I have listened to this album one time. I listened with headphones. I listened without distractions. I listened uninterrupted. I have so many thoughts but it's really difficult for me to put them into words right now. For now I'll just say that this is the most instantly familiar album I can remember from Radiohead. I really like it. If you wanted me to rank the tracks based on first impressions, I'd rank them:
1. Decks Dark
2. Indentikit
3. Burn the Witch
4. Glass Eyes
5. Daydreaming
6. Present Tense
7. Tinker Tailor...
8. True Love Waits
9. Ful Stop
10. The Numbers
11. Desert Island Disc
After one listen I can say that this is leagues better than The King of Limbs. But I can't tell if it's better than In Rainbows. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. I'll need time to figure that out, but my instinct/expectation is that it will land below that record when the dust settles.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 4:59 pm
by VinylGuy
I agree with the idea of this one being better than TKOL, but i wasnt a fan of that one. I didnt even cared much about it.
As for InRainbows...im not sure if its better, it feels like a different beast.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:03 pm
by epilogue
VinylGuy wrote:I agree with the idea of this one being better than TKOL, but i wasnt a fan of that one. I didnt even cared much about it.
As for InRainbows...im not sure if its better, it feels like a different beast.
Yeah, it does. It's a very different animal for sure. And it's probably silly to think of them in terms of "better." We have both and we don't need to overthink it.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:04 pm
by Kaius
I don't think this album is as good as TKOL. I haven't spent much time with AMSP yet, so I'm not making any final judgments by any means, but I don't think it has been as instantly gratifying as TKOL was for me, and it has a lot more fat on it. "...Limbs" is a lean, mean, top-notch Radiohead machine, and has aged very well.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:05 pm
by LoathedVermin72
i dunno this album definitely excels in the too-notchness dept
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:07 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:13 pm
by VinylGuy
tragabigzanda wrote:
VinylGuy wrote:I agree with the idea of this one being better than TKOL, but i wasnt a fan of that one. I didnt even cared much about it.
As for InRainbows...im not sure if its better, it feels like a different beast.
In Rainbows is probably their most song-focused work since OK Computer, in that the compositions are fairly straight-forward without a lot of tinkering. I love that AMSP is sort of similar, but you have to wade through some interesting segues and dense textures to get to those songs.
I agree with this..There is melody, there is songwriting, there is a structure but you have to get there...im not sure i felt the same with Limbs.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:17 pm
by LoathedVermin72
after more listening i'm thinking
ir
amsp
okc
kid a
amnesiac
httt
bends
ph
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:27 pm
by epilogue
Kaius wrote:I don't think this album is as good as TKOL. I haven't spent much time with AMSP yet, so I'm not making any final judgments by any means, but I don't think it has been as instantly gratifying as TKOL was for me, and it has a lot more fat on it. "...Limbs" is a lean, mean, top-notch Radiohead machine, and has aged very well.
This makes sense to me if TKOL works for you. It doesn't work for me at all. So this is an instantly superior record and I imagine it'll only get better and better as I continue to dive in and explore it. TKOL was grating and uninteresting to me upon first listen and hasn't really gotten any better since. I appreciate a couple of songs more now than I did five years ago, but it's still a rough, rough record for me.
AMSP probably isn't as "groundbreaking" or "experimental" (or any of those other words hurled at Radiohead all the time) as HTTT but I think it's a more immediate and immediately likeable record. Will it be able to sustain it over years and multiple listens? I don't know. HTTT has gotten better and better over the years. I hope AMSP can do the same. But after only one listen I'm not ready to say it's better than any Radiohead album other than TKOL and Pablo Honey.
My gut is that I'll end up appreciating it more than Kid A, too. But we'll have to give it time.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:27 pm
by tragabigzanda
tragabigzanda wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb
I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:28 pm
by epilogue
tragabigzanda wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:after more listening i'm thinking
ir
amsp
okc
kid a
amnesiac
httt
bends
ph
TKOL doesn't even make the cut, eh?
He's messing with you, trag.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:29 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:30 pm
by VinylGuy
durdencommatyler wrote:
Kaius wrote:I don't think this album is as good as TKOL. I haven't spent much time with AMSP yet, so I'm not making any final judgments by any means, but I don't think it has been as instantly gratifying as TKOL was for me, and it has a lot more fat on it. "...Limbs" is a lean, mean, top-notch Radiohead machine, and has aged very well.
This makes sense to me if TKOL works for you. It doesn't work for me at all. So this is an instantly superior record and I imagine it'll only get better and better as I continue to dive in and explore it. TKOL was grating and uninteresting to me upon first listen and hasn't really gotten any better since. I appreciate a couple of songs more now than I did five years ago, but it's still a rough, rough record for me.
AMSP probably isn't as "groundbreaking" or "experimental" (or any of those other words hurled at Radiohead all the time) as HTTT but I think it's a more immediate and immediately likeable record. Will it be able to sustain it over years and multiple listens? I don't know. HTTT has gotten better and better over the years. I hope AMSP can do the same. But after only one listen I'm not ready to say it's better than any Radiohead album other than TKOL and Pablo Honey.
My gut is that I'll end up appreciating it more than Kid A, too. But we'll have to give it time.
I agree with everything in this post.
Fuck, i still remember that sunday KOL came out, and rushing in exitement to listen to it...such a disappointment.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:30 pm
by epilogue
tragabigzanda wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:after more listening i'm thinking
ir
amsp
okc
kid a
amnesiac
httt
bends
ph
TKOL doesn't even make the cut, eh?
He's messing with you, trag.
I know. As I recall, he put HTTT and PH absurdly high just last week.
This new shticktastic LV is bugging the shit out of me.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:32 pm
by LoathedVermin72
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:after more listening i'm thinking
ir
amsp
okc
kid a
amnesiac
httt
bends
ph
TKOL doesn't even make the cut, eh?
He's messing with you, trag.
I know. As I recall, he put HTTT and PH absurdly high just last week.
This new shticktastic LV is bugging the shit out of me.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:32 pm
by tragabigzanda
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:33 pm
by LoathedVermin72
tragabigzanda wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:after more listening i'm thinking
ir
amsp
okc
kid a
amnesiac
httt
bends
ph
TKOL doesn't even make the cut, eh?
He's messing with you, trag.
I know. As I recall, he put HTTT and PH absurdly high just last week.
This new shticktastic LV is bugging the shit out of me.
I'm just happy to see him in a good mood.
cap america and han solo have invigorated me! lol
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 5:42 pm
by epilogue
tragabigzanda wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
tragabigzanda wrote:
LoathedVermin72 wrote:after more listening i'm thinking
ir
amsp
okc
kid a
amnesiac
httt
bends
ph
TKOL doesn't even make the cut, eh?
He's messing with you, trag.
I know. As I recall, he put HTTT and PH absurdly high just last week.
This new shticktastic LV is bugging the shit out of me.
I'm just happy to see him in a good mood.
Would that he were, friend. Would that he were. I'm just worried.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 8:43 pm
by Kaius
VinylGuy wrote:
durdencommatyler wrote:
Kaius wrote:I don't think this album is as good as TKOL. I haven't spent much time with AMSP yet, so I'm not making any final judgments by any means, but I don't think it has been as instantly gratifying as TKOL was for me, and it has a lot more fat on it. "...Limbs" is a lean, mean, top-notch Radiohead machine, and has aged very well.
This makes sense to me if TKOL works for you. It doesn't work for me at all. So this is an instantly superior record and I imagine it'll only get better and better as I continue to dive in and explore it. TKOL was grating and uninteresting to me upon first listen and hasn't really gotten any better since. I appreciate a couple of songs more now than I did five years ago, but it's still a rough, rough record for me.
AMSP probably isn't as "groundbreaking" or "experimental" (or any of those other words hurled at Radiohead all the time) as HTTT but I think it's a more immediate and immediately likeable record. Will it be able to sustain it over years and multiple listens? I don't know. HTTT has gotten better and better over the years. I hope AMSP can do the same. But after only one listen I'm not ready to say it's better than any Radiohead album other than TKOL and Pablo Honey.
My gut is that I'll end up appreciating it more than Kid A, too. But we'll have to give it time.
I agree with everything in this post.
Fuck, i still remember that sunday KOL came out, and rushing in exitement to listen to it...such a disappointment.
Re: Radiohead | A Moon Shaped Pool
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 9:11 pm
by EJ
I'm only a few listens through this album and not much is grabbing me yet. Not enough "upbeat" moments to make my balls swing. That being said, it does have a fairly lush, layered sound that could work for me after multiple listens.
Early standouts are Burn The Witch, Decks Dark, and The Numbers.
