The Official Radiohead Thread

[Paedantic Basterd]

Limbs is the first album since OK Computer where I would not say it contains any of Radiohead's best songs, and in that respect, it's disappointing. I wish it gave me more to return to!

[RVCA]

To set the record straight: In Rainbows roolz and Limbs droolz

[Surell]

My problem with In Rainbows is it's poppy. You can't say KoL isn't daring and say In Rainbows is; it's just electro rock stuff, or slow jams, if i remember right. I could never make it all the way through i found it so uninteresting. I'll challenge myself with it again, but i stick to my guns. I've put my two cents in on OKC as well, soooo bleh.

The only reason you could potentially call KoL boring or undramatic is because it is, indeed, undramatic; but what's so bad about subtlety? If you listen closely (and this definitely is a headphones album), you can hear the beautiful, gradual transitions that can move you just as well as the dramatic abruptness of earlier songs (say, Young Blood or Paranoid Android or sumthin); that's why i mentioned that it doesn't demand your attention, but if you give it to the album, you will be impressed. In the sense that it takes a more subtle approach in song transformation and production, this is definitely a new direction for the band.

When i say experimental, just listen to how minimalist, cavernous, ambient, and trancelike the vocals and music are, and, as i mentioned, the production blends these elements (in loops, nature samples, and prominence), it's pretty trippy music.

[YorkeDaddy]

Originally Posted by Surell

My problem with In Rainbows is it's poppy. You can't say KoL isn't daring and say In Rainbows is; it's just electro rock stuff, or slow jams, if i remember right. I could never make it all the way through i found it so uninteresting. I'll challenge myself with it again, but i stick to my guns. I've put my two cents in on OKC as well, soooo bleh.

The only reason you could potentially call KoL boring or undramatic is because it is, indeed, undramatic; but what's so bad about subtlety? If you listen closely (and this definitely is a headphones album), you can hear the beautiful, gradual transitions that can move you just as well as the dramatic abruptness of earlier songs (say, Young Blood or Paranoid Android or sumthin); that's why i mentioned that it doesn't demand your attention, but if you give it to the album, you will be impressed. In the sense that it takes a more subtle approach in song transformation and production, this is definitely a new direction for the band.

When i say experimental, just listen to how minimalist, cavernous, ambient, and trancelike the vocals and music are, and, as i mentioned, the production blends these elements (in loops, nature samples, and prominence), it's pretty trippy music.

To me, most of what you said is just wrong. I enjoy King of Limbs. But I think it's pretty safe. They're the most minimalistic songs Radiohead could produce. They even said so themselves that they didn't want to put that much work into the album basically. In Rainbows on the other hand mixes some of the best of OK Computer and Kid A to me, and it's up there for one of my favorites (and again, especially when you own the second disc).

[debaserr]

They never said anything about not trying hard on it. And it isn't safe, it deviates greatly from their usual methods.

[RVCA]

Originally Posted by eric generic

They never said anything about not trying hard on it. And it isn't safe, it deviates greatly from their usual methods.

Really? Seemed like bland OK Computer-era electronica. Like maybe a bunch of B sides.

[Surell]

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

To me, most of what you said is just wrong.

Well... ditto.

I enjoy King of Limbs. But I think it's pretty safe. They're the most minimalistic songs Radiohead could produce. They even said so themselves that they didn't want to put that much work into the album basically. In Rainbows on the other hand mixes some of the best of OK Computer and Kid A to me, and it's up there for one of my favorites (and again, especially when you own the second disc).

I recall them saying that they also couldn't do the LP format again that In Rainbows had, claiming it stressed them out; obviously In Rainbows stretched them thin, which i feel comes off; to me (of course) it comes of as not having true, focused work put into it.

The best mix of OKC and Kid A is obviously HTTT though, btw.

Minimalist is a new direction though, and not a bad one; gradual progression is an amazing new direction as well. How is this safe and In Rainbows edgy?

My ante: Bloom. Unusual, incredibly monotone vocals from Thom, dissonant train-like drums with a beautiful sonic wall along with a stumbling bass, the quickly building climax which almost stumbles at first, and then Thom's on distorted call and response. Nothing quite like what i've heard before, and executed well.

[Mykonos]

It's funny how the albums are the way they are. I reckon one of ther main reasons for the return to skittery beats in TKOL was because Phil was so busy with his solo work so wouldn't be as available for drumming as he normally is.

[Surell]

I've seen Thom handle the drumming on the first From the Basement, and practically every member is multi-talented with instruments, so i'm sure someone could have picked up Phil's sticks.

Say what you want about the album, but you can't say they were sloppy about it. There are pretty obvious motivations for why the album is the way it is if you look "hard" enough.

Btw, whoever said Amnesiac was whack can bite my nuts off. And whoever said In Rainbows is consistently liked among Radiohead fans is nuts themselves and i'll bite their nuts off for it; I'm fairly sure there's not a Radiohead album that is actually a consistent favorite among anyone, fans or casual listeners. I thought that was the whole point?

[debaserr]

How many Radiohead fans do you know that hate In Rainbows? It's well liked. That doesn't mean it's everyone's favorite either.