Radiohead's OK Computer (33 1/3)
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Review
"Griffiths portrays a thorough, academic deconstruction .no small feat for a book of only approximately 120 pages .[Griffiths] also brings his vast familiarity with records of all genres past and present, which lends undeniable credibility to his insight." Dan Weller, Times Leader (NE PA) 10/06/04--,
Product Description
Seemingly granted 'classic album' status within days of its release in 1997, OK Computer transformed Radiohead from a highly promising rock act into The Most Important Band in the World - a label the band has been burdened by (and has fooled around with) ever since. Through close analysis of each song, Dai Griffiths explores the themes and ideas that have made this album resonate so deeply with its audience - and he argues that OK Computer is one of the most successfully realised CD albums - as opposed to vinyl albums - so far created. 33 1/3 is a series of short books about critically acclaimed and much-loved albums of the last 40 years. Focusing on one album rather than an artist's entire output, the books dispense with the standard biographical background that fans know already, and cut to the heart of the music on each album. The authors provide fresh, original perspectives, often through their access to and relationships with the key figures involved in the recording of these albums. By turns obsessive, passionate, creative, and informed, the books in this series demonstrate many different ways of writing about music. (A task that can be, as Elvis Costello famously observed, as tricky as dancing about architecture.) What binds this series together, and what brings it to life, is that all of the authors - musicians, scholars, and writers - are deeply in love with the album they have chosen. Previous titles in this now well-established series have beaten sales expectations and received excellent review coverage - the third batch is sure to continue this success. More titles follow in the spring of 2005.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was of the opinion that the worst in the series was the one on Tribe Called Quest's first album... that was until I read this one.
While the one on the Tribe album is pretty dire, just being random musing from the author and nothing about the album, that was at least readable. This doesn't succeed on any level, no real insights about the album, the band, and it doesn't succeed as an academic analysis either.
This was a HUGE opportunity to have a great book on a great album, and it is totally wasted.
It sounds like the author has not even ever listened to the album before. Even if that is the case, he could have still written a solid book by cribbing from what other critics have said, interviews with the band, or just done a straightforward analysis of the music and the lyrics, but he opts for an entirely different subject altogether, which he doesn't break down well either.
Though we can't lay the blame entirely at the door of the author - whoever let this go as far to be published is at fault too.
The argument I've seen from a minority of other reviewers that we don't want to read about what the band has to say or any inside information is ludicrous. It's not band-worshiping, it's simply getting the facts from, you know, the people who actually made the album! If you're not into reading about bands and their music and how things were put together, then why would you even be buying this book in the first place?
Terrible, please for the love of God 33 1/3, please don't let this fate befall any other albums we love.
While the one on the Tribe album is pretty dire, just being random musing from the author and nothing about the album, that was at least readable. This doesn't succeed on any level, no real insights about the album, the band, and it doesn't succeed as an academic analysis either.
This was a HUGE opportunity to have a great book on a great album, and it is totally wasted.
It sounds like the author has not even ever listened to the album before. Even if that is the case, he could have still written a solid book by cribbing from what other critics have said, interviews with the band, or just done a straightforward analysis of the music and the lyrics, but he opts for an entirely different subject altogether, which he doesn't break down well either.
Though we can't lay the blame entirely at the door of the author - whoever let this go as far to be published is at fault too.
The argument I've seen from a minority of other reviewers that we don't want to read about what the band has to say or any inside information is ludicrous. It's not band-worshiping, it's simply getting the facts from, you know, the people who actually made the album! If you're not into reading about bands and their music and how things were put together, then why would you even be buying this book in the first place?
Terrible, please for the love of God 33 1/3, please don't let this fate befall any other albums we love.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I, unfortunately have to agree with the majority of the reviews. Kudos to those who give this book a high rating. I'm too familiar with the 33 1/3 series, so I'll only talk about this book.
Dai Griffiths is obviously a RadioHead fan. My biggest issue is his analysis of the album doesn't actually prove his thesis: that this album is one of the greatest of all times. For many readers of this book, musical analysis is nonsensical. I, however, understood relatively all of it, because I am a classically trained musician. Yet, the way I feel about the music analysis is the way I feel about the rest of the book. Just because one can analyze the music, or the album, doesn't make the music or album great. His analysis meant nothing to me.
Unless you are a huge RadioHead fan, have a basic knowledge of music theory, have an appreciation for obscure poetry like prose or beat poetry, and are familiar with both classical music and alternative rock (in which case, this is the book for you), you won't understand all the references, and you most likely won't enjoy the book.
Dai Griffiths is obviously a RadioHead fan. My biggest issue is his analysis of the album doesn't actually prove his thesis: that this album is one of the greatest of all times. For many readers of this book, musical analysis is nonsensical. I, however, understood relatively all of it, because I am a classically trained musician. Yet, the way I feel about the music analysis is the way I feel about the rest of the book. Just because one can analyze the music, or the album, doesn't make the music or album great. His analysis meant nothing to me.
Unless you are a huge RadioHead fan, have a basic knowledge of music theory, have an appreciation for obscure poetry like prose or beat poetry, and are familiar with both classical music and alternative rock (in which case, this is the book for you), you won't understand all the references, and you most likely won't enjoy the book.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I generally agree with the bad reviews here; the trouble is, they're written with the assumption that the book is too 'analytical', or that "If you're a fellow 'academic'... you'll get a kick out of learning the average length of the tracks".
Nothing could be further from the truth. As an open-minded Radiohead fan with a music degree, I would have welcomed some real musical analysis of the album as a whole. Instead we get nothing but lists of key signatures, track lengths, even the lengths of individual verses. There is a difference between analysis and mere description - and this is nothing but dispassionate, tedious, and ultimately useless description. No analysis here to get a kick out of.
The book's saving graces may be the florid literary references with which Griffiths peppers his otherwise bland text, but these tend to be tangential, over-personal, and often unrelated. That is until the very end, where he does seem to be making a point - only it's not his own point, but a collection of other peoples'.
Disappointing; I'm left wondering what motivated Griffiths to write this. Doesn't sound like the Radiohead I know.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As an open-minded Radiohead fan with a music degree, I would have welcomed some real musical analysis of the album as a whole. Instead we get nothing but lists of key signatures, track lengths, even the lengths of individual verses. There is a difference between analysis and mere description - and this is nothing but dispassionate, tedious, and ultimately useless description. No analysis here to get a kick out of.
The book's saving graces may be the florid literary references with which Griffiths peppers his otherwise bland text, but these tend to be tangential, over-personal, and often unrelated. That is until the very end, where he does seem to be making a point - only it's not his own point, but a collection of other peoples'.
Disappointing; I'm left wondering what motivated Griffiths to write this. Doesn't sound like the Radiohead I know.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Worth A Read
I believe that the previous reviews of this book are somewhat unfair and unfocussed, condemning this book as eith nonacademic or soullessly clinical. Read more
Published on 7 April 2010 by M. Hamilton
honest
The book is good if you are looking for an analysis into cover, length of songs, a description of lyrics and music and a politicsl discussion into how the album situates itself in... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by Allan Nellemann
Let down
I'd agree with some of the more negative reviews written here. The writing in this book is academic, devoid of passion, and having read it I have no idea whether the author even... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2008 by Ceej
"Irrepresably drab and awful"
In a famous Monty Python sketch, John Cleese's vocational guidance counsellor tells Michael Palin's chartered accountant that he is "appallingly dull, unimaginitive, tedious", has... Read more
Published on 12 July 2007 by Mr. M. A. Baker
Not just another cut and paste
I think some 'critics' have rather missed the point. Griffiths' book isn't necessarily aimed at 'the average Radiohead fan'. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2006 by Alan Hansen
Listen to the album again instead
If you're planning on reading this book then you already know that OK Computer really will stand the test of time to be one of the best albums ever recorded. Read more
Published on 15 May 2006 by streetspiritlondon
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