KID A

It must be pretty difficult for a band to decide a change in their musical direction after such a pivotal album as "OK Computer".

If they record a clone of this, they will be judged as little creative and only looking for security. If they release a totally different album some might say that their new style doesn't cope with the idea one can have about a "Radiohead" album.

And I belong to the latter category. Most of these ambient songs just don't kick me. At the very end of the album, the feeling of boredom prevails. I truly can't bear "The National Anthem" and its whole cacophony.

All these electronic experimentations are rather difficult to swallow. Fortunately, this album is on the short end (less than fifty minutes). It shows no passion, too much uniformity.

I wouldn't say that this record is bad, it might work at times, depending on your mood (at least it is how I feel). Good for meditation ("Treefingers") and relaxing ("How To Disappear Completely"). But I don't expect "Radiohead" to produce some "Tangerine Dream" type of music. Therefore, there is TD.

"Optimistic", is more of a traditional "Radiohead" song. One within an ocean of ambient moods. Another "Echo & The Bunnymen" oriented song. But that fine with me (I already have mentioned this). It is my fave from this album (but I don't like plenty of them).

Another nadir here, is the fully electro-oriented "Idioteque". A repetitive and languishing track, some sort of lamentation which would have been best avoided. The type of "press next" song IMO.

This album is a deception as far as I'm concerned but progheads might well consider this album as the first "progressive" one of the whole. Which makes sense.

Two stars.