Hello people!!
two months ago, during the Xmas period, I bought many Radiohead albums : "Kid A", "OK Computer", "The Bends" and "In Rainbows", almost blindly because they were on sale (4.99euros each), AND because EVERYBODY around me, in the media and anywhere else have been praising their music for years...
Well, l'm kind of eclectic when it comes to music, I listen to many genres and I expected a lot from these albums, I must confess...
But every track I played got me closer to the verge of my window (6th floor) : It's so boring, depressing, and wayyy too slow, they almost make me think about suicide ...
I talked about it to my close Radioheads stans and they didnt understand how could someone on earth not like Radiohead... Or U need to be in a "special" mood to enjoy it (depressed? high??) sorry, but besides the obvious ("Creep", "Karma Police",...) I don't "get" their music... Really. I just can't... Therefore, l think they're kinda overrated...

Radiohead are versatile and eclectic enough that you're bound to like some of their music (as you admitted). If you don't like the majority of their music, well, that's OK.


Also, you could have a very different opinion later if you revisit it.

AlexdeParis said:

Indeed. Sometimes it takes living with albums over time before they reward you.

Cinnie said:

Yeah, I see what U mean, but I've played each album like 5 times... but i still can't be hooked... Maybe they're too experimental for my tatse (the weird electronic sounds, the "aerial" voice of Yorke...).

Yeah i kinda agree with this, on the part that they are just the type of artists that have a niche and not everyone will feel them, but you occasionally get a track here and there that you get into. Its hard to not respect them as creative artists, as far as being overrated, i mean we can debate every artist that has been around for years on their "ratings". Over the years i have fallen out of my RadioHead love, i was all for Bends,Ok Computer and Kid A, but then it all started to fade for me, i respect there diversity and sounds, but you can sometimes be "too creative" for your own good. Not saying that RadioHead is more creative than other bands, because they arent, they just use different techniques in their ways.

i have all their albums and i do have favorites, however i still can't put them on just anytime. i really need to be in the mood for them or i won't enjoy them.

.
[Edited 3/6/10 14:14pm]

There's nothing wrong, they're depressing. Sometimes the English can capture Melancholy like they own it. Pink Floyd did it really well too. These guys have their moments that I like but it because there's 47 guitarists in the band...

Yeah, I'm in the same boat as you, French. I've just learned over the years that some bands are just like "opera".....I can have a TON of respect for them, but never truly love them. Radiohead is like that with me.

I bought OK Computer and Kid A for the same reasons, and while I like them, I don't love them. There are a few tracks that really grabbed me ("Exit Music (For a Film)", "Climbing Up the Walls", "No Surprises"), I'm not blown away as I was hoping.

Moonbeam said:

Feeling exactly the same thing... I feel cheated ...

FrenchGuy said:

You shoulda ripped some of their albums beforehand or at least trawled youtube for a taster.

I used to really enjoy The Bends and found OK Computer and Kid A impressive but they kinda bore me too.

FrenchGuy said:

Nothing wrong with you. Everything is wrong about radiohead. absolutely shiite band

Don't worry, i never got them either. According to the press, they are like the best that has ever happened to the music business...well, besides Nirvana, and i never got them either.

Sandino said:

Radiohead >>>>> your life
[Edited 3/9/10 21:01pm]

I've tried and tried. Give it a go every few years. In fact, I actually own the deluxe, 2-CD remasters.

And still they elude me. I just don't think it's going to happen.

Radiohead,

I only like Creep and Karma Police.

I have tried OK Computer, but... not my taste.

I kinda liked "Creep" when it came out, but never
got the album or something, nor did their second
album reach me. I was too busy travelling Europe,
following the Gold Experience tour.

Then they released "OK Computer", which floored
me. They mixed sounds together like no one else,
the melancholy on that album caught me. Then I
forgot about them again; I wasn't in the right
mind-set for the following albums, until IstenSzek
played me a b-side that had me craving more.

That one song, "The Amazing Sounds Of Orgy"
is what made me revisit the albums and made me
want to hear all their non-album material. It's
what made me a near to die-hard fan.

There's no use trying to telling others what they
should like or not. If you don't, you just don't. And
that's alright. But sometimes, as Cinnie said, it just
takes some time for an album/artist/song to make a
click. As it did with me. I now rank them in my top
5 of most favourite artists/bands EVER.

To me, their unique way of sound-collaging their
music, not afraid to change their style is what keeps
them interesting for me; I never minded them being
'slow' or melancholy. I prefer them that way, I suppose.

Thom Yorke's voice is like an instrument on itself
sometimes, haunting, ethereal, beautiful at some times,
harsh, compelling the other.

I hear parts Beatles in them (the experimentation side
of it) and my mind links them to Eurythmics (slow,
electronic, yet soulful), Massive Attack (mesmerising,
deep) and Björk (unconventional). It's sure a mix I
like very much.



Lars-edit (grin)
[Edited 3/8/10 2:12am]

I liked odd tracks, but never bought an album. I ended up compiling my own 'greatest hits' from tracks I knew and heard, and really got into that... then started collecting the albums one by one after. It was a really good way of getting into them as a lot of their singles are a little more upbeat/uptempo than a lot of the album tracks.

My advice, don't LISTEN to them, just put an album on in the background whilst doing something else... They really start to get into your head in a chilled way rather than actually sitting and listening to them intently and feeling suicidal! haha

I often hear the phrase "I don't get (insert artist's) music". I never really understood that phrase. You either you like the music or you don't. It's not an equation. Everyone has different tastes. No harm done if you don't like an artist's music.

Like Herman said, to each their own. Personally, I am so impressed by them, I can't begin to describe it. I could not possibly overrate them. I think for me the one word to describe them would be "intense". I guess I just put it this way: Their music speaks to me. Sometimes I do not want to listen, because there are songs that ARE too depressing, but still... there's a lot of beauty and hope in Radiohead music.

Slave2daGroove said:

You know what. I like radiohead. I love KidA.

But Pink Floyd is in a class so far beyond radiohead it's not even funny. Pink Floyd is brilliant, while radiohead is clever, IMO.

TheVoid said:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion. Even if it sucks.

errant said:

I think the problem for me is Thom Yorke's voice is just terrible on some tracks.
He possess about the same vocal range as the lead singer of Duran Duran--none whatsoever. But this doesn't mean the music isn't great so long as the tune doesn't depend on his voice--take the Cure for example. Robert Smith's voice is about as melodic as a fart, but the tunes and instrumentation doesn't require it to be. Thom's voice is like that too. It works on many of the tracks, but completely grates on others so much so that I actually have to skip certain tracks. To me, a brilliant band isn't one you should have to work that hard to 'get'. And if you do 'get' it then the reward needs to be worth the effort.
The verdict is still out on radiohead for me. Don't get me wrong, I really like 3 of their albums (KidA, In Rainbows, and sometimes OK Compauter), but I really have to be in the mood for them.

I don't get them either. I like a couple of the singles, and that's about it.

TheVoid said:

It's not that I feel like I have to "work" at getting them, because I don't feel that way, nor do I work at it. They're just a band whose music intrigues me and every few years I come back to it to see if there's something that draws me in. I know a lot of people whose opinions and tastes in music are similar to mine and all I hear is how fucking wonderful they are. I expect at some point it'll catch me off guard and sink in, but so far, nothing.

I'm not too worried about it. With the other 28,000 songs on my iPod, it's not like I feel like I'm missing out on anything.

TheVoid said:

Sorry, but that's just plan wrong.

How could anyone not hear how great Thom Yorke's voice is?

Phishanga said:

agreed, a comparison to Simon Le Bon is just odd, I'd have thought his voice is more like a cross between Jeff Buckley and the singer from Can.

I truly think that for anyone to understand and appreciate Radiohead you have to witness the evolution. Don't start at the end. Start at the beginning and you will see how radical the changes have been.

This is one of the best bands of all time.

Phishanga said:

I can see why people hate it but it is PERFECT for his music.