(Courtesy of americanoise.com)
By Philippe Boutros, Staff Writer -- boutros14@up.edu
The release of a new Radiohead album is as monumental in the music world as the election of a new pope is in the Vatican.
Strangely enough, there are only three things all Radiohead albums have in common: Thom Yorke's hauntingly beautiful voice, the ability to be simultaneously experimental and mentally enthralling and their extremely different styles.
"King of Limbs," Radiohead's newest (and in my opinion, best) album, sounded completely underwhelming the first time I listened to it. I had pre-ordered the album two weeks prior and when I heard it came out a day early, I immediately cancelled the rest of my day's plans. The first time the album's short 37.4 minutes went by, I went through a mild depression.
It's not that any of the songs were bad, but rather that none seemed to live up to the hype. Then I turned the volume up, the lights off, shut my blinds and listened to it a second time. That made all the difference.
The album isn't only composed of songs, but of colors and sensations. It's aurally administered LSD. Listening to "King of Limbs" may have been the holiest experience of my life. I could imagine the Dalai Lama stepping down from being the spiritual leader of Tibet in order to become a Radiohead groupie after listening to the album.
There are a couple tracks off the album that are required listens to all non-deaf members of the UP community. "Give Up the Ghost" heart-wrenchingly showcases the ease with which Yorke stretches his vocal range. On the other end of the emotional spectrum, "Lotus Flower," the catchiest goshdarn song since Elvis Presley shook his booty to "Hound Dog," has the interesting side effect of pushing listeners to dance like epileptics during electroshock therapy.
On an intriguing side note, within 24 hours of the the album's release (or, if you count time like I do, after 38.5 runs through the album) an indie band out of Los Angeles called the ROBOTANISTS managed to cover the entire album, crazy basslines and all, and post it online. For free. It's an interesting take. Yorke's vocals, for example, are replaced by a chorus of unearthly female voices. It's definitely worth the free, UP-compatible download.
As always, there are rumors that this is Radiohead's last album. Thankfully, the last song off the album, "Separator," ends with Yorke crooning "If you think this is over/Then you're wrong."
I can't wait for those heathens to be proven wrong.
