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
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.
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1:59:00
Episode 73 – Attenzione!
It’s the holiday season and we have a special gift from a mysterious internet elf: OK Outtakes, a collection of even more unheard songs and snippets from the OK Computer recording sessions. There are brand new songs, curious versions of old favorites, plus the boys having a laugh! As always, we dig through the newspile and discuss an extortionately priced edition of Colin’s photo book, a lengthy and varied playlist from the Smile guys, and our favorite non-the Smile music of 2024. Happy holidays!
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2:06:07
Episode 72 – Back in the Game
Thom has finished his solo jaunt across Oceania and Eastern Asia and naturally, we have tons to talk about. Which songs stood out and which old songs did he breathe new life into? We review the tour stats and our favorite highlights of his “new kind of solo show”. Also, the newspile is dense with items like an interesting interview with the “director” of the Nosferatu Amnesiac/Kid A sync, a spooky song from Thom’s wife Dajana, a fashion collab between Thom and a Japanese designer, Roger Waters opening up a public feud with Thom, three very different Radiohead covers, and plenty more.
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2:01:36
Episode 71 – Codex
W.A.S.T.E. got their act together and finally sent us Colin’s fantastic photography book, How to Disappear: A Portrait of Radiohead. Join us as we journey through Radiohead’s history via Colin’s photos and essays, from their meager beginnings in Oxfordshire to the grandiosity of playing the Smoothie King arena and so many great tidbits about what it means to be in the greatest band on the planet. Also, we chat about Thom joining the call against AI stealing art and a new song he played on the first night of his solo tour that will certainly get the kids dancing.
Ireland