Mine is downloading right now! aaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!

So is mine!!! This is bliss!!

BTW – I haven’t got an email yet to say download. I just went to Order Tracking and it had a DOWNLOAD button appear. It’s only 86 MB zipped. Doesn’t sound big for 320 bit???

Holy mother of god its downloading, though it keeps getting slower…

taking so looonng

Bloom is so fucking good! I know how i’m spending today haha

how did you get it? i have had no email, and when i go to order tracking it says i have no orders?

If you have no email and you have no orders I suggest you either:

1. Haven’t bought it
2. Contact Sandbag

How long is the album?

@a noob – try downloading winRAR

http://www.rarlab.com/

Seperator has to be the strangest Radiohead closer I’ve heard.

Separator has to be the strangest Radiohead closer I’ve heard.

and its what I hoped for

‘KID A’ vs ‘The Eraser’ with a little bit ‘In Rainbows’ on top

its sexy !!!

Córdoba, Spain está escuchándolo!!!

It is really influenced by Flying Lotus… i mean with this soundtextures (thom mentioned that in the interview with flying lotus) …. and Codex and Give up the Ghost are hauting, wounderfull, amazing!!!! this album is a real experience!!!

Brilliant!! 2nd listen right now. The album is soft, beautiful is the right word.

Already downloaded it. But I can’t listen to it right now, as I’m @ work… F*ck
I’m gonna quit my job…

By the way, to those who already listened to it, what about Magpie?? I always wanted to have a studio version of this song. Is it good?

its really jarring the first listen, i was so amped to be blown away, and really this is just a awakening of an album, like waking up early for no reason on a sunny dew filled morning. i cant explain it well enough, but it has a softness to it, less bitter and more loving some how, i’m happy with this album, but i have no idea why

A beautiful morning. Haven’t just laid back & listened to a full album in ages.

‘Feral’ and ‘Codex’ are my respective electro and organic faves.
‘Separator’ starts up almost sounding like ‘…twisted words’.
The guitar tone & movement in ‘Little by Little’ at times reminds me of parts of ‘i might be wrong.’

Seems quite symphonic at times, and at other times lots of open space…both of which lead to a similar ‘Kid A’ remark of “What are the other guys doing?”…a lot seems like Thom, Colin (awesome bass sounds), and Phil/drum machine…Ed & Jonny–at least in any traditional sense–don’t seem to feature too heavily, not at least that can be immediately heard.
This all makes for excitement as to how these songs will be performed by the full band in live context, where presumably they won’t be touring with a bunch of horn players.

Again, a beautiful morning has bloomed.

Onto second listen… the first part of the album will get better and better with time, onwards from LotusFlower is amazing. Separator is a mixture of all they’ve done before, lets hope it’s named that for a reason!!.. Part two coming soon!?

@declan – Huh?! Maybe you downloaded the wrong album…

It’s breathtaking. Such powerful, subtle soundcapes. People who don’t appreciate music like this should go buy a Bieber record instead.
Too short though. Hope the boxset features more where this came from.

Give Up the Ghost really turned into a stunner…
So beautiful…

It would be neat/interesting if the vinyl in the ‘newspaper’ release had different songs on it. A push for folks to buy record players again.
Just making excuses/specs towards a relatively short album (not complaining though)…I’ll suspect there are more recordings where this came from that will make itself known at some point.

Listening my second time. Nigel Godrich does love his reverb.

-john- I’m getting the vinyl just bc it’s on 10″. how cool is that?

Nothing short of brilliant. It holds together pretty well and has a strange feel very similar to Kid A.

As far as the length of the album goes, I’m feeling this is just a first in a series of shorter albums they plan to release before they begin to tour again. I know they still have some unreleased stuff stashed somewhere.

I’ll be indulging on The King Of Limbs for now.

Kansas City is listening now

Indonesia is listening right now

love it love it love it!

don’t care about guitars. care about forward music.

The mp3s are a bit bollocksy quality wise. Wish I’d gone for the wav now.

Not so sure of the comparisons between this and kid a..Behind kid a’s abstract sounds were awesome melodies. Not so sure with this record. But I’m sure it will grow on me

This is so far rocking my ears. Yes it sort of resembles The Eraser/Kid A/ In Rainbows, but this is original in it’s own respects. Lyrically overall more positive and light when put up against Eraser or Kid A and it kind of flows with the mood of In Rainbows. After the first run through the thing that jumps out at me most is Colin’s amazing amazing bass work. TKOL already has my favorite bass lines from any Radiohead album. Yeah! I have no background in music training but even I can tell that the time signatures and drum patterns are way funky, which I personally love, there for sure is a flying lotus influence as someone mentioned before, but not being the biggest flylo fan, I would say he can take a few notes on getting it right . Sorry for rambling just a very excited fan! with all this praise though, I must say it’s only my first listen, and parts of the album feel a little rough and patchy (maybe purposely) Codex and GUTG are by far the favorites for me at the moment, and the biggest compliant…TOO SHORT! .

my friend is Lotus’s manager and Thom is a fan, I’m just happy they are staying current. I really don’t give shit about guitars. make forward future music!

Just listened to it for the third time, and I am near crying. This is formidable, waaaay better than In Rainbows.

that build up in Morning Mr Magpie? so subtle but insane… the production is subtle but really complicated.

Anyways,,,
Morning Mr Magpie owes something to Masoko Tanga by The Police…
Best sound? Little bye little… very Optimistic-like, but beyond.
But, great album, nothing to say except, great album…

Great album, my favourite tracks so far are Lotus Flower and Codex. I think I prefer how the live version of LF sounded though. Sounds like there is a massive Four Tet and Flying Lotus influence on a few of the tracks. Well Done guys!

Seperator has been played live by Thom as well – I think it was tentatively called Mouse, Bird, Dog

I’m a bit stunned…. Not exactly what I wanted…. but I will keep listening.

It’s definitely a flying lotus inspired electronic-jazz album. I’m only part way through it so I cant get too ahead of myself. The one thing I really come away with though is how peaceful they sound. I get the eraser II complaints, but let’s be happy we have an album.

desde colombia, feliz!

This further proves that In Rainbows had the shortest life of any Radiohead album. This is sooo much better, while In Rainbows teased with the idea of fully re-amping my love for them, this brings it home.

Burbank, CA is tuned in and waiting for 625 pieces of smally art

oh and what’s that umpa lumpa chant in feral LOVE IT!!!!!

What a dance-what a Song
AMAZING

It’s Radiohead’s stoner album – In Rainbows was chilled but this also has a slightly psychadelic feel on some tracks. It’s even separated into eighths!

4th listen now… I’m seeing the light!! ahahah!!!
Jokes aside, every radiohead album is shit at 1st listen, the second one is good, 3rd and 4th is masterwork. This is a very intense record. Keep loving Little by little… GORGEOUS SOUND NIGEL and GORGEOUS PATTERNS GUYS…

Give Up The Ghost moved me to tears. Did not expect that.

It reminds me of Kid A, in that it’s completely different from its predecessor.

You done good, kids.

I have never ever been able to judge a Radiohead album after the first listening.

Hagen, Germany, switched on

Morning Mr. Magpie is so fucking good.

Serbia is listening…and liking it a lot.

codex is so stunning

meh…i’ll have to say i’m disappointed. i hope i change my mind but on first listen, these songs aren’t even as good as in rainbows disc 2.

What ever happened to the not repeating themselves?

I love it

Subwoofer is getting a workout… The King of Limbs is an upbeat dance/rave record similar to the faster songs on Kid A. These songs will be awesome in concert! This is my favorite album since Kid A. Warning: not a rock album though if that’s what you were hoping for…

Feral isn’t new either…

Seperator WOW – AMAZING TRACK. can’t wait to hear it live.

this production is amazing

like a film soundtrack

It sounds like a compromise between what most people seemed to want. Part Amnesiac b-sides, part In Rainbows.

Except with production that makes those two things look amateur in comparison, hah.

Korea is listening to The King of Limbs and loving every single second and microsecond of it. <33 Radiohead

Bloomin’ ‘ell

love it. Seperator background groove sounds like “meeting in the aisle” sample Overall, very impressed with the album.

three years since last album and all we get is 8 tracks, some of which are old songs, it’s nice stuff, but feel so let down, are radiohead getting lazy?

Forest Park , Chicago, IL tuned in, reading, but must wait until I leave work. I ordered Boxset/WAV can someone tell me if I should have received an email concerning download?? procedure/expectation. Thanks and enjoy your morning/day of celebration…

I must say that I am upset a few songs are not on it and I def. need to listen to this a lot more before having a truly fair opinion. But this better be a first part and I am even hoping that we get the second half saturday or soon. There is no way they used that much studio time in europe and LA for an 8 song outcome. It has to be a part one which would better explain the same mood through the whole album, the second act would be slightly different in emotion. And I am sure I will get bashed for saying this but I was hoping for a more organic sounding version of Magpie but again with Radiohead you need a full day to digest.

IS THERE REALLY A SECOND INSTALLMENT OUT TOMORROW????

Ah Birdsong Jonny you and your Messiaen.

Mixed feelings. I’m really looking forward to hearing these songs live – the record is a little too overproduced/electro for my taste. I thought Radiohead has always done a wonderful job balancing the electronic stuff with the raw acoustic stuff, but I think they let Thom noodle on his laptop a little too much on this one. A bit less Radiohead and more “Eraser” than I would have hoped for.

THAT BEING SAID, great music. Awesome to hear a studio version of Mr Magpie, Lotus Flower rocks (but we already knew that), love Give Up The Ghost, still sorting out the others… Have to say I miss “Walk Down the Staircase” – feel like it would have fit perfectly, perhaps as a closer. Not like there wasn’t time for a track or two…

Oh well. Feel like I’m complaining too much. Still extremely grateful for a new Rh album. Yay!

I’ll try again on importing, but it’s just not working, (first time this has ever happened) I hope it’s not b/c I bought the WAV version instead of the MP3, that would be stupid.

Feral, Codex and Separator are wonderful tracks. I’m not too fond of the first few songs yet, but, as always, this is likely to evolve during the second and third listen-throughs.

Just a bit sad they did not include The Present Tense. A ‘second half’ would be one hell of a great idea. Still, I’m quite impressed so far.

hey Aron, did you get the WAV version? This is kinda starting to piss me off.

I think one play doesn’t work for a review…but it is melodic, accessible, holds together as a complete piece, would play perfectly on the back of In Rainbows and the biggest clue is that I am going to put the headset back on and listen again.

How do we pull the video of Lotus Flower for enjoyment

Salutations from Detroit

Australia is on board and loving it after first listen. as always expect the love to grow with each listen. My boyz have done it again and as if anyone thought they wouldnt

Sounds like Eraser II. Maybe a little too much electronica. Lotus Flower is beautiful though. (Even though I think Magpie…sucks.)

LittleByLittle is the current standout.

Here’s our review That quick? Of course

http://is.gd/b33yhD

Just about to take the first listen! Cheers to the best bend in the world, greetings from Serbia!

I think they’re going to release more music tomorrow…

It’s like a whole album of Amnesiac B-sides. It also sounds like the album Thom’s been aching to do since 2000 but the other kids wouldn’t let him. It also sounds like The Erasor on crack.

So in other words: SUBLIME

it’s too soon to say anything. but lotus flower sounds (and looks) very interesting.
Romania is listening

Codex is by a million miles the best song.

After my first listen of the album in whole my thoughts:

Loved what they did with all the previously heard songs.
Give Up the Ghost is my fav but i knew it would be.
Wish “Supper Collider” and “Skirting on the Surface” were included. The unheard new songs are pretty good but will require more listens till they seep into my brain.
Too short though! Cmon Radiohead! Give us more than 38 minutes of music!!!

Also, i agree with Emperor MAR above in that the whole band doesn’t seem to be present for most of this album. This felt very much like a sophomore Thom Yorke album than an 8th Radiohead album. Not that i hated the Eraser, i loved it. But The Eraser and Radiohead were different animals. They went a little crazy with the loops and such. Still great though, i love that kind of music.

NYC is listening!

The comments of this being Eraser 2 remind me a lot of the descriptions of HTTT as OKC2.

From some perspective it was, it was that return to rock-y sound, but infused with Kid A/Amnesiac’s electronic influence.

To me, this very much sounds like the basic sound of the Eraser, but infused with all that warmth and soul that was there on IR.

Not sure why everyone is jumping on the 2nd disk bandwagon. Yes this album is short, but I’d rather have that then force extra tracks on here that don’t belong.

Will there potentially be some b-side material from the recording sessions, yes. But all this discussion of a double album seem like it’s completely just wishful thinking. No idea why everyone is so on board with the concept.

I’m sure RH would appreciate people saying ‘omg there has to be more music than this’ within hours of it coming out

OHHHHH BOYYYYY HIDE ALL YOUR CUTLERY…

Having dug out my headphones and listened to this another 4 times I think I’m actually starting to really like this album. Only 8 tracks but they hang together very well- might even be their most cohesive record since Kid A. Funnily enough this makes Kid A look populist in comparison cos there really arent any songs here, but there is a really dark, wierd mood enveloping the whole thing and that’s what carries you through the album.

Happy to say my early disappointment is slowly being replaced with a feeling that they might just have done it again after all.

Second time thru and its fucking great. Was a little suprised by the lack of guitars but on this album not necessary. The last 3 songs are exceptional. Great grouping and I love the little ‘Like spinning plates’ mixture at the end of Ghost into Separator. Def worth the wait. Just hope the box set has more.

Everyone got the idea of this not being over because of Thom Yorke singing “If you think this is over then you’re wrong.”

im definitely hearing some broadcast-esque sounds….which is great because it influenced kid a. definitely a lot of flying lotus. its fucking fantastic. so amazing to hear the songs as just thom on an acoustic and to see what the band does to push the walls around the melodies. im kinda disappointed present tense isnt on here……that song definitely gave me goose bumps when i heard it. i really hope they do release smaller albums more frequently.

no animus but i have to say, too, on a few listens and reading the whole string — a lot of folks might still hung up on the bends, imo. that band has gone, left for new ground. and does anyone really want them to U2 up a “we’re back to our old tricks” album? if so, i gently hope you’ll be waiting a long time. because this is the real deal, why i wait.

strong throughout and the second half/closing sequence is the best since kid a, imo. whole thing rewards close attention like a sunny autumn day. entrancing.

and forget another release. let this breathe. it’s just too fucking good not to be “it”.

Damn….Morning Mr Magpie is mezmerizing….wish i had a joint

I AM NOT GOING TO SAY A WORD ABOUT IT OR ANALYZE THE ALBUM . I JUST WANT TO SAY [ AND FOR DIFFERENT REASONS OF QUALITY, ELECTRONICS AND CREATIVITY ] :

RADIOHEAD . I FUCKING LOVE U . YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE FOR ANY [ CLOSE TO ] MAINSTREAM BAND . YOU REALLY ARE .

PANTRUS.

not all of these tracks are worthy of their usual quality control. feral is a good track, a good bside, but not LP material.

codex is the only one that makes you stop and think it would be worthy in a set with their other classics.

otherwise, sounds like they just got together and made some songs. im shocked if this was what 3 years of careful deliberation produced.

thom is everywhere, but where are the fingerprints of the rest of the band?

Dubai listening!

Very very good. Love all the tracks. Better than Amnesiac. On third listen, I think better than In Rainbows – I think could be up there with Kid A. Perfect timing, mix and ambience. I understand where The Eraser references come from, but much, much better than that album in my opinion……Welcome to RDHD2011.

Rgds, Tim

so after all that, i need to know, what do the idiots who created all these fake tracklists get for their efforts? Is it funny? No. Why even bother? Are these people sitting home, laughing like “omg! they think that’s the real tracklist. that is so funny, because its not– but they think it is! Ha! won’t their faces be red when they find out that the tracklist i posted is made up and that those aren’t the real song titles. Ohhh, i can’t wait. Everyone will look so stupid because i said these were the song titles– but they aren’t! Ha! Genius!”

bunch of idiots.

Nice to see the usual ludicrous hype surrounding Radiohead is as healthy as ever. I can’t believe anyone who’s listened to more than 2 or 3 records in their life could
possibly make an argument for TKOL being anything other
than a bottom-drawer electronica album.

To even begin comparing this damp squib of a record to Flying Lotus is an insult to the man. This is electronic music for people who don’t like electronic music.

It’s painfully obvious that Radiohead have reached the point where each member is ready to go their own way. Jonny has his soundtracks, Phil obviously spent the time writing more songs for his next solo record, Ed was dreaming of his next holiday to Oz. Meanwhile Thom & Nigel spent
the last two years alone in the studio working on the follow-up to The Eraser, which they obviously decided would sell better if it had ‘Radiohead’ plastered on it.

Is it appalling? Absolutely not. It’s simply the very definition of ‘Competent’.

I actually forgot all about Colin just there. He probably divided his time between visiting the local library & nipping down to Homebase to buy some plugs for Thom’s laptop.

A little birdy told me that there is a second disc coming…i know two of the bands audio engineers and they were working on completely different tracks when I visited last june. I just expected them to be on this disc…they aren’t

Two discs of 8 tracks is perfect.

oh also –
Comox Valley, Vancouver island, British columbia, canada is listening. for the 6th time i believe hahaha!

It’s beautiful…All and more of what I expected!

Torrington, WY is listening right now! HAHA.

@RasChris

That techno crap, made the greatest album of the past two decades.

@Dave

You definitely make a good point. Why are the other members featured so little on here, and what will they even be doing when they’re playing this song live? Hanging out in the back drinking some tea?

@Dave and other “wise men” – how the hell do you knows who does what on this album? Were you with the guys in the studio when they recorded this? No. So please stop this bs. And may I remind you that a lot of people had similar concerns when Kid A came out, saying that Phil or Ed will have nothing to do when they play this live. We all know how wrong they were…

It’s interesting to see so many fans’ premature reactions to this album, based solely on their out-of-control anticipation (and comfort zones). I’ve listened to the album once through and I’m excited by what I feel it promises but to either express disappointment or tout it as an instant masterpiece would suggest that Radiohead album’s are immediately accessible. Personally, the challenge that Radiohead albums present upon first listen are what I find so exciting about them.

For anyone more interested in Bends-era Radiohead and/or not looking for a challenge, http://muse.mu/

What are people complaining about???? We have been waiting forever for something new from them….and its always quite a shock when you hear what they actually put out. But its always freakin brilliant. Just chill and enjoy…it may be another 3 years till we get something else.

Listening in Berkeley, CA and loving it!

Definitely chiller than past albums, reminds me of eraser as well. I would describe it as ‘beautiful’ – the sonicscape and textures layered to perfection.

I hope they do come out with a 2nd half, but not waiting for it. Hoping for tour!

To the people whining…..No one controls their art. They make whatever the hell they want. If it was the same/too similar to a previous release, you’d be bitching too. Quit complaining.

___lifetime radiohead fan tired of people crying because TKOL isn’t what they expected

Did anyone get an actual email saying the music was available for download? I didn’t. I

@Hell-Punk

Yes I agree. I hear no presence of any of the band members on these tracks. I don’t want to create the impression that I’m one of these dullards who always wants guitars. My favourite Radiohead album is Kid A. I just want something worthy of my time. This selection of tracks is simply in-one-ear, out-the-other.

Take ‘Feral’ for instance. Is that title supposed to be ironic? Because it’s about as Feral-sounding as a Sunday afternoon in Pets At Home.

‘Give Up The Ghost’ & ‘Codex’ are pleasant, but hardly earth-shattering. ‘Separator’ continues Thom’s penchant for recasting perfectly good songs in bland, unchallenging Laptop-fare.

Save for Thom’s voice, I absolutely cannot hear any difference bewteen this music and the usual uninspired electronica that litters MySpace.

I’ve just watched the Lotus Flower video on Youtube and can’t believe that either. This band made some of the greatest music videos we’ve ever seen and the best they can come up with nowadays is Thom poncing about a warehouse in a stupid hat? Jesus Christ!

I was reserving judgement until I heard the tracks, but the moment I saw Stanley’s artwork I was hoping that the statement he made a few years ago would be proved wrong. When he was asked “If Radiohead became shit, would you stop working with them?” he replied, “Not only wouldn’t I stop working with them, I’d become shit in solidarity.”

I guess we’re seeing that solidarity now.

I’m pleased that we still have Jonny’s soundtracks, which I look forward to immensely. It’s plain to hear that he’s ceased interest in Radiohead but luckily his own music contains more inventiveness, beauty and SPIRIT in one second than the entire duration of this record. Roll-on Norwegian Wood!

Meanwhile, to all the drones queing up to call this a masterpiece: listen to some non-Radiohead music for a change. You’ll shit your pants at how much better it is.

3 listens in, I think it’s quite gorgeous and worth the time to really explore.

The King of Limbs

One more thing to think about. The last song is called “Separator.”

Part two is coming…

Okay, who thinks “These Are My Twisted Words” is better than the entire The King of Limbs album?

Beautiful album, absolutely beautiful. Codex has me reduced to tears

@Ace – I was thinking the same thing. Of course they could just be messing with us.

@ 01 and 10 – I agree that this album is more like Amnesia than any other. The end of Ghost and beginning of Separator have the same loops as in Spinning Plates And Little by Little has the same beat as in I might be wrong. Good stuff.

So, I’m not really one for the conspiracy theories and the “There’s a 2nd disc coming”, but it is interesting that “Separator” has the lyric, “If you think this is over then you’re wrong” (or something to that effect).

@Ace- Both Kid A and Amnesiac’s vinyl editions contain two 10” discs, usually having two or three songs per side. Based on that, it doesn’t seem to me like they’ll be releasing more music too soon.

I absolutely love this album. I don’t know why everyone expects more music or feel that something is missing.

It takes a few listens to grow maybe, but this album is beautiful.
Just listen to it without moaning on twitter about the lack of tunes or guitar. Listen to it with 100% of your concentration and I’m sure you’ll love it.

My first impression was very good – more interesting than In Rainbows and some really beautiful tracks in the latter half (Codex, GUTG). However after multiple listens the shine is wearing of a little. There seems to be less substance here than any record post Pablo. They are nice whispy tunes – gentle and pretty but weightless. Maybe this aspect will become a strength over time, but right now I’m on the fence with this one.

this is Norwich, england calling in

first listen – this feels like a transitional album; achingly beautiful and there are lots of subtle arrangements. lotus and codex are centrepieces, an axis of true quality; like the arrangements and each one hangs on thom twisting in with his ethereal vocals and I understand comments on Eraser, this is more subtle and promises more on repeated listens.

in summary Radiohead goes underground and puts in a delicate, subversive take on our fears and hopes – a humanitarian approach that delivers progression and promise – thank you

Not what I expected at all.
Which is really exactly what I’ve come to expect.
The artwork and the music have always been jarring at first, awkward or even unpleasant. They start to sink in, and make sense, after a few listens.
Several listens in to this one, and I think its fantastic.
Weird and beautiful, without being paranoid, anxious, cold or melancholy.

!Ahhhh! Where’s “The Present Tense” or “Wake me (before they come)”… [or "Follow Me Around"]? A 2nd album is a sure thing…

Just heard TKOL for the first time. I’m getting the same experience than with Kid A. A difficult album, but my favourite as of now.

So, I guess I just need more time to digest it.

How can a Radiohead fan not like this record?

Myself, the only track that I don’t like is “Little By Little,” – which some of have said sounds like a b-side, which I agree with.

Follow Me Around would have fit PERFECTLY on this record. But it’s ok. Maybe they will re-work it for a later release?

Speaking of which, I disagree with the idea that the band will release something else tomorrow. But I do agree with the idea that there may be another record within a year – like Kid A/Amnesiac.

Radiohead obviously have so many new songs in their pocket – like Present Tense, Daily Mail, Skirting on the Surface.. that it’s hard to believe that they weren’t working on thos songs hard in the studio all this time. I just think these 8 tracks fit the best together (again, like Kid A/Amnesiac), so the band split them up (Seperator?) and will release possibly another 8 tracks in future months. Perhaps that one is more band-oriented with more emphasis on instrumentation?

Well, I hope anyway. But I still like these 7 tracks (Little By Little is forgettable).

Jon, Electronica is fine as long as its melodic (see kraftwerk) this is nowhere near as melodic as Kid A/ Amnesiac

I never understood why Thom Yorke had enough of melody and said that rhythm was everything he was a great melodist one only needs to look at street spirit, fake plastic trees to see this.

The Present Tense was the best song from this new stuff that I’ve heard. It would be just plain bizarre to not include release it. An argument that it doesn’t fit the feel of this album is fine, but 8 songs in three years is mad. I’m convinced they’re sitting on more stuff.

Also, this might be the first Radiohead album where I like EVERY track. That hasn’t happened before.

Reminds me of the Amnesiac b-sides a bit and The Eraser. I want to like this album but am finding it hard. I know I need to give it time but I’ve listened 3 times now and I just find it boring to be honest. All of the tracks sound like experimental b-sides. But I’m going to keep listening and hope I at least start to enjoy a couple of the songs. Listening to this has made me realize how truly amazing In Raindows is.

Amazed at how many people have made their minds up already! music gets annoying if you listen to it on repeat all day. I like it a lot so far, but it took me a fair few listens of their other records to have any kind of opinion about how they fitted in with their other ones. I love the basslines so far…

about 8 hours ago, after a couple of listens, I felt really disappointed with this album. Put it on repeat though, with headphones, and the grooves really start to worm their way into your head. Ive gone from thinking it could possibly be their worst album to thinking its up there with their best.

I love the economy on this album- it’s their sound but stripped back to the elemental particles. Takes a while for it all to sink in and realise what an achievement this is…there’s a wierd suspense that runs the whole way through and makes it all hang together. The minimalist arrangements emphasise the tension and the melodies really well. Check out the strings at the end of Codex: you barely notice them at first, they come and go like a gentle breeze, but they are gorgeous. very close to perfection

The one thing with Radiohead is, like it or not, they demand that you listen and consider new boundaries. I love the speculation of another release of tracks tomorrow or even over time as the Limbs extend
I personally hear this as one integrated piece around Lotus and Codex. Music for grown ups ?

Everyone keeps mentioning Codex. I was on the Guardians website earlier and it was the same there.

I actually prefer the first side.

I’ve watched the released music video a number of times today and really like how it is somehow simultaneously silly and poignant. I’ll say right now that it’s their best ever music video.

maybe they are just being silly an releasing the b-sides album first?

then soon the will release the real record????

btw..i loved everyone of there albums since the bends from the very first listen. i’ve never not liked a radiohead record until this one.

Well, I would agree with Dave. I think there is a lot missing…like the rest of the band. There is something to the other albums that we are not getting here…like 4 other minds collaborating. This album sounds more like a hollowed out tree with no roots. (enough wooded cliches). The ends of songs just seem to come to an sudden end. This album seems totally disconnected and drops off. I wonder if there is strife within the band, or they are getting bored with one another and want to branch out and start other projects. A lot of people mention eraser, probably because this sounds like a solo effort. I would love to see some liner notes. Not really sure what’s on but it just doesn’t have the same anything that Radiohead has done AS A GROUP. How long did this album take?

wow. love this record, Codex is prob my fave .
I would bet there is another album on the way sometime soon , hence the last track called Separator has the lyrics
“if you think this is over you’re wrong”
Aw it’s pretty obvious

@ Cut the limbs

It’s like Kid A: deconstructing what a band is supposed to be. The live arrangements will be different.

Why is it cold “a first newspaper album”? Maybe they will release something new every weak or month… like it is a weakly newspaper?

I thought it was don’t hold me?

A might be wrong though.

I thought it was
Don’t haunt me,
Don’t hurt me

@ Peter

Not sure. ‘cos it’s made on a newspaper printing press?

I guess people will know for sure when they get it.

From Barcelona catching up on it… I’m feeling a little bit like when I first listened to Kid A, a bit lost, although now bliss has replaced anxiety. Who said RH were a bunch of sad songs for unhappy people? It’s magic how I’ve been feeling this week, like a kid on Christmas eve, waiting for Santa to come… Next dats are gonna be magic as well, delicious,… I just can’t wait for tour dates to be announced. Bringing theses songs to direct show will be another magic thing. Music is not a pleasure, but a need.

Conspirousy Theory

I went back to the site, checked the help section and got an answer “order reference…….has not yet been shipped”

Alright, put me on the grassy knoll but I am really starting to think that there is more to come

@ aeuiaea Is Trout Mask Replica far enough from the mainstream for you ?

I own Trout Mask Replica, although it’s a slog to listen to the whole thing! Sorry if my post sounded judgemental, I’m a bit drunk.

rushed home, had no problems downloading wav files. floated in a hashy cloud briefly. i have new “wooded” scene press photo as screensaver. Chicago’s weather today is unseasonably warm (52 deg) which is a welcome thaw from 4 foot blizzard of snow 2 weeks ago. Late afternoon sun danced through window onto both laptop and my face from a convenient angle. peering out the window, I have to look through bare tree limbs exactly like the ones in the press photo. 10 or 12 minutes into initial listen it was like organic xanax. this is the most lush, percussive album they have done. Thom seems to be savoring the overwhelming beauty of nature here instead of harboring angst/foreboding about its current destruction. So clean but with a responsibly splashy reverb throughout. I am so happy with it and do not want to quickly listen to it again- I want to simply savor what has been a monumentally memorable first listen. Even the cold/flu i suffered all week long let up this morning and i can breathe/smell/taste-and this is what this album reminds me of: breathing, smelling roses, letting go- in a wondrous and healthy way. Circumstances conspired in my favor, and that’s not to common for me. For those disappointed here, I am truly having a hard time understanding how/why. This is much the opposite of my Kid A experience, in which I never quite heard anything like that; it (kid a) wasn’t accessible to my immature, underdeveloped ears. It took time to recognize the imperial and profound tones. TKOL is instantly “accessible” to me and I’m unsure whether that is due to the construction/zeitgeist of the band or the maturity and development of my personal respect for art/creativity/experience. Quite life-affirming music can be. cheers RH. Thanks again.

I had to Wikipedia that. I don’t know The Beach Boys, obvious well known songs aside.

New R.E.M. in a few weeks, and a master class in how to build a 12 track album I reckon..

This album sounds like Johnny and Ed were at the pub during most of the sessions.

Regardless it still sounds really awesome. It starts off a bit shaky in the first two tracks, but gets way better after that. “Little by Little” is great. All four tracks on the second side are amazing.

“I think I have had my fill, in your arms.”

I think that’s why I was thinking the lyric mentioned before was “Don’t hold me.”

All of this wishful thinking about a new album coming out tomorrow(?!!), you all sound like preteen girls going to a Justin Bieber concert and hoping to get pulled up on stage for a serenade.
I’ve noticed a lot of posts about how the album sounds a certain way because not everyone in the group had input or was involved. How about Kid A and Amnesiac? Lots of songs without much guitar there but no one cries about how Thom must have taken over the band.
I knew that Radiohead fans are passionate but after reading so many whiney posts a lot of you seem to be like spoiled children.

@ Bob

Ah, no worries. I just sing whatever I want any way.

@ faceyuck

Good for you!

Feral!!!!!!!

suture = future

Admittedly his vocals are buried in the mix more than on previous albums.

why has nobody mentioned ‘supercollider’ yet? stunning song, hope it gets a release, don’t mind if it’s thom solo or radiohead. just need to hear the studio version one day!

I was just thinking….39 euro for what is essentially just an 8 song album? Yea sure it comes with lots of artwork and the vinyl and all but still, bit of a fucking rip off. Im not sure i shouldve ordered it now…If we dont get more tunes im gonna be quite pissed off. From paying what you want to this is a bit….rich….to be frank

I do agree that it does sound like The Eraser but The Eraser did not sound as full and richly complex as this. I personally loved it since the first sound it came from the first track. It is a continuation of These Are My Twisted Words but less dark. It’s Thom with the band and that makes sense

There will obviously be more b-sides. As to what form they come in, I have no clue. Best album since Kid A in my opinion.

I’m gonna leave this site now. It was nice to chat to the people here. Take care. X

Yeah, I feel like I’m back in 2000 and while I surf on netscape trying to napster some Jeff Buckley stuff, I can’t help to check how people are reacting to Kid A, saying that Radiohead was done, that Thom Yorke has gone crazy and self-proclamatory, Colin died and Johnny let his hair grow so long that because of that he can’t play any instruments. But then we all watched the Kid become an elder and bold statement to the music universe… And now we all worship that Kid A…

The King of Limbs wants to distort us again like Kid A did, and we are following the hype of, not the release, but the hype of the urgency that we have to find flaws in the current radiohead art structure…

And where is Colin in this album? Is all of the place, tweaking, texturizing and layering track after track with tiny but sharp details, just wait till you see them live again.

So, The King of Limbs is another bold statement and a mezmerizing experience…

I feel like im back in 2004, 2002, 2000 and so forth, always the same reactions, i dont think this, i dont feel that, and at the end everybody melting for the beautiful sounds they didnt hear in the beginning
Im glad radiohead keep changing, while most of the people dont

Chicago in Radiohead BLISS. Thank you!

this has to be half or less than half of the album
look at all the songs he played live last year that aren’t included here:

Let me take control
open the floodgates
super collider
the present tense
I froze up
skirting on the surface
the daily mail
judge jury executioner
wake me before they come

that’s more songs than are included in this release
I’m sure they won’t be waiting another 3 or 4 years for release

The sounds have a fresh innovative breeze, amazing bass and

To the sycophants telling anyone criticising the LP to be quiet: you’re missing the point. Just blindly liking it because it’s Radiohead helps nobody. Assessing it and reacting to it for what it is is all you can do. I’ve loved Radiohead music for years but that doesn’t oblige me to enjoy TKOL.

I think the LP is totally overproduced and underwritten. Where is the soul? Where are the dynamics? Where is the humanity? Whereas on Kid A the electronica reached out and had a feeling, this doesn’t seem to. I don’t want OK Computer mark 2. In fact I don’t want anything in particular. It’s not that my expectations haven’t been met. I just can’t see the value in this (yet).

The album doesn’t add up. There’s no focal point. It’s like they didn’t know quite what to do but felt they had to do something, lost interest then ran out of steam and just released whatever was in the can. I suspect that’s why people are insisting there is a part two. You really think so? I’m kind of glad it’s only 37 minutes. Another half an hour of this would be a bore.

I think I need to come back to it in a few months.

There were things I understood about TKoL. But what I understood was not what I understood about Radiohead.

I became a fan of Radiohead after Kid A came out, so I didn’t experience the “knowing OK Computer” transition to Kid A. But, I understand the dramatic change that took place there.

I understood Kid A and Amnesiac. There was something discernibly Radiohead there: the dark, cryptic and disjointed beeps and bleeps; the haunting, frantic, yet sometimes calm sounds of guitars, pianos, and loops.

I understood Hail to the Thief. It tried to make sense of the dark and chaotic elements of Kid A/Amnesiac combined with something traditional and something new. HTTT was a rocky attempt to make sense of where they’ve been, where they are, and where they are going.

I understood In Rainbows even more. Unlike HTTT, it successfully synthesized the dark disjointedness of Kid A/Amnesiac with their raw, rocker era talents. They finally came to a conclusion with the mess that Kid A created for them.

Then this…what is this?!?! I couldn’t make sense of TKoL. At first listen, I accepted it as something new…okay, I’ll give it a couple of listens. After the next couple listens though, it made less sense. It pissed me off, then I hated it. But I couldn’t hate it, I like some it, but not because it was Radiohead–the fact it doesn’t sound like Radiohead, I concluded it was boring. Yep, boring. It doesn’t make sense. It is unfamiliar to me–it doesn’t have Kid A inside it, it doesn’t build off of In Rainbows. So: boring.

But it really didn’t bore me. I can’t just dismiss it as “boring.”

This album has been compared to Kid A. But that’s just because (1) it’s different, and (2) it has more computers, bleeps and beeps. But it isn’t the bleeps and beeps of Kid A or Amnesiac. It’s tighter. I kind of like the songs…I don’t hate them.

Then I realized I’m absorbed. These songs not only punch me in the face because they’re unfamiliar to me, but they are unfamiliar to what I’m familiarly in love with about Radiohead. And what I’m familiarly in love with about Radiohead is how they change, evolve, take on new things. This punched me in the face. I love these songs. I love this album. This is more groundbreaking than In Rainbows. This is as groundbreaking as Kid A (at least for Radiohead’s catalogue).

Frusterating, but exciting.

my 2 cents:

i am overjoyed this album has duped the bandwagon fans of in rainbows. it’s a nice return for the boys. this may be wishful thinking but could these be the b-sides satisfying us fans as an appetizer while our main course simmers. if so keep salivating until the band says bon appetit.

I think we are sort of being part of Radiohead’s Big Brother. I can see them laying in the sofa laughing watching the whole media world changing all the plans just to make the first review… It’s nice. I have decided to enjoy it in state of speculating. Let them be what made us love them: let them create and be artists.

Man, sounds even better the day after, on listen 3 now… reckon it’s another 5* album from them, just a bit more mellow and groovily understated than The Bends, OK Computer, Kid A or In Rainbows (to my mind their other classic 5/5 albums). I love love LOVE that radiohead refuse to stay in the same place, think first listen I was hoping for a ‘bodysnatchers’ or a ‘reckoner’ but once I was over that I embraced the quietness of the album… but it does carry on the more soulful, subtle groove of some of the quieter In Rainbows tracks.. (think House of Cards, Videotape, Nude) although in a different place altogether..

Madison, Wisconsin here. So much anxiety in this city, this country right now. For me, certain music is tied to certain events in my life. I’ll always connect 9/11/2001 with Bob Dylan’s Love and Theft – it was released on that day and, for me, it became a refuge.

Now, with government become increasingly hostile to people around the world – and even here in my liberal sanctuary – I have King of Limbs. I listened straight through at 6am this morning.

I have to spend more time with it, but it was a comfort. As reality becomes more strange and dreamlike (not necessarily a ‘good’ dream,) I empathize with Tom’s call to “Wake me up, wake me up” at the close of the album.

I’m 42, I came to Radiohead with Kid A and I’ll take acoustic instruments over electronic any chance I can. But this band, they continue to challenge and reward me unlike any other.

pixelife
February 18, 2011 at 2:54 pm

don’t care about guitars. care about forward music.

What is forward about aping James Blake/Burial/dubstep/grime?

I’m not going to bother saying this is a beautiful album or just how great it is or even how much I love it after so-and-so listens. That’s all been said.

What I will say is that I think people’s main problem with this album is that it’s not a rock album and they fall under the misconception that Radiohead is a rock band. This is not a rock album. Radiohead has not been a rock band for some time now.

As for people saying it sounds like a Thom Yorke solo album, I don’t know what you’re hearing. The other members are there. They may not be playing what you expect them to be playing, but they’re there. Just listen.

And as for this being one half of a whole album, I’d like that to be true, but I very much doubt it. Where would we be without wishful thinking?

Good show, Radiohead. You never fail to impress.

for the people who don’t understand it, maybe go for a long walk and listen to it, early in the morning, with “no one around”. I think I get this album . . there’s a lot of things I think about it, but it’s all subjective anyway. It made sense to me this morning . . the reason it doesn’t ‘feel’ like a band is because it’s not supposed to. It’s one energy – the beautiful things you discover on your own.

this is also the best radiohead album to get high to. lights a joint (well maybe later).

i’m an artist and a douchebag from toronto,
check out my blog-a-log and read my review of the new album, ya?

http://monamibonhomie.blogspot.com/

For those thinking that the newspaper edition coming with two vinyls means there are more songs to the album: these are two 10″ vinyls, which usually hold, on average, 10 minutes per side without losing quality. It might also help to know that both ‘Kid A’ and ‘Amnesiac’ are on on two 10″ LPs apiece. Hell, ‘In Rainbows’ was released on two 12″ LPs, and that album is only 40 minutes. So more than likely what we’ve got is all we’re gonna get for this album.

Could there be another album some months down the line — ala Kid A and Amnesiac? Sure, it’s possible. They could also decided to release more songs as b-sides to the singles. Or as free downloads, like These Are My Twisted Words. We’ll just have to wait and see.

I liked every track on the first listen. Didn’t have the same experience with Kid A, it had a few standouts but I found myself skipping several tracks.

It is probably a bit early to judge but I think In Rainbows is a more complete album.

The queen of head – that sounds sorta – kinky

I like it. If they released In Rainbows Part 2 (ehh part 3) people would be bitching about how they’ve lost their creativity. They’re free, they don’t care if you don’t think it has enough guitar or sounds like a TY solo album. Keep doing whatever it is you want to do Radiohead,

Also. Can we now agree that HTTT is an amazing LP? So varied, also very guitar orientated. I think time will tell that it is an amazing piece of work. Very 2003 in a way.