Music Review!: Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Solid atmospheric ambient electro jazz! Initially I couldn't understand where this album's sound came from. I thought they had such a good diving platform to jump from with In Rainbows, their obvious trend towards using electronic sounds and filtered vocals was really at a high point, so I was expecting something sort of insanely magnificent synthetic quality in their sound for The King of Limbs. After listening to it twice through I realized that it was just another turning point in their style.

"Bloom" - Opens up with mostly electronic sounds, very fast paced... has a feeling of jazz that is not really present in older Radiohead sounds. Bloom does not demand your immediate energy like their last album's "15 Step", but it feels more like a gradual evolution and introduction into their sound. Part of Radiohead's artistry lies in their ability to evolve in every album they send out, sure there are some overlapping themes - Thom Yorke's keening emotive voice, creative use of drum-like beats, spooky ambient ghost like bits waning in the backgrounds, and the poetic lyrics that you can't really understand (literally because of his accent/style and also figuratively, they are pure genius) - but each album is so distinct.

"Morning Mr Magpie" - Sounds like something from maybe Hail to the Theif - like "Where I End and You Begin", but someone jacked up the speed and complexity by layering different sounds on top of each other. Solid track, but what's with the 25 seconds of static feedback at the end?

"Little By Little" - Wonderful song! "I Might Be Wrong"-esque with similar beats and the rolling build up of guitar, even the way Thom Yorke is singing sounds somewhat comparable. The transitions in this track are surprising, and the mess that is created as more instruments come into play makes it incredibly handsome. This song sounds so mischievous and deviant, I love the energy! The lyrics sort of reminds me of maybe opening pandora's box, but the way they seem to be directed towards someone it feels like it's one sinner talking to another, or two people who are giving up themselves for greed and the typical 9-5 jobs. The variety of interpretations make it intriguing to think about.

"Your clue on hold, snapped up
Crawling with my love
The last one out of the box
The one that broke the seal
Obligation
Complication
Routines and schedules
Drug and kill you
Kill you"

"Feral" - Sexiest song of 2011. A feral organism is one that has escaped from domestication and returned, partly or wholly, to a wild state and that is exactly what this track captures, it feels completely organic. The bass creeps into the sound every now and again, Thom Yorke's voice staggers throughout giving you glimpses of lyrics but not complete thoughts, mixed with undulating beats and lighter vocals... it's sort of what I imagine someone on ecstasy experiencing in the form of a song.



"Lotus Flower" - I think this track is the first "single" from the album, mostly because there's already a video out. It's a beautiful piece of music, but just one thing... the clapping? the clapping is a bit cheesy for me, but the bass and vocals definitely carry it along. Thom Yorke might be saying to open up like a lotus blossom you have to listen to your heart.

"Because all I want is the moon upon a stick
Just to see what it is
Just to see what gives
Take the lotus flowers into my room
Slowly we unfurl
As lotus flowers
All I want is the moon upon a stick
Dance around a pit
The darkness is beneath
I can't kick the habit
Just to feed my fast ballooning head
Listen to your heart"

"Codex" - seems like a filler, uninteresting piano, sorta uninspired lyrics. Below are the entire song's lyrics.

Sleight of hand
Jump off the end
Into a clear lake
No one around

Just dragonflies
fantasize
No one gets hurt
You’ve done nothing wrong

Slide your hand
Jump off the end
The water's clear and innocent
The water's clear and innocent

"Give Up the Ghost" - Beautiful ambiance throughout the piece. I feel like the track is sort of a mantra about giving up something that could haunt you, like the loss of a loved one, the turmoil experienced after a break-up, negativity in general, something of the like. This piece feels very wise, like a good friend giving you advice when you're in emotional danger.

"Gather up the lost and sold
Gather up the pitifull
What seems impossible
I think I have had my fill
I've been told to give up the ghost"

"Separator" - Wonderful ending piece, I felt like it really linked the entire album. the wailing vocals mixed with the funky drum beats and the jazzy bassline blended the sounds of each track together beautifully. With the trance-like dulcet guitar interjections and the lyrics referring to waking up from a dream, it just feels like meditating. Most of the songs on this album are about letting go, love, realization, separating the ego from the superego, and metaphorically death and reincarnation.

"It's like I'm falling out of bed
From a long, blue dream
The sweetest flowers fruits are hang from trees
Falling off the giant bird that's been carrying me
It's like I'm falling out of bed
From a long and weary dream
Just exactly as I remember
Every word
Every gesture"