13th March - Radiohead's The Bends

Artist – Album: Radiohead – The Bends

Released:  13^th March 1995         

Sounds Like: A nailed on ten out of ten

Great news you guys! Following my mightily impressive debut for work’s quiz team a couple of weeks ago (their words, not mine), I’ve been invited to play again! Tonight! Fortunately, I was given slightly more notice than last time and so I’ve had plenty of time to prepare today’s post. Plus, Radiohead’s The Bends may well be the album that I have most listened to, like, the most ever, so this should be a doddle...

Erm...

Radiohead have been releasing deeply rewarding music for the last two decades, but it was a short five year spell – from this album to 2000’s Kid A, with the incredible OK Computer in between – which really defined them as one of the most important and vital bands in recording history. The Bends possessed enough anthemic guitar rock swagger to make it a success in the Britpop era (think ‘Just’ and ‘High and Dry’), but it also contained the first hints of the more experimental approach that they would go on to make their own with songs like ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’. And, four tracks in, ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ represents possibly the finest 5 minutes Radiohead have ever laid down.

It’s great! Now, let’s get down to quiz-ness...

Albumaday... rating: 10/10

1.       Planet Telex – 4:19

2.       The Bends – 4:06

3.       High and Dry – 4:17

4.       Fake Plastic Trees – 4:50

5.       Bones – 3:09

6.       (Nice Dream) – 3:53

7.       Just – 3:54

8.       My Iron Lung – 4:36

9.       Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was – 3:28

10.   Black Star – 4:07

11.   Sulk – 3:42

12.   Street Spirit (Fade Out) – 4:12

Listen to ‘Fake Plastic Trees’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKd06s1LNik

Also released on the 13^th March:

2006: Scott Matthews – Passing Stranger