Alternative Weekend: In Rainbows
Yesterday I spent over an hour in near stationary traffic due to a Police Incident. 30-minute delays it says, I say bollocks and no explanation?
Rumour was there was a 'girl on the bridge'. It happens often here, life is so shit people don't want to live anymore. It seemed more manageable when I was younger.
What can you do when gridlocked from all sides? I confess I did go to sleep at least once then seeing a 50-yard gap, I was jolted awake. What a waste of fucking time.
I had 'In Rainbows' by Radiohead playing in the car, it went around four times and that was enough for me to start hearing things. It's an old album and fans will know the band offered it to the public on the internet for 'any price you want to pay', and that includes FREE.
It took me forever to crack 'Hail to the Thief' in 2003 and this band are so weird and wonderful forever re-creating themselves. It gives me a reason for an 'Alternative Weekend' post, as it is weekend, and for once I am not breaking my own rules.
Nude – Radiohead (In Rainbows – 2007)
Before you listen to any Radiohead song post 'OK Computer', you should not expect to hear many guitars. They all but abandoned the instrument for the next few albums with a semi-return in 'Hail to the Thief'.
That was the last ever physical CD I bought, 20 years ago and now we are all so digital. 'Nude' is a very ambient track that the band almost abandoned after they failed to find their sound.
From what I can see it scores highly on the ratings I can see why. Nevertheless, it's quite a slow grower, at least with me. I think I need a few more listens; around 15 might just do it.
Jigsaw Falling into Place – Radiohead (In Rainbows – 2007)
The song reminds me of material from 'Hail to the Thief' somehow. That album engrained itself so much in my head, I found myself humming random tunes from it throughout the daytime.
'Jigsaw Falling into Place' sounds ever so dreary, and surely not to @bozz's tastes but chugs away and begins to fall into minor chords later on. Just up my tree!
I took the time to check the lyrics as I could not hear 'Thom Yorke' mention them, but I was wrong. Some of these strange songs have titles that are not sung at all.
Weird Fishes - Arpeggi – Radiohead (In Rainbows – 2007)
This brings me to this gem, and in my opinion the highlight of 'In Rainbows'. Why it's a double-titled song, I don't know. It does change at a certain point but kind of returns to the original riff.
Is this a type of 'prog' from Radiohead? I wouldn't consider it to be so, but those are the loose rules of the genre.
I found a version of this track that is slightly different from the studio version and one where you can see them playing. Thom doesn't half get tranced and into the zone. That can only be a good thing.
‘Weird Fishes – Arpeggi’ grew on me quicker than usual, and I couldn’t understand why I never heard it years ago. The story of my life I suppose.
Permanent Daylight – Radiohead (My Iron Lung – 1994)
I had to include something from the guitar days and when they made lots of noise and everyone wanted 'Creep'. Just a few days ago I learned 'My Iron Lung' was recorded intentionally to be 'Creep 2'.
‘This, this is our new song
Just like the last one
A total waste of time
My iron lung’
Fucking brilliant; they were so pissed off with 'Creep' and being hailed as a one-song band that they created a Part 2 and included these lyrics. The irony is some people didn't get it and called them out for it.
'Permanent Daylight' is a B-side but one I picked up on right away as it reminds me of material from 'The Bends' when they were at their best. Even @meesterboom might be able to get into this one.
Someone mentioned in a YouTube comment -
‘Active 1985-present with no past members. Radiohead is one in a million’.
I have to say, that is extremely rare, unique and I can't think of another band who could make a similar claim.
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I was always disappointed that they essentially moved on from guitar based music..I liked some of the later stuff but it never held the same magic!
I agree and from what I read they say they had been ripping off 'The Pixies' for long enough. I don't hear any correlation, except for maybe the length of 'Permanent Daylight' and the fact it doesn't repeat itself.
That was a common Pixies trait, short and loud!
I do miss the loud and noisy stuff like this...
Yeah, that was the best! I will have to listen to that one when I get in as I haven't heard it.
The Bends is a great album, but I think that's the sound of a young band and they are getting on a bit now.
Yes they are, Thom was looking grizzled at Glastonbury and that was a few years ago.
Sorry to hear about the crap traffic. I did my years of commuting and had a few of those jams. I'm so happy not to be doing that any more.
I bought the special edition of In Rainbows with the album on vinyl and an extra CD. I can be a sucker for such things. I also have the My Iron Lung EP.
They are talented guys and I can respect their desire to keep evolving. I get that music is a commercial exercise as well as an artistic one, but playing the same songs hundreds of times gets boring. They have made enough to not need to worry too much if the fans keep buying it. Some bands just turn into tributes of their younger selves. Mind you, we are seeing Sting play his hits this month.
I always think Colin looks like he should be a different band :)
I think we saw them on the Hail to the thief tour. They did do Creep then.
I doesn't happen often but is annoying when it does. I try and do something even if it's sleeping and annoying the driver behind me.
I didn't know you were such a fan. My Iron Lung EP. is great, I have the CD somewhere but only listen to MP3's now. Some great lesser know songs on that.
I did try and crack In Rainbows years ago and failed. I still don't think it's as good as 'Hail' but 'Fishes' is great.
I know there are plenty of other albums after 'Rainbows'. I find them hard work to crack open. Something for traffic jams I suppose.
I have the next album The King of Limbs, but have not listened to it so much. I think their latest was A Moon Shaped Pool after that, but I don't have it.
I will still buy some CDs. Got another special edition due soon and may get some others. Not that I have space for many more.
From somewhere I got an album of trippy mixes of some In Rainbows plus some other tracks. This was one of them. Not my usual listening, but interesting anyway.
I tried playing them all at once. It might sound a bit chaotic to my neighbors since my Bluetooth is loud enough for everyone to hear.
It's a great mix of Harmony for my ears though, these were great musical lists and I am glad you shared them.
Sorry about the traffic though
One at a time might be best :)
It sometimes happens on bridges over the Bosphorus in my city. People are ready to explode, life has been unbearable. Some think that there is no reason to live. A monoton lifestyle has been luxury after pandemic.
It happens; messed up my evening though.., we were supposed to go out.
Crappy traffic a permanent feature here with bad driving, go fast, hit pot holes your choice.
No comment on the selected band, will have to find time to listen to it before words hit the lips.
Have a great weekend!
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Hmm, these ones may be not a good induction to the band. They are not exactly mainstream.
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Some great Radiohead picks! I liked their early stuff the best but they put together pretty good songs later as well. Sorry to hear about traffic, it sucks anywhere.
I'm still getting into In Rainbows. I probably would have added 'Reckoner' after more listens.
OH MAN I love me some Radiohead.
Though I think many of the latest albums have a bunch of stuff that should have stayed on the cutting floor, they are great for sure. My best memories are of driving to the ski hill for a weekend of fun with The Bends on the CD player.
I will give these a spin today!
Associating music with memories, I know that feeling. Someone put 'The Bends' on at work and it's pretty noisy.., everyone looked.. haha... I still remember.
It's always sad to hear of such cases. Just last week there were 3 incidents of a similar nature in Devon, alone.
Traffic jams and road delays are the worst, so at least you had some good tunes to distract you and keep your mind in a happy place:)
It was a one-off. Annoying at the time but not forgotten about. Are you still travelling by barge?
No, we haven't been on the canals for a while now, but we intend to resume that life in the future. Apart from some travelling overseas, we have been staying in Newton Abbot.
It's a lovely part of the UK, that we've been enjoying:)
LMAO! I read 30 minutes due to a Police Incident and my head instantly says, "OOPS! They finally caught him!" XD
Radiohead never clicked for me. I know it's a band I'm supposed to like, but I just don't.
Not for everyone I guess. I am the same with certain bands, Coldplay being one of them.
I remember when Yellow was everywhere on the radio. Not for me either.
I'll be honest, I only know two Radiohead songs. Creep, and Paranoid Android. I really need to fix that.
There's a lot more to the band than those. Yes you do...
Thanks 4 introducing me to these Radiohead people.. Got through the first song.
'Fishes' is probably the one to listen to!