Back in the day, I was a huge Radiohead fan. I think everyone’s probably a Radiohead fan in college, right? Radiohead is the combination of “good music” and “good background music.” You can have it on while you’re studying and it won’t be distracting, but it’s also great music for concerts, etc. Anyway, the guys of Radiohead have been working on side projects and other things for years. They took a five-year absence from the band, sort of. Their last album was The King of Limbs in 2011. But they decided to put out their ninth album this month.
First, they tried to delete themselves from the internet, and they were sending out actual, tangible promotional materials. Then they dropped their first two singles off the new album. Then they dropped the whole album on Sunday. The album is called A Moon Shaped Pool. Apparently, many of the songs have orchestral backings from the London Contemporary Orchestra. Some of the songs have been released in various forms before, but still… A NEW RADIOHEAD ALBUM.
Here’s the first-released single, “Burn the Witch,” directed by Chris Hopewell.
And here’s the second single, “Daydreaming,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (the wunderkind American writer-director). I love PT Anderson, but this video is… I guess it’s just not my jam. I like the song though. Radiohead is so proud of this video, they’re showing it in theaters.
While Thom Yorke absolutely loathes streaming services, this album is available on Apple Music and Tidal… you just can’t listen to it on Spotify. It’s also available for digital download on iTunes and Amazon. I find it interesting that Radiohead loathes Spotify so much but they’re totally fine with getting into bed with Tidal and Apple. Anyway, how many great artists are going to release their albums within the same two-month period? Rihanna, Beyonce, Drake and now Radiohead! Radiohead just didn’t want Bey’s Lemonade to get all the attention!!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I listened to the whole album on Tidal last night, it is SO good!
i thought that was a photo of Willie Nelson, and thought they had collaborated, just that split second!
i haven’t heard the whole album just yet, but i have high hopes! now to find a block of time without interruption to do so!
one radio station here was playing his Harrowdown Hill just the other day.
I thought it was Norman Reedus in a ponytail.
Well, both Tidal and Apple music pay artists better than Spotify to stream their music. Anyway I streamed the album and I love it! It has been a nice week in music, James Blake and Skepta also dropped their new albums.
JAMES BLAKE!!! LIsstttteeennn My feels! I have been in a glass case of emotion all weekend behind James Blake/ RX Y (such a Gorgeous cd) and JMSN ( who is honestly theee most accessible ass talented dude out there, Really really I sing his praises he is pretty impeccable and so cool, how accessible? homey will Text you back from his cell and has actually been texting back and forth since he started this release Imagine my shock when I asked him some sh!t and he actually replied the next day?!?)
It makes me sad that so many artists are streaming everywhere EXCEPT Spotify. I tried Apple Music and I hated it – I could never listen to my playlists/music while offline, and songs would disappear. Tidal is too pricey for me when taking into account the exchange rate (and I’m not even sure it works in my country).
It seems they’re trying to drive Spotify to the ground and I don’t like it.
*letting my stan flag fly*
Thom can do no wrong except this dirt he is doing by making me fork this money I’ to Apple Music I held out for Drake (who I decided Im going to go see August) but I cannot Not do it for Thom Yorke….Daydreaming is gonna be perfect for when I’m high musing , IDK if this cd will touch in Rainbows for me buttttt this far all I hear I love… i’ll check back after i buy tonight
Love In Rainbows! Haunting and lovely!
In Rainbows is their best album by far and of the best of all times.
It’s a freackin’ great record… I wasn’t sure about the title, neither was my bf (A Moon Shaped Pool?! Really?!?) and we started listening to it almost reluctantly, despite the 1st singles being great and knowing that after 22 years, True Love Waits was finally on a record. I was afraid that after a so-so King of Limb (though great live!), this would be the time where I’d be completely over my most favorite band/fantasy boyfriends (I’ll take Thom, Ed and Jonny anytime) of the past 20 years (and I’m 30yo, that love has been strong!). But no. Instead I “had” to get the special edition vinyl because it’s soooo good!
I love Radiohead. Thank you for this post! I’ve been meaning to see these videos.
I love Radiohead…. Thom’s voice is beautiful . Great record.
God, I’m so glad this album matched my expectations. It’s scary beautiful. I’ve been waiting for their ninth album since 2014.
So far, Daydreaming and Decks Dark are my favorite. Thom can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned <3
I’m listening to it right now on Google play and it’s amazing so far 🙂
OMG he’s gotten so old. I bumped him on the street in Paris two years ago. I was hoping it would get his attention but he didn’t even look at me 😔 He’s still hot though
That video reminded me of Green Day When I Come Around
I bumped into him in London last year. First time in the UK, been in London for less than 24 hours and I bumped into Thom Yorke in front of the Tate Modern. I thought that I could die happy
The album is beautiful and resonating with my current life mood. Idk, maybe it’s bc we are the same age, but I love that he has (gracefully) aged. He strikes me as someone who is healthy and as emotionally intense as he was when they broke out. If he had perfectly groomed eyebrows, dyed hair and a spray tan, I’d probably choose to just listen rather than enjoy the visual component which would be a damn shame. I like a guy that doesn’t need to look in the mirror everyday, especially when art of this quality is the result.