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Radiohead Kid A Release Date: 2000 10 03 Label: Capitol Instead of simply adding club beats or sonic collage techniques, Radiohead strive to incorporate the unsettling "intelligent techno" sound of Autechre and Aphex Twin, characterized by its skittering beats and stylishly dark sonic surfaces, for Kid A. To their immense credit, Radiohead don't sound like carpetbaggers, because they share the same post-postmodern vantage point as their inspirations. As a result, Kid A is easily the most successful electronica album from a rock band -- it doesn't even sound like a rock band, even if it does sound like Radiohead. So, Kid A is an unqualified success? Well, not quite. Despite its admirable ambition, Kid A is never as visionary or stunning as OK Computer, nor does it really repay the time it demands. OK Computer required many plays before revealing the intricacies of its densely layered mix; here, multiple plays are necessary to discern the music's form, to get a handle on quiet, drifting, minimally arranged songs with no hooks. Of course, the natural reaction of any serious record geek is that if the music demands so much work, it must be worth it -- and at times, that supposition is true. But Kid A's challenge doesn't always live up to its end of the bargain. It's self-consciously alienating and difficult, and while that can be intriguing, it seems deeper than it actually is. Repeated plays dissipate the mystique and reveal a number of rather drab songs (primarily during the second half), where there isn't enough under the surface to make Radiohead's relentless experimentation satisfying. But mixed results are still results, and about half of the songs positively shimmer with genius. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Everything in Its Right Place Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 4:11 2 Kid A Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 4:44 3 National Anthem Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 5:51 4 How to Disappear Completely Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 5:56 5 Treefingers Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 3:42 6 Optimistic Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 5:16 7 In Limbo Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 3:31 8 Idioteque Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 5:09 9 Morning Bell Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 4:35 10 Motion Picture Soundtrack Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke 7:01 Releases: Year Type Label 2000 CD Capitol 2000 CD Capitol 2000 CD Parlophone 2000 CS Capitol 2000 LP Capitol 2001 LP EMI 2006 LP EMI

Group Members: Thom Yorke Jonny Greenwood Phil Selway Colin Greenwood Ed O'Brien More >> Similar Artists: Manic Street Preachers Spiritualized The Verve Björk Mogwai More >>

Influenced By: The Smiths Suede Pixies Can Pink Floyd More >> Followers: Aberdeen City World Leader Pretend Coldplay Kent Lowgold More >>

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