And it's not even so much about the music, but the culmination of months or years of rumors and predictions, guesses and bets, hopes and dreams; fans parse every website change, or partial interview or small bit of media coverage that trickles from the camp of Thom Yorke & company.
So when new music finally arrives, it's like the Zelda Triforce, the Holy Grail, and a hand job all at once. It's everything that means anything because we've told ourselves that this is the band, the only band, that can "CHANGE MUSIC", and this next album is sure to do it again.
Wow, that's a lot to live up to.
But what's lost in all this wishing and prognosticating, and revolutionizing and reinventing is the actual music.
What was the music like? Was it any good? Did you even listen to it, other than to say it was great?
Ok yes, you're right - a lot of times it is that good. In Rainbows, the UK bands last release in 2007, was a success on every level. As commentary on the value our culture places on music, as marketing masterplan, internet savvy; as art, product, and yes as music too. And you can make a great argument for OK Computer, or The Bends, or Kid A or whatever Radiohead album is your favorite as equally influential.
So when the band announced on February 14th, relatively unexpectedly, that a new album would be available for download in just 5 short days, the music heads turned, re-fixing their gaze immediately and in unison.
"Bloom" opens The King of Limbs with a truncated drum machine march, Yorke's voice echoing "Open your mouth wide", while virtually everything floats around and off into space. Dense rhythms continue through "Morning Mr. Magpie" bringing in the first guitar sounds as additional rhythm making machines - even Yorke's quick gasps for breath happening in time with the beat. "Little by Little" teases and flirts with sound reminiscent of OK Computer, trailing off into the surging cacophony of voices in the instrumental "Feral".
"Lotus Flower" opens up what seems like a Side 2 with a markedly different feel, a leering bass line trolling past an incessant rapping, like banging on a front door in the middle of the night, a background handclap vacant and asynchronous, with the falsetto of Yorke sliding in and around the "empty space inside my heart". "Codex" is a piano ballad as only Radiohead can deliver, like eyes stretched across still water. Fleet Foxes would make good use of covering "Give Up the Ghost"; the acoustic guitar, nature sounds, and harmonies soaring right into their wheelhouse.
"Separator" closes, or maybe just divides, The King of Limbs, and it successor yet to come. Both the songs name and the line "If you think this is over then you're wrong" leads many to believe that the relatively short (8 song) Limbs will have a close followed companion album.
Maybe so, and here begins another round of speculation - already started before the current album is even over.
The King of Limbs does not seem to have changed music. The music listening public has turned their listening ear back to the flavor of the hour, embracing new Radiohead, but still able to find other kings to anoint as the next supreme ruler.
So maybe its ok for Radiohead to just be a band. Usually a great band, but sometimes, as on Limbs, just a really good one.
(Not the official video.)
