Radiohead | “The King Of Limbs” | Album Review

Story by Mitch McCann 

| Published Mar 1, 2011

As the decade neared its close, fans saw Radiohead’s body of work hoisted as the best of its time (with 2000’s Kid A ranking #1 of the decade by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork) The King of Limbs, in all its poise, opens the next chapter in Radiohead’s future. And while everything is done in much the same way it always was, the result is sharp, illustrious and as unreal as the band ever was. Although Limbs is nothing new or fresh (particularly from Radiohead), somehow it’s both. Radiohead is not ahead of the curve, they define it.

“Bloom”’s magic opening starts the reel of a grand cinematic record, punctuated with the rumbling bass and raw energy of follower “Morning Mr. Magpie.” Tender and shaky “Little by Little” crashes into dark instrumental “Feral.” All of which merely entrap the listener into Thom Yorke’s twisted, ambient world as first single, “Lotus Flower” captures and enthralls. “Flower”’s remnants bleeds into the impressive “Codex” which itself trickles into the curiously acoustic, yet still chambered “Give Up The Ghost.” Until finally Yorke is finished with you, “Separator,” aloof and understated, gives listeners gently into that good night. With the business sense and shrewd manner of a musical drug lord, Yorke pulls you down deep, mainlines his message, and is gone as quickly as he arrived.

Thom Yorke’s signature mumble blends eloquently, songs quake, swirling through the music’s intended atmosphere. Each song floats through your headphones and into your subconscious, an experience that is yours and yours alone. King of Limbs is short, bitter-sweet, and vintage Radiohead Thom undoubtedly wants us to know and come to terms with it, “no one gets hurt, we’ve done nothing wrong.”