Radiohead's OK Computer (Thirty Three and a Third series) - Softcover

Griffiths, Dai

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0826416632 ISBN 13: 9780826416636

Publisher: Continuum, 2004

Synopsis

Seemingly granted 'classic album' status within days of its release in 1997, OK Computer transformed Radiohead from a highly promising rock act into The Most Important Band in the World – a label the band has been burdened by (and has fooled around with) ever since. Through close musical analysis of each song, Dai Griffiths explores the themes and ideas that have made this album resonate so deeply with its audience, and argues that OK Computer is one of the most successfully realized CD albums so far created.

About this title

About the Author

Dai Griffiths is Head of the Department of Music at Oxford Brookes University.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

But then Karma Police changes. After the second chorus the track lifts, in various ways. Harmonically, there s a key change of sorts (the sheet music charmingly follows the convention of preparing the reader for the new key signature), from E minor to B minor, although in truth both sections use similar chords. Then vocally or melodically, the key change takes Thom Yorke to his angelic register. Texturally, there s a big shift, with all the instruments doing lighter things. Best to my mind though, there s the one word, phew. Phew s great: it s a cartoon word, like gulp or zzzz or bah . Its precision matters, the fact that it s really there, properly pronounced, not just sort-of-breathed

Edition details

• Publisher: Continuum
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0826416632
• ISBN 13: 9780826416636
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144