The Official Radiohead Thread

[scottsy]

I don't care what people say about Kid A and it's influences and whether it was supposed to break new ground or whatever... that is all pretty meaningless to me when i evaluate it as an album. Sure there may have been a billion artists out there doing that sound, and they're probably great and wonderful and all that... the fact for me remains that Radiohead took all their influencing elements and melded it into the dark, broody canvas that was Kid A... I probably still should seek out Radiohead's influential groups, as they probably do alot of stuff I'd love, but for me, regardless of who did what or this or that first... the synthesis that is Kid A just works, plain old works as an album, a piece, a consistent concept... that's why I love it so much.

[mr dave]

Originally Posted by trace87

so its because your opinions are superior to mine right?

yes, is your dumb ass happy now?

[duga]

You guys are funny.

I don't think it really matters whether Kid A was totally original or heavily inspired...the fact remains it was still good. I also can't complain about an album that gets mainstream attention and starts to open people up to good music rather than the crap that is usually churned out by that demographic. It was one of those rare moments in music history where one of the better artists out there is also one of the most popular. If Radiohead can use their popularity to get people to listen to more diverse music, then I'm all for it.

[mr dave]

^ fair enough. can we all agree that The National Anthem is the heaviest thing they ever recorded?

[boo boo]

Originally Posted by mr dave

nope. i've said it many times before in other threads. Kid A was meh, too much 'experimenting' for the sake of being 'experimental' and not enough about writing great songs.

i put Kid A and Amnesiac on the same level as the Use Your Illusion albums by GnR, only Radiohead got lucky and didn't implode following the release of their hubris. basically they're both two albums that really REALLY should have only been one. strip the filler from both and put all the good stuff on one disc and you would have had a GREAT album from start to finish, no skipping, and tons of material for b-sides/rarities/collectibles for the hardcore fans.

and the whole angle that Kid A was a great step forward for both the band and listeners reflects rather poorly on the listener.

I don't think either album has a single duffer actually, they're the two most consistant records the band ever put out. I don't think they're too experimental and in fact I don't even find them that inaccessible.

Radiohead started going into Krautrock territory but they added something that most Krautrock didn't have and that's a very strong sense of melodicism and that's quite present on those two records.

[scottsy]

Originally Posted by duga

You guys are funny.

I don't think it really matters whether Kid A was totally original or heavily inspired...the fact remains it was still good. I also can't complain about an album that gets mainstream attention and starts to open people up to good music rather than the crap that is usually churned out by that demographic. It was one of those rare moments in music history where one of the better artists out there is also one of the most popular. If Radiohead can use their popularity to get people to listen to more diverse music, then I'm all for it.

I'm totally with Duga on this one!

[boo boo]

Originally Posted by trace87

let me get this straight. this is because you have much better opinions than others right?

i do agree about how amnesiac/kid a should have been combined though. looking through them i would remove:

pulk/pull revolving doors
one of the morning bells i forget which i prefer.
hunting bears
treefingers
motion picture soundtrack

the rest are arguable but those are shitty.

Both Morning Bells are awesome and so is Motion Picture Soundtrack, the others while not highlights are by no means bad either.

I quite like Treefingers actually, it has a lovely atmosphere and had it not been there I'd feel Kid A would be missing something, and I'm still impressed/boggled by how O'Brien and Godrich managed to produce those kinda sounds. Hunting Bears is underrated, it's a brief little guitar solo that doesn't overstay it's welcome, it kinda reminds me of the Ecco the Dolphin soundtrack.

Pulk is the worst track of either album but it's fascinating still.

[scottsy]

Although I realize it has its limitations as a piece of music, I always had a massive soft spot for Pulk... it's just an interesting track full of sound that appeals to my warped ears.

[boo boo]

Not every Radiohead is supposed to very "musical" as in they're all about atmosphere, Pulk and Treefingers both achieve that very well and they're rather brief so it's not all that excessive, especially when you consider the kind of atonal racket groups like Can would make for 30 straight minutes.

[debaserr]

Originally Posted by boo boo

Not every Radiohead is supposed to very "musical" as in they're all about atmosphere, Pulk and Treefingers both achieve that very well and they're rather brief so it's not all that excessive, especially when you consider the kind of atonal racket groups like Can would make for 30 straight minutes.

i just don't find them very entertaining to listen to. believe me, i have tried many times.