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Oh the irony of the title in the leaking and stuff of the album. Turns out the songs on the internet are very rough mixes from December or January or something and some aren't even finished nevermind mixed or mastered.
Anyway, I am the thief, so hail to my review. Be warned, I suck at reviews....
2+2=5 = I never heard this one on the live Spain tracks so didn't know what to expect, I kinda guessed it'd be a electric thing off Kid A with little whizzes and things. Well, it's not. This version starts off with them plugging in and a nice acoustic guitar with a very quiet drum beat. Nice vocals by Thom at the start. Starts to build gradually and then at about 2 minutes in, which I never saw coming, a big fooking guitar chorus. Excellent, full of energy, crunching guitars and screaming vocals. Followed at the end by some nice playing, no doubt by Jonny. Probably my favourite track and a return to old, excellent. Like Paranoid Android with the sudden change and the chorus at the end is a bit like Electionerring but not, if you know what I mean.
Sit Down, Stand Up = Strange one. Kind of a mixture of a Kid A track and well not a Kid A track. Piano present at the start with little plinks from xliophone(sp). Vocals aren't bad, but slips into Kid A terrority. Starts to build up with some effects in the backgroud and some drums. Then the piano starts to grow louder and the track grows to explode into what can onlt be referred to as the Idioteque chorus 'andtheraindrops'. It's quite cool, a grower and hard to link with one category. It's got the electronic chorus, but has piano and drums and stuff. Not bad. has some life in it.
Sail to the Moon - A nice track. The intro is kind of similar to that of 'The Tourist' with the bass following the guitar picks. Vocals are quite good, dragged out a bit over the tempo. Quite a slow, kinda laid back song. I'd compare it to some Ok Computer tracks, like Let Down and The Tourist. It's cool but this version needs a lot of work, sounds a bit messy but I don't actually think this version is finished. Nice album track, doesn't make a massive impact but pleasent.
Backdrifts - Another new one that wasn't played in Spain/Portugal. The first listen I really hated it. The intro is some crap techno 'umping' like 'Like Spining Plates' yu think it will suck. However, this track has grown one me even though its nothing special. The vocals kind of carry the song and it lucks an instrument really, it has the Idioteque drum beat a bit maybe some drums or guitars. It's a strange one, I'm sure I can hear something that sounds like a citar. Its good but needs a lot more work on it and a bit too long.
Go to Sleep - Hadn't heard this one but its sounding pretty good. Just acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Nice vocals and a nice tune going. Grows again as it usually does. Kind of old Radiohead mixed with Amnesiac guitar songs like Knives Out in that errrr aspect. Nothing special but a nice album track all the same and a nice change to the simple sound.
Where I End and You Begin - Heard the live track but didn't like it that much then. Starts off with a kind of dark beginning with sythesiers I think. Nice drum beat comes in though, quite fast. Followed by some bass and carrying vocals. Once again the song builds with use of background affects and then a really cool guitar starts to join in. It's good but still needs more work, the vocals are too low and the guitar I mentioned could be more prominent(sp) than the Kid A sound affects. It's alright and another grower.
We Suck Young Blood - I really don't like this one. It has that dark Kid A never-ending piano playing. It has a nice 'clap' in it after every line. Could be on a dodgy horror soundtrack. It drags on too much and I pretty much despise BUT at about 3 minutes this amazing jazzed up chorus suddenly appears from nowhere but then shortly dies away. I don't like it.
The Gloaming - Awful. Like Pull/Pulk Revolving doors. It has this dreadful cracking noise through the whole track. Every play Warcraft? When they did that melting thing on the ground, thats what it sounds like. I hate it, some mongs on the radiohead love it... 'its just so... yeah I totally get it'. It's dreadful and wastes album space. The two songs starts to ruin the album a bit, they should cut them.
There There - Aha, the first single. This was a favourite of mine when I heard it live in Spain, it was great. When I heard this version I was thrilled yet disappointed. Starts off with lots of 'jungle drums'. Bass starts off in the background, affects start up. Then the guitars and vocals start to kick in. Lovely start, nice 'groovy' number that combines all of Radiohead's best bits to date. This goes on with the song building up occasionally then when you think it will end this way a really fantastic piece happens. The guitars kick in full blast and Thom gives it some lalldy on the vocals and then the song ends on a number of nice guitar notes and vocals. Well it should be like that, the crunching guitar is missing in this version which made me sad. It's a top song but just needs to be fixed up, I hope.
I Will - An old track from just post-Ok Computer. I don't know what the big deal about it is with fans. It's nie but this version really needs to be fixed. Can't hear the vocals clean enough and just a large drone in the instruments. Still pretty nice, slow kind of number which ends a big too fast. Could be very good
A Punch-up at a Wedding - Another track that was much better when live. I like it, many on the message boards don't seem to. One called the intro 'like a porno' hoho. It's cool, kind of funky/groovy number and I love the piano in it. As usual it builds up nicely with some really loud bass. And a nice quiet guitar piece in the background, later on some 'marching' sound can be heard which is pretty cool. It's one of my favs, you might not like it. Kind of Jazzy like Life in a Glasshouse but much cooler and the vocals are pretty good. Nice but bits seem to be missing in this version.
Myamotosis - Another quite strange one. It sounds pretty punk and rocky but doesn't seem to progress anywhere and the vocals can be quite irritating as the ends are erm cut short so they sound sharp. Really heavy and loud bass throughout the song, the vocals are pretty full of life. However, it can get a bit repetitive and needs something added to it and once again I don't think it's actually finished, bits sound missing. It could be good, the bits where the bass stops are pretty good.
Scatterbrain - Quite a strange one. Starts with quite a slow guitar plucking that is quite simple. Vocals are ecchhhoooeedd out. I'm still not sure on this one, it's alright but nothing that special. Kind of similar to Ok Computer style song but have elements of Kid A/Amnesiac, its alright.
Wolf at the Door - Pretty damn cool closer but still better live. Nice mellowed out in a way but quite a strange vocal by Thom. Very low and kind of one tone, like he's just kind of talking and I'm sure he says 'flan in your face'. It gets a lot cooler at the chorus... nice drumming and effects and the vocals fit pretty well. Quite a nice closer, I like it. Can hear some scratching of acoustic strings, nice background noises. Yeah its cool and I'm bored reviewing with my limited descriptions.
-----
So the overall view
I was an original sceptic of this album, I thought it could start to bring Radiohead down if it was pretty average Kid A-esque songs with no emotion in the lyrics. However, after a few listens of the rough, unmixed and unmastered versions I think this album could be pretty damn good if it gets the work and improvments it needs. Some of the vocals need to be louder, the songs need blend into one another more and there is a definate lack of guitars in the song. The album needs to lose one of the Kid A electronic ones like The Gloaming and the Kid A neverending piano We Suck Young Blood and stick another rocker like 2+2=5 in it. I think myself and msot people will no doubt find it better than Kid A and Amnesiac. It's still hard to judge as its not finished but I like it now but still unsure. You'll love 2+2=5 and There There once/if it gets more OOOOMMPPH
Ta Ta
Anyway, I am the thief, so hail to my review. Be warned, I suck at reviews....
2+2=5 = I never heard this one on the live Spain tracks so didn't know what to expect, I kinda guessed it'd be a electric thing off Kid A with little whizzes and things. Well, it's not. This version starts off with them plugging in and a nice acoustic guitar with a very quiet drum beat. Nice vocals by Thom at the start. Starts to build gradually and then at about 2 minutes in, which I never saw coming, a big fooking guitar chorus. Excellent, full of energy, crunching guitars and screaming vocals. Followed at the end by some nice playing, no doubt by Jonny. Probably my favourite track and a return to old, excellent. Like Paranoid Android with the sudden change and the chorus at the end is a bit like Electionerring but not, if you know what I mean.
Sit Down, Stand Up = Strange one. Kind of a mixture of a Kid A track and well not a Kid A track. Piano present at the start with little plinks from xliophone(sp). Vocals aren't bad, but slips into Kid A terrority. Starts to build up with some effects in the backgroud and some drums. Then the piano starts to grow louder and the track grows to explode into what can onlt be referred to as the Idioteque chorus 'andtheraindrops'. It's quite cool, a grower and hard to link with one category. It's got the electronic chorus, but has piano and drums and stuff. Not bad. has some life in it.
Sail to the Moon - A nice track. The intro is kind of similar to that of 'The Tourist' with the bass following the guitar picks. Vocals are quite good, dragged out a bit over the tempo. Quite a slow, kinda laid back song. I'd compare it to some Ok Computer tracks, like Let Down and The Tourist. It's cool but this version needs a lot of work, sounds a bit messy but I don't actually think this version is finished. Nice album track, doesn't make a massive impact but pleasent.
Backdrifts - Another new one that wasn't played in Spain/Portugal. The first listen I really hated it. The intro is some crap techno 'umping' like 'Like Spining Plates' yu think it will suck. However, this track has grown one me even though its nothing special. The vocals kind of carry the song and it lucks an instrument really, it has the Idioteque drum beat a bit maybe some drums or guitars. It's a strange one, I'm sure I can hear something that sounds like a citar. Its good but needs a lot more work on it and a bit too long.
Go to Sleep - Hadn't heard this one but its sounding pretty good. Just acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Nice vocals and a nice tune going. Grows again as it usually does. Kind of old Radiohead mixed with Amnesiac guitar songs like Knives Out in that errrr aspect. Nothing special but a nice album track all the same and a nice change to the simple sound.
Where I End and You Begin - Heard the live track but didn't like it that much then. Starts off with a kind of dark beginning with sythesiers I think. Nice drum beat comes in though, quite fast. Followed by some bass and carrying vocals. Once again the song builds with use of background affects and then a really cool guitar starts to join in. It's good but still needs more work, the vocals are too low and the guitar I mentioned could be more prominent(sp) than the Kid A sound affects. It's alright and another grower.
We Suck Young Blood - I really don't like this one. It has that dark Kid A never-ending piano playing. It has a nice 'clap' in it after every line. Could be on a dodgy horror soundtrack. It drags on too much and I pretty much despise BUT at about 3 minutes this amazing jazzed up chorus suddenly appears from nowhere but then shortly dies away. I don't like it.
The Gloaming - Awful. Like Pull/Pulk Revolving doors. It has this dreadful cracking noise through the whole track. Every play Warcraft? When they did that melting thing on the ground, thats what it sounds like. I hate it, some mongs on the radiohead love it... 'its just so... yeah I totally get it'. It's dreadful and wastes album space. The two songs starts to ruin the album a bit, they should cut them.
There There - Aha, the first single. This was a favourite of mine when I heard it live in Spain, it was great. When I heard this version I was thrilled yet disappointed. Starts off with lots of 'jungle drums'. Bass starts off in the background, affects start up. Then the guitars and vocals start to kick in. Lovely start, nice 'groovy' number that combines all of Radiohead's best bits to date. This goes on with the song building up occasionally then when you think it will end this way a really fantastic piece happens. The guitars kick in full blast and Thom gives it some lalldy on the vocals and then the song ends on a number of nice guitar notes and vocals. Well it should be like that, the crunching guitar is missing in this version which made me sad. It's a top song but just needs to be fixed up, I hope.
I Will - An old track from just post-Ok Computer. I don't know what the big deal about it is with fans. It's nie but this version really needs to be fixed. Can't hear the vocals clean enough and just a large drone in the instruments. Still pretty nice, slow kind of number which ends a big too fast. Could be very good
A Punch-up at a Wedding - Another track that was much better when live. I like it, many on the message boards don't seem to. One called the intro 'like a porno' hoho. It's cool, kind of funky/groovy number and I love the piano in it. As usual it builds up nicely with some really loud bass. And a nice quiet guitar piece in the background, later on some 'marching' sound can be heard which is pretty cool. It's one of my favs, you might not like it. Kind of Jazzy like Life in a Glasshouse but much cooler and the vocals are pretty good. Nice but bits seem to be missing in this version.
Myamotosis - Another quite strange one. It sounds pretty punk and rocky but doesn't seem to progress anywhere and the vocals can be quite irritating as the ends are erm cut short so they sound sharp. Really heavy and loud bass throughout the song, the vocals are pretty full of life. However, it can get a bit repetitive and needs something added to it and once again I don't think it's actually finished, bits sound missing. It could be good, the bits where the bass stops are pretty good.
Scatterbrain - Quite a strange one. Starts with quite a slow guitar plucking that is quite simple. Vocals are ecchhhoooeedd out. I'm still not sure on this one, it's alright but nothing that special. Kind of similar to Ok Computer style song but have elements of Kid A/Amnesiac, its alright.
Wolf at the Door - Pretty damn cool closer but still better live. Nice mellowed out in a way but quite a strange vocal by Thom. Very low and kind of one tone, like he's just kind of talking and I'm sure he says 'flan in your face'. It gets a lot cooler at the chorus... nice drumming and effects and the vocals fit pretty well. Quite a nice closer, I like it. Can hear some scratching of acoustic strings, nice background noises. Yeah its cool and I'm bored reviewing with my limited descriptions.
-----
So the overall view
I was an original sceptic of this album, I thought it could start to bring Radiohead down if it was pretty average Kid A-esque songs with no emotion in the lyrics. However, after a few listens of the rough, unmixed and unmastered versions I think this album could be pretty damn good if it gets the work and improvments it needs. Some of the vocals need to be louder, the songs need blend into one another more and there is a definate lack of guitars in the song. The album needs to lose one of the Kid A electronic ones like The Gloaming and the Kid A neverending piano We Suck Young Blood and stick another rocker like 2+2=5 in it. I think myself and msot people will no doubt find it better than Kid A and Amnesiac. It's still hard to judge as its not finished but I like it now but still unsure. You'll love 2+2=5 and There There once/if it gets more OOOOMMPPH
Ta Ta
Willy
Goatboy wrote:
> Goatboy's review of same album:
>
> *long slow exhale and stares at the floor*
Cancer of the effort?
> Goatboy's review of same album:
>
> *long slow exhale and stares at the floor*
Cancer of the effort?
I'll buy it, but I'm not holding out too much hope for this one I'm afraid. I've found loads of bands I enjoy more who aren't pre-occupied with twiddling knobs and pretending they're Jean Paul Satre.
And Punch Up At A Wedding was rubbish.
And Punch Up At A Wedding was rubbish.
Erm
You buy kebab?
You buy kebab?
Goatboy's review of same album:
*long slow exhale and stares at the floor*
*long slow exhale and stares at the floor*
Bah
Oh the irony of the title in the leaking and stuff of the album. Turns out the songs on the internet are very rough mixes from December or January or something and some aren't even finished nevermind mixed or mastered.
Anyway, I am the thief, so hail to my review. Be warned, I suck at reviews....
2+2=5 = I never heard this one on the live Spain tracks so didn't know what to expect, I kinda guessed it'd be a electric thing off Kid A with little whizzes and things. Well, it's not. This version starts off with them plugging in and a nice acoustic guitar with a very quiet drum beat. Nice vocals by Thom at the start. Starts to build gradually and then at about 2 minutes in, which I never saw coming, a big fooking guitar chorus. Excellent, full of energy, crunching guitars and screaming vocals. Followed at the end by some nice playing, no doubt by Jonny. Probably my favourite track and a return to old, excellent. Like Paranoid Android with the sudden change and the chorus at the end is a bit like Electionerring but not, if you know what I mean.
Sit Down, Stand Up = Strange one. Kind of a mixture of a Kid A track and well not a Kid A track. Piano present at the start with little plinks from xliophone(sp). Vocals aren't bad, but slips into Kid A terrority. Starts to build up with some effects in the backgroud and some drums. Then the piano starts to grow louder and the track grows to explode into what can onlt be referred to as the Idioteque chorus 'andtheraindrops'. It's quite cool, a grower and hard to link with one category. It's got the electronic chorus, but has piano and drums and stuff. Not bad. has some life in it.
Sail to the Moon - A nice track. The intro is kind of similar to that of 'The Tourist' with the bass following the guitar picks. Vocals are quite good, dragged out a bit over the tempo. Quite a slow, kinda laid back song. I'd compare it to some Ok Computer tracks, like Let Down and The Tourist. It's cool but this version needs a lot of work, sounds a bit messy but I don't actually think this version is finished. Nice album track, doesn't make a massive impact but pleasent.
Backdrifts - Another new one that wasn't played in Spain/Portugal. The first listen I really hated it. The intro is some crap techno 'umping' like 'Like Spining Plates' yu think it will suck. However, this track has grown one me even though its nothing special. The vocals kind of carry the song and it lucks an instrument really, it has the Idioteque drum beat a bit maybe some drums or guitars. It's a strange one, I'm sure I can hear something that sounds like a citar. Its good but needs a lot more work on it and a bit too long.
Go to Sleep - Hadn't heard this one but its sounding pretty good. Just acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Nice vocals and a nice tune going. Grows again as it usually does. Kind of old Radiohead mixed with Amnesiac guitar songs like Knives Out in that errrr aspect. Nothing special but a nice album track all the same and a nice change to the simple sound.
Where I End and You Begin - Heard the live track but didn't like it that much then. Starts off with a kind of dark beginning with sythesiers I think. Nice drum beat comes in though, quite fast. Followed by some bass and carrying vocals. Once again the song builds with use of background affects and then a really cool guitar starts to join in. It's good but still needs more work, the vocals are too low and the guitar I mentioned could be more prominent(sp) than the Kid A sound affects. It's alright and another grower.
We Suck Young Blood - I really don't like this one. It has that dark Kid A never-ending piano playing. It has a nice 'clap' in it after every line. Could be on a dodgy horror soundtrack. It drags on too much and I pretty much despise BUT at about 3 minutes this amazing jazzed up chorus suddenly appears from nowhere but then shortly dies away. I don't like it.
The Gloaming - Awful. Like Pull/Pulk Revolving doors. It has this dreadful cracking noise through the whole track. Every play Warcraft? When they did that melting thing on the ground, thats what it sounds like. I hate it, some mongs on the radiohead love it... 'its just so... yeah I totally get it'. It's dreadful and wastes album space. The two songs starts to ruin the album a bit, they should cut them.
There There - Aha, the first single. This was a favourite of mine when I heard it live in Spain, it was great. When I heard this version I was thrilled yet disappointed. Starts off with lots of 'jungle drums'. Bass starts off in the background, affects start up. Then the guitars and vocals start to kick in. Lovely start, nice 'groovy' number that combines all of Radiohead's best bits to date. This goes on with the song building up occasionally then when you think it will end this way a really fantastic piece happens. The guitars kick in full blast and Thom gives it some lalldy on the vocals and then the song ends on a number of nice guitar notes and vocals. Well it should be like that, the crunching guitar is missing in this version which made me sad. It's a top song but just needs to be fixed up, I hope.
I Will - An old track from just post-Ok Computer. I don't know what the big deal about it is with fans. It's nie but this version really needs to be fixed. Can't hear the vocals clean enough and just a large drone in the instruments. Still pretty nice, slow kind of number which ends a big too fast. Could be very good
A Punch-up at a Wedding - Another track that was much better when live. I like it, many on the message boards don't seem to. One called the intro 'like a porno' hoho. It's cool, kind of funky/groovy number and I love the piano in it. As usual it builds up nicely with some really loud bass. And a nice quiet guitar piece in the background, later on some 'marching' sound can be heard which is pretty cool. It's one of my favs, you might not like it. Kind of Jazzy like Life in a Glasshouse but much cooler and the vocals are pretty good. Nice but bits seem to be missing in this version.
Myamotosis - Another quite strange one. It sounds pretty punk and rocky but doesn't seem to progress anywhere and the vocals can be quite irritating as the ends are erm cut short so they sound sharp. Really heavy and loud bass throughout the song, the vocals are pretty full of life. However, it can get a bit repetitive and needs something added to it and once again I don't think it's actually finished, bits sound missing. It could be good, the bits where the bass stops are pretty good.
Scatterbrain - Quite a strange one. Starts with quite a slow guitar plucking that is quite simple. Vocals are ecchhhoooeedd out. I'm still not sure on this one, it's alright but nothing that special. Kind of similar to Ok Computer style song but have elements of Kid A/Amnesiac, its alright.
Wolf at the Door - Pretty damn cool closer but still better live. Nice mellowed out in a way but quite a strange vocal by Thom. Very low and kind of one tone, like he's just kind of talking and I'm sure he says 'flan in your face'. It gets a lot cooler at the chorus... nice drumming and effects and the vocals fit pretty well. Quite a nice closer, I like it. Can hear some scratching of acoustic strings, nice background noises. Yeah its cool and I'm bored reviewing with my limited descriptions.
-----
So the overall view
I was an original sceptic of this album, I thought it could start to bring Radiohead down if it was pretty average Kid A-esque songs with no emotion in the lyrics. However, after a few listens of the rough, unmixed and unmastered versions I think this album could be pretty damn good if it gets the work and improvments it needs. Some of the vocals need to be louder, the songs need blend into one another more and there is a definate lack of guitars in the song. The album needs to lose one of the Kid A electronic ones like The Gloaming and the Kid A neverending piano We Suck Young Blood and stick another rocker like 2+2=5 in it. I think myself and msot people will no doubt find it better than Kid A and Amnesiac. It's still hard to judge as its not finished but I like it now but still unsure. You'll love 2+2=5 and There There once/if it gets more OOOOMMPPH
Ta Ta
Anyway, I am the thief, so hail to my review. Be warned, I suck at reviews....
2+2=5 = I never heard this one on the live Spain tracks so didn't know what to expect, I kinda guessed it'd be a electric thing off Kid A with little whizzes and things. Well, it's not. This version starts off with them plugging in and a nice acoustic guitar with a very quiet drum beat. Nice vocals by Thom at the start. Starts to build gradually and then at about 2 minutes in, which I never saw coming, a big fooking guitar chorus. Excellent, full of energy, crunching guitars and screaming vocals. Followed at the end by some nice playing, no doubt by Jonny. Probably my favourite track and a return to old, excellent. Like Paranoid Android with the sudden change and the chorus at the end is a bit like Electionerring but not, if you know what I mean.
Sit Down, Stand Up = Strange one. Kind of a mixture of a Kid A track and well not a Kid A track. Piano present at the start with little plinks from xliophone(sp). Vocals aren't bad, but slips into Kid A terrority. Starts to build up with some effects in the backgroud and some drums. Then the piano starts to grow louder and the track grows to explode into what can onlt be referred to as the Idioteque chorus 'andtheraindrops'. It's quite cool, a grower and hard to link with one category. It's got the electronic chorus, but has piano and drums and stuff. Not bad. has some life in it.
Sail to the Moon - A nice track. The intro is kind of similar to that of 'The Tourist' with the bass following the guitar picks. Vocals are quite good, dragged out a bit over the tempo. Quite a slow, kinda laid back song. I'd compare it to some Ok Computer tracks, like Let Down and The Tourist. It's cool but this version needs a lot of work, sounds a bit messy but I don't actually think this version is finished. Nice album track, doesn't make a massive impact but pleasent.
Backdrifts - Another new one that wasn't played in Spain/Portugal. The first listen I really hated it. The intro is some crap techno 'umping' like 'Like Spining Plates' yu think it will suck. However, this track has grown one me even though its nothing special. The vocals kind of carry the song and it lucks an instrument really, it has the Idioteque drum beat a bit maybe some drums or guitars. It's a strange one, I'm sure I can hear something that sounds like a citar. Its good but needs a lot more work on it and a bit too long.
Go to Sleep - Hadn't heard this one but its sounding pretty good. Just acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Nice vocals and a nice tune going. Grows again as it usually does. Kind of old Radiohead mixed with Amnesiac guitar songs like Knives Out in that errrr aspect. Nothing special but a nice album track all the same and a nice change to the simple sound.
Where I End and You Begin - Heard the live track but didn't like it that much then. Starts off with a kind of dark beginning with sythesiers I think. Nice drum beat comes in though, quite fast. Followed by some bass and carrying vocals. Once again the song builds with use of background affects and then a really cool guitar starts to join in. It's good but still needs more work, the vocals are too low and the guitar I mentioned could be more prominent(sp) than the Kid A sound affects. It's alright and another grower.
We Suck Young Blood - I really don't like this one. It has that dark Kid A never-ending piano playing. It has a nice 'clap' in it after every line. Could be on a dodgy horror soundtrack. It drags on too much and I pretty much despise BUT at about 3 minutes this amazing jazzed up chorus suddenly appears from nowhere but then shortly dies away. I don't like it.
The Gloaming - Awful. Like Pull/Pulk Revolving doors. It has this dreadful cracking noise through the whole track. Every play Warcraft? When they did that melting thing on the ground, thats what it sounds like. I hate it, some mongs on the radiohead love it... 'its just so... yeah I totally get it'. It's dreadful and wastes album space. The two songs starts to ruin the album a bit, they should cut them.
There There - Aha, the first single. This was a favourite of mine when I heard it live in Spain, it was great. When I heard this version I was thrilled yet disappointed. Starts off with lots of 'jungle drums'. Bass starts off in the background, affects start up. Then the guitars and vocals start to kick in. Lovely start, nice 'groovy' number that combines all of Radiohead's best bits to date. This goes on with the song building up occasionally then when you think it will end this way a really fantastic piece happens. The guitars kick in full blast and Thom gives it some lalldy on the vocals and then the song ends on a number of nice guitar notes and vocals. Well it should be like that, the crunching guitar is missing in this version which made me sad. It's a top song but just needs to be fixed up, I hope.
I Will - An old track from just post-Ok Computer. I don't know what the big deal about it is with fans. It's nie but this version really needs to be fixed. Can't hear the vocals clean enough and just a large drone in the instruments. Still pretty nice, slow kind of number which ends a big too fast. Could be very good
A Punch-up at a Wedding - Another track that was much better when live. I like it, many on the message boards don't seem to. One called the intro 'like a porno' hoho. It's cool, kind of funky/groovy number and I love the piano in it. As usual it builds up nicely with some really loud bass. And a nice quiet guitar piece in the background, later on some 'marching' sound can be heard which is pretty cool. It's one of my favs, you might not like it. Kind of Jazzy like Life in a Glasshouse but much cooler and the vocals are pretty good. Nice but bits seem to be missing in this version.
Myamotosis - Another quite strange one. It sounds pretty punk and rocky but doesn't seem to progress anywhere and the vocals can be quite irritating as the ends are erm cut short so they sound sharp. Really heavy and loud bass throughout the song, the vocals are pretty full of life. However, it can get a bit repetitive and needs something added to it and once again I don't think it's actually finished, bits sound missing. It could be good, the bits where the bass stops are pretty good.
Scatterbrain - Quite a strange one. Starts with quite a slow guitar plucking that is quite simple. Vocals are ecchhhoooeedd out. I'm still not sure on this one, it's alright but nothing that special. Kind of similar to Ok Computer style song but have elements of Kid A/Amnesiac, its alright.
Wolf at the Door - Pretty damn cool closer but still better live. Nice mellowed out in a way but quite a strange vocal by Thom. Very low and kind of one tone, like he's just kind of talking and I'm sure he says 'flan in your face'. It gets a lot cooler at the chorus... nice drumming and effects and the vocals fit pretty well. Quite a nice closer, I like it. Can hear some scratching of acoustic strings, nice background noises. Yeah its cool and I'm bored reviewing with my limited descriptions.
-----
So the overall view
I was an original sceptic of this album, I thought it could start to bring Radiohead down if it was pretty average Kid A-esque songs with no emotion in the lyrics. However, after a few listens of the rough, unmixed and unmastered versions I think this album could be pretty damn good if it gets the work and improvments it needs. Some of the vocals need to be louder, the songs need blend into one another more and there is a definate lack of guitars in the song. The album needs to lose one of the Kid A electronic ones like The Gloaming and the Kid A neverending piano We Suck Young Blood and stick another rocker like 2+2=5 in it. I think myself and msot people will no doubt find it better than Kid A and Amnesiac. It's still hard to judge as its not finished but I like it now but still unsure. You'll love 2+2=5 and There There once/if it gets more OOOOMMPPH
Ta Ta