Quote:
Originally Posted by roger  they resulting record would NOT sound the same coming out of a $10 an hour studio....that's a stupid suggestion. and while they may not be particularly anal about what mic is gonna go on what amp etc they ARE extremely finicky about their guitar tones etc....i read an interview with the live engineer on their last big tour who said he just had to put mics up and capture the magic because they had spent sooooo much time and energy getting the tones and effects they wanted....and don't tell me nigel don't give a shit about gear and technology.....he prides himself in making beautiful sounding records and you don't get there by not giving a shit about the gear you are using. bah!......the songs themselves.....well it's radiohead! |
Yes, they are choosy about guitar tones by extension of arrangement choices. So, yes, that's true. Yorke will play an SG on certain things, a tele on others, etc. as the songs demand. And there are effects pedals at their feet, for sure.
And yes, Godrich is very intense at the technical level. No question. This is what I said. That is a large part of his job. And he's truly brilliant at it.
And yes, there is money put into their records and a high production value. This is clear.
But the band have stated many, many, many times that they despise gear nerds and audiophiles who obsess on details and process and minutiae. There is a
very important punk side to Radiohead which prevents them from sinking into an unwieldy or pompous "prog rock" thing, although there are aspects of their music which dangerously court that world.
I bet there is a portion of Radiohead's fanbase who relate to Radiohead on a "prog" level, totally getting off on the grandeur and ambition and marvelling at the musicianship, etc. I can also understand why people called "OK Computer" a millenial take on Pink Floyd. But what saves the band from these comparisons --- and this is very, very important!--- is the irreverent, rip-it-up-and-start-again punk side. Even the band's incorporation of elements of electronica has origins in a punk mindset.
A lot of musicians who take influence from the band don't know how to digest
that part. They focus instead on the fancy gear. Young musicians who are influenced by Radiohead tend to get way into pedals and noodly, arty guitar "soundscaping" wankery that rings emotionally hollow. In so doing, they miss a vital component of what makes the band great, which is a f*ck-it-all spirit.
That's my only point, ultimately.
- c