OKX: One Last B-Side
By now you should have all the tracks of our cover-to-cover tribute to OK Computer -- both regular and bonus -- and last time we promised one more MP3 for ya: a proper b-side, from the excellent Airbag/How Am I Driving? EP. Now don't worry, this is our very last OKX post ... but we made sure to end on a good note.
Tough to call any track on the EP a "standout" since, well, it's Radiohead after all ... but "Polyethylene" has always been a fan favorite, and it's in good hands with Death Cab For Cutie guitarist/producer extraordinaire Chris Walla (who's been otherwise fresh on our lips via his recent work with Tegan & Sara in addition to releasing his own LP with Barsuk this September). With Walla, "Polyethylene (Part 1)" gets a harmony-laden a cappella treatment, shifting into a fully realized, hazy-day take on the track's second movement. But enough from us, here's what Chris had to say:
It's hard to believe "Polyethylene" didn't make OK Computer in hindsight. I've wondered if maybe it was a Bends era leftover that the band wasn't comfortable with or something; like when your college self is ashamed of the things your high school self used to say and do. It's a spectacular song I think. I like how part one is completely unintelligible (I cobbled together parts of a few readings, since there's nothing definitive), and how part two is more muscular than anything the band has done since. Mine is not muscular, but I'm also not a drummer by trade. Apparently I also can't count to five, six or seven. But OK Computer (and by extension, the Airbag EP) is, I believe, one of the records that re-wrote the book about what a rock record can be; a seamless and beautiful marriage of beauty, hope, conscience and presentation.Without further ado...
-Christopher Walla
Chris Walla - "Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)" (MP3)
Enjoy.
Posted at 2:53 PM in MP3
Tags: Chris Walla | Death Cab For Cutie | Jonny Greenwood | Radiohead | Thom Yorke
That's what got me into Radiohead: their B-sides are fantastic, worthy of many other band's albums... well particularly the period starting at the My Iron Lung EP and before KidA. Get them all you fools!
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Well done Chris.
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Great song, great guy, great cover. Section 2 is the jam.
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You can't top the original (with it being such an incredible song), but an interp. like this makes it a terrific thing all its own.
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Thank you. That... that just made my day/week/month.
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Are you kidding? It sounds like N'sync at the beginning. It's boring.
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Wow what an amazing song to cover. It sounded good, but too folky for my taste. I still enjoyed that shit.
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You gotta be kidding me!
It's because of pretentious, crap-town sites like this and Pitchfork that make me wanna throw up a little. In my mouth. You don't make the music, you just write about it. Douchebaggery runs rampant on this joke of a site.
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Furthermore, please stop killing this classic record with lame covers. lol
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Tribute my arse! It's the sonic equivalent of a kick in the nuts!
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I love that you did this. I've loved this song for a while and you did it justice.
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Love this version, well done Chris!!!
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I loved it. <3
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"uuggh",, that's me sighing after listening to this crappy version of an excellent song.
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I like DCFC but I share my opinions with a couple other people: at the beginning it sounds like Take That is singing and the song is boring. BTW, I LOVE Radiohead. Their shows are amazing.
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of all of these songs, i think the dave bazan cover is the only one really worth repeated listens, maybe the doveman song...i liked it a lot. and polyethelyne is one of my favorite radiohead songs and i am a dcfc loyalist...but this song is kind of a bummer. hmm.
that being said, i loved the cover album because its great to hear new interpretations -- its so cool that no one really did a straight cover.
in summary, okay song, dave bazan is the man, lp7 will own.
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Whoever said this sounds like NSync is right. This is disgusto. Ugh
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