About the Book

Seemingly granted classic album status within days of its release in 1997, OK Computer transformed Radiohead from a highly promising rock act into The Most Important Band in the World a label the band has been burdened by (and has fooled around with) ever since. Through close musical analysis of each song, Dai Griffiths explores the themes and ideas that have made this album resonate so deeply with its audience, and argues that OK Computer is one of the most successfully realized CD albums so far created.EXCERPTBut then Karma Police changes. After the second chorus the track lifts, in various ways. Harmonically, there s a key change of sorts (the sheet music charmingly follows the convention of preparing the reader for the new key signature), from E minor to B minor, although in truth both sections use similar chords. Then vocally or melodically, the key change takes Thom Yorke to his angelic register. Texturally, there s a big shift, with all the instruments doing lighter things. Best to my mind though, there s the one word, phew. Phew s great: it s a cartoon word, like gulp or zzzz or bah . Its precision matters, the fact that it s really there, properly pronounced, not just sort-of-breathed >

Product Details

Media: Paperback Book, 144 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Continuum (Aug. 31st, 2004)

ISBN-10: 0826416632

ISBN-13: 9780826416636

Dimensions: 5.28 x 6.32 x 0.41 inches

Shipping Weight: 0.32 lbs

• Categories: Rock Music