World Famous Comics: Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] [Limited Edition]
Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] [Limited Edition]
By: Radiohead Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: EP, Limited Edition Label: Capitol Number of Discs: 1 Publication Date: 1998 Release Date: April 01, 2007
Album Description: Back in stock! Limited edition EP from one of the most popular British bands of the decade. Features 'Airbag' pulled from the OK Computer album plus six non-album tracks: 'Pearly', 'Meeting In The Aisle', 'A Reminder', 'Polythelyne (Parts 1 & 2)', 'Melatorin' and 'Palo Alto'. Parlophone.
Amazon.com: Radiohead's American follow-up to OK Computer is essentially a glorified single for "Airbag," the song that also opens the album, with six new tracks appended (including an instrumental). They're mostly cut from the same cloth as the album, but briefer and flinchier--Thom Yorke's voice, gentle and clear as it is, seems like it can barely push past waves of horror into audibility. Once again, they plumb a few Pink Floydian tricks--the tapes of not-quite-clear voices that open "A Reminder," the pacing, descending riff of "Pearly"--and, though none of the new tracks is quite up to the level of OK Computer (they could well be outtakes), they fit together into a short, despairing suite. --Douglas Wolk
there should be a box set of Radiohead B-sides Seriously, Radiohead's b-sides make it perfectly clear how great a band they really are. Their b-sides are top notch, even compared to their own album tracks. So why not put together a three- or four-disc set of their b-sides, rare tracks, live recordings, etc? There is money to be made here, and God knows Catpitol has no compunction. I only hope it's done tastefully when they finally get around to it. In the meantine, Airbag, Com Lag, Pyramid Song, and the like are the only (legal) means of collecting these fantastic recordings, but it's far from complete. In any event, they are eminently listenable and enjoyable. "Metting in the Aisle" and "Palo Alto" and "Polyethylene" are fantastic songs all, "How I Made my Millions" is essential.... I can't in fact remember whether all of these songs are on this album, but it's worthy of your money regardless.
A Must Have I love this album. A friend actually bought it and shared it with me. I absolutely love 'Polyethylene' both parts, it's the perfect song to turn up really loud and rock out to. 'Palo Alto' is awesome. And 'A Reminder' is just a great mello song. This album is fantastic and a must for any Radiohead lover.
OK's kissing cousin There are definitely some rocking tracks on this EP, title song notwithstanding. Moreover, it serves as an excellent companion to OK computer, probably the equivalent of a DVD extra. B-sides are always a treat from Radiohead and are kind of collector's specialties. More experimental than the normal album format allows for, but worth investigating and for finding that one favorite gem that you can't find anywhere else. Palo Alto seems to be that track on this EP.
Fabulous B-Sides Album Worth the Money for a True Fan Any die-hard Radiohead fan should add this to the collection. Yes, they are songs that didn't make the cut for OK Computer, but hey, it's Radiohead and it's 7 bucks.
Meeting in the Aisle is probably my favorite, even though it's all instrumental. Pearly is an interesting song and Thom's voice sounds awesome on it. I had to listen to A Reminder over and over because every time I listen to it I derive some new meaning from it. Polyethylene is pretty to listen to. Palo Alto is a just a classic b-side any Radiohead obsessive like me needs to have.
The album art is also really interesting, complete with excerpts from Noam Chomsky. I do wonder why they billed this album as "aimed at the USA".
4.5 stars.... Essential for any serious Radiohead fan Before I discuss the merits of this CD, let me just say that I picked this up in the used CD bin at my local independent record store the other day. It makes me pine back to the day when bands released singles and EPs and made it exciting for music fans to look forward to releases....
"Airbag/How Am I Driving" (7 tracks, 26 min.) is finally available again after its original 1998 release (after the "OK Computer" album release in 1997). It brings "Airbag", the brilliant opening track of the OK Computer album, followed by 6 non-album tracks. The quality of those tracks varies a little, but are generally quite satisfying. Highlights for me are the instrumental and brooding "Meeting In The Aisle", the pensive but dramatic "A Reminder", and best of all "Polyethelene (Parts 1 and 2)", really 2 songs into one (a short acoustic Thom Yorne tune, and then crashed by the full band), just great.
"Airbag/How Am I Driving?" is one of three essential companion EPs for Radiohead fans, the other two being "My Iron Lung" (companion to "The Bends") and "Com Lag" (companion to "Hail to the Thief"), and any serious Radiohead fan will want this, period.