Category Archives: radiohead

long live the king

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Sometimes things just fall into place. For example, I have to write a post for a little blog I’m part of, and Radiohead happens to release a new album two days beforehand. I like to pretend they check the site every weekend to see my ever-interesting take on music and chose to align the release in my favor. In fact, let’s not even pretend: for all anyone knows that’s the truth.

Radiohead

In case you haven’t heard, the new album is named The King Of Limbs . It’s a shorter affair than previous Radiohead albums, with only 8 tracks. I hardly noticed, due to the fact that the band has pretty much mastered the ability to put me into a trance-like state from the opening notes to the last. Well, there’s a bit of an exception this time: “Bloom,” the opening track is somewhat chaotic with its bizarre drum beat and droning sounds. It’s still great and I found myself humming the bass line after one listen, but it’s a somewhat challenging start. From there things really pick up.

Click to play Radiohead – Morning Mr Magpie

That’s the second song, “Morning Mr Magpie.” It’s probably the most driving track on the album. Moving forward you get shifting textures and subtleties that will take many more listens to grasp. Radiohead always manages to keep us guessing, yet through all their experimentation the end result is well-written, often beautiful music.

Since the album is so short I’m not going to post any more songs. I will, however, give you this video for the new single “Lotus Flower.” Thom Yorke is just crazy enough to make the solo dancing concept work.

I doubt I need to tell you to get this album. I will anyway. It’s excellent. Order it from kingoflimbs.com and you can listen to it now. Unless, of course, you want all the fancy add-ons, like clear vinyl albums and tons of artwork. You’ll have to wait a few more weeks for that to be delivered. It will be like Christmas in March!

Introductions

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Let me introduce myself as a new contributor around here. I’ll do my best not to be the new neighbor who moves in and leaves the house in disrepair just long enough to go into foreclosure, bringing down everyone’s property values. I promise I’ll mow the lawn every week. Just keep those damn kids off it in the meantime or there will be some serious fist shaking going on. You’ve been warned.
This new beginning has got me thinking about other great beginnings. In particular, great album openers. So I’ve put together a little list of what I consider some of the Best. Opening tracks. Ever. Here are my criteria:

1. The album itself has to be solid. None of these lopsided records that start strong but peter out by the time you’re through.
2. The first track should effectively set the tone for the rest of the album.

That’s it. That still leaves things wide open, and I could make a list that never ends, so I’ve narrowed it down to 3 selections that have special significance due to their impact at the time I first heard them.

The Afghan Whigs

The Afghan Whigs. “If I Were Going”. From the album Gentlemen:

This is a moody album, and the opening track embodies that aesthetic fully. It sets the stage for a record that lies somewhere between concept album and musical theater in its repetition and reworking of themes. The album had been in my car stereo for weeks and I never really took the time to give it a close listen until one night on a lonely drive through the Virgin River Gorge. The moon was out and I was lost in thought, then I heard the opening distant train noise, the Saddest Tambourine Ever(tm), and the sparse guitar riff. From there I was hooked. Turn off the lights and let this one sink in. You’re in for a hell of a ride.


Download Afghan Whigs – If I Were Going

Radiohead

Radiohead. “Airbag”. From the album OK Computer:

I realize I could justify naming the opener from any Radiohead album since The Bends, but this has remained my overall favorite of their works so far. As far as establishing tone, this track does it in spades. Expertly matched guitars, paranoid sci-fi vocals, frenetic looped drums, and a stuttering bass line, all interspersed with computer sounds. It captured my feelings about the adult world I was just starting to play in, and made me feel like I had some crazy talented friends overseas who understood it all. I remember wondering if this was a new direction in Radiohead’s music. It was. And maybe a change in music all around.


Download Radiohead – Airbag

Matthew Good Band

Matthew Good Band. “Giant”. From the album Beautiful Midnight:

Combining cheerleaders with rock music has been done since, and probably before, but never with as much aplomb (yeah, you heard me, Marilyn Manson). The cheer and drum beat put you back in the bleachers at your high school pep rally, then things shift and Matthew Good takes over with his fabulous brand of Canadian rock. Writing about it, I’m not sure it works. Listening to it, I have no doubt it does. This album came at a time when I was delving into math rock and complex polyrhythmic music, and it reminded me that sometimes you just need to shut up, stop counting, and rock.


Download Matthew Good Band – Giant

That’s my short list. It was nice meeting all of you. Thanks for the apple pie and brownies. I think I’ll like it here.

Discovery

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“I do not seek. I find.”

-Pablo Picasso

It’s interesting how I discover music. It’s like a rabbit hole. One song leads me to another album then to other bands, and suddenly I am discovering a new band altogether. New to me at least.

I was checking the blog email box and saw that Philip Selway just leaked a track off an upcoming solo album.

Latest tracks by Philip Selway

You know Mr, Selway, the drummer for a an itty bitty UK band called Radiohead.

I start to do some other searches for Radiohead and Selway. I start to head down the road of the band 7 Worlds Collide, a band Selway contributed to. Instead, I come across something I thought was much better.

I discover that there is a new Stereogum project out called OKX: A Tribute to OK Computer that celebrates the 10th anniversary of Radiohead OK Computer. The idea was to get a bunch of musicians to cover every song of the album. One of the standouts was a cover of Exit Music (For a Film) by Vampire Weekend.


Download Vampire Weekend – Exit Music (For a Film)

Here is what Ezra Koenig had to say about the original and the cover the band did:

“Exit Music (For A Film)” was the first Radiohead song I really got into. My friend Olympia put it on a mixtape for me. At the time I was struck by how much it sounded like classical music. Now I hear trip-hop and maybe a little Pavement (?!?!). No matter what I hear in it, this song is still 100% high-style Radiohead, a super-ambitious, pre-millennial banger.

Then I realize…Pavement? I thought Pavement was a heavy metal band…wait…have I ever listened to Pavement? huh.

I delve into the bands history and discography. An indie band that stayed indie for every release. 5 full length albums and 9 EPs in 10 years. Not metal… alternative rock. Apparently they only experienced moderate commercial success but had a strong cult following.

The group broke up in 1999 but has a reunion show scheduled in New York’s Central Park on September 21, 2010. The tickets sold out in two minutes.

I checked out the albums “Slanted and Enchanted” (1992 and their first full length release) and “Terror Twilight” (1999 and their final full length album) and I like what I heard, but it felt dated. I mean they are old albums, but sometimes an album can still fell cutting edge and fresh years later. These two releases were not that. I can see how they must have influenced many bands that I love. Modest Mouse, Silver Jews, Built To Spill, Wavves all feel like they might have been influenced by Pavement.

That’s how I discovered the band Pavement.


Download Pavement – Ann Don’t Cry

Yep. More Radiohead.

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So it seems this is a trend lately. Radiohead. More Radiohead. A smattering more of some Radiohead. Oh, and some Thom Yorke tossed in for good measure. Well, deal with it! They are pretty much awesome. Not lying. So for this week? Let’s just say I’ve got some lovely stuff for you.

If you ask around, I am sure you will get a varied response as to what a person’s favorite Radiohead song is. I mean, their body of work is ridiculously large, and save for their debut album of Pablo Honey, you will probably hear any number of songs off of any album mentioned as a favorite. For me, it is one song that stands out on an album that – like most of their albums – took a lot of time to grow on me. Kid A really struck me as very different initially. “Idioteque” was one of those songs that blew me away initially, though, and it still does. Last year, deluxe versions of many of their old albums were released, including this one, and there is a wonderful live version of this track on BBC One Sessions. Enjoy it.

Download Radiohead – Idioteque (BBC Radio One Evening Session)

Last week, you’ll recall that I threw a new track by Holy Fuck up on our little corner of the internet. Well, unbeknownst to me, they have remixed the track “Nude” off of their wonderful In Rainbows album. Of all of the remixes I’ve heard, I have gravitated to this one the most. You guys be the judge of this one.

Download Radiohead – Nude (Holy Fuck remix)

And damnit, I love that Idioteque track so much, that I’ve even posted the video for you guys here. Creepy video, but it has a strong message. And hell, considering all that’s out there? I don’t even know if this is the actual music video. Whatever. I like it!

Buy stuff. It’s the American way. Go into debt. That sorta stuff.

Damaged Spoons

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Today has been a strange one. After waking up to a fever, I fell back asleep and had just ridiculous dreams. I couldn’t tell you exactly what they were about, but we all have the ones that make us feel uneasy for the day when you have them. So it’s almost fitting that I chose the songs and/or artists I chose today for the post. Thom Yorke – for almost obvious reasons – and Spoon‘s song “Nobody Gets Me”.

Well, Thom Yorke, for anyone that has been under a rock for the last 15 years, is Radiohead’s frontman. He’s a strangely unwilling iconic figure in music. He does what he likes, and that attitude helps create very refreshing sounds in a world of banal egomania in music. Mashups? Very rarely work. Remixes? A good percentage of them are crap. Original work? Always is.

So Yorke released the album The Eraser to some pretty big fanfare. It honestly probably helped create the mood of Radiohead‘s In Rainbows, also, as at points you can see how Yorke evolved from his solo project and its effect on the band. Simply take the electronic mood and replace with instruments. It was one that left Radiohead fans wondering what exactly was going on with Yorke, but there is an excellent interview with NPR’s Terry Gross on Fresh Air if you folks feel like taking a listen. Well, he has a new song out, and as much as I hate to say this, it is one featured on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. I feel very dirty even saying that. This song, however, is rather brilliant. And the next song, by Spoon, could be just as much about Thom Yorke as it makes me feel about myself at times. This is “Hearing Damage” by Yorke. Enjoy!

Download Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage

Next is a track by Spoon that sort of jumped out at me. Partially because of the song title – “Nobody Gets Me But You” – but also because it made me initially think of Moodymann‘s “U Can Dance If U Want 2”, but only because that track heavily sampled Prince‘s “All The Critics Love U In New York”. Well, this Spoon track seems to sample one of the drum loops from this same Prince track, and we’ll have you guys decide. I’ve also asked a DJ friend of mine that happens to be a massive Prince nut about this one, too. I have yet to hear back from him, but he might be in agreement with me on this one. It doesn’t take away from how good this track is, however, so kick back and enjoy.

Download Spoon – Nobody Gets Me But You

And go buy some shit. Stop being selfish!

A couple from the latest Grizzly Bear album

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Here’s a band I am sure most of the indie kids are lapping up right now. I got a chance to catch Grizzly Bear before Radiohead last August, and while they were good technically speaking, they were….well….rigid. Staying in one spot for the most part, and sans any real energy. Then again, it’s sort of who they are. They don’t make songs – for the most part – that really make someone energized and jumpy. Their music is often atmospheric and chill. Hell, when Adult Swim starts using your music for their now almost legendary Bumps? You’ve made it. Here’s a clip of the Bump using their cut “Easier”.

Well, these two songs here are from their latest album, Veckatimest. The tracks are somewhat of a departure from Yellow House, and this is a pretty good thing. They offer a more full composition in regards to songwriting and melodies, and tend to be less rough around the edges. So here are the tracks “Two Weeks” and “Cheerleader”. Now go buy their album!

[Download Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader]

[Download Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks]

Now, get your ass in gear and go buy this. Or I tell your mom. After I’ve slept with her, of course.

What Would Wil Wheaton Do?

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WWWWD

Sounds like a new version of the interwebs?

Kinda.

I’ve been thinking about how I can help inALLcaps.com get some more eyeballs. I’ve been considering branding, marketing strategies, and bumper stickers. It all comes back to Wil Wheaton.

He is an internet phenom. He is an actor and an author. He is one of the most popular bloggers/twitterers of all time. Not that I have any stats or anything to prove that, although he does have 61,158 followers on twitter. It just seems like wherever I turn, there he is. Obama’s Secretary of Geek Culture. Wil Wheaton is best known for his role in the Star Trek:The Next Generation and the movie Stand By Me..

You do know who I am talking about right?

The point is that if I could get Wil Wheaton to mention this blog…we will be known across the internet as geek approved. Which would be great not only because of the marketing coup it would be for the blog, but it would be a badge of honor being that I think Wil is very cool for being such a geek. I am a geek too, and proud of it!

Wil often posts artists/songs that his iTunes Genius/Shuffle has selected for him. Well, he posts the conversations he has with his iTunes regarding the songs. I will post a few of the tracks he’s mentioned and hopefully get him to mention us.


Here we go.

Wil says:

just realized that I *always* listen to Pink Floyd when I’m on the final edit of a writing project, but never on purpose. It just happens. 1:24 PM Feb 6th from twitterrific

@Phillyberg iTunes put Echos between Obscured by Clouds and Dark Side of the Moon. I think I saw a monolith spinning qoutside, too. 1:16 PM Feb 6th from twitterrific

[Pink Floyd – Obscured By Clouds]

[Pink Floyd – Echoes]

I love Pink Floyd. It’s not something I listen to often these days, but it was definitely the soundtrack to parts of my life that I look back fondly on today. One thing that drives me crazy though is hearing a Pink Floyd song in an iTunes shuffle. Why? well. There’s something to hearing a Pink Floyd song among its siblings on the album. I like to listen to Dark Side from beginning to end. The Wall is just better when you listen to it in order. When I hear a Pink Floyd song alone, it just seems to be missing something, namely the next song in the album.


Wil Says:

The Bends follows Obscured by Clouds very nicely, if you were wondering about that sort of thing.
2:10 PM Feb 2nd from twitterrific

Radiohead. What can I say. Bends is a great album, but let me talk about Kid A. I just read Killing Yourself to Live by Klosterman. If you have never read this book, it comes recommended from inALLcaps.com. A great book about love, death, and rock and roll. Klosterman mentions in the book how Kid A seems like the soundtrack to 9/11. That chapter itself is worth the purchase price of the book all on its own. I want to share a little line from the book that explains the point I am trying to make:

This is followed by track three, “The National Anthem.” This is when the first plane slams into the north tower at 470 mph. “The National Anthem” sounds a bit like a Morphine song. It’s a completely different direction from the first two songs on Kid A, and it’s confusing; it’s chaotic. “What’s going on?” the lyrics ask. “What’s going on?” It gets crazier and crazier, until the second plane hits the second tower (at 9:03 A.M. in reality and at 3:42 in the song).

[Radiohead – The National Anthem]

Relisten to the album after reading this chapter, and that album will haunt you every time you hear it.

Alright. How ’bout one more!

Wil says:

iTunes: Psst…Maneater Me: [:whispers:] I know, right? iTunes: Are you going to dance around and sing it? Me: Maybe a little. Both: Squee!
12:09 PM Jan 16th from twitterrific

I am not gonna say anything disparaging about Hall and Oates. I’m into a lot of the same things Wil is into. I like Hall and Oates just fine. Dancing and singing…to Maneater… PASS.

I did find it coincidental that a certain hot blonde I know experienced her first crush on Wil Wheaton. Of all the TigerBeat pinups, she chose Wil Wheaton. I always identified with Wil, but let me reiterate that I would never squee if Hall & Oates came on my iTunes. Maybe that’s why she likes me more than Wil.

Do Wil and me a solid, and buy the albums from the bands we mentioned above.

Mellow…..That’s My Style

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So anyone my age would probably know the song that the title of this entry is from. It’s one fucking badass song! The image of a Charlie Brown shirt on the DJ for Urban Dance Squad with skaters abound in an empty swimming pool is one of the things I remember clearly. So for those of you who may not know it? Check out the video for “Deeper Shade of Soul”.

With that said – and you all are no doubt recovering from dancing in your seats – I have this week’s music additions to enrich your lives. Because I know you don’t want to hear any more bullshit about the election or how crazy Sarah Palin is (because she is, btw). And if you’re depressed about the stock market? Well, this music probably won’t help you. As a tip, I think Alaska still has the highest suicide rate in the US. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that if we elect McCain and Palin, that the effect she has will make that number go up nationwide. Just sayin’. So listen to our music. If it makes you happy and you know it, clap your hands. And do it at the store. I’m sure that would make their employees smile. Or look at you funny. Don’t judge me!

Okay, so first up is more music to make you understand I’m getting older. What’s sad is I’m only in my early 30’s, but no one really knows this band. Siouxsie and the Banshees weren’t a band I really discovered until this song came out, but many people know their early ’80’s hit “Peek-A-Boo”. This is the 1990 cut “Kiss Them For Me” and is actually from my own collection. It’s a really well done remix of it, and very mellow and also about eight minutes long! Awesome remix, though.

Now, just as a little added extra, here’s the video for the original. Believe it or not, I think I have this one on wax somewhere, now that I think of it!

Next up is a remix of Radiohead’s “Reckoner” off of their latest album, In Rainbows. It’s a remix done by Flying Lotus and is EXTREMELY mellow! There are tons of remixes of this cut out there, as the band has had a bit of a contest – yet again – to remix their tracks. One? It’s free stuff they ain’t gotta pay for. Smart. Two? Why the hell not? They’re also on the lookout for talent, so this is a great idea. With that, below is the Flying Lotus remix!

As always, buy this stuff! Do it! Do it now! Now, just imagine a really shitty Arnie impression while reading that. ‘Cause I am. And it’s funny. To me.