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authorFrederick Yin <fkfd@fkfd.me>2024-07-21 16:34:38 +0800
committerFrederick Yin <fkfd@fkfd.me>2024-07-21 16:35:34 +0800
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- [Playlist to put on on my deathbed](deathbed_playlist.md)
- [How I Discover a Band](band_discovery.md)
- [Review of _Clancy_](clancy_review.md)
+- [Review of Radiohead discography](radiohead_discog_review.md)
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+# Review of Radiohead Discography
+
+I got into Radiohead, a band with three decades of history, this January,
+due to a shitpost youtube video, as discussed in [How I Discover
+a Band](./band_discovery.md).
+
+In this post I will review every Radiohead album I listened to, in the
+order of discovery.
+
+## The Bends
+
+Guitar album, excellent dynamics. The energy pulses up and down throughout
+the album to keep you from boredom or fatigue.
+
+Compared to other guitar acts I listen to such as MCR or Linkin Park,
+Radiohead wins in music theory, most notably in the use of unconventional
+chords, while still being accessible to the average music enjoyer.
+
+Fav tracks: Planet Telex, Fake Plastic Trees, Just, My Iron Lung, Street
+Spirit
+
+Trivia: the opening tracks remind me of that one afternoon I put on The
+Bends and took a nap on the couch on 2F of Duderstadt until the 482
+lecture.
+
+Misheard lyrics: "Ah — this is killing me" sounds to me like "Cool — she's
+gay"
+
+## Kid A
+
+So electronic you wouldn't believe it's the same Radiohead. Hardly any
+guitar. Known as the "greatest left turn in music history". The opener has
+got an entrancing vibe (and is also in 10/4), and everything after that is
+just so esoteric.
+
+- Kid A: vocoded vocals
+- The National Anthem: J A Z Z
+- How to Disappear Completely: polyrhythm bassline, is about dissociation
+- Treefingers: instrumental, sounds synth-ish but is actually guitar
+- Optimistic: the least esoteric song on the record, but still
+- In Limbo: listening to the song makes me in limbo
+- Idioteque: samples early computer music "Mild und Leise"
+- Morning Bell: 5/4
+- Motion Picture Soundtrack: harp
+- Hidden track: whatever it is
+
+It's an album best listened to alone on headphones.
+
+Fav tracks: Everything, Anthem, Disappear, Idioteque
+
+Least fav: In Limbo
+
+## OK Computer
+
+Middle ground between The Bends and Kid A. Guitar and electronic.
+Definitely great, but I didn't like it (as an album) as much as either.
+First off, the album cover is whack. Iconic but not something I want to
+decorate my room with.
+
+Also, personally, the second half of the album (Fitter Happer — The
+Tourist) is not exciting. It's just sad. But "No Surprises" is good.
+
+Tracks worth attention:
+
+- Airbag: fat bass
+- Paranoid Android: Three keys, two time signatures. Magnum opus of music
+ theory.
+- Let Down: underrated. Happens to be my fav song to sing in showers when
+ I was let down by life and logistics in the US.
+
+Fav: Paranoid Android, Let Down
+
+Trivia: whenever Thom sings "interstellar burst, I'm back to save the
+universe", this image pops into my head for some reason:
+
+![开心宝贝 ("Happy Baby"), a juvenile cartoon superhero in a helmet and
+mask, doing the classical superman flying
+pose](./img/radiohead_discog_review/happy_baby.jpg)
+
+## OKNOTOK
+
+Kind of a B side compilation reissued in 2017.
+
+Fav: Lift
+
+## Amnesiac
+
+Sequel to Kid A, somehow being more and less accessible at the same time.
+
+Fav: Pyramid Song, Life In a Glasshouse
+
+## In Rainbows
+
+Really mature in terms of everything. My only complaint is "House Of
+Cards" is too long. It's not even the best song on the album.
+
+Remarkable things:
+
+- 15 Step: 5/4
+- Bodysnatchers: clipping guitar at the beginning, but it's satire on the
+ loudness war
+- Nude: one-octave-apart style bassline, angelic singing
+- Weird Fishes: just chill in general
+- Jigsaw Falling Into Place: probably Radiohead's happiest song to date
+- Videotape: nvm, we sad again
+
+Overall it's solid as a rock. Not a single bad song made it in here.
+I don't even need to skip the "meh" songs.
+
+Fav: 15 Step, Nude, Weird Fishes, Videotape
+
+## Hail To The Thief
+
+Political album. Personally not a fan, because nothing's changed in 20
+years. Musically, I'll be brutal: it's just a bunch of noise. Except
+a select few tracks: 2+2=5, Sail To The Moon, "There, There",
+Scatterbrain, A Wolf At The Door.
+
+In other words, HTTT is still growing on me.
+
+Thom seems to be doing the thing where he repeatedly sings a line along
+the chords, using his voice as an instrument. Examples:
+
+- 2+2=5: "Paying attention"
+- Sit Down. Stand up: "The raindrops"
+- Where I End And You Begin: "I will eat you alive"
+- The Gloaming: "They should be ringing"
+
+First time it's novel, second time it's acceptable, third time it's
+boring. Not a fan. It also drags the album slow (56 minutes). Radiohead
+learned the mistake and shortened their followup (In Rainbows).
+
+Fav: 2+2=5, Scatterbrain, Wolf
+
+## A Moon Shaped Pool
+
+The heartbreak album. I listen to it when I want to feel miserable.
+
+Still growing on me.
+
+Fav: Daydreaming
+
+## The King Of Limbs
+
+Growing.
+
+- The instrumentation and chord progression on "Codex" sound like twenty
+ one pilots on MTV Unplugged. They should cover it.
+
+Fav: Codex
+
+## Pablo Honey
+
+Notorious for "Creep" and the MTV Beach House incident. Still good. Opener
+surprised me with a 6+6+6+5/8 time signature.
+
+Growing.