Radiohead appreciation thread

Kold

Alright, I'm an absolute addict. For the last 2 years, there have been very few days where I haven't played one of their songs. I'd say about 5 of their albums would be in my favourite 10 albums ever with an awful dogfight for first between Hail to the Thief, Amnesiac and OK Computer.

I spend most of my week in a shared art studio so I have an iPod on me for around 8 hours a day and there have actually been days where I'd play my entire Radiohead collection straight then keep going back to Lucky or Life in a Glass House.

Just want to know if there are other people who are as addicted as I am to this band and just wanna talk about their whole catalogue which is so diverse it deserves a whole thread. Favourite songs, favourite album, least favourites and why.

cornbb

I do love Radiohead, although I'm not quite as obsessive as yourself at the moment Can see where you're coming from though. I think Radiohead will be remembered as one of the very few truly groundbreaking groups of their era. After the Bends, they came out with such an unbelievable array of new sounds and ideas. OK Computer would be my personal favourite, although I'm a big fan of Amnesiac too. Very few rock bands have had the balls to embrace serious technology in a way that Radiohead have done. Two thumbs up!

Hypnotoad

I love radiohead.How to disappear completely,idioteque,lucky and 2+2=5 are my favorites.
Have you ever seen them live?

Lunar Junkie

They seem to inspire as much avid dislike as they do obsessive fandom, so I'm sure you'll get a few of those on this thread too... I like the Kid A and Amnesiac stuff quite a bit, OK Computer in small doses and parts of Hail to the Thief (though I think it might be their patchiest record to date).. I feel you have to respect any band that could release a single as weirdly beautiful and non-commercial as Pyramid Song, get it to #2 in the charts and get to perform it on Top of the Pops... Maybe they're not as experimental or innovative as their fans might like to think, but for a mainstream rock act I think they do a good job of exposing the wider pop-music audience to some different sounds. Looking forward to hearing their new record, if they ever get around to finishing it (2 years in the making at this stage?) I get the feeling they aren't one of these bands that'll keep plodding along into their 40s so we might not see many more releases from them, hopefully one or two good albums left in them yet though.

Zaph

Hypnotoad wrote:

Have you ever seen them live?

Radiohead live is one of life's greatest musical experiences. I've seen them live 6 times, and to see them evolve musically over the years has been incredible. Songs from Kid A and Amnesiac take on a whole new life when played live, and I just can't think of any other current band capable of stretching themselve like that.

exiot

Im actually listening to them really loudly on the stereo, what a band. Cant wait for the new album, if they ever release it..

Blackpitts

my favourite group ever!
every song is a new experience even though I have listened at them millions of times.
I'm quite surprised they have such a huge number of fans despite the fact they don't kiss the asses of any majour or MTV cool vj...
their music is just QUALITY and thom yorke is a bloody genius.

bluto63

Radiohead are my favorite band ever. I can't stop listening to them. All of their stuff from the Bends to Hail to the Thief is pure genious (don't particularly like Pablo Honey). It's hard to narrow down but I think their best song is Where I End and Where You Begin. Can't stop listening to that song, although it's hard to just listen to one Radiohead song at a time. I always get caught up and listen to entire albums.

Hypnotoad wrote:

Have you ever seen them live?

Radiohead live is one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. Many of the songs are re-invented on stage and give the listener a whole new experience.
Radiohead offer such a huge variety of music it's hard to ever get bored of them. I'm still awaiting that day myself and I can't see it coming anytime soon

Kold

Seeing them live was a religious experience ^_^ Truly one of the best nights of my life. The thing about them is that I've pretty much loved every song they've made at some point or another. When I first listened to the Bends, I played Fake Plastic Trees so much and now I'll keep getting a craving for Black Star. Just like how I loved Subterranean and Exit Music but now Lucky is my favourite song in the world.

I've come across some of the EPs lately and it's just so exciting when I get my hands on a new piece of material because I know that their is always going to be some artistic quality to any song they put out. Polyethalene parts 1 & 2 is so class I can't understand why it was a B Side.

Kold

Blackpitts wrote:

I'm quite surprised they have such a huge number of fans despite the fact they don't kiss the asses of any majour or MTV cool vj...
.

Well I think that's one of the reasons I have such an overwhelming admiration for them. As an artist I can see their integrity whereas a little bit of whoring happens all the time in todays world.

egon spengler

they are one of the few bands that has done anything new in ages as opposed to paying lip service to the past. They stand over and above many lesser bands.
I like all their albums though OK Computer and The Bends are my favourites. Amnesiac is ok but a bit turgid imo but it has its moments.

John

I like Radiohead but they're not exactly as original as people give them credit for. The Kid A and Amnesiac albums to me are a homage to Warp and Planet Mu records with bits of Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and Sigur Rós thrown in. Their early stuff like Pablo Honey and The Bends is pretty generic and OK Computer is excellent and superbly done but is really nothing more than a very modern Pink Floyd album. My €0.02.

nettranny

^ i agree that they're not as original as people say. But the end product is fantastic and they're certainly no rip-off (not that im saying that that's what you're accusin them of, cause i know that you aren't). I think it's the "Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and Sigur Rós thrown in" which is what makes them special. And i don't mean that because i think it makes Warp/ Planet Mu type music more accessible but just because i think it's a great combo. Most music can be described as one thing "with bits of something else thrown in". The end product of Ok Computer, Kid A is still fantastic.
I haven't listened to them much in the past year or so, but i used to love them. I think i've just over-listened their stuff. But, yes, to reiterate, i agree that they are hailed too much as a band which came up with this new fantastic style of music, completely out of nowhere, all by themselves.

egon spengler

nothings ever truly original though, I think theyre original with respect to most of their britpop peers and the current crop of 80s esque bands out now. I have listened to pink floyd and beyond the musical experimentation and dark lyrics I can see many correlations between them and radiohead. Definately pablo honey has a lot in common with dinosaur jr, the bends has some original sparks but I dont think it was so much as creating a new genre as just about being original within the existing realm of guitar rock, you can definately here it with johnies guitar work and the songs are brilliant (usually brilliant songs sound familiar but new and therefore original?). Just my opinion.

John

I totally agree with both of you, I wasn't saying that because I don't think they're that original that I don't find them innovative or good. I think from OK Computer onwards they are one of the best bands around at the moment. Not many bands would get away with such a change of style as they've done and not only keep their fans but gain many new ones (it took Kid A to make me a fan).

Pat D. Almighty

Sure nobody's 100% original. Everything is derivitive in some way or another. Radiohead are one of my favourite bands of all time, but I've yet to see them live

Miguel_Sanchez

egon spengler wrote:

Definately pablo honey has a lot in common with dinosaur jr

Do you really think so?

Been a fan of both bands for manys the year at this stage and I have to say I never would have put those two together. What tracks in particular do you find Dinosauresque?

Pat D. Almighty

Jeff_Lebowski wrote:

Do you really think so?

Been a fan of both bands for manys the year at this stage and I have to say I never would have put those two together. What tracks in particular do you find Dinosauresque?

It's just the guitar sounds really. Wouldn't put the vocals/melodies in the same bracket at Dinosaur Jr. pablo honey can be very lo-fi at times

egon spengler

Jeff_Lebowski wrote:

Do you really think so?

Been a fan of both bands for manys the year at this stage and I have to say I never would have put those two together. What tracks in particular do you find Dinosauresque?

the guitars are quite dinosaur jr esque, also some of the songs follow similar chordal progressions and arrangements, like Stop Whispering which isnt a million miles away from a dinosaur jr song in its structure. I think they used dinosaur jrs producers, Sean slade and Paul koldorie, Ed O Brien stated they were up to their ears in dinosaur jr and the pixies, so I guess they wanted to sound like them, and while I wouldnt say that pablo honey is a carbon fibre copy of dinosaur jr I would say there are marked similarities, that the influence comes through quite pointedly.

JC 2K3

Heh, I love both Radiohead and Dinosaur Jr., but never associated them with ear other, however, I just put on Stop Whispering, and it really reminded me of Pnd Song....

Kold

John wrote:

I like Radiohead but they're not exactly as original as people give them credit for. The Kid A and Amnesiac albums to me are a homage to Warp and Planet Mu records with bits of Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev and Sigur Rós thrown in. Their early stuff like Pablo Honey and The Bends is pretty generic and OK Computer is excellent and superbly done but is really nothing more than a very modern Pink Floyd album. My €0.02.

Fair enough but you'd be hard pushed to name a band that has made as much progression and so successfully.

WindSock

The mere mention of the band makes my heart sink in my chest. they have done more for my musical pleasure than any other band. I had the good fortune to meet Ed and tell him this and he was so nice and friendly and was genuinely pleased to hear it.

Alsatian_Cousin

Everyone should see jonny greenwood live

veryslowey

god i hate radoihead so much

dr.bollocko

Radiohead....
Now let me see.....
Radiohead.
Nope. Doesnt ring a bell. Were they one hit wonders or something?
Anyone?
Did they do that song? How does it go?

Im a freak
With my hairdo,
what the hell is in my ear.
Its quite a long ear
long ear long ear


Freaks man.

veryslowey

dr.bollocko wrote:

Radoihead are utter barse

im width doctor booloko on this one i have to say

Schlemm

Loved Radiohead since I was about 10 and now I'm 21, still listening to them!
Jonny Greenwood's Bodysong is worth a listen, I'd love to hear more stuff from him, he's a genius.

lucernarian

It's amazing how he wasn't allowed to play guitar with the band at first in the very beginning. He played the harmonica a bit back then, from what I've read.

nyarlothothep

To_be_confirmed wrote:

It's amazing how he wasn't allowed to play guitar with the band at first in the very beginning. He played the harmonica a bit back then, from what I've read.

very true, I dont think he had taken up the guitar at that point though I might be wrong. He then moved onto keyboards but actually had the sound turned off just so he wouldnt be noticed, kicked out and left high and dry. When Ed heard that he was going to become the lead guitarist he had his knives out, he was actually asking Johnny if really wanted to fill that spot. But surely enough Johnny proved to be no letdown and the band became a fitter, happier unit as a result of his talents, no surprises there.

Kold

nyarlothothep wrote:

very true, I dont think he had taken up the guitar at that point though I might be wrong. He then moved onto keyboards but actually had the sound turned off just so he wouldnt be noticed, kicked out and left high and dry. When Ed heard that he was going to become the lead guitarist he had his knives out, he was actually asking Johnny if really wanted to fill that spot. But surely enough Johnny proved to be no letdown and the band became a fitter, happier unit as a result of his talents, no surprises there.

That is the most painful paragraph I have ever read.

Sinfonia

Kold wrote:

That is the most painful paragraph I have ever read.

There there, it's not as painful as being packt like sardines in a crushd tin box.
Or a punchup at a wedding. Now don't Sulk, Just Go to sleep, have a (Nice Dream), and wait for the morning bell, you idioteque

stolenwine

http://www.hyfntrak.com/radiodread/fromafriend/

these guys are surprisingly good and Karma police works so well

bluto63

stolenwine wrote:

http://www.hyfntrak.com/radiodread/fromafriend/

these guys are surprisingly good and Karma police works so well

Yea, that's pretty good. I like electioneering

Karlusss

I'm all about Radiohead.

There was a time (for about 3 years up till last year) when I would have said they were the best band in the world, past present and future, period.

And I would have meant it, even though it doesn't make any sense.

Now I just think they're great.

misty floyd

SumGuy wrote:

There there, it's not as painful as being packt like sardines in a crushd tin box.
Or a punchup at a wedding. Now don't Sulk, Just Go to sleep, have a (Nice Dream), and wait for the morning bell, you idioteque

Thats deadly, I like that

nyarlothothep

Karlusss wrote:

I'm all about Radiohead.

There was a time (for about 3 years up till last year) when I would have said they were the best band in the world, past present and future, period.

And I would have meant it, even though it doesn't make any sense.

Now I just think they're great.

same here, they are great but they lack the cheesiness factor, I have yet to hear a cheesy Radiohead song. Cheese is good. I like cheese.

Giblet

Someone hasn't heard the early stuff. Try listen to Pop is Dead.

bluto63

Giblet wrote:

Someone hasn't heard the early stuff. Try listen to Pop is Dead.

Was just about to say that

Haven't a Clue

Could someone tell me why you can't get any Radiohead on i-Tunes? Thom Yorke throwing a hissy fit with apple or what?

JC 2K3

Apparently they are on iTunes now. They weren't for a while because of some issues wih their label.

However, had they refused, it would have been noble and worthy of respect. iTunes is a deplorable excuse for an online music distribution system.

http://www.downhillbattle.org/itunes/

Use Limewire kids.

Kold

Start from the beginning so. Some people call it under-rated, I'd be inclined to call it over-rated. It wouldn't be unfair to have thought of them as one hit wonders at this stage, the album doesn't give any indication to where they were headed at this stage and asides from 'You', 'Creep' and 'Anyone can play guitar', I wouldn't really have much time for it.

Karlusss

Use Limewire kids.

Do not! slsk ftw.

nyarlothothep

Giblet wrote:

Someone hasn't heard the early stuff. Try listen to Pop is Dead.

oh I remember that, not sure though if its cheese, it just sounded lame, strangely enough I loved it first time I heard it but after few listens I thought, "mah god this is so ****." Pop is dead is there only genuine misfire in my opinion, apart from the other version of Stop Whispering which is not on Pablo Honey. Their cover of Nobody Does It Better might be cheesy though, but its almost too arch to be cheesy? meh dunno.

Haven't a Clue

JC 2K3 wrote:

Apparently they are on iTunes now. They weren't for a while because of some issues wih their label.

However, had they refused, it would have been noble and worthy of respect. iTunes is a deplorable excuse for an online music distribution system.

http://www.downhillbattle.org/itunes/

Use Limewire kids.

Only songs used in films or tv shows, not their own albums. Strange.

Sad Professor

I'm a HUGE Radiohead fan, my favourite band by far. Favourite songs are Fake Plastic Trees and How to Disappear Completely. I'm going crazy waiting for the new album.

For anyone who hasn't already heard this, here's Yorke on piano playing Videotape, one of the new songs. Incredible stuff.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=O0MI3gtaqfY

nyarlothothep

nice tune, I like this one too, love the chord changes which reflect the lyrics, they go down when he says down then up when he says up and up again when hes says up the second time before going down again, genius! I think Radiohead should go in a power pop/prince funk direction, they could call it Kid B.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QbBd7AZImxg&mode=related&search=

nyarlothothep

heres another one

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AGiOBsQWkEE&mode=related&search=

sounding laid back in contrast to a couple of years ago, wonder if theyre mellowing with age...<snip>

JC 2K3

Karlusss wrote:

Do not! slsk ftw.

Not really, unless you're into more hard to get stuff.

John

Remember that Radiohead are an MCD promoted band so no talk of their gigs please!

Rabidlamb

Radiohead have one great advantage over all other rock acts.

They are the most gifted group of musicians working today.

Makes it easier to be great songwriters & great live when you have such a gift.

0ubliette

Incredibly over rated, and boring. So very, very boring.

IMO.