Radiohead - The Best Of (Album)
When Lisa, Dwarf editor, asked me if I wanted to review Radiohead: The Best Of, I agreed for one reason: I wanted to rant about how stupid an idea it was for EMI to release this record. And rant I will.
For any genuine fans, the purchasing of this CD would be downright irrational. If you want to throw twenty dollars away, please, give it to me. It would be irrational because most Radiohead fans would already own the band’s discography, or at least the best part of it. And in this age of iPod and iTunes, the playing of any particular song is as easy as scroll and click. It would take a true fan more effort- and money- to buy this album than to create a playlist with the songs that are found on it. Furthermore, most Radiohead fans would find the exclusion of any songs from 2007’s In Rainbows somewhat laughable. What kind of Radiohead Best Of would not feature Jigsaw Falling into Place or Videotape? I’ll tell you: a mediocre one, an incomplete one. And how can this be a true celebration of the band’s catalogue if it doesn’t span its entirety? Only EMI knows the answer to that question.
So we can rule actual fans out of the potential buyer’s market for this Best Of. Which got me thinking, if not fans of the band who would buy this album, then who? Prospective fans? Those who have been encouraged to get into Radiohead by their friends, but are too cautious with their money to go out and purchase one of the band’s records? Those who say, “I don’t know much by them, perhaps I’ll buy their Best Of and if I like it, I’ll buy their albums”? Well, to those people I say this. If you liked whichever song(s) you have heard, it’s likely that you will enjoy any one of the band’s releases (Ok, maybe not so much Pablo Honey). If you didn’t like whatever you have previously heard, chances are you won’t like anything else by them either. Radiohead have a very unique sound and style, you either like them, or you don’t. Simple. Right, so neither current fans, nor potential fans, have great reason to buy this album. It’s not looking good is it folks?
The last Best Of I purchased was Led Zeppelin’s, a double disc of remasters. That was roughly seven years ago, when I couldn’t be arsed carrying around ten different CDs at a time for use in my Discman. It’s 2008 now, and we have entered the digital age. Compact discs are on the way out, there’s no point in denying it, and nothing highlights this gradual but sure transition in the music industry better than the now superfluous nature of Best Of compilations.
Ok, just so I fulfil my obligation of actually reviewing the CDI was given, Radiohead, The Best Of does feature sixteen of the band’s most significant singles and of course, of course, it’s an amazing collection of songs. I must repeat though, there’s nothing here from In Rainbows, which calls into question the release’s relevance. Also, there are a few tracks I would suggest were unlucky to miss out, How to Disappear Completely, Motion Picture Soundtrack, Scatterbrain and Let Down, to name a couple. What you do get for your money is nice little bio, though it also stops short of the band’s latest record.
Alright, I think I’ve given Radiohead; Best Of a big enough sell. Have a nice day.
No alarms and no surprises please. (That’s a Radiohead quote Lisa, just so you know)
