Search - Radiohead :: There There

Typical Radiohead, which is good of course.

Adam Crabb | Irvine, CA USA | 06/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There There is propably the most straight-foward rock song on the new album. I really appreciate the use of guitar on this song.I can see, or better yet, hear why the the two Bs, Paperbag writer and Where bluebirds fly, are Bs. They are inconsistent in sound with the songs on the LP. That doesn't mean they aren't good songs. I don't think Radiohead knows how to make bad songs. Just don't expect rock.Paperbag writer: Henry Mancini meets 80's funk guitar and hip-hop beats. It's kind of weird, but all very cool. Funky.Where bluebirds fly has three main elements: a kind of tribal african electronica polyrythmic groove, what sounds like a fast moving diminished arpegio, and long-tone ghostly vocals with synthesizer in the same diminished scale or something. Haunting, creepy, beautiful."

Great Single

Shadowgraphs | 05/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There There: While there are better songs on Hail to the Theif, this is probably the best choice for a first single. It's a great guitar-rock song. 5/5Paperbag Writer: A creepy techno/funk song with an excellent bassline. Definately not album material but still incredible as a B-Side. 4/5Where Bluebirds Fly: One of the most experimental songs Radiohead has ever put on record. You will probably either love it or hate it... I love it. Again, this would not be a good song to put on an album, mainly because it's a bit too weird. My favorite song on the whole single. 5/5"

Great A-side, freaky and cool B-sides

Nick Lambert | London UK | 05/30/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You've probably already heard 'There There' by now. It is, of course, a fantastic song, and one of Radiohead's most guitarry for years. The funky arrangement, with tom-toms and crunchy, buzzy guitars, seems to amble along pleasantly for the first two and a half minutes, until the chain-gang-like second half. The catchy lines are repeated and build until the drums and guitar properly rock out. It is an amazing exercise in how to build up a song until breaking point. The two B sides carry on in the vein of Radiohead's more recent electronic outings, and both are really quite disturbing. 'Paperbag Writer' reminded me of another Readiohead B-side, 'The Amazing Sounds of Orgy', with it's loping groove, discordant string sample and sarcastic vocals. It's strange and initially a little flat, but it is actually quite funky. If you like freaky, harsh funk from hell, that is. 'Where bluebirds fly' is even more extreme, and demonstrates Thom Yorke's love affair with artists such as Autechre is far from over. The song is a clash of skittering, junglist beats, odd, screechy computer noises and what sounds like the vocal equivalent of free-jazz. If that sounds strange, well, it is, but again, bear with it for a few listens and you have an oddly beautiful and utterly nightmarish track."