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Post by Jack on May 9, 2016 11:21:59 GMT -5
The Guardian: 4/5 The Telegraph: 5/5 A major publication reviewing an album, particularly a Radiohead album, a few hours after it's released should be banned. At least give it a day or two. Apparently the telegraph changed it from 4 to 5 stars half a day later.
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Post by spaneli on May 9, 2016 11:56:09 GMT -5
I've finally gotten a couple listens to this. The entire album is patient perfection. Nothing is too showy, nothing is too big. It is so difficult to write like this, to just let songs be. Stuff like Decks Dark and Desert Island Disk would be inferior in less capable hands. Most songwriters would have tried to build those songs to the big moment. Radiohead have been doing it long enough to know that sometimes the big moment is going to .5-1 db instead of 3 or 4. Even a song like Ful Stop, there's a lot of courage to just let the song be, even if it being is for 6 min. They make every minute worth it, they make every surge worth it, they make every space of silence worth it, and everything fits in its own pocket. You can tell this was made with intense patience.
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Post by uǝɥʇɐǝɥ on May 9, 2016 12:38:34 GMT -5
Decks Dark is slowly becoming one of my favourites of the record. I especially cherish the detailed, groovy ending.
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Post by mossy on May 9, 2016 12:50:21 GMT -5
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Post by The Escapist on May 9, 2016 12:50:51 GMT -5
I think my one favourite moment out of many is when that ghostly choir (?) sings "broken hearts make it rain" as the groove comes back in on Identikit. So gorgeous. Either that or the operatic choir on Decks Dark.
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Post by mossy on May 9, 2016 12:52:36 GMT -5
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Post by spaneli on May 9, 2016 13:58:43 GMT -5
Does The Numbers sound a little like Zeppelin to anyone else? Very stairway to heaven-ish.
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on May 9, 2016 15:46:15 GMT -5
Wish Present Tense had Ful Stop's runtime, so Yorke could fit in another round of "Don't get heavy..."'s. Beauty beyond belief.
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Post by matt on May 9, 2016 16:33:43 GMT -5
Been listening to this tonight......... Wow.
It's stunning, absolutely stunning. Haunting, dreamy, beautiful, epic, ethereal, meditative, other-worldy, etc, etc. Thankfully, the lyrics aren't overly enigmatic and although its lyrics are typical of most Radiohead albums - introspective, insecure and forlorn - the epic but subtle and nuanced music gives the songs a sense of bleak beauty in addition to being their most melodic in years. And because of this, it is easier (for me) to connect on a personal level with these songs. It ranges from warmth to eerieness to melancholy, all wrapped up in a state of wonder.
It just feels more human. And not cold, robotic and emotionless like the overly complex and electro blip blops of the last few years.
I don't feel forced to listen to this again like a couple of Radiohead albums, I WANT to listen to it again, and again, and again. And I'm speaking as somebody who is not a hardcore Radiohead fan, and who was waiting for them to trip up and fall into the trap of mediocrity like their fellow peers at a similar stage in their careers. There is absolutely no fault whatsoever in this album, I cannot find anything.
Their heart and soul have been poured into this. It's a truly exceptional piece of work. I wish that more bands of similar size were like Radiohead. That doesn't mean I wish for more bands to SOUND like Radiohead, but just BE like Radiohead - i.e. don't constrain the ability to create by thinking about what other people want. Do what you want and let the mind and sub-conscience dictate, not your audience. Okay, I'm not a fan of King of Limbs but I admire the fact that that album is what they wanted, not what I wanted, and they obviously felt it was an expression of themselves at that particular time. It's not about being 'agreeable' - that's compromising in music, and if you compromise with the audience, then you are boring. Radiohead don't compromise, they do what they feel is right in their minds. That's a very human response and because they're human, whatever they release, it is inevitable that many people will connect. And that is true art.
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Post by oasisserbia on May 9, 2016 19:26:59 GMT -5
Really great album
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 9, 2016 21:18:32 GMT -5
I've given "A Moon Shaped Pool" about 5-6 spins now. Given it the car riding test and the walk by the river experience. It's time to dive into this fuller. I think for many of us, this is the type of album we all wanted following "In Rainbows". Don't get me wrong, "The King of Limbs" certainly had it's moments (Bloom, Codex, Separator) but it was awfully short, especially for a band that was MIA for almost 4 years. I wonder what the deeper meaning is behind the album being sequenced alphabetically? Funnily enough...........it fucking works this way! If you came here looking for a "Radiohead returns to guitar rock", well then you've come to the wrong place buddy. There is only one guitar solo on the entire album. The true magic on this LP is Jonny Greenwood finally emerging with full blown orchestral arrangements. This man was a genius with the six string and he's gone to another level composing film scores and applying them here. Guy should have totally won the Oscar for his work on "There Will Be Blood" alone. His score was like another deep rich character in that movie. I mentioned earlier in the thread that this album has the heartbreak of Thom and Rachel Owen's relationship ending (2 kids, over 20 years of being a couple) sprinkled all over it. Loads of pain and reflection all over this record. This album might also be Nigel Godrich's crowning achievement behind the production desk. To my ears, Thom, Jonny and Nigel are on the top of their games. I'll give the album a very rock solid A-. I'm not sure where I'd rank it with the other 8 albums. Probably after Kid A, Ok Computer, The Bends and In Rainbows, but miles ahead of Amnesiac, Hail To The Thief, King of Limbs and Pablo Honey. Gotta let it sink in. Gotta let it live. Burn The Witch - Probably the most unique sounding Radiohead song in well over a decade or more. That plucking is a new take for the band and to my ears. The strings sound like percussion and the percussion sound like strings. Totally mental and the right move as first "single"...........whatever that means in today's musical landscape. Stereogum called it a "guitar anthem without any guitars". I think that is very fitting description. Daydreaming -This song is down right haunting and lonely. You can feel the alienation throughout from the slow build of the piano right up to the very moving string sections. It reminds me of the film "Her". Dare I say it might be one of Radiohead's Top 10 songs of all-time. I know it's early but this is a damn fine work of craftsmanship. The video, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, might also be the band's best video. Interesting concept for sure. Deck Darks - I love the way the choirs enters the song around the end and the overall tone of the song gives me a serious "Down Is The New Up" boogie. Desert Island Disks - Opening with gentle Neil Young style strumming and a fluttering piano, Thom is breaking down the state of his current relationship to Rachel Owens. "Different types of love....Are possible." This isn't Coldplay's "Magic" baby! Ful Stop - I love the pulsating, blade runner-esque, ambient opening. To my ears this has flashes of "Hail To The Thief" but a much better version of that. Nice mid section freak out attack. Few bands do Krautrock better than Radiohead. Again, Thom bemoaning......... "You really messed up this time."Glass Eyes - The "Faust Arp" of A Moon Shaped Pool. Dark. Moody. Sad. On all levels. You can feel the piano and strings almost weeping. "Her face is a concrete grey, And I'm wondering, should I turn around?"Identikit - A song played regularly it seemed on The King of Limbs tour. Load of hype attached to it because of it. The band even attempted to record it at Third Man Records with Jack White during the summer of 2012 but nothing from those sessions were ever released sadly. Many layers of production on this tune. Has some soft elements of Tame Impala mixed in. Bring your headphones and it does contain the album's only true guitar solo and boy is it frantic yet restrained. The Numbers - This tune, along with "Desert Island Disks" and "Present Tense" are the Neil Young songs of the album. Each feature similar guitar work and finger picking. Each has their own unique shuffle to them. Each very gentle. And like Neil's most recent album, this song is for Mother Nature. Many of you have mentioned the Zeppelin, "Stairway To Heaven" vibe. I can see that in that one guitar moment for a brief second. For me this song really takes over when the strings come swirling in. Present Tense - Another song that's been floating around for years. I know the lyrics are dark, "As my world Comes crashing down, I'm dancing, Freaking out, Deaf, dumb, and blind", the song almost feels light and upbeat (for Radiohead!!!). Another one for Rachel, "In you......I'm lost". This LP is almost like Dylan's Blood On The Tracks. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief - Love the dark tone keyboard intro. Sounds like an evil James Bond tune, one meant for a villain. Sweeping cinematic strings. Jonny is on fire. String section just melts away at the end. This better be played on the tour, maybe the band will bring a small string section with them since more than half the album contains them. True Love Waits - What can I possibly say about a song so legendary with Radiohead fans that will hope to bring new light to the song? The first time I heard this song was in the mid to late 90s, probably a Napster download. Then 2-3 years later it finally got a release on the "I Might Be Wrong" Live EP and it was a beautifully stunning acoustic take. After attempting to record it for both Ok Computer, Kid A and Amnesiac, I always figured it would live on Neil Young style. You know, as a live definitive version. Sort of like "Needle and The Damage Done", "Hey Hey, My My", "Journey Through The Past", etc. Loads of pressure to get this song right once I saw it was on the leaked tracklist and I'm happy to say they succeeded. I'm glad it is not over produced but instead features two piano playing in a restrained nature with probably the most raw take on Thom's vocals. His voice even breaks at the 2 minute mark which at first was me thinking my mp3 or car speakers took a crackle. Nope, that's the take, the pain, the anguish Thom wanted on record. He's literally pouring his heart out to Rachel. "Just don’t leave......................Don’t leave".
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Post by batfink30 on May 10, 2016 9:14:15 GMT -5
I hope Chris Martin hangs his head in shame when he listens to this album.
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Post by Manualex on May 10, 2016 9:21:13 GMT -5
I hope Chris Martin hangs his head in shame when he listens to this album. I feel like Ghost Stories is the closest Coldplay can get to the sound Radiohead got into AMSP.
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Post by batfink30 on May 10, 2016 9:37:34 GMT -5
I hope Chris Martin hangs his head in shame when he listens to this album. I feel like Ghost Stories is the closest Coldplay can get to the sound Radiohead got into AMSP. Yeah, I agree.
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Post by Jack on May 10, 2016 9:51:23 GMT -5
I cant wait for the soundboard live recordings to surface during their upcoming tour. Is 'Ghost Stories' worth checking out btw?
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Post by Jack on May 10, 2016 10:46:14 GMT -5
I cant wait for the soundboard live recordings to surface during their upcoming tour. Is 'Ghost Stories' worth checking out btw? It is, but you'll want to make a playlist with the b-sides Ghost Story and All Your Friends. They're vastly superior to some of the trash on the album (Ink, True Love, A Sky Full of Stars). Midnight remains the last great song they released. Ok, I'm going for it. Don't hurt me (heh) but I'm gonna...rank the tracks. Of course, Radiohead albums are cohesive wholes etc but still, in zee nem of fun: GREAT 1. Identikit 2. The Present Tense 3. True Love Waits 4. The Numbers 5. Daydreaming 6. Burn the Witch 7. Decks Dark 8. Ful Stop REALLY, REALLY GOOD 9. Glass Eyes JUST REALLY GOOD 10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief 11. Desert Island Disk I'd rank the albums, but I'm scared of putting it ahead of In Rainbows. Might just be deserving of it though. I think this is exactly how i'd rank the tracks too. I love every song on In Rainbows almost equally, so AMSP still comes behind. Daydreaming is probably one of the best songs I've ever heard, and can't really compare it to anything else.
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Post by arthurmorgan on May 10, 2016 16:01:49 GMT -5
I'm not sure if this is as good as In Rainbows. But then again it doesn't matter. Great album
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Post by The Escapist on May 10, 2016 16:09:19 GMT -5
Just realised how Tinker Tailor starts off as something off Tomorrow's Modern Boxes and ends as something off There Will be Blood. Brilliant bridge of Thom and Jonny, just like the rest of the album.
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Post by matt on May 10, 2016 16:11:39 GMT -5
I cant wait for the soundboard live recordings to surface during their upcoming tour. Is 'Ghost Stories' worth checking out btw? It is, but you'll want to make a playlist with the b-sides Ghost Story and All Your Friends. They're vastly superior to some of the trash on the album (Ink, True Love, A Sky Full of Stars). Midnight remains the last great song they released. Ok, I'm going for it. Don't hurt me (heh) but I'm gonna...rank the tracks. Of course, Radiohead albums are cohesive wholes etc but still, in zee nem of fun: GREAT 1. Identikit 2. The Present Tense 3. True Love Waits 4. The Numbers 5. Daydreaming 6. Burn the Witch 7. Decks Dark 8. Ful Stop REALLY, REALLY GOOD 9. Glass Eyes JUST REALLY GOOD 10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief 11. Desert Island Disk I'd rank the albums, but I'm scared of putting it ahead of In Rainbows. Might just be deserving of it though. If it helps, I think it's better than In Rainbows! Seriously, I do think this lays claim to being their 'best since Kid A' - that's always a cliche with bands to rank them like that, but I genuinely feel it with this one.
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Post by Jack on May 10, 2016 17:01:40 GMT -5
It is, but you'll want to make a playlist with the b-sides Ghost Story and All Your Friends. They're vastly superior to some of the trash on the album (Ink, True Love, A Sky Full of Stars). Midnight remains the last great song they released. Ok, I'm going for it. Don't hurt me (heh) but I'm gonna...rank the tracks. Of course, Radiohead albums are cohesive wholes etc but still, in zee nem of fun: GREAT 1. Identikit 2. The Present Tense 3. True Love Waits 4. The Numbers 5. Daydreaming 6. Burn the Witch 7. Decks Dark 8. Ful Stop REALLY, REALLY GOOD 9. Glass Eyes JUST REALLY GOOD 10. Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief 11. Desert Island Disk I'd rank the albums, but I'm scared of putting it ahead of In Rainbows. Might just be deserving of it though. If it helps, I think it's better than In Rainbows! Seriously, I do think this lays claim to being their 'best since Kid A' - that's always a cliche with bands to rank them like that, but I genuinely feel it with this one. I would personally put it above Kid A. Im obsessed with Daydreaming right now, this song will be with me forever.
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Post by glider on May 10, 2016 17:24:31 GMT -5
This album indeed gets even better with more listens.
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 10, 2016 20:45:24 GMT -5
The more I listen to "The Numbers".....................the more I fucking love it.
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Post by Lennon2217 on May 10, 2016 23:42:40 GMT -5
Why do I think Pitchfork is gonna stir the pot and hit this album with a perfect 10 score? We shall see................
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Post by The Escapist on May 11, 2016 2:26:00 GMT -5
Moonthony Pooltano gave it a "decent eight".
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on May 11, 2016 5:12:01 GMT -5
Why do I think Pitchfork is gonna stir the pot and hit this album with a perfect 10 score? We shall see................ 9.1. The .1 betrays Jayson Greene's (yes, really) absolute desire to get as close to the perfect 10 score as is humanly possible; heaving and clawing his way there with every poncey turn of phrase (" In the past, Thom Yorke has sharply peppered his lyrics with everyday cliches to suggest a mind consumed by meaningless data, but...he is now considering simpler truths in a heretofore-unexplored register: wonder and amazement."), sort of like how a cat drags its shitty arse along a living room carpet. In Jayson's world, Burn the Witch is " a vintage splash of Radiohead stomach acid, a cloud of gnats unleashed in your cranial nerves" and " an exorcism for what follows: a plunge into something scarier than the military industrial complex, or the insidious nature of propaganda, or human nature’s disturbing tendency towards unquestioning obedience." And that's just the first track! Clearly, Greene still feels bitter about Jillian Mapes getting to review it when it came out as a single a few days ago... The bitch! And enjoy please, the tenuous links to past records: "“ I feel this love turn cold,” he confesses as [Glass Eyes] draws to a close, the phrasing an echo, subconscious or not, of his Kid A sign-off “I’ll see you in the next life.”" and the mundane summary plucked from the frappucino-scented air of his mum's upstairs bedroom, that he chooses to end the piece with: " Some truths just take longer to see than others." And then allow yourself to be filled with bitter resentment (or is that just me?) when you remember that yes, 9.1 is still a better score than any Oasis album ever got.
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