Radiohead

Slightly embarrassing story time: I had the chance to see Radiohead at a small theater in 1995. Yet I was more intrigued by the opening act, David Gray, who was blowing up all over KCRW radio at the time. Thus, I was focused intensely on Gray and only paid minimal attention to Radiohead. And I left before they’d even finished their set. Such a fool was I. Nevertheless I’m only slightly embarrassed by my choice; David Gray was – and still is – worth every ounce of attention. But so is Radiohead. Their current album at the time was The Bends, which was a loud guitar effort filled with better songs than the prior Pablo Honey – a release that yielded the breakthrough hit, “Creep”, but little else of note. But who knew that the modern classic, OK Computer, was just around the corner? You might say that was another one of my “gray” areas, but I wasn’t alone with that one. Although this special edition 2-CD ‘best of’ set includes 30 selections, a full seven of these – nearly a third – are taken from OK Computer. If that’s not evidence of that album’s significance, I don’t know what is.

In an attempt to please almost everyone, this Radiohead collection is available in a wide variety of formats. There is the 4-piece vinyl set, with 29 tracks, and an edition put out for download. Additionally, Capitol released a DVD that collects the group’s best music videos. For diehard Radiohead fanatics, however, there isn’t much here – not in any format – that they won’t already have. Granted, “Talk Show Host” was a b-side to “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” and also appeared on the 1996 Romeo & Juliet soundtrack, and “True Love Waits” is a live track recorded in Oslo, 2001, which was previously released on I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings. Otherwise, this is a collection of familiar radio songs and favorite album cuts. And of course, this greatest hits project excludes music from the recent In Rainbows CD because that one was a very public, self-released effort. Sure, it isn’t a collector’s treasure trove. But it’s nevertheless still one fine bunch of songs.

One of the more amazing aspects of Radiohead, which is driven home by this overview, is how they can be so conventional – at least melodically and lyrically – yet still far ahead of the curve. A song like “No Surprises” comes off as a childlike lullaby, at least on the surface, even though it’s far sadder than anything you’d ever want to sing to your child. With its chiming intro and soft tone, it does not promise happily ever after, which is the least that can be expected from a lullaby. It predicts, instead, a life of dull predictability. Just try getting Junior to go nighty-night with an unappealing promise like that!

While the song “No Surprises” turns modern day dread into child’s play, “High and Dry” puts a plea for commitment into the bluntest of terms. When vocalist Thom Yorke pleads, “Don’t leave me high and dry,” he sounds like a hitchhiker standing alone along a Death Valley highway and you’re the last vehicle he’ll see for days. It may not be particularly innovative, but still rings true. Radiohead songs are so powerful; we really shouldn’t be surprised that Prince covered the modern classic, “Creep”, at this year’s Coachella. Well, maybe we should. Its lyric is probably something every IT nerd has mouthed to himself at least once. But its words can’t seriously describe Prince – Mr. Purple Sex God – can they? He may be a weirdo, but he’s also a highly sexed kook. And one doubts he’s ever had any trouble scoring chicks.

The Best Of is a fine overview of most Radiohead work to date, although it’s not the best way to delve into the band. That’s because Radiohead is a rare modern breed: an album band. Many groups in the digital age can get away with releasing tracks that eventually lead up to, and add to, complete albums, but Radiohead knows how to get political (Hail To The Thief) as well as personal (OK Computer), yet be successful at each full-length approach. And for those with voracious musical appetites, Radiohead never leaves them high and dry.

Highlight Track: “No Surprises”

No related posts.