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[kablooey]

Radiohead can be funny too. People are so conditioned to think Radiohead is always dark and brooding that they miss out on their more whimsical moments. "2+2=5", for example, is a funny song. Same with "We Suck Young Blood", or even "Paranoid Android".

 

[Diablos]

kablooey: eh... those songs would be viewed as pretty depressing to people who weren't used to the band. 2+2=5 is actually pretty damn depressing, he moans through the whole thing. "We Suck Young Blood" is another moanfest.

Paranoid Android is just weird. In a category of its own.
You gotta dig deeper.

Happier Radiohead: You, Ripcord, I Can't, Lurgee, Blow Out (rox), Maquilladora (love this song), The Bends, Electioneering, Worrywort

Even if they're really not uplifting lyrically, they still sound that way:
Killer Cars, Vegetable, The Trickster, Lewis, Just, How Can You Be Sure, Nice Dream, prolly a couple others I'm forgetting, but not that many.

And that's about it really. There's no denying that Radiohead is mostly either really depressing or just kind of... meh when it comes to emotion.

 

[kablooey]

Well, that's what I meant. You expect them to be depressing, but if you look at the lyrics and such, it's not as serious as it seems. "Go and tell the king that the sky is falling in! But it's not! Maybe not!" That's depressing? More like tongue-in-cheek.

We Suck Young Blood is almost a self-parody of their uber-depressing image, which may or not be a good thing. The freakout section in the middle is pretty silly though.

 

[Diablos]

Well yeah, but still, the songs themselves are presented in a very gloomy way. The meaning might not be as serious, but Radiohead still wants you to know they're pretty bummed. A song's true meaning can only do so much if the actual song sounds ridiculously gloomy.

 

[kablooey]

We have different definitions of "ridiculously gloomy," then, I guess. The second section of 2+2=5 is really goofy by Radiohead's standards, at least. Especially considering what preceded it on their past 2 albums. And if you watch Thom when he sings the songs live, he puts on his own little comic display for each song, which actually made me laugh when I saw their show.

So, I don't think it's completely true that they want you to feel depressed with each song.

 

[Diablos]

Whatever dude. Doesn't change the fact that Radiohead is mostly depressing.

2+2=5 can be silly but it still sounds depressing as all hell to me. And he seems more frustrated if anything. Especially when I saw him perform it live.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Radiohead is a monothematic bore. I can't even care about them anymore.

 

[Diablos]

I love the band, but I have no problem admitting most of their stuff is depressing.

 

[distantmantra]

Radiohead is a monothematic bore. I can't even care about them anymore.

I still have a soft spot for The Bends and OKC era Radiohead, but my general feelings are about the same. The zealot-like fanbase doesn't help matters.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I agree with what you're saying. The lyrics may be slightly ironic, but Thom Yorke's voice and general attitude don't reflect any sort of whimsy or humor in any of their music. I can't love music that's like that.

 

[kablooey]

Whatever. Whenever I listen to Radiohead I feel happier. I guess it's just comforting to me to know that there's someone out there who still cares about the state of the world, and such.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Their "political" messages are pretty trite. I also don't really understand how Thom Yorke, at 36/37 (whatever he is), is still writing the sort of shit he does on that blog. Ooh, how cryptic.

 

[Diablos]

There are tons of bands that care about the state of the world. Tons.

I like Radiohead BECAUSE they are so detached from so many emotions but are also still capabile of making songs that are very powerful. They really are in their own little world. It's hard to pull off what they do. Other bands that try to do the same bore me to tears (Mogwai anyone). I think their best days are behind them, but I don't think their recent work is as bad as anyone says. Besides, it's nothing to feel bad about; rarely will you see a three album stretch as amazing as The Bends, OK Computer and Kid A (and a lot of the b-sides that went along with them). Even Pablo Honey wasn't that bad, but it goes against everything they turned into. That's okay though, good songs are good songs. Quality, not quantity.

 

[teepo]

hey guys i have a sound idea, lets argue some more! maybe we can change the opinions of those who disagree with us and in the process reaffirm our own!

 

[kablooey]

I think they're one of the few bands out there who can pull off "political" songs without them sounding trite. All of their songs since "Planet Telex" have been political, though.

And Thom's just being his (admittedly weird/eccentric) self on the blog.

hey guys i have a sound idea, lets argue some more! maybe we can change the opinions of those who disagree with us and in the process reaffirm our own!

Eh, we(I)'ve got nothing better to do.

 

[teepo]

dude! enjoy bell woods is going to admit radiohead is the greatest band ever after i type up this 1000 word post! just you watch!

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I think they're one of the few bands out there who can pull off "political" songs without them sounding trite. All of their songs since "Planet Telex" have been political, though.

And Thom's just being his (admittedly weird/eccentric) self on the blog.



Eh, we(I)'ve got nothing better to do.

He just sounds like a really dumb teenager on the blog. It's contrived eccentricity absent any sort of individuality or meaning.

 

[Diablos]

Doesn't everyone sound like a dumb teenager on a blog for the most part

 

[kablooey]

He's more articulate in actual interviews. He just prefers writing that way online, presumably because he doesn't like having every word that comes out of his mouth (and fingers) being endlessly dissected.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Hey he can do whatever he wants. He's the millionaire with the platinum albums and fanbase.

 

[Diablos]

Thom's a little distant, in ways that he cannot help I am almost certain of. The guy clearly suffers from some type of mental disorder. He's definitely an abstract thinker first and foremost. It's all over the lyrics and textures buried into the guitars and production. Depressed peeps like me tend to be like that too (it's just that Thom's case is so much more severe and easier to identify) and that's why their stuff appeals to people who tend to be depressed.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I resent them because there are so many other innovative bands out there that I feel should be regarded with the same reverence.

 

[kablooey]

They probably feel the same way. It's not their fault they got popular.

Anyway, thanks to this thread, I know not to take ebw's opinion seriously anymore.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Uh, why? I think I've given more than a few dozen reasons why I don't like or appreciate Radiohead. What's so special about this evening? It's not my fault every thread devolves into some boring discussion about a band that stopped being interesting half a decade ago.

 

[kablooey]

Well, it's just the idea that you can't listen to "depressing" music, since that rules out about half the music availabe out there. It's not solely about Radiohead.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I listen to "depressing" music. What I can't handle is a band that stays consistently dour for over a decade. I wouldn't even call Radiohead depressing. They're just joyless--emotionless.

My favorite musicians were/are able to handle many themes.

 

[kablooey]

I wouldn't even call Radiohead depressing. They're just joyless--emotionless.

My favorite musicians were/are able to handle many themes.

Radiohead's no different. You just don't seem to be able to pick up on it. And calling them emotionless and joyless is absurd. So, there.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I think your arrogance about being able to pick up on things that aren't there is more absurd, really. When distantmantra talks about the zealots that make the band seem just a bit more unappealing, he's talking about the sort of person who'll actually attempt to justify the retarded verbal abortions Thom Yorke makes on that blog.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

There, now the argument's taken a turn for the worse and doesn't need to continue. It's all ad hom and pointless subjective nitpicking from this point.

 

[kablooey]

I do get arrogant when I think I'm right, because I feel like I have firm ground to say that Radiohead is more than the depressing bores that everyone makes them out to be. I'm sorry, but it's not even a matter of subjectivity. True, depression is one of the undercurrents that runs through their music, but it's just one of many. And it's not like they're the only artist to ever focus on that. Ever listen to Neil Young? Joni Mitchell? Bjork? Etc.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I loathe Bjork as much as I now loathe Radiohead. I don't feel the same way about Neil Young or Joni Mitchell.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Well, at least the UK blessed me with Blur. Now there's a good band.

 

[Peru]

Well, at least the UK blessed me with Blur. Now there's a good band.

Hahahaha. I think I understand now why I always think "hmm, he's always so sour and negative about good stuff, always pessimistic by default." It's because you like crud!

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Blur's like 100X better than Radiohead. Modern Life is Rubbish, Parklife and 13 are all fucking incredible.

Speaking of crud: nice Panda Bear avatar.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

I want to run through my list of British bands that became popular in the '90s:

Blur = SFA = The Auteurs > Stereolab = The Boo Radleys = Spiritualized = Supergrass > Primal Scream > Oasis > Abysmal bands: Menswear, Bis, Kula Shaker > Radiohead

 

[Kevtones]

Hmmm, I totally disagree with your hate of Radiohead but I agree that Stereolab is fantastic. You did point out something that always troubled me about Thom and Radiohead which came out particularly bad with "Hail to the Thief". Their political messages feel forced (no matter how well they're integrated lyrically) and Thom just comes across as a lamer in his political rantings and additionally his blogs. However, in interviews, he articulates a bit better and seems a little more apathetic then he does in his music (his soft-spoken nature helps probably). I have to say, until I see them give an other than absolutely fucking great live performance, I will still think they've got it in them to best themselves. I dislike HttT as much as anyone but fuck if they didn't play the hell out of those songs live and showed their still a fucking great band.

 

[enjoy bell woods]

The Radiohead hate is exaggerated. It's funny when fanboys have an ill reaction to an opinion about a band.

I'm really just very apathetic about them. My own reasons for disliking the band were partially discussed earlier in the thread. That's really all I feel about them. They don't inspire any of my emotions.

 

[Kevtones]

The Radiohead hate is exaggerated. It's funny when fanboys have an ill reaction to an opinion about a band.

Thats when you know you're bored, right?

 

[Nick]

Well EBW is notorious for starting Radiohead hate threads, which I love. You can guarantee at least 100+ posts about the same things each and every time. He knows what he's doing.

For instance: Albums from 2000 that are better than Kid A.

 

[Kevtones]

Yeah, it seems he does (I posted in that thread :lol). Yet all these threads....one has to wonder if he really just loves Radiohead and can't find the GAFwillpower to admit it? How can one resist a band with classics like Electioneering?

 

[Nick]

Yeah, it seems he does (I posted in that thread :lol). Yet all these threads....one has to wonder if he really just loves Radiohead and can't find the GAFwillpower to admit it? How can one resist a band with classics like Electioneering?

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not (I sure as hell hope not, since you're my Talk Talk buddy) but oh man, Electioneering is one of my favorite songs off OK Computer, and I'm totally being serious. It's in my top 25 most played songs on iTunes, at like number 5.

(I don't even like Radiohead that much anymore. They're kinda boring.)

 

[Kevtones]

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not (I sure as hell hope not, since you're my Talk Talk buddy) but oh man, Electioneering is one of my favorite songs off OK Computer, and I'm totally being serious. It's in my top 25 most played songs on iTunes, at like number 5.

(I don't even like Radiohead that much anymore. They're kinda boring.)

Hah! Actually I was half-joking, half-not because if I remember correctly, EBW hates Electioneering. I for one, LOVE IT. It is one of my favorite Radiohead songs and I have never been able to get enough of it (unlike some of their other stuff). I don't understand the hate for it and I doubt I ever will. It just fucking rocks (sad so many think its "by far" the worst track on OK Comptur)

 

[6.8]

There was a point in my life where I thought radiohead was the most original music in the world. Then I started to dig a bit, back in time, in new genres, and deeper in rock and roll. I found out I was completely wrong. There's so many better things to listen than radiohead, it's not even funny.

I'm not taking anything off from them, they're a good band, but they're not even in my top-tier anymore.

 

[speedpop]

Does this discussion really matter?

 

[Diablos]

I do get arrogant when I think I'm right, because I feel like I have firm ground to say that Radiohead is more than the depressing bores that everyone makes them out to be. I'm sorry, but it's not even a matter of subjectivity. True, depression is one of the undercurrents that runs through their music, but it's just one of many. And it's not like they're the only artist to ever focus on that. Ever listen to Neil Young? Joni Mitchell? Bjork? Etc.

Depressing does not always = boring. I think Radiohead is pretty down, but I don't find them boring, personally.

I've listened to Blur's discography. They have some great songs, but what's all the fuss about? They're not as good as lots of people make them out to be, IMO.

Oasis and Blur liked to fight a lot. Radiohead stayed the hell away from that.

 

[Peru]

There was a point in my life where I thought radiohead was the most original music in the world. Then I started to dig a bit, back in time, in new genres, and deeper in rock and roll. I found out I was completely wrong. There's so many better things to listen than radiohead, it's not even funny.

I'm not taking anything off from them, they're a good band, but they're not even in my top-tier anymore.

There was a point when I thought Radiohead did everything right and was the most finely tuned, yet constantly original and creative band in the world. Then I started to explore every region of music known to man, got many favourites, a new understanding of music, a broader scope and nuanced perspective... and I still think Radiohead is the best band in the world.


Btw, EBW, you stooped really low dissing Panda Bear. That's just not right! ;\ 231+0=

 

[kablooey]

I don't think Radiohead is the best band ever; far from it. Though they are still my favorite band, for sentimental reasons I guess.

And I was just listening to HTTT today. I still don't find it as depressing as it's made out to be. It's more upbeat than Kid A and Amnesiac, at least. But anyway, I don't want to talk about it anymore.

 

[Peru]

Yeah, but it's not like there actually is a 'best band in the world'...

 

[enjoy bell woods]

Who says HTTT is depressing?

I don't think I actually called Radiohead depressing anywhere in this thread, btw. I said they were monothematic. Approach that as you wish.

Oasis and Blur liked to fight a lot. Radiohead stayed the hell away from that.

Battle of Britpop. There was a fight to get the #1 single. Radiohead, as popular as they are, didn't really factor in.

 

[kablooey]

Well, I think there are bands out there that're objectively better than Radiohead. Maybe not currently, but certainly of all-time. Talking Heads for one. VU for another, and Sonic Youth too. Etc. But none of those bands are as close to me as Radiohead is, cheesy as that sounds.