IN REVIEW: Radiohead - "A Moon Shaped Pool"

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It may seem a little crass to sum up such a nuanced, complex piece of art in a short paragraph, but chances are good that if you're reading this you pretty much know what you're getting from Radiohead by this point. The big takeaway from A Moon Shaped Pool is its orchestration; Jonny Greenwood's recent scoring work carries over to this record, infusing a massive, cinematic scope to the songs that's only been present intermittently previously. This may mean less rock, but the flow of the album makes for a chill, often emotional listening experience that doesn't need high tempos or guitars to get the job done. Considering many of the songs here have been circulating on live bootlegs for years, the album holds together surprisingly well as a whole. It's a lush, vibrant album with a high replay value and higher dividends with each listen. Not only is it worth the wait and makes up for the cold and listless King of Limbs, it's the most substantial artistic statement Radiohead has made since Kid A.

May 8, 2016 • XL
Highlights Burn the Witch • Identikit • True Love Waits

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