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May 18, 2007
Pink Floyd Bracket: National Anthem (5) v. Talk Show Host (12
National Anthem
Kid A (5)This song might be the most "Kid A" song out there. Anchored by the circular baseline, it combines outerworldly theremin, sparse Yorke vocals, and a mix between what sounds like movie clips and fat brass. This is the big song that anchors Radiohead's fourth proper CD.
VS
Talk Show Host
Street Spirit (12)Oh, the controversy. The sun will set on this unkind world before differing minds will agree on where to place this song in the Radiohead oeuvre. Some think the song is the linchpin in the Bends-OK Computerprogression, others think its something new, but something borrowed. This song finds the band a little less straight-ahead rock, and a little more calculated.
Posted by Keith O'Brien at May 18, 2007 10:00 AM
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Comments
Since I started the "controversy" I guess I'm obligated.
The Bends, good as it is, is still a pretty straightforward arena rock album. If the boys had followed that particular U2 fixation, they'd now be Coldplay, or perhaps worse, U2. Here, was the badn taking a step back and dialing down the bombast considerably. We have cut up, DJ Shadow inspired drums that would inform Selway slamsmanship on OKC, lazy Eno keys that point the way to Kid A, the casual swearing of "Creep", and lyrics that for once are actually amusing. The "gun and a pack of sandwiches" line gets me every time, much more than the "jokes" that noone seems to get about how worms will eat us, or whatever. This a cool, weird, confident little b-side.
That said, National Anthem is badass and gets my vote.
Posted by: Jeff K at May 18, 2007 02:27 PM
Scene: Family Thanksgiving at the Monty's, 2001.
[Randy puts Kid A on the stereor turning to "National Anthem".]
Uncle Leon: What the hell's the point of this?
Posted by: Randall Monty at May 18, 2007 02:51 PM
