Radiohead :: King of Limbs

Well, Radiohead will continue to surprise us no matter what it seems. First, let's announce an album only a few days before you can buy it. Then, we'll drop it a day before we said we would. Arguably the "biggest" band in the world need no hype, hyperbole, or singles releases to drop their records. They can release it themselves when they want to because they have earned it. While not being left behind technologically on how they release (the pay-what-you-want experiment, digital download release pre physical release, large internet presence, etc), Radiohead have stuck to the older idea of album as a complete listening experience, and not just a package for singles. Because of it's short length, the King of Limbs allows a complete listen in a session even more so than a longer record would.

So, on first listen it's definitely a Radiohead record, but (for any still hoping) definitely not The Bends or OK Compuer 2.0. I would say it has the most in common with moments of Kid A/Amnesiac, but especially the Thom Yorke solo release The Eraser. If you are waiting for Jonny to drop in with some crazy guitar solo, it doesn't happen and that's a good thing. So many times, bands find them aping earlier versions of themselves or sticking with the same sound every record. Never the case here. Radiohead have gone from a band in their early days that was very typical in many ways to their peers to now doing something very atypical for a rock band. They have moved from easily digestible to the more difficult, while many bands do the reverse.

I thought In Rainbows was a great album, but some found it quiet. This record is "quieter" yet. And while In Rainbows made me feel like I was listening to the whole band play together, The King of Limbs does not. Phil's Kraut-rock style drumming is ever present, along with Thom's voice, albeit digitally skewed at times. Leftfeild electronic music floats to the front of the mix on most tracks. Beats skitter and synth-Thom-choruses as Thom's reverb filled voice float through the air. Even more than other Radiohead albums, King of Limbs seems seems to have a theme of nature and the elements. Some have noted that the album title references an old tree in England. Fish and sea creatures, birds, water, and dragonflies seem to be mentioned or have noises present on most every track.

Most of Radiohead records are difficult, if not impossible to fully decipher on the first few listens. The King Of Limbs continues this trend. It will reward repeated listens. See for yourself.