if you think this is over then you're wrong

In a matter of weeks, a new Radiohead album was announced, talked about, released electronically and hotly debated. That all of this happened without a word on this blog shows how much I've neglected this writing. Writing is important and valuable to me, so I will humbly apologize and try to kick start this up again with my thoughts on the new album, The King of Limbs.

Many of you know me as a faithful and loyal fan of Radiohead. In high school, I sought out their 'secret' listening parties in obscure locations around Toronto so that I could hear the new albums just a few weeks before their wide release. I dutifully wore (wear) t-shirts with funny bears on them and smiled knowingly when other fans would subtly acknowledge my rock music credibility. I loved Hail to the Thief. I sincerely believed that Radiohead had not made a single misstep since Thom Yorke jumped into that pool on MTV in 1994. So maybe I was a little crazy. But not too crazy, and not without company in my opinions.

After winning reelection in 2004, George W. Bush memorably said "I've earned political capital and I intend to use it." In many respects, Radiohead have built a career out of attempting to do just this with the 'artistic' capital they've earned from a loyal base of fans. OK Computer was widely heralded as one of the greatest rock albums in a generation almost immediately after its release. From this point on, beginning with Kid A / Amnesiac a few years later, Radiohead went on a tear of repeated reinvention with each new album. Inevitably, rather than scare off fans or critics, the albums were (rightfully) met with wide acclaim. Try as they might, Radiohead couldn't shake off fame or relieve themselves of their accumulated capital. At some point along the way, we all began to take for granted that Radiohead was genius. Indeed, we expected new and illuminating genius each time.

My thoughts, then, should be viewed against these almost immeasurably high expectations.

And with that said.

...

I thing The King of Limbs is a misstep. Though many songs are growing on me each time I listen to it, I remain somewhat underwhelmed with the album as a whole. (You don't think the band will see this, do you?)

First off, the production on this album is really heavy and quite good. The songs are very layered but sound as though they have a sheen about them. Radiohead, over the years, have really developed superb technical skills in this department. The vertical layering is impressive.

Unfortunately, while the songs are vertically interesting, I think they are lacking somewhat in songwriting and line-- the 'horizontal' aspects of music. So many of the songs-- prominently Bloom and Give Up The Ghost-- are fascinating ideas and kernels of songs but just don't have the arc I'd hoped for. They feel more like snippets than full songs. The songs, and thus the album, generally feel underdeveloped to me. Moreover, on an album with only 8 songs (and their shortest album to date), it is a little frustrating to hear three minutes of Feral. While the instrumental experimental track has become a mainstay of Radiohead albums (Treefingers, Hunting Bears, etc.), it is easier to take on a fuller album. Here it comes across as the ultimate indicator of insufficiency.

With all this said, I want to reiterate that I do like this album, and there are some really strong and beautiful moments. Lotus Flower is rhythmic, exciting and uses Thom Yorke's fluid falsetto in wonderful ways. Codex is gentle and sweet, a Radiohead piano track, if a little simple. Separator is gorgeous in tone, vocals and melody: a really superb song and very strong closer. Unfortunately, placed at the very end of the album, the strength of this track paradoxically serves to heighten the sense that so much more was possible this time around.

Would I have given this album a second listen had some other band released it? Perhaps the question is moot-- a Radiohead album remains a special kind of experience.