CD Review: Radiohead - "A Moon Shaped Pool"

It has become fashionable to release content at random nowadays. With the significance of an actual release date as a thing of the past, more bands are hopping on the bandwagon to put out their content in the ways that will strike the most attention. In the case of Radiohead, they're pioneers of this technique in the digital era, and shocked the whole world when in the course of a week they temporarily shut down their Twitter before adding two new music videos - including one directed by Paul Thomas Anderson - and releasing their first album in five years on Mother's Day called "A Moon Shaped Pool." While the turnaround may be a little too fast, it has quickly become a thing of discussion that suggests that one of rock's most aesthetically interesting bands are back and headier than ever. Thankfully, that's just what their music is at its best.
To dissect a Radiohead album is to do something often akin to cinema. One doesn't just listen to the lyrics or instruments. One listens to the layers and appreciates them on their own merits. Considering that guitarist Jonny Greenwood has been making film scores for over a decade, it makes sense then that the music plays like an album, and Thom Yorke is the narrator. It's an ethereal sound that ushers in the return of a band whose melancholic lyrics are perfectly matched by the multi-layered soundtrack underneath. The magic that comes from "Daydreaming" is particularly inspired, as the sound of snoring warps into a mixture of electronic noises as the song fades into its closing. To say the least, the experimentation is at high function here.
From the OCD of the album's songs being in alphabetical order to the various instrumentation, there's a lot to take in on this album, and likely will give plenty of fans something to do as they await whatever is next for the band. The ethereal sound becomes at times overwhelming, with sound constantly battling for attention. However, it does end up creating a unique experience that reflects music unlike anything else out there. Even while the opener "Burn the Witch" may at times sound like a conventional, guitar-driven ditty, there's a lot of subtext that eventually causes it to avoid conventions. The band has rarely sounded familiar, but they've always been consistent. The more that they experiment, the more that they become an interesting band whose legacy will likely be unmatched.
"A Moon Shaped Pool" may come as a surprise after only a week of pseudo-press, but there's nothing about the overall album that feels rushed. It's a production that reflects music not as a form of entertainment, but as of art. Much like David Bowie's "Blackstar" earlier this year or Bjork's "Vulnicura" last year, there's likely rewards to hearing the album a few times before giving a final assessment. However, its immediate impression is one that is likely to please fans and give further affirmation that somethings are worth the wait. It may not be an immediate or accessible album, but it's one that beckons to be listened to a few more times at least. If nothing else, this will keep audiences busy until Greenwood does another score for Paul Thomas Anderson.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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