Radiohead
Airbag/How Am I Driving?
(Capitol)

Rating: 9/10

This is a companion piece if you will to Radiohead's critically and publically acclaimed 1997 album OK Computer. Six new unreleased gems are delivered on this, the Airbag EP.

Radiohead has never been easy to pigeonhole. They're confusing, delightful & awe-inspiring all at the same time. Take the minimalist, proletariat "art" of the sleeve itself.

If you liked OK Computer then run don't walk to the CD store because it's more of the same intriguing stuff. We get their grungy and angry side in "Pearly". The surreal, haunting sounds of "Meeting In The Aisles" and the best track "Polyethelene" which once again ventures into a demented twisted "Beatleland", it's epic like "A Day In The Life" was "Polyethelene" is beautifully disjointed and grabs you with its wall of sound chorus.

However "Palo Alto" reminds us that as inventive as this stuff is, they are very different from the Beatles and we are also reminded that Radiohead formed well AFTER Punk rock was created as they have not forgotten the glory and chaos that was punk. "Palo Alto"'s chorus kicks like the meanest Sex Pistol song yet soothes with floating acoustic verses.

In other words, Radiohead are all over the place and yes, sometimes they're sloppy, but they make it work oh so well.

Tom Peter Jr

Rant 'N' Rave
08.98