Elly Roberts reviews
Radiohead: The Best Of
Distributed by
Parlophone
2-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)
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 be
significant, 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’t
exactly 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 fuss
is 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 this
to the top of the pile. Admittedly, they have strong competition at the moment
from 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 back
to those…. moments.
As a collection, particularly CD 1, this is excellent, (yes really!) basically
because 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’s
winging, this best of….highlights their better moments, which I find quite
appealing, 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 the
songs 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 enjoying
the music feast (or fest, depending on your angle) on offer. No Surprises has always been a fave, so has Karma Police. Now I’m switched
on to others, which, I’d overlooked, such as re-visiting single Creep, which
has just re-entered the chart at #37.
It’s not all wet and winsome either. The rasping and multi-faceted number 3
hit (1997) Paranoid Android with its blistering and wiry solo by Yorke
proves 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 by
some wondrous Byrds-like wiry licks, sounding better than ever, especially when
the understated riff kicks in, then the power of the sonic heavy riff which doesn’t
last long enough for my tastes, though they make the most of it in the closing
crescendo.
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 fearless
side of their repertoire, with the next three nothing more than average – 2+2=5, The Bends
and dire Pyramid Song. It gets better again though, with radio-friendly
Street Spirit (Fade Out).
By definition, because disc 1 is the same as the ‘standard’ CD1 release, I’m
left 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 quirky
Let Down. Planet Telex, b-side of High And Dry is one almighty powerful
stadium 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 list
can be found on the first Amazon link above.
File under: Well worth a try, even if you’re not a fan.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
