in reply to midifarm and groovesonic.
Originally posted by midifarm
There is no offense to anyone that likes any of the bands mentioned here. I would have to agree that Radiohead is depressing and whiny, which is fine because it appeals to that section of the generation, depressed whiny kids that don't particularly like the hand dealt to them. Nirvana on the other hand, while yes Mr. Cobain was obviously depressed (heroin doesn't help), the music I find was more "angry" than anything else. The same can be said for NIN. Trent comes across as the tortured kid from high school, but he's definitely angry! Al from Ministry is just angry at society, the government and all the sheeople that allow it to go on without any question.
I resent being called a depressed whiny kid. And I fail to see any evidence that suggests I am of a minority in Radiohead fans, IOW what you just said could not be further from the truth. I happen to consider myself to be incredibly lucky with the hand I have been dealt with, and so do the band Radiohead. As do most other fans of theirs that I have met. Your comment about Al Ministry is much closer to what Radiohead are about, they just do it in a not very obvious way and with much ambiguity while mixing in all sorts of other concerns as well. Most Radiohead fans that I have met are quite a lot older than me, and I am 18. I don't think these are depressed whiny kids, they are perhaps just adults who are concerned about whats going on and don't necessarily agree with governments. Thom recently became a father and I heard him say that his latest song-writing work was greatly affected by that. On the morning becomes eclectic show on some radio station he was asked about this. He said that it basically comes down to the fact that he is pissed off with his powerlessness to affect the world that his son will have to live in, "mother-****ers, what gives them the right to **** up the world that my son has got to live in". To me that sums up the album, its not depressing, its more clarity of reality.
Radiohead are in a situation where $$$ doesn't matter and they do not exploit that to make more $$$. If anything it means their music can become even more interesting because the Record company knows it can sit back and whatever they release will sell. Remember, they are 3 albums past their turning point "best album of all time" and things are going strong. Kid A succeeded, whether intended or not, in getting rid of the whiny kid fans who only understood music on a basic level.
Radioheads political messages are not the main reasons I listen to radiohead, although they help. As a musician I am in awe of their talent, as performers but mostly as composers, lyricists and arrangers (Jonny Greenwood has a degree in classical cello). I find Thom Yorkes voice to be incredibly unique in a scene of increasingly droany sounding dull mid range male vocalists. A fellow fan once equated his voice with that of Bob Dylans, I agree Bob cannot sing in the traditional sense, I believe the noises he makes work for his songs and no-one else (except may hendrix, but thats another story) could pull off his songs as well as he does. Thom however, can actually sing, he can sing beautifully, the reason why he is considered whiny is that he has a falcetto much lower than many other singers which contributes to his uniqueness.
As a fellow fan of Pink Floyd (also now money grabbing b*stards BTW) I suggest you take a closer look at them, as they are described as the modern pink floyd. I'm not trying to preach to anyone, just don't like seeing my favourite band dissed based on untruths.
anyway, I should not hi-jack this thread anymore, there are numerous threads on raiohead on this board so if you want to discuss further head on over.
oh yeah. to hear why more classical and jazz musicians are studying and learning from radiohead's music, click
here
