I've been noticing that listening to this album as a whole is far more enjoyable than listening to each song on their own, which is quite unusual for a Radiohead album. This album is not only supposed to be kind of an autobiography of Radioheads sound as a band over the years but also because there is some sort of narrative present throughout:
>Burn the Witch socially/politically critical song like you'd expect from a HTTT-era Radiohead song
>Daydreaming This song makes the previous track look like an act. A hero who puts on a mask in front of the masses to change the world and this song shows what is going on behind it. Throughout the song you can hear his own voice echoeing left and right, like he's constantly trying to hold onto his "stage persona" of a strong man who cries out for a greater goal. [spoiler]2:17 and ESPECIALLY 3:56 sound like his memories of Rachel and his struggle to forget about them[/spoiler] Incredibly soulcrushingly sad song.
>Decks Dark/Desert Island Disk [spoiler]I consider these 2 pieces of one bigger song[/spoiler] Song about approaching the inevitable, the lack of realization when it's already too late and potential poor decision making. There is this feeling of repetition present in DID, like Thom is licking his wounds by Decisions perhaps worse than what he went through. "You know what I mean. Different types of love are possible."
>Ful Stop Thom reflecting back on what he's gone through with Rachel [spoiler]or perhaps other loved/close ones?[/spoiler] disguised in a socially/politically critical song. "you really messed up everything" [spoiler]0:28 sounds like anger and hateful thinking trying preventing you from focussing on the greater image.[/spoiler] [spoiler]yet he seems to win the upper hand and the tone of the song stays the same[/spoiler] (1/2)
Charles Gutierrez
(2/2)
>Glass Eyes Once again Thom takes off his mask in a song about social anxiety
>Identikit Melodramatic song about Heartache
>The Numbers Thom tries to protest against global warming but the music [spoiler]3:14[/spoiler] hints at self doubt and memories/personal issues creeping back up on him, preventing him to focus. The powerful guitars/strings kicking in in the second verse [spoiler]3:32[/spoiler] represent his desperation. In the end he actually gives in and sings along with the strings and choir in the background. [spoiler]4:38[/spoiler]
>Present Tense Yet another representation of naive thinking but here there's a much bigger focus on denial, told in [spoiler]as the title already gave away[/spoiler] the present tense.
>Tinker Tailor Socially/Politically critical song
>true love waits Thom is finally giving in and quickly shows us that he'd throw away most of his values to find love again. "I'll drown my beliefs" The rest of the lyrics, at least in relation to the rest of the album, further showcase how depression can cause people to throw away important things because of emotional thinking. It was actually supposed to be a melancholic and bittersweet lovesong at one point but turned much more depressing in the AMSP version, too.
So yea, I noticed a pattern here. I feel like Thom sees himself as someone who tries to cry out for justice or at the very least tries to fulfil a purpose but he's being pulled back by his own personal problems every step he makes.
It seems like this album is supposed to mark an end of an era, sort of. They tried a spectrum of different sounds and have now hit the point where it seems okay to reflect on their history in retrospective. I feel like the production does this a lot of justice, yet they still manage to drive this narrative through the song writing.
All of the above is why I believe that [spoiler]IF you consider that the album should be enjoyed as a whole[/spoiler] an 8/10 rating doesn't do it justice
Jack Brooks
and I totally forgot about spoilers not working here. Well, I guess this still makes for an interesting discussion, at least
John Moore
iiin you i'm LOst
Brody Hall
i really don't think you should harp on critics' numerical scores. reviewing an album like this within a week of its release is a little silly anyway. if it truly has that full album quality to it, it will have lasting appeal as one of the greats.
Jose Reed
I pretty much agree with your post but give me a break, sonically the album is alot like in rainbows but more mellow.
Charles Peterson
Dreeeeamers they neeeever learn
Eli Nguyen
>sonically like in rainbows
not really understanding that.
Caleb Barnes
>BTW HTTT
>Daydreaming IR
>Decks Dark sounds like OK Computer to me
>Ful Stop TKOL
>Glass Eyes IR
>Identikit sounds like a mix between TKOL and Kid A
>The Numbers Kid A (reminds me a lot of Optimistic)
>Tinker Tailor Amnesiac and a bit of HTTT (the rythmic white noise)
>True Love Waits The bends and OK Computer
please be aware that I'm not saying they represent these albums as a whole, just that the production/composition kind of hints at them.
Isaiah Lee
People keep saying this but I really don't hear it. It's more sparse, atmospheric, disjointed, orchestral, moody, etc...
