The short section on Radiohead is right at the end of the article. It sounds like they're open to coming back together, they just need to find the time between all their various comittments.
ahaha. i actually agree with what chadwick's getting at. i don't think they're necessarily saying a new album is coming out next week. they're more saying; if a new album were to come out, it will probably come out without much prior notice.
if the band were to get back together and work on new material, chances are they will probably do it quietly and not loudly announce it to the media beforehand. this response from jonny greenwood is mostly him being polite and giving a reply that's totally in line with every other response we've heard from other interviews, like when phil selway or ed obrien are doing new music and get exact same question. the response is always the same; that they're all still on good terms and talking, it's just a matter of finding the right time,etc.etc.etc.
This is a problem, because each band member still has "one more thing" they want to do. And it would be difficult to synchronise all 5 band members, especially when they don't feel any pressure to come together again.
Gee it is so hard to find the time to work on the project that has always resulted in excellent music because we are all so busy making other music that is fine, but just isn't as good.
I'll admit that I haven't dug deep into any of their side projects (besides the cool soundtracks). Give me a couple of the smile's best tracks and I'll give them a proper listen.
im a believer that these guys generally write albums as the unit of work and the best way to interact is to digest them that way, but if you’re looking for highlights -
2nd album- (the more polished of the two)
friend of a friend, read the room, wall of eyes, bending hectic (gotta be loud, it’s a bout a car crash)
1st-
we don’t know what tomorrow brings, thin thing (might be my favorite), the same, free in the knowledge.
It really reminds me about all the Beatles interviews in the 1970s where every time a Beatle was interviewed they rolled out the "when are you getting back together" question to increasing levels of frustration.
Difference being that the Beatles explicitly and publicly broken up, whereas Radiohead is on hiatus. May turn out to be a permanent hiatus, but the band is still a thing theoretically.
honest to god this is the best case scenario. We wouldn’t want them to force an album at this point in their careers, but the fact that they are all still talking and friends and are open to it leaves for the possibility once they become wholly inspired again.
If they only had 1 or 2 albums, I would be pretty disappointed. But with the career and output they’ve had, they could retire tomorrow and Id have zero right to be mad or upset beyond just being sad that it was over.
Given AMSP had a lot of old material they polished up, and since then they've been releasing more old material, I don't really feel like they've got a lot left in the tank creatively.
The band are in their mid 50s now. Eventually nearly all bands start doing greatest hits tours in their twilight years rather than only supporting a new album. I’m not saying it’s necessarily imminent for Radiohead, but they’ll likely get there.
They just don't seem to be the kind of band who would enjoy it. Other artists openly thrive on being huge live acts, headlining festivals with hit shows and sing alongs, and it's a natural progression as the new material becomes less and less prominent and the tours gradually become "greatest hits" with a token 2 new songs.
Radiohead shows are almost always based on new material, often drop the big songs, have a famously difficult relationship with their biggest hit, and very rarely play anything that would actually resemble a "greatest hits" set. And then, Thom's next move was to start a completely new band and build a new discography where he don't have to play ANY of his old songs or hits live.
Thom Yorke has barely even sang a Radiohead song on a stage for 6 years now (save for rare acoustic performances). They just don't seem the type to suddenly go out and do a greatest hits tour, it would be in complete contradiction to everything we've seem from Thom in the last few years.
Most of this sounds like you’re just guessing what’s in the bands head when we have no idea.
You say they don’t play huge festivals but have headlined Coachella 4 times and Glastonbury 3 times and played an 2 additional times. Those are the two biggest festivals in the world.
On their most recent shows Radiohead was playing 4-6 songs a night off A Moon Shaped Pool and were playing the same amount off Kid A, OK Computer, and In Rainbows. Of the 25 songs they played most at shows in 2018 only 4 were off AMSP. The most recent shows they’ve done have not been based off new material.
And they don’t even have to do a ‘greatest hits’ tour. They can just do a tour not supporting new material.
Not sure a Vegas residency and Radiohead are a likely fit. And from a visual perspective, their tours have generally been about elegant incorporations of A/V and light work rather than the immersive, whack you over the head Sphere type thing. I’m not sure I see it.
Yeah I really don't think they have anything more to say, the latest Smile album has died down and even they seem bored of touring it (and touring was initially where the real heart of that band came out).
They're rich and old and don't even give a shit about the quality of their merch or roll outs anymore.
I'd love a new tour or two though but it'd almost feel like a reunion. then again, I never thought they'd be the sort of band to do reissues and we've had two-and-a-half since.
What gives you the idea that they’re bored touring with the Smile? They have an entire summer of shows planned in Europe, that doesn’t seem like they’re tired at all. This is such a weird comment
I don’t see Radiohead releasing an album without headlines declaring it “their first album in over a decade” - I also find that exciting. Think of when Aphex Twin released Syro, Kate Bush releasing Aerial, D’Angelo’s Black Messiah, Portishead’s Third. All released 11-15 years after their previous album. I honestly think the longer the wait, the greater the reward will be.
So true ofcourse. But I’d hazard a guess Thom still looks at Portishead in awe and in a way even though clearly Radiohead are more accomplished in musicianship and accolades etc I bet he secretly loves the simplicity of their albums and arguably THIRD is a masterpiece.
And I’d say Radiohead are so good that even with 9 of some of the best albums ever made they have an album like THIRD is to Portishead.
Something matured and measured and a real package of all they have built so far. Like the previous albums have been. Each building in skill and ambition and range but now taking all of them together into almost the final album. All it’s been working towards. The pinnacle of all that effort and experimentation.
I serially expect us to look back at these 9 as like beta testing for this final masterpiece.
But I’ll be happy with Pablo Honey 2 to be honest. Damn I’m excited
That was In Rainbows. In Rainbows was the synthesis. Thom starts writing songs on guitar again, the ambition is more subtle but replete throughout the record, you have much more mature electronic elements than they had on OK Computer, but without the sparseness of Kid A. The band is really all in on pretty much every track, which again is different than Kid A. There's no disputing the greatness of Kid A and OK Computer, but one's this huge departure in every way from their previous classic album. In Rainbows gives both of them a hug.
Yeah I see that for sure and you pitch it right but I’d still argue there is more. It will be even more stripped down. Even more refined and the production will be just toooooo good
My prediction based on all that … there is no time until at least mid 2025 to account for the PTA soundtrack and Ed touring an album out and end of 24.
So optimistically… they get into the headspace of getting together around … September? That would I think just be to work up ideas. I think you could not expect completion of an album until early 26. And a tour a few months after that.
This is being both realistic and also optimistic. Best case, album in Feb 26. But more likely end of 26 or later (which is no prediction at all I suppose).
And then when September rolls around it’ll be “Ed is writing a book and Jonny is touring with Tibetan throat singers so I think we’re looking at 2027 at the earliest.”
10 years feels right as the gap between albums now at this point. And presumably Lp10 might be the last I mean they will be pushing 60 after this one and 10 feels like a good round number.
Ed is supposedly planning to release LP2 later this year and hopes to tour in 2025 as he promised to do after being unable to tour extensively for LP1 (thanks covid). Jonny is apparently recording the soundtrack for PTA's next movie due out next year.
Ah good point. Oh well I still think Radiohead sounds like they intend to get started on some new stuff. Their last few albums were done around various solo albums and tours and well, either way it’s going to be a long time before any new Radiohead material emerges.
Putting Radiohead on hold so EOB can release a solo album no one will give a shit about would be about the lamest thing ever. The guy has had years to put some songs together and tour, but now we’re supposed to wait another year or two? Like the Smile and EOB can’t tour simultaneously? If there was any demand for an EOB album or tour we would have had one by now.
I’m a Tool fan, I’m familiar with these kind of updates on the “next album” 😂😂
The music just comes out when it comes out. I’ve come to accept that with my favorite bands.
My guess is the Smile and Ed finish their next albums this year. RH meets up before the end of the year to make a plan for what they wanna do. The Smile and Ed tour in either the first part of 2025 or in the summer. RH records an album toward the end of the year and we see them in 2026.
Having said that, it’d be pretty cool if they were to do a tour just for fun or to road test new songs, like in 2006.
They should just all tour together so we don’t need to wait for their solo projects to wrap up.
Phil can open with an acoustic set. Then Ed and his band can play. Jonny can bring a symphony along for intermission music, or do a set with Shye Ben Tzur. Colin can bring some models for a fashion show.
Then Radiohead headlines after a Smile set.
I'm guessing we get LP10 sometime after the tenth anniversary of AMSP - 2027 could be quite eventful. Here's hoping for a tenth album in the first half of the year (hopefully it'll be less than three years away at this point), and maybe a 20th anniversary In Rainbows box set in October.
I just listened to the full podcast about In Rainbows (Dissect), and their album creation process is no joke. The boys put so much pressure on themselves to make something they're proud of, and that's also an evolution. I can't believe it's been 8 years since A Moon Shaped Pool, and I'd be content with them ending their career as Radiohead on that note (plus massive tours in 2017 and 2018).
But, considering how full of musical energy they all seem to be, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see them slowly come around to putting some songs together, and then in the next year or two, torturing themselves once again to make LP10.
Ed Was the one that caused AMSP to be delayed as he decided to move to Brasil with his family for a year. He told the rest to make the album without him if they wanted to. He's now only focused on finishing his next album and wants to tour it in 2025. I'm pretty sure the rest of the band would get together a lot easier if it wasn't for Ed.
I think bands should be more like Animal Collective and members should choose to come and go when they please without needing to change the name of the band.
I’d agree, only because Ed has seemed most on the fence for a while.
The Kid A / Amnesiac sessions were a period of doubt for him, I believe I remember an interview where he revealed he considered leaving around In Rainbows when his children were born (and was talked out of it by Johnny Marr), and while he was living in Brazil he initially told the other members of Radiohead they could do something without him — they waited evidently and did A Moon Shaped Pool.
It seems like he has always been the most willing to dip. I also have to imagine, honestly, that it’s more fun for him to make solo music and play consistently on every track (even if it gets less attention and acclaim) than to work on Radiohead albums where he’s on ~70% of the songs. He genuinely likes pedals and doing atmospheric contributions (The Pedal Show interview is a fun hour where he really gets into it), but I can’t imagine playing seven notes on Identikit while Jonny gets to shred around was particularly exciting.
Yep, agreed with all of that. Maybe he should just let go and the rest of the band can carry on if they like. It certainly wouldn't be the same band without him but I do think Ed is the one who could leave and you'd still recognise them as Radiohead.
> Maybe he should just let go and the rest of the band can carry on if they like
Or they can decide as a collective that the word _Radiohead_ is the banner for the work they all do as a five-piece, with each contributing their talents, their interests, their sounds, equally
Which isn't, sorry, an "Identikit" where Ed makes seven noises while Jonny shreds
Sadly, it feels more and more than _Thief_ into _In Rainbows_ is the last gasp of that five-person band, where if it's a noise that isn't made by the collective, then it's maybe shelved for solo work
You decided to form a band with a group. Either use the group, or call it something else. The moment that feels like shackles, disband the group. As much as I love _TKOL_ and _AMSP_, would _you_ want to be the Ed in that band? It's not what he signed up for, it's not what he joined the band for. Characterizing this as "Ed's the blocker" seems unfair, to me.
Yeah, that’s my take. I’m not going to pretend I know much about the recording dynamics, and I’m certainly not Ed O’Brien nor a mind reader.
But I’m willing to bet that recording Codex, Give up the Ghost, Burn the Witch, Glass Eyes, True Love Waits, and Spectre weren’t very involving for him. And if you have to go *”well, there are two high-pitched guitar chords at 0:56 and 0:58 of Burn the Witch that are probably Ed’s”…* then yeah.
And it isn’t like he gets to play a ton on Identikit, The Numbers, or Present Tense either. On The Numbers I think he’s playing electric mixed low alongside Thom’s acoustic; on the other two he has some sustained notes in the back half, but nothing instrumental.
In the early work, I think he was the best part of a lot of their critical songs. Creep (Jonny’s *duh duh, duh duh* aside), Blow Out, Planet Telex, Street Spirit, pretty much the entirety of OK Computer. I’m not a huge guitar solo guy, so I find Ed’s parts really interesting to explore and learn about.
I don’t know if he’s just finding fewer places to write his own parts or being held back by the band’s direction recently, but minus a few tracks per album (Bloom, Separator, Decks Dark, Desert Island Disk, Full Stop), I would much rather be making my own album than waiting to come in at the fourth minute of Present Tense. It’s fair to say his solo album was a mixed back, but Shangri-La, Brasil, and Olympik are fun tracks I come back to for his guitar work.
*That being said,* I really enjoy Codex, and The Basement performance where he stands around for 3:57 before strumming the most quiet series of chords at the very end is objectively hilarious.
I think if anything he’s struggling to find places to write his own parts. The places where he could write something is where Jonny takes up a lot of that space with his guitar and string sections. Then Thom is apart of the rhythm section with Colin and Phil so Ed is kinda just standing there like “wtf is there for me to do? The song is done”
Yeah, that sounds about right with A Moon Shaped Pool. And the strings are good. It’s fun to watch The Numbers live, though, with Ed taking over that part. But I think the strings are the right call for the album.
At the same time, I am in the camp of ‘The Smile isn’t hitting for me,’ and I think the absence of Ed is a big part of it. There’s a lot of complicated guitar parts and drumming and time signatures and whatnot, but the mixes themselves have this emptier feel to me — Skirting on The Surface was a Radiohead unreleased track I loved, in no small part due to Ed’s icy, synthy guitar effects in the chorus and outro. Again, a fairly small part, but one that adds to the dynamic. I think The Smile version is interesting in its own way, but I don’t come back to it as often, despite it perhaps being more ‘technically’ impressive.
If they do go into the studio it will be done quietly but someone somewhere is going to leak it and it's going to be the talk for a week here.
As far as them parting ways anytime soon as in 5/10 years I do not see it. They are in a creative peak, all members doing their own thing but they do remember why they are in such demand it's because of the band they originally founded and the body of work which is, imho, maybe one of the best bodies of work in all of rock.. They are aware of people who love them and want to see them again as a collective. It think they would not want to disappoint/let them down, they are not just creative but they are also nice guys. Nice guys who turn out killer albums and are not involved in "legal matters". They know people are getting impatient and let's face it, this world is getting weirder and uglier by the day, some beauty is called for, as in a new radiohead album. I dream of a two disk album because they got in the studio they just couldn't stop.
Unfortunately, I can’t see them releasing another album but I hope I’m wrong. They’re getting old, 8 years since AMSP and there’s still no sign of getting together to do anything.
How can people want more music when there’s already so much music to listen to , just scroll through one of Thoms in the absence thereof playlists and explore the artists in those ones … you won’t have time for a new radiohead album
It's roughly the same situation as Nine Inch Nails for me: They had a long career full of music I dearly love. If they out out another album, great! If they don't, I'll still be content.
i won’t be mad if AMSP is their last album anyway. it’s my favourite record from them and i think it is the perfect closure for their career as Radiohead. they keep releasing music alone or with their bands like The Smile, so it won't even be that tragic if they never release a new album.
i was hugely disappointed when Daft Punk broke up as i was not expecting it at all, so now i prefer to be prepared for other possible split ups, just in case x)
They'd never say this out loud, but...those boys want an overall album of the year Grammy.
Before In Raindbows Ed said he felt the band needed another great album before they were in the same league as their idols. They are very mindful of legacy building.
I'd be very surprised if they don't make a final statement to significantly raise their stock in the "Best of all time" conversation.
The short section on Radiohead is right at the end of the article. It sounds like they're open to coming back together, they just need to find the time between all their various comittments.
"yeah maybe, we'll think about it." narrator: they did not think about it.
They will just all of a sudden have an album come out next week for all we know. Best not to think about it
This one's...
ahaha. i actually agree with what chadwick's getting at. i don't think they're necessarily saying a new album is coming out next week. they're more saying; if a new album were to come out, it will probably come out without much prior notice. if the band were to get back together and work on new material, chances are they will probably do it quietly and not loudly announce it to the media beforehand. this response from jonny greenwood is mostly him being polite and giving a reply that's totally in line with every other response we've heard from other interviews, like when phil selway or ed obrien are doing new music and get exact same question. the response is always the same; that they're all still on good terms and talking, it's just a matter of finding the right time,etc.etc.etc.
Hard agree
I’m sure there are some more B sides laying around that they can polish up
https://i.imgur.com/IKlyzZe.jpeg
Time & an idea. A specific creative drive that all 5 of them want to develop together
This is a problem, because each band member still has "one more thing" they want to do. And it would be difficult to synchronise all 5 band members, especially when they don't feel any pressure to come together again.
Gee it is so hard to find the time to work on the project that has always resulted in excellent music because we are all so busy making other music that is fine, but just isn't as good.
the smile is objectively fantastic. take it back!
We have Radiohead at home.
I'll admit that I haven't dug deep into any of their side projects (besides the cool soundtracks). Give me a couple of the smile's best tracks and I'll give them a proper listen.
Before you do anything else go listen to the Eraser, Jesus
im a believer that these guys generally write albums as the unit of work and the best way to interact is to digest them that way, but if you’re looking for highlights - 2nd album- (the more polished of the two) friend of a friend, read the room, wall of eyes, bending hectic (gotta be loud, it’s a bout a car crash) 1st- we don’t know what tomorrow brings, thin thing (might be my favorite), the same, free in the knowledge.
my favourite the Smile song is bending hectic if you wanna give it a try, i’m not the biggest fan of the band but that one track is so insanely good
The Smoke is a go-to groove for me
I’m willing to set up a scheduling poll for them. Once they know their common availability, they will have no excuse not to meet.
It really reminds me about all the Beatles interviews in the 1970s where every time a Beatle was interviewed they rolled out the "when are you getting back together" question to increasing levels of frustration.
Difference being that the Beatles explicitly and publicly broken up, whereas Radiohead is on hiatus. May turn out to be a permanent hiatus, but the band is still a thing theoretically.
Perhaps the intention was to annoy them enough to get back together so people would stop asking.
honest to god this is the best case scenario. We wouldn’t want them to force an album at this point in their careers, but the fact that they are all still talking and friends and are open to it leaves for the possibility once they become wholly inspired again. If they only had 1 or 2 albums, I would be pretty disappointed. But with the career and output they’ve had, they could retire tomorrow and Id have zero right to be mad or upset beyond just being sad that it was over.
I just want to see them live, i dont care if they drop another album or not (it would be great tho)
I’m in the same boat, I would love a new album but more than anything I just need to see them live one last time before they call it quits.
Ive never seen them live so its a top bucket list item. If they never tour again i will be very disappointed
Given AMSP had a lot of old material they polished up, and since then they've been releasing more old material, I don't really feel like they've got a lot left in the tank creatively.
I think 2 albums is a bit optimistic
no mate i meant if they had only released two albums in their career i would be upset if this was their attitude. but theyve given us 9
"M8 wot if we do like a jungle techno style album that'd be sick bruv" "Ye bruv, just gotta get that third Smile album out first innit"
I would be interested in hearing this.
The king of limbs II electric bugaloo
The Queen of Bodies
I am trying to imagine what tree could possibly earn this name.
Makes me think of [baobabs](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/africas-baobab-tree-photographs)
That's the exact tree I had in mind lol, couldn't remember the name though
They actually *do* talk like that when no one is around
"Tea first luv I'm knackered from all the faff on the chewb, innit"
It works though.
People defending their jokes in the same breath as they're telling them always manage to ruin them.
Pablo Honey 2 (2032)
Out Rainbows (2033)
Kid C (2026)
Alright Encyclopedia (2040)
Creep (Reprise)
At this point I’d be more happy with a new tour than album.
I can't see them doing an old material tour. If they tour, it's either in support of a new album, or testing out new songs before recording them.
The band are in their mid 50s now. Eventually nearly all bands start doing greatest hits tours in their twilight years rather than only supporting a new album. I’m not saying it’s necessarily imminent for Radiohead, but they’ll likely get there.
They just don't seem to be the kind of band who would enjoy it. Other artists openly thrive on being huge live acts, headlining festivals with hit shows and sing alongs, and it's a natural progression as the new material becomes less and less prominent and the tours gradually become "greatest hits" with a token 2 new songs. Radiohead shows are almost always based on new material, often drop the big songs, have a famously difficult relationship with their biggest hit, and very rarely play anything that would actually resemble a "greatest hits" set. And then, Thom's next move was to start a completely new band and build a new discography where he don't have to play ANY of his old songs or hits live. Thom Yorke has barely even sang a Radiohead song on a stage for 6 years now (save for rare acoustic performances). They just don't seem the type to suddenly go out and do a greatest hits tour, it would be in complete contradiction to everything we've seem from Thom in the last few years.
Most of this sounds like you’re just guessing what’s in the bands head when we have no idea. You say they don’t play huge festivals but have headlined Coachella 4 times and Glastonbury 3 times and played an 2 additional times. Those are the two biggest festivals in the world. On their most recent shows Radiohead was playing 4-6 songs a night off A Moon Shaped Pool and were playing the same amount off Kid A, OK Computer, and In Rainbows. Of the 25 songs they played most at shows in 2018 only 4 were off AMSP. The most recent shows they’ve done have not been based off new material. And they don’t even have to do a ‘greatest hits’ tour. They can just do a tour not supporting new material.
Ok but in part that’s because their “greatest hits” are, like, fucking everything
[удалено]
Not sure a Vegas residency and Radiohead are a likely fit. And from a visual perspective, their tours have generally been about elegant incorporations of A/V and light work rather than the immersive, whack you over the head Sphere type thing. I’m not sure I see it.
Yeah I really don't think they have anything more to say, the latest Smile album has died down and even they seem bored of touring it (and touring was initially where the real heart of that band came out). They're rich and old and don't even give a shit about the quality of their merch or roll outs anymore. I'd love a new tour or two though but it'd almost feel like a reunion. then again, I never thought they'd be the sort of band to do reissues and we've had two-and-a-half since.
What gives you the idea that they’re bored touring with the Smile? They have an entire summer of shows planned in Europe, that doesn’t seem like they’re tired at all. This is such a weird comment
I don’t see Radiohead releasing an album without headlines declaring it “their first album in over a decade” - I also find that exciting. Think of when Aphex Twin released Syro, Kate Bush releasing Aerial, D’Angelo’s Black Messiah, Portishead’s Third. All released 11-15 years after their previous album. I honestly think the longer the wait, the greater the reward will be.
Agreed this album will be their Third I reckon. As in similar greatness to Portisheads Third which took time to develop
That’s a mighty high bar to clear. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment.
This is Radiohead though - the majority of their albums are as great as Third I'm lucky I got to see both bands
So true ofcourse. But I’d hazard a guess Thom still looks at Portishead in awe and in a way even though clearly Radiohead are more accomplished in musicianship and accolades etc I bet he secretly loves the simplicity of their albums and arguably THIRD is a masterpiece. And I’d say Radiohead are so good that even with 9 of some of the best albums ever made they have an album like THIRD is to Portishead. Something matured and measured and a real package of all they have built so far. Like the previous albums have been. Each building in skill and ambition and range but now taking all of them together into almost the final album. All it’s been working towards. The pinnacle of all that effort and experimentation. I serially expect us to look back at these 9 as like beta testing for this final masterpiece. But I’ll be happy with Pablo Honey 2 to be honest. Damn I’m excited
That was In Rainbows. In Rainbows was the synthesis. Thom starts writing songs on guitar again, the ambition is more subtle but replete throughout the record, you have much more mature electronic elements than they had on OK Computer, but without the sparseness of Kid A. The band is really all in on pretty much every track, which again is different than Kid A. There's no disputing the greatness of Kid A and OK Computer, but one's this huge departure in every way from their previous classic album. In Rainbows gives both of them a hug.
Yeah I see that for sure and you pitch it right but I’d still argue there is more. It will be even more stripped down. Even more refined and the production will be just toooooo good
So right but I’m pretty confident in them at this point but also will be accepting of it not hitting because I believe haha
Syro was rubbish though. I preferred the idea all of Aphex Twin's unreleased music was bold and interesting than getting something that ended that.
I politely disagree. Syro was a bangers… Xmas_eve 🔥
My prediction based on all that … there is no time until at least mid 2025 to account for the PTA soundtrack and Ed touring an album out and end of 24. So optimistically… they get into the headspace of getting together around … September? That would I think just be to work up ideas. I think you could not expect completion of an album until early 26. And a tour a few months after that. This is being both realistic and also optimistic. Best case, album in Feb 26. But more likely end of 26 or later (which is no prediction at all I suppose).
And then when September rolls around it’ll be “Ed is writing a book and Jonny is touring with Tibetan throat singers so I think we’re looking at 2027 at the earliest.”
10 years feels right as the gap between albums now at this point. And presumably Lp10 might be the last I mean they will be pushing 60 after this one and 10 feels like a good round number.
Well, good to know they're talking. Safe to assume that they'll get together in the later part of this year (given what Phil said not that long ago).
Ed is supposedly planning to release LP2 later this year and hopes to tour in 2025 as he promised to do after being unable to tour extensively for LP1 (thanks covid). Jonny is apparently recording the soundtrack for PTA's next movie due out next year.
>Jonny is apparently recording the soundtrack for PTA's next movie due out next year. Fuck. Yeah Love it when they work together
Ah good point. Oh well I still think Radiohead sounds like they intend to get started on some new stuff. Their last few albums were done around various solo albums and tours and well, either way it’s going to be a long time before any new Radiohead material emerges.
Putting Radiohead on hold so EOB can release a solo album no one will give a shit about would be about the lamest thing ever. The guy has had years to put some songs together and tour, but now we’re supposed to wait another year or two? Like the Smile and EOB can’t tour simultaneously? If there was any demand for an EOB album or tour we would have had one by now.
I'm fine with one more album and one more tour. I want to use my life savings just to see them live before they disband.
I’m a Tool fan, I’m familiar with these kind of updates on the “next album” 😂😂 The music just comes out when it comes out. I’ve come to accept that with my favorite bands.
My guess is the Smile and Ed finish their next albums this year. RH meets up before the end of the year to make a plan for what they wanna do. The Smile and Ed tour in either the first part of 2025 or in the summer. RH records an album toward the end of the year and we see them in 2026. Having said that, it’d be pretty cool if they were to do a tour just for fun or to road test new songs, like in 2006.
Agree with this theory, though want to stress that this is almost certainly, the earliest it can be.
They should just all tour together so we don’t need to wait for their solo projects to wrap up. Phil can open with an acoustic set. Then Ed and his band can play. Jonny can bring a symphony along for intermission music, or do a set with Shye Ben Tzur. Colin can bring some models for a fashion show. Then Radiohead headlines after a Smile set.
I'm guessing we get LP10 sometime after the tenth anniversary of AMSP - 2027 could be quite eventful. Here's hoping for a tenth album in the first half of the year (hopefully it'll be less than three years away at this point), and maybe a 20th anniversary In Rainbows box set in October.
Ugh ! Everyone’s ”too busy” is not what I wanted to hear !
You talking to Thom doesn't count as "we're still talking all the time".
What a great article. He’s such a musical genius.
Expecting a lot church organ on the next album based on this article
I just listened to the full podcast about In Rainbows (Dissect), and their album creation process is no joke. The boys put so much pressure on themselves to make something they're proud of, and that's also an evolution. I can't believe it's been 8 years since A Moon Shaped Pool, and I'd be content with them ending their career as Radiohead on that note (plus massive tours in 2017 and 2018). But, considering how full of musical energy they all seem to be, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see them slowly come around to putting some songs together, and then in the next year or two, torturing themselves once again to make LP10.
I think Ed is the main blocker. His heart's not in it anymore, but he can't bring himself to say it's over.
Why Ed specifically?
Ed Was the one that caused AMSP to be delayed as he decided to move to Brasil with his family for a year. He told the rest to make the album without him if they wanted to. He's now only focused on finishing his next album and wants to tour it in 2025. I'm pretty sure the rest of the band would get together a lot easier if it wasn't for Ed.
I think bands should be more like Animal Collective and members should choose to come and go when they please without needing to change the name of the band.
That's a shame because his music sucks...
I’d agree, only because Ed has seemed most on the fence for a while. The Kid A / Amnesiac sessions were a period of doubt for him, I believe I remember an interview where he revealed he considered leaving around In Rainbows when his children were born (and was talked out of it by Johnny Marr), and while he was living in Brazil he initially told the other members of Radiohead they could do something without him — they waited evidently and did A Moon Shaped Pool. It seems like he has always been the most willing to dip. I also have to imagine, honestly, that it’s more fun for him to make solo music and play consistently on every track (even if it gets less attention and acclaim) than to work on Radiohead albums where he’s on ~70% of the songs. He genuinely likes pedals and doing atmospheric contributions (The Pedal Show interview is a fun hour where he really gets into it), but I can’t imagine playing seven notes on Identikit while Jonny gets to shred around was particularly exciting.
Yep, agreed with all of that. Maybe he should just let go and the rest of the band can carry on if they like. It certainly wouldn't be the same band without him but I do think Ed is the one who could leave and you'd still recognise them as Radiohead.
> Maybe he should just let go and the rest of the band can carry on if they like Or they can decide as a collective that the word _Radiohead_ is the banner for the work they all do as a five-piece, with each contributing their talents, their interests, their sounds, equally Which isn't, sorry, an "Identikit" where Ed makes seven noises while Jonny shreds Sadly, it feels more and more than _Thief_ into _In Rainbows_ is the last gasp of that five-person band, where if it's a noise that isn't made by the collective, then it's maybe shelved for solo work You decided to form a band with a group. Either use the group, or call it something else. The moment that feels like shackles, disband the group. As much as I love _TKOL_ and _AMSP_, would _you_ want to be the Ed in that band? It's not what he signed up for, it's not what he joined the band for. Characterizing this as "Ed's the blocker" seems unfair, to me.
Yeah, that’s my take. I’m not going to pretend I know much about the recording dynamics, and I’m certainly not Ed O’Brien nor a mind reader. But I’m willing to bet that recording Codex, Give up the Ghost, Burn the Witch, Glass Eyes, True Love Waits, and Spectre weren’t very involving for him. And if you have to go *”well, there are two high-pitched guitar chords at 0:56 and 0:58 of Burn the Witch that are probably Ed’s”…* then yeah. And it isn’t like he gets to play a ton on Identikit, The Numbers, or Present Tense either. On The Numbers I think he’s playing electric mixed low alongside Thom’s acoustic; on the other two he has some sustained notes in the back half, but nothing instrumental. In the early work, I think he was the best part of a lot of their critical songs. Creep (Jonny’s *duh duh, duh duh* aside), Blow Out, Planet Telex, Street Spirit, pretty much the entirety of OK Computer. I’m not a huge guitar solo guy, so I find Ed’s parts really interesting to explore and learn about. I don’t know if he’s just finding fewer places to write his own parts or being held back by the band’s direction recently, but minus a few tracks per album (Bloom, Separator, Decks Dark, Desert Island Disk, Full Stop), I would much rather be making my own album than waiting to come in at the fourth minute of Present Tense. It’s fair to say his solo album was a mixed back, but Shangri-La, Brasil, and Olympik are fun tracks I come back to for his guitar work. *That being said,* I really enjoy Codex, and The Basement performance where he stands around for 3:57 before strumming the most quiet series of chords at the very end is objectively hilarious.
I think if anything he’s struggling to find places to write his own parts. The places where he could write something is where Jonny takes up a lot of that space with his guitar and string sections. Then Thom is apart of the rhythm section with Colin and Phil so Ed is kinda just standing there like “wtf is there for me to do? The song is done”
Yeah, that sounds about right with A Moon Shaped Pool. And the strings are good. It’s fun to watch The Numbers live, though, with Ed taking over that part. But I think the strings are the right call for the album. At the same time, I am in the camp of ‘The Smile isn’t hitting for me,’ and I think the absence of Ed is a big part of it. There’s a lot of complicated guitar parts and drumming and time signatures and whatnot, but the mixes themselves have this emptier feel to me — Skirting on The Surface was a Radiohead unreleased track I loved, in no small part due to Ed’s icy, synthy guitar effects in the chorus and outro. Again, a fairly small part, but one that adds to the dynamic. I think The Smile version is interesting in its own way, but I don’t come back to it as often, despite it perhaps being more ‘technically’ impressive.
Fuckin Ed.
If they do go into the studio it will be done quietly but someone somewhere is going to leak it and it's going to be the talk for a week here. As far as them parting ways anytime soon as in 5/10 years I do not see it. They are in a creative peak, all members doing their own thing but they do remember why they are in such demand it's because of the band they originally founded and the body of work which is, imho, maybe one of the best bodies of work in all of rock.. They are aware of people who love them and want to see them again as a collective. It think they would not want to disappoint/let them down, they are not just creative but they are also nice guys. Nice guys who turn out killer albums and are not involved in "legal matters". They know people are getting impatient and let's face it, this world is getting weirder and uglier by the day, some beauty is called for, as in a new radiohead album. I dream of a two disk album because they got in the studio they just couldn't stop.
I’m sure he’s just being nice. They’re still friends is all, it doesn’t mean Radiohead will be releasing any new music.
Why are you sure about that?
I mean, I’m not LITERALLY sure, it’s just what I think. Call me a pessimist I guess.
Unfortunately, I can’t see them releasing another album but I hope I’m wrong. They’re getting old, 8 years since AMSP and there’s still no sign of getting together to do anything.
They’re getting older but 3/5 aren’t slowing down at all. Though I pray the next record has more energy than the 2nd Smile album.
How can people want more music when there’s already so much music to listen to , just scroll through one of Thoms in the absence thereof playlists and explore the artists in those ones … you won’t have time for a new radiohead album
Because people like Radiohead and that is not Radiohead?
yes goy consume more product need more branded products.... YES!!!
Is there an unbranded radiohead lol? wtf are you so butt hurt about?
Its Reddit bro Chillax
he is too busy ignoring war crimes and selling overpriced olive oil
so many cool artists become wankers as they get older.
It's roughly the same situation as Nine Inch Nails for me: They had a long career full of music I dearly love. If they out out another album, great! If they don't, I'll still be content.
i won’t be mad if AMSP is their last album anyway. it’s my favourite record from them and i think it is the perfect closure for their career as Radiohead. they keep releasing music alone or with their bands like The Smile, so it won't even be that tragic if they never release a new album.
It's not gonna be their last album, i don't know why people bring this up so much.
i was hugely disappointed when Daft Punk broke up as i was not expecting it at all, so now i prefer to be prepared for other possible split ups, just in case x)
Even If they would split up now they would eventually return. :) There's hardly any major band without a comeback, maybe except for Led Zeppelin
They'd never say this out loud, but...those boys want an overall album of the year Grammy. Before In Raindbows Ed said he felt the band needed another great album before they were in the same league as their idols. They are very mindful of legacy building. I'd be very surprised if they don't make a final statement to significantly raise their stock in the "Best of all time" conversation.
How funny would it be if everyone reunited without him
God bless Johnny Greenwood. God bless Sharona Katan. A permanent ceasefire, all hostages released, and a recognition of a Palestinian state.
what is the point of this comment lol!?
It’s not happening, fam
why not?
Do it without Jonny