Amnesiac - Radiohead
Though the songs on Amnesia were recorded at the same time as those on its predecessor,
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Kid A, the gap between the releases of the pair suggests a determination on Radiohead's part that the two should not be perceived as halves of the same whole. However, there is little in the way of meaningful stylistic divergence between the two albums--Amnesiac shares with Kid A an atmosphere of defeated, vengeful paranoia, a heavy reliance on electronic noises and distorted vocals, a somewhat frustrating absence of Jonny Greenwood's guitar and the song "Morning Bell", which reappears on Amnesiac in a slightly less mournful arrangement. It may just be that Radiohead felt that it might have been a bit much to ask anyone, even Radiohead fans, to consume this entire lugubrious trove at once. Amnesiac, like Kid A is heavy going. And, also like Kid A, Amnesiac rewards repeated listenings generously. The more acute Thom Yorke's lyrical biliousness grows, the harder the band work to redeem matters with some moments of astonishing beauty. "You and Whose Army?" contains gorgeous knelling piano evocative of "Karma Police", "Like Spinning Plates" deploys a backwards backing track to bewitching effect, and the closing track, "Life in a Glasshouse", is an exuberant Laughing Clowns-style wig-out, featuring veteran jazz trumpeter Humphrey Lyttleton. Once again, it is not so much that Radiohead have not put a foot wrong, but that they're walking where nobody else has trodden. Amnesiac is another giant leap. --Andrew Mueller
Advantages: great new tunes Disadvantages: slightly monotonous
...Though the songs on Amnesiac were recorded at the same time as those on its predecessor, Kid A, the gap between the releases of the pair suggests a determination on Radiohead's part that the two should not be perceived as halves of the same whole. However, there is little in the way of meaningful stylistic divergence between the two albums--Amnesiac shares with Kid A an atmosphere of defeated, vengeful paranoia, a heavy reliance on electronic noises and distorted vocals, a somewhat frustrating absence of Jonny Greenwood's guitar and the song "Morning Bell", which reappears on Amnesiac in a slightly less mournful arrangement. It may just be that Radiohead felt that it might have been a bit much to ask anyone, even Radiohead fans, to consume this entire lugubrious trove at once. Amnesiac, like Kid A is heavy going. And, also like Kid A...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Radiohead back from the brink, some superb vocals and tantalising guitar rifts. Disadvantages: Not quite the Radiohead of old and the track list is confusing!!!
...This is still not a return to the Radiohead of old, but they continue to push the boundaries and explore their musical abilities. Radiohead are still an immensely talented band and invaluable to the music world. Credit should be given for the want to continually shy away from the consumer ideals of the commercial music market. Radiohead are by no means past it and this album shows it, another chapter in the lives of this mysterious bunch of pals. A return to guitar based music, with some superbly classic guitar rifts, should be welcome to Radiohead fans alienated by the last album Amnesiac. This IS Radiohead on form but this is NOT Radiohead at their best. Things just might be looking up for the Oxford lads and their incredibly intellectual and mature audience, such as myself. I fully recommend this album to anybody that likes Radiohead...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Errrrr.... not many advantages Disadvantages: The worst stuff Radiohead have ever produced
...of the classic Radiohead guitar rifts or Thom Yorkes gravelly high pitched gloomy voice. I would not be surprised if this album alienated Radiohead fans worldwide, and I know that it made me think twice about buying the next one; hail to the thief. Radiohead ditched their traditional guitar performed tracks for this joke of an album, with electronics playing such a role that Cher would be proud. If you are a massive Radiohead fan, like me, then buy it for the sake of owning another Radiohead CD, but dont look forward to it. DONT let this album put you off buying Hail to the thief however, you can read my review on that album. If Amnesiac was created by an unknown band, perhaps I wouldnt be so critical, but Radiohead fans and the music industry have learnt to love the Radiohead of old....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 13.07.2004
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