Thoughts: King of Limbs

While music enthusiasts the world over seem to believe firmly that some sort of stop on musical creativity is in international effect, depriving us of anything worth listening to, I think they aren't looking in the right places. Creativity and musical genius is rampant, but a lot of it doesn't fit neatly within the framework of what we're used to calling "good music." So it may come as a surprise, especially given my background of generally obsessing over every scrap of Radiohead music, that I don't find the King of Limbs to be a particularly breakthrough record, at least compared to previous Radiohead records.

I've listened to the King of Limbs a few dozen times now, and I can't help but compare my initial listening experience and my subsequent reaction to that of their previous album, In Rainbows. Yet so eager I was to capture that 2007 one-of-a-kind listening experience that I continued listening to the album over and over in order for "something" to click. That "something" that so often clicks with me once I realize I've discovered a truly remarkable album has yet to occur. I really really enjoy the King of Limbs, especially its sublime second half, but at the end of the day I'm still under the impression that I'm listening to a sort of half-baked project. Either a half-complete project or a project without the same depth as other Radiohead projects, I guess the difference is irrelevant. The songs fit neatly into Radiohead playlists and such, but taken as a whole it only has the completeness of a Thom Yorke side project. And any Radiohead fan knows that while Thom Yorke may be the creative center, Johnny and the rest of the crew comprise the heart and soul of the band.

This is a very listenable record that showcases some of the best production of any Radiohead album, but ultimately it will most likely go down in the band's history as one of their "worst." It's clearly made from the same genetic material as the other albums, yet still lacks the quality and substance of its brothers.

8/10