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Back in stock! Limited edition EP from one of the most popular British bands of the decade. Features 'Airbag' pulled from the OK Computer album plus six non-album tracks: 'Pearly', 'Meeting In The Aisle', 'A Reminder', 'Polythelyne (Parts 1 & 2)', 'Melatorin' and 'Palo Alto'. Parlophone.
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By Gregory W. Locke (Seattle, WA)
For the whole of my adult existence I've considered Radiohead's OK Computer to be the best album I've ever heard. Sure, it's not an original album to pick as a favorite, but there's a reason an entire army of Gen-Xers cue Radiohead's third album up in their car before heading into job interviews they'll never get. It really, really, really is that good. Better than Pet Sounds. Better than Revolver. Better than Born to Run. It's even better than Dark Side of the Moon. But that's all hyperbolic, irrational, subjective malarkey. One thing that's for certain is that OK Computer's accompanying seven-song EP, Airbag / How Am I Driving?, is, by scale, just as conquering - ranking as my personal second favorite EP of all-time (Pavement's lean, mean Watery, Domestic will forever take the top spot on that list).
Upon its initial limited release, Airbag was marketed as a "mini album aimed at the USA." Soon enough the EP (or as they insisted, "mini album") was out of print and ultimately largely forgotten by the general music-buying public. Late bloomers who never had a chance to buy the $6 extension of OK Computer were left to either buy the $30 Japanese import version, No Surprises, or pay collectors prices online for a used copy. I, for one, had both the U.S. and Japanese versions; they had different album artwork and slightly different tracklists, but for the most part housed the same lot of first-rate B-sides. Eventually I sold both versions for collector's prices, knowing that someday the band would offer up a proper reissue. I'm very smart when it comes to "mini albums" being reissued.
As predicted, Capitol Records have just reissued Airbag / How Am I Driving? right smack dab in the middle of what seems to be the longest Radiohead drought yet. The EP is presented almost exactly as it was before: no extra songs; no cleaned up sound (doesn't need it); no retrospective essays; and no new fancy packaging. It's basically the exact same, and why shouldn't it be? Would you change anything at all about OK Computer? (If you just said "yes," please forget my name and turn the page.)
As for Airbag's content, well, all you really need to know is that all six songs are from the OK Computer sessions. If you like OK Computer, then you'll like Airbag, as none of the songs were left off of OK Computer because they were inadequate, but rather, they just didn't fit into the puzzle as well as the others. Highlights include the hypnotic "Palo Alto," the wonderfully disjointed "Polyethylene (Parts 1&2)," the slow-burning "A Reminder" and the wonderfully prog-rockin' "Pearly." Like OK Computer, Airbag features loads of layered guitar work by Jonny Greenwood and all of Thom Yorke's signature paranoid writing and ranting. Basically, Airbag is, to date, the last cohesive glimpse of the pre-Kid A band that damn near changed rock music. Everything since, at best, has offered momentary moments of brilliance, but nothing near The Bends, OK or Airbag. (And yes, Kid A is great for what it is: a follow-up to an impossible to follow up album).
Yeah, Airbag is prog-rock, but thankfully not in the synth-heavy, pretentious, soul patch sort of way. It'd be a damn shame for any Radiohead fan to move onto their free-form jazz phase without first hearing "Pearly" and "Palo Alto" at least a few dozen times. (Greg Locke)
By IRate
Leave it to this group to make their trash our treasure, on this superb display of what an EP should be; fully flavored trimmings of a band in flux.
By Michael A. Albert (nj)
Seriously, Radiohead's b-sides make it perfectly clear how great a band they really are. Their b-sides are top notch, even compared to their own album tracks. So why not put together a three- or four-disc set of their b-sides, rare tracks, live recordings, etc? There is money to be made here, and God knows Catpitol has no compunction. I only hope it's done tastefully when they finally get around to it. In the meantine, Airbag, Com Lag, Pyramid Song, and the like are the only (legal) means of collecting these fantastic recordings, but it's far from complete. In any event, they are eminently listenable and enjoyable. "Metting in the Aisle" and "Palo Alto" and "Polyethylene" are fantastic songs all, "How I Made my Millions" is essential.... I can't in fact remember whether all of these songs are on this album, but it's worthy of your money regardless.
By J. Crossland (Pensacola, Fl)
I love this album. A friend actually bought it and shared it with me. I absolutely love 'Polyethylene' both parts, it's the perfect song to turn up really loud and rock out to. 'Palo Alto' is awesome. And 'A Reminder' is just a great mello song. This album is fantastic and a must for any Radiohead lover.
By osapientia (Carson, CA)
There are definitely some rocking tracks on this EP, title song notwithstanding. Moreover, it serves as an excellent companion to OK computer, probably the equivalent of a DVD extra. B-sides are always a treat from Radiohead and are kind of collector's specialties. More experimental than the normal album format allows for, but worth investigating and for finding that one favorite gem that you can't find anywhere else. Palo Alto seems to be that track on this EP.
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