I'm not the guy who sh*ts himself at the mere mention of Radiohead. They're good. There's no question there. I see them more as artists than musicians now. They're just kind of on their own experimental plane.I actually liked Radiohead a lot better when they were a little more straightforward. Their first two albums are much more instrument-oriented than most everything that came after. They were more of a guitar band then, as opposed to the computerized-effects driven sonic laboratory that they are now. "OK Computer" was when they started shifting... or as most of their ardent fans would say growing. That's probably their best album... the one that combines the basic band that they once were with the ambitious gods they would become. Some predicted that they would become the next U2?!? It doesn't seem like Radiohead want anything to do with that mantle. I don't think they've made anything very radio-friendly or embraceable in a long time, like those guys from Dublin have done again and again. Whereas U2 seem to push the physical boundaries of the size of the arenas they play in, Radiohead seems more about the musical and creative and philosophical boundaries that they can destroy.
"Fake Plastic Trees" is from the band's second album. It was supposedly written in response to the guys catching a Jeff Buckley concert. I'm not sure what the connection is, but I think it had something to do with the emotional depth that Buckley brought to his performances. "FPT" is a lament on the fake world we live in. Literally Thom Yorke sings about a guy who "used to do surgery on girls in the eighties." The song goes on to talk about trying to "be who you wanted"... about everyone changing themselves to fit someone else's ideal. Eventually, Yorke says, "it wears them out." It's a pretty sad tune, but a pretty one all the same.
"Fake Plastic Trees" is from the album "The Bends." To hear the song, click on the icon in the widget jukebox along the side of the blog.
I do agree that Radiohead is more interested in being experimental and thus artsy than they are really into being musical. Yet, to a large extent that's who they've always been. I cannot imagine they really even aspire to be the next U2, because given their collective talent they'd be there already if that's what they truly wanted---which is what I think you were getting at to some degree. However, I think they are pretty crazy cool. The fact that they recognized the change in music industry---what with everything being leaked and/or early released on the internet, they grabbed the reins and harnessed their star power to offer their latest album up for grabs online---for whatever you were willing to pay. Now that's new. And granted, they could take such a risk because they are so established and have such a big following. I think I read somewhere that by allowing folks to pay what they wanted, they actually made more than their previous and more conventional record release. There music was still "stolen" online---which is somewhat sad, given the fact that you could get it off their website for free. COol stuff. I am trying the blog thing too---albeit, mine is just, oh I don't know what it is. Happy new year.
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Yes, I absolutely admire what Radiohead has done to/with the music industry. Their "pay what you want" attitude toward the release of "Rainbows" was really cool... really ahead of the curve. At this point, they're a band I admire but don't so much enjoy musically anymore.
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