Radiohead Radiohead: The Best Of

Is EMI scrambling to fill their dwindling coffers with whatever Radiohead sales they can muster? Yes, though EMI’s ulterior motive could be embarrassment. Yorke and company come off indistinguishable from mediocre alt-rock glam posers like Spacehog in their four Pablo Honey clips. Luckily, the band’s videos take as sharp an upswing in quality as their music. "Just” is Radiohead’s first strong bid as conceptual video geniuses. The reverse motion beauty in "Street Spirit,” the delightfully bizarre adult cartoon saga for "Paranoid Android” and the brilliantly subtle tension of "No Surprises” solidify Radiohead’s place amongst the most creative artists working in the medium. Seldom do videos so well serve as explanation and expansion of a song’s theme. The omission of "Motion Picture Soundtrack” leaves Kid A out in the cold, which is extra frustrating considering two versions of "High and Dry” are included. Amnesiac’s offerings are excellent, but Hail to the Thief’s videos, save "There There,” lack effort. Too bad EMI couldn’t nab Yorke’s U.N.K.L.E. collaboration, and with no special features, it’s worth waiting for a collection the band are behind. (EMI/Parlophone)

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