It's now three years since Radiohead dropped Kid A into an unsuspecting (and somewhat uncomprehending) world. I recall it being one of those albums that deeply divided people—after achieving the grand '90s rock heights of OK Computer, what on Earth were they doing dabbling in this electronic shit?—and I pretty much came down on the negative side. I first heard it played in its entirety on the radio the day before its release, and at the end of it the words "what the fuck was that?" were the first that came to mind. "Paranoid Android" had been a bit of a headfuck too, of course, three years earlier, but it was still recognisably a rock song. This was not recognisable as much.
I still bought the album, thinking repeated listens would reveal its secrets... and, well, three years later I still don't get it. Amnesiac followed, culled from the same sessions that had produced the other album. I got into it somewhat more easily than Kid A, partly because the shock had worn off and I knew what to expect by this time, partly because the material itself seemed stronger. Still, it wasn't as much fun as it had been in the old days.
Radiohead's new album Hail To The Thief is now upon us. Unmastered mixes of songs are already circulating on the Internet, which leads me to think the album's June release date will now be brought forward quite significantly (if I were any more cynical than I am I'd accuse the band or the record label of allowing the files to circulate as a way of drumming up interest in the album). Having heard the whole lot now, it must be said that I am pretty damn impressed. After the Kid A / Amnesiac business I wasn't hoping for much, but the band have delivered better than I'd expected.
Article comments
1 - Your Intrepid Reporter
I came at the last five years of material a bit differently than you -- and probably from many if not most Radiohead listeners -- as I am in that rarified group of obsessive fans who collects any and all live Radiohead performances. I know the Kid A & Amnesiac tunes far better by their [often radically-reworked & more "rock"] live versions.
Consequently, 12 of the 14 tracks were quite well known to me prior to the leak, as they had been performed by the band during their dozen dates on the Iberian peninsula last summer, and many of us have been discussing the lyrics and arrangements since then, speculating on how they may be transformed in the studio, etc.
The "album" versions, which producer Nigel Godrich has said are not the final mixes, are a revelation to these ears. I can only imagine what further refinements will have been made in the final mixing & mastering stage.
I don't think either the band or the label had anything to do with the leak -- the band seem unflustered by it, but fans of the band are a technologically-skilled and compulsive group: live shows from last summer were readily available on the net within days -- sometimes hours, after all.
At any rate, I do agree with your conclusion: this is a great, great record and I think many fans who were puzzled or even alienated by the last two studio albums will come roaring back to the band with a vengeance if Hail To The Thief gets any kind of exposure at all -- which, given the tenor of the times, I'm sure it will.
2 - Travis Lee
I love the record. it makes me feel so warm and fuzzy. But i love Kid A slightly more..i think..i'm still not sure. Anything radiohead's good enough for me. they could put their name on a friggin Oasis CD and i'd dig it.
3 - Sarah eg.
I thought Kid A was wonderful, nearly as good as OK Computer and better than Amnesiac.
Here's hoping they don't include another freaking Noam Chomsky paragraph in the cd booklet.