Some 15 hours of Thom Yorke's demo recordings, dating back to the OK Computer era, were accessed and downloaded by a hacker who then attempted to extort $150,000. Rather than pay up or lose control of the media, Radiohead released it all online instead. Bandmate Jonny Greenwood wrote that the sessions were "only tangentially interesting" and would be offered for the next 18 days, with an optional $18 price tag that would be passed onto Extinction Rebellion, a climate change protest group.
MINIDISCS [HACKED] by Radiohead Read the rest
Greenpeace International just released this beautiful music video for "Hands off the Antarctic," a new track by Radiohead's Thom Yorke. Part of Greenpeace's Protect the Antarctic Ocean initiative, the footage is from their Arctic Sunrise research vessel.
"There are some places on this planet that are meant to stay raw and wild and not destroyed by humanity’s footprint,” Yorke said. “This track is about stopping the relentless march of those heavy footsteps. The Antarctic is a true wilderness and what happens there affects us all. That’s why we should protect it.”
The environmental group premiered the video yesterday by projecting it onto London's Marble Arch.
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"Lift" is one of the three previously unreleased tracks from Radiohead's 20th anniversary reissue of OK Computer, titled OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017. Video directed by Oscar Hudson.
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"I Promise" is one of the three previously unreleased tracks from Radiohead's 20th anniversary reissue of OK Computer, titled OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997-2017. Video directed by Michal Marczak.
Previously:
• Radiohead: lavish 20th anniversary reissue of "OK Computer"
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It's been 20 years since Radiohead released their masterpiece OK Computer and they've just announced a lavish new remastered* edition with three unreleased tracks, eight b-sides, assorted bonus tracks, and, in the boxed edition, a hardcover book. The band aims to please with the deluxe box set by including vinyl, a cassette, and digital downloads in various formats.
Inside a black box emblazoned with a dark image of a burned copy of OK COMPUTER are three heavyweight 180 gram black 12" vinyl records and a hardcover book containing more than 30 artworks, many of which have never been seen before except by us, and full lyrics to all the tracks except the ones that haven't really got any lyrics.
Under this weighty tome are yet more surprises: a notebook containing 104 pages from Thom Yorke's library of scrawled notes of the time, a sketchbook containing 48 pages of Donwood and Tchock's 'preparatory work' and a C90 cassette mix tape compiled by us, taken from OK COMPUTER session archives and demo tapes.
* But why? The original analogue tapes are the highest definition version of the record, and nothing will ever beat them. However in the 20 years since the original release mastering technology has improved a lot, and with new equipment and techniques we can make a digital version that's an improvement of the original transfer.
Radiohead OK Computer 1997 2017
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In a great example of crowdsourced criticism, Rishi Kaneria gathered up the most compelling fan theories he could find and synthesized them into Radiohead: The Secrets Of Daydreaming. Read the rest
Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) delivers another Radiohead video from their latest album Moon Shaped Pool. Once again, it stars Jonny, Thom, and the Roland CR-78 drum machine from 1978.
Previously:
"Watch the new Radiohead video by Paul Thomas Anderson"
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Radiohead debuted their latest music video, for the track "Present Tense" from Moon Shaped Pool. Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, Radiohead's "Daydreaming") directed the clip that features Thom Yorke, Johnny Greenwood, and the classic Roland CR-78 drum machine from 1978.
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All the news about the "Stairway to Heaven" lawsuit reminded me of this lovely arrangement of another creative dispute: Radiohead's "Creep" vs. The Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe." Read the rest
Radiohead says, "Last year we were asked to write a theme tune for the Bond movie Spectre.
Yes we were. It didn't work out, but became something of our own, which we love very much.
As the year closes we thought you might like to hear it.
Merry Christmas. May the force be with you."
(Image: Michell Zappa/Wikimedia) Read the rest
"I reckon if Thom Yorke fucking shit into a light bulb and started blowing it like an empty beer bottle it’d probably get 9 out of 10 in fucking Mojo," Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher told Esquire UK. "I’m aware of that."
And here's Gallagher on Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood, and the "new generation of rock stars":
“They’ve got the fucking skinny jeans and the boots, and all that eyeliner. I’ve got a cat that’s more rock ‘n’ roll than all of them put together. Pigeons? Rips their fucking heads off...”
“I go back to this: Fame is fucking wasted on these people. The new generation of rock stars, when have they ever said anything that made you laugh? When have they ever said anything you remember? People say, ‘They’re interesting.’ Interesting! That’s a word that’s crept in to music: ‘Yeah, man. Have you heard the new Skrillex record?’ ‘No.’ ‘Yeah, man. It’s really interesting.’ I don’t want interesting! Rock ‘n’ roll’s not about that. To me, it’s about fucking utter gobshites just being fucking headcases. Well, not headcases. But what I want, genuinely, is somebody with a fucking drug habit, who’s not Pete Doherty. Do you know what I mean?”
(Esquire) Read the rest
[Video Link]
Loving the blippy, glitchy feel of "Default," the new track from Atoms for Peace, the Thom Yorke/Flea/Nigel Godrich project.
Pitchfork has more.
At the Radiohead website, word from Yorke that an album is coming in 2013.
Buy the single, "Default," on itunes or Amazon. Read the rest
Artist Stanley Donwood, whose work you may know through the many Radiohead album covers and inserts he's done in collaboration with the band, has an exhibition at Shepard Fairey's Subliminal Projects gallery: Lost Angeles. Up through May 26, 2012. Read the rest
Musician Dan Bull (YouTube) created this rap mix of Radiohead's Street Spirit to honor the protests in New York and elsewhere. "I made the song because I believe the monetary system needs to be reviewed, and the peaceful nature of the protests inspired me to get involved," he writes. "Being in the UK I couldn't attend in person, so I thought I'd attend musically instead." Read the rest
