How can the creator of "OK Computer" veer away from the album format?

How can the creator of "OK Computer" veer away from the album format?

That's all I really want to ask, but I will elaborate. Radiohead frontman and mastermind Thom Yorke recently told The Believer, "I always hated CDs ... I'm happy to see the CD format disappear."

No need to jump to conclusions with that statement because CDs have been criticized at the fact that they deteriorate after only a few hours and many people still prefer the classic sound of vinyl. However, what he goes on to say further in the interview is troubling. You can find a full transcript here.

He mentions the desire to explore individual genres in an EP format, which is respectable and intriguing. But he also goes on more: "None of us want to go into that creative hoo-ha of a long-play record again. Not straight off."

Yorke dabbles into some vague territory about some bright new plan to release music differently in the technological age (which is saying something after what they did with their last release "In Rainbows." This is all interesting, and maybe I'm underestimating this great band. They may have a brilliant plan. Likely they do.

But on the off chance that they don't, I'm worried about their discussion of ditching the album format.

Let's revisit Radiohead's third LP release, "OK Computer." Yes, their first two were excellent and certainly put them on the map in both Britain and abroad, but this record shot them completely off the map. With all the talk of aliens on this album, they could very well be some themselves, explaining the unearthly work. It's the ultimate album, in my opinion, in that it stays on a broad theme while exploring different aspects. The music is absolutely flawless, lyrics inspiring, and execution incredible. This is the best album of the last 20 years, if I have the power to declare it so.

Unfortunately, my word doesn't mean much, so let's consult these people:

Allmusic: 5/5
Rolling Stone: 5/5 (a 2009 revisit)
Pitchfork Media: 10/10 (this is unspeakably rare. Pitchfork is incredibly critical.)
NME: 10/10

All this to say: Radiohead, I'll allow you to make a couple of EPs and drop a few singles, but you better get that creative LP juice going again because there's nothing like a solid album. And there's absolutely nothing like "OK Computer."


To check out Radiohead's latest attempt at a single song, check out their track "These Are My Twisted Words" that got dropped last week. It appeared in the following format on a Radiohead fan site:

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiii radiohead - these are my twisted words iiiiiii
iiiiiii iiiiiii
iiii artist.......radiohead iiii
iiii title........these are my twisted words iiii
iiii label........?????????? iiii
iiii cat.nr.......????????? iiii
iiii style........'dificult' iiii
iiii nr of tracks.1 iiii
iiii total length..5.32 iiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiii audio source.CD Advance iiii
iiii encoder......LAME 3.93 iiii
iiii quality......320kbps/44.1kHz/Joint Stereo iiii
iiii size.........12,70 MB iiii
iiii ripper.......sca[GG]er iiii
iiii rls.date.....2009-08-17 iiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiii i just wanted to reassure readers iiii
iiii that following representations iiii
iiii seeking confirmation iiii
iiii that before your very eyes iiii
iiii behind the wall of ice iiii
iiii that the box is not under threat iiii
iiii however they are set to remove iiii
iiii other boxes iiii
iiii in fact i have the list in front of me iiii
iiii i went to a briefing on their plans iiii
iiii and challenged them to tell me iiii
iiiii exactly what the cost would be iiiiiii
iiiiii iiiiiiii
iiiiiii they spoke in broad terms iiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiii we're looking for: talented puppeteers iiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiii worms, disgruntled executives, sacked flies iiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiii genres: doomcore, folktronica, ukf iiiiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

After the indie bloggers argued it up for a few days, Radiohead multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood cleared the record and took ownership of the song on behalf of the band. I think Radiohead can't hide at all with their unique style, but it's nice to know for certain. Maybe this hide-and-go-seek game is their idea of album releases. Regardless, no complaints because they're giving it away free here.