The Official Radiohead Thread

[TheCunningStunt]

Originally Posted by clutnuckle

No Radiohead album is by many means complex, but quite a few are in fact derivative. Their first three, for instance. I mean, barely ever on OKC, granted, but the first two, were in fact very much so. The songwriting is barely more established or expansive on The Bends. Even the best moments on it are comparable to Pablo Honey sometimes, and I don't mean that in a condescending light, it's merely fact.

Pablo Honey simply isn't horrible enough to warrant such mass glaring in comparison to the others. Some Radiohead releases simply aren't much better.

Also, you say Amnesiac and Pablo Honey are 'on par' for their worst with Pablo lagging just behind, yet you also said " it's by far their worst record". Which is it? By far or just slightly?

Pablo Honey isn't horrible, I sometimes listen to it. But The Bends is a far better record, it's them as musicians and songwriters moving from a really simple record (Pablo Honey), into a more interesting record (Ok Computer.) The Bends is inbetween, and I think it makes for some brilliant listening. By far better than Pablo Honey.

They're both poor releases.

Ok Computer > Kid A > The Bends > Hail To The Thief > In Rainbows >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Amnesiac > Pablo Honey.

[clutnuckle]

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Pablo Honey isn't horrible, I sometimes listen to it. But The Bends is a far better record, it's them as musicians and songwriters moving from a really simple record (Pablo Honey), into a more interesting record (Ok Computer.) The Bends is inbetween, and I think it makes for some brilliant listening. By far better than Pablo Honey.

They're both poor releases.

Ok Computer > Kid A > The Bends > Hail To The Thief > In Rainbows >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Amnesiac > Pablo Honey.

I don't particularly care if they evolved or were evolving; they still felt compelled to put a lot of bad/mediocre songs on the album - "The Bends", "Bones", "Just", and even "High and Dry" (admittedly I have a soft spot for it, but it's lack of quality is pretty apparent). "Sulk" is also fairly annoying and in the Pablo vein. That's a near half of the album being kind of forgettable, and about four of the songs are great or better. "My Iron Lung", "Bulletproof (I Wish I Was...)", "Fake Plastic Trees", "Street Spirit (Fade Out)".

Tons of albums are simple and interesting, and some do it full-time; The Bends half-asses its way to the finish line, much akin to Pablo Honey. Albeit, I will admit, the highs of The Bends destroy the highs of Pablo Honey. That still wouldn't make it a revolutionary step forward for the band musically, though. Perhaps in the sheer idea of it, and the mindsets of the band behind it, sure... But musically? It can't exactly impress me 15 years down the line. It's good and all, but I'm not one to call it brilliant or even great. Not that I'm putting those words in your mouth... Simply that in comparison to Pablo, people seem to pedestalize this one.

[keith!]

Pablo Honey is a weak album. It's not terrible, it's not great.
But i honestly think The Bends is levels beyond it. I could have ">" and it would have been fine, but since i added more because of how much weaker i think it is, i suddenly think it's a slight of god?
The Bends has much better pop moments and is a much more consistent album then Pablo Honey.

[clutnuckle]

Well I've already argued the consistency of The Bends above (in that almost half of it is mediocre or bad).

But it's not infinitely better than Pablo. Really, the sonic difference between them is almost non-existent. The Bends is a slightly younger, more self-aware version of Pablo Honey. Slightly. Being 'levels beyond' it is stretching it, objectively of course.

[scottsy]

I don't really find half of the Bends bad at all... of course I am a major fan of the band, but I find it a good solid listen all the way through, yet I find Pablo Honey to be altogether a bit too patchy as a listening experience

[Rickenbacker]

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

You seem to have forgot Amnesiac.

Amnesiac is my favorite Radiohead album. It's easily their most ambitious, eclectic release. Life in a Glasshouse and Pyramid Song are the best things they've ever recorded.

[scottsy]

Pyramid Song is utterly, sublimely wonderful, i definitely have to agree with you there!

[Surell]

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Sounds like an album of Kid A B-sides.

It was made from the Kid A sessions, so they will have a similar sound. I think, though, that Amnesiac has a bit of a broader sound (stepping more away from the electronic) and has the better songs on it (Pyramid Song, Life in a Glass House, Dollars and Cents, Packt Like Sardines in a Can). While Kid A was also a wonderful album, i prefer Amnesiac to it. I prefer Amnesiac to any Radiohead album though my own self (aside from the Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors song).

[Rage Against the Machine]

So I was listening to Hail to the Thief in study hall today and i had to try really hard to contain my laughter at the end of Sit Down, Stand Up because it sounds like he's saying "Power Rangers". such a cool part ruined (or augmented?) by that

[scottsy]

Hmmmmm, that's the first time I've heard the 'power rangers" sound in that bit... but come to think of it, it does really fit there... though I definitely don't think it was Thom's original lyric... hehehehe...