Music Notes: Radiohead, Pablo Honey

June 6th, 2007

If Pablo Honey were by any artist other than Radiohead, I don’t think I would own it. The only notable song is the outstanding Creep. Otherwise, there are a few hit single-ish tunes that remind me of the Gin Blossoms, while the rest are shapeless muddles.

Two particular songs seem to inform the band’s later work: You and Creep. Both contain some interesting lead guitar work with splashes of atonality, and Thom’s expressive vocals, ranging between neurotic warbling and a full out holler. Both exist in embryonic form on Pablo Honey and are expanded upon to much better effect on The Bends and subsequent albums.

Needless to say this is my least favorite Radiohead album which is understandable as it’s their first. The band themselves grew to loathe the reputation of Creep and the expectations hoisted on them as the “British Nirvana.”

Based on the music here, the band could have gone a very commercial direction, and thankfully, they didn’t.

You

= 4 stars

This a cool album opener, with the expansive Radiohead sound. But at this stage, it’s hard to tell if they aspired to be Pearl Jam or My Bloody Valentine.

Creep

= 5 stars

What’s good? Here’s my short list:

• One chord progression repeats throughout. It takes some talent to provide enough variety that this isn’t that noticeable.
• The verse melody, with the slight downward arpeggio reminds me of Erasure.
• The middle section where Thom serves up with a unique countermelody in falesetto, foreshadows the unusual melodies found on OK Computer.
• One killer drum fill as Thom opens out into full yell.
• The crunchy guitar noise foreshadows the guitar experimentation shown on future albums.
• The whole thing evokes a mood of alienation and loneliness, soon to be synonymous with Radiohead.

How Do You?

= 3 stars

Is this a Sex Pistols imitation?

Stop Whispering

= 2 stars

Is that a bee girl dancing?

Thinking About You

= 2 stars

Meh. Sorry.

Anyone Can Play Guitar

= 3 stars

Decent, I just don’t care for how the chorus is a bit too “up” in comparison with the rest.

Ripcord

= 2 stars

Meh. Sorry again.

Vegetable

= 3 stars

The theme song to Empire Records?

Prove Yourself

= 3 stars

The theme song to an 80s John Cusak film?

I Can’t

= 4 stars

Out of these Gin Blossoms movie soundtrack songs, I like this one best — something about the odd note on the first chord and the syncopation of the chorus. Liz Phair or Lisa Loeb, would you do a cover? Please?

Lurgee

= 2 stars

One more movie soundtrack song. Sorry for the last time.

Blow Out

= 2 stars

Let’s muddle about and get nowhere.

(Sorry, I can’t count the other versions of Creep on this disc as that’s just cheating.)

Intra Album Rank: 2.91

Wikipedia: Radiohead: Pablo Honey

Next Album: The Bends

iTunes Store Link: Pablo Honey — Radiohead