When Radiohead announced that on February 14th they would be releasing a new album five days later, they not only stole Valentine's Day's thunder, they got EVERYONE excited. I mean, the day before was the Grammy's and they had actually given out awards to good bands - The Black Keys winning Best Alternative Music performance for their awesome Brothers; Arcade Fire winning ALBUM OF THE YEAR for their magnificent The Suburbs, which was also my favorite album of last year as well - and now Radiohead announced a sneak-attack LP. Oh, and some friends and I got to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor that week as well, so it was pretty much the best music-week I've experienced in awhile and it's going to take some time to come off of the high of it.
But back to TKoL. There was a lot of speculation regarding it and then when a Japanese website accidently said there would be eight tracks, it got a lot of us worried because that is not a lot of material. Sure, there are lots of classic albums that have only eight tracks or less - most of Pink Floyd's stuff and Sigur Ros' ( ) to name a couple - but it was still chagrining. However, this is Radiohead and so us diehard Radiohead fans knew that these would still be primo stuff and worth the wait. Oh, and then because they are Radiohead, they decided to release TKoL a day early, which was probably the most unexpected thing they could've done.
Now of course, TKoL was worth the wait. But that doesn't mean that it hasn't been met with criticism. A lot of fans are complaining that it sounds like singer Thom Yorke's solo album The Eraser. I can sort of see the similarity, but it's mostly bunk in my opinion. I think people see that because a couple of the songs on the album were introduced when Thom was touring with side project Atoms For Peace. But basically, there is NO WAY Thom could've done all of this by himself. Jonny Greenwood's score through out the album proves that. For those of you that don't know, Jonny is the resident composer of the BBC concert orchestra, and so he brings a lot of strings and horns - which sound gorgeous - to the album.
In terms of breaking down the album, I'd like to try a track-by-track review. Remember, there are only eight tracks on here, so it shouldn't be too long. But first, some words of caution. This is not a rock record. This is a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing for fans like me who enjoy Radiohead's experimental side and love soundscapes, which there are plenty of. It is a curse because a lot of people still want Radiohead to go back to being the rock band they fell in love with bona fide masterpieces such as The Bends and OK Computer, but Radiohead still isn't going to do that. Sure, I'd like to hear Radiohead rock out again, but I also know that they've already done that and that they would be miserable doing that. (If you haven't seen their documentary Meeting People is Easy, you really should - it will show why Radiohead cannot handle being the biggest rock band in the world; though, they still are the biggest band in the world, regardless.) Tangents aside, here is my review of the tracks.
01. "Bloom" - such a gorgeous opener. Radiohead do what they do best with this opener and write a song about being underwater (but never surfacing) amidst a soundscape of a looped twinkling piano line and a chilling horn section. The beat sounds like something Flying Lotus would come up with - a compliment, no doubt. The atmosphere reminds me of the early version of "Arpeggi", due not only to the orchestral swells, but because of how it literally makes you feel like you're trapped underwater with no chance of escape. Great start. 5/5
02. "Morning Mr. Magpie" - I was so excited to see this included on TKoL because I have the original version that was played on a webcast and I loved it. It was haunting and the lyrics were simple, but excellent: "You know you should / but you you don't". So why am I still not used to the album version? Probably because I have heard the original and sometimes feel that this is just a weird remix. However, the atmosphere is excellently done, yet again. As other reviews have pointed out, the high-pitched siren in the background brings out the sensation of paranoia/alienation that only Radiohead can provide. So I'm still getting used to the song, but Colin Greenwood's bass work is topnotch and the chugging guitars are great. I like a challenge, so bring it. 3.5/5
03. "Little By Little" - My least favorite on the album. I cannot get into this one yet, which is sad. But there is Radiohead, and there is lots of potential for it. As is the case with me, songs that I don't like at first usually become my favorites, so I won't be surprised when I start playing this song first. Yet, it's still a matter of "when". Although this song does get the award for lyric that is most likely going to be quoted the most (Radiohead's last album, In Rainbows, had the award go to "House of Cards" with the line, "I don't wanna be your friend / I just wanna be your lover") - and that line is: "I'm such a tease / and you're such a flirt". What happened to singing about aliens hovering above, sucking lemons and cutting the kids in half, Thom? 3/5
04. "Feral" - a cool instrumental. It's the most energy you'll get on the album, so enjoy it. This track is proof of just how tight a rhythm section Radiohead has. It also sounds like it may have been influenced a little by Burial. 3.5/5
05. "Lotus Flower" - First off, the music video. It's great and it's funny to see people's reactions to this (syncing Thom's dancing to Beyonce and Lady Gaga! Tosh.0 even making fun of it!) but this isn't new territory for Thom Yorke. Thom always has been dancing like this, and that's one reason why we love their live shows. But as for the track, I have to say that I love it. The jam in the beginning, the weird noises and most of all, Thom's singing. I think this is the best Thom's voice has been in a decade. He really makes you feel his pain. (Then again, he's always been able to do that, but he just does it better than usual here.) When he sings, "There's an empty space inside my heart / where the weeds take root / and now i set you free", try NOT feeling an empty space in your heart. A new Radiohead classic? I sure hope so. 5/5
06. "Codex" - Ever since "Pyramid Song" on Amnesiac, Radiohead have included a somber piano ballad on each of their albums. "Codex" is this album's "Pyramid Song", complete with Thom's heartbreaking coo-ing. When I first listened to TKoL, this was my favorite track. The piano actually sounds like it's underwater! The lyrics display a wistful take on "Jump[ing] off the edge into a clear, blue lake / no one around / just dragonflies". I haven't been this moved by a song about swimming at night since R.E.M.'s classic song "Nightswimming". I think this is the kind of song that you listen to after you go swimming with your friends at night in summer and then when the lyrics hit you, you cry out of happiness. And then, when you're older and you listen to this song - because you will be - this will bring back those memories and prove just once again how potent nostalgia really is (If I may borrow from Donald Draper, that is). 5/5
07. "Give up the Ghost" - Thom Yorke loops himself singing "Don't haunt me" through out the song and it makes for a very eerie atmosphere. With the acoustic guitar and the chirping birds intro, this song makes me feel like I am in a haunted forest and needing to get out quickly because it is dawn now and if I spend another day or night out here, I will turn into one of those spooky jellyfish-like ghosts on the cover. It goes without saying that this is the song that best sounds like the cover art. Speaking of the artwork, this is my favorite cover of theirs since Amnesiac. 4.5/5
08. "Seperator" - Listening to a Radiohead album is a lot like reading a novel, and I always get chills thinking about what the last line will be. Now, Radiohead has probably the best track record for last lines in albums ("Motion Picture Soundtrack": "I will see you in the next life"; "Street Spirit (Fade Out)": "Immerse your soul in love"; "Videotape": "No matter what happens now, I won't be afraid because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen"), and "Seperator" does not disappoint. "Wake me up" may not be their best, but it still packs an emotional punch. However, my favorite line in the song - and on the album - is, "Finally I'm free of all the weight I've been carrying". Thom really does sound sincere when he sings that. The lyrics and sound are great in this one, per usual. The line, "If you think this is over, then you're wrong" are being interpreted as an idea that Radiohead are going to release more tracks in the future and that this is just the first installment of a TKoL installment. I certainly hope so, since 37 (albeit quality) minutes leaves us wanting much more. Anyway, great, wistful way to end the album. Although, I do find it funny that Thom started off in the ocean with whales, and is now up in the sky with the birds.
I know that this is a tough listen the first few tries, but like all classic albums, it will "unfurl, as [a] lotus flower" - and be just as beautiful.
Overall: 9.1/10
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