Radiohead are an English band from Oxfordshire, UK who are often praised as being among the most creative musical groups of their era and noted for their multilayered songs and often radical evolutions from album to album. Radiohead are seen by many to have maintained a spirit of musical and political independence throughout their career, even when the band was signed to the major label EMI. Their name comes from the Talking Heads song, Radio Head. Formed by school friends in 1986, Radiohead did not release their first single until 1992’s “Drill EP”. The cathartic Creep, from the debut album Pablo Honey (1993), became a worldwide hit as grunge music dominated radio airwaves. Radiohead were initially branded as a one-hit wonder abroad, but caught on at home in the UK with its second album, The Bends (1995), earning fans with their dense guitar atmospheres and front man Thom Yorke’s expressive singing. The album featured the hits “High & Dry”, “Just” and “Fake Plastic Trees”. The band’s third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater attention. Popular both for their expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, they have been acclaimed by critics as a landmark record of the 1990s, some critics go as far to consider it one of the best of all time. The album featured the popular singles “Paranoid Android”, “Karma Police” and “No Surprises”.
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As much as critics pigeonholed Radiohead as luddites in days past, perhaps no other band has embraced and incorporated technology as successfully as they have. Their fans? Equally savvy. Before OK Computer, Radiohead's obsessive following had already created a tight-knit online community, one whose overpowering ubiquity indeed helped facilitate the so-called "revolutionary" release of Radiohead's seventh, self-released new album, In Rainbows. But believing the album's unique distribution method ......
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Radiohead Reissues Pablo Honey 3* | The Bends 4* | OK Computer 5* *** It certainly doesn't feel like 12 years since OK Computer, an indication of the record's continuing power and resonance, as well as, perhaps, the inability of Radiohead's successors to move the game forward significantly. Either way, the reissue of such a ubiquitous album hardly seems crucial right now. That is, unless you work for EMI. So far, their treatment of Radiohead's back catalogue has resembled a jilted lover flo......
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In the same season that Radiohead's OK Computer was released,
I moved with my husband, infant son and Radiohead disc (along with a
few other possessions) to Brussels. I spent the first several months
in a quiet cocoon, with my husband at work, my baby asleep, and the
gray mist of Belgium shielding the light and drowning out attempts to
connect with my new city. I listened to OK Computer
incessantly, not just because I found comfort in Thom Yorke's pleas
to the clouds to rain down from a g......
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While it's clearly a shift towards making music identifiable as that
of rockband, let's make this much clear: that doesn't clarify things
in the slightest. This may be Radiohead strapping on guitars more
often, and they may be walking the smack they've been talking, about
"having fun" and authoring "joyous" songs and such. But such joy and
fun have hardly come across on the disc after giving the
full-stop/multi-titled shtick of Hail to the Thief the
play-then-play-again spins that an anti......
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For their first release since the expiry of their contract with EMI, at a moment when they might have indulged their every splendid whim unconstrained by release schedules or media formats, there's something beautifully perverse about the fact that Radiohead have made their most well-behaved, classically structured album since OK Computer. You suspect they might have even planned this out of anti-corporate spite, stockpiling their most radio-friendly moments for the moment after that final con......
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I am not sure what happened during the three-year Radiohead-withdrawal between OK Computer and Kid A, but suddenly the whole music world was centered around Radiohead. Every musician, actor, actress, comedian, and bowler were quoted on what they thought of Kid A. If anyone had enough balls to pan it, their E-mail box would be flooded with hate mail from obsessed fans. Even Radiohead's anti-marketing marketing strategy wasn't enough to stop the hype surrounding the Oxford quintet, let alone......
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Radiohead: Hail to the Thief: Special Collectors Edition
After the revolutionary OK Computer and Kid A/Amnesiac, Radiohead took a step sideways with Hail to the Thief. The band had refined its sound, and its particular brand of adventurous electronic/organic push/pull. Hail sounded less like the cohesive statements that their predecessors put forth, and instead seemed more a collection of songs. Great songs, of course, with the guitars taking center stage once again. From the brilliant "2+2=5" to the threatening "Where I End and You Begin" to the slin......
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The companion piece to Kid A, Radiohead's Amnesiac is much more than a selection of outtakes or B-sides. Without the single-mindedness of Kid A, Amnesiac shows more range, both in terms of emotion and sound.
From the tin drum opening of "Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box" to the thunderous percussion of "Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" to the jazzy spaciousness of "Dollars and Cents," Amnesiac may be a collection of things that veered too far off center for Kid A, but what a brilliant collecti......
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Capitol gives Radiohead the reissue treatment on Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief, which should come as no surprise given the band's stature and the current state of the music industry. There's no question that this is a money grab, but whether it's one that benefits the consumer depends on what they've found in the vaults to bolster albums that most people already own and don't have much to gain from remastering or remixing.
Kid A is a particularly harsh environment. Released in 2000 as ......
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So, after two years of constant hype for Amnesiac and Kid A, Radiohead has decided to release a live album. Guess what? It's composed almost entirely of songs from these same two albums. So how does this little experiment in marketing shape up? At their best, these recordings give a slightly different view of Radiohead with some crowd noise thrown in. "Like Spinning Plates" is the best of the old lot, saving a somewhat interesting but throwaway studio-trickery piece from Amnesiac by allowi......
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Some bands, even experienced and established ones such as Radiohead, have been known to release EPs which are basically glorified singles. They can and have slapped together a couple tracks off a recent hit album along with a few discarded songs and a live version or two along with some sort of multimedia content [oh boy! A screensaver!] in an effort to cash in on their celebrity status. Thankfully, this Oxford quintet isn't one of them and Com Lag is much more than an extended single. Whi......
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Like the universe itself, it starts with an explosion and expands to barely comprehensible proportions. With Radiohead, though, you can still hear the eruption that started them in earnest: scoot to 'Pablo Honey' the unexceptional debut CD from Parlophone's freshly-minted box set (or, if you were quick, limited edition USB stick) and press play on "Creep". One minute in, Jonny Greenwood's famous powerchord surges into an amp that can barely take it, and nothing can quite be the same again.......
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In an interstellar burst, Radiohead slaps the music world on the face with one of the most respected and acclaimed albums in rock & roll history. OK Computer came seemingly out of nowhere and kicked our asses until there was nothing left to kick. This landmark masterpiece set a new standard for rock musicians that has yet to be challenged. It's beautiful, mysterious, scary, and thought-provoking; a record that will indefinitely be a future classic. The lyrics vary from songs about running a......
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Contrary to most, if I had to choose one Radiohead album to take to the desert island, it would be Kid A (Capitol, 2000), not OK Computer (Capitol, 1997). "Everything in Its Right Place," with tones that could have come from the best Warp recordings, was to a fan of other producers (Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin) who've used electronic instrumentation to explore melody warm, inviting and not the least bit strange. The band had, indeed, taken a leap, but it was not at all into the unknown, g......
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Whether we shop at small independent music stores or big corporate chains, we
music lovers share a commonality: expectations. We expect the bands that we love
to get better and better, and not just linearly, but exponentially. It's unfair,
it's stupid, it's puerile, and the worst part is that we are all guilty of such
ridiculous preconceptions. It's an arcane phenomenon in rock music that is
especially common with such behemoth groups like Radiohead. The longer we had to
wait for the follo......
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and horn section. Ask now where you think the band it became has its origins and Texas would be one of least likely answers. How then they got to Midlake and a fine seven song debut EP in 2001, Milkmaid Grand Army, with its keen Radiohead influence is probably down to main man, Tim Smith, listening to OK Computer a lot and deciding he needed to trade the sax in for a guitar. A full album, Bamnan & Silvercork, followed in 2004, hallmarked by a style of song construction and delivery much on the lines ... read
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looked me in the eye" Thom covers Mark Mulcahy To stunning effect, it sounds a bit like Radiohead (Naturally). (Buy) (YouTube) (MySpace) 56. THE BOY FROM SPACE - Come Home "Come home where the air is free, come home and live with me" An indie single as warm and comforting as a glass of mulled wine and a roaring fire. (Buy) (YouTube) (MySpace) 57. PASSION PIT - Sleepyhead (Bo Flex Giantess Remix) "Like stars burning holes right through the dark, flicking fire like saltwater into my eyes" The original ... . (Buy) (MySpace) 96. PATRICK WOLF - Hard Times "Divided nation, in sedation, overload of information, that we have grown up to ignore, mediocrity applauded" With it's stinging strings and scowling lyrics 'Hard Times' was easily the best track from Patrick's latest LP. (Buy) (YouTube) (MySpace) 97. CLAIRE HUX - Fucked Up "It feels like a movie babe, it burns slow, gonna let it go" 'Fucked Up' was produced by Thom Yorke and sounds not unlike Radiohead covering Prince. (Download) (MySpace) 98 ... read
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News from Radiohead's Dead Air Space site yesterday was leader Thom Yorke will play what he called a "low key acoustic thing" in Cambridge, England on February 25. The show, to be aired at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, will be... ... read
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ZACH THAT: That's right, the third annual March Music Madness is BACK! This year, the 64 artist/band tournament that runs alongside the basketball tournament, will be completely up to you, the reader. Here are the guidelines for all nominated bands/artists: +Must have released an album in the last three years or have a release date in the next three months. +Had to be created past 1985. +Has to be a current band (no break ups/reunion/etc) +Can not be previous winners Radiohead or Animal ... read
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Scatch My Back In Its Entirety listen" />Scatch My Back In Its Entirety listen" />Scatch My Back In Its Entirety listen" title="Stream Peter Gabriels Scatch My Back In Its Entirety" /> You can stream all of Peter Gabriel's epic indie rock covers album Scratch My Back at The Guardian's website. Scratch My Back features covers of the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver. Refer to the tracklist below to learn more of the awesomeness that awaits you. You can download Gabriel ... 's cover of Bon Iver's "Flume" here. Tracklist: 01 "Heroes" (David Bowie) 02 "The Boy in the Bubble" (Paul Simon) 03 "Mirrorball" (Elbow) 04 "Flume" (Bon Iver) 05 "Listening Wind" (Talking Heads) 06 "The Power of the Heart" (Lou Reed) 07 "My Body Is a Cage" (Arcade Fire) 08 "The Book of Love" (The Magnetic Fields) 09 "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" (Randy Newman) 10 "Après moi" (Regina Spektor) 11 "Philadelphia" (Neil Young) 12 "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" (Radiohead) Tags: Album Stream, Peter ... read
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lavished on a more deserving or appreciative subject. Oh No Ono is a truly unique band. These guys give new meaning to the term "experimental." No words can properly prepare you for the kind of creative variety there is to be heard on this album. There are hints, here and there of possible eastern influence, a taste of classical pop here, a touch of mellow psychedelia there. It seems with this group, the possibilities are endless. And unlike outfits like Radiohead or Sigur Rós, Oh No Ono has created ... read
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On Radiohead's Dead Air Space site, frontman Thom Yorke announced today that he'll play a "low key solo thing" at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in Cambridge, England on February 25. The show will serve as a benefit for the Green Party, and Yorke is playing it because he's supporting environmentalist friend Tony Juniper in his campaign for a seat in the British Parliament. Juniper recently accompanied Yorke to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference. Yorke writes, "I think he'd be a great MP ... .) Tickets will go on sale at Radiohead's W.A.S.T.E. Shop tomorrow at "midday". SOURCE LINK TO THOM'S ANNOUNCEMENT (he seems to be kind of nervous) Basically, Thom is playing a show on Feb 25 to help out his friend. Tickets are on sale tomorrow and the show will be in the UK. BTW, RADIOHEAD REDESIGNED THEIR WEBSITE. LP8? LP8? ... read
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In occasione dei suoi 60 anni, Peter Gabriel torna dopo 8 anni di assenza con un nuovo progetto basato su una sorta di scambio di cover: tra pochi giorni uscirà "Skratch my back" (grattami la schiena), disco in cui l'ex Genesis ricanta pezzi di David Bowie, Radiohead, Neil Young ed altri. Seguirà poi un successivo album dal titolo "I'll Scratch Yours" (io gratterò la tua), in cui gli artisti coverizzati ricambieranno a loro volta con dei pezzi tratti dal repertorio di Gabriel. Tra il titolo e ... read
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How does March 2 sound? Besides being both my mom and Jon Bon Jovi's birthday, the date will now go down in history as the day Portugal. The Man releases its new full-length, American Ghetto. Like I reported a month ago, PTM is choosing the Radiohead distribution model, and will release the record without any early press, radio or retail leaks. People are free to grab the album and do what they want with it. Check back in three weeks for LocalCut's exclusive live blogging of our first listen ... read
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You can stream all of Peter Gabriel's epic indie rock covers album Scratch My Back at The Guardian's website . Scratch My Back features covers of the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver. Refer to the tracklist below to learn more of the awesomeness that awaits you. You can download Gabriel's cover of Bon... ... read
more
Thom Yorke is gearing up to play a rare solo set at the Coachella festival in the California desert in April, but he has an important engagement to take care of before that date. The Radiohead singer has just announced that he will play "a low key solo thing" in Cambridge, England, at the Corn Exchange on Feb. 25. The show is a benefit for the Green Party, and is being played in support of Tony Juniper, who hopes to secure a seat in Parliament. "I think he'd be a great MP as he knows a lot ... read
more
Radiohead are an English band from Oxfordshire, UK who are often praised as being among the most creative musical groups of their era and noted for their multilayered songs and often radical evolutions from album to album. Radiohead are seen by many to have maintained a spirit of musical and political independence throughout their career, even when the band was signed to the major label EMI. Their name comes from the Talking Heads song, Radio Head. Formed by school friends in 1986, Radiohead did not release their first single until 1992’s “Drill EP”. The cathartic Creep, from the debut album Pablo Honey (1993), became a worldwide hit as grunge music dominated radio airwaves. Radiohead were initially branded as a one-hit wonder abroad, but caught on at home in the UK with its second album, The Bends (1995), earning fans with their dense guitar atmospheres and front man Thom Yorke’s expressive singing. The album featured the hits “High & Dry”, “Just” and “Fake Plastic Trees”. The band’s third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater attention. Popular both for their expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, they have been acclaimed by critics as a landmark record of the 1990s, some critics go as far to consider it one of the best of all time. The album featured the popular singles “Paranoid Android”, “Karma Police” and “No Surprises”.
read more
Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem. Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s.
Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus. "Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following, even as the British music press ignored the group.
Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern rock radio and MTV. On the back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world.
Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring 1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996 the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake Plastic Trees."
During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures, and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between rock classicism and futurism, it earned near-un
read more
Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem. Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s. Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus. "Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following, even as the British music press ignored the group. Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern ock radio and MTV. On the back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world. Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring 1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996 the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake Plastic Trees." During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures, and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between ock classicism and futurism, it earned near-unanimous critical and popular support over the course of the year, which tu
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Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Oxfordshire. The band is composed of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, electronics), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, other instruments), Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar, synthesisers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion). Since 1993, Radiohead have released seven studio albums. The band have sold over 25 million albums as of 2007.[1]
Radiohead released their first single, "Creep", in 1992. Their debut album, Pablo Honey, followed in 1993. "Creep" was initially unsuccessful, but the song became a worldwide hit when reissued a year later, and the band were almost branded as one hit wonders. Radiohead's popularity in the United Kingdom increased with the release of their second album, The Bends (1995). The band's textured guitar atmospheres and Yorke's falsetto singing were warmly received by critics and fans. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled the band to greater fame worldwide. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of alienation from the modern world, OK Computer has often been acclaimed as a landmark record of the 1990s.
The release of Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) saw Radiohead reach the peak of their popularity, although the albums divided critical opinion. This period marked a change in Radiohead's musical style, with their incorporation of avant-garde electronic music, Krautrock and jazz influences. Hail to the Thief (2003), which mixed guitar-driven rock with electronics and contemporary lyrics, was the band's final album for their record label, EMI. Radiohead's seventh album, In Rainbows (2007), was first released independently as a digital download for which customers selected their own price, later meeting with critical and chart success.
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Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The band is composed of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano, beats), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboard, other instruments), Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass guitar) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion).
Radiohead released their first single, "Creep," in 1992. The song was initially unsuccessful, but it became a worldwide hit several months after the release of their debut album, Pablo Honey (1993). Radiohead's popularity rose in the United Kingdom with the release of their second album, The Bends (1995). The band's textured guitar parts and Yorke's falsetto singing were warmly received by critics and fans. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer (1997), propelled them to greater international fame. Featuring an expansive sound and themes of modern alienation, OK Computer has often been acclaimed as a landmark record of the 1990s.
Kid A (2000) and Amnesiac (2001) marked a change in the band's musical style. Radiohead incorporated experimental electronic music, Krautrock, post-punk and jazz influences into their songs, dividing fans and critics, but they remained popular. Hail to the Thief (2003), a mix of guitar-driven rock, electronics and lyrics inspired by headlines, was the band's final album for their major record label, EMI.
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Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem. Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s.
Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus. "Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following, even as the British music press ignored the group.
Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern rock radio and MTV. On the back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world.
Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring 1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996 the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake Plastic Trees."
During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures, and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between rock classicism and futurism, it earned near-unanimous critical and popular support over the course of the year, wh
read more
Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem. Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s. Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus. "Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following, even as the British music press ignored the group. Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern ock radio and MTV. On the back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world. Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring 1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996 the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake Plastic Trees." During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures, and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between ock classicism and futurism, it earned near-unanimous critical and popular support over the course of the year, which tu
read more
Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem. Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s.
Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus. "Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following, even as the British music press ignored the group.
Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern rock radio and MTV. On the back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world.
Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring 1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996 the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake Plastic Trees."
During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures, and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between rock classicism and futurism, it earned near-unanimous critical and popular support over the course of the year, wh
read more
Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized
U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst
and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied
on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It
took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and
one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem.
Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific
reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying
power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that
became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s.
Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway
(drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a
musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol
and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus.
"Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following,
even as the British music press ignored the group.
Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European
supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern rock radio and MTV. On the
back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure
helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top
Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world.
Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of
such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring
1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more
mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of
Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s
prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring
but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996
the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake
Plastic Trees."
During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third
album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical
supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures,
and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between rock classicism and futurism, it earned near-unanimous critical
and popular support over the course of the year
read more
It's usually safe as milk to assume that bands who make splashy entrances — as England's Radiohead did, with a gimmicky self-deprecating US debut ("Creep") that slyly "fuck"ed its way up the charts — have no place to go but down. That makes the enormous creative growth between Pablo Honey and The Bends all the more admirable. And that was just the beginning for a group that has become a global superpower, a successor of sorts to a band that first set out to emulate.
The Oxford quintet has one bad habit (trying to sound like a young English U2) and several good ideas on Pablo Honey, although "Creep" is not chief among them. The single's comforting admission of worthlessness ("I wish I was special, so fucking special, but I'm a creep") predates Beck's "Loser" by a year, but Thom Yorke's vocals are too self-consciously drab to be convincing. Jonny Greenwood's choking guitar explosions are far more corrosive, but they're not what the song is about. The fervent, nearly spiritual view of alienated ambition stated in the rousing and catchy "Anyone Can Play Guitar" cuts much closer to the bone and seems truer to the band's actual desires: "Destiny protect me from the world...I wanna be Jim Morrison." In a similar musical vein, "Ripcord" uses a twin-guitar roar and Yorke's impassioned singing (sometimes layered into Byrdsy harmonies) to good effect, lashing out at the quiet melodic lines with aggressive, edgy noise assaults. While other tracks exploit that dynamic tension ("Blow Out" detonates the first half's jazzy daintiness with Greenwood's howling wind tunnel noise demonstration and Phil Selway's Keith Moon drum bursts), a few remove the electro-shock therapy completely. The acoustic "Thinking About You" is a fine, sensitive love song that suggests a solemn intelligence beneath the media-conscious bluster.
The five noncommittal new tracks on My Iron Lung deconstruct the first album's ingredients, leaving a simpler, less evidently contrived and casually produced sound. That's progress of a sort, though only "The Trickster" and "Permanent Daylight" have the compositional clarity to take advantage. The Beatlesy title track is an intriguing digression, but the lyrics ("This is our new song/Just like the last one/A total waste of time") only reinforce the structural resemblance to Radiohead's previous bout of ego failure.
"Am I really sinking this low?...I wish it was the '60s / I wish I could be happy / I wish I wish I wish that something would happen," sings Yorke in the disconsolate title track of The Bends. He then proceeds to savagely yawn and moan his way through such vague miseries for the entirety of this provocative testament to faded glamour and crepuscular youth. Produced, as was the EP, with a minimum of fuss by John Leckie, The Bends constantly undersells itself, which makes Yorke's expressions of acceptable angst all the more dismally seductive. Everything here is fake or broken; Yorke is cynical, vulnerable and exhausted. His response to pain is chemical anesthesia; he dreams of being "Bullet Proof" and chooses unconsciousness over confrontation. (Reprised in this context, "My Iron Lung" makes perfect sense: "We're too young to fall asleep / Too cynical to speak / We're losing it can't you tell?") Meanwhile, guitarists Greenwood and Ed O'Brien tickle and rattle with a staggering array of clever instrumental approaches, building a complex web of energy and anger, frustration and hopelessness — all in the guise of accessible pop songs. Now that's special.
After the transitional sophomore album, OK Computer is a dense, multifaceted record that attests to a considerable evolution. It stands not only as a landmark for the band but as a landmark in British rock of the '90s. It's ironic that an alter
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Radiohead was one of the few alternative bands of the early '90s to draw heavily from the grandiose arena rock that characterized U2's early albums. But the band internalized that epic sweep, turning it inside out to tell tortured, twisted tales of angst and alienation. Vocalist Thom Yorke's pained lyrics were brought to life by the group's three-guitar attack, which relied on texture -- borrowing as much from My Bloody Valentine and Pink Floyd as R.E.M. and Pixies -- instead of virtuosity. It took Radiohead awhile to formulate their signature sound. Their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, only suggested their potential, and one of its songs, "Creep," became an unexpected international hit, its angst-ridden lyrics making it an alternative rock anthem. Many observers pigeonholed Radiohead as a one-hit wonder, but the group's second album, The Bends, was released to terrific reviews in the band's native Britain in early 1995, helping build a more stable fan base. Having demonstrated unexpected staying power, as well as increasing ambition, Radiohead next released OK Computer, a progressive, electronic-tinged masterpiece that became one of the most acclaimed albums of the '90s.
Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar), Ed O'Brien (guitar, vocals), Jonny Greenwood (guitar), Colin Greenwood (bass), and Phil Selway (drums) formed Radiohead as students at Oxford University in 1988. Initially called On a Friday, the band began pursuing a musical career in earnest in the early '90s, releasing the Drill EP in 1992. Shortly afterward, the group signed to EMI/Capitol and released the single "Creep," a fusion of R.E.M. and Nirvana highlighted by a noisy burst of feedback prior to the chorus. "Creep" was a moderate hit, and their next two singles, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" and "Pop Is Dead," built a small following, even as the British music press ignored the group.
Pablo Honey, Radiohead's debut album, was released to mixed reviews in the spring of 1993. As the band launched a European supporting tour, "Creep" became a sudden smash hit in America, earning heavy airplay on modern rock radio and MTV. On the back of the single's success, Radiohead toured the U.S. extensively, opening for Belly and Tears for Fears. All the exposure helped Pablo Honey go gold, and "Creep" was re-released in the U.K. at the end of 1993. This time, the single became a Top Ten hit, and the band spent the following summer touring the world.
Although "Creep" made Radiohead a success, it also led many observers to peg the band as a one-hit wonder. Conscious of such thinking, the group entered the studio with producer John Leckie to record their second album, The Bends. Upon its spring 1995 release, The Bends was greeted with overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews, all of which praised the group's deeper, more mature sound. However, positive reviews didn't sell albums, as Radiohead struggled to be heard during the U.K.'s summer of Britpop and as American radio programmers and MTV ignored the record. The band continued to tour as the opening act on R.E.M.'s prestigious Monster tour. By the end of the year, The Bends began to catch on, thanks not only to the band's constant touring but also to the stark, startling video for "Just." The album made many year-end best-of lists in the U.K., and early in 1996 the record re-entered the British Top Ten and climbed to gold status in the U.S., helped in the latter by the video for "Fake Plastic Trees."
During the first half of 1996, Radiohead continued to tour before re-entering the studio that fall to record their third album, OK Computer, which was released in the summer of 1997. A devoted following of fans and a handful of enthusiastic critical supporters immediately embraced the album's majestic blend of unfettered prog rock, post-punk angst, eerie electronic textures, and assured songwriting. Since it skillfully teetered between rock classicism and futurism, it earned near-unanimous critical and popular support over the course of the year, wh
read more
