August 5, 2009

Radiohead fans got their first taste of new studio material today (August 5), when the group made available "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" for download via its online store, Waste Merchandising. Unlike 'In Rainbows,' fans will have to pay for this track and won't be allowed to set a price: the five and a half minute digital file costs £1.00 or $1.70 for U.S. customers.

Proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Royal British Legion.

The BBC Radio 4 website is currently streaming the track and the song pays tribute to Harry Patch, the last known British World War I veteran who passed away on July 25. Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke was reportedly moved by an interview the BBC Radio 4 conducted with Patch in 2005.

Rightfully so, the song is a slow, string heavy production that sounds cinematic and moving, with Yorke's voice displaying a calm, almost serene like tameness. "The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me," Yorke explains on Radiohead's website. "It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death. It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny [Greenwood]."

Radiohead are currently working on their eighth studio album, the follow up to 2007's critically acclaimed "In Rainbows." The band has four shows scheduled for later this month, including headlining slots at the Leeds and Reading Festivals in the U.K.


http://www.billboard.com/...0147.story

I have never like York's voice.
At times, it threatens to derail OK Computer completely.



I used to love that album, but when I play it now, I can barely get through it. I think it's his voice that gets me.


I'll check this track out.

Imago said:

I will now post every emoticon that shows anger, hate, sadness, disapproval and whatever there is.

Oh, and you may not answer this with

wow... amazing new track. They are simply incredible.

gorgeous track.. wow

Imago said:

I've nailed this down as the source of my continual aversion to getting into Radhiohead, no matter how many times I've tried.

Ironic, since one of my favorite bands has a lead singer with that same croaky, 13 year old boy voice leading the dream sympony type of thing going on.

Phishanga said:

errant said:

It's grating. I mean, I skip tracks when I can't handle that voice any longer. It sounds sometimes like somebody is running their fingers down a chalkboard.

At other times, particularly with some of the tracks on 'In Rainbows' it's pretty good.

There are a lot of lead singers whose voices I don't care for but I love the band despite, and can't picture anyone else singing leading the band. But it's always a balancing act to ensure the voice doesn't drown out or ruin the music altogether. Of all radiohead's albums, OK Computer is the one that walks that razors edge too closely for me

Imago said:

Wow, I'm so surprised by this. Tell me what you think about Björk's voice then....I know people who have the same reaction to her that you do to Tom Yorke.
[Edited 8/6/09 9:02am]

connorhawke said:

Her voice is less consistently grating


I love both radiohead and I very much like Björk

But there are times during her singing that I just bust out laughing. Then there are times like on "All is Full of Love' that I just swoon.


Same with Prince though. I like his voice on most of his songs, but on songs like "do U Lie" from Parade, I just can't stop laughing.

I think I would've locked this one instead. The dupe thread had more discussion and it had the track embedded.
[Edited 8/12/09 12:12pm]

yooooo . the bestest band ever with shit like this . beautiful . thom's voice is amazing, imo