Radiohead is far from the norm in popular music. I think this is why many can’t accept the “post-Bends” Radiohead. All their preconceptions of Radiohead have been turned upside down, as tunes like Pyramid Song appear as the first single off a new album. Radiohead are so far ahead of the game (as evident in Pyramid Song) that many listeners just don’t understand it. It is a great song, but nothing like the single’s you are used to hearing, even from Radiohead. Great video too.
Rating: 4 / 5
I love Radiohead. I collect their Cds. My friends are all sick of hearing about them. Then, I heard Fast Track. Pyramid Song was great. Kinetic was brilliant. Fast Track was horrible. It starts out with some odd sounds and percussion, which was actually pretty good. Then enters this UNGODLY sampled noise that goes on through most of the song. At points, it quiets down and get distorted enough that it sounds decent, but then it comes back at full volume. You can hardly hear Thom song over it. This is one the most frustrating songs i’ve heard in my life. I’m giving this cd three stars for the other two, but the reason i haven’t mentioned them is they’re available on a different Pyramid Song single which includes two of Radiohead’s best songs on it as well. Get the other one. …well, someone had to say it.
Rating: 3 / 5
It’s a shame the band feels the need to shun such great music to the side for the sake of a “concept.” Kinetic (throbbing bass, skittering drums) could definitely have filled the spot of Push/Pulk on Amnesiac. An excellent cousin to Amnesiac’s warped yet traditional sound. Methinks that TransAtlantic Drawl may be the start of the next go round for the boys. Their Maxi singles always seem to telegraph the next stylistic move (see Pearly* and Meeting in the Aisle on the Airbag EP. Sounds a bit like Kid A’s “soundscapes”, huh?). Pick it up! And take a listen to Clinic (Internal Wrangler) if you really like TA Drawl!
Rating: 4 / 5
Ok, so you’ve heard Radiohead’s last two studio albums (‘Kid A’ and ‘Amnesiac’) and you’re thinking “This is *not* the Radiohead we all know and love”, right? Well, perhaps not… and yet….
The important thing to try to remember is that for many bands now-a-days, changing your style or musical direction can be a very difficult undertaking. Record companies and producers want more of the same stuff that sold successfully in the past and try to position or move artists into neat pigeonholes that they think will sell within a given market segment. If you are confused by radiohead’s change of direction, rest assured that this is there way or finding their own little patch of self determination within the corporate monoliths that are today’s music industry.
As a band, I believe Yorke and Co. had to find another way to keep their creative processes alive. They needed new inspiration. Their songwriting process had become an assembly line and I think they needed to reinvent themselves (and their sound) in order to remain creatively interested in the band. The beauty of the past two albums is in their treatment of sound itself as the instrument. Radiohead have started to use the studio (whether it’s a small portable hard disc multitracker or a full-blown ‘recording studio’) as the instrument.
‘Pyramid Song’ upon first listen, is a bit like looking at a fractal. You are aware of the pattern and colors but it requires a little time to closely examine the work before it’s delicate beauty really becomes apparent. A large part of it’s beauty (as well as the whole of Amnesiac ) is in it’s feel. The subtle chord shifts (ala Monk). The tone of Thom’s voice. It’s the choices they’ve made as a band about the overall sound that make these album collections of work that should be listened to and applauded as well as Radiohead’s courage and determination to stay true to an artistic vision and process.
Will Radiohead ever return to being a great ‘guitar driven’ band? I’m sure they will…afterall, let’s face it, bashing away on loud guitars is a heck of a lot of fun But in the meantime, sit back and enjoy the sound of a different trip. Trust in the intention behind the music and allow yourself to be taken in by it… your patience and open mindedness will be richly rewarded!
Rating: 5 / 5
i can understand why alot of people wouldnt like this single. it has to be listened to alot to be fully appreciated. you have to do that with alot of radiohead’s new stuff though. The Pyramid Song is probably one of the most accesible Amnesiac songs with the great piano line and spooky vocals. The b-sides are really good if you give them time to grow on you. I hated Kinetic and Amazing Sounds Of Orgy at first but after a few listens, i heard their potential. Kinetic actually does feel very kinetic, with electric synthesizer fading in and out over Thom’s voice, it sounds really cool. Amazing Sounds Of Orgy is kind of a creepy song with a slow and steady drum beat and Thom delivering the lyrics at the same rythm of the drum beat. Transatlantic Drawl has some real fuzzy electric guitar in it. if you liked some of the pablo honey stuff, youll see the guitar return to glory. The vocal delivery sounds like new Radiohead for sure though, uneven delivery and all. Plus there’s also some electronic effects in the background. Like i said though, let this grow on you, there are hidden treasures to be found. Songs rated in order: 1. Pyramid Song 2. Transatlantic Drawl 3. Kinetic 4. Amazing Sounds of Orgy
Rating: 5 / 5
Radiohead is far from the norm in popular music. I think this is why many can’t accept the “post-Bends” Radiohead. All their preconceptions of Radiohead have been turned upside down, as tunes like Pyramid Song appear as the first single off a new album. Radiohead are so far ahead of the game (as evident in Pyramid Song) that many listeners just don’t understand it. It is a great song, but nothing like the single’s you are used to hearing, even from Radiohead. Great video too.
Rating: 4 / 5
I love Radiohead. I collect their Cds. My friends are all sick of hearing about them. Then, I heard Fast Track. Pyramid Song was great. Kinetic was brilliant. Fast Track was horrible. It starts out with some odd sounds and percussion, which was actually pretty good. Then enters this UNGODLY sampled noise that goes on through most of the song. At points, it quiets down and get distorted enough that it sounds decent, but then it comes back at full volume. You can hardly hear Thom song over it. This is one the most frustrating songs i’ve heard in my life. I’m giving this cd three stars for the other two, but the reason i haven’t mentioned them is they’re available on a different Pyramid Song single which includes two of Radiohead’s best songs on it as well. Get the other one. …well, someone had to say it.
Rating: 3 / 5
It’s a shame the band feels the need to shun such great music to the side for the sake of a “concept.” Kinetic (throbbing bass, skittering drums) could definitely have filled the spot of Push/Pulk on Amnesiac. An excellent cousin to Amnesiac’s warped yet traditional sound. Methinks that TransAtlantic Drawl may be the start of the next go round for the boys. Their Maxi singles always seem to telegraph the next stylistic move (see Pearly* and Meeting in the Aisle on the Airbag EP. Sounds a bit like Kid A’s “soundscapes”, huh?). Pick it up! And take a listen to Clinic (Internal Wrangler) if you really like TA Drawl!
Rating: 4 / 5
Ok, so you’ve heard Radiohead’s last two studio albums (‘Kid A’ and ‘Amnesiac’) and you’re thinking “This is *not* the Radiohead we all know and love”, right? Well, perhaps not… and yet….
The important thing to try to remember is that for many bands now-a-days, changing your style or musical direction can be a very difficult undertaking. Record companies and producers want more of the same stuff that sold successfully in the past and try to position or move artists into neat pigeonholes that they think will sell within a given market segment. If you are confused by radiohead’s change of direction, rest assured that this is there way or finding their own little patch of self determination within the corporate monoliths that are today’s music industry.
As a band, I believe Yorke and Co. had to find another way to keep their creative processes alive. They needed new inspiration. Their songwriting process had become an assembly line and I think they needed to reinvent themselves (and their sound) in order to remain creatively interested in the band. The beauty of the past two albums is in their treatment of sound itself as the instrument. Radiohead have started to use the studio (whether it’s a small portable hard disc multitracker or a full-blown ‘recording studio’) as the instrument.
‘Pyramid Song’ upon first listen, is a bit like looking at a fractal. You are aware of the pattern and colors but it requires a little time to closely examine the work before it’s delicate beauty really becomes apparent. A large part of it’s beauty (as well as the whole of Amnesiac ) is in it’s feel. The subtle chord shifts (ala Monk). The tone of Thom’s voice. It’s the choices they’ve made as a band about the overall sound that make these album collections of work that should be listened to and applauded as well as Radiohead’s courage and determination to stay true to an artistic vision and process.
Will Radiohead ever return to being a great ‘guitar driven’ band? I’m sure they will…afterall, let’s face it, bashing away on loud guitars is a heck of a lot of fun
But in the meantime, sit back and enjoy the sound of a different trip. Trust in the intention behind the music and allow yourself to be taken in by it… your patience and open mindedness will be richly rewarded!
Rating: 5 / 5
i can understand why alot of people wouldnt like this single. it has to be listened to alot to be fully appreciated. you have to do that with alot of radiohead’s new stuff though. The Pyramid Song is probably one of the most accesible Amnesiac songs with the great piano line and spooky vocals. The b-sides are really good if you give them time to grow on you. I hated Kinetic and Amazing Sounds Of Orgy at first but after a few listens, i heard their potential. Kinetic actually does feel very kinetic, with electric synthesizer fading in and out over Thom’s voice, it sounds really cool. Amazing Sounds Of Orgy is kind of a creepy song with a slow and steady drum beat and Thom delivering the lyrics at the same rythm of the drum beat. Transatlantic Drawl has some real fuzzy electric guitar in it. if you liked some of the pablo honey stuff, youll see the guitar return to glory. The vocal delivery sounds like new Radiohead for sure though, uneven delivery and all. Plus there’s also some electronic effects in the background.
Like i said though, let this grow on you, there are hidden treasures to be found.
Songs rated in order:
1. Pyramid Song
2. Transatlantic Drawl
3. Kinetic
4. Amazing Sounds of Orgy
Rating: 5 / 5
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