REVIEW: Radiohead "The King of Limbs"

The King of Limbs.  This is the album I was supposed to review during the week.  Nothing came up…I just put off taking the file out of my Email.

The King of Limbs.  This is the album I was supposed to review on Friday after I visited my friend’s new shop.  A social visit to the bar however, mixed with the equally social appearance of an ex-girlfriend…along side a random English guy from Leeds…Well, that was Friday and it is now Sunday night. Etc…

The King of Limbs.  I seduced a few friends to have a listening party at their house tonight upon my delivery of scotch and pilsner.  This review consists of 3 standpoints;  that of someone who has never listened to Radiohead, someone who is familiar with songs such as “High and Dry”, “Karma Police”, “Creep”…etc., and myself.

The King of Limbs is a flowing predictable delivery from a band that is nothing short of well versed in pleasing.  Top 40 radio this album is not.  Best described as fluid, melodic and passive, this is not the same Radiohead that your older brother put on his mix cassettes to impress his girlfriend who worked at Sam Goody.

The King of Limbs rolls across the floor and warms your friend just enough to close their eyes; while in the same measure, convincing you and a tempting stranger to find a darker room, within earshot, to become better acquainted.  Like body language, the record dictates mood and meter without notice.

DOWNFALL: Crossing the finish line of this record in under forty minutes with only eight compositions left us all wanting a bit more.  If it can be considered an upside, that fact left plenty of room for most of any other Radiohead album on the same CDR.  Songs flow together flawlessly with the instrumentation taking on the feel of samples at times; while Thom Yorke’s vocals left several guests wondering if there were any vocals on the previous track at all.*

UPSIDE:  Songs flow together flawlessly with the instrumentation taking on the feel of samples at times; while Thom Yorke’s vocals left several guests wondering if there were any vocals on the previous track at all.*  Although the work is seemingly over before it began, we looped the record on itself for the better part of three hours to the enjoyment of everyone.

BUY THIS RECORD IF:  Just buy it.  If you visit www.thekingoflimbs.com there are PLENTY of options for purchase depending on what you took away from this review.  AT LEAST, I recommend you get the simple MP3 format.

*Putting the same observation as a Pro as well as a Con is weak.  In this case However, as someone who enjoys the track by track Radiohead (Pablo Honey, The Bends) along with the tidal / flowing Radiohead (In Rainbows, The King of Limbs), it could go either way depending on which you prefer.