Subtle. Sureal. Genius! (Amnesiac - Radiohead)

Member Name: Science

Product:	Amnesiac - Radiohead
Date:	08/08/01 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Improves your life

Disadvantages: Erm..none

Now before I go headlong into this opinion it's best to note how I stand on Radiohead and their albums.

I wasn't too bothered about Pablo Honey I didn't really hear it until after the Bends, which incidently I thought was excellent, in turns strong, catchy and fun while at the same time powerfully melancholic.

When OK Computer came along I wasn't really listening, so let it drift by me as the music buying public and industry went mental. When I finally did sit down to listen I almost cried with joy at the importance of the album...It was damn good!

Too good to follow? No, once you have produced an album of such quality an artist gets to do the really important work of pushing the boundaries even further, challenging themselves and the audience to look forward rather than back through the valium of nostalgia. So we were treated to Kid A, I like this album a lot, I don't love it but I really like it.

To be honest much of it does struggle to make itself understood in the recorded format but when heard live truly becomes mature.

This in many ways applies to Amnesiac, which some say is more of the same, but I disagree, Amnesiac I think is a much more accomplished studio album than Kid A. While many of us wanted to love Kid A and listened to it again and again for this purpose, Amnesiac grabs you when your not looking, it sits calmly around minding it's own buisness, daring you not to listen but you can't, like good drugs you want more until optimum satisfaction is reached.....then I expect you will have another go.

"Packt like sardines in a crushed tin box" opens with distant percussion, then eases in with electo- kick drum, slight and unobtrusive, then a droned analogue bass sound and the soothing sound of Thom's droning voice push us along into a calm groove which get the head nodding. Without Yorke's vocal I would assume this was an old Warp Records release or unknown Carl Craig effort.


Next the beautiful "Pyramid Song", deceptably simple piano and vocals begin a melancholic gem. Once the unorthadox time pattern drums come in, covered with lushious strings the heart is already being tugged through an album highlight.

"PUlk/pull revolving doors" is an odd number, scratchy beats and quiet low frequency bass, a highly effected voice almost mumbling lyrics, and strange sound effects....it's wicked!!

Then straight back into Thom's yearning voice for "You and whose army". In tone this quite bluesly, then when the drums and piano come in, it becomes a powerful classic, pure Radiohead, then finishes almost as if it were a reprise.

But before you have time to dwell on this we are into "I might be wrong", very much in the vain of Kid A's "the national anthem" with solid guitar, followed by tough, beats a creepy vocal and a little bass that jumps out and tickles you till you laugh! Then just when you think it's over it comes back with a bit of sweet guitar, simple kick drum, and a distant scream from Yorke..Superb!

"Knives Out" is more original Radiohead, it jumps in, and swings along with a solid vocal and excellent, intelligent guitar work form Johnny Greenwood which smoothes things over as the vocal drops out in the middle of the track, then when it comes back the song seems to have become stonger. Not a weird sound effect in sight either!

"Morning Bell/Amnesiac" is a Kid A album highlight though this version is not quite as good, the vocal is melancholic but hopeful, the tone pensive but playful. A perfect example of how Radiohead have become so good at playing with sounds and emotions.

"Dollars and Cents" start with a low bass,an approaching but quiet guitar, and stunning strings with collapse over the top of the track to great effect and drop out to equal effect. Thom Yorkes vocal used in lead and background burst with the drum on occasion to crescendo, teasing the listener with thought and
angst. This is a work of art!

"Hunting Bears" is a lament played on guitar drifting and alone, with only a low frequency bass tone below it for company.

"Like spinning plates" the main parts of the track reversed while occasional synth sounds drop in and out Thom's sometimes backwards vocal whines away over the top. This works to great effect, the song is very unnerving.

"life in a glasshouse" finishes off the album, and again seems to sum up the crazy jazz-blues mood of the album. The track is laden with a feeling of anger and futility but also fun and playful at the same time. You can imagine the house band playing it at 4 in the morning in a seedy jazz bar, as Thom's last words of the night are..."is someone listening?"

Though I do have a tendency to get overexited, I adore Amnesiac, it is the most satisfying album I have listened to in a long time. I expected to feel sombre after hearing it but instead I always feel upbeat..
If music is supposed to push the boundaries ( which I think it should ) then this is the most accoplished album by any band this year, and when put together with Radiohead other albums leaves them a good few years ahead of the crowd who are still struggling to imitate the Bends

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