Has anyone else picked up Radiohead's 5th LP Amnesiac? I just picked it up today and listened through 3 times already. I know this newest exploration into electronica has met with some mixed reviews. I'm still trying to figure out whether i like it or not. So let me run through what my initial(or rather after 3 listens)reactions on each track... jeez i hope this isn't considered spoilers. I sure wouldn't want to ruin someone's experience of a first listen by vaugely describing the tunes...
Packt like sardines in a crushd tin box- This is a pretty cool opening and it sets you up for what's coming. Its a bit more accessible then "Everything in its Right Place" from Kid A, but the voice distortion is still there. I like the lyrics...very cool.
Pyramid Song- I don't know. I'm not nearly as impressed with this song as I thought I would be. Notwithstanding its still a great RH song...maybe i was just expecting something more like The Bends.
Pulk/Pull Doors- Weird. But strangely hypnotic. I really like/hate/like it. I can't decide yet. The distorted voice is a bit frightening
You and Whose Army- So far my favorite track. The lyrics and melody are polar opposites, which makes it great to listen to. I love it.
I might Be Wrong- You've probably heard this one on the radio. It reminds me of National Anthem from Kid A, and its nice and catchy (well about as catchy as RH songs usually are). I like it. I don't love it.
Knives Out- Pretty good. Can't think of anything to say about this one. More conventional Radiohead. But no Karma Police.
Morning Bell/Amnesiac- I prefer the Kid A version
Dollars and Cents- Another song that's growing on me. the overlapping of voices makes it complicated but still somewhat accessable.
Hunting Bears- I don't like it. i even prefer tree fingers to this. don't know why.
Like Spinning Plates- Cool "backward" sounding beats. I'm beginning to really enjoy this song, but its a little hard to digest.
Life in a Glass House- My second favorite track. The trumpets and the whole jazzy new orleans thing works surprisingly well.
Overall...no OK computer, but then its really not trying to be. I still perfer the Bends styles to Kid A, but Amnesiac is still a very intrigueing album, that i am beginning to enjoy more and more. However, i do agree that it doesn't sound as "unified" as a whole than previous RH endeavors.
anyone have any differing opinoins?
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
I like Radiohead, but I'm not all balls-on about them as everyone I seem to meet of late. I only one one album, an inherited tape of "Pablo Honey."
I have OK Computer and Kid A, and will be picking up Amnesiac as soon as possible, but I still consider OK Computer the best. The last half of "Paranoid Android", "Exit Music (From A Film)", and "Kharma Police" are all great songs. It's one of the few CDs I have where there are certain songs I almost always skip. Kid A, unfortunatly, there were some songs like that.
Posted by USS Vanguard (Member # 130) on :
Shik- really? Balls on? I actually don't know all that many fellow fans. There's a few casual listeners, but the majority of people from my school are too busy with Dave Matthews Band or Phish.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Really, balls-on. My friend Kim even touts her band as "a female-led Radiohead," which isn't really true..& if I see one more Radiohead-related SN here on AOL...
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Personally, I think OK Computer is a really really really great album. I don't care much at all for Kid A or Amnesiac. I'm still waiting to hear Pablo Honey and The Bends, though I have heard "Creep" (the song that introduced me to them), and I really like it.
Posted by USS Vanguard (Member # 130) on :
The Bends is fantastic. I think i enjoy it more than OK Computer, much more grounded in guitars but still not silly everyday alternative rock guitar, this has a sound all its own. I don't own Pablo Honey, but i heard the band hates Creep. Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
I heard that, too, but I don't know why. I think it's one of the greatest songs I've ever heard...
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
That's why.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Yes. Bands have to (with the exception of Oasis), have to hate all their earlier stuff. Espeically if their earlier stuff is better. I'm looking at you, Damon.
Posted by USS Vanguard (Member # 130) on :
I think RH only hates Creep cuz that's the song that made people peg them as "One hit wonders". I guess they didn't want to be referred to as that band who made creep and nothing else worth while.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Maybe. Clubs are just as likely to play Just or the Bends though nowadays. Which is nice.
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
OK, I remembered this thread from a while back, so I figured this would be a perfect place to post this.
Everyone remember the hidden booklet in Kid A? Stuck behind the black CD holder? Well, get it out.
On the cover, underneath the picture of the window, it says 'You And Your Cronies'. This is a line from Amnesiac's "You And Whose Army?"
Also on the cover, it says underneath the head of the bear 'Take the money and then run'. This is a line from Kid A's "Idioteque".
On the first inside, behind the clear page, right hand side, very bottom, it says 'Don't throw stones'. This is a line from Amnesiac's "Life In A Glass House".
Right below that line, it says 'Your royal highnesses'. I know this is a line from some song, but I can't remember which one. I know it's from Amnesiac
On the back page, very first line, is 'So Knives Out'. This is a line and in fact even the title of Amnesiac's "Knives Out".
On the right side of the back page, in the middle, it says 'Packt Like Sardines In A Crush Tin Box'. This is almost identical to Amnesiac's song "Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box".
Anyone else notice lines in this booklet that are part of other songs?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Why is this surprising? They recorded the Kid A and Amnesiac songs at the same recording sessions. When Kid A came out w/ those words on it, all the songs from Amnesiac already existed.
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
