I was reminded of this via a post over at Kottke this morning. I remembered reading it and trying it out shortly after In Rainbows was released, but I couldn’t remember how it sounded. (Short version – urban legend has it that In Rainbows and OK Computer were designed to be companions, and that a playlist alternating tracks between the two is ‘awesome’.)

After listening to it, I’m underwhelmed, and I probably was the first time too. Understand that I loved Radiohead up through OK Computer – I saw them on tour for that album, and it was an amazing show. I’ve since come to love their next album, Kid A, as well, but it definitely marks a shift in the kind of music the band makes, and Thom Yorke in particular has changed his vocal style and melodies since then. They’re no longer the same band that made those first three albums, and that’s fine.

In Rainbows is a nice little album. (In much the same way that some of Pearl Jam’s latest albums have been ok, but it’s been all downhill since Vs.) But this playlist doesn’t work for me. The musical style is somewhat similar, but it still just doesn’t ‘fit’ right. I’d be tempted to say that this idea of a companion album was leaked out there to encourage sales, but if you’ll recall, In Rainbows was the album that Radiohead let you download for free and asked you to donate what you thought it was worth, which got them plenty of publicity as it was.

In any case, I think this is some wishful thinking on the part of the old-time Radiohead fans, who should be going out and buying Muse’s albums instead.

In case you’ve been wondering whatever happened to good old Martin Zellar (and I have), here’s your answer:
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/82301762.html

i discovered imeem.com last summer while desperately searching for a dashboard confessional cover of a weezer song (this one, if you’re interested) that i’d heard years before but wasn’t available through itunes. i expected it to be a hassle– only 30 second snippets, a cost for downloads, annoying pop-up ads, etc, but found nothing of the sort. true, you can only stream the songs (vs downloading), but that’s not unexpected. in addition, the site makes you register after a certain amount of free listens; however, to date i haven’t received one e-mail based off of that registration. (plus, when you register, you’re allowed to create custom playlists of your favorite songs.) from my experience, it’s just like real.com’s Rhapsody player, but without the pesky $14 charge.

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today’s challenge: name the top five bands you want to see play live before you croak. (or, play again, if you’ve already seen them.) the only rule is that the band must still be active today– as much as i’d love to see guns ‘n’ roses circa 1988, i don’t think that’s gonna happen. stupid buckethead. anyway, here goes (in reverse order):

5. Pearl Jam / Counting Crows (tie)
4. Cake
3. Weezer
2. Toad the Wet Sprocket
1. Better Than Ezra

how ’bout you?

for some reason, i’ve always been drawn towards live music. even before my days in the band (c’mon, it’s been a while since i mentioned that), i’ve loved the raw sound of a live performance, vs. the perfection that can be generated by studio recordings. it actually might have been this double-disc set that turned me on to live performances– from jim morrison’s extended scream in “backdoor man” to the extended organ solo in “moonlight drive,” i was suddenly aware of how cool a live take on a known song could be.

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