After surviving the tense sessions of 2000's Kid A and 2001's Amnesiac - which stemmed from an unclear musical direction and the pressure of following up 1997's hit album OK Computer - Selway admits that going into the studio with solid ideas accounted for a more pleasurable experience this time around.
It was this sense of a definitive direction that guided the band into creating their sixth studio album, Hail To The Thief, which hits stores June 10.
"Quite simply, we went into Kid A and Amnesiac and we just didn't do any preparation for it", Selway said. "It just all felt very loaded at the time, especially after following OK Computer which had all these great accolades. It just puts you in the position of when you go back into making the next record to say, 'Well how the hell do you follow that'?"
Unlike the vast amounts of leftover songs that came out of the Kid A and Amnesiac sessions, the band decided to focus their energy on recording fewer tracks.
"There are a few b-sides, but I think we were much more focused about material and we jettisoned quite a few tracks earlier on in the process," Selway said.
Radiohead decided to do their prep work early, by taking time to rehearse at their own pace, as well as road-testing many of the songs that would end up on Hail To The Thief last year.
"There was a definite direction (for Hail To The Thief) from the outset and before we went into the studio we did a lot of preparation as well", Selway said. "We did two months of rehearsals, pre-production and we went out and played the material live as well because we have found in the past that it's actually given us a greater understanding of the material.
"We just worked very quickly once we were in the studio. Once we got out to LA, which is where we did the first session, we were basically doing a track a day out there. And that gives a real momentum to the session, gives spontaneity to the performances - it just means you're not over analyzing every note and word."
The band began showcasing the new album with a slew of TV, radio, and live appearances in the U.K. last month. Plans are in the works for a full-fledged North American tour in August, with three unconfirmed Canadian dates: Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal on August 15, Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on August 16, and Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver on August 31.
When asked about how Radiohead's sound will evolve in the future, Selway admits that the upcoming tour will guide the band's musical direction.
"We've got a year's worth of touring coming up and things can change an awful lot over that time. There's an element of having to rethink things a little bit. There is still a real excitement about the way the five of us play together."