SHOWCASE: RADIOHEAD

"You'd kill yourself for recognition; kill yourself to never ever stop."


Yes, pushing the famous Radiohead as a band anyone but me still has to discover is a bit of a laugh. However, being my age I was too young for the first coming of Yorke and his gang, which left me aiting until digging out my older sister's copy of The Bends to properly begin to appreciate them. They're hazy and mysterious at the best of times, with a fantastic mix of piano and guitar. You can get lost in it, especially when they use their greatest asset to the max; that is, Thom Yorke and his fantastic vocals.

I'm not going to try and write extensively on the band, as many far better writers who know much, much more about Radiohead have walked that path before. Hopefully, though, as a new fan I can give a new perspective, and at the very least those who have not encountered Radiohead before will give it a shot.

Some backstory: The band formed a couple years before I was even born, back in 1986. Their first album, Pablo Honey, was released to poor sales in 1993, until the smash success of single "Creep" pulled them into the spotlight. Since then, they've released 6 more albums, most critically acclaimed, some commercially successful. Since beginning to look into them, the only piecesof the Radiohead puzzle I don't have are 2003's Hail to the Thief and their EPs, Drill and My Iron Lung. I'm still finding my way through what I have, though, and enjoying the experience very much.

Radiohead - High and Dry
Album: The Bends (1995)

The song that kicked off my journey. It was fuzzy memories of loving the sound of this song (along with "(Nice Dream)") as a kid that prompted me to put The Bends on my iPod in the first place. The lyrics are very dark, very sad; I get a sense of a desperate need for escape from the world, a sort of doomed longing.

Radiohead - Creep
Album: Pablo Honey (1993)

The song that kicked everything off! For a while, the song that was both Radiohead's greatest success and the bane of their existence! The song that struck a chord with everyone who has ever felt awkward and inferior amongst others; essentially almost everyone. The story of a boy desperately wishing to be one of those 'special' people: beautiful, popular, and seemingly angelic.

Radiohead - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Album: In Rainbows (2007)

The first song off of new album In Rainbows that I remotely connected with. There's just something about it that draws me in, the frantic-yet-chill beat combined with Thom Yorke's wonderful warbling. It really does recreate the feeling of "the bottom of the sea", as Yorke mentions in the song, and it's really quite beautiful.

Radiohead - Airbag
Album: OK Computer (1997)

Mysterious, sweeping and cryptically written, this song seems to express a sort of joy in living, of being 'born again'. I don't know whether the airbag and the various deaths are metaphors, but it does seem to be more life-affirming than its dark sound would care to admit. Very layered and frenetic music, here, as well.

And remember, search for more at The Hype Machine; purchase albums or mp3's at Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amie St., cdbaby, or Insound.

ROULETTE 17

Following up from yesterday's repeat-fest, I figured it was time for a Roulette to share what I've been listening to as of late with you guys.

1. Billie The Vision & The Dancers - A Man Fom Argentina
Album: The World According to Pablo (2005)

An exceedingly bittersweet song from the perspective of a guy who longs for what his friend has, a man from Argentina who makes her 'the happiest girl in the world'. It's simply played, and just plain charming.

2. Why? - Fatalist Palmistry
Album: Alopecia (2008)

How can I not love a song about psychics who hide their palms so nobody can read them, discussion of ways to sleep and mummies, and the use of the phrase 'coffin rehearsal'? Why? has been just below my radar for a while despite sitting on my iPod for ages, and it's a shame because their CD, Alopecia, is quite excellent. This song just makes me smile, with its quirky-yet-expressive lyrics and half-deadpan tone with layers of music behind it.

3. Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing!
Album: Hold On Now, Youngster... (2008)

This song makes me ridiculously happy. I can't listen to this song and frown, and that's pretty much the best way I can describe it. Listen. Grin. Get more Los Campesinos.

4. Aaron Thomas - Aw C'mon
Album: Follow the Elephants (2008)

There's something very caustic about Aaron Thomas' "Aw C'Mon", the standout track from his album Follow the Elephants. I love the simplicity of the loping, looping guitar music and the multitude of expressive metaphors, as well as the swaggering, almost teasing quality of the vocals.

5. Radiohead - Sulk
Album: The Bends (1995)

There's something oddly magnificent about this song, especially the title lyric: "Sometimes you sulk, sometimes you burn". Radiohead's music has begun to enchant me, with its obscure lyrics and deep, layered sound.

And remember, search for more at The Hype Machine; purchase albums or mp3's at Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amie St., cdbaby, or Insound.

ROULETTE 11

Another roulette for you guys, both for some variety and to show off some new acquisitions...

Russian Red - No Past Land

I recently got my hands on Spanish indie band Russian Red's I Love Your Glasses, and it's enchanting. Lourdes Hernandez has a gorgeous voice, different than most of those I listen to. It's dark and beautiful and an excellent newcomer, even if information about the band is sparse. This album improves with every listen.

The Dresden Dolls - Night Reconnaissance

The first single for The Dresden Dolls' b-sides compilation, No, Virginia..., I'm a fan of the lyrics but still warming to the song itself. Though it's quite a good song, and as personally-relevant as the best of Palmer's work, the song works against her voice in many places instead of enhancing it. That said, I can't wait for the album and hope this song grows on me like most of the Dolls' previous work has.

Radiohead - (Nice Dream)

This is far from new. It is, in fact, from Radiohead's 1995 album The Bends, which I uncovered in a stack of old CDs of my sister's that I haven't listened to in years. I feel nostalgic every time I hear it, because though I can barely remember back then I used to listen to it occasionally on my old CD player. This was always my favourite off the disc, though "Fake Plastic Trees" went on to become an omnipresent cover in the current scene.

Moloko - The Time is Now

I've also gotten Catalogue, the compilation for Moloko - aka Roisin Murphy's old band. I've always liked Roisin, and I'm now discovering Moloko might also be something to look into. "The Time is Now" is quite nice, pretty different from the more-intense songs Murphy creates.

My Brightest Diamond - The Brightest Diamond (alternately known as 'The Diamond')

From My Brightest Diamond's (to be released) sophomore album, this song is a quiet, hazy and beautiful piece. Shara Worden, at the core of this project, has created a beautiful landscape of a love song filled with regret, and her vocals are the showcase here (as always). It's operatic in its scope, classical in its sound, with both strumming and soaring strings. It's different than the sound of Bring Me the Workhorse, but that's far from a bad thing.