Customer Reviews

Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] [Limited Edition]

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

'How Am I Driving' never pretends to be more than an EP, which is a good thing. In fact, it's pretty darn quirky, right down to the stark white packaging from the band's long-time house artist Stan Donwood. Treat it as a companion piece to 1997s 'Ok Computer' and you'll be in fine shape.

Like a companion piece should, 'How Am I Driving' adds a little more color to the already wonderful pallette drawn out by 'Ok Computer.' Though the general motifs remain, including the band's unique spin on clausterphobic modernity, the atmosphere here is lighter and more raw - even a bit gritty. 'Polythelene Parts 1 & 2,' for instance, begins with a quiet acoustic passage from frontman Thom Yorke, followed by a gruff count-off ("one, two, three four!") before erupting into a brash, guitar-driven anthem. This sort of deliberate unrefinement simply wouldn't have flown too well on the smooth, polished 'Ok Computer' - but here, slightly taken out of its forebearer's ambitious context, it's just great. Also noteworthy is 'Melatonin' - an off-beat lullaby performed over a synthesizer. "Death to all who stand in your way" Thom warbles in a hushed, sleepy-time voice. 'Pearly' also deserves mention for its unusual, grating sound and rough-hewn lyricism.

It's a nice hold-over until the next full-length album arrives.

I've always heard from many Radiohead fans about the quality of the B-sides being pretty good, and while I wanted to get a hold of the stuff, most of it was imports so I thought it was a sky high investment, if I were to do it. And I didn't get into Radiohead until a few years after even this compilation. And it's a great compilation, even if a little bit incomplete for some.

I really love OK Computer and was looking forward to the B-side. People who own that album already know the first track, "Airbag," which is Radiohead greatness, and with some excellent Thom Yorke lyrics, guitar effects and playing, and such. It's actually the song that inspired me to buy said album.

As for the B-sides, they aren't as good as that album, but I think it's far above average, even for B-sides. I really liked the instrumental "Meeting in the Aisle," as well as the others. The songs here are actually pretty catchy, particularly in "Palo Alto," the last track on the record. It's back in print after a long time. So no longer is it "limited edition" as Amazon.com lists. And at some places it is sold at a very good price; you can get it for roughly eight bucks at your nearest Best Buy.

Overall, a casual Radiohead fan may not want this, but if you're into the group already, I recommend it. And in comparison to the actual studio albums, I'd actually put it ahead of the last two LP's, as well as of course Pablo Honey (has moments but is scattershot).

Dear Amazon: "OK Computer" is the title of that album, and taking it out of my title makes no sense at all. Also, I apologize for price comparisons, although I'd either be a lot poorer or would own way less music if I never did such a thing.

Radiohead have put out an astonishing number of grade-A non-album tracks. They could be pooled together to make one incredible (double) album. This mini album contains some of their best ever in my view. Features some anguished and soaring vocals by T. Yorke.

"Airbag" is a bizarre yet stunningly gorgeous song loaded with shimmering guitar, a quirky funk beat and who-knows-what-all kinds of electronics. It portrays the rush you would feel having survived a major collision thanks to an airbag. Ostensibly a single in this format, it is also the brilliantly uplifting opening track on OK COMPUTER (widely held to be their masterpiece). *****

"Pearly" - Garage-y guitars plus some spacey ones define this sort of underground sounding tune drenched in anguish. ****1/2

"Meeting In The Aisle" - like the swimming mirage you see while looking down the dark corridor of a building towards a sunlit doorway. Totally spaced-out. *****

"A Reminder" - seems to disengage itself from the reality of a crowded room for some fleeting, deeply felt moment. One of their best. *****

"Polythylene (parts 1 &2)" - Part 1 is a melancholy intro picked on acoustic guitar and sung beautifully by Yorke. Part 2 is intensely dramatic. Seems to portray the hopeless inevitability of modern life spinning out of control. Even Yorke's vocals seem to waver out of control yet they still maintain his characteristic artistic perfection. *****

"Melatonin" - a sterile, almost sickly lullaby washed in synths as a rhythm section plugs along like a wind-up toy. ***

"Palo Alto" - Wildly brilliant Faustian (as in the band) guitar delivery plus a few crunching power chords blast away the grind from "a city of the future." One of their greatest, most off the hook guitar songs. *****

Radiohead-heads who collect their singles and EPs reap some of the greatest rewards!

An aside: The packaging is notable for its rather mocking "questionaire" and 2 short-short stories which are like desperate little slices from an unsatisfied life. In addition, the quote from Noam Chomsky's THE CHOMSKY READER reveals a great deal about the perspective behind some of Radiohead's observations about modern life.

I was just wanting something more, and this short CD provides a really good extension of OK computer: the seven songs are as symphonically complicated as the OK Computer sound, and yet there is one track, I think the last one, which really rocks out and should be listened to VERY LOUDLY...overall a great mini album.

I've had this album for many years and it never fails to amaze me at how instantly it hits me on a far deeper level than simply listening to it. I know that sounds tremendously cliche and contrived however I've often felt that had I chosen a soundtrack to play in the background to my life, this would be it.

I spent one summer reading "The Stand" by Stephen King, although I am hardly a Stephen King fan with this playing in the background for the duration of the 1000 odd pages. On its own I don't think "The Stand" would have felt or had the same effect on my experience.

Eerie, echoey, sonic feedback received on some long lost tranceiver on the edge of some remote jungle heard by people who have never quite experienced music....

For those who care...the version of Pearly* that appears here is slightly different than the Paranoid Android single version. Different background music and a true ending make it different

I don't know if this is worth paying 77 dollars for, but it sure is good. These songs all could have ended up on O.K. Computer, possibly making it the best double album of all time, but as it happened, these songs ended up on this somewhat hard to find EP. Here's a brief summary of each track:
1. Airbag - As most readers probably know, this one's available on O.K. computer. Airbag is a fine track with all the standard Radiohead cordage. Awesome Lyrics. Crunching Guitars. Profundities.
2. Pearly - Great Song. More of the same excellence.
3. Meeting In The Aisle - Sadly none of Thom's vocals, but it's still a great song. It's something like a Techno song but it has that special Radiohead feel appended to it.
4. A Reminder - An ambling intro with lots of weird stuff going on in the backround and then the bulk of the song is slow and melancholic.
5. Polyethylene - Beautiful acoustic beginning leading up to a spectacular, swirling rock song.
6. Melatonin - Organ, drums, bass and Thom. Another really good song.
7. Palo Alto - One of Thom's discontment songs about society. Yet another spectacular track.

Give this a few listens, and you will be convinced that this e.p. is a MUST for every Radiohead fan, no matter what level of fan-ness. All these songs are excellent examples of Radiohead's superb songwriting! All of these songs are definately as good, if not better than some of the songs on OK computer, which, I might add, is a great album. When you don't think it's possible, Radiohead just keeps getting better!

I rewriting a review here because one I wrote about this EP over 4 years ago somehow got lost in bizarro world.

I wrote back then that it seemed all the reviewers here had overlooked the song "Reminder". Since that time it appears that some have recognized the genius of this song, which I think ranks among Radiohead's best. The EP is worth it for that song and Pearly, of course. I'd give anything to hear "Pearly" live and I've been to several concerts.

This EP is a little gem that may not be worth the price for some, but for diehard fans it's a must. All the songs range from very solid to superb. The sound and feel is certainly an extension to OK Computer and a nod to earlier albums like The Bends(think Palo Alto and Polyurethane).

Interesting note on the song Airbag - the opener from OKC. I found the production value on the EP to be less superior than on the album. This fact is probably normal for most EPs or maxi-singles, whatever you want to call it. However, I think to some degree this spilled over to the other songs that were never released on a real album. Point being, I wonder how incredible all these songs would sound with better production value.

...But where are tracks like "Lull" and "How I Made Millions"? While they are definitely not Radiohead's greatest, I think they should have been included in this collection as well.