My take on Radiohead's King Of Limbs

I’ve taken a couple weeks to let it digest a little, but I’m finally ready to put my thoughts on the new Radiohead album, King Of Limbs, down on paper – or on screen. Or whatever.

It seems like most of the people I talked to shortly after Limbs was released (a day early!) had a very similar reaction. First: Um, this sucks. Then, later: OK, this is pretty damn good!

While I didn’t hate the album upon first listen, it did definitely grow on me. At first I found it hard to be completely blown away by any particular songs – there are no all-out rockers that we ate up on In Rainbows (e.g., "Bodysnatchers," "Jigsaw Falling Into Place," etc.). In fact, Limbs features hardly any guitar at all, and most of it (especially the first half) sounds like it could be a Thom Yorke solo project. (Sorry, Ed O’Brien.) So nothing jumps out right away like the group’s masterful previous release.

But dig a little deeper and things come more into focus.

The second half of the album is really where it shines. “Lotus Flower” starts things off with a great Radiohead bass line and eerie feel. “Codex” – my favorite track on the album – is chilling and reminds me a lot of “Pyramid Song” off Amnesiac. Wrapping things up is “Separator,” which to me sounds the most like a full-band Radiohead song on the album.

After admitting to myself that I liked King Of Limbs, I still feel frustrated by it, like many other Radiohead fans. It clocks in under 40 minutes, with only eight tracks. Rumors abound about whether there will be a “part 2” to the album. When purchasing the “Newspaper” version of the album, it’s noted it will come with two vinyls. I’m not a vinyl expert, but it seems like they’d be able to fit this album on one record. And then there’s the final track of the album that repeats “If you think this is over, then you’re wrong.”

I don’t know if Radiohead will release a second part or not, but it would be nice. I enjoy King Of Limbs very much, but it definitely leaves me wanting more!

In relation to other Radiohead albums, I would probably rate Limbs middle-of-the-pack. Read my previous album rankings here. It would probably slide into the fourth or fifth slot for me -- definitely can't crack my top 3. But I don't think it's their worst album, either.

Atoms for Peace, 4/10/10

I didn't realize Atoms for Peace was playing in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom until a couple weeks after tickets went on sale. I checked for tickets, fully expecting the show to be sold out. Luckily for me, they weren't sold out, because Atoms put on one hell of a show last Saturday night.

Atoms for Peace, led by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and featuring Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, played Yorke's solo effort, The Eraser, in entirety before taking a short encore break. Yorke returned to the stage alone and played three songs solo, including "Everything in its Right Place" and an unreleased Radiohead song, "I Froze Up." I was a little disappointed to hear that, on Sunday, he played "Airbag" and "Like Spinning Plates" -- I really would have liked to hear those tunes as well, but I can't complain.

After the three solo songs, which were all fairly subdued, the remaining band members returned to the stage. And they started rocking. It was nice to hear songs off The Eraser, which I knew, but these unfamiliar songs to close the show were fantastic. They were high energy, and featured Flea and Yorke dancing like madmen.

I had anticipated it being a good show. I mean seeing Thom Yorke and Flea together would have to be a real treat right? Well it was -- but those two weren't the only reason. The rest of Atoms for Peace consists of Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich (who played keyboards and guitar) and percussionists Joey Waronker and Mauro Refosco. The rest of the band didn't take a backseat; they enhanced the performance quite a bit. Refosco played a couple interesting instruments, including something that looked like a giant fishing pole (Greg Kot from the Chicago Tribune confirmed it was a Brazilian bow) during "The Clock" and something that looked like an inverted metal Christmas tree. I have no idea what that thing was.

And, of course, similar to Radiohead shows, the light show was amazing. (JMOC took some videos of the show -- see below for examples.) I was kind of worried about this concert taking place at the Aragon. Most shows I've seen there have not been great. Whether it's a sound issue, or having to wait an hour to get inside the building, I haven't had the best experiences at the Aragon. But last Saturday, the sound was pretty good, and entering the building was a breeze.

Overall, a great show. No complaints from this Claptrapper.

Setlist:

1. The Eraser
2. Analyse
3. The Clock
4. Black Swan
5. Skip Divided
6. Atoms for Peace
7. And it Rained All Night
8. Harrowdown Hill
9. Cymbal Rush

Encore
10. A Walk Down the Staircase (Yorke solo)
11. I Froze Up (Yorke solo)
12. Everything in its Right Place (Yorke solo)
13. Paperbag Writer
14. Judge. Jury. Executioner.
15. Hollow Earth
16. Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses

New Radiohead song

Radiohead released a new song this morning -- "These Are My Twisted Words." Jonny Greenwood made a post on the band's Dead Air Space blog, saying this was the first song the group has finished among its post-In Rainbows recordings.

"These Are My Twisted Words" is a spacey, jammed out song with no real chorus. I would say "twisted" or "twisting" would be a good word to describe it. Despite the title of the song, on first listen I thought it might be an instrumental, but Thom Yorke eases his way in around the 2:40 mark.

I feel like this tune will work well as a transition song. I could see the band heading into this song straight from another song -- something Radiohead doesn't do a lot of. The beginning of the downloaded track even sounds like the end of another song before the drum beat kicks in.

I'm looking forward to hearing more new material, and they can't come back to Chicago soon enough.

Download "These are My Twisted Words" here (it's free).

Radiohead albums: Rank 'em

In honor of Radiohead coming to Chicago this Friday, I've decided to share my ranking of their albums. I always find it a fun debate, as everyone seems to have an opinion on which albums are the best. I'm excluding Pablo Honey from my list because I don't have it and I've only heard "Creep."

1) OK Computer
This album will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first Radiohead album; I want to say I was a freshman or sophomore in high school when I got it. It's such a solid album from top to bottom, and it has a great mix of rockers, softer stuff, and crazy, spacey songs. I love how this album shows the band's transition in music styles. It has the rock elements of The Bends, which was released before it, and it has elements of the dark, creepy sounds, similar to what you hear on Kid A (which followed OK Computer). As much as I enjoy this album, I almost always skip over "Fitter, Happier." My favorite tracks (can't pick just one on this album) are "Lucky" and "Exit Music (for a Film)."


2) Kid A
This album really shocked me the first time I heard it. I was expecting something similar to OK Computer. When I pressed play and "Everything in its Right Place" started, I said, "What the hell is this?" But the dark, electronic-infused album that follows is simply genius. For being an album with a lot of weird noises, it has some great rock songs: "National Anthem" and "Optimistic" fit the bill. And "How to Disappear Completely" is a chilling and touching tune. I love the flow of this album. It's probably the one Radiohead disc I allow to play all the way through without skipping a song. The sequence of "Optimistic," "In Limbo," "Idioteque," and "Morning Bell" segues fantastically.


3) In Rainbows
In a time where they could have put out something mediocre, Radiohead instead produces their finest album in years. It created a ton of buzz with its "pay anything" download option, but aside from that, it's actually an enjoyable listen. Its opener, "15 Step" features the classic Radiohead bass-line change-up that takes the song into a completely different direction. I'd have to consider "Reckoner" one of my top 3 songs by the band, with its strong percussion and eerie vocals. It's one of those Radiohead songs that gives me chills with just about every listen.


4) Hail to the Thief
I like this album -- it has some of my favorite Radiohead songs -- but I think the band could have left a couple tracks off (especially toward the end). That said, I think "There There" is one of my favorite rock songs by any band. "Where I End and You Begin" is another example of a song with a classic Radiohead bass line: The part with about 1:30 left in the song where the bass cuts out and the drums take over, and then the bass comes back in -- that's what this band is all about.


5) The Bends
This was a tough choice -- I like this album and Hail just about the same, despite how different they are. And listening to this album and Kid A, it's hard to believe they were made by the same band. The Bends is a really great rock record. It also has some of my favorite heart-felt tunes, in "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Street Spirit (Fade Out)." But over the years, I've found myself not listening to it as much as other Radiohead albums. So I almost feel bad for not ranking this album above Hail, but I just don't listen to it as much.


6) Amnesiac
I basically consider this album Kid A's younger brother. It's the least distinct out of their albums, and I skip over quite a few songs. I still think "You and Whose Army?" and "Like Spinning Plates" are great -- especially live -- but I would definitely vote this album as my least favorite.



Please feel free to share your rankings. I always find it interesting how people like their albums differently.

RadioHead New Video

Check out this new video from Radiohead, they partnered with Google to create this 3D recording. No cameras, no lights, all data and lasers. Check out how it was made here.