I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover

Last night, Radiohead played their first of two shows at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre (well which is it, an auditorium or a theatre). After their one and only stop in the midwest, the band will head to sunny California for six, that's right six, shows in three different cities. Unfortunately, one of those cities is San Diego.

The purpose of the tour is to show off new material, some of which could make it on the next album, tentively titled LP7. We here at Art*Head have been following the tour very closely, and now bring to you MP3s of all the new Radiohead songs, as well as some opinions on them. This post is all you'll need to get yourself ready for those California shows, so here we go.


http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=FB48CBD54C384336 <==== New Radiohead Songs.

(Fuck hyperlinks you wanker)


4 Minute Warning - If this shit makes it on the album, I won't be buying it.

15 Step - I got harrassed at a Radiohead message board for saying this song sounds like the Strokes. Aside from the first minute, it's actually a decent song. I'll be damned if that guitar doesn't sound like the Strokes, and I'll be double damned if Yorke isn't trying to emulate Jules when he sings "you used to be alright, what happened? Etc, etc." They've played this song pretty much every night of the tour, so it very well could end up being the first single. Needs work.

Arpeggi - I hated this song when I first heard the original version, which was just Thom backed up by an orchestra of sorts. The line "weird fishes" still bugs the hell out of me, but the drums in this song are so good. One of the better songs out of this batch, could also end up being a single eventually. I know Pitchfork thinks so.

Bangers & Mash - Stupid title, but the song rocks, by which I mean it's loud and features guitars. Not really much else going on sadly. J Greenwood needs to be doing more with his guitar in this song.

Bodysnatchers - Another straight up rock song, but this one has a slightly better chorus. Again, J Greenwood needs to be doing more with his guitar.

Down is the New Up - The most recent new song to debut, and probably my favorite so far. Definately needs work, but the vocal interplay throughout, specifically towards the end, could sound so fucking great on record if they did it right. Apparently the version included in here cuts off. Sorry.

Go Slowly - A good song for sure, but it doesn't really go anywhere, quickly or slowly. The version included here is from one of the European shows. Apparently they've already changed it somewhat, so perhaps it goes somewhere now. I'd like to see it on the album.

House of Cards - "I don't want to be your friend, I just want to be your lover." Possibly the worst lyric Thom E. Yorke has ever written. I can't believe he can sing that line in front of people. The worst of the new songs, but for some reason they play it almost every show. Hopefully it will go the way of Andrew Murphy and we'll end up seeing it at the odd summer music festival every so often.

Nude - Actually an old song that dates back to the OK Computer days. The ending isn't as loud and guitar-y, but it's nice to think that we might finally get a studio version.

Open Pick - The best of the straight up guitar songs. This song is awesome, but they hardly play it now, which is sad. If House of Cards makes it on the album and this doesn't, I'm not buying it.

Spooks - An instrumental that hardly crosses the minute mark, yet is musically superior to many of the new songs. I'd like to see it expanded into a real song ala Permanent Daylight, but I wouldn't be too sad if it was never played after this tour.

Videotape - Scratch that, this one is my favorite. Beautiful song, such a great build up. The lyrics might be based on this one Japanese movie that Ana Staska would always talk about where dead people have to choose which memory they want to relive for the rest of eternity. Would make a great first track on the album.

There you have it. It looks to me like Mr. Yorke kept all of his good songs for himself, as the Eraser really takes most of this stuff to town and fucks it in a handicapped bathroom stall. Several members of the band claim that there are about fifteen new songs total, so there is a possibility that a brand new song might pop up during one of the California shows (hopefully not any of the San Diego ones). If and when new Radiohead songs become available, you can bet your sweet ass we'll have them here at Art*Head. Once the tour officially ends and all of the bootlegs are accounted for, we'll feature a collection of the best recordings of the new songs. So if the quality of these versions don't do anything for you, come back in two weeks or so. Toodles.

Your arch nemesis, James Isaacs