Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Radiohead released “The King of Limbs” on Friday and after a preliminary listen, I love it. At 37 minutes in length, the new album is an admittedly brief but exciting display of musical talent by all members of the band as well as producers Mark Stent and Nigel Godrich. As described by a friend, “The King of Limbs” plays like an extension of previous Radiohead works, indulging new ideas while re-exploring aspects of the familiar territory covered in recent albums and releases. The album marks the newest step in Radiohead’s departure from the conventions of the music industry.
Following the conclusion of Radiohead’s ten-year, six-album relationship with EMI, the band self-released “In Rainbows” in 2007. Capitalizing on their newfound freedom, the album’s conventional CD release was preceded by an online sale in which fans were invited to choose the price they paid for the music.
This pay-what-you-will strategy has since been adopted by other artists, including mash-up DJ Girl Talk, who has offered the option for all of his albums since it worked for his “Feed the Animals” in 2008.
In presales alone, “In Rainbows” made more money than 2003’s “Hail to the Thief,” Radiohead’s last project to date with a major record label. “In Rainbows” went on to sell three million copies and become the 10th independently released album to ever reach #1 on the Billboard 200, proving the unique gambit successful.
With “The King of Limbs,” Radiohead is employing yet another unusual business model, providing the album for download at a set price of $9 for mp3s or $14 for WAV files in the U.S., while simultaneously offering a “Newspaper album” for delivery in May that includes, among other things, a CD, records, and artwork for around $50. Stranger still, “The King of Limbs” was announced on Monday for a Saturday release, with the band spontaneously making it available for download on Friday, a day earlier than scheduled and just four days after its initial announcement.
For a taste of Radiohead’s latest, check out the music video for the album’s first single “Lotus Flower.” Or, have a listen to my personal favorites at the moment: the smooth “Don’t Give Up the Ghost” and the disjointed “Bloom.” Stream the album in its entirety here.
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Jan '11
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
My son agrees.
Dec '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Listening now. It seems that, yet again, they've managed to reinvent themselves without starting from scratch. I like this a lot
May '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
After my first listen through, I'd have to say that this album will have to grow on me. It's not as varied or rocking as In Rainbows. Seeing as my first Radiohead album was Kid A, which I fell in love with immediately, I have no problem with the experimental stuff. The album feels like the band is moving in a new direction but hasn't yet taken the step. I'm actually more interested in Yorke's solo work. The new pieces he debuted a year or two ago with his new band in LA were amazing.
In terms of the distribution method, I think that the "pay what you want" model (which they aren't using this time) payed off for In Rainbows, and the direct download release followed up with physical releases (I assume with XL Records, the same label that put out In Rainbows on CD) for King of Limbs, work well for Radiohead. But for a band without Radiohead's massive, devoted following? I think we're going to see most artists sticking to iTunes and Amazon MP3 for digital releases.
May '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
But well done Ricochet for having a Radiohead post. And extra kudos for the Girl Talk reference. As if the bumper music on the podcast didn't already prove this place was hip to the latest indie music. Does this mean that future podcast episodes during election season will start with the jangly guitars from the OK Computer track "Electioneering"?
Edited on Feb 19, 2011 at 11:15pmNov '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Thanks for the post. I am a huge fan of music and have also been impressed with the bumper music kicking off the podcasts. I went out and bought the Decemberists' January Hymn upon its playing several weeks ago. (My wife bought me their full "The King is Dead" CD the other day and it is awesome. Crane Wife 3 still remains their best track yet.)
Re: the new Radiohead, I haven't checked it out yet though I will upon reading this. I still put The Bends at the top of my list of favorite Radiohead albums, followed by OK Computer.
I do have a theory on the breakthough moment for Radiohead, the moment that took its "Creep" from being a small song alternative radio song in the US to a greater mass awareness and appeal... It came from during this classic segment on Beavis and Butthead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It6VWk1yT5o
The duo to more to celebrate and bring attention the genius of that little, huge, guitar scratch that kicks off the chorus than any essay ever could.
I bet this is the first time Beavis and Butthead found a legitmate way of entering our conversation.
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Thanks, Adam. I went off the Radiohead reservation with "Kid A" -- but I came back each time to buy their latest. I loved the release of "In Rainbows" -- it seemed to illustrate the ways that recording artists can use the distributed network to make a buck and cut out the middleman, which always warms the cold heart of the free-market conservative! Market efficiency! More money for the actual laborers, less for frivolities!
From a business perspective, though, the pay-what-you-like strategy isn't really as interesting as the super-premium-package strategy they're using for the "newspaper album" in May. The one-price model the record companies used for years was plainly silly. Bands like Radiohead have a core group of die-hard fans that want much more than just an mp4 file. The big money isn't in the recorded music anymore -- it's in the live performances, the super-premium collector's version, and the extra goodies they'll come up with. The music is a loss-leader, which is why they can price it the way they do.
I'm heading over there to download right now.
PS: New Decemberists album is terrific.
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Rob Long:
PS: New Decemberists album is terrific. · Feb 20 at 10:33am
Completely disagree. Boooring. I so miss his story-telling style on Castaways and Cutouts and Her Majesty.
Feb '11
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Well it took a post about Radiohead to get me to finally join Ricochet. I thought I was the only conservative in America to enjoy their music. I can't stand their politics, but they are very talented. The same goes for the Decemberists, which poses the age old question : Why does the majority of all cool music come from the left side of the political spectrum?
Dec '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Why insult these artistes with your filthy capitalist lucre? Especially The Decemberists.
Nov '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
You know, I really don't mind that music tends to come from folks that root for politicians on the other side of the aisle. "Hail to the Thief?" A thinly veiled rip on a man that was keeping us safe. (My daughter just crawled for the first time while I am writing this!)
Anyway, one way to demonstrate the righteousness of our side is to criticize their politics, but appreciate and admire the craft, if we are so inclined. They would do well to do so themselves.
Feb '11
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Lance I agree with you but the only problem is, the left tend to be alot more self righteous and close minded than you give them credit for. Congrats on your daughter crawling!
Dec '10
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Red Eye's take on The King of Limbs.
Feb '11
Re: Radiohead Delivers with "The King of Limbs"
Funny but yet so true! The Album to me is just Radiohead doing Radiohead. It is what it is. With that being said I like it more and more everytime I listen to it.