The King of Limbs by Radiohead
I know the music world may not have been shocked by what Radiohead did the other week with their surprise release of their new album The King of Limbs. However, I believe the surprise was in the album itself. It has only 8 tracks, the least amount they've had on an album. It is less than 38 minutes long, their shortest album. It is more complex than a regular Radiohead album, which is saying something. But the biggest shock of them all is that for once, it isn't getting great reviews.
Usually, anything Radiohead does is met with bold critical acclaim, praise from the indie world and Pitchfork on it's knees in worship. Pitchfork gave it a 7.9, the lowest score they have ever given Radiohead. This time, The King of Limbs hasn't gotten that preferential treatment or the articles discussing whether or not it is the best album of the year. It hasn't made a movement of new fans sweeping into indie stores and picking up all their hits (as of yet). And for this, I applaud Radiohead. This album is made for the die-hard "Radioheads", that don't just buy their music because it's Radiohead, but because it's good fucking music. And The King of Limbs is fucking good!
It took me about three days and between 12-15 listens before I could feel it getting to me. It has taken me even longer to get this blog post out because I am still discovering new things about this album. New twangs and drips, new structures and lyrics, new stuff I didn't know Radiohead could or would ever do. This will not go down as their greatest album, not even top 5, but in my mind it is their greatest present to their truest of fans.
The King of Limbs starts with a heady beat that builds it's title track "Bloom" into an anthropic journey of nature, discovery and one's self. Yes, it is deep ... very deep. The next track, "Morning Mr. Magpie" is the heaviest of the sounds brought to us on the album, but it reality it is quite a bit lighter than Radiohead has been in the past. The track has a stringy bassline, steady rhythms and organic vocals from Thom Yorke. Then comes "Little By Little". This is the prized track on the album. It reminds me of something off of Amnesiac, but I cannot put my finger on it. This followed quickly by the experimental and instrumental "Feral". I have heard people say this is the worst song on the album and people say it is magnificent. I tend to think it leans more to the magnificent side. It has moxy and balls, and I like that out of Radiohead.
The second half of the album starts with "Lotus Flower", which changes it's flow up and down, in and out. It hardens and softens at the most appropriate times. The music video actually makes it better. "Codex" follows and definitely reminds me of a more advanced version of "Sail To The Moon". The seventh track on the album is "Give Up The Ghost", which is gorgeous! It is sad, haunting, and simple. Three things that make beautiful songs. The final track on this album is the most sophisticated, vivid track that Radiohead may have ever done. Remember they've done tracks like "Paranoid Android", "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" and "2+2=5". It is a potent ending to a potent album.
My rating will most likely be higher than most, and I do not know if I am being ridiculous, but I love it. The King of Limbs is a triumph for Radiohead. Again, they made music how they wanted to and no one can fault them for it. If no one else in the world liked it, at least I did.
Rating = 8.6
