TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Bulletproof...
I Wish I Was (Acoustic)
Release Date: March 1995
Find this: Fake Plastic Trees CD2
Additional Info: One of the songs that prompted reviewers to believe that Thom had some serious personal problems, "Bulletproof" actually has a more universal meaning, which invites the listener's personal interpretations. This is truly one of the best songs in the band's roster, and one of Thom's own favorites. The instrumentation was created by Jonny and Ed; they recorded their guitar noises without listening to other layers of the cut.
These guitar sound tracks were then put together and mixed with the rest of the song for the actual album version. This acoustic version is not very different from what appears on "The Bends," the primary difference being that the acoustic guitar puts more emphasis on the heavy emotion in the song. Still, it's nice to get a slightly different take on this track.
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Not to knock on Scandinavian bands, but there are several that sound strangely similar to one another.Before you say things like "oh, well it's like that in every country," I feel I should say that I don't know a lot of Scandinavian bands...
which is why the ones I do know sound similar to one another, which when you look at it should strike you as a little odd. Really though, it's probably all somehow a figment of my imagination and I'm just dreaming up all these sonic similarities.
One Scandinavian band I've found myself particularly in love with lately is The Go Find.
I remember them from back in 2004 when their album "Miami" was released. I wouldn't go so far as to say that first album was a disappointment, but I think it lacked something that similar bands all had. I can't quite put my finger on what that was, but I gave up on "Miami" after a few initial listens because of it.
Now, a few years later, I felt the need to give Dieter Sermeus and his merry band of musicians another try. The new album out April 24th is called "Stars on the Wall," and if I do say so myself, it's quite a bit better than the first album.
For those of you who haven't heard of The Go Find (I assume most people haven't), the best way to describe them (or him I guess, if you don't count Dieter's backing band) is by saying they're like a hybrid between The Postal Service, The Notwist and Radiohead.
Of course they're not quite as talented as any of those bands, but the overall effort definitely makes "Stars on the Wall" worth picking up. Speaking more explicitly, there's an electro-synth quality layered through most of the tracks on "Stars on the Wall," mixed in well with some guitars, drums and keyboards.
The electro-synth stuff should come as little surprise if you're familiar with "Miami," especially considering one of Dieter's good friends is remixer Styrofoam (who also happens to have remixed a Postal Service track).
Radiohead has been a constant influence over The Go Find, moreso in reflecting on the "Kid A" days rather than "The Bends" or anything like that. Speaking of which, the last track on "Stars on the Wall" is titled "Kid OK," which is a blatant shout out to "Kid A" and "OK Computer," and even draws on the elements of those albums in parts. Clearly Dieter understands what it takes to get to such a masterful level on that track.
Somehow though, the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to the artfulness of that closing song (though it comes close). But if you're a fan of downtempo tracks that exude melancholy and longing, this is the just ball park you want to be in. As we sit back and await new albums from Radiohead, The Notwist and The Postal Service in 2007, "Stars on the Wall" serves as the perfect appetizer before the main course finally arrives.
Good enough to eat and enjoy for a short while, but you don't want to make a full meal out of it. I mean, why would you take potato skins over filet mignon?
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Stop Whispering (On A Friday Demo)
Release Date: 1991
Find this: Manic Hedgehog Demo Tape (good luck finding a copy)
Additional Info: If you've ever wondered what Radiohead sounded like before they were Radiohead, this is for you. The band was originally named On A Friday when they formed in the late 1980s, and they decided on that name because that was the only time they could practice. Well, college came and they each went their separate ways for a few years before getting back together in 1991.
That was when they made their first recording, the Manic Hedgehog Demo, named after one of their favorite record shops. After that, the band really started getting noticed for their live gigs, and eventually had all kinds of offers from record labels. Just before getting signed, On A Friday changed their name to Radiohead after being told that original name was weak and cliched.
Of course Radiohead stems from the title of a Talking heads song from the "True Stories" record, which is the band's favorite. The band's first label release was 1992's "Drill" EP, and the rest, as they say, is history. "Stop Whispering" is one of the band's earliest songs, and it appears on "Pablo Honey.
" This version, however, in all its unproduced and crappy-sounding quality, is direct from the Manic Hedgehog Demo.
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: El President (Drugstore feat.
Thom Yorke)
Release Date: Summer 1998
Find this: "White Magic for Lovers" by Drugstore
Additional Info: In honor of the terribly-plotted Mark Wahlberg movie that opened last weekend ("Shooter"), I'm dedicating this week's ADDENDUM to the poor souls who paid to see it. Thom recorded this song with the band Drugstore and it was released in 1998 on the bands "White Magic For Lovers" album. To this day, it is probably the only Drugstore song you've heard and will ever hear, though I suppose I'd recommend the band.
..if this were 1998.
Thom and Drugstore's lead singer, Isabel, are great friends and have often been accused of having an affair! Isabel had this to say about that: "It's not like that. I am a friend of his girlfriend.
And he is so short! I like tall men. But I won't say that there wasn't an atmosphere of seduction.
.." (credit: )
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Permanent Daylight
Release Date: September 1994
Find this: My Iron Lung CD-Single and later EP
Additional Info: I guess I'm working on the whole "Daylight Savings Time" theme today, even though that switchover happened last Sunday. Better late than never, I suppose.
But, uh, as far as the song goes, it was part of the band's mid-1993 live set as an instrumental, and Thom explained that it had been offered for a soundtrack but ultimately rejected. Why any Radiohead song would ever be rejected for anything I have no idea. The song was also apparently written as a tribute to Sonic Youth.
That's understandable, given the way that it sounds. (credit: )
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Million Dollar Question
Release Date: September 1992
Find this: Creep first issue single
Additional Info: In honor of yesterday's absolutely gigantic Lottery jackpot (across about a dozen states) of $370 million dollars, I felt it was appropriate to make "Million Dollar Question" the focus of this week's ADDENDUM. This song was written right after the band got signed, and it looks at the corporate mentality - fat bankrolls, big promises. "Million $ Question" also seems to reflect Thom's feelings of doubt at this time surrounding the band's potential success, closing with the sample that says, "I just think maybe I'm making a mistake.
" The track was a live favorite in 1992 and 1993. (credit: )
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Lucky (Early Demo)
Release Date: Pre-1997
Find this: Probably nowhere
Additional Info: As we sail out of February and enter the month that is March, I've got a nice little treat for what is traditionally called the "luckiest month of the year." Really I say that because of all the Irish and St. Patrick's Day implications, and combined with four leaf clovers and such, it just makes some sort of sense.
So this week's ADDENDUM takes this entry into the month of March with the hopes everything will turn out splendidly. What I'm giving you here is an early demo version of the "OK Computer" track "Lucky." I just felt it was appropriate (though I'm not sure what I'll do on St.
Patrick's Day now) seeing as how March starts tomorrow. I can't tell you exactly when this version was recorded, just that it was quite a bit of time (at least a year) before "OK Computer" was released. You could also call it an acoustic version, because it's practically just Thom and the guitar.
I imagine Jonny Greenwood is doing the other guitar, and I'm not entirely sure if the couple of apparent "drum hits" are actually just foot tapping instead. Either way, it's a nice look into the early stages of a classic Radiohead song. Even the lyrics are slightly different from the finished version.
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Wonderwall (Oasis cover)
Release Date: Late 90s
Find this: ?
???
Additional Info: In honor of the rekindling of an Oasis-Radiohead feud, I thought this might be the most interestingly appropriate song to feature in this week's ADDENDUM. The deal behind the feud: Noel Gallagher of Oasis said the following about Thom Yorke earlier this month: "Who wants to sing the news? No matter how much you sit there twiddling, going, 'We're all doomed,' at the end of the day people will always want to hear you play 'Creep'.
Get over it." Thom finally chose to respond a couple days ago via , using one of Noel's own quotes against him. Noel's quote: "I never went to f***ing university.
I don’t know what a paint brush is, I never went to art school." to which Thom says, "i did. it taught me to respect other artists.
"
As amusing as that all is, this Oasis cover, which Thom did a good 10 or so years ago with his friends The Posies, is not entirely respectful. This version is under 90 seconds for a reason. Listen to the comment made after they stopped playing the song and you'll understand.
Please keep in mind- I'm not intending to say anything mean about Thom Yorke here. This is more of a "pretty amusing" type of thing.
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong
Release Date: September 1994
Find this: My Iron Lung CD1 (+EP)
Additional Info: Screw "True Love Waits," because I feel this is a more appropriate Valentine's Day song for this week's ADDENDUM. "Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong" at first seems to deal with a war-torn scenario, but then comes the chorus containing the lines,"A beautiful girl / Can turn your world into dust.
" This moving composition deserves more attention. The band has played it live only a couple of luckily one of these occasions was included on the High and Dry Live Package. Colin claims that the real reason the band plays the song live so rarely is because he never properly learned the bass line.
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TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: Climbing Up the Walls (Zero 7 Remix)
Release Date: September 2000
Find this: Karma Police CD2
Additional Info: Not enough people pay attention to remixes done of Radiohead tracks, and those just discovering them are oftentimes surprised at how good they can be.
In this case, Zero 7 tackle the task of remixing one of Radiohead's scariest songs. The result is something that's scary awesome, incorporating Zero 7's jazzy electronic sound with the sullen and somber attitude the song exudes. If you're searching for an improvement on a song that's already nearly perfect, you're probably barking up the wrong tree with this remix.
Zero 7 doesn't screw it up, they just add a little extra flavor to what they've been given. It doesn't work as well inside the confines of "OK Computer," but as its own separate entity it speaks volumes.
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:Song: How I Made My Millions
Release Date: January 1998
Find this: No Surprises CD1
Additional Info: This song could be called one of Thom Yorke's first "unofficial" solo efforts. He recorded the song at home using just a piano and his four track, and though it was intended to incorporate the full band, Ed and Phil both felt it was so powerful in its raw form that they decided to leave it that way.
What you hear is what you get, including the background noise of Thom's girlfriend (at the time) Rachel putting away groceries and cooking. The title of this song is perfect, seeing as how the lyrics are practically undecipherable and the band refuses to discuss what it all means. Just another addition to the mystery and enigma that is Radiohead.
TODAY'S RADIOHEAD ADDENDUM:
Song: Molasses
Release Date: January 1995
Find this: Street Spirit CD2
Additional Info: For a song recorded during "The Bends" era, it's surprising at just how laid back this song is.
This b-side also features some of the weirdest, most nonsensical lyrics that Thom Yorke has ever put to song. Perhaps that's why the band has never played this song live. Still, it's a damn good track.
My second attempt at a new segment in 2007 is something that will hopefully be repetitively fun.Arguably, it also surrounds the somewhat agreed-upon "greatest band in the world" otherwise known as Radiohead. The concept is simple: every Wednesday, in addition (hence the segment title: ADDENDUM) to my normal posting duties, I'll be throwing a completely random Radiohead b-side or live cut at you. Really it's for no reason whatsoever, but if you're looking to collect a bunch of Radiohead songs you may not have gotten exposure to, then this will be the perfect way to do so.
I figure it'll be a fun way for me to share my 100% complete Radiohead song collection with all of you, and give you a little history and insight into the band whose b-sides are often as good as their actual album tracks.
TODAY'S ADDENDUM:
Song: Inside My Head
Release Date: September 1992
Find this: 1st Issue "Creep" EP, Live version on the "Creep" EP 1999 reissue.
Additional Info: Written after securing their first major record deal, this song is about leaving the insecurity of a struggling band and coming to grips with the fact that success is around the corner.
Primarily that means leaving your life of part-time jobs and making the committment to music a full-time ordeal. Thom Yorke has also remarked that this song is also about "getting in a car and ramming the shop where I used to work." Certainly one of the catchiest and best songs from the pre-Bends era, "Inside My Head" was originally intended to be a single, but the label chose "Creep" instead.
We all know how THAT worked out. (credit: )
MP3 pulled because of bandwith. Stay tuned for next Wednesday's "Addendum" for more Radiohead!
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