Expert: Andreas Moss - 10/5/2005

Question
Hello,

About four or so months ago I finally discovered Radiohead. I first heard some of their music from Pablo Honey and OK Computer. I must say the first experiance of OK Computer was something I will never forget. I remember when Air Bag first started blazing on my computer speakers and I just kept thinking to myself that I had not really heard anything like it. Then Paranoid Android came next (my favorite of the album). The awesome time change to 7/4 took my by suprise and it is then that I realized that this group is one of the greats, a sort of Pink Floyd for our time.

Anyways going back to Kid A, I bought the album not too much longer after I had discovered Radiohead, and to hear their transformation so quickly blew me away. It is a genius album, filled with such subtlety that I still pick up new things from it now and then. The layout was so stark and it hits like a ton of bricks. I remember my heart beat rising and my anxiety growing from track one to track three. Finally track four kicked in (How To Disappear Completely). I remember being filled with this disquieting fear. It really shook me up and at the end of it I was chilled. I didnt know if I could sit through the entire album but then the soft and gentle track 5 (tree fingers) came on, and soothed my tense fear. My anxiety did not go away though, and in fact there was an underlying disturbing quality to track five that almost scares me more than the other tracks. If you pay attention, you can pick up subtle sounds in the back that harken to the first four tracks.
Finally six through ten came and there was now no more feeling of being alone. No more fear of being trapped in a nightmare, which is the only way I can discribe it. Now it turned to a bitter attack, and there is power in these last tracks. The wonderful thing is it ended with Motion Picture Soundtrack, which is the perfect choice for the end of Kid A, just wraps things up in a dirge-like sound and feel.


I just had to tell somebody about this experiance. I dont know if I can listen to this album a lot, it is so chilling and well, to be honest, scary. I  remember trying to listen to it in the dark one night and it freaked me out too damn much. I probably sound weak here, but this is art. This is expression at it's best. In one hand it kind of sickens me, but in the other hand it is so beautifully crafted and enchanting that I just cant stop listening to it. I love this album and more than anything I have listened to, this has to be one of the top album sittings I have experianced.


Sorry for this huge comment, it just had to be said. I want to know though if you had similar feelings while listening to this album at first. Also I heard that this album was done in a remote area in the woods. I remember me and a friend listening to it before I heard that info and we both made comments that it felt like we were alone in a dark forest that honestly felt devilish. Is that information true? Also are there any details or commentaries on the songs and what their inspiration is?

It is a powerful album, one of the most powerful I have ever listened to. You know what? I am almost glad I have not been a long time fan of Radiohead. I know so many old fans of Radiohead who hate their new shift in music, just because they dont like the sound. I guess discovering it so late may have taken off that bias.


Regards: Titus



P.S. I heard that Radiohead has and possibly still does use illegal substances. I personally try to stay away from them these days, but I remember getting that feeling similar to a nightmare or a bad trip while listening to Kid A. It really creeped me out. I was just wondering on a side note if they have ever been influenced by any substances in their music.

Answer
Hello Titus,
Thats a wonderful description of Kid A you have. I had the exact same some years back. Thanks for sharing.
I think my first listen with Kid A was actually more in the vein of confused(I didn't know about their turn from OK Computer), but I fell in love with it very fast. In a hard way.

They recorded Kid A and Amnesiac at the same time, and one of the places was in an old house in the woods. Very isolated yes. Thom even proclaimed the house was haunted.. and that the creepy feeling of the house can be noted around. They also has sessions in Copenhagen and Paris.
Recording the albums was very difficult for them though.

Radiohead has never proclaimed drugs as a good thing. More of the opposite. Thom has supported anti-drug campaigns, and some of the artworks is kind of anti to the whole thing as well. Still, they are a rock band and drugs usually flows around in that culture.
Radiohead is kind of a band that is difficult to exactly know about though, as they are not your average rockband either.
We know Thom did drugs around Pablo Honey. He is quoted saying he "pushed the self-destruction button pretty fast". He couldn't cope with money, fame etc.
These days though they are family men and not teenagers anymore. It probably goes more in the vein of wine.
I don't think they're on drugs when recording.

Hope that kind of answers :)

Have a nice week!
Andreas