will

Punch-Up At A Weddiing

Myxamatosis

Scatterbrain

A Wolf At The Door

[Guest]

Scatterbrain is wank unless you count Four Tet's much better remix. The music sounds like elevator music. I also detest Go to Sleep and not especially fond of WSYB, but the rest is all gold for me.

[Timmo]

OKAY THEN.

The Gloaming is atrocious, We Suck Young Blood dire, Go To Sleep the worst single they've ever done and completely underwhelming, Punch-Up At A Wedding a pathetic excuse for a tune containing the worst riff they've ever done (A poor, poor attempt at a pop song), Myxamatosis unlistenable tripe (although admittedly far better live), and Scatterbrain utterly listless.

The rest of the album ranges from good to fantastic. And don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Radiohead fan. Their new songs are so much better than the above, though.

[SomeNaiveChump]

Go To Sleep is crap.

The rest is great

[thingymajig]

OKAY THEN.

The Gloaming is atrocious, We Suck Young Blood dire, Go To Sleep the worst single they've ever done and completely underwhelming, Punch-Up At A Wedding a pathetic excuse for a tune containing the worst riff they've ever done (A poor, poor attempt at a pop song), Myxamatosis unlistenable tripe (although admittedly far better live), and Scatterbrain utterly listless.

The rest of the album ranges from good to fantastic. And don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Radiohead fan. Their new songs are so much better than the above, though.

I'll give you Scatterbrain

I'll maybe give you The Gloaming

The rest of those songs however are good.

[falcon]

That's my problem with HTTT. Yes most of the songs are good. But there are very few "greats" [only There There, 2 + 2 = 5 and Wolf at the Door, and even these are not as good as Radiohead's best]. It's a very good album no doubt, but it doesn't have the same draw as the others. Ok Computer is beautiful, Kid A a perfect ensemble and Amnesiac, although patchy, contains the brillaint of Pyrmaid Song, YAWA, Like Spinning Plates and Life in a Glasshouse. The Bends is also just extremely enjoyable to listen too. HTTT is consistently good for radiohead, but it doesn't match the others [ well, I rate it the same as Amnesiac].

[jonny_rat]

There There is fantastic. Absolutely top drawer 'head material.

Where You End & I Begin, and Sail to the Moon are both very good.

The rest of it sends me to sleep.

Weirdly, If I'm going to listen to Radiohead nowadays, I find myself drifting towards either Kid A, Pablo Honey

or Bends/OKC-era b-sides. I wouldn't say that the rest of it has aged badly, necessarily; but it's all too locked into its particular time period for me.

[Timmo]

The B-Sides are a wonderful find for the Radiohead fan who wants to dig a bit deeper. Enough there to fill two or three great albums, and much the same quality as their main tracks.

Favourites:

A Reminder

How I Made My Millions

Coke Babies

Maquiladora

Cuttooth

Fog

Talk Show Host

How Can You Be Sure (A simple pop song, sure, but a damn good one)

Check at least them out, if you haven't already.

[falcon]

I'm shocked you haven't recommended Pop is Dead. The video for that is brilliant.