Radiohead - The King of Limbs

[murlough23]

I hope those songs suck.

[bloop]

For £10 (about $16), they better not. I have no idea what I'm picking up on RSD (other than whatever freebies they have), but that's sort of expensive.

[murlough23]

For £10, they better not. I have no idea what I'm picking up on RSD (other than whatever freebies they have), but that's sort of expensive.

I'm sure you'll find sufficient reasons why we should all like them or else be viewed as Luddites.

[bloop]

It's vinyl only. Far as I can tell, they're practically marketed for Luddites!  

(your connection from this to our prior conversation is p weak, btw. I said nothing derogatory about Luddites.)

[murlough23]

It's vinyl only. Far as I can tell, they're practically marketed for Luddites!  

(your connection from this to our prior conversation is p weak, btw. I said nothing derogatory about Luddites.)

The term itself isn't terribly flattering.

[bloop]

Maybe, but I used it in jest, and not at all in that context.

[bloop]

From the Basement broadcast plans.

So, Canal in Spain, Palladia, and Mtv2 will show it, breaking longstanding Mtv tradition of not showing music, but the copyright holder from the band's home country won't? Weird.

(I personally wish they would have gone with PBS seeing as I don't have cable, and it'd fit right alongside broadcasts like "Austin City Limits", but the Canal rip I have is fine)

Someone on another board said that if he were giving the band advice, he would tell them to cut an album pretty much just like this broadcast was done (but added the rule that they must go with the first or second take once in the studio). Not a bad idea seeing as it's the best thing I've heard this year, or close to it, but the delivery method and intended medium means I'm not grading it as an album as much as I might like to. I'd have to go back and find a way to rate all these, too, after finding some way of obtaining the broadcasts.

The remixes are pretty good so far, too.

So, the band is being generous with their output this year, but perhaps on different terms than they normally are.

I have links to the 1080p version of the broadcast, btw, and accompanying high quality flacs and mp3s, but the instructions specifically say don't post them. PM if you'd like them, or browse over to atease and make a username.

[bloop]

I've been digesting the remixes. For the most part, I think they're good. I wouldn't pay for the vinyls, and I'm a little disappointed that FlyLo didn't do one, but if they were collected together at a reasonable price, I might go for it. However, some of them don't even bear a passing resemblance to the originals. Shouldn't a remix be identifiable without looking at the track list? Do I just not "get" remixes.  

Anyway, I think it's interesting that there's a track called "TKOL" on an upcoming remix. I'd imagine it's just using the entire album for some sort of collage, but the concept of not remixing a single song but a longer work seems interesting and a little unconventional. I think it'd be pretty funny to remix a song that hasn't been released, though.

[murlough23]

Shouldn't a remix be identifiable without looking at the track list? Do I just not "get" remixes. 

Falling Up did a lot of that on their remix record (which is funny, considering half their songs are titled after lyrics from other songs to begin with, so good luck keeping track of which one's which at all). It irritated me, because when a song you really liked gets remixed, you can't help but expect a solid re-imagining of a song that should be too good to be "ruinable".

In general, I've found that I tend to dislike remixes because they often downplay the lyrics and song structure in favor of repeating a song's catchier bits. This often takes the air out of the song for me, because it's the verses leading into that chorus that give it meaning, or else the change-up mid-song that doesn't happen in the remix, etc. I can think of some exceptions I've enjoyed where they've kept the lyrics intact or even added new ones... I just don't want a song that previously had something to say coming across as a mindless pale reflection of itself, I guess.

What's funny about Radiohead remixing TKOL is that I think part of my problem with "Feral" is that it feels like a remix cobbling together vague bits and pieces of a fully-formed song from elsewhere that has now been lost unto the mists of time. I realize that to some listeners, that may be exactly what makes it awesome, so as always, YMMV.

[bloop]

I think a good bit of this may err on the other side, choosing the less recognizable parts of the song to form something very hazy and vague. I like DJ music in general, so I sometimes wish it was more like you describe, but also forming clever connections by juxtaposition.

I should note, though, that Radiohead isn't remixing anything. All of these are different artists remixing their songs, commissioned by them. I do want to know what "TKOL" is, though. All the other songs have titles like "Bloom (artistname rmx)" (actual names of songs).

[murlough23]

I think a good bit of this may err on the other side, choosing the less recognizable parts of the song to form something very hazy and vague.

I'm curious to hear it, even though I don't expect to like it.

I like DJ music in general, so I sometimes wish it was more like you describe, but also forming clever connections by juxtaposition.

This is an aspect of remixes I forgot to mention that I do actually enjoy sometimes - putting two pieces of a song (or even some piece of another song) together that you wouldn't previously have expected to go together.

I should note, though, that Radiohead isn't remixing anything.

I sort of got that idea, but thanks for clarifying. I won't blame them if this sucks.
[/quote]

[RedcoatJones]

This is an aspect of remixes I forgot to mention that I do actually enjoy sometimes - putting two pieces of a song (or even some piece of another song) together that you wouldn't previously have expected to go together.

You would probably like Girl Talk, then. Except for the constant barrage of language. He typically lays rap lyrics over rock/pop tunes. But it's very ADD, with not segment lasting for more than a minute or so. It's great for the club.

I enjoy it. Hearing Ludacris' "Move Bitch" on top of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" works surprisingly well. Best way to sample is the site that also identifies the samples being used: http://readyrickshaw.com/toob/node/63#0.

Ok - back to Radiohead. Sorry for the derailment.

[bloop]

Derailment is part of the fun! I think the Girl Talk album is free, too. I'm not really hung-up over the language, - don't even know that I'd call it a "constant barrage", though it's definitely present more than most of what we listen to here.

[murlough23]

You would probably like Girl Talk, then. Except for the constant barrage of language. He typically lays rap lyrics over rock/pop tunes. But it's very ADD, with not segment lasting for more than a minute or so. It's great for the club.

That sounds an awful lot like the experience some friends of mine had while clubbing in Vegas this weekend. Not something I'd enjoy at all, actually.

[RedcoatJones]

I enjoyed it more than I expected. Part is the fun of identifying the songs being used. But the other is that Girl Talk, more than most mashup artists, really does have an ear for how to mix the songs together so that they almost sound natural.

It's different from DangerMouse in that he doesn't use the entire song. But it's more than clubs, where they just overlap one song into another. It really is layered sounds, sometimes two songs, other times up to five.

I hate to admit, but I find myself thinking of some of the rap songs as being better with their new sounds underlying them.

[bloop]

IDK that you'd like it, but it's a solid mash-up project regardless. It's not too much like what I was describing earlier - the choices are there for how they gel musically more than any sort of interesting lyrical juxtaposition. It's built from the ground up for clubs and dancing. For that purpose, it's about the best at what it does, and deserves and received fairly good press for it.

All Day by Girl Talk

(also, I still love the URL, given that there was no permission to use that material)

Now, how to bring this back to topic. Um, "Creep" is part of a song.

[bloop]

TKOL From the Basement now on youtube blessed by the band (so a take-down is unlikely).

A very nice companion-piece for the album, with some additional songs (although I was hoping for Supercollider, The Butcher, or both also), and still among the most exciting things I've heard this year. I have a better version of this, though, so . . .

[Ian]

If Girl Talk is going to be mentioned it has to be brought up that Avalanches are infinitely better.

TKOL from the basement was very nice, good to hear the guitars brought out more for that added crunch.

[bloop]

Weird. The Avalanches sound pretty much nothing like Girl Talk. Probably better though, sure.

I think the guitars were always there, but these sorts of broadcasts just prove that it isn't all (or even mostly) electronic.

[bloop]

Radiohead's appearing in a hour-long special on the Colbert Report. Could be a trainwreck, but like a trainwreck, eminently watchable.

Strange strategy to release an album in the Spring, but wait to do most of the heavy promotion here in the Fall.

[murlough23]

Radiohead's appearing in a hour-long special on the Colbert Report. Could be a trainwreck, but like a trainwreck, eminently watchable.

I'm still sort of hoping they'll actually do something with The Lonely Island on SNL. Sort of hoping, and sort of dreading.

Strange strategy to release an album in the Spring, but wait to do most of the heavy promotion here in the Fall.

At least we know they're not being yanked around by a label that plans to launch a Disney Super-Special Bonus Disc edition on us or something.

[bloop]

The Capitol reissues were good, but it is a little troubling when a deluxe reissue is released mere months after the original (see Arcade Fire's last album).

[murlough23]

The Capitol reissues were good, but it is a little troubling when a deluxe reissue is released mere months after the original (see Arcade Fire's last album).

Revisiting a classic album probably calls for some previously unreleased B-sides, alternate takes, whatever, to be dug out of the vaults. At that point they know it's for the sake of nostalgia and/or replacing outdated media.

But yeah, re-issuing a current album is one of those practices that I generally find abhorrent. At least when there's no way for owners of the original version to get the new material, short of downloading it illegally or just buying the entire thing all over again. I get that sometimes the artist needs a clever way to get a commercially ignored album back on the shelf for another round... but it often plays as a huge middle finger to the fans who bought it when it first came out.

I'm passionate enough about this to have argued the point with one of my favorite musicians.

[bloop]

OK, are y'all keeping the other bald drummer as part of the band permanently or not?

*edit* he was in the promo picture that opens the show, too.

[murlough23]

That version of "Lotus Flower" was rather meh. What the heck was that other song? It sounded better, but that may be due to not having a studio version to compare it to. (The Basement sessions all sounded good alongside the album material, occasionally even better, so don't think I'm knocking their ability to play live - it's just a perennial problem on live TV.)

My wife came downstairs during the second song and observed, "He looks like he's having a seizure." Yep, tell me something about Thom Yorke I don't already know.

[bloop]

I thought "Lotus Flower" started rough vocally, but ended well enough by SNL standards. The instruments were all very tight and precise.

The other song was "Staircase", and I thought it sounded nearly as good as the From the Basement performance. Interesting choice of venue for that song seeing as there is no studio version and the audience for SNL isn't exactly all Radiohead fans (searching them on twitter during/following the show was depressing).

They're on Colbert tonight for a longer set, and the sound tends to be better on his show. I'll have to catch it tomorrow, though.

[murlough23]

I suppose it's not surprising to hear Radiohead buck the expected "play the current single and then the next single slated for release" thing that most artists do when they play SNL. And they wouldn't be the first to go off-record and whip out a B-side. Beck did this most memorably with "Clap Hands" a few years ago - probably the most awesome thing a musical guest ever performed on SNL (at least, that wasn't done within a sketch for comedic purposes).

When I saw Radiohead's first SNL appearance, I didn't "get it" at the time, but I thought it was bizarre and memorable - that actually helped to get me intrigued about the band. I can't say the same for this one.

[Aaron]

As much as I loved previous albums, I honestly can't get into the king of limbs. I listened to it finally in August and this month a few times and it's just not a radiohead album I can appreciate.

[murlough23]

As much as I loved previous albums, I honestly can't get into the king of limbs. I listened to it finally in August and this month a few times and it's just not a radiohead album I can appreciate.

Oh man. Prepare for the onslaught.

[Aaron]

Oh man. Prepare for the onslaught.

nah. I never said it was bad. That would be comparing it to Pablo Honey.  I just didn't like it.  I'll stick with The Bends, Ok Computer, and Kid A! 

[murlough23]

nah. I never said it was bad. That would be comparing it to Pablo Honey.  I just didn't like it.  I'll stick with The Bends, Ok Computer, and Kid A! 

Eh, you'll probably be OK as long as you're not foolish enough to state why you don't like it.

Either way, the onslaught ain't gonna be coming from me, so no worries. I feel ya.

[Aaron]

Well it's simple: I like the more rock version of radiohead than the experimental electronic version of Radiohead.

[murlough23]

Well it's simple: I like the more rock version of radiohead than the experimental electronic version of Radiohead.

Kid A is far more electronic than this, though. Just sayin'.

[Aaron]

Kid A is far more electronic than this, though. Just sayin'.

I'll have to revisit it.  I think i meant Hail to the Thief, not Kid A.  I know kid A is more electronic. I just think TKOL is more experimental but that's just me. 

[murlough23]

I'll have to revisit it.  I think i meant Hail to the Thief, not Kid A.  I know kid A is more electronic. I just think TKOL is more experimental but that's just me.  

probably depends on what you're listening for. I think TKOL is actually less off-the-wall experimental than stuff like Kid A, and to a lesser extent Hail to the Thief (which itself felt like a hodgepodge of several Radiohead eras), and to me that's why it's a bit underwhelming. I've grown to really love roughly half of TKOL and at least like/tolerate most of the rest, but I can totally see someone not being impressed by it. By Radiohead standards it's a bit of a punt because it simply isn't weird enough. (Which I know makes me a hypocrite because sometimes when they get really freaking weird, I don't like it.)

[bloop]

2 out of the 3 he listed were a more rock incarnation, and Kid A didn't really hang up the guitars completely, either.

As I've stated before, a person saying he's just not into something is sort of inarguable, but not particularly meaningful as critique. Once one does state whys then they are indeed opening themselves up to closer inspection as a general rule, but particularly if their whys don't make a heck of a lot of sense.

It is a really strange statement to say that TKOL is more experimental, but I'm not sure I'm catching the comparison. Is that as compared to Kid A or HTTT or just guitar rock-oriented Radiohead in general?

Not sure their goal has ever been "be weird and experimental", but to make the kind of music that interests them most at the time. The King of Limbs sounds almost like they've caught a jazz bug, and I think it'd be pretty cool if that particular direction was more prominent of future outings.

[murlough23]

Once one does state whys then they are indeed opening themselves up to closer inspection as a general rule

Hence my advice.

[Aaron]

Once i see you guys have longer posts, I conveniently ignore them 

[bloop]

It's pretty rare my posts get long next to murlough or Vlad, but I wouldn't fault you for a tl; dr. or a dc; dr (don't care...).

[murlough23]

Yeah; I really struggle with being concise. Hard when you're trying to figure out the reasons behind your own reactions to stuff. I should quit while I'm ahead and just not try to explain, but curiosity kills the cat every time.