Radiohead - 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place'
Forgive the over-specific fannish-rant, but I'm getting a little confused as to why magazines are falling over themselves to praise Radiohead's latest album as being a triumphant return to form, after what everyone seems to have suddenly decided was their first real career-dip since they became good in the first place, the supposedly-disappointing 'Hail To The Thief'. It's not that 'In Rainbows' isn't good, far from it, it's just there's a lot on it which is very like stuff from that aforementioned 'duff' last album, and this song is a perfect case in point.
Oh, before I get into the actual sonic similarities, I know that RADIOHEAD say they were disappointed with 'Hail To The Thief', that's their prerogative. What I don't get is why so many magazine writers are queueing up to join in the backlash on the one album and then get massively excited about the other. I mean sure, a lot of them didn't like 'Kid A' when it came out, or 'Amnesiac', and muttered darkly about how the band were scared of success (or melody). Which just goes to show how wrong critics (hello!) can be, but still...
Anyway, my point is that 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place' is the most 'Thief-y' song on 'In Rainbows', recalling the twittering, jittery angst of '2+2=5', and being structured in a similar fashion. Starts with a low-key itch, in this case Thom listing a series of moments on a drunken night out which could be (or are) the catalysts to some unknown but nasty consequence, then all hell breaks loose. Hellbats swoop from the sky, buildings collapse, societies crash into ruin and one angelic choirboyman with bogbrush hair and a stubbly beard howls his outrage to the blackened heavens. It's very much that kind of a song. Radiohead do this kind of song very well indeed.
Now, opinions being what they are, I'm sure that there's any number of important reasons that I've missed as to why 'In Rainbows' has delighted where 'Hail...' failed. This is because musical appreciation is not like inventing a device to clear custard from inside your DVD player, there's no measure of actual empirical success. All I'm saying is that there's an alternative universe not too far from this one where this song, and the album that came with it, is being enjoyed for the next step in a fascinating musical journey that it is. And not the return of the prodigal talent.
Having said that, there's an alternative universe not too far from that one in which 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place' is a new hit song for Westlife. That's just what alternative universes are like...
Download: Out now
CD Released: January 14th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
I can't believe you didn't mention the video in your review. It's sooo good.
There hasn't been a better video then Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer'.
Ah that songs gonna be in my head all day now! *sings* 'You could have a big dipper, going up and down aro. . .' *sings*
i am very interested in this custard clearing device, and was wondering where i could acquire one...
...it's certainly more interesting than anything radiohead have done in the last ten years...