my name is mwd

Got a ticket (thanks to Neil) to go see Radiohead play at the Corn Exchangein Edinburgh on the 21st, ahead of their new album “Hail To The Thief” coming outon the 9th of June. Now one thing I hate is going to concerts before the album comes out, as I spend all my time trying to concentrate on the music rather than enjoying the show. Perhaps I’m losing on the surprise element, but there you go, that’s just me. So you can see the dilema, but as ever, the Internet has provided.

Hail To The Thief (appropriate title) has been floating around the net for a while, and thus far I’d not bothered, but now I have the ticket I wanted to hear it. If you don’t want to view spoilers, look away now :)

If you were waiting for Radiohead to move away from Kid A and Amnesiac territory (which I wasn’t, but I know a lot of people who were) then you’re going to be disappointed. It’s cast from the same mold, but is a lot more upbeat and positive (note it’s not actually upbeat and positive - this is Radiohead after all ;). There’s acoustic guitar in here (the first ten seconds of Go To Sleep sound like you’ve stumbled into a Sheryl Crow album :), fun electric guitar parts, and at the same time lots of electric sounds too. I guess it’s more rootsy than the last two albums (note there is a reason why I don’t work for the NME ;).

One think Hail To The Theif isn’t is another The Bends, OK Computer, or Kid A; it’s a top album, but it’s not startling new. It opens well, really well, but settles down quite quickly into routine. I feel a bit bad slagging it off for not being amazingly original; I think that’s Radiohead’s curse after OK Computer - produce one seminal album and the world wants you to do the same again and again. It is a very good album - go buy it when it comes out (I will, honest). I’m looking forward to that gig now :)

Top tracks: 2+2=5, Sit Down. Stand Up., Go To Sleep, There There (for the guitar work), and A Wolf At The Door.