Acquiring a taste for radiohead?

**sadied0g** · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject: Acquiring a taste for radiohead?

How should I go about doing this? Haha. I've just heard so much about how amazing they are and really WANT to be able to appreciate them the way so many others are. From what I've listened to I definitely don't dislike them, I just haven't been able to get into it. When starting to listen to bands that have a pretty "different" sound I can usually get into more of their unique sound by kind of easing my way in. Starting with more of they're mainstream sounding stuff, and eventually just getting more into the band's actual sound, slowly but surely. If that makes any sense. I'm assuming "creep" is the big mainstream sound they have, but I haven't really been able to find anything that's sort of a middle ground between that and most of their other truly "different" sounding music.

I have the entire discography (my brother is a huge fan) but haven't listened to a lot of it yet. Just looking for recommendations on where to start. How/What got you into radiohead?
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**Eastwinn** · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

I think The Bends would be the best place to start.
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**Xtresso** · Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 1575 Location: Toronto, Canada

Yea I'd agree that The Bends is a good place to start, they sort of found their sound with that one and it's a lot more straightforward and easier to get into than some of their later stuff. Ok Computer starts to get a little more experimental but not to the point that it's really hard to like, and after a few listens that one's amazing.

After that I'd say In Rainbows (especially when combined with Ok Computer). Kid A, Amnesiac, and Hail to the Thief are a lot less straightforward alt-rock and more wacky experimentation but are all still worth listening to.

King of Limbs is like Thom Yorke's solo albums but better. Not bad, but definitely don't start there.

And honestly, pass on Pablo Honey.
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**this1neguy** · Joined: 19 Aug 2007 Posts: 5444 Location: Flint, MI

The Bends and In Rainbows are definitely going to be the first two you should listen to. I personally can't pick which of those two I like more. After that I would say Hail to the Thief, then decide between OK Computer and Kid A. Despite the last two being by far Radiohead's most critically acclaimed albums, they are definitely not for the new listener and I don't think either is even the band's best album. I can't speak to King of Limbs or Amnesiac, as I haven't listened to either.
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**Eastwinn** · Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject:

**PiemanLK** · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 4712 Location: /export/home

I don't know too much about Radiohead not being a fan myself, but don't force yourself to like things just because other people like them, OP. It's entirely possible you're not missing anything and you really just don't like them.

Also I wouldn't really recommend skipping any albums. I mean, if you actually DO get into Radiohead, you might be someone that likes Pablo Honey, as apparently rare as that is. Just saying, give everything a fair chance.
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**Ontwikseltsaar** · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 1:31 am Post subject:

This topic reminds me of http://www.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=102851
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**GuitarHailz** · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 4910 Location: Austin, Texas

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I've listened to Pablo Honey and OK Computer and was like "yeah, okay." Nothing mind-blowing on a first listen, but nothing bad either. And when so many people love Radiohead and I seem to have missed the bandwagon, I guess I find it's worth investigation. The curious person in me wants to know why so many people love something that, on paper, I should love too (it definitely fits the bill with a lot of other bands I like, that's for sure).

If I actively disliked it I wouldn't force myself to listen, don't worry about that, hah. But since I'm more or less indifferent, it's worth another shot (since I can't tell you how many times I was "meh" about a band or album and then grew to love it...). I'll have to check out "The Bends" and see if I like that any better. Just like how I should check out "The Wall" by Pink Floyd before I say I don't like them.

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**cdylan13** · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 5828 Location: Richmond, VA

I would start with more of their "rock"-ier songs. It'll help you transition into them better. Bodysnatchers and Electioneering are good ones in particular (at least for me).

And to Hailz The Wall is definitely the WRONG album to listen to see if you like Pink Floyd. Listen to Wish You Were Here instead.

**PiemanLK** · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 4712 Location: /export/home

**Ontwikseltsaar** · Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 7:31 am Post subject:

**thecaptainof** · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 7571 Location: ¯\(°_o)/¯

As time goes on, the more I'm inclined to believe that 'acquiring a taste for' music you don't like isn't really a thing. Either you like it or you don't.

That said... the album that got me into Radiohead was The Bends. People always say Pablo Honey is really bad, but I think it's really good if you take it in context: take it for what they were at the time (a previously-unknown British indie-rock band in the early 1990s) rather than what they became. Now in list format because I'm struggling to form sentences today:

OK Computer: the point when they started experimenting
Kid A: weird, not for everyone. I love it but it's easy to understand why others don't.
Amnesiac: slightly less weird, very good.
Hail To The Thief: great album, oddly relaxing.

At this point I have to admit that I only listened to In Rainbows once and haven't got around to listening to the new one at all yet. Haven't really been in the mood to sit down for an hour and give my full attention to a CD for a long time now and I wouldn't want to just treat Radiohead as background noise, so I'm waiting until I can listen to it properly.
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**Yewb** · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 3020 Location: Plymouth, UK

**GuitarHailz** · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 4910 Location: Austin, Texas

I only bring up The Wall because I really didn't like bits of DSOTM, but I didn't outright hate it so I figured it was worth trying something else. There are bands I love that, if I had happened to listen to their "worst" work, or my least favorite of their works the first time around, I may have ended up not liking them. Which is a pretty scary thought. I do think that where you start off is great to consider, since first impressions are an important thing.

Normally I'd agree with "either you like it or you don't" but tastes have a way of changing over time so it's good to have an open mind and not throw out a band just because you weren't blown away the first time.
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**Xtresso** · Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 1575 Location: Toronto, Canada