Wow this is a lot of fun.

You know I really like Hail to the thief, come on just because it doesn't sound as fresh doesn't mean it sucks. Its more of a consolidation. I always listen to it (and amnesiac) all the way through and there isn't one point it's tiring, which is more than I can say about the bends.

I listen to spinning plates and all I know is everything is in its right place, no pun intended.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
And that’s why, leland, they are “injected into every conversation on these boards”—they are that superior.

I barely said anything and I got my name bolded.

why does leland have to be injected into every damn thread around here?

I would like to comment on "Kid A" vs. "Amnesiac" just because I can. For me, "Kid A" took very much time to get into, while "Amnesiac" was very much more accessible. I can understand that the newness of "Kid A" when it was released was very interesting, but for one as me, who bought it first last year (oh yes, I did), it is hard to find it to be better than "Amnesiac", I think. They have roughly the same "absolute" quality, while it might be possible that "Kid A" has a higher "relative" quality, if one factors in the originality of the sound when it was released.

Here's how I see it, and I've seen little to dispute my theory: people 18–22 exaggerate Radiohead's historical significance. OK Computer (for most, Kid A for others) signified a rebirth; the world turned upside down; they realized the music they liked was disposable, dull. They were reborn as holier-than-thou music lovers! Hallelujah! The awakening could only be the work of a musical miracle! Praise Radiohead in the Church of Pitchfork!

By the by, did you know Ryan was a teenager when he wrote that 10.0 review? And wasn't CMG founded by someone who admits his musical awakening was the result of OK Computer? On any other day you'd call SPIN a rag, but there's nothing but universal approval at OK Computer being named the most important album of the last 20 years. (I had a subscription in 1995 or 1996 when they named Trent Reznor the most important figure in music. Nods? No? Hm.) According to the Indie New Testament, If I were born today—I was actually born yesterday—I'd see two distinct periods in rock music (because The Beatles will be classical by the time I become aware, you know): BR and AR.

I don't liken the movement to religion for effect. The ardent belief many hold that Radiohead is the savior of rock music is disturbing; the foaming-at-the-mouth, fire-and-brimstone, I-damn-you-to-Hell sermons spit at dissenters are worse. Christ it's like Coldplay is Barrabus.

Why is everyone bitching about Hail to the Theif. I mean it wasn't as cohesive as OK Computer, and it wasn't nearly the jump forward that Kid A was. But it was still a really good album of really good songs that I think just further cememnted Radiohead postition as a great band

quote:

Here's my two cents. I think that Coldplay have handcuffed themselves. People have expectations of them and I believe they have no choice but to deliver on said expectations. They have to sound a certain way or it would be a huge deal.

Radiohead can make an album of pitch-shifted fart sounds. They have the "carte-blanche" because of their change in direction between bends/ok computer and ok computer/kid a. I think they set themselves up to do whatever they please and I think that they are better off because of it.

Indeed, this is clear enough

There's no contest for me.

TRUE - Coldplay are unfairly maligned.
TRUE - some (many) Radiohead fans don't seem to be aware that other music actually exists and matters.

BUT Radiohead are far better than Coldplay. Parachutes & AROBTTH are well-written albums, but Coldplay only have 1 gear, they only seem to do cod-U2 stadium anthems. They're as one-dimensional as Embrace - anyone can make a chorus sound epic like they do. 3 albums in, we can see no sign from Coldplay of any progression or ideas, they show as little desire for innovation as Oasis ever did, and I predict their next few albums will dwindle as Martin's songwriting knack fails him.

As for Radiohead, each album is clearly stylistically different and imaginative, they are able to do several sub-sub-genres of alternative rock better than many bands who specialise, so to speak. OK Computer was my musical awakening and is widely considered the finest - or one of the finest - albums of the last 20 years. Yet still many insist The Bends is better, and it's pretty unimpeachable, yet more insist Kid A is better and is arguably the best album of the millenium so far. Amnesiac & HTTT are also really very good albums that, by anyone else, wouldn't be getting the shit that they get because they're Radiohead albums.

People get pissed off talking about Radiohead because they're talked about so much. And people rebel against Radiohead because they're liked so much. That tells you something.

The biggest difference for me is that I find Radiohead's music to be very honest, while Coldplay's music is more, I don't know, crafted? To me it feels like they have sat down and written songs that are good and works well, but without that final bit of passion that I like to have. It might also just be that I am not hearing this, of course. As a side note I think that is one of the things I like the most about my new hero Tom Waits: the music is extremely honest and sincere. Listen to "Lie To Me" from "Brawlers" for example.

"Radiohead's Thom Yorke, one of his heroes, labeled Coldplay "lifestyle music" -- a dig at the band's universality in films, stores, airports and Mom's iPod." hahahaha

I'm sure you would find "the gloaming" on any mums ipod right next to dido.

Two points: I moved this from General Discussion to Alternative, where other Radiohead talk can be found.

I'm not sure how to choose. If you're asking who I'd rather listen to currently, I'll go with Coldplay. I haven't liked the last two Radiohead records much at all, and I hated the Thom Yorke solo disc. But if I was picking one record, I'd go with OK Computer. So, I'll fudge on the poll and call it a false dilemma.

So everyone is trashing on Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. why?

HTTF is, in my opinion, as good as The Bends would be (if The Bends didn't include Street Spirit).

But, even though I'm a firm believer that Kid A is the best album released since I've been listening to music (12 years or so), my personal favorite album by Radiohead is Amnesiac. I can't explain why, but it is the case.

And it's not just me. I have three close personal friends who share my opinion about Amnesiac. Coincidentally (or not?), our favorite Radiohead track is The Pyramid Song. Coincidentally (probably), we are all musicians.

Without delving into my psyche (I promised not to earlier), I will say that I bought Amnesiac and Kid A within the same month. Kid A blew my mind. Amnesiac pieced it back together. It was almost as weird, but it made immediate sense. Kid A took a while. Maybe that's why it's my favorite.

Anyone else prefer Amnesiac?

quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
Now come on, there's no reason to be dissing Cab Calloway, Corrosion of Conformity, and Chingy

This is funny, I knew that this would happen, but either way its funny to me, was it hard to come up with 3 other artists that fit the bill?

quote:

Originally posted by Musicalifragilistic:
You should change your name to AggroKidA, the Fragile tag does you no justice.

Why?

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
I barely said anything and I got my name bolded.

You barely said anything to this discussion but you have said more than plenty in numerous other discussions . And I just bolded it to make sure you would see it, but you would have seen it either way huh? Also I agree with a lot that you said about "incredible" publications hailing Radiohead and their OK Computer. However, I feel that they will still stand the test of time and be hailed in another ten, twenty, thirty years. It will be ten years next year since their 1997 masterpiece and it is still wildy loved so I think if they did ten so far, they can do so many more--or at least that's how I feel.

quote:

Originally posted by benjiru:
So everyone is trashing on Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. why?
HTTF is, in my opinion, as good as The Bends would be (if The Bends didn't include Street Spirit).
Anyone else prefer Amnesiac?

I agree with you that their last two albums don't get as much respect as they should. But like I said before, compared to their best stuff these last two aren't as strong. But when compared to any other stuff and year-end lists, they hold their own weight and are only surpassed by a select few. I will argue that Kid A is the better of the Amnesiac/Kid A sessions, but I still wonder what would have happened if they only released one album that mixed the best of Amnesiac ("Pyramid Song," "Like Spinning Plates," "Life in a Glass House," and maybe "I Might Be Wrong") with the best of Kid A ("Everything in its Right Place," "The National Anthem," "How to Disappear Completely," "Optimistic," "Idioteque," and the gorgeous "Motion Picture Soundtrack") and if they added "True Love Waits"--boy that would be arguably the best 11-track album of the past two decades and it might even be better than OK Computer.

On a side note--as good as it is--Hail to the Thief does not even come close to The Bends.

quote:

Originally posted by benjiru:
Anyone else prefer Amnesiac?

I know I'm probably sticking my neck out, but yes, Amnesiac is, in my eyes, better than Kid A. In fact I think Kid A is one of the most overrated albums of all time -- but, there is no denying that it will probably end up being one of the most influential ever made.

I'm not voting on this one because I honestly haven't heard enough Coldplay, but I would definitely lean towards Radiohead in terms of quality from the little Coldplay I have heard.

But I think Radiohead, while at times great, is overrated. Pablo Honey was pretty terrible, The Bends was just boring, OK Computer is great but not even close to perfect, Kid A ended up being just OK; Amnesiac is just a more solid release and has fewer duds overall. Hail to the Thief is good, but never quite brilliant.

I'll keep this short & sweet. Coldplay are a decent band but can not be compared to Radiohead because Radiohead are quite simply in league of their own. No band of the last 15-20 years comes close and until Coldplay produce an Ok Computer or even a Bends this topic is pointless.

If Coldplay made one or two honest steps in the direction of Radiohead (if they used a Mellotron, for example), rock critics would freak out.

"OH MY GOD THIS IS COLDPLAY'S ARTISTIC BREAKTHROUGH! ITS LIKE PAUL MCCARTNEY TAKING DRUGS AND DOING 'SGT. PEPPER'S'!"

Coldplay is being closely watched for a reason, they're really good at what they do and they could be the next Radiohead. Radiohead is in quite a bit of limbo right now.

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:
Here's how I see it, and I've seen little to dispute my theory: people 18–22 exaggerate Radiohead's historical significance. OK Computer (for most, Kid A for others) signified a rebirth; the world turned upside down; they realized the music they liked was disposable, dull. They were reborn as holier-than-thou music lovers! Hallelujah! The awakening could only be the work of a musical miracle! Praise Radiohead in the Church of Pitchfork!

By the by, did you know Ryan was a teenager when he wrote that 10.0 review? And wasn't CMG founded by someone who admits his musical awakening was the result of OK Computer? On any other day you'd call SPIN a rag, but there's nothing but universal approval at OK Computer being named the most important album of the last 20 years. (I had a subscription in 1995 or 1996 when they named Trent Reznor the most important figure in music. Nods? No? Hm.) According to the Indie New Testament, If I were born today—I was actually born yesterday—I'd see two distinct periods in rock music (because The Beatles will be classical by the time I become aware, you know): BR and AR.

I don't liken the movement to religion for effect. The ardent belief many hold that Radiohead is the savior of rock music is disturbing; the foaming-at-the-mouth, fire-and-brimstone, I-damn-you-to-Hell sermons spit at dissenters are worse. Christ it's like Coldplay is Barrabus.

This is a brilliant, insightful observation.

I think if the Beatles essentially invented how Americans play rock and pop music, Radiohead 30-40 years later is reinventing it and coupling it with electronic music. Its undeniable: Radiohead is our generation's Beatles.

That said, I don't worship the Beatles at all and think they're okay purely because I didn't grow up with their music in my life. I did with Radiohead with "Kid A," so maybe they just mean more to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
That said, I don't worship the Beatles at all and think they're okay purely because I didn't grow up with their music in my life. I did with Radiohead with "Kid A," so maybe they just mean more to me.

I like what Elliott Smith, Spoon, etc. did with The Beatles influence, but I don't feel any special connection to their music since I came into the world just a bit before Lennon left, and I wasn't raised in a household that cared too much for shiny, 60s rock. Now, Johnny, Merle, and Hank...that's a different story.

quote:

Originally posted by Yay!:
Its undeniable: Radiohead is our generation's Beatles.

That's depressing. Radiohead really does nothing for me. I like a few songs, but that's it.

quote:

That said, I don't worship the Beatles at all and think they're okay purely because I didn't grow up with their music in my life. I did with Radiohead with "Kid A," so maybe they just mean more to me.

I appreciate your view, but I think this statement is a tad misleading. I grew up with the Beatles' music not because I'm 50 years old(sorry mark), but because I'm 29 and my parents listened to it. And the Beatles are absolutely my favorite band. That said, I also grew up with all the other stuff they listened to including the Stones, Who, Steely Dan(who I hate), etc., and yet none of these bands speak to me like the Beatles do. So age of exposure may play a part, but the quality of the music plays a part as well.