It’s out a day early, so grab your download and start talking about it. I’ve only gotten in half a listen (that is, scanned through all eight tracks while writing this), but right now what’s grabbing me the most are “Little By Little” and “Lotus Flower.” The latter also got a surprise video today, a simple black and white clip with some not-so-simple Thom Yorke contortions and dancing. Check out the video, the tracklist, and discuss below:
The King Of Limbs tracklist:
01 “Bloom”
02 “Morning Mr Magpie”
03 “Little By Little”
04 “Feral”
05 “Lotus Flower”
06 “Codex”
07 “Give Up The Ghost”
08 “Separator”
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Feel free to discuss this as well:
He is the King of Limbs.
I DEMAND MORE OF THESE
Stop writing articles! More Yorkegifs.
why do i keep on seeing friendly fires groove on this one, awww brainshock me!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/02/24/134005181/radiohead-fan-maps-out-differing-genres
Cool article about Radiohead
Great Album. Already on my third listen. It’s Radiohead, so it will take a few dozen more to fully digest, but I’m lovin the new vibe. Very subtle.
Agree. The music they listen to on their playlists on their blog really show in this album. Digging the Brazilian samba-eque “Fearl” song.
Feral = organic post-dubstep
whatever the fuck that means, it’s yours NME, you can keep it
also: “if you think this is over then you’re wrong” line in separator, the last song?
“WHOA” – Neo
Oh come on, do you think Thom Yorke would waist a line like that on teasing possible b-sides (yeah b-sides)
Feral is my early standout. The rise and fall of the percussion and the bass just creates a feeling of anxiety and claustrophobia in me. Amazing stuff.
Codex is another favourite. The 808 and piano effects are stunning.
Also, I cannot remember these guys having such (for lack of a better term) funky beats in some of their tracks (save for 15 Step).
that´s probably the most astonishing thing about the album, the sick, sleek, contagious funkiness of it all: Bloom alone makes me wanna dance like crazy, like Thom in the Lotus Flower video. I don´t know what Phil did with his drums/how they mutated his drumming in the studio, and what got into Colin´s bass playing this time around. But, damn, is this creature groovy!
Claustrophobic is EXACTLY how I’d describe Feral. Reminds me of The Gloaming in that regard
I agree, without a doubt my favorite aspect of the album (after 1 and 1/2 listens) is the beats.
Honestly though, I thought the bass was a bit weak though. More guitar would have been cool too, but not a deal breaker.
Highlights:
“Give Up the Ghost”
“Bloom”
Lowlights:
“Feral”
“Morning Mr. Magpie”
I agree, I really don’t like Feral.
I like Little By Little the most so far.
After one listen: love it!
And i really like Feral too.
After one listen: love it!
And i realli like Feral too.
Really, you guys are gushing over Feral? I feel like yr just doing it in a “OMG, THIS IS SO COMPLEX” way, instead of like actually caring about songwriting. I’m digging Seperator most so far, Mr Magpie and Lotus Flower ain’t bad either.
I agree….big fan of Seperator after the first run-through.
Listen to it again grew on me after two listens in a big way.
For as pleasant as listening to that video was, it sure was fucking painful to watch.
i thought it was awesome
Its a lot to take in, all by surprise, on a Friday morn… The press photo makes sense now… It feels as if it was recorded in some lost forest. I can really say I like or don’t like anything so soon in the game, but I am digesting this well, but I do love new things.
King of Limbs > In Rainbows
As far as Feral goes, it’s pretttttttttty awesome. I know it’s not the most complex in terms of song writing but it’s really well layered and just badass.
Disagree
It sounds more like a funky mashup of Kid A and Amnesiac, to me.
In Rainbows collides with Amnesiac and forms KOL.
Kid A was the opposite side of the emotional spectrum.
Apples and oranges, dude.
Comparing the two is like comparing The Bends to Kid A or OK Computer to Amnesiac. Different monsters. They’re Radiohead fans who like the more classic pop/rock song structure that The Bends, OK Computer and In Rainbows had and they’re fans who like the more scattered / controlled chaos song structure with electronic bleeps, dub bass, spare guitar notes and chords, skittering funky beats juxtaposed with vocals that somehow form melodies. I personally like both while others are divided, but comparing the two different styles is not fair to either. They’re different on purpose. There, did I sound like a snob or what?
I listen to Bloom. Didn’t know what to make of it. Listened to it again loved it. That’s Radiohead for you. Took me forever to come around to Like Spinning Plates but one day it just clicked.
The same thing happened to me with Morning Mr. Magpie. Didn’t like it the first time and now it’s one of the standouts for me.
I am really digging Separator! What a great song to end the album on. I can imagine the discussions that go on about what goes where.
My impression while I’m at my fourth listing:
The album shows its influences from what is going on in the electronic music scenes (i.e. Flying Lotus, Four Tet, Autechre, Mount Kimbie, …).
In the same way this album stands for itself and will be influencing brilliant music to come.
I’ll be perfectly honest, I haven’t listened to it yet so I can’t say much but I’m reading it and I feel like there’s a piece missing. It’s only 8 tracks and 2 of them that I’ve already heard Thom Yorke Play live at his Atoms for Peace Concerts. This means only 6 songs are completely fresh. It’s been 3+ years since In Rainbows so I feel they’re could be more they’re giving us. Don’t get me wrong, they are my favorite band of all time and I am so excited to listen to the album but even my favorite band all time I’m going to nitpick with. It seems like people on this site like it so far so I’m assuming once I listen I’ll change my mind and I usually trust the Stereogum commenters because often they turn out to be right. I just hope Lotus Flower and Give Up the Ghost sound better in the Radiohead studio.
It is only 8 tracks, but it’s all most like, any more would be too much.
At second listen it is bound together really tight. Well rooted (pun intended).
So far…very easy to listen too.
This album is 37:29 long, so it’s also the shortest Radiohead LP. For comparison:
Pablo Honey – 42:11
The Bends – 48:37
OK Computer – 53:27
Kid A – 49:57
Amnesiac – 43:55
Hail To The Thief – 56:35
In Rainbows – 42:43
Hail To The Thief is the longest and, in my opinion, the weakest.
hail to the thief and amnesiac are my favorites!!! how dare you! pablo honey was to poppy, the bends and ok computer were good and solid rock, kid a and in rainbows are emotional masterpieces, and in rainbows created wonderful soundscapes, with the exception of 15 step which is the most f@%@$ annoying song they’ve written. the king of limbs is one of the biggest disappointments in music since dylan plugged in. theres simply no substance in the king of limbs. its all plucking/drum machine nonsense. little by little is the only good track. and codex could have been good but there are hardly any vocals. these are my twisted words seemed to be a wonderful preview of what radiohead had in store for us next, but this is quite the letdown. its simply too dull, too short, and too electro. theres no You and Whose Army? moments. i could almost cry. i spent 6x as much money as there are songs on this album. if anything, this is their weakest album.
Oh, right. Because Dylan plugging in was a disappointment.
If only every artist could make such an enormous “mistake” as Dylan plugging in … then go on to produce one of rock’s seminal albums, “Blonde on Blonde.”
No, “Kid A” was more like Dylan plugging in. I don’t know what I’d call this one, probably just a good album.
Have you heard Give Up The Ghost or Separator? The guitar lines are reminiscent of Faust Arp and House of Cards at the very least. And don’t even get me started on how Separator is quite possibly the happiest I have ever heard Radiohead.
I will give you the fact that the album’s percussion sounds like 15 Step on crack (which I like), but if you have ever wished that production, space, and rhythm could create a beautiful album, then you have found it (see also, Darkstar, James Blake).
Good points.
I also wonder how this site’s (and other blogs) objectivity is compromised by the rabid Radiohead fans that bring page visits.
really…where you end and i begin…2+2=5…wolf at the door. come on man all the albums are fantastic in there own right. i know we live live in a country where everyone is entitled to there opinion, however i disagree with yours; hail to the thief is incredible…i really feel people ate into the shit that was written about that album. they fantastic musician making unbelievable music, this we can all agree upon…can we please focus on that and not compare it to any other of the works
Don’t let the 8 tracks fool you, you can tell they put so much work into it. It’s perfectly layered.
beautiful record (breaking news: no duh). my only issue with it is also the 8 tracks, 37:29 run time.
one of two things is going on here. Either Radiohed is pulling another In Rainbows-style disc 2 trick, and that supplemental disc will be available with the hard copies in March, thus making fans double pay for the full album OR we’ve reached a point where Radiohead releases eight songs every four years and the music community freaks out like it’s God’s bukaki.
either way, lame on Radiohead, no offense to the hipsters.
“God’s bukaki” wow thats amazingly gross! Good job!
How exactly are you double paying if you by the vinyl set.
Good Morning Mr. Magpie is also a Radiohead oldie, from the Gagging Order acoustic stuff.
well, radiohead has always played songs live well before they got onto the album. it really means nothing. besides lotus flower kills and is different than the atoms for peace version he performed in chicago on the sunday night. definitely more filled out, not just acoustic strumming.
Because commenting on records you haven’t listened to is a productive use of everyones time…
Now to reply to my own comment now that Ive listened to it. I love it. Even though it hasn’t grown on me yet, I can already tell I’m going to like it more than Hail To Thief. Now in terms of other albums, I think the most overrated album they’ve put out is the bends. Truthfully, how is it so much different from Pablo Honey? The only difference is that they were a little bit older and more talented at their instruments. But Pablo honey has just as many standouts (thinking about you, stop whispering, anyone can play guitar, creep) as the bends does. The only thing that confuses me about their new album is how it will play out live. Generally radiohead starts out their show with new stuff and then plays old stuff later on. On in rainbows, 15 step, all I need and reckoner were good openers. House of cards was a good closer. Nude, weird fishes, jigsaw falling into place and bodysnatchers were good songs to throw into the middle. This album doesn’t have any exciting songs I see them opening with. How I personally think they should do it is get promoting king of limbs over with by playing it start to finish in the beginning and then let the classics do the work the rest of the night (there there, idioteque, everything in it’s right place, paranoid android, lucky, karma police, no surprises). The only chance I somewhat see is for codex to be the next pyramid song because they are similar. Now to be positive, it’s the best drumming I have ever heard Phil do. Other than in live versions of optimistic, I’ve never heard such fast pace sophisticated drumming and this is coming from a drummer.
Give Up The Ghost is amazing.
I think it’s incredible. I love it. Separator is my favorite track so far. Also, might want to update the post with the official art:
Thanks for the reminder. Changed!
I’m in heaven right now. On my first listen. Lotus Flower and Little By Little are obvious standouts. But i have a feeling…just like every other Radiohead album ever made…that the standouts will change over time. What an amazing way to spend a Friday.
Little by Little is amazing. Jesus, I am only three songs in and just the sheer intricacies in the instrumentals are astounding. I am definitely understanding why its called King of Limbs.
the website is so flooded i can’t complete my purchase.
Use the link in the email you got from pre-ordering.
i haven’t listened yet either, but it is clearly the best album every released.
This goes without saying.
I’m liking the video. That was a pretty risky move to go for it in that manner. He never would have done that in the past. I think it was pulled off effectively, though. Not sure how I feel about this whole sexual vibe that’s entering their music in the past two albums, but it definitely adds another dimension to their music that wasn’t there before.
After a few listens – it’s the Radiohead album I’ve been looking forward to. I would not say yet whether I like it more or less than In Rainbows, but I like it a lot.
I love the sparse hand claps in Lotus Flower. It’s the little things like that that RH badasss.
Two listens in, and I’m loving it all. Codex is fantastic and stands out for me at this point.
I’m really digging this new album. A lot of people are saying that it’s not really groundbreaking, but I disagree. If you read their “Dead Space Air” blog, you can really pick out all the world music influence all over this album. Feral sounds almost like a Brazilian samba song, its amazing. I love how the band’s musical taste is so diverse, and it really shows in the album.
Sorry, blog is called Dead air space, haha my bad.
I love how people can say it’s “it’s not really groundbreaking” when iIT JUST CAME OUT?! People are so pretentious to suggest they can fully understand something so soon. Even if it did suck, give it time to suck.
Agree. Radiohead isn’t a band that can be “judged” on a first listen. I’m sure if that’s the way I approached their albums, I wouldn’t be a fan at all.
I also feel like people shouldn’t compare it to their other stuff. I know people like to categorize everything, but why can’t we just enjoy it for what it is?
Isn’t that partly why you visit a music blog?
Theres really no reason why Radiohead should deserve preferential treatment over any other music out there. If this album sucked having Radiohead on the cover wouldn’t make it any better. It doesn’t suck though!
Yeah, no point giving it preferential treatment but I smell poser backlash on the wind. It takes me weeks to figure out if I even like a lot of records, months even, no point immediately staking a postion. Still, first listen was a pleasant experience.
Is this the followup to Kid A/Amnesiac in the way that In Rainbows was OK Computer’s “followup”? I’m having trouble getting into it on first listen, which is a great sign I think…
I’ve been waiting all week to hear this, and my headphones broke this morning…..
cracked me up, so sad reedy get a new one!
Bloom is the stand out
Also am I the only one who can’t seem to find Colin Greenwood anywhere. By that I mean no Nude bass lines here. Plenty of Phil Selway though.
Separator.
Maybe if I hadn’t already heard the vocals before (via Mouse, Dog, Bird) It might. Then again…nah. Bloom is just too good.
Colin has a great jazzy baseline in Bloom. Sounds like it’s played on a double bass. Love it
I think the double bass is also in codex, but he’s playing it with a bow.
He’s all over the place, especially in “Bloom”.
Anyone else experiencing time travel while listening to this? It goes by SO fast. It’s baffling. but incredible.
You’re probably just experiencing their shortest album.
Can Radiohead do No wrong? No they can’t the development of this band the progression of their talent. Been a fan since I was snot nose pimple face teen and Pablo Honey.
I have said in the past that Radiohead will in the long run be compare to only one other band and that is the Beatles for their amazing core of music and the growth of the collective talent.
Radiohead is the New Beatles you can argue the many reasons this statement may seem overly stated but it can not be denied that no other existing band has developed with such great consistancy and has had a Global impact in the same manner.
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Global impact? First, the Beatles have sold close to 500 million albums. Behind them in the rock categroy are Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd at around 200 million. Radiohead doesn’t even begin to have the impact of the Beatles, let alone Zeppelin and Floyd. That’s a ridiculous statement on your part.
And that’s a ridiculous statement on your part. Back when Zep and Floyd were goin around there was no such thing as MP3′s or sharing of media. It was all recorded to tangible pieces of media that needed to be purchased and therefor have all of the sales counted. How many people do you think have pirated versions of Radiohead albums. Although I am a fan of all of the before mentioned groups you must consider the fact that Radiohead ranks among them.
The album is pretty awesome. Come to expect that from Radiohead at this point tho. Lotus Flower is definitely a standout from the first listen. I’m sure the others will grow over time like most of their songs do.
Early Review:
http://groundedinsound.wordpress.com/
If pitchfork gave Waka Flocka 8.0 what does this album deserve?
I feel like the second half is a lot stronger than the first.
Pitchfork will roll out a new rating system with the release of this album.
The King of Limbs-9.5674
It feels like a really ornate jam session. Don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing yet as I’m only at Feral, but I’m cautiously optimistic about how much i like this thing!
I have to give it a few more listens, although a good album, I’m not really really loving it as much as the rest of the comments here.
I agree with David that the second half is stronger than the first, and i see the influences from bands Thom mentioned earlier.
The album is probably their most consistent album from track to track, but at the same time no songs really stand out to me right now.
I’m from the Pablo honey days, so I’m not entirely sure I prefer the more traditional radiohead because of that. I absolutely loved in Rainbows. I guess I just miss the 3 lead guitar type of tracks ;)
I wish they added a couple of tracks to the My Iron Lung EP, and made that into an official album. It showed what radiohead could do to rock music back in 1994. The EP still sounds fresh to me when I listen to it today.
Sounds great! Definitely different from In Rainbows…it actually sounds a bit more like Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief to me. It is strange and amazing.
has there ever been a more important voice for a band than thom yorke?
Maybe the Pogues with Shane Macgowan?
The Smiths? What would “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” be without Morrissey’s voice?
The King of Limbs? Never heard of him.
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One of the dumbest comments I’ve ever heard on the internet. And the internet is pretty dumb.
(keep in mind that’s aimed at your comment about it just being a version of James Blake. If you can’t get into it, thats just a matter of taste).
i guess i can understand what you are trying to say, many of the songs do have a dub-steppy sort of rhythm to them. Thom is a huge burial fan…
however its like comparing apples and oranges to me…..
blake and radiohead both have their own distinct voices.
This album is definitely a Radiohead album.
Some commenters on Last.fm are postulating that perhaps there is going to be another album released in the near future (maybe tomorrow as originally planned?). Thoughts?
That would be rad, if it were true! But I won’t hold my breath.
That is interesting. After all, it is just 37 minutes for 2 vinyl records.
Two 10″ records. Can’t fit more than an average full length on that.
I can vividly remember the In Rainbows hoopla and all of the late night internet insta-reviews, so I’m going to hold off on my criticisms for now. That incident taught me that my first impressions in a crazy shit storm of hype and never ending live blogs cannot really be trusted.
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You’re welcome! ^_^
mikey, do you have assholeitis?
He played “Give Up The Ghost” at coachella last year with just a guitar and a looper I think. It was pretty sick.
Also, the last track fucking hits home. Best one.
i thought it was great, very messy, and glitchy. mr. pagpie is a winner
http://blog.fwp.me/post/3364615846/kinglimbs
Pablo Honey: 3/7
The Bends: 6/7
OK Computer: 7/7
Kid A: 6/7
Amnesiac: 4/7
Hail To The Thief: 5/7
In Rainbows: 6/7
The King Of Limbs: 5/7
Yet only a 5/7?
BTW…it is mr. magpie
Just incredible…Seriously people. Phil Selway is sick too!
3 times through and the songs continue to get better.
Cannot wait to sample it later on within some AKG’s.
As stated by some reviewers before, I think the second half is stronger than the first half. After my first listen, the only track that really hit me in the face and stuck out to me, much like Airbag did when I first listened to OK Computer, was Separator. For me, it’s the most accessible track, that you can immediately start banging your head to. Honestly, much of the album reminds me of the more obscure tracks from Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief (tracks that come to mind include Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors, Motion Picture Soundtrack, Like Spinning Plates, The Gloaming, Backdrifts, Hunting Bears, etc.), which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’m not saying that they directly sound the same as those (in fact, they are quite different, though some of the same instrumentation is used), but rather that their obscurity and complexity (the album is incredibly layered) make for an album that, like past Radiohead albums, you’ll have to listen to many times to decide if you really like it or not.
I’d say my favorite tracks so far are Lotus Flower and Separator. Feral is something else…it’ll take a few more listens for me to correctly digest. Same goes with Little By Little.
So many rumors…”Yeah there are a lot of clues about a part 2. The concept of the “newspaper album” itself. The fact that they did not release the “album” saturday. The last song is called SEPARATOR and we can hear “If you think it’s over, then you’re wrong”. And the orders from the site are being marked TKOL1.”
I’m not so sure. Don’t get me wrong, 8 tracks is pretty short, and they did release an In Rainbows bonus disc. But I’m pretty sure this is the meat of the album. Releasing another 8 tracks would be crazy. It would be awesome, sure, but that would make for one big ass album overall.
They, for the most part, did it with Kid A and Amnesiac, they just waited 8 months in-between releases.
Very trippy stuff. I think these gentlemen are high? When listening on the bus this morning I felt like I was flying through a strange, magical forest in an outerspace kaleidoscope.
Reminds me a bit of when I first heard Kid A, and I was like ‘I’m not sure what I am hearing, but it is weird and I like it.’ Lots of lush depth to these tracks. I like the way they build and then kind of spiral out of control.
I couldnt agree more,this is exactly what I feel
I am building a CONSPIRACY THEORY that this is actually Pt. 1 of a Double Album. I wrote about it on my blog (http://musicsnobsanonymous.blogspot.com/2011/02/king-of-limbs-double-album.html) but consider the following…..
This album is only 8 tracks and just under 38 minutes long. Radiohead isn’t known for brevity.
The album was released 1 day earlier than previously scheduled.
The last song is called “Separator.”
WHAT IF
“Separator” is actually the MIDDLE track in a double-album, the 2nd half of which will be released tomorrow as scheduled.
Also, consider that one of the last lines of Separator is “If you Think this is over, you’re wrong”
Also, consider that Separator has been a melody circulating about under the name “Mouse, Bird, Dog” as a live track Yorke played last year. Was the name changed simply to hint at this double album?
Also, The King of Limbs was announced as a “newspaper album,” and that still hasn’t been fully explained. Another song that has been floating around from last year has been “The Daily Mail,” which is a prominent British newspaper. That track is current NOT on the album. It seems to me that it should be, and maybe could appear on a 2nd installment to the album.
Wouldn’t that be sweet!”
Also in the photo of the band, there are actually two trees, both Ed and Thom are wearing top hats. Then on the cover there are two Cthulu monster things.
the name of the band is Radiohead, Radiohead has two “D”s–”D” is the first letter in the word “double.”: as in Double album. The word “declaration” also starts with a “D”. THERES A RADIOHEAD ALBUM ON THE BACK OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE!
lol There are also two Green”woods” in the band.
LAUGH OUT LOUD
I haven’t laughed that hard all day. Go buy yourself something nice.
Oh cuss, that was funny.
YES. This is the best comment I’ve ever seen on stereogum.
Who’s ready for a double take?
I too believe in a double album. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if the box set comes with “Two clear 10″ vinyl records in a purpose-built record sleeve”, wouldn’t that mean that these 8 songs alone would not be enough to “fill” those two vinyls…?
Good point. I’ll add that to the theory!
Isn’t it about 14 minutes per side of a 10″ album? So two discs would make sense…even if the second disc only has like 10 minutes of music on it.
From a record pressing plant website:
10″ @33 1/3 RPM
OPTIMAL – 9 minutes per side
MAXIMUM – 14 minutes per side
10″ @45 RPM
OPTIMAL – 7 minutes per side
MAXIMUM – 11 minutes per side
But think about this as well, both Kid A and Amnesiac were released on 2 x 10″ LPs as well. Maybe they won’t release another 8 songs tomorrow, but what about 4 or 5?
Who the fuck is Radiohead?!?!? Lady Gaga has way more #1 hits than these loserz!!!!!!
YEH WHO IS THE RADIOHHEADS?? KATY P3RRY 4EVERERR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as I’m loving this release, I can’t help but hope for a surprise tomorrow morning.
My thoughts exactly.
I really hope this is a double album. That would be epic.
Isn’t enough that Radiohead just released a new album? Don’t get greedy!
After a primary listen, I think the latter half is much stronger. Not sure if I enjoy it as much as In Rainbows. But still, excellent record.
It’s too early to make any sweeping comments on the new album. I’m currently on my first listen, about halfway through. I, of course, already love it. But it’s hard to compare and contrast a new Radiohead record when it takes about a million listens to digest everything. That’s what I love about them. There are so many tiny little things hidden away in their music, that it takes a long time to hear it all. But on first listen, I hear a lot of influence from Flying Lotus (who Thom has worked with), and post-dubstep in general. A lot of crazy drums/drum machines, loops, delays, effects…. There aren’t any “rock” songs. It’s quieter, like inRainbows, but more developed. This record takes it’s time. It doesn’t rush. I feel like it is the next logical thing for them to do. It is the culmination of everything from Kid A on. It’s nice to know they still have it. I think I may like this better than the last record. It’s like they were trying for this tenderness on InRainbows that they never quite reached. This album has developed that tenderness, and made it exceedingly beautiful.
“Tenderness”
Exactly the right word to describe this after the first listen. Great stuff!
I would argue in favor of the double album for another reason….The Artwork.
Radiohead has always had incredibly strong art direction. This “cover” floating around now, is unfortunately unrefined. I would argue that the cover we are all seeing now is in fact a quick composite of what the final albums’ covers are.
That, and the duality that is popping up everywhere, with the two monsters, two this two that…and of course the statement’s regarding separator.
Regardless, Radiohead are incredible at doing this whole thing. They are like good parents that really put in the extra effort so that there dumb selfish children believe in Santa and have a great Christmas or whatever….very cool. Thanks Mom and Dad!
Loved the santa analogy :)
Maybe it was my giant exceptions, but after 4 listens it’s still not doing much for me. Which is a first for me and Radiohead. But I’m not giving up yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xgeT2hzxrQ
gives it a slightly different feel.
that is freaking hilarious.
Ah man you just started something. I bet will see more dub’s in the near future.
If I may add to the “there’s more” theory. In rainbows had a bonus disc of b-sides and every album before that had b-sides spread across EPs. So with that and being it’s been 4 years, I’m sure there is still more to be released. However, there wasn’t much on InRainbows bonus disc that compared to anything on the album so my hopes aren’t high.
Must say after 4 listens not feeling it as much as In Rainbows. Sounds like Thom and Phil got together go together to make an album. Harsh but that’s what it feels like. Also I’m kinda bummed there’s not as much guitar as someone mentioned before.
I heard it’s a triple album to be released in parts one two and three over the next three months with a final disc of alternate takes of each song. There’s a golden ticket inside the signed newspaper copy too.
Where are you getting your information? I hope you’re right, cuz that would be off the freaking chain.
Phil and Thom?? Who do you think is doing all that incredible orchestration that fills it out. Just because the other guys don’t play guitar as much on this, doesn’t mean they weren’t involved.
Quoi? Down Is the New Up was better than anything on In Rainbows.
last flowers was also excellent
Must disagree . Down is the new up was possibly better than Faust arp but I wouldn’t substitute it for anything else. on In Rainbows.
+4 minute warning
down is the new up is one of my favorite songs by them, it’s perfect.
I like the length of this album. Any longer would be tough to digest considering how complex each song is.
I think King of Limbs is a perfect title as each song really is quiet thin and long sounding, snaking around its space.
Liked it on first listen. I really want to check out the lyrics and see what its all about. Environmental?
I like how the intentionally imprint the album with marks of humanity, perhaps unlike past albums. Handclaps on Lotus Flowers, Gasps on Morning Mr. Magpie, did I hear kids and some outdoor noises on Give Up The Ghost?
The intense reverb on Yorke’s voice on some songs makes it sounds like horns and just complete noise on some tracks.
It’s awesome but sleepy at the same time, so, decently usual. So far I like Lotus Flower the best, but maybe that’s because I see silly dancing in my head every time I hear it now.
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Also, how great does that piano sound in Codex? I wonder how they recorded it and what they’re doing to it.
Yeah! I was just going to say there was no love for Codex. Great piano and melody.
This isn’t going to be a double album , you’re all going to be pissed come tomorrow morning. There is absolutely nothing that points to it being one other than everyone on the internet wishing for it to be or coming up with some weird conspiracy theory.
I think we will get more music, just not as soon as everyone is saying. Similar to In Rainbows, I think that they will release something else when the vinyl ships.
I love it but part of me wants this to just be a follow-up to The Eraser so I can have a new Radiohead album.
I was JUST listening to Thom’s track on the Flying Lotus record and thinking “I wish the new solo record just sounded like this” and I guess I got my wish.
And the first video is just Thom by himself :)
Listen harder.
WOW. JUST WOW.
Radiohead, center. Not shown: cocaine and hookers.
Im listening to this new album in an internet cafe in Bogota having to stream it and I feel as if this album needs to be listened to loud in an empty warehouse on killer speakers coming at you from all directions with your eyes closed. I feel this album could ripped apart into killer remixes that go in every direction. Is it great? I dont know. You cant really say an album is great upon the first listen. If it grows on you with every listen, then you can call it a classic. The first time I heard amnesiac I didnt get it. The songs didnt seem to fit together right. But now its an all time favorite. Anyways, I think this album is solid and who gives a fuck if they didnt create a whole new universe. But even then I disagree, I think they created a work of art that pulls from other things theyve done but stands alone as its own thing.
Absolutely loving the album first time through. Which means it can only get better. If people have complaints about the length of the album or number of tracks, find something new to complain about. Take the album for what it is……more solid, beautifully consistant Radiohead.
The last track is absolutely fucking gorgeous. I am satisfied with King of Limbs as it is, even if there will be more music to come.
i feel like this is some cruel joke they’re playing on us… i would have gladly paid 48 bucks for in rainbows and nothing for the king of limbs. and feral is not a quality track, no matter how many “fans” think so. and only 8 songs? WHAT? you packed 14 tracks on hail to the thief and it remains one of my top albums of all time because it had substance. king of limbs is simply a mess
Gotta love the “I don’t care how many people like it, it’s not good because I don’t like it” argument.
Lord knows mass opinion is always correct. That’s a horrible statement! If the music charts or the box office have taught us anything…it’s that mass appeal is usually shit. I like the album but i don’t think i’ll ever love it. Thats ok…it goes well with the rest of their catalogue. It just feels like a thom solo album not a Radiohead album.
Why exactly do you think it sounds like a Thom solo album? I keep hearing this and it’s so annoying. This album is much warmer and organic than The Eraser or Pulled Apart by Horses… it’s like the people saying “is Johnny even still in the band?” Have you listened to Radiohead since OK Computer came out? Have you ever heard Kid A? Since when does Johnny only play guitar? It’s not news that Johnny chooses to work with soundscapes and synths as opposed to shredding solos… All the OK Computer fans that never got over the switch got spoiled by In Rainbows’ rockability and were apparently hoping that Radiohead furthered that sound so that they just turned into boring, boring rock music.
as one of those “fans”, your quotes, not mine, allow me to say how astonished we are at how much better you are than the rest of us. Really, we’re impressed.
Also, it’s nobody’s fault but your own that you paid 50 dollars for a deluxe version of an album that you had never heard before. You can’t make a gut purchase like that and then whine when it’s not up to your ultimate judging criteria. It’s funny how entitled people are these days…
I’m a bit disappointed, it took three years to write it but it seems to me it lacks in inspiration, it sounds incomplete, there are just grooves and thom’s voice leading the songs. it’s not the album we have been waiting for, it seems the outtake of the eraser, that was good if you think of it as a side project.
i was happy when i read it had eight songs ’cause I was pretty sure they were all good. I was wrong
” it’s not the album we have been waiting for” !? What are you a politician ? Please don’t speak for me. I freakin love it!
Agree about the “inspiration” part especially.
What do you know about their inspiration? What an arrogant statement. I’m sick of people’s entitlement.
You saying it’s just groves and Thom’s voice makes me think you’re just listening on laptop speakers or something because this record is so rich and thick. There are so many intricate elements woven together. I think it’s the most subtle thing they’ve done, which makes it sound simple at times, but it’s far from it.
i’m not talking about the sound, it’s not a matter of speakers or hi-fi. i’m talking about the songs structure, do you remember paranoid android? wolf at the door? i guess, except for the single and codex, none of the other six songs can be compared with anything else the band wrote so far.
my point is: all the songs are thom’s voice and the rhythm section. what I really enjoyed of radiohead was their ability to match heart, electronics and melody. it was not only a matter of sound, that is, karma police is still karma police playing with speakers or with the best stereo system, because it’s a good song.
the gloaming is much better than any electronic songs contained in the king of limbs.
I respect your point of view, i’m glad you enjoy 2011 radiohead, unfortunately, i don’t.
but my point is all the songs are NOT thom’s voice and the rhythm section…there’s so much going on and it’s not fair to the band to oversimplify it like that. because of the way it’s arranged and mixed, a lot gets lost on small speakers. i’m not a hi-fi snob or anything but there’s an immense difference listening to this really loud on good speakers or headphones than on a laptop. but magpie, separator, little by little, give up the ghost, are all guitar songs, they are just mixed in a way that pushes percussion to the front, which is a new approach for the band. and all of the songs have so much in terms of keys, guitar effects, vocal effects, horns, and strings, that it’s oversimplifying to say it’s just thom and the rhythm section.
agree to disagree, i suppose. i don’t need anyone else to enjoy this album, but i just wish people wouldnt be so quick to write it off.
And already, the new Radiohead music video has a “Single Ladies” mashup:
http://gtcha.me/gtM1uL
Finally got some headphones, and this is even better than In Rainbows, that’s saying a lot considering the fact it was my 3rd favorite album by them. And I’d say there’s about an 80% chance there’s a second half of this album to be released tomorrow.
I’m about as big a Radiohead fan as anyone and have been for almost two decades. This album is a big disappointment. I sincerely hope that there is a second half to this album, and that it’s much more inspired than the first half.
Prefacing your opinion like that doesn’t make it more than an opinion.
Cool!
i’ve listened to alot of new music today…and after one listen this is not really floating my boat right now. I do like the electronics, but Yorke’s vocals over the these last two records have really caused me to lose interest in this band…both his delivery and the melodies he’s contrived…now back to the new colin stetson
The first listen through nothing really stood out. It was probably because it was morning but on my second listen I am really liking the album. Little By Little, and Feral really stand out as my favorite tracks so far.
In reality no one is intelligent enough (generally speaking and myself included) to truly hate on Radiohead.
i have a sneaking suspicion that they will release two albums this year. the king of limbs now then another later in the year maybe. simply because there are only 8 songs on the album, but we know they have more/other new song that didnt appear on the record. taking inspiration from Robyn’s bodytalk collection maybe..
lotus flower could have been so much better, that version of him playing it acoustic at his solo show is so fucking good. Someone needs to hide all of thoms keyboards from him. All the melodies are there it just loses its power.
There are five guys in this band and I hope nobody hides their keyboards.
Damn it, how do you embed images? I seem to have messed it up.
Nevermind, I guess…
shitpizza
Open your mouth wide
A universal sigh
And while the ocean blooms
It’s what keeps me alive
So I lose and start over
Don’t blow your mind with why
I’m moving out of orbit
Turning in somersaults
(Turning in somersaults)
I dive into those eyes
(I dive into those eyes)
Jellyfish go by
-The most beautiful lyrics I’ve heard this year
Just finished listening to the album, and I think “Lotus Flower”, “Codex”, and “Give Up the Ghost” are my current favourites.
Mine too.
Me too
plus Separator
I love the record, very fitting for the times. To those speculating over a Part II, I can’t see Radiohead overtly hinting at a ‘TKOL2′ in their album closer. Shouldn’t take things so literally.
Alright so this could sound kind of crazy, and I’m pretty high right about now. But they have been advertising this album as the first “newspaper album.” What if that is implying that there is going to be 2+ parts that you as a fan are able to piece together as you see fit? The little clippings of art that you receive with the box set could be seen as an analogy for the album. I definitely think there is more to come.
All hail radiohead
I mean, can you compare king of limbs to any of the last four Radiohead albums?
can you say it surprises you?
i’m not speaking as a fan, i’m disappointed like someone who has always looked at radiohead as a revolutionary band, able to change its path album by album. now, they seem stuck, (I still hope there will be a new release today as I’m writing :D) they wrote (as much as we know) 8 songs, three of them we already know since january 2010, whilst ten years ago they recorded in the same session kid a and amnesiac. they are still giants to me, but time goes by for everyone. I saw them twice in Italy, so happy for that, but the new album is not that good.
Are you really proclaiming this album as their death knell?? What the hell? It’s been out a day. And it’s fantastic. How are they “stuck”? This is nothing like In Rainbows, or anything they’ve done. Sure there are elements of things they’ve done, but yeah, I can say that it’s surprising. They’ve never layers so many things so subtly. The orchestration is fantastic, it’s just not over the top. They pushed the programmed stuff and percussion to the front, which is why people are saying it sounds like The Eraser, but there’s so much more happening, and it’s fantastic.
don’t you think this is a bigger departure from in rainbows than in rainbows was from hail to the thief? I don’t know about “revolutionary,” probably won’t leave as descendable a mark on other artists as the glory days did, but it’s certainly a bigger departure from in rainbows than in rainbows was from hail to the thief. the jittery, staccato guitars + motorik they’re using now is pretty new besides these are my twisted words (which is almost definitely from the same sessions).
and I agree with you. But it seems to be a “true” Radiohead, one must blindly accept whatever they put out and to not like it is to be outside the inner circle majority of the “forward thinking” fans like many of the stereogum idiots who think Amnesiac is their best work evah. But how many radiohead fans are consistently praising The Eraser? The King of Limbs is essentially The Eraser rewritten and The King of Limbs feels unfinished and at times quite boring.But to say that is not “get” it.
How is The King Of Limbs “essentially The Eraser rewritten”??
What does that mean? Is it that there are programed drums in a couple songs? Because if that’s your reason to call it The Eraser, then every Radiohead album in over a decade has been The Eraser.
From a musical reference point, The glitch feel programming production and the billowy textures of vocals. The Eraser is the closest reference in my opinion, other then Amnesiac.I’m looking forward to giving the album more time to get into. I hated The Eraser. I don’t hate The King of Limbs. BUt I don’t exactly love it either :(
But Amnesic and Hail To The Thief both have electronics and billowy textures of vocals. And this really isn’t glitchy at all…there are some synth loops in the first track and Phil plays along with some programmed stuff in a couple other songs, but other than “Lotus Flower” (the combination of dark and poppy, mostly falsetto, electronic-driven beat), this album doesn’t sound like The Eraser at all…
if by the eraser rewritten you mean, the eraser taken to an alien planet, where it was planted in the soil then grown into a mutant tree that invented computers to express its emotions, then thats exactly what it sounds like
I think the most amazing thing about experiencing a new Radiohead album is the first 15 listens and how each track changes, with each listen. How different sounds you never heard before reveal themselves to you once you’ve earned the right to hear them. And how it takes its time playing with your brain before it allows you to judge it in its entirety. So fucking incredible..
i totally agree! I have listened to it about 20 times and still I look up when bloom plays and wonder if I hadn’t heard it before? I am amazed.
And “Pulk/Pull…” is a perfect example of that. The day I got Amnesiac, I was so disoriented. The more immediate songs stood out but the more challenging stuff confused me. It wasn’t until years later that I found some clarity there and it’s my favorite Radiohead album. “Pulk/Pull” is a masterpiece and I’m sure people talked shit about it the way they are about “Feral” now. I’m looking forward to growing with this album.
Pulk Pull a masterpiece? Pair that track against Karma Police and then let’s talk.
I’m not saying it’s a masterpiece in some weird competitive sense. I mean that they mastered what they were doing on that track and it’s fantastic.
well fair enough. I guess my gripe is that Amnesiac and The Eraser kind of mastered that left feild territory. The King of Limbs just kind of hints at old directions from the past but brings nothing fresh to the table. If i wanted to hear Flying Lotus, I’d go out and buy it. I miss the over-reaching epic drama of OK Computer, the stormy emotional aien epic of Kid A and the tunes of The Bends. I don’t understand why so many on this thread don’t get where I’m coming from.The King of Limbs isn’t a fail, but its a minor dissapointment, particualry after waiting 4 years.
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This is minimalistic?
Nothing minimalistic here, except “Give Up The Ghost”–even then, there are plenty of little touches that give it more character than a simple acoustic song.
Well said. A calculated move.
Whether or not you like it, I don’t think it’s calculated or them trying to be “trendy.” I think they actually enjoy the current movements in music and were influenced by it. Just like Kid A was influenced by late 90s Warp records, not some need of theirs to be “trendy.”
It’s okay to not like it, and it’s not the awesome masterpiece I was hoping for, but I can’t really expect that every time, and I respect that it’s different than what they’ve done in the past.
A calculated move would be to remake The Bends or OK Computer for the rest of their career. Again, whether or not you like what they do, I don’t think Radiohead makes calculated moves.
And someday, maybe it will be considered a masterpiece. This is a hard band to prematurely evaluate – they have a way of sneaking up on you.
God, I’m sorry but have you been listening to any music that has been made in the last decade? There’s nothing really minimal about this record or what ever shit you said. Did it occur to you that Radiohead has been doing this for a decade and a half? Grow some ears.
When I first gave this album a listen, I felt extremely disappointed. But after a few listens, I fell in unconditional love with it. It feels like they threw everything they’ve done since Kid A together. And the new Morning Mr Magpie is a far cry from Hail to the Thief. It definitely feels like it’s going to be a double album, I highly believe these conspiracy theories.
This album is incredibly boring. I hear a lot of rehash here, and the blips and bloops sound a bit dated. I was epxecting a bit more excitement. There are no songs here that would be a candidate for a theoretical Radiohead best of. And at the end of the day, a “great” album has to have great tunes. They just aren’t here. I get the feeling if this were released by any other act, it’d be languishing at some indie dub publisher.
wow really? radiohead will be so sad to hear that, will ruin their whole year to have not even meet your “great tunes” pedestal. too sad to not have enjoyed the record, but all is good i suppose.
you sound like Cartman :P I just imagine his voice.
Damn. I know how I sound when I say this, but listen harder and listen more. “Lotus Flower” is up there with their best songs, for sure. I think “Bloom” is too. And oh yeah, it’s been out a day.
this record needs super conscious listening. i have listened to it thrice today and i am ashamed to say i just used them as background of my day. i don’t wanna be pressured by all this “me-first” attitude towards some people about the album, so tonight with my coffee and new, crispy speakers in my room i offer the king of limbs my ears. finally then i can confidently shout out about my blurbs. it’s too early to say anything about it really without sounding too desperate to be relevant.
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You can stick to the “frat boy canon” of radiohead songs, but don’t trash an album that you’ve probably listened to once and don’t get.
That’s a perfect way to describe it haha! The “frat boy canon!” Ohhh I love it.
By the way, separator stands out as an early favorite for me. Digging codex as well.
Creep is the worst song they’ve ever made! It does not take 90 listens to understand their album, dumb shit. Also it’s pretty cute that you think you have friends!
If you don’t “get it” after 90 listens, then you’re an idiot.
what a stupid comment. Since an unfinished relatively boring work will suddenly feel complete and interesting?