Customer Reviews

7 Television Commercials [VHS]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The cheeky title of this DVD says it all. If you are a fan of Radiohead, you already have some idea of what to expect. This no-frills DVD will not disappoint.

I already had all of these "commercials" on my computer; however, the picture and sound quality on this DVD is so vastly superior to the compressed video format that there really is no comparison and is well worth every penny.

There are no special features, no booklet, no additional artwork, no commentary--just these seven beautiful videos. I suppose there could possibly be an "Easter egg" hidden on the disc, but I didn't find any. The box that it comes in is itself is quite nice--collector-worthy--not your typical cheap plastic or cardboard.

A nice collection of Radiohead's music videos from their two best albums: "The Bends" and "OK Computer". The songs easily get 5 stars from me, but the videos themselves range from brilliant to just average. Also, the DVD only contains about 35 minutes of material and zero extra features.

- Paranoid Android: My favorite song off of "OK Computer" is also one of my all time favorite Radiohead videos. Glad to see the uncensored version made the cut.

- Street Spirit (Fade Out): Pretty boring, actually, despite Jonathan Glazer's various speed tricks.

- No Surprises: Such a simple premise; such a brilliant result. Thom Yorke's lazy eye makes this video even more effective and creepy.

- Just: The video that had everyone talking back in 1995 (well, in Canada, anyways). If you're still trying to figure out what that guy is saying at the end, you're missing the point.

- High and Dry: Some cool ideas, but sloppily put together. I actually prefer the UK version (just a black and white video of the band playing in the rain).

- Karma Police: Another video with cool ideas, but it just doesn't work all that well.

- Fake Plastic Trees: I remember back when people accused Radiohead of copying Pulp's "Common People" video (and vise versa). Good art direction, but otherwise pretty average.

This DVD features seven amazing videos from the band. They all come from OK Computer and The Bends, two of my favorite Radiohead albums. The videos are for paranoid android, street spirit, no surprises, just, high and dry (the u.s. version), karma police and fake plastic trees. These videos are just as amazing as the songs themselves. Any Radiohead fan will love this DVD and anyone who's looking for something different, complex, emotional, or just plain good should buy it too.

Undeniably the most important band of the past five years or so, this is a terrific showcase of their clips from "OK Computer" and "The Bends." It's been a long wait for this on DVD, but well worth it. Along with Bjork and the Beasties, they're one of a few bands that have gone in new directions with the video medium.

Each of the seven is masterful in its understatement and creativity - suffice it to say that each is undeniably different and that it's folly to try and pick favorites.

If you've lost faith in the mainstream "alternative" music scene of the late nineties and early naugts, this disc should make you feel a whole lot better.

My only gripe is that with only 7 selections and clocking in at just over a half hour, I wish there was more. Actually, since "music televison" lost the former, I'm not sure what body of work they have created to accompany "Amnesiac" and the sublime "Hail to the Thief." Here's hoping that stuff, if any, makes its way to DVD before too much longer.

Radiohead is one of the most inventive music video makers ever in the business and '7 Television Commercials' showcases that fact. Starting with the great animated voyage through a day in the life of a youngster and his friend with a limbless leader, mindless execs, bare chested mermaids, taxi cabs, and nude woman in a tree to the sounds of the terrific up, down, back and forth angst driven layered 'Paranoid Android'. 'Street Spirit' the best song the band has ever written is also one of the finest video with it's beautiful black and white production, slow motion, stop/go, esoteric brilliance. The haunting, strangely poetic 'No Surprises' sees Thom Yorke nearly drown in a tube that fills with water as he ever so descreetly sings along 'no alarms and no surprises please'. 'Just' is one of the most ingenious videos of all time with it's subtitles unfolding the story of the man on the pavement as he warns the citizens and brings them down to their backs as well staring at a blank sky, the subtitles stop just in time for us to miss out on the secret as the band rocks in a towering building above. 'High and Dry' is a nothing story of theft and doom as we flash back on these nobody's lives in the local diner to the tragic climax. 'Karma Police' is a straight forward strange, dark, eerie ride hunting down a man along a dark road and bringing him down to his knees, but he gets the last laugh or does he? And the finale is the funny, childish, eccentric, bold, bright beautiful escapade of 'Fake Plastic Trees" all the way to the register with this healthy diet of glowing brilliance chaulk full of vitamins and nutrients.

This DVD collects the videos from The Bends and OK Computer. The collection is a pretty good value for the price and the videos it contains are for the most part excellent, but I'm not sure why they didn't include the Pablo Honey videos on the original VHS release or add the Amnesiac videos for the DVD release. Still, well worth owning as the content, picture quality and audio quality are all very good, but I hope there will be a part 2 in the future (and a concert DVD while they're at it!)

I have owned the VHS version of this for years and have watched it so many times the quality now is awful! I have been hoping for a DVD release for ages, especially after they released 'Meeting People Is Easy'. Worth the price for any one of the videos contained in this collection, 'Paranoid Android', 'High & Dry' and 'Street Spirit' are all incredible videos, and 'Just' has to be one of the best of all time. Some fans may be bummed out that 'Creep' is not included, nor is anything after OK Computer; but that's fine with me.

First off, I must say that my views are a tad skewed as I am madly, hopelessly in love with Thom Yorke. That said, however, this DVD truly is something that every true Radiohead fan HAS to have. And I've been a fan long, long before Thom bespelled me.
Paranoid Android is brilliantly weird; a cartoon that evidently has nothing at all to do with the song, but nevertheless meshes perfectly with it.
Street Spirit is probably the most beautiful video I've ever seen. Once again, no concrete "meaning" to it as far as I can tell, but it seems to visually express the music to perfection. Particularly stunning is the shot of a bare tree with stars wheeling around it.
No Surprises is so simple, yet so affecting. I'm not even gonna try, you'd just have to see it.
Just is one of those things that's been picked apart so many times that really there's nothing more to add. Unexpectedly powerful though. And an incredible performance of the song by the boys as well!
High and Dry was my least favorite video, though I adore the song. Still a pretty good one though, enjoyable.
Karma Police is disturbing and fascinating. That's all you're getting from me, go watch it.
Fake Plastic Trees is one of my favorite Radiohead songs, and the video is lovely. I don't even know how to describe it; it leaves me with such an ache in my heart. And it makes other bits ache when Thom bites his lip...
OK, so bottom line, if you're a Radiohead fan, BUY THIS IMMEDIATELY!! If not, you won't like this any more than you like the songs, so why am I talking to you?

It seems that the bands who make the best music make the best videos (NIN, MANSON, GARBAGE, APHEX TWIN) and Radiohead is no exception. I guess the price has gone from the traditional VHS (about 20 dolars) to what it is now (I'm guessing cause they no longer make it in america or something) Anyway if u have the the money, you should buy it. Also, this video doesn't have any of the Radiohead's videos from their first cd (that means no Creep)

This video is well worth the small asking price. Of particular interest are Paranoid Android and Just- which is a truly shocking and surreal experience and something everybody should watch- NOT for the song (which is excellent, too), but because the video really is a great achievement in the art of film making. Paranoid Android is possibly the reason the video is rated 12 over here in England, as it contains animated violence and mild nudity. The entire video is completely watchable and you will have no reason OR need to fast forward to another song, because you won't want to miss what came before it! High and Dry is easily the worst video of the seven, but the actual song is my all-time Radiohead favourite (possibly overtaken by Sulk), and although I had heard all these tracks before and seen all the videos (with the exception of High and Dry [US]), I still thoroughly enjoyed watching this and so will any Radiohead fan. However, if your idea of a good video is psychedelic eye-candy then you will be sorely disappointed: these are intelligent, well thought out videos that have very little special effects. Totally and absolutely recommended. Oh, and in case you haven't already, buy OK Computer!