Radiohead: Scotch_Mist + The Best Segues On In Rainbows

January 4th, 2008

Sooo…I dunno if you knew, but a few weeks ago Radiohead announced that they’d be putting on a special New Year’s Eve webcast called Scotch_Mist, to celebrate the physical release of In Rainbows. It aired at midnight GMT and in it, the band performed choice songs from the album and also premiered the video for Nude, which kinda reminds me of No Surprises, a video (and song) that I LOVE> Sidenote: when I stretch after a solid workout at the gym, I always listen to No Surprises. It’s like the perfect ‘wind down’ song.

Anyhoodle – you can watch Scotch_Mist in its entirety on MuchAXS. We’ve cut the show into handy segments so you can skip to your favourites. Each song is different – some are in the studio, some are outdoors (Faust Arp), and there are some cool artistic bits in between.

Watch: MuchAXS

While we’re chatting In Rainbows, allow me to share with you my absolute favourite transitions on each of the album’s ten tracks. I did this while on a train ride last week. You know what I’m talking about – that “sweet spot” in a song where you’re like, “YES!”. It’s just the perfect note or addition to a song…those tiny details that Jonny Greenwood specializes in. Listen along over here.

Best Transition “Moments” On In Rainbows

1. 15 Step
0:40-0:52 – This is where the song kicks in – right after the first verse, right when the guitar starts…so amazing.
2:06-2:13 – It’s the lyric “thanks for whatever…” and then kids cheering. Love it so, so much.

2. Bodysnatchers
2:07-2:40 – I’m not a HUGE fan of this song, but at 2:07 it takes a turn for the awesomest. Killer solo and pitch change (which I’m a big fan of – see also: S Club 7).

3. Nude
0:39-1:12 – This song is pretty much perfect from start to finish, but I just love when the creepy, haunting bassline kicks in and Thom sings “Don’t get any big ideas / they’re not gonna happen”. Then there’s the addition of some weird warbly saw-esque instrument that pretty much drives a stake right through my heart.

4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
0:26-0:56 – A second guitar comes in and adds all sorts of beautiful layers right before Thom’s vocals begin.

5. All I Need
2:44-3:06 – This song seems so innocuous for the first two and a half minutes, until the crescendo-ing piano begins, and then you know that Radiohead are NOT fking around. Then at 2:54, the drums explode onto the scene.

6. Faust ARP
1:24-1:52 – Love this little interlude and the brilliant lyric “You’ve got a head full of feathers / You got melted to butter”.

7. Reckoner
3:16-3:27 – I couldn’t be a bigger fan of this song. At 3:16 when Thom belts out “oooo oooo reckonnnnnner”, it’s an epic moment. This song also contains the lyric “in rainbows”, presumably the inspiration for the album title.
4:03-4:17 – I also love this part.

8. House of Cards
0:15-0:50 – It was really hard for me to find a cool part in this song, as it’s my least favourite. But the reverbed cooing at the start is pretty cool.

9. Jigsaw Falling into Place
1:44-2:06 – Another great Jonny Greenwood solo moment. Such a great buildup to the next verse.

10. Videotape
1:26-2:21 – One of the most perfect choices for an album closer, ever. I was just reading an interview with Thom where he said Videotape is the best thing the band’s ever done and he couldn’t wait to play it live. He also originally wanted to open the album with this song, but thought people would have immediately turned it off. Truth be told, it IS an album closer. :) At 1:26 when the rolling drum and humming start to accompany Thom’s repetition of “on videotape on videotape”, I stop being able to handle the greatness of the song and am about ready to call it a day.

Also: there’s still time to enter to win the In Rainbows Discbox, which I manhandled yesterday when we received a copy of it in the office. Everyone was oohing and ahhing over it. I can’t guarantee that if you win it, there won’t be some of my residual drool on it.

Posted on Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 3:54 pm by Alison and is filed under Music & Videos.