REVIEW: THE BENDS

Given that GG Editor, Brice Maiurro and I had a Facebook battle with Radiohead lyrics, I thought it would be fitting to review something from their back catalogue (catalog for my ‘merican friends.)

I have really struggled to choose between The Bends or Pablo Honey. Most people have heard of “OK Computer”, but it features Karma Police so its an unfair fight.

Im going to go with The Bends.

Firstly let me tell you; I was not always a fan. I thought they were a bit derivative and Thom Yorke’s accent annoyed me. (I’m a northerner, he sounded like a “post twat”) but I always admired their trailblazing for other UK bands. I don’t think Muse, for example, could have broken through the way they did, or even Coldplay or Keane for that matter.

One day I (naughty me) Downloaded “My Iron Lung” it was mistagged as a new Nine Inch Nails (NIN) song and I wanted in. I soon, of course, realised it wasn’t in any way NIN and when Thom opened his mouth, I realised who it was; but I had liked it, I had thought It was brilliant, genius, enthralling. I actually thouight it sounded a bit Hole, Celebrity Skin era, The Intro to “Playing Your Song” is Iron lung all over, but Greenwood always knew how to get the best out of that baby and I don’t want to add to the “Courtney doesn’t write her music” myth.

I rushed to my local secondhand record store and told myself I absolutely must have this song. I must have “The Bends”. The little music nerd behind the counter informed me they didn’t currently have a copy, but they did have the “My Iron Lung EP.”  I swear – I would have given him my first born had I even kissed a boy at that point. He handed it over. I paid 4 quid and dad was annoyed by it on the car ride home.

I asked the guy to give me a call when they got in The Bends and sure enough a couple of weeks later he called to tell me he had put it aside for me if I still wanted it.

I did.

I listened to it, front-to-back and side-to-side, if I could have. It was awesome.

One song particularly has remained on every music player, CD mix, iTunes list and WMP playlist (for those before the apple invasion…)

“Street Spirit (Fade Out)”

This machine will, will not communicate.
This machine will, will not communicate
These thoughts and the strain I am under
Be a world child, form a circle
Before we all go under
And fade out again and fade out again

Thom here is brilliant and whilst Street Spirit has overtaken my teenagerly love of My Iron Lung, this is still a solid album my kids WILL own (they will have no choice, really.)

Not even mentioning, Fake Plastic Trees and Bullet Proof, I Wish I Was….

Absolutely sublime and a reason why Radiohead have endured and can trust fans enough to “pay what you think its worth” by the time In Rainbows would roll around.

Tracklist:

“Planet Telex”
“The Bends”
“High and Dry”
“Fake Plastic Trees”
“Bones”
“(Nice Dream)”
“Just”
“My Iron Lung”
“Bullet Proof..I Wish I Was”
“Black Star”
“Sulk”
“Street Spirit (Fade Out)”

By Natalie Elizabeth Beech

You can find more great posts by Natalie at natalieelizabethbeech.com.