Haven't posted in a RH thread in a long time, but been reading the past few days and going on a little RH mini-binge, so I've got a few things to say...
1. I listened to TKOL when it was released, and was so underwhelmed by it that I didn't listen to any of it again until a few nights ago(probably a reason why I haven't posted anything about RH in months). What brought me back, was that I hadn't yet listened to any of the new standalone tracks that have been subsequently released. I actually love those tracks for the most part already, and it inspired me to give TKOL another chance. I have listened to it a number of times, some songs more than others, and it has started slowly growing on me. I'm not sure if it'll ever be high in my rankings - though it could happen - and I cannot understand what RH was thinking when they decided, "Stairway and Supercollider shouldn't go on the album, but Feral should", but with a custom tracklist/running order, I'm enjoying it now, finally.
2. Even so, there's one that that bugs me, and it bugged me to an extent with IR as well, and this reviewer summed it up well:
More disappointing is Thom Yorke’s lack of ambition. A great singer and songwriter, it seems that he’s found a profitable niche for his voice; a hauntingly chill moaning that showcases most if not all the songs on the album, completely disregarding the rest of his vocal ability.
It's not that he's singing poorly at all, it's just that we know he's capable of doing a lot more with his voice, that he has a much wider range than what he shows on this record. I think we'd all agree that he's one of the great rock vocalists of the last 20-30 years, and it just feels like he's squandering his talent sometimes. I said
sometimes.
3. Some of you were talking about OKC. I agree with Laz, "Lucky" is one of the best songs on the record for sure. I think that moment in the bridge leading up to the second chorus, where the words "it's gonna be a glorious day" are stretched out, like, "it's gonna be...a GLO-O-O-RIOUS DA-A-Y", and then the backing vocals rise leading up to "I feel my luck could change", is one of the greatest moments of their entire career. If I had to rank OKC songs:
1. Let Down
2. Lucky
3. Exit Music(For A Film)
4. Paranoid Android
5. Karma Police/No Surprises(tie, can't decide)
6. The Tourist
7. Climbing Up The Walls
8. Airbag
9. Subterranean Homesick Alien
10. Electioneering
11. Fitter Happier
But they're all great. OKC is incredible.
4. To add to the b-sides conversation, I fully agree that RH is one of the best b-side bands ever, particularly in the Bends/OKC era. I mean, does anyone else think "India Rubber" might be one of the catchiest songs they've ever written? It's just smooth and groove-y. Also, I think "Melatonin" is incredibly beautiful, and rather underrated.
India Rubber
How Can You Be Sure
Bishop's Robes
Talk Show Host
Banana Co.
The Trickster
Punchdrunk Lovesick Along
You Never Wash Up After Yourself
Lozenge Of Love
Pearly
Polyethylene Parts 1&2
Melatonin
Killer Cars
Molasses
How I Made My Millions
True Love Waits(it was originally performed live during the "Bends" era)
Speaking of "True Love Waits" - somebody mentioned wanting a studio version. Obviously, there isn't one, but this guy on youtube took a Bends era sort-of-full band performance of it and cleaned it up and added instruments to it to simulate what a Bends era studio recording might sound like. Take a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2hZ9CTLICs