Radiohead - The Bends
Posted by: droodzilla on 30 June 2007
BBC4 - Just caught an old clip of Radiohead playing The Bends on JH's Later. My God! What a fabulous song, and a spine-tingling performance.
It reminded me how visionary the album of the same name is - recognisably rock and roll, but reborn, and dangerous again. By contrast, for all its merits, OK Computer is the album where the band started to be self-conscious about their status as a serious band. More Pink-Floydy, and therefore just that little bit duller, in spite of the presence of excellent tracks like Lucky and Paranoid Android.
And yes, I am trying to start an argument!
Posted on: 30 June 2007 by ryan_d
I'm not sure what argument you're trying to start....but the Bends is a classic record and worthy of any acolade put upon it.
Like you said OK Computer may have been when the world took notice but that doesn't take away from the genius of the bends. It should be in everyones record collection for 'Street Spirit' alone. An amazingly important band!!!
Ryan
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by Cyrene
I was lucky enough to see them about the same time as The Bends came out, the same week I think and you're right... a truly great rock & roll performance.
I do think they had 'found' their sound at this point and for all the music press hailed them as the new U2, the band themselves were more like "hell, we're the new Radiohead".
Judging by the material they had composed at this point they were already heading down the path that led to OK Computer but not yet at that junction that signalled Kid A and it's ilk; many of the songs they sang live that night were embryonic versions of tracks that weren't on The Bends.
As for your proposal that they may have become a little bit dull after The Bends; then yes possibly. Instead of the self-conscious (self important ???) meanderings of their later albums we saw a rock band in full flight. That's never boring is it.
Posted on: 01 July 2007 by droodzilla
Yes, that's just what I was getting at. Wish I could have seen them live at the time, but I was late to the party.
My (playful) comment about starting an argument is down to OK Computer getting the lion's share of critical acclaim. For me the later album is *starting* to drift into worthy-but-dull zone. I know which of the two I listen to most.
Posted on: 02 July 2007 by Rico
I'd play The Bends about 9 times out of 10, with OK Computer getting two plays out of 10, for a possible 11 plays on the volume dial. FWIW.
Yes OKC is an important album; I simply find The Bends very, very listenable and engaging rock.
Posted on: 03 July 2007 by manicatel
Pablo Honey & The Bends do it for me. The stuff after that leaves me cold.It just sounds like they have too much studio time to twiddle about with.
Sort of like post-Document REM.
Matt.
Posted on: 03 July 2007 by Diccus62
I agree with everyone.
Never got to see them, but crackin at Glasto the other year (TV wise that is). Are they still together or just meandering?
Diccus
