Instead of simply adding club beats or sonic collage techniques, Radiohead
strive to incorporate the unsettling "intelligent techno" sound
of Autechre and Aphex Twin, characterized by its skittering beats and
stylishly dark sonic surfaces, for Kid A. To their immense credit, Radiohead
don't sound like carpetbaggers, because they share the same post-postmodern
vantage point as their inspirations. As a result, Kid A is easily the
most successful electronica album from a rock band -- it doesn't even
sound like a rock band, even if it does sound like Radiohead. So, Kid
A is an unqualified success? Well, not quite. Despite its admirable ambition,
Kid A is never as visionary or stunning as OK Computer, nor does it really
repay the time it demands. OK Computer required many plays before revealing
the intricacies of its densely layered mix; here, multiple plays are necessary
to discern the music's form, to get a handle on quiet, drifting, minimally
arranged songs with no hooks. Of course, the natural reaction of any serious
record geek is that if the music demands so much work, it must be worth
it -- and at times, that supposition is true. But Kid A's challenge doesn't
always live up to its end of the bargain. It's self-consciously alienating
and difficult, and while that can be intriguing, it seems deeper than
it actually is. Repeated plays dissipate the mystique and reveal a number
of rather drab songs (primarily during the second half), where there isn't
enough under the surface to make Radiohead's relentless experimentation
satisfying. But mixed results are still results, and about half of the
songs positively shimmer with genius.
(by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All
Music Guide)
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