Thom Yorke - The Eraser

19:35 / 31.05.06

Just heard this album today, wanted to start a discussion about it. Very electronic, Thom Yorke stuff, got a nice vibe to it. Nothing ground breaking, but it was enjoyable. Wanted to see others opinions...

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

22:24 / 31.05.06

I can't get past the opening track "The Eraser". That chorus is just too damned amazing. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

14:54 / 01.06.06

it's been leaked already?!? damn!

15:09 / 01.06.06

oh, this confounded age of leaks and piracy. starting a discussion of an album that hasn't been legally released is sort of disturbing. and weird, mostly because not everyone is going to be able to respond to it.

or maybe i'm just jealous.

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

18:49 / 01.06.06

Probably the second one. ;D

I don't know. I know I'm going to buying the album anyway, twice if there's some kind of Donwoodian special edition. So I can't feel bad. And I'm not sharing it with anyone besides the people who pull up next to my car at a stoplight.

19:46 / 01.06.06

i think it's more of the inviting discussion aspect of this post that troubles me. It sort of assumes that anyone who likes Yorke/Radiohead, has heard the leak and wants to discuss the leak...instead of discussing the album release itself.

Sniv

12:28 / 02.06.06

Keith, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. Are you saying you'd prefer it if this thread was specifically for anticipation until the release date, or that you'd prefer people to talk about the music only when they have paid for it? Surely if you've heard it then you can talk about it? After all, in a year's time the album will be old news, and someone reading this thread wouldn't know that the leak was being discussed, rather than the 'proper' release (well, they could have). Or am I missing the point?

I am downloading this bugger when I get home from work though, make no mistake.

13:04 / 02.06.06

It seems odd to me to actively invite discussion right now of what people think of an album's content when it isn't legally available yet. It's sort of saying "I downloaded this album, everyone else should, too, and be proud of it."

Obviously, I spent much of yesterday trying to track it down myself, so I don't care so much about the piracy of it, and the fan's need to hear it right away (guilty of that all the time). But I don't tend to assume that everyone else has heard it. It's mostly the assumption of piracy as the main avenue to acquiring music these days that bugs me a bit.

Perhaps I'm taking it too seriously. Seemed odd to me, though.

That said, I grabbed it myself, but haven't given it much of a listen so far. What I did hear sounded exactly like what I thought at Thom Yorke solo effort would sound like, which isn't a bad thing, in any way.

Sniv

13:38 / 02.06.06

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mention that fact that fans often (think they) need a certain album, when all it is is 21st Century impatience. Although I'm glad you caved, makes me feel better!

So, when you get a leaked album, instead of assuming everyone else has it, do you feel all smug and elitest 'till it comes out, and then when people are talking about it, say "ooooh, I've had that for ages" (I am guilty of this, occaisionally). I think attitutes towards leaked/pirated music is a massive discussion worth having though, just maybe not is this thread.

And, back on topic, I've always thought Thom's solo album wouold sound a lot like "How I made my Millions". Am I right?

14:18 / 02.06.06

So, when you get a leaked album, instead of assuming everyone else has it, do you feel all smug and elitest 'till it comes out, and then when people are talking about it, say "ooooh, I've had that for ages" (I am guilty of this, occaisionally). I think attitutes towards leaked/pirated music is a massive discussion worth having though, just maybe not is this thread.

noooo... I sort of just don't telling anyone, much less assume that everyone has heard it... and usually, i listen to it a couple times and put it away, then wait for the real one to come out. It's total 21st century impatience, agreed.

Er...I started a thread about pirated music attitudes and effects, and a lot of people replied, but I never had a chance to revisit it. I shall have to dig it up.

And, yes, back on topic, listening to this now, and it's quite great, after all. Seems very personal, more so even than the Radiohead stuff.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

19:47 / 03.06.06

There is no need for discussions of the right or wrongs of music leaks. That can be another thread, and perhaps it would be a good discussion. But the fact is, the music is out there, people have heard it, and this is simply a thread for discussion of the feelings generated by the work, not a discussion of whether we should have heard it or not.

Now that I have had a chance to give it a proper listen, i think it's quite amazing. Definately more personal, songs like "the clock" really hit home that Thom still has "it".

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

22:25 / 03.06.06

It's less How I Made My Millions and more Packt Like Sardines.

eargang

00:23 / 04.06.06

I don't know. I know I'm going to buying the album anyway, twice if there's some kind of Donwoodian special edition.

I think I have found my long lost mental twin.
Mmmmm Donwood goodness.

Peach Pie

13:43 / 19.06.06

Hi - I've heard it isn't in shops till July.

Has anyone found it on the web and if so could they give the link?

16:01 / 19.06.06

DON'T Google for 'isohunt'. DON'T search on there for 'the Eraser'. I saw Boston Legal last night, district attorney Adam Arkin isn't going to sue my arse for this.

By the way, if you start downloading a movie, you've got the wrong file.

*sigh*

To me, it sounds like bits from "Hail To The Theif", looped and with the guitars and drum kit stuff taken off. It's a bit Bjork, in a way.. new sounds, fascinating little scratchy things, a few bleeps and a lot of whooshes.

Some of the textures feel wide and hollow, but there's always a few curious rhythms played close to the speakers to stop it sounding too spacey. Effort has been made to nudge arty and difficult electronica into a more art-ful, indie mode. Imagine the parts of a traditional rock band (drums, bass, rhythm and lead) replaced with clunking machinary, old broken drum machines, rich and varied sampler attacks and a kind of desolate, cavenous space and you'll get the idea.

It takes me YEARS to get into the lyrics on any album, so I'll leave that to the experts here.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

14:33 / 20.06.06

What's the matter Goldfish? Are you unable to Bittorent?

Peach Pie

15:44 / 21.06.06

erm... I don't know yet. what's bittorrent?

*hangs head*

Slate

18:02 / 21.06.06

I have not heard it yet, but have read plenty of reviews. Does it sound anything like an album called TNT by a band called Tortoise? All the reviews I have read make it sound that way, but with VOCALS? Can anyone compare at this stage?

16:45 / 25.06.06

goldfish- download Azureus (unless anyone can recommend a better client?) There should be an FAQ or a ReadMe or something that explains it all. I figured it out and I'm hopeless with computers- seem to remember it was quite helpful in telling me what to do.

Anyway, back to the album- hopefully will be listening to it this very day, but what I will say for now is that the artwork is lovely. I thought Kid A and Amnesiac were possibly the best things Radiohead have done, and by all accounts this is Mr Y exploring those areas further, so I am all expectant ears.

17:16 / 25.06.06

Ooh.. this sounds good... on "The Clock", so far... nice edgy, insistent percussion- wouldn't have been out of place on Eno's Another Day On Earth but for its warmth.

11:11 / 26.06.06

Azureus is only a good client if you're on a Mac. And even then there might be a better OS X only client. www.utorrent.com for windows.... hands down, uses 1/10 the memory of Azureus.

11:15 / 26.06.06

Azureus is only a good client if you're on a Mac. And even then there might be a better OS X only client. www.utorrent.com for windows.... hands down, uses 1/10 the memory of Azureus.

15:24 / 26.06.06

Azureus is only a good client if you're on a Mac.

Really? I have a PC and use Azureus... what would you recommend instead?

Anyway, back to the topic- much as I have grown to love Hail To The Thief, this is more the album I was expecting back then.

Alex's Grandma

12:45 / 12.07.06

For those of a mind to do so, I wouldn't, erm, necessarily rush out and buy this, were I you. Especially not if;

$%^&Y^$R
You are prone to headaches
And are not fond of wasps
Buzzing about the place
Like people in the city
Like ... like pigs
Like pigs in the toilet
Of the Met bar
Or the Bank of England
It is all
Bollocks
And may make
Your fillings
ring

To listen to it first
On cables that go round the world
Like tentacles
Though THEY say not to
Seems like an
Advisable
Course of
Action. W^Y&^%R$

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:27 / 12.07.06

Has Thom Yorke scored any other films?

13:37 / 12.07.06

I heard he picked up a copy of the Goonies for four quid the other day.

No, I still really, really like this album. Remember when Radiohead were on the front cover of The Wire, and the letters page filled with indignation? I think if the complainers heard this, they'd probably really like it, as they say. Whether they'd admit to liking it, mind...

Okay, the emotional component's fairly low in the mix (with Harrowdown Hill's "I'm coming home, I'm coming home" bit being one of a few notable exceptions), but sonically it's superb, and gets a lot less cold with each repeated listen.

18:57 / 12.07.06

what's striking me most about the album is how infinitely more fantastic it is at full CD quality sound. I think the sounds that Yorke used on the album are highly susceptible to mp3 compression damage. When I heard the leaked mp3s a few weeks back, I was sort of "meh" on it...it felt very flat and unexpectional. Listening to the full CD this morning on a decent system, I was completely blown away by how deep and subtle it is. It's quickly climbing up the list in my mind of great releases this year.

Alex's Grandma

19:57 / 12.07.06

I did really want to like this, and I dare say I'll give it a few more listens, but,

This evening
Having tried my best
(Having tried my best
With the album,
The one I'd bought from
Down the road
In fucking Sainsbury's
Dead babies masturbating into
The butt
Of a gun,)
I did find myself
Switching the gas rings on
To cook an egg
And 'accidentally'
Falling over.

Into a cup of
Nat West tea.

Scum.

I will grow
I will not be held down
I will fly
I will go to
The 'so-called'
Off-licence.

Essentia-lly.