Review of Kid A
By Abhijay Prakash
Kid A is not really a rock 'n roll album; in fact it doesn't really have
songs on it either (save for one). So how is one to explain why its release is
among the most anticipated of the year in popular music and that Radiohead are
being heralded as the saviors of rock? It seems preposterous (and at first
listen, the album may also sound preposterous), but if you are reading this,
then you are at least intrigued; and if you have a little patience then you
gotta trust me that the alternatively lush and superficial sonic landscapes on Kid
A will get you in a way that the rhythm of the Miami Sound Machine never
could.
Kid A is Radiohead's fourth major release and comes on the heels of their
1997 masterwork, OK Computer, a groundbreaking rock album in its own
right. But this one sounds different - gone are the crunching guitars and
standard rock choruses. Kid A is the anti-commercial culmination of a
sound evolution that began with the alterna-radio friendly single
"creep", moved on to the anthemic rock of "the bends" and
morphed again into the unconventional "Ok Computer." Radiohead's
answer to those expecting a feel-good follow-up album is a daring, challenging,
slow electronic wash of ambient noise that is evocative of the ‘70s concept
albums by previous prog-rock darlings like Rush and Pink Floyd.
Lead singer Thom Yorke barely sings on most of the songs. He alternates
between warbling some lyrics, singing in gender-defying falsetto, and softly
repeating single phrases (Everything In Its Right Place, How to Disappear
Completely) over sweeping, atmospheric blends of guitars, keyboards, and drums.
Over time, I have come to love the jazzy bedlam of "National Anthem,"
the sole radio-friendly track, "Optimistic," and the percussion driven
"Idioteque." Kid A is a throwback album in the way that it
exists as a complete work, meant to be heard entirely in one sitting, completely
unlike the collection of singles found on albums by Britney or BSB.
The boys from Oxford, England focus on themes, such as technology's
alienating effect on humanity while also creating a sound that smoothly leads
from track to track without the listener even noticing. In a way, Kid A
is sorta like those "weed-out" tests that one takes at the beginning
of the year in hard classes. After attracting all sorts of critical attention
and multiplying their fan base with the unconventional groundbreaking success of
Ok Computer, Radiohead strives to alienate the intrigued masses and
confound the suits at record companies with this effort. But those who do stick
around will be rewarded by the albums original, intricate, and downright
pleasant arrangements.
With Kid A, Radiohead prove that they are indeed the creative future
of rock 'n roll, and while their unique sound may not be accessible to everyone,
at least there is no danger of these songs appearing in a Jaguar commercial or
backing up a hyperkinetic Sela Ward AT&T ad. If nothing else, Kid A is a
popular music album that demands attention while defying commercialization,
which is quite an achievement for this day and age.
Mood:
Chillin'
Hear it?:
Buy the CD
