Radiohead pushes limits on new album, 'Kid A'

By Alex Roman
Daily Forty Niner

There is something a bit embarrassing when you have to put your portable tape recorder in front of your computer's speakers to get an early listen to the new Radiohead album, "Kid A."

But in this world of digital piracy that is exactly what one has to do in order to digest the eerie soundscapes and hidden meanings beneath its surface. When singer Thom Yorke puts lyrics like "Yesterday I woke up sucking a lemon," next to "Everything, everything in its right place" one realizes that nothing is in its right place on this album.

Not only are Yorke's lyrics inaudible at times, but also the band seems to have thrown out all normal song structure. Missing are grooves, power chords and bridges. They are replaced with eerie soundscapes with Yorke's voice dancing across them.

Where on their previous masterpieces the band relied mostly on guitar, bass and drums, "Kid A" relies on searching for the line where music becomes art. They replace standard rock instruments with a wailing horn bouncing across the cluttered noise on "The National Anthem," or by doing an electronic instrumental such as "Treefingers."

Whatever your ideas or expectations of this much-awaited album are, it seems Radiohead is saying that one is best served by throwing them out the window. It seems instead like they want you to go with them deep inside, to travel and explore the inner workings of your mind, body and soul.

Do not be to discouraged though. There are some of the same bleakly pensive and uplifting moments that made their previous hits like "Creep" and "Fake Plastic Trees" so powerful. On "How to Disappear Completely," Yorke sings with all the honesty and integrity that he has come to be known for.

Whatever one's feelings are of this album upon first listen, it is obvious that the band have set out to challenge the parameters of rock music.

In turn this challenge is extended to the listener. It is challenging you to put aside everything, jump in with both feet and see where it all takes you. Sure it may take a bit longer to digest than your average rock record, but the reward seems to be a masterful effort from one of the world's most renowned rock bands.