radiohead and faust

to be able to comprehend radiohead's In Rainbows properly, i had to familiarise myself with the great polymath goethe and his two-part closet drama epic faust -- faust's concern with the true essence of life, leading to his deal with mephistopheles (the devil). perhaps that's in itself the essence of attending a private school education, like the members of this talented band radiohead, the abingdon school in oxfordshire is no pushover. radiohead as young men were able to grasp the classics and tap into that knowledge for their music. unless i win the lottery, entry to a prep school for my offsprings in england would be too farfetched to even contemplate.

back to In Rainbows, it's a mesmerizing compilation, replete with languid acoustic ballads, with thom yorke's vocals filling the air with heartbreaking longings. the kind of music you want to listen when all the pent-up emotions are getting battered by defeat. all the tracks are good. there is certainly no weakness in this set. the album's tone is not all about sunshine and singin in the rain stuff, no glimpse of a happy ending. but it's a deluxe listening companion. the titles are not your usual's blunt's with weird fishes/arpeggi, so hypnotic through its soothing rhythm guitar while faust arp with its recoiling beats and imaginative lyrics is simply vintage radiohead.

according to the new york times, the next step with this latest project from the oxford boys would be an online package of two cd's, two vinyl records with a booklet for 40 big quid and In Rainbows as a single cd release in january. standard counter price, i presume. i have to include that in my gift list, acquiring the set would soften blow of missing a date with ewan mcgregor as iago in othello's run at the donmar.