Radiohead - Kid A
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Free Music Notes for Kid A
Free Music Review: Everybody's got an opinion on this one
Hit: 5 Stars
Well, here's mine, the one single opinion out of all of them that's actually right. Ha. Just kidding. Anyhow, no its not as good as the Bends or OK Computer, but its still a great album, unlike say a certain followup album of Kid A reject songs. Its flawed, not as good as it could be, the hype for it is incredibly annoying, but five star material? Yeah.It starts out with the incredibly pretentious Everything in Its Right Place, which is probably a song whining about how Thom Yorke was supposedly having a mental breakdown when Radiohead was touring for OK Computer. But its still a great song, kind of funny with the messed up vocals and cool keyboard noises. Then comes the title track, which is just generally annoying and you'll want it to get over. It has these pattering drum noises and jack-in-the-box keyboard notes that remind me of music you'd play in a baby's crib or something, its kind of dumb.
Then comes The National Album (excellent title) which has this really groovy, addictive bass line and ends with a bunch of annoying horns blaring. Supposedly Radiohead was trying to convey the feeling of being in a traffic jam and being frustrated or something to the listener. They shouldn't have bothered, I'm not the kind of person who wants to plunk down my cash to that. I hate it when art statements are made at the expense of the song.
How to Disappear Completely is a more straightforward guitar ballad, a great song, and then comes Treefingers which is a good nap, a bunch of boring synthesizer puddling ambience. Just compare it to NIN's A Warm Place, its kind of the same idea except NIN did the job 10 times better back in '94. Optimistic, the song that got all the radio airplay, is the best song on the album, one of the few traditionally structured songs on here but still very experimental in tone. In Limbo is alright, Idioteque is good but doesn't fit the album at all, Morning Bell is superb, and Motion Picture Soundtrack is a very modern sounding song that sounds exactly like what the title says it is. In many ways this whole album sounds like a soundtrack to a movie instead of an album of songs, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
So even though it sounds like I'm ripping on many of the songs, why is it still great? Well, the main reason is that Nigel Godrich is an excellent producer, and the entire album sounds just gorgeous, very state-of-the-art, probably in the same way that Dark Side of the Moon sounded when it was first released. Believe me, without the superb production it wouldn't be half of what it is. Radiohead have become very pretentious and over-the-top on this album, and sometimes that will annoy you because they're really laying it all on a bit thick. Also, even though there's not too many truly innovative things about this album other than the production, it does a good job showcasing the sounds of a bunch of other innovative bands. Idioteque reminds me of Aphex Twin meets Autechre, Treefingers has a Brian Eno ambience to it, and the first song even reminds me of Moby for some reason, don't ask why. I think Optimistic is the best song here, and the album really would have been more coherent if they had put more songs like it on and ditched songs like Kid A, Idioteque and Treefingers. These songs aren't bad songs, but they just don't all work together because there's just no coherence here. The main flaw with the album is that the moods just change too much from song to song, and that's kind of jarring, you can never really get into the album all the way. I usually find myself skipping around certain tracks on the album, it sounds better that way.
Oh, and by the way, in case it wasn't apparent enough already, this album is the cap to a tryptch they started with The Bends. The Bends is rock, OK Computer is rock meets experimentation, and Kid A is full-blown experimentation. All three fit together perfectly, with OK being the glue that holds them together. Kid A isn't as purely listenable as the other two, and that's why it isn't quite as good even if it is more "out there". Anyhow, I'm sick of talking about this album, Radiohead annoy me even if they are massively talented. Later.
Free Music Review: A is for absolute
Hit: 5 Stars
5 stars, and I'm not playing. This is the first Radiohead album I've bought and I knew it was money well spent. I STILL listen to the album after the years I bought it when it came out. I love everything from the artwork in the booklet thing to the music. Now before I get labeled as a Radiohead groupie or a "blind-Radiohead fan who praises everything they come up with" at least hold on. I mainly listen to rock and electronic subgenres (Alec Empire, Aphex Twin, Bjork etc.), so when I found out about Radiohead's latest style, I knew this would be for me.
Everything In Its Right Place - Love the mellow it is so rich with. This is no headbanging song but it's intense for sure. It sounds like a rhodes keyboard or a softer piano sounding keyboard. The vocals by Thom are soothing and you also have the occasional electronic effects on his voice.
Kid A - Another fairly soothing atmospheric song.
The National Anthem - more rock in this one and intense too. There is nothing too mellow about this one. You have the occasional loud horns playing some melodies and you have the addictive bass guitar on it. It's a favorite to many.
How To Disappear Completely - More of an old school radiohead type of song. I like it a lot...calm and soothing. Thom's voice sounds a little sad. The guitar work is nicely done.
Treefingers - very atmospheric...experimental...relaxing...again, no headbanging or fast dancing here. This is a song you just simply listen to. If you just feel like chilling out or lying down, this could be a good candidate. Certainly not on the same mood level like the next song...
Optimistic - THE rock song of the album. No lack of guitars here...there's plenty of them. This is one that I'm sure even non-Radiohead fans would like. No electronic traces here for those who don't like the electronic route Radiohead went on this album.
In Limbo - !!!!!!!It's my favorite song on this album, probably my favorite Radiohead song ever. It starts out with an echoing sound and transforms into this beautiful guitar work and beautiful overall music. Nothing here is to be ignored, I love all of the music and vocals that each musician in the band contributed. Its's a slow atmospheric song that you fall into (or at least me). It sounds nice on headphones but even better when you play it loudly. The ending is a little strange but nice as it fades into a "wish-wash-wish" type of sound. The song itself is pretty much indescribable...I did the best I could.
Idioteque - It's almost on every Radiohead fan's at least top 10 favorite. A moderate tempo techno beat with Thom's vocals (they sound a little whinny, but still good!) I like this song, no doubt, but I found two other songs on this album I found my favorites.
Morning Bell - I love the "music/sound" that left off from idioteque and leaded into Morning Bell. The drummer has again done a fine job. The drum work on this song shines and it's the most noticeable in my opinion. This is my second favorite on this album...it's just so pleasant and different I can't ever get sick of it. I like the little guitar sounds around the middle of the song.
Motion Picture Soundtrack - this song, I admit is a song I never payed much attention to. The song sounds like there is a type of organ played. Not rock-ish or electronic-y...
my favorites: In Limbo & Morning Bell
If you don't have this album and you liked Amnesiac's electronic based songs, then I think you would love Kid A. Kid A isn't as dark as Amnesiac, but it has some of the properties in Amnesiac that are worth listening to. This is NOT old school Radiohead (The Bends, Pablo Honey, etc). I'll make it clear...this is not the type of album you want to play at a baby shower or a party. You play this with your headphones, in your room, or with fellow Radiohead fans or electronic fans. It's not club music. It is not headbanging or social music! Don't even look to this album if you cannot stand electronic music. It is surely ear candy to those who can also appreciate less commercial music.
Free Music Review: It's getting better all the time!
Hit: 5 Stars
As with almost any Radiohead song, the first listen of Kid A will leave you puzzled and confused as to why it received such high acclaim. Wading into a Radiohead song is like wading into an angry ocean; you have to experience it many times before you understand its patterns and keep your balance. Don't listen to Kid A once and get lost; you'll be missing out on an amazing experience. You'll realize a.) each track has a beautiful, unique melody and b.) the songs literally MELT into one another. "Everthing in its Right Place," the first track, is a gorgeous, atmospheric piece with frontman Yorke's voice floating in an out. Though the musical landscape seems almost bare, and only Yorke's voice and a keyboard seem to be present, an amazing intensity builds behind the song. Track 2, Kid A, sounds like a demented lullaby, with haunting, trickling piano contrasting Yorke's anxious, computer-altered voice. Track 3, "The National Anthem," is a heavy beated tune that pumps you up into a frenzy with its free form jazz horns before dropping you into a gorgeous abyss with Track 4, "How to Disappear...." This song takes time to love, but soon you'll be dreamily drifting on the song and feeling your heart quicken as Yorke's voice soars and climaxes in the 2nd half. Track 5 "Treefingers" is a daring atmospheric prelude to track 6, the indomitable "Optimistic." Called 'radio-friendly' by critics, it is a haunting piece that makes you scream along with the mournful chorus. This track molds beautifully into Track 7, "In Limbo," a song that fills the air with cascading piano riffs and Yorke's trance-like warning, "You're living in a fantasy." Track 8 is a mind-blowing surprise. "Idioteque" revels in a wrenching beat accompanied by Thom's heavenly vocal chords and four simple piano notes, transforming the track into the most poignant and addictive dance song (strange, huh?) this year. [author's note: I think the lyrics 'Ice age comes and ice age comes' refers to global warming and evolution, how we're due for an ice age soon, and will all be wiped out]. And there's more! Track 9: "Morning Bell," is a song with a swinging beat and a forlorn mood. Yorke's voice is at its most nasal, as he begs us, "Release me, release me." This lovely song brings the listener down a little before sweeping she or he into the lovely Track 10, "Motion Picture Soundtrack." This song DEFINITELY sounds best when heard with headphones; it feels like Thom Yorke is crooning right into your ear, and you don't miss a single gorgeous cascading harp. This song builds quietly up to a single climax before drifting away. Critics have said this piece is lovely; others have commented that it is a tawdry excuse for a song, something thrown together to give the album a finish. I believe that's complete nonsense. The song feels different from the rest of the album, but it also feels right. The lyrics, "I think you're crazy, maybe," is sung with wrenching emotion, as Thom Yorke pulls us further into his spiraling, harp-filled world. Suddenly the grief leaves his voice, as he calls breathily, "I will see you...in the next life!" It leaves the listener on a plateau, looking back breathlessly at all the musical ground he or she has covered, wondering how she or he got there and why the album is over so quickly and when the next Radiohead album is coming out (apparently next March, by the way). This album is brilliant, and better, it is an experience. Who is the last artist that has crafted together an album with haunting songs that melt into one another, creating not an album with separate songs but a magical, musical, throbbing life? Kid A is a masterpiece, a soundscape of songs crafted together masterfully and accompanied perfectly by Yorke's amazing voice, a distinctive voice that will be remembered alongside those of Robert Plant and Paul Macartney. Try out this album a few times, and you will realize it gets better each time. Imagine that...an album you'll never grow tired of! It certainly gets better all the time.Free Music Review: My Review B-Kid B: For the Sake of the Future
Hit: 5 Stars
Sometimes I am thinking: Maybe Thom Yorke would have been better off if he was a solo artist. `Kid A' is largely his solo effort, not much contribution from his band mates. Well, although I am a fan of the band, sometimes I secretly hope that the band will split up someday. Clearly, Thom's music aesthetics does differ tremendously from the rest of the band members. Johnny could head towards the direction he likes if he was a solo artist, and so are the rest of the band members. And indeed it is splitting up... it would be devastating for the rest of the loyal fans, would I guess most so-called cerebral loyal fans are going to be disappointed even by `Kid A', too bad for you guys I guess. Don't worry, guys, you can always pretend to like this one as well. If this is Radiohead's first attempt to work on some avant-garde stuff, I would like to give them a round of applause. Seriously, this could be their debut album as an electronic band. Although this is not quite as good as Aphex Twin, at least this is comparable to some of the better electronic acts that come out in recent years such as Broadcast and Boards of Canada. However, this is certainly not what Radiohead does best, and if they want to stick to this direction, they have to do more than this. However, it is hard to find a rock band that is daring enough to step into this territory. Previously, though it was not uncharted, only the true grandmasters have the guts to step into this realm, certainly not for your mediocre Oasis (YES! THEY ARE MEDIOCRE!!) or worse, Coldplay. Remember how things used to work? In order to reinvent yourself, you have to seek help of a good producer, Primal Scream's hugely critically acclaimed `Sceamadelica' is one such example, Blur reinvented themselves again with `13', with the help of Madonna's `Ray of Light' producer William Orbit. The amazing thing is: Radiohead did it themselves, they didn't change a producer or anything, in some way, this achievement can be compared to Brian Eno's transformation from a silly Roxy rocker to an ambient grandmaster, a Godfather of Ambient music. He took 4 albums to transform, but Radiohead just need one. So, this is the greatest thing that can ever happen to the mainstream world. (Mainstream only because it is made by Radiohead.) Though it's not as awe-inspiring as Aphex Twin's `Select Ambient Work II' neither is it as genre defining as sonic invention Brian Eno made in the late 70s and the early 80s nor does its most cutting edge moments (`Idioteque' and `National Anthem') come close to the mad drill `n bass of the workaholic Squarepusher or the ever diversified eclectic palette of Two Lone Swordsmen, this is clearly more easy listening and at the very least, Thom Yorke still bothers to sing. Well, I call this a masterpiece because I guess this has the potential to bring the sonic ambience of Brian Eno, the Jazz inflected horn of David Holmes and the dynamic breakbeats of appears on recent RDJ work overground. At least people will be exposed to such music, even if they don't like it for this time being, at least when they are more acquainted with the undergound sound, the force that shapes the future. Maybe next time round, when they hear something like this, they will tell their friends proudly: "Oh, it reminds me of the frantic beats or the dreamlike soundscape of `Kid A'." It is momentous in a way that it brings mainstream music forward. They know making racknroll in the 21st century is inane and they know pure rock gets insipid day by day. Also, many neu-breed in the electronic scene are going to get more exposure and the recognition they deserve, which is great. Imagine the albums of Jimi Tenor, Too Rococo Rot and Tortoise selling millions, that will be the day! Until that day, I just pray that Radiohead's `Kid A' will sell really well in the months/years to come. So, all Radiohead fans, I urge you to rave this album in front of your friends, classmates, parents... whoever! Tell them how great a statement this is, and how important this album is to the mainstream world. Do it for the sake of music, music for the future that is.Free Music Review: Kid A
Hit: 5 Stars
Simple title because no word can describe this ultimate classic of experimental rock, electronic in its largest sens...Kid A is about 10 times better than Ok Computer which was already one of my fav and one of the best albums of all times i think. The only arguments that could go versus "Ok Computer" brilliance were about the retrospective side of it. Little bit 60's here, little bit 70's there...Never like something already heard in a full tune, but still retro by parts.
Of course, if you listened enough you soon discovered that "Ok Computer" was not about nostalgia, but about a really intense "personal vision" of music. Something that innovate as much as revisited the past to turn it inside out...
But "Kid A" is more than that! "Kid A" doesn't sound like anything else ever made. You can hear influences like on anything ever made in the history of music (except maybe the Shaggs : crappy/novelty recording of the late 60's), but these are distant sounds like a part of a keyboard line, a part of a string arrangement, etc.
Now let's talk about the important parts..."Kid A" push the technology to the point where sounds are always part of a whole, where you can see the difference between a bass and a voice and a rythm and an atonal keyboard line. "Kid A" mess up with "clichés" and always surprise you with a pure sens of creativity that almost feel childish, like a child discovering life and all of his senses. "Kid A" is anti-nostalgia, retrospective, even anti-Ok Computer, yet is able to take the best of it and reinvent it ; like if aliens have listened to "Ok Computer" and came out with their own vision of it...
Yet, "Kid A" got that human simplicity where the weirdest parts are catchy on their own terms. It's also structured as a futuristic concept album that follow a very natural progression, a progression that any human can relate to...
One of them being Thom Yorke (better than ever on "Kid A"). His lyrics, his emotional status switch through the album. At first, a confuse individual sing in the most intense tracks of the album ("Everything In It's Right Place", "Kid A", "National Anthem"). Then, a dreamy indivual show ("I'm not here this isn't happening" sing Thom on "How To Disappear Completely") and even disappear completly on the ambient "TreeFingers". Back from his fantaisies? "Optimistic" is a very unusual moment for this person, singing "You can try the best you can, you can try the best you can, the best you can is good enough" yet this same track is slowed down and multi-layered guitars, a sound that could, probably express an hesitation in this same statement. "In Limbo" confirm this hesitation with a very dark performance by Thom Yorke, like he just got to a sudden low, his lowest ever, sudden depression after an hesitative positive moment. This track is subdued though. At the end, the leader scream "cry baby!" : maybe like he had enough of his reactions versus confusion and depression, a scream to get to reality? "Idiotheque" is the only uptempo number of "Kid A", a very ground oriented piece, full of raw emotion and agressive lyrics by the english guy like this reaction to a previous thought : "This is really happening!". Back to the ground, the underrated genius talk about a very modern problem of real life in "Morning Bell", saying things like "You can keep the furniture", "Where did you park the car?" to make references to the problem of divorces and/or the tension related to this same situation (very real life, anti-"Kid A" thematic). It bring us to the final piece where Thom Yorke seem to navigate through elements of every day life yet saying at the very end "i will see you in the next life..." making it the perfect end to this amazing emotional trip.
"Kid A" is a classic, maybe the best thing i've ever heard...