It’s really happening! Radiohead has announced a fall/winter tour in the UK and Europe! We look at what we can expect from this short residency tour and the complicated feelings we have surrounding it. Will they bring back Clive? Will there be new songs? How many instruments will Jonny play? In turn, we talk in depth about their recent surprise release, Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009) and how it’s a great representation of the cathartic energy and urgent themes of the record. Sime also does some sleuthing regarding the only other live album they’ve released and why one song may not be what it seems. Plus, we do a fun quiz about Radiohead’s tour history brought to you by Setlist.fm.
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2:08:02
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2:08:02
Episode 77 – Let Down
Since we can’t make our way to Oxford for Thom and Stan’s art exhibition, we found the next best thing: an “immersive” exhibit presented by Rolling Stone magazine about rock n roll culture throughout the decades. Luckily Radiohead is featured extensively but was it worth it? What did we learn and did it take us on a journey? How does it compare to the Kid Amnesiac Digital Exhibition? We try to answer these questions with our special guest and immersive experience professional, Andrew Lazarow. He also tells us all about the familiar way he became a Radiohead fan and the shocking amount of times he’s seen them live. Let’s not forget the newspile, which is full of stories like Thom’s “new” tv show theme song, an intriguing Tall Tales coin hunt, Tom Skinner’s upcoming jazz record, swirling Radiohead tour rumors, and Sime’s favorite song finally getting its due.
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2:03:33
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2:03:33
Episode 76 – Tall Tales
Tall Tales is out and we’ve got tons to say about it! We go track by track and discuss our early thoughts. Where does this fall amongst Thom’s solo work? How did Thom and Mark Pritchard work remotely to create such a fascinating electronic-ish album? Which songs are highlights and which song is so divisive that we both have very differing opinions on it? We also got to see the accompanying film on the big screen and we discuss the surreal and captivating imagery made by artist Jonathan Zawada. In addition, we have a substantial newspile with items like Radiohead songs being performed sumptuously by a full orchestra in the UK, the many reviews of Hamlet Hail to the Thief, and a frustrating statement from Jonny regarding his cancelled shows with Dudu Tassa.
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2:14:17
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2:14:17
Episode 75 – Talk Show Host
In our continuing anniversary coverage of The Bends, we speak with Randee Dawn, a journalist and author who 30 years ago spent several days with Radiohead on the road right after they released their sophomore album. She regales us with stories of what they were like back then, before they became the critical darlings they are today. Are they really nice boys? Who is the dad of the group? What was worrying Thom? It’s an illuminating conversation about a band who at the time was on the precipice of something great! Also, we have a mini-newspile where we discuss Radiohead’s all but announced fall tour, the first trailer for PT Anderson’s new film with intriguing new music from Jonny, what legendary minimalist composer Steve Reich thinks of Jonny and Radiohead, and Thom’s unexpected involvement in Hamlet Hail to the Thief. Randee Dawn’s new book, The Only Song Worth Singing, is out now wherever books are sold!
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1:42:37
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1:42:37
Episode 74 – The Bends
Thirty years ago Radiohead, desperate and anxious to shed their one-hit wonder label, dropped their second album, the Bends. What is its legacy? What creative seeds were planted? Just how drunk was Thom when they recorded Planet Telex? We explore these questions and more as we delve into what makes the Bends so unique and what people were saying then and now about their sophomore record. We also discuss the producer John Leckie’s illuminating talk about his experience with the boys recording the album. And as always, we dive into quite a hefty newspile with stories about Radiohead’s curious legal filing, Colin having a chat with Rolling Stone, Ed silently protesting AI copyright law, the announcement of Thom’s new album with Mark Pritchard and plenty more.
Ireland