I don't know if I have all the details right when I say this, but some time ago the NME conducted a survey of musicians to discover the most influential groups of all time. Number one was the Beatles. Predictable, but perfectly reasonable too. Number two was David Bowie. Not so predictable, but not so unreasonable either. Number three was... Radiohead.
My first reaction was incredulity. Radiohead? They've only been around for a decade or so, and they're the third most influential group of all time? That is some achievement, even if the survey -- and I think it must have been -- was biased in some way. Musicians who take part in surveys by the NME aren't wholly representative, after all.
But even taking that into account, it remained some achievement. So I decided to hear what the fuss was about. I felt I owed it to myself: Radiohead must be pretty darn good. Exceptionally good, in fact. So I conducted a survey of my own. On myself and my reaction to a Radiohead album. This one.
Well, I've completed the survey and can now reveal its findings. I was right to be incredulous about Radiohead coming third in that NME survey. The Beatles are special. Bowie's special too, despite everything he's done since "Let's Dance" (inclusive). Radiohead aren't. Not melodically, not lyrically, not instrumentally. Not anywhere. I liked a lot of "The Bends" in the beginning, but that wore off quickly and when I play it now it sounds, well, dreary.
And I rapidly get sick of the Weltschmerz, the narcissism, and the self-pity. Morrissey or the Manic Street Preachers do it so much better, because Morrissey does it with his tongue in his cheek (most of the time) and the Manic Street Preachers do it much more darkly and compellingly. Radiohead are lilies and languors. The Manics are roses and raptures. Black roses and black raptures. If I compare this album to "The Holy Bible", all I can say is that "The Bends" is the pits.
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I like your points, but you didn't really talk much about the album! I love the album, personally, although I wouldn't exactly call it 'influential' at all, just good :) It's obviously not your thing, but I would have preferred more reasons why it wasn't! Good stuff anyway!
After the massive success of Pablo Honey--or, more specifically, the single "Creep"--had ... more
made them a household name, most had written Radiohead off as one-hit wonders. That they could return with an album as awesome and monumental as The Bends, therefo...
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Advantages: Some Fantastic Tracks, no weak ones at all. As close to a flawless album I think I have heard Disadvantages: None, unless you dont like Radiohead
Andy.mack 15.11.2003 (05.04.2004)
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Review of Bends, The - Radiohead
Aug 12th, 2001
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