It's an amazing album. On first listen I was a bit unsure but like other folks say - it grows on you. As many of the best albums do - imo. The last four tracks are exceptional.

IstenSzek said:

omg i think i had a tiny little heart attack just now. it felt like someone stuck

a knife into my chest and my arm went numb.

a new radiohead album. and so soon. OMG OMG OMGO MOGMOGMOGMOGM
OGOMGODMGODGJDLKJHDFLKHFLIUHRELJBSDLVKJBDLIUHEWBESRLVKJBSE

i won't be able to sleep until saturday, i'm about to fucking burst baby

and no doubt there'll be an Atoms For Peace album later this year as well

i can't take it anymore. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh

I love it when stuff like this happens and fans go nuts. It's nice to see people so happy.

I'm a casual fan. Just downloaded the album tonight and on first listen I'm really liking "Bloom" and "Lotus Flower." People seem split on "Give Up the Ghost," but I think Thom's wailing on the second half is really heartbreaking (in a good way). Good show.

I've got to listen a few more times.

[Edited 2/22/11 7:15am]

i haven't been able to really stop playing this yet; keep coming back to it. Really excited about it - incredibly gorgeous album. It's perfect the way it is, 8 sounds, perfectly balanced, just long enough. It has elements they have visited before but is a very distinct creation.

At some points I feel hints of David Bowie's "Outside" album in "The King of Limbs". Also definitely a Flying Lotus influence.

I very rarely post anything non-prince, but felt compelled to when I saw this thread.

The King of Limbs is an awe-inspiring album, if only I had this same sense of wonder

and fascination (not to mention enthusiasm) when Prince drops a new record.

Obviously it's a bit unfair to compare this release to 20Ten,

but I've already listened to this more than 20Ten and I've only had it a few days.

It's just superb. Anyone else agree/disagree?

i like the new album...but i still feel the actual songs are...well...not much there really ...its more soundscapes than actual songs for most of the tracks....as lovely and as interesting as they are...but lotusflower is my favourite so far...

owen said:

I very rarely post anything non-prince, but felt compelled to when I saw this thread.

The King of Limbs is an awe-inspiring album, if only I had this same sense of wonder

and fascination (not to mention enthusiasm) when Prince drops a new record.

Obviously it's a bit unfair to compare this release to 20Ten,

but I've already listened to this more than 20Ten and I've only had it a few days.

It's just superb. Anyone else agree/disagree?

That's easy to do, it's only 8 songs and 37 minutes long

CarrieLee said:

owen said:

I very rarely post anything non-prince, but felt compelled to when I saw this thread.

The King of Limbs is an awe-inspiring album, if only I had this same sense of wonder

and fascination (not to mention enthusiasm) when Prince drops a new record.

Obviously it's a bit unfair to compare this release to 20Ten,

but I've already listened to this more than 20Ten and I've only had it a few days.

It's just superb. Anyone else agree/disagree?

That's easy to do, it's only 8 songs and 37 minutes long

20Ten is only 3 minutes longer...

owen said:

CarrieLee said:

That's easy to do, it's only 8 songs and 37 minutes long

20Ten is only 3 minutes longer...

I agree.... This beats 20ten by a milestone

owen said:

CarrieLee said:

That's easy to do, it's only 8 songs and 37 minutes long

20Ten is only 3 minutes longer...

My bad! I don't even own 20Ten because I figured it was shit!

owen said:

I very rarely post anything non-prince, but felt compelled to when I saw this thread.

The King of Limbs is an awe-inspiring album, if only I had this same sense of wonder

and fascination (not to mention enthusiasm) when Prince drops a new record.

Obviously it's a bit unfair to compare this release to 20Ten,

but I've already listened to this more than 20Ten and I've only had it a few days.

It's just superb. Anyone else agree/disagree?

It's ok not up to the standards of In Rainbows. Personally I find 20ten a far more enjoyable listen.

When I first listened to the album, "Little By Little" & "Give Up The Ghost" stood out to me. Now, "Lotusflower" and "Codex" are growing on me as well.

owen said:

I very rarely post anything non-prince, but felt compelled to when I saw this thread.

The King of Limbs is an awe-inspiring album, if only I had this same sense of wonder

and fascination (not to mention enthusiasm) when Prince drops a new record.

Obviously it's a bit unfair to compare this release to 20Ten,

but I've already listened to this more than 20Ten and I've only had it a few days.

It's just superb. Anyone else agree/disagree?

Radiohead has achieved a certain level of perfection in their sound over the years and they've done a great job of maintaining it. I credit the band dynamic for that -- a common vision and input from all members. I think that is sorely lacking in Prince's output.

20Ten is a great album too - just not in the same league as The King Of Limbs. Then again, their best album (whatever you believe it to be) is not in the same league as Purple Rain or SOTT.

Breathtaking musicianship here .....must see!

Haha, it took me a while to realize that clip above was a spoof.

I have to comment on something.

These Prince vs. Radiohead comments are pointless. That's two entirely different type of approaches to music. It's a whole lot easier to maintain a level of consistency and keep on making critically acclaimed albums when you're making "soundscapes" or "mood pieces" that for the most part avoid hooks and danceable rhythms. Let's see Radiohead even attempt to try to funk-based music and how far that would take them. Sure, I don't doubt that they could pull off doing a few numbers like that, but could you imagine them continuing to do that at a "high level of artistry" for 20-30 years? What makes Prince unique is not his clothes or make up or that he "can play 20 instruments", but that he has the skill and vision to make upbeat, catchy songs that are also artistically interesting and diverse in their approach. It's almost as if most on this site have forgotten that.

I don't write that as just a Prince fan, as I've been making "aimless arsy-fartsy dirge" for the last 6-7 years myself. Therefore I can recognize the talent that is required to do what Prince does.

What I've written above is not intended as a negative commentary on Radiohead's music per se, but at least try to realize why comparing Prince and Radiohead cannot be reduced to simply commenting on how the latest Radiohead record is "good" and how the new Prince record is "shit".

[Edited 2/23/11 7:07am]

Why was Prince being brought out in a discussion about Radiohead in the first place?

I like Lotus Flower. Hm, Radiohead...

With that it died?

Check out this fan site for Radiohead:

www.ateaseweb.com

It's pretty cool. Sign up to get on the message boards. Lots of info and other "stuff" to enjoy.

Btw, Still digging the new album.

TKoL p2....?

Bfunkthe1 said:

TKoL p2....?

If the rumours are true, then yes.

Shawnt27 said:

Bfunkthe1 said:

TKoL p2....?

If the rumours are true, then yes.

Yea it's kinda interesting reading all the theories over on ateaseweb. Lol.

It would be nice to have more music coming soon but I'm not gonna lose sleep over it. I'll just enjoy TKol (1).

we very well may get more material (i hope so!) but TKOL is complete and perfect as it stands, 8 tracks. I had tried to append other material at first to make it longer (Pulled Apart By Horses, Hearing Damage, These Are My Twisted Words), and while they fit stylistically, adding them just detracted from the overall feeling of the album. It's incredibly balanced, a complete piece - 8 tracks, 37 minutes.

I hope any additional material takes the form fo a "bonus disc" similar to what we saw with In Rainbows.

NoVideo said:

we very well may get more material (i hope so!) but TKOL is complete and perfect as it stands, 8 tracks. I had tried to append other material at first to make it longer (Pulled Apart By Horses, Hearing Damage, These Are My Twisted Words), and while they fit stylistically, adding them just detracted from the overall feeling of the album. It's incredibly balanced, a complete piece - 8 tracks, 37 minutes.

I hope any additional material takes the form fo a "bonus disc" similar to what we saw with In Rainbows.

I agree 100%. Remember also the fade out sounds on IR disc one were the same fade in sounds for IR disc 2. Thought that was cool.

Also agree those other tracks you mentioned, Horses,Hearing Damage, etc, sound better compiled as a seperate Ep's worth of music. I like TKoL (1) as is. If there is more to come, make it TKoL (2) or a b-sides/extra tracks compilation disc. Imo.

Unholyalliance said:

Sandino said:

Lackin in depth. Having a good idea but not thoroughly expounding on it. That is essentially what makes the pop form inferior to suites, sonatas, fugues, etc. It's akin to coming across a brilliant idea, and writing it down. Upon telling your friend about it you say "alright so I do this first, and then I go on to do this, and this but THIS is what I did first, now after all this I'd like to do this, also I did THIS FIRST, now, I want to do that that and I DID THIS FIRST, I DID THIS FIRST, THIS WAS THE FIRST THING I DID THAT LEAD TO THIS CHAIN OF EVENTS." After about the second time I'm sure you got the point about what he did first right? this is basically why pop songs are considered limited, because they're centered around a chorus normally and often hit the 'reset' button every 30-45 seconds.

I remember getting into a discussion with this person who claimed that European classical music was the most advanced music in the entire world and that if Africa had actually developed, as a nation, it would have went into that direction as well.

Needless to say that statement was one of the most ethnocentric comments I had ever come across in a while and someone else called them out on it. I can’t, fully, remember what the other person said in response, but it had to do with the fact that while the tonality of European classical music is very advanced, their rhythms were still lacking quite a bit compared to that of the advanced polyrhythms of Asian and African music. Especially in Africa, where music is a way of life rather than seen as something recreational.

I know that pop music is supposed to be simpler music that has the ability to appeal to a large demographic, but that would include ALL modern pop music including: rock, funk, disco, r&b, and etc. Why am I saying all this? I think I just get a little bit annoyed when European classical music gets treated as the ultimate level high art and everything else ever created is just subpar compared to that. That would be the equivalent of saying that European paintings and sculptures are the highest form of visual art and everything else ever created, such as ukiyo-e’s from Japan, calligraphy from many Islam nations, and the many sculptures of African are far inferior in comparison. It’s not that they are, it’s just that it all serves a very different purpose & values, especially since it comes from very different cultures.

I know that modern pop music is really just European and African sensibilities melded together. It’s music from an entirely different culture and it holds a way different value for most of us. I don’t find any of it to be really that inferior. I know that a lot of musicians think that way, like my friend who is an opera singer, but I know that they they like to teach European art >>>>>>> everyone else’s so I guess we’ll never get out of that mindset.

There's plenty of mediocre, trivial compositions amidst the canon of classical music as well. It's hardly just an uninterrupted string of masterpieces.

Unholyalliance said:

Sandino said:

Lackin in depth. Having a good idea but not thoroughly expounding on it. That is essentially what makes the pop form inferior to suites, sonatas, fugues, etc. It's akin to coming across a brilliant idea, and writing it down. Upon telling your friend about it you say "alright so I do this first, and then I go on to do this, and this but THIS is what I did first, now after all this I'd like to do this, also I did THIS FIRST, now, I want to do that that and I DID THIS FIRST, I DID THIS FIRST, THIS WAS THE FIRST THING I DID THAT LEAD TO THIS CHAIN OF EVENTS." After about the second time I'm sure you got the point about what he did first right? this is basically why pop songs are considered limited, because they're centered around a chorus normally and often hit the 'reset' button every 30-45 seconds.

I remember getting into a discussion with this person who claimed that European classical music was the most advanced music in the entire world and that if Africa had actually developed, as a nation, it would have went into that direction as well.

Needless to say that statement was one of the most ethnocentric comments I had ever come across in a while and someone else called them out on it. I can’t, fully, remember what the other person said in response, but it had to do with the fact that while the tonality of European classical music is very advanced, their rhythms were still lacking quite a bit compared to that of the advanced polyrhythms of Asian and African music. Especially in Africa, where music is a way of life rather than seen as something recreational.

I know that pop music is supposed to be simpler music that has the ability to appeal to a large demographic, but that would include ALL modern pop music including: rock, funk, disco, r&b, and etc. Why am I saying all this? I think I just get a little bit annoyed when European classical music gets treated as the ultimate level high art and everything else ever created is just subpar compared to that. That would be the equivalent of saying that European paintings and sculptures are the highest form of visual art and everything else ever created, such as ukiyo-e’s from Japan, calligraphy from many Islam nations, and the many sculptures of African are far inferior in comparison. It’s not that they are, it’s just that it all serves a very different purpose & values, especially since it comes from very different cultures.

I know that modern pop music is really just European and African sensibilities melded together. It’s music from an entirely different culture and it holds a way different value for most of us. I don’t find any of it to be really that inferior. I know that a lot of musicians think that way, like my friend who is an opera singer, but I know that they they like to teach European art >>>>>>> everyone else’s so I guess we’ll never get out of that mindset.

Good post.

novabrkr said:

There's plenty of mediocre, trivial compositions amidst the canon of classical music as well. It's hardly just an uninterrupted string of masterpieces.

[img:$uid]http://i.imgur.com/s9wOT.jpg[/img:$uid]

I don't even think that there would be one person in the world that would even admit, without laughing, being sarcastic or ironic, that Kanye's strongest work is better than even Mozart's weakest. Maybe only if they were a hardcore stan.

Which version of 'Lotus Flower' do you prefer, live or album version? I love the solo live version so much that I had to get used to the song on the album, but now I absolutely love the feeling and the atmosphere of it. It's somewhat the same time calming and unsettling. Kind of describes the whole album, IMO. LOVE it.

Unholyalliance said:

Sandino said:

Lackin in depth. Having a good idea but not thoroughly expounding on it. That is essentially what makes the pop form inferior to suites, sonatas, fugues, etc. It's akin to coming across a brilliant idea, and writing it down. Upon telling your friend about it you say "alright so I do this first, and then I go on to do this, and this but THIS is what I did first, now after all this I'd like to do this, also I did THIS FIRST, now, I want to do that that and I DID THIS FIRST, I DID THIS FIRST, THIS WAS THE FIRST THING I DID THAT LEAD TO THIS CHAIN OF EVENTS." After about the second time I'm sure you got the point about what he did first right? this is basically why pop songs are considered limited, because they're centered around a chorus normally and often hit the 'reset' button every 30-45 seconds.

I remember getting into a discussion with this person who claimed that European classical music was the most advanced music in the entire world and that if Africa had actually developed, as a nation, it would have went into that direction as well.

Needless to say that statement was one of the most ethnocentric comments I had ever come across in a while and someone else called them out on it. I can’t, fully, remember what the other person said in response, but it had to do with the fact that while the tonality of European classical music is very advanced, their rhythms were still lacking quite a bit compared to that of the advanced polyrhythms of Asian and African music. Especially in Africa, where music is a way of life rather than seen as something recreational.

I know that pop music is supposed to be simpler music that has the ability to appeal to a large demographic, but that would include ALL modern pop music including: rock, funk, disco, r&b, and etc. Why am I saying all this? I think I just get a little bit annoyed when European classical music gets treated as the ultimate level high art and everything else ever created is just subpar compared to that. That would be the equivalent of saying that European paintings and sculptures are the highest form of visual art and everything else ever created, such as ukiyo-e’s from Japan, calligraphy from many Islam nations, and the many sculptures of African are far inferior in comparison. It’s not that they are, it’s just that it all serves a very different purpose & values, especially since it comes from very different cultures.

I know that modern pop music is really just European and African sensibilities melded together. It’s music from an entirely different culture and it holds a way different value for most of us. I don’t find any of it to be really that inferior. I know that a lot of musicians think that way, like my friend who is an opera singer, but I know that they they like to teach European art >>>>>>> everyone else’s so I guess we’ll never get out of that mindset.

By no means am I being ethnocentric; I'm a black-latino! Ultimately I made that comparison to put it in perspective in relation to the finest music made in Western Art . I could say the same but compare it to the intricateness within bebop chromaticism or jazz modalities, and try and use what knowledge I have of the ragas and melakartas to make a legitimate comparison that these polyrhthyms and melodies are also superior forms and my argument would still stand.

Pop music simply doesn't have as much value as 'serious music' be that Classical, Jazz, Choro, etc. the average pop musician doesn't have sufficien knowledge or training at their disposal to organize musical materials to achieve profound universal insight or deeply engaging emotional content. These musical traditions are meant to solely be appreciated and listened to for their inherent qualities, popular music-throughout history- has been meant to facilitate festive occassions, sell products, or fashion iconic images. People don't like prince just because he can play in any key! they like prince because he had a unique image or was sexy, or androgynous/ambiguous/enigmatic or whatever else. On the other hand no one goes to see beethoven's 9th just because they couldn't believe he was deaf!!!

Do you understand the point I'm making? The emphasis in 'serious music' is to respect the work that goes into making a piece of music exclusively intended to be listened to for enlightenment or emotional resonance. The purpose of popular music throughout time has always largely been to create ephemeral "feel good" danceable rhythms and hummable tunes.

[img:$uid]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o177/B_a_n_d_i_t/kingoflimbs-1.jpg[/img:$uid]

NoVideo said:

[img:$uid]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o177/B_a_n_d_i_t/kingoflimbs-1.jpg[/img:$uid]