Radiohead’s The King of Limbs and its mysterious track listing

By Brad on February 17, 2011

Monday 14 February. Valentine’s Day. Lovers around the world showing signs of affection and buying gifts. This was also the day that Radiohead chose to share their latest present with their milions of adoring fans.

Their long awaited eigth album – The King of Limbs – will be making it’s overdue appearance imminently. This Saturday, 19 February, to be precise. Like a bouquet of flowers secreeted away from prying eyes, Radiohead kept their Valentine’s Day gift well under wraps. News of it’s release was more of a shock than an unexpected wedding proposal. However, for this Radiohead fan in particular, a very welcome one.

I really admire the intrigue that Radiohead have managed to maintain. Even though we now know the album’s coming, the track listing remains a complete mystery. Will it contain an old favourite, in the vein of In Rainbows’ Nude? I’d love to see a studio version of Big Boots or Follow Me Around.

When In Rainbows came out, there weren’t many tracks that hadn’t made an appearance in some shape or form in earlier road testing gigs. The biggest surprise was the re-imagined Reckoner. Selfishly, I’m hoping for a number of songs that we haven’t heard before. But I’m not going to complain if songs that Thom’s tested on the road – like Give up the Ghost and Skirting on the Surface – make the cut.

Whatever we’re going to get on Saturday, I suspect Radiohead are going to keep the official track listing secret right until The King of Limbs is released. Whatever songs it does contain, I’m confident that we’ll be in for a treat.

I look forward to giving you my considered verdict at some point next week. Happy listening, Radiohead fans!

Update

Now the album’s out, the official track listing is available. Here it is:

01 Bloom
02 Morning Mr. Magpie
03 Little By Little
04 Feral
05 Lotus Flower
06 Codex
07 Give Up The Ghost
08 Separator

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Sometimes it’s worth giving acts a second chance

By Brad on January 25, 2011

I’m sure this is a regular occurence amongst music lovers. They listen to album, decide they don’t like it and resolve never to play it again. It’s happened to me a few times – after all, there’s no shortage of exciting new music to listen to – but today, prompted by one of my work colleagues, I decided to relent and give an act that didn’t impress first time round a second chance.

The act in question was John Grant. I’d had three separate recommendations: two from work colleagues and one from Radcliffe and Maconie.

On first listen, it wasn’t very good. The lyrics were a lacking a certain je ne sais quoi, and the music – provided by Midlake, another much-liked act of mine – wasn’t setting my world on fire.

However, on second listen today, it started to grow on me. I can’t put my finger on the reason why, but I just found it all the more engaging.

The moral of the story is that music often gets better with familiarity, and just because you don’t like something first time around, doesn’t mean it won’t be a grower.

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My dream festival lineup

By Brad on December 22, 2010

Last Friday, at a Christmas do for a company I used to work for, I was set a monumental challenge: to list my dream lineup for a medium-sized festival (smaller than Glastonbury, but bigger than an arena gig) that was to be watched by millions around the world.

There were only two rules (well, these are the two I can remember, bearing in mind it is Christmas and I may have imbibed a few alcoholic beverages..)

  1. there must be 6 bands. Not solo artists. Bands.
  2. the bands you pick can be from any era, and may contain members dead or alive.

This obviously sets the mark pretty high. Any band. Any era. Any lineup. It’s taken me some time to come up with my current list. Yes, current list – I’m not going to pretend this won’t change over time. But I think it’s a pretty good lineupfor now.

So, without further ado, here, in no particular order, are my picks.

Radiohead, Glastonbury 1997 era

Yes, it feels like a bit of a cop out to pick a band that’s still fully alive and kicking (and producing fabulous new records). However, Radiohead hold a special place in my heart, and I would have deeply loved to have seen them gracing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 1997. All of the OK Computer songs would have been fresh, new and invigorating live, and the instant classics like The Bends and (Nice Dream) would have been a joy to behold.

Jimi Hendrix Experience

I would deeply have loved to have seen the Jimi Hendrix Experience in their pomp. I would especially have liked to have seen them rip through All Along the Watchtower (probably the greatest cover ever recorded) and Voodoo Child. Alas, it’s never to be.

Manic Street Preachers, Holy Bible era

I’m a big fan of the Manics, and would love to have seen them around the release of the Holy Bible – preferably as a four piece, with Richey Edwards in attendance. I think the millions of people watching my festival would be suitably impressed. If not, they could always look forward to…

Electric Light Orchestra

A big influence on the Manics,  ELO would definitely feature on my lineup. While I’ve seen the Part 2 incarnation, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing them fronted by Jeff Lynne. I’m sure they’d put on a great show in the dark, but I think they’d have to settle for a sunset slot in my lineup. There are too many other contenders for the top slot. Imagine Mr. Blue Sky at the start of the set in the dying embers of a glorious sun-drenched day… (OK, I appreciate it’d be more appropriate at the start of a bright new day, but that doesn’t fit in a festival setting, or allow the legendry ELO lightshow a chance to shine!)

Travelling Wilburys

The original super group, made up of Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne (so good he gets to feature twice in BradFest), Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and George Harrison. While their time together wasn’t prolific - they only released two albums – their status as musical superstars, and the sheer quality of their output would have made them number one contenders for a second-on-the-bill slot.

The Beatles

There’s only one choice to headline my fictional festival lineup. The Beatles. Musical pioneers, and inspiration to millions, seeing them perform their songs in their pomp would have been legendary. They would command attention from the audience and, frankly, could play a setlist full of Yellow Submarine and Revolution 9 and still have the audience eating out of the palm of their hands!

So, bearing in mind the rules, who would make up your dream festival lineup?

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Discovering music is written by someone you didn’t expect

By Brad on November 22, 2010

I had an interesting revelation not too long ago. Needing to concentrate at work, I put on my headphones. Deciding I needed something different to listen to from my usual day time fayre - that usually being 6 Music or random tunes on Spotify – I put on a spot of Dvořák.

Yes, you read that right. Dvořák.

Imagine my surprise when I heard the Hovis music strike up during the New World Symphony, as heard in the famous advert. Another factoid I’ve just uncovered – this was directed by Ridley Scott. I assume that’s him of the Alien and Gladiator directorial fame.

This is just one example of a piece of music being composed by someone you didn’t expect. Which songs have you learnt were written by someone you weren’t anticpating?

Incidently I’ve been on a Dvořák spree of late, lapping up the 5th to 9th Symphonies in recent weeks. Stirring stuff, and highly recommended for when you need to concentrate at work! All thanks to my colleague Ben, who prompted me to get better acquainted with Dvořák’s wonderful work.

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I Am Kloot not winning the Mercury Music Prize

By Brad on September 7, 2010

A timely moment in music, this one.

Sadly, the mighty I Am Kloot didn’t win the Mercury Music Prize this year. Their magnificent latest album, Sky at Night would have been a very worthy winner. It’s full of heartfelt, descriptive songs that are drenched with emotion, from despair to optimism.

At least the Mercury Music Prize will have given their profile a welcome boost. If you haven’t already heard it, do check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

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Arcade Fire gigs on the horizon

By Brad on August 24, 2010

Oh, happy days. I’ve got an Arcade Fire gig on the horizon.

Hot off the heels of releasing their excellent new album, The Suburbs, Arcade Fire announced some UK gigs in November/ December.

I’ve been lucky enough to snaffle tickets for one of their O2 shows, and I’m thoroughly looking forward to seeing them again already.

This will be their largest dedicated gig in the UK. I’ve seen them at Alexandra Palace before, and Glastonbury, but their massive songs will be a perfect match for the cavernous O2 Arena.

Roll on December! In the meantime, I’ll have to write a review of their album. That’ll be having to listen to it again a few times. Oh the hardship.

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The unexpected cover – Magic Numbers doing Cowgirl in the Sand

By Brad on July 22, 2010

Tonight, listening to a few songs, I was reminded of the unexpected pleasure that was the Magic Numbers bursting into a glorious cover of Neil Young’s Cowgirl in the Sand when I saw them recently at Tapestry Goes West at Shenley Park.

There’s been a few times recently, including this one, where I’ve been impressed by unexpected covers – Muse doing Where the Streets Have No Name with The Edge at Glastonbury the most memorable other example. The Magic Numbers’ in particular though was brilliant. It was faithful to the original, but still drenched in a whole heap of Magic Numbers greatness.

It made a top set all the more fantastic.

There are loads of famous covers by established artists –  Thom Yorke often offers excellent Neil Young song renditions - and I’ve just found this excellent version of Tell Me Why, tagged on to the end of Radiohead’s own Faust Arp.

I do love getting to see covers at gig. They’re regularly top moments in music.

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Glastonbury 2010: Avett Brothers – my undiscovered gem

By Brad on July 17, 2010

Each Glastonbury I go to, I try and see at least one band that I’ve not heard of before. This year, that honour fell to the Avett Brothers.

Avett Brothers on the Avalon stage at Glastonbury 2010

Avett Brothers on the Avalon stage at Glastonbury 2010

I’d already eyed them up in the programme after they were described as a “folk rolk band from North Carolina who combine bluegrass, punk and pop, and have become hugely popular and critically acclaimed in the US.” How hadn’t I heard of them? This wasn’t the only recommendation I’d get to go and see them as Greg, a friend of Sunit who I went to Glastonbury with, also gave them a glowing recommendation. It had to be done.

I made by way to the Avalon field after catching half of Ellen and Escapades’ underwhelming set in the Acoustic field. I managed the catch the end of the Wurzels – the MC announced I’d missed a “proper Glastonbury moment”. The Avett Brothers had a tough act to follow.

They didn’t disappoint.

In the hour-ish set that followed, the decent sized crowd were treated to a cracking set of up tempo folksy numbers. The band were very polished. I thought the cellist – who I gather is only part of the ranks when they take to touring – was particularly good.

Two stand out tracks for me were ‘I and Love and You‘, from their recent album of which this is the title track, and ‘Murder in the City’, from Second Gleam, which nearly had me in tears.

I wish I was more familiar with the rest of the material so I could remember what some of the other outstanding tunes were – but at least I’ve got a great excuse (as if I needed one!) to check out the back catalogue and enjoy the songs all over again.

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Glastonbury 2010: Muse magnificent on Pyramid Stage

By Brad on July 14, 2010

Long time no speak, loyal reader! I’ve been a tad busy at work since my return to the real world after another fantastic Glastonbury – definitely my second favourite so far – so they’ll be a deluge of Glastonbury-related posts to come in coming weeks.

I’ll kick off my recollections of this year’s monumental Glastonbury by mentioning Muse. This was their second stint on the Pyramid Stage following their debut headlining set in 2004.
Muse on the Pyramid Stage

Muse on the Pyramid Stage

Now, I’m going to be honest: I think they were better first time around. But that doesn’t mean this was a rubbish performance. Far from it in fact – they had the crowd in the palm of their hands for most of their set. However, I think they played two too many album tracks off their recent albums, sacrificing popular hits on albums gone by such as Bliss and Butterflies and Hurricanes in favour of unspectacular tracks like Guiding Light.

Despite one or two filler songs, Muse’s set will stay with me for two main reasons. Firstly, for their cover of Where the Streets Have No Name, during which The Edge of U2 fame played on in his signature style. And secondly, for the memory of one of the chaps near me – an Aussie, named Stuart, making two or three kids lives by hoisting them up on his shoulders so they could see the gig. They were all massive Muse fans, and that moment will no doubt live with them forever.

That’s one of the joyous powers of music. It can soundtrack memories for lifetimes.

Update: a larger version of my photo of Muse on the Pyramid Stage can be found on my Flickr stream

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The joy of discovering a band’s back catalogue

By Brad on June 14, 2010

This week’s moment in music is one that recurs for me quite often. Whether it’s REM, The National, U2 or Radiohead, going back and discovering a band’s back catalogue when you’re late on the bandwagon can be very rewarding.

Take the National for example. Contrary to seemingly popular opinion, their breakthrough album Alligator was actually their third.

I’m currently listening to their eponymous debut album, and while it’s certainly a very different proposition to their later work, on first (and partial) listen, it certainly holds it’s own! Matt Berninger’s authoritative baritone is still there, but their music is far more relaxed.

I’m always discovering new bands well into their career. Another recent example is Teenage Fanclub – I’d always avoided them as their names sounds a lot like a heavy-metal tribute act, however, imagine my surprise on finding out Baby Lee – a very catchy little number – was actually from their tenth studio album, Shadows.

Whose back catalogue have you gone back to enjoy?

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