Radiohead
The title track of Radiohead’s 2000 album Kid A is incredible. There’s an ambient feel to it (echoing synth-marimbas), unique rhythm, electronic scratches and pops. Yet it’s more than the sum of those parts. Until recently, I’d never listened to it and I don’t know why. I mean, I loved “In Rainbows”, so I don’t know why I didn’t give Radiohead’s previous albums a better listen.
I once heard in some interview or review that Radiohead has the singular, prescient tendency to seize on a sound and develop an album around that sound 5-10 years before everyone else. I think the reference was to Pablo Honey in 1993 versus Coldplay in 2000. So:
- Pablo Honey’s “Thinking About You”, Radiohead, 1993
- Parachutes’ “We Never Change”, Coldplay, 2000
Perfect example of the concept? No. But… interesting. Also, remember that Radiohead’s Creep is from 1993. Think about that.