Oh and Numbers / Silent Spring and Present Tense are of course amazing. Best songs in here imho.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:28 (eight years ago) link
imo radiohead is a good band who makes good music
― dynamicinterface, Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:32 (eight years ago) link
Halfway through, this feels like the opposite of TKOL to me so far - obsessively performed, meticulous and maximalist. No one will accuse them of having butchered or half-assed these songs.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:42 (eight years ago) link
Someone has already said as much that they've butchered 'True Love Waits'
I don't know, though... haven't heard the LP yet.
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:46 (eight years ago) link
I also just read someone refer to this as "empty and minimal" so I guess there's no limit to the possible rongness
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:49 (eight years ago) link
I'm surprised by how close Desert Island Disk, The Numbers and Present Tense are to Thom's solo renditions, since most of the King of Limbs era tracks he played solo beforehand had drastically different arrangements
― ufo, Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:54 (eight years ago) link
It's a bit too tastefully done, so far.
What you gain on control, you lose on the spontaneity.
― Half-baked profundities. Self-referential smirkiness (Bob Six), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:56 (eight years ago) link
I loved King of Limbs but yes, sound-wise this is so lush and not claustrophobic at all which is something that they had a problem with in almost all of their recordings... the instrumentation for the arrangementalso s seems to be natural for the most part this time around... might be one of the most beautifully sounding albums I've heard since Samamidon's All Is Well.
I don't know if I'd call it maximalist, there something that feels sparse and minimal about it, I think it might be about he composition and not the actual sounds of it... but I think it works on its favor. With simpler compositions you get a chance for fuller arrangements to dominate the song.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:57 (eight years ago) link
i mean i already have the other one, bring on the butchering
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:58 (eight years ago) link
It's something that the Samamidon album also has btw... very simple songs that are made excellent by Nico Muhly's incredible arrangements.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 18:59 (eight years ago) link
I don't get people who think they butchered TLW. I'd heard so many live covers and unimpressive versions with arrangements by souncloud/youtube users that I had lost faith Radiohead could ever do something interesting with it.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:02 (eight years ago) link
I like it but I also didn't mind what they did to "Videotape" and this feels v similar
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:04 (eight years ago) link
on first listen I was most struck by "Ful Stop," "Decks Dark" and "Glass Eyes."
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:05 (eight years ago) link
I wouldn't say 'butchered' but it's such a nice melody I wish they'd done more with. this version is pretty but not that interesting either.
― ufo, Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:10 (eight years ago) link
i really like "desert island disk"
― a goon shaped tool (some dude), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:12 (eight years ago) link
lol this is really in alphabetical order
putting them in a lineage with mindless self indulgence
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:12 (eight years ago) link
I'm reading the word "interesting" a lot here... all I want to know is if it's any good!
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:14 (eight years ago) link
it's interesting
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:15 (eight years ago) link
xxpost:
First thought that sprang to my mind is "ah, they've heard Electric, then!"
― But... could you imagine a formation in your lemonade? Ho! (Turrican), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:17 (eight years ago) link
I like Videotape but I think that one could have been better arranged. I think what they did with TLW is perfect, it's everything it should be... they've spent 20 years trying different ways to do it... I imagine one day in the future some of those rarities and demos will be released and we'll get like 50 different versions and arrangements of it.
On my second listen of the album now, this is very otherworldly... it's mostly mellow which could be a problem with some fans that love their punchier material but at some point in your life you've got to age with dignity. An album filled with rockers at this point in their career would be odd. Hopefully this isn't their last, it feels like a farewell.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:17 (eight years ago) link
man I would die if they ever just cracked open their vault and unleashed their demos, alternates, c-sides etc.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:19 (eight years ago) link
Re True Love Waits; has there ever been an example of a live/session version of a song that's been considered to have been improved upon by the official studio version?
― piscesx, Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:21 (eight years ago) link
good record
― ciderpress, Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:23 (eight years ago) link
I like Desert Island Disk. I like the acoustic guitars on this album. I like the untreated pianos on this album. I like the hand held percussiony bells or chimes or those ittle tambouriney cymbals or whatever on this album. I have only listened to it once. I don't pay attention to Radiohead live stuff or b-sides. Just the LPs. This seems better on first listen than TKOL. It doesn't blow me away like In Rainbows did on first listen. The last song True Love Waits seems great.
― brontosaur, Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:27 (eight years ago) link
In Rainbows was definitely more impressive on first listen for me too... again, I think the mellowness of this one kind of undermines its initial impact... on the other hand, it's way too early to tell but generally speaking mellow, layered records such as this one are the ones with the most replay value for me.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:31 (eight years ago) link
"ful stop" is amazing
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:34 (eight years ago) link
Wow at Decks Dark on second listen! I was so excited I didn't even pay attention at the choral arrangements and twinkling pianos in the background the first time around. They've been trying to nail this kind of sound since forever. This record makes HTTT sound immensely dry in retrospective.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:36 (eight years ago) link
I can't stop! I need to get off the forums for at least a day, i'll just keep flooding the thread with inane opinions. See you tomorrow!.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:37 (eight years ago) link
I kind of wish I didn't live on the West Coast of the US. It is super sunny here and I have this new family of Black Phoebes that seem to be using my backyard as a training ground. And its so rare to see more than one Black Phoebe at a time, that seeing a new family hang out in a group is fascinating to me. I guess if i knew this album was so mellow I might have closed the curtains. Looking forward to a nighttime headphone listening session. Maybe Burn The Witch as an opener doesn't work that well, in that it doesn't seem to set the stage appropriately but just seems to be at the top because that's the only place it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.
― brontosaur, Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:41 (eight years ago) link
pisces: i thought the studio version of "go to sleep" was better than the old live version!
and, i mean. airbag too, if you want to count that one.
― diana krallice (rushomancy), Sunday, 8 May 2016 19:43 (eight years ago) link
tbh studio version of "true love waits" >>>>>
they nailed it
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:02 (eight years ago) link
yeah on my 2nd listen I teared up at it a bit tbh
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:03 (eight years ago) link
This album is DEEP.
Just in terms of sound, it's really layered and lush — probably the most they've been in those areas since OK Computer. But it's deadly slow for the most part, forcing you to really zoom in on those huge, thoughtful arrangements.
Still processing right now. It's not really an album for the instant gratification listener. Guaranteed I will miss certain things and intricacies until the sixth or seventh listen.
― Austin, Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:07 (eight years ago) link
is there such a thing as an instant gratification listener listening to Radiohead?
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:10 (eight years ago) link
especially in 2016?
it's sunny on the east coast too, i had to pause halfway through the album to take my kids to the playground and it wound up feeling like a nice intermission
― a goon shaped tool (some dude), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:12 (eight years ago) link
i was sorta instantly gratified but that's bc this is what i wanted to hear from them, something that mostly gently ebbs and implies a greater darkness. imo this is much better than the king of limbs. i love that it's understated, that the arrangements sort of take over everything, that it just seems to resonate at a particular frequency for 50 minutes and then disintegrate. "burn the witch" is kind of a red herring?
― HYPERLINK TO RAP GENIUS (BradNelson), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:12 (eight years ago) link
yeah it only makes sense in the opening slot, I'm slightly proud of guessing it and "Daydreaming" as the opening one-two
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:15 (eight years ago) link
...albeit in the wrong order I now realize, lol
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:24 (eight years ago) link
If you pre-order the CD from them do you get a download?
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:35 (eight years ago) link
No.
― Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:39 (eight years ago) link
album is fantastic. i'm not one for quantifying or qualifying or rating their records but this is completely enjoyable.
download is available with the deluxe order (which I got because I'm a sucker) but it's also on apple music
― akm, Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:41 (eight years ago) link
The £60 special edition being the only physical version to mention an instant download seems like a tactic to direct people to that
― Iain Mew (if), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:41 (eight years ago) link
The bastards.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:42 (eight years ago) link
A friend pointed out that ordering the ultra deluxe edition gets you free shipping, too, whereas shipping to the US for the CD alone (a single CD!) is $10.15, which is fucking madness.
― Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:46 (eight years ago) link
Looking at mine and my flatmate's order receipts, it seems the CD and Vinyl are coming from XL records, whereas the Special Version is coming from Radiohead's fanclub. Seems like their age old antagonism with record labels hasn't quite abated entirely.
― matt h, Sunday, 8 May 2016 20:55 (eight years ago) link
lol @ the lossless download costing way more than the mp3s and there being two priced tiers of wav, the labor theory of value really is dead eh lads
my own specific perversion compels me to want FLACs but at 24-bit prices i began to feel cheated of something to fondle, so i preordered the cd assuming that the outrageous shipping ask was just the hawaii curse (often you can't get them to fly whatever-it-is out here at all) but no i guess that's all the yanks? haha.
in the meantime have gone thru other channels. so soundscape, very texture.
― denies the existence of dark matter (difficult listening hour), Sunday, 8 May 2016 21:06 (eight years ago) link
the vinyl order comes to like $40 in the US; that's about half the cost of the deluxe and at least with the deluxe you kind of feel like you are getting your money's worth with the immediate download and the art book
― akm, Sunday, 8 May 2016 21:15 (eight years ago) link
Enormous Led Zep feels in The Numbers - feels like the orchestral entry in Stairway.Can't help but feel they lost the tense clockwork feel of Identikit after the excellent versions on the last tour.
― MatthewK, Sunday, 8 May 2016 21:54 (eight years ago) link
The Guardian and the New York Times already have reviews up. Sad!
― Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Sunday, 8 May 2016 22:23 (eight years ago) link