Spinner

Are Radiohead Just Hitting the Pause Button?

Is the world overreacting about the possible "no albums" future of Radiohead?

Media reports have barked, blared and bleated this week that the band is turning its back on albums after an interview with frontman Thom Yorke in the Believer magazine hit the internet.

"None of us want to go into that creative hoo-ha of a long-play record again," Yorke told the magazine. "Not straight off ... It worked with 'In Rainbows' because we had a real fixed idea about where we were going. But we've all said that we can't possibly dive into that again. It'll kill us."

Yorke then spoke of his desire to release an orchestral EP, using multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood's increasingly impressive talents as an arranger.

Playing at the 7 Worlds Collide show at London's Dingwalls on Tuesday, drummer Phil Selway showed an impressive voice as he sang two songs 'The Ties That Bind Us' and 'The Witching Hour'.

He and guitarist O'Brien spent a month in New Zealand in December and January helping with the Neil Finn-helmed album 'The Sun Came Out'.

Selway later told Spinner he will record his debut solo album in Radiohead's studio in September. The band is currently rehearsing for their appearances at Reading and Leeds festivals later this month, the latest in a string of live dates since the digital-then-physical release of seventh studio album 'In Rainbows' at the end of 2007.

It seems that amid the revelations the band want to do more single-song releases or EPs -- like the recent 'Harry Patch (In Memory Of)' -- Yorke's proviso "not straight off" has been glossed over.

The torturous recording of 1997's 'OK Computer' and the subsequent touring put Yorke in a less than sanguine mood, but after a three-year gap the band responded with not one album but two ('Kid A' and 'Amnesiac') within a little over a year.

At the 7 Worlds Collide show, as Neil Finn rounded off the various band members recording achievements, guitarist Ed O'Brien offered a shaky hand signal for "maybe" when Finn mentioned Radiohead might be working on a new record. That's not a no, for the record.

Interviewed on the UK's BBC Breakfast TV news on Wednesday, Selway left the question regards "no new albums" unanswered.

Maybe Radiohead need to attend to some personal projects before they reconvene to make another album, with all the effort that requires. It would be churlish not to let them.

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11 Comments

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Jen

Radiohead is the most amazing band to ever exist. They will come out with a new album and it will be spectacular as always! They definitely do deserve a break, it must be difficult being so talented every day of their lives.

August 13 2009 at 2:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rick

never heard of them

August 12 2009 at 11:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Adam

This is a story on one of the greatest bands ever and there's only one comment since 10:38AM! Are there any REAL music lovers in the online community? I know this band has a very strong as well as loyal fan base across the world. Where is everybody?.

August 12 2009 at 11:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pat

no, no, no....say it ain't so. I so look forward to their recordings. They're GREAT and so FANTASTIC live. I hope they find inspiration soon.

August 12 2009 at 11:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tricia

When I first heard this story, being a devoted Radiohead fan, I was horrified. If you just skimmed the interview, it seems like Radiohead won't be making any more albums. But all Thom was saying is that they're taking a break on albums, not music all together! Any music from them is good, and if they need time to take a breather before proceeding with a new album, so be it. Waiting longer makes it better when the album actually comes out.

August 12 2009 at 11:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
J

"It'll kill us."

Recording an album will kill you, huh? Geez, drama queen...try serving in the military, or even digging a ditch for a living instead. It will teach you to appreciate the fact that society supports you so comfortably in your role as an artist.

August 12 2009 at 11:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to J's comment
jj

dont be an a-hole

August 13 2009 at 2:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tandrew

Yeah, J, that's sort of irrelevant and heavily taken out of context.

August 17 2009 at 1:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kurt suchman

i do like radiohead, but garbage AND no doubt AND paramore are releasing new albums soon

August 12 2009 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to kurt suchman's comment
John

Here's a collection of Radiohead's videos. - Enjoy. ---
http://www.video.e-bookssite.com/list.php?q=Radiohead&Submit=GO

August 12 2009 at 11:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply