Boney Kings of Nowhere

A Radiohead History and Listening Guide

Christopher Weed

Early Beginnings

• Formed in Oxfordshire, England in 1985

• Members (Seen on upper left): Thom Yorke (Seen on lower left), Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Phil Selway (Seen on lower left).

• Originally called “On A Friday”

• Changed their name to “Radiohead” after signing a record contract with EMI

Drill E.P.

• The first official recording of Radiohead.

• Released in 1992.

• A 4 song E.P. that was met with mostly negative reviews.

Pablo Honey

• Radiohead’s first full-length album.

• Released in 1993.• The single, “Creep,”

was met with mixed reviews at first.

• BBC removed the song from it’s radio track lists, citing it as “too depressing.”

Pablo Honey

• “Creep” can still be heard today on most rock stations.

• The band almost broke up after their album’s tour.

• “Creep” has rarely been heard live since their Pablo Honey tour.

The Bends

• Radiohead’s second full length album.

• Released in 1995.• Their first widely

commercially successful album.

• Four songs made it to UK top 100 charts.

The Bends

• It was during this period that Radiohead met Nigel Godrich, the producer for all future albums.

• It was also during this period that Radiohead met Stanley Donwood, the artist for all future albums.

OK Computer

• Their third full-length album.

• Released in 1997.• Regarded by many

critics as the best album of the 90’s.

• Fused rock, jazz, electronic, and trip hop.

Kid A

• Their fourth full-length album.

• Released in 2000.• The first installment of a

two album series of recordings.

• Written through severe depression and disenchantment of the band.

• Minimalist electronic music.

Amnesiac

• Radiohead’s fifth full-length album.

• Released in 2001.• The second

installment of a two album series of recordings.

• A heavily jazz, big band, and electronic album.

Hail to the Thief

• Radiohead’s sixth and final album with under contract with EMI.

• Released in 2003.

• The majority of the lyrics are influenced by the presidential elections of 2000.

In Rainbows

• Radiohead’s seventh full-length album.

• Released in 2007.• Their most

commercially successful album to date.

• Released digitally as a “pay what you want” business model.

The King of Limbs

• Radiohead’s eighth and most recent album.

• Released in 2011.• Heavily percussion

oriented and improvisational.

• Played live with two drummers.

Knives Out E.P. - Listening Guide

• Extended play from the Amnesiac sessions.

• Released in 2001.

• Includes the songs “Knives Out”, “Cuttooth”, and “Life in a Glasshouse”

“Knives Out”

• Heavily influenced by Surf Rock.

• Slowly becomes more chaotic, despite only slight dynamic changes.

• Comprised of vocals, two guitars, drums, bass, and synthesizer.

"Knives Out"

“Cuttooth”

• Heavily influenced by Krautrock.

• A percussively driven song.

• Comprised of piano, bass, drums, vocals, and synthesizers.

"Cuttooth"

“Life in a Glasshouse”

• Heavily influenced by New Orleans Big Band.

• A central focus around brass instruments.

• Comprised of trombone, trumpet, flute, drums, contrabass, piano, and vocals.

"Life in a Glasshouse"

A band for the history books

Radiohead is one of the few bands that was met with success through the traditional market, and that has moved on independently finding greater success.

Boney Kings of Nowhere

A Radiohead History and Listening Guide

Christopher Weed

• Amnesiac5. Digital image. Pop Matters. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Amnesiac Album. Digital image. EIL. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Amnesiac Standard. Digital image. Sleevage. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Clark, Martin. Radiohead: Hysterical and Useless. London: Plexus Limited, 1999. Radiohead: Hysterical and Useless. Plexus Publishing Limited. Book. 29 June 2014.

• Cryer. Digital image. ATT. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Donwood, Stanley. Donwood - 5. Digital image. Its Nice That. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Fitter Happier Shirt. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Gallery4-4114. Digital image. Guim. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Hail to the Thief Album Cover. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Hail to the Thief. Digital image. EIL. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Indexpromosepia_01. Digital image. 8 Notes. N.p., n.d. Web.

• In Rainbows 1. Digital image. Tumblr. N.p., n.d. Web.

• In Rainbows 2. Digital image. Blog Spot. N.p., n.d. Web.

• In Rainbows 3. Digital image. Citizen Insane. N.p., n.d. Web.

• In Rainbows Album Cover. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Kid A 51. Digital image. Pop Matters. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Kid A Album Art. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Kid A Hidden Booklet. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• The King of Limbs Album Cover. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• The King of Limbs. Digital image. EIL. N.p., n.d. Web.

• The King of Limbs. Digital image. Fan Pop. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Knives Out Album Cover. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

Works Cited

• Manhattan Full Size. Digital image. Ink-d. N.p., n.d. Web.

• OK Computer Album Art. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Ok Computer Booklet Page. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web

• Pablo Honey Album Art. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Page 6. Digital image. Start Blank. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Petridis, Alex. "Relax: It's Nothing like Kid A." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 01 June 2001. Web. 29 June 2014.

• Radiohead1993PR010211. Digital image. NME. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Radiohead 2. Digital image. The Whole Garden Will Bow. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Radiohead 276. Digital image. Guim. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Radiohead 7. Digital image. Pop Matters. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Radiohead Drill EP. Digital image. At Ease. N.p., n.d. Web.

• RadioheadOkComputerEraPR130612. Digital image. NME. N.p., n.d. Web.

• RadioheadOkComputerEra02PR130612. Digital image. NME. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Radiohead - SNL. Digital image. Green Plastic. N.p., n.d. Web.

• Radiohead The Bends. Digital image. Wikia. N.p., n.d. Web.

• "Radiohead: The Right Frequency." BBC News. BBC, 22 Feb. 2001. Web. 29 June 2014.

• Randall, Mac. Exit Music: The Radiohead Story - Updated Edition. Milwaukee: Backbeat, 2011. Book. 29 June 2014.

• Screen Shot. Digital image. Wired. N.p., n.d. Web.

• StanleyDonwoodPR040411. Digital image. NME. N.p., n.d. Web.

• TKOL Back. Digital image. Citizen Insane. N.p., n.d. Web.