Post by soundandvision on Jun 3, 2008 18:08:18 GMT -5
I really mulled over the purchase of "The Best Of" 2 CD set and I finally caved. I'm certainly by no means a 'casual' fan of this band. I got "The Bends" the day it came out, was into them during the 'Creep'/'Anyone Can Play Guitar' phase. Obsessed over "OK Computer" for almost 2 years and I think "Kid A" is a masterpiece.
That said, I haven't owned any pre-Bends stuff since like 1994 ("Pablo Honey" and the "My Iron Lung" EP). And I never really warmed up to "Amnesiac" as a whole. To be perfectly honest, I always felt like 'Pyramid Song' & 'Knives Out' should have been released as singles (which they were) in conjunction with the "Kid A" LP. And that most of Kid A/Amnesiac sessions that trickled out on the latter should have been held for a future rarities/b-sides release.
That brings me to "Hail to the Thief" which I really tried hard to warm up to but just simply never could. 'There There' is a pretty good single though. I really did like "In Rainbows" though, it was where I expected the material post "Kid A" to go.
All of that said, I felt like "The Best Of" was a warrented purchase at $14.99. Not having anything pre-Bends or post-Kid A was really nice for me, just bits and pieces of those other records. Also, single versions of 'Paranoid Android' and 'Airbag' however minor the difference is from the LP version (and it is VERY minor), are nice inclusions. Lastly 'Talk Show Host', one of my all-time favorite Radiohead songs is here, too.
I was working in a record store for like 3 to 4 years in the mid-90's and when that Romeo & Juliet soundtrack came out, I refused the purchase. Finally having a copy of TSH on my shelf is nice.
Packaging is cool, if unimaginative. Also, the mixes are all but the same. No level boosting/remixing or anything like that. I don't think they needed it though, "OK Computer" is one of the nicest sounding records I've ever heard, upon its release -- I'm speaking both for its content and sound quality. Remastering is not really an issue in the 'loud mastering era' -- late 90's forward.
It's a worthy purchase, if you can get over feeling a little dirty for getting something the band didn't get behind.
That said, I haven't owned any pre-Bends stuff since like 1994 ("Pablo Honey" and the "My Iron Lung" EP). And I never really warmed up to "Amnesiac" as a whole. To be perfectly honest, I always felt like 'Pyramid Song' & 'Knives Out' should have been released as singles (which they were) in conjunction with the "Kid A" LP. And that most of Kid A/Amnesiac sessions that trickled out on the latter should have been held for a future rarities/b-sides release.
That brings me to "Hail to the Thief" which I really tried hard to warm up to but just simply never could. 'There There' is a pretty good single though. I really did like "In Rainbows" though, it was where I expected the material post "Kid A" to go.
All of that said, I felt like "The Best Of" was a warrented purchase at $14.99. Not having anything pre-Bends or post-Kid A was really nice for me, just bits and pieces of those other records. Also, single versions of 'Paranoid Android' and 'Airbag' however minor the difference is from the LP version (and it is VERY minor), are nice inclusions. Lastly 'Talk Show Host', one of my all-time favorite Radiohead songs is here, too.
I was working in a record store for like 3 to 4 years in the mid-90's and when that Romeo & Juliet soundtrack came out, I refused the purchase. Finally having a copy of TSH on my shelf is nice.
Packaging is cool, if unimaginative. Also, the mixes are all but the same. No level boosting/remixing or anything like that. I don't think they needed it though, "OK Computer" is one of the nicest sounding records I've ever heard, upon its release -- I'm speaking both for its content and sound quality. Remastering is not really an issue in the 'loud mastering era' -- late 90's forward.
It's a worthy purchase, if you can get over feeling a little dirty for getting something the band didn't get behind.
