Radiohead: The Best Of

Elly Roberts reviews

Radiohead: The Best OfDistributed by
Parlophone2-CD:
DVD:

• June 2008
• Rating: 10/10
• Format: Special Edition 2-CD set (Also available 1 CD (12 singles) 4 –piece vinyl set (29 tracks) 29 track digital download)

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Career spanning ‘hits’, and a lot more, depending on what format you buy.

One of the biggest surprises of the music world is that Radiohead’s Best of …failed to go straight in at number one. As of w/c June 9th, it was at No.4.Ok, it’s only one week since its release on June 2nd. But it might just besignificant, along with the fact that w/c June 16th it dropped to No.6.

Have Radiohead finally lost their appeal? Or, is it that the band hasn’texactly been behind this release. By the sound of things, he (Tom Yorke),apparently, isn’t a happy bunny. Personally, I really don’t know what the fussis all about with this band anyway.

Much of their album work leaves me cold, though they do have their moments. Unquestionably,they have a massive fanbase and strange they haven’t come out in force to push thisto the top of the pile. Admittedly, they have strong competition at the momentfrom the likes of ‘Modfather’ Paul Weller (22 Dreams #1 w/c June 9th),Welsh songbird Duffy (#2) and American legend Neil Diamond (#3). And now backto those…. moments.

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As a collection, particularly CD 1, this is excellent, (yes really!) basicallybecause it skips a lot of the dire stuff. Believe me, purely objectively of course,there’s been some trash, especially on the latter albums. Despite Tom Yorke’swinging, this best of….highlights their better moments, which I find quiteappealing, rather than scan and find the (odd) best. We have to recognise unlike some reviewer I can’t mention) this is a compilation idiot, and yes thesongs are out of context – that’s what compilations do.

Compilations are fairly predictable, and this is no exception. Nevertheless,what it has actually done is convert, well almost, this cynic to rather enjoyingthe music feast (or fest, depending on your angle) on offer. No Surprises has always been a fave, so has Karma Police. Now I’m switchedon to others, which, I’d overlooked, such as re-visiting single Creep, whichhas just re-entered the chart at #37.

It’s not all wet and winsome either. The rasping and multi-faceted number 3hit (1997) Paranoid Android with its blistering and wiry solo by Yorkeproves that. Then there’s the lovely acoustic lead anthem High and Dry,one of their finest songs ever. Beat-laden My Iron Lung is highlighted bysome wondrous Byrds-like wiry licks, sounding better than ever, especially whenthe understated riff kicks in, then the power of the sonic heavy riff which doesn’tlast long enough for my tastes, though they make the most of it in the closingcrescendo.

Arguably, the jewel in the crown on disc one, is the Pink Floyd-styled weight of Lucky.Things get a bit silly for me on Idioteque, though it shows the fearlessside of their repertoire, with the next three nothing more than average – 2+2=5, The Bendsand dire Pyramid Song. It gets better again though, with radio-friendlyStreet Spirit (Fade Out).

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By definition, because disc 1 is the same as the ‘standard’ CD1 release, I’mleft to believe that disc 2 is a ‘leftovers’ bonus. Not at all.

There’s some very good stuff here too, like I Might Be Wrong and quirkyLet Down. Planet Telex, b-side of High And Dry is one almighty powerfulstadium rocker, though the next five including debut single Anyone Can Play Guitar,1993, are sloppy.

The 29 tracks include Paranoid Android, Karma Police, Creep, No Surprises,Lucky, The Bends, Airbag, Let Down, The National Anthem and a full listcan be found on the first Amazon link above.

File under: Well worth a try, even if you’re not a fan.

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