release date: Apr. 20, 1993
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,62]
producer: Sean Slade, Paul Q. Kolderie
label: Parlophone / EMI - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 2. "Creep" - 3. "How Do You?" - 6. "Anyone Can Play Guitar" - 12. "Blow Out"
Studio debut album by British 5-piece britpop guitar-band Radiohead consisting of Thom Yorke on vocals, guitar, tape loops, the two brother Greenwood: Jonny on guitar, piano and organ, and with Colin on bass. The last two members are Ed O'Brien, also on guitar and backing vocals, and lastly Phil Selway handling drums. In Britain, Radiohead was compared to the bands of the American grunge rock scene and the band was referred to as the British Nirvana, but mostly the debut wasn't an overwhelming success, and many critics found - what I think of it - that there are so many references to other bands that it's difficult to talk about an original release. Not so much alone because of the many sources of inspiration but simply because it either sounds as The Smiths, U2, Nirvana, or whatever band from grunge rock, britpop or pop / rock... and never really as something new or even an original mix. I find the album a bit boring and of little interest, although, the above-mentioned songs are all clearly above mediocre.
The single track "Creep" became a hit, however, it brought the band a sore experience as it turned out that it's a song , which shares similarities with "The Air I Breathe" by The Hollies from 1973. Radiohead was sued for plagiarism, and lost the case, which is why Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood from The Holies are credited for writing "Creep". Comparing the two songs, the case against Radiohead and the verdict only seems like an unjust court decision.
[ allmusic.com (retrospect), Q Magazine, Rolling Stone (retrospect), Uncut (retrospect) 3 / 5, Blender 2 / 5 stars ]
