Kid A was something I had waited nearly four years for. I had read reviews which had slagged it off, I had read at least two by journalists who I respect which gave it 2 out of 10. I had heard repeatedly that the band had disappeared up their own.... basically I was ready to be disappointed when I first played it. I wasn't How wrong they were to doubt this remarkable album and this remarkable band. It was thought to be improbable to expect the band to drastically improve on The Bends. They did with possibly the greatest album of all time, OK Computer. It was thought to be impossible to expect the band to drastically improve on OK Computer. To be honest, it probably was. While I'm not saying Kid A is as good as OK Computer, I'm not saying it is any worse, its just, well, different. That was the major problem most reviewers had with the album, but don't let that put you off at all. Kid A is different in style from The Bends and OK Computer. That's the whole point: Instead of rehashing old ideas, something which they could have well done, Radiohead explore new concepts on this album and as a result have remained the most important band of their generation. Kid A replaces OKC's blistering guitar work with subtle, even delicate keyboards and synths. That's not to say that the technology has removed the soul from the work: I defy anyone to hear Thom sing "red wine and sleeping pills/help me get to where I belong... maybe I'll see you in the next life" and not be moved. The percussion leads from the front on this album, instead of providing the backbone to guitars as it had on the previous three. Songs such as "The National Anthem" (most definitely not a cover version of God save the Queen), ruled by the most powerful bassline I've ever heard, and "Morning Bell," a stunning song controlled by an unusual repeated drum pattern, would never fit on any of their previous albums, but they don't need to. They've got their own album in Kid A, and its another classic. The word "experimental" was one which is around when ever this album is talked about, and I have to say that one or two of RH's experiments have gone badly wrong. "Treefingers" is the type of noise (I refuse to call 4 minutes of the same two notes with no vocals a song) which bands usually put on an album as a hidden track, but this is smack bang in the middle of the album. A bad bad mistake, but one mistake in three albums? I'll settle for that. Kid A is a departure from their previous work, hardly a guitar in sight in at least half the songs, but in it's own right this is still a quality, quality album. Maybe not a good buy as your first RH album, but true fans of the band who respect their previous work, or anyone with an open mind, will love it.
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Radiohead may well be the most courageous band in Britain. Their second album, The Bends, ... more
was a success both critically and commercially, and they followed it up with an album of epic prog-rock, OK Computer, that would have destined a lesser band to co...
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Radiohead may well be the most courageous band in Britain. Their second album,The Bends, ... more
was a success both critically and commercially, and they followed it up with an album of epic prog-rock,OK Computer, that would have destined a lesser band to comm...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Radiohead may well be the most courageous band in Britain. Their second album, The Bends, ... more
was a success both critically and commercially, and they followed it up with an album of epic prog-rock, OK Computer, that would have destined a lesser band to co...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Radiohead may well be the most courageous band in Britain. Their second album, The Bends, ... more
was a success both critically and commercially, and they followed it up with an album of epic prog-rock, OK Computer, that would have destined a lesser band to co...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: , in parts weird, beautiful, unexpected, difficult listening, inspired Disadvantages: , in parts weird, beautiful, unexpected, difficult listening, inspired
ultras67 07.11.2000 (21.01.2003)
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Review of Kid A - Radiohead
May 18th, 2001
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