Anyone Can Play Guitar

This week, we're stepping back in time. After getting teased for years by Austin, Nick finally learns all the Pablo Honey b-sides. Needless to say, taking up some of their earliest tracks after "The King of Limbs" was quite strange for both. Will they find some hidden gems or spend the whole time trashing "Pop is Dead" again? 2:07 - "Inside My Head" 8:48 - "Million Dollar Question" 13:28 - "Yes I Am" 18:05 - "Faithless the Wonderboy" 22:12 - "Coke Babies" 28:12 - "Pop is Dead" The Pixes - "Tame" Rites Of Spring - "For Want Of" Beefeater "Inside My Head" live at Reading 1994 Live at Astoria 1994 The Offspring - "Come Out And Play" The Cranberries - "Linger" Ride - "Vapour Trail" Radiohead - "Pop is Dead"

"The King of Limbs" might have been a meager album, but there are plenty of b-sides to discuss. Will Austin and Nick create a fantasy version of the album, or admit that these extras don't fit? Nick finally gets to geek out about supercolliders, while Austin goes on about trees. They finish by picking the best songs of the era. Join the discussion on Facebook. 1:23 - "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" 8:30 - "These Are My Twisted Words" 15:30 - "Supercollider" 19:45 - "The Butcher" 22:20 - "The Daily Mail" 28:40 - "Staircase" Remembrance: Harry Patch recalls the trenches Artwork for "These Are My Twisted Words" Can (band) Large Hadron Collider Fermilab Filter "Take A Picture" Radiohead "Cuttouth" What is Music Podcast The "Creep" Award: The Best Song, Begrudgingly or Not Nick - “Lotus Flower” Austin - “Lotus Flower” The "Blow Out" Award: Our Personal Favorite Song Austin - “Feral" Nick - “Feral" The "I Can't" Award: Most Improved Song Austin - “Bloom” Nick - “Little By Little"

How does everyone feel about Thom's unique dance moves in the "Lotus Flower" music video? Nick and Austin discuss that important topic while briefly touching on 90s-era Christian rock music and Homer's "Odyssey." Will they agree with the consensus that the album's second, slower second half is better than the more rhythmic first half? Or will they find a way to disagree with that narrative? 1:12 - "Lotus Flower" 21:15 - "Codex" 30:12 - "Give Up the Ghost" 38:00 - "Separator" Lotus Flower music video The Thom Yorke Dancing Meme "Lotus Flower" From the Basement "Moon on a Stick" from a Fist of Fun Nelumbo nucifera R.E.M. "Lotus" music video Lotus-eaters Audio Adrenaline "Codex" From the Basement Radiohead - The "Worst Possible Setlist" (r/radiohead) Euclidean rhythm Sunset Rubdown

Austin and Nick finally tackle The King of Limbs, an album that both admit to disliking when it was released in 2011. Will learning all the songs on guitar help them understand the thorny album or will it just be a universal sigh? Nick learns about magpies, while Austin gets into ocean documentaries. Why do they spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the Counting Crows? There's only one way to find out. 7:51 - "Bloom" 19:45 - "Morning Mr Magpie" 33:08 - "Little by Little" 39:30 - "Feral" Radiohead - The King Of Limbs From The Basement (December 2011) Thom Yorke - Bloom (Live from Electric Lady Studios) Planet Earth: Blue Planet II | Radiohead & Hans Zimmer - (ocean) bloom | BBC America Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead by Brad Osborn Aleatoric music Why Arthur Schopenhauer thought music was the greatest of all art forms "Morning Mr Magpie" Thom solo acoustic "August and Everything After" by Counting Crows "Round Here" by Counting Crows Magpies And Superstition Little by Little (From the Basement) "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails

With In Rainbows over, Nick and Austin explore the polished leftovers found on the b-side disc. While a huge improvement over the Com Lag EP, the two do wonder why these songs don't stick in your head. Austin swears he'll never order bangers and mash, while Nick finds one of his least favorite songs of the project. Digressions abound, including more discussion about Seal than you'd ever imagine in a Radiohead podcast. Join the discussion on Facebook. Songs Discussed: 2:04 - "Down Is the New Up" 8:45 - "Go Slowly" 13:48 - "Last Flowers" 20:25 - "Up on the Ladder" 24:25 - "Bangers + Mash" 31:50 - "4 Minute Warning" "Down is the New Up" From the Basement performance "Becoming Radiohead" in the New Yorker by Alex Ross "Svefn-g-englar" by Radiohead "Go Slowly" From the Basement performance "Last Flowers" From the Basement performance "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal Switched on Pop podcast Tool "Bangers + Mash" From the Basement performance "4 Minute Warning" live performance The "Creep" Award: The Best Song, Begrudgingly or Not Austin - “15 Step” Nick - “Weird Fishes” The "Blow Out" Award: Our Personal Favorite Song Nick - “Nude" Austin - “Reckoner" The "I Can't" Award: Most Improved Song Austin - “Jigsaw Falling into Place” Nick - “Bodysnatchers"

Before Nick and Austin reach the pearly gates, they first have to make it through the last three songs on In Rainbows. Things start off strangely, with Prince-like lyrics and mentions of wife-swapping. That's before Nick says the word "love" about 100 times and Austin brings up death again. Along the way, they struggle to pronounce Mephistopheles and discuss the Nietzschean concept of Eternal Return. Join the discussion on Facebook. Songs Discussed: 1:40 - "House of Cards" 15:55 - "Jigsaw Falling into Place" 25:40 - "Videotape" "I Wanna Be Your Lover" by Prince "The Ice Storm" by Rick Moody "House of Cards" music video "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" music video "This Charming Man" by The Smiths Devo The secret rhythm behind Radiohead's "Videotape" "After Life" by Hirokazu Kore-eda "Videotape" at Bonnarro (June 2006) Mephistopheles Eternal return Ezra Pound and the drafts of The Waste Land

You'd be crazy not to follow along as Austin and Nick delve into the mesmerizing middle of In Rainbows. Austin feels confident that all the songs are about death, before bringing up Blues Traveler. Nick continues to find excuses to chat about R.E.M. and The Beatles. Along with loads of praise, the two do manage to pick their least favorite track of the album. The episode starts with another round of "Spot the Alternative Rock Riff." Thanks for listening to season 5. Join the discussion on Facebook. Songs Discussed: 6:25 - "Weird Fishes" 22:01 - "All I Need" 31:22 - "Faust Arp" 38:55 - "Reckoner" Musical canon Thom Yorke's "Arpeggi / Weird Fishes" debut Brad Osborn, "Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead" James Doheny, "Radiohead: The Stories Behind Every Song" R.E.M. "So. Central Rain" Blues Traveler "Run-Around" Ophelia by John Everett Millais German legend of Faust The band Faust Jonny Greenwood's "There Will Be Blood [Original Soundtrack]" The original version of "Reckoner"

You don't have to pay anything to listen to Nick and Austin discuss Radiohead's beloved 2007 album, In Rainbows. Just prepare yourself for some enthusiastic diatribes about terminally climatic song forms and Colin's bass playing. Austin admits to stopping his car in the middle of the street when he first heard "15 Step," while Nick can't stop thinking of Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk." Thanks for listening to season 5. Join the discussion on Facebook. Songs Discussed: 6:45 - "15 Step" 21:10 - "Bodysnatchers" 30:03 - "Nude" Radiohead's In Rainbows screenshot "Pay what you want" Thom Yorke "The Eraser" Brad Osborn's "Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead" Peaches "F*** The Pain Away" Lost in Translation Radiohead - 15 Step Live (Grammy's 2009) Feat. Usc Trojan Marching Band USC Trojan Marching Band + Radiohead @ 2009 Grammys | Behind the Scenes Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" Through-Composed Music Subverting the Verse–Chorus Paradigm: Terminally Climactic Forms in Recent Rock Music Brad Osborn Wolfmother The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney High Fidelity Mixtape Rules "Nude (Big Ideas)" on Meeting People is Easy James Doheny, "Radiohead: The Stories Behind Every Song"

Thought Nick and Austin were too rough on "Hail to the Thief"? Just wait until they make their way through the "Com Lag" EP, which collects the b-sides from the era. How bad does it get? Let's just say that both find songs that they dislike more than "Pop is Dead." Nick sticks up for one track, while Austin talks about how much he loves the blues. Finally, they have the "Hail to the Thief" awards, though a certain single steals the show. Songs Discussed: 2:45 - "Paperbag Writer" 10:50 - "I am a Wicked Child" 16:10 - "I am Citizen Insane" 20:25 - "Gagging Order" 28:27 - Where Bluebirds Fly 36:45 - "I Want None of This" Original Pitchfork review of Com Lag Pitchfork review of the deluxe version of "Hail to Thief" The Beatles "Paperback Writer" The Beatles "Let it Be" Pavement "Terror Twilight" B.B. King Björk: Sonic Symbolism Reddit fan ratings of "Hail to the Thief" songs "Help!: A Day in the Life" charity album The "Creep" Award: The Best Song, Begrudgingly or Not Nick - “There, There” Austin - “There, There” The "Blow Out" Award: Our Personal Favorite Song Austin - “There, There”; Otherwise favorite, "I Will" Nick - “There, There”; Otherwise favorite, "Scatterbrain" The "I Can't" Award: Most Improved Song Austin - “Scatterbrain” Nick - “There, There”, "Scatterbrain"

It's the end of Hail to the Thief, but will Nick and Austin get the flan in the face? Nick sticks up for one of the album's least-loved tracks, while Austin has sharp words for one of the most beloved. Along the way, they discuss a viral rabbit disease, Bob Dylan, and Thomas Pynchon. 1:45 - "I Will" 9:28 - "A Punchup at a Wedding" 14:55 - "Myxomatosis" 19:56 - "Scatterbrain" 27:58 - "A Wolf at the Door" Radiohead - I Will and Like Spinning Plates (reversed): I Will Like Spinning Plates Radiohead - I Will / Like Spinning Plates (Cover by Joe Edelmann ft. Lucas Vallim) "Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead" by Brad Osborn "I Will" (Los Angeles Version) Through-composed music House Rabbit Society definition of myxomatosis Cuttooth Scatterbrain live Thomas Pynchon Bob Dylan "Subterranean Homesick Blues" John Lennon "Gimme Some Truth"

Will Austin and Nick finally find a song on "Hail to the Thief" that they love, or will the disappointment continue? Things certainly don't start well, as Austin briefly considers giving up on the whole project. Fortunately, they both persevere and eventually stumble onto one of their favorite songs. Along the way, they discuss New Order, Fiona Apple, and "Gulliver's Travels." Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Songs Discussed: 3:10 - "Go to Sleep" 8:52 - "Where I End and You Begin" 15:17 - "We Suck Young Blood" 23:32 - "The Gloaming" 32:09 - "There There" "Go to Sleep" video Gulliver's Travels New Order "Age of Consent" Charles Mingus "Freedom" Reddit: TIL Paul Thomas Anderson shot an (unreleased) video for “We Suck Young Blood” with an old 1920s camera Fiona Apple "Across the Universe" music video directed by Paul Thomas Anderson "This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "Kid A" and the Beginning of the 21st Century" by Steven Hyden "There There" demo "There, There" music video

Have you been paying attention? Nick and Austin attempt to make sense of Radiohead's messy and slightly political sixth album, Hail to the Thief. Both had troubled experiences with the album when it was released in 2003, but will learning all the songs on guitar help them appreciate it? Nick catches up on George Orwell's "1984," while Austin ponders if Yorke actually sang "the raindrops" every single time in "Sit Down. Stand Up." Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Songs Discussed: 10:36 - "2 + 2 = 5" 21:20 - "Sit Down. Stand Up" 27:35 - "Sail to the Moon" 35:51 - "Backdrifts" "Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead" by Brad Osborn Ph.D. George Frideric Handel George Orwell "1984" George Orwell "The Road to Wigan Pier" Revelation 3:16, New International Version Genesis 5:32-10:1, New International Version Sailor Moon

So far, Nick and Austin have been split on Radiohead's b-sides, struggling with Pablo Honey and OK Computer offerings, but loving the playfulness of the tracks orbiting around The Bends. Where will the Amnesiac b-sides land? Topics this week include Phil Collins, T.S. Eliot and the banking system. They end season three by discussing Kid Amnesia, the recently released deluxe album, which came with a bonus disc of unreleased tracks. Songs Discussed: 3:42 - "The Amazing Sounds Of Orgy" 8:10 - "Trans-Atlantic Drawl" 12:02 - "Fast-Track" 15:04 - "Kinetic" 18:16 - "Cuttooth" 25:06 - "Worrywort" 29:23 - "Fog" 32:08 - "If You Say the Word" 33:19 - "Follow Me Around" "The Amazing Sounds of Orgy" live on Austin City Limits "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins Neu! "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" by Wilco Warm by Jeff Tweedy "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T. S. Eliot "Fog" live "Follow Me Around" on Meeting People is Easy

Is someone listening in? Today, we round out our discussion on Amnesiac. We find a surprising Brian Eno connection on "Hunting Bears," before spending an inordinate amount of time on "Like Spinning Plates" and "Life in a Glasshouse." Austin finally listens to early Louis Armstrong, while Nick admits to enjoying the music from the latest pop sensation. Plus, we pick out our favorite tracks from the album. Songs Discussed: 3:08 - "Hunting Bears" 12:16 - "Like Spinning Plates" 25:28 - "Life in a Glasshouse" 37:36 - Amnesiac Awards Radiohead's Amnesiac book CD "Zawinul/Lava" by Brian Eno "Everything in Its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead" by Brad Osborn Radiohead" "Modified Bear" logo Ear Training with the Music of Radiohead on JSTOR Olivia Rodrigo Adds Paramore to Songwriting Credits on ‘Good 4 U’ “Like Spinning Plates” reversed Live version of “Like Spinning Plates” "The Windows Of The World" by Isaac Hayes from Live at the Sahara "Cloud Cuckoo Land" by Anthony Doerr Vivarium “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong “St. James Infirmary” by Louis Armstrong Humphrey Lyttelton “Life in a Glasshouse” on Meeting People is Easy The "I Can't" Award: Most Improved Song Austin - “Like Spinning Plates” Nick - “Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors” The "Creep" Award: The Best Song, Begrudgingly or Not Nick - “Pyramid Song” Austin - “Pyramid Song” The "Blow Out" Award: Our Personal Favorite Song Austin - “Life in a Glasshouse” Nick - “Life in a Glasshouse”

Austin and Nick square off again, as they break down the middle of Amnesiac. Nick, once again, starts the episode by stating that the first song sounds like a demo, while Austin tries to convince Nick that this version of "Morning Bell" is better than the one on Kid A. Along the way, the two discuss the legendary Morrissey Night at Sway in Manhattan, before examining how the lyrics of "Knives Out" were inspired by a British TV show. But the show starts with another round of Name That Alternative Rock Riff. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Songs discussed: 6:20 - “I Might Be Wrong” 15:40 - “Knives Out” 36:47 - “Morning Bell/Amnesiac” 42:55 - “Dollars and Cents” Live version of “I Might Be Wrong” Original Pitchfork review of Amnesiac "Everything in its Right Place: Analyzing Radiohead" by Brad Osborn Ph.D. “The Headmaster Ritual” by The Smiths Morrissey Night at Sway “Knives Out” video by Michel Gondry First performance of “Knives Out” "This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's "Kid A" and the Beginning of the 21st Century" by Steven Hyden Reddit post about "Knives Out" lyrics in Silent Witness Silent Witness scene starts at 40:12 "Tago Mago" by Can "Journey In Satchidananda" by Alice Coltrane

In this week's contentious episode, the two dig into Amnesiac. Austin makes the case that this album is actually better than Kid A, while Nick calls "Packt" Radiohead's least impressive opening track. The majority of time is spent analyzing "Pyramid Song," which leads to a discussion of everything from "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" to Doctor Who. Plus, they manage to discuss The Lord of the Rings and the Holy Roman Empire. Songs Discussed: 6:00 - "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box" 13:33 - "Pyramid Song" 28:04 - "Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" 36:10 - "You and Whose Army" Early live version of "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box" "Packt Like Sardines" from 2012 Ed's diary from December 9th, 1999 What Time Signature is Radiohead’s 'Pyramid Song' in? Doctor Who's Tardis Egyptian Book of the Dead "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" lyrics Elijah Ascends to Heaven "Siddhartha: An Indian Poem" by Hermann Hesse Ending of Dante's Inferno Charon's obol Brent DiCrescenzo's review of Kid A by Radiohead "Pulk/Pull (True Love Waits Version)" Taylor Swift vs. Nine Inch Nails - Shake It Off (The Perfect Drug) Carly Rae Jepsen vs. Nine Inch Nails "Call Me A Hole" The Adventures of Egg Box Dragon Holy Roman Empire Army of the Dead from Lord of the Rings

Nick and Austin don't need too much wine or sleeping pills to get through the last songs on Kid A. Just get ready for a discussion of old IBM computers, Wagner operas, and Bo Burnham. Nick forces Austin to listen to "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," while they both rave about Alice Coltrane. For some inexplicable reason, the 1997 film Titanic comes up. They end the podcast with their Kid A Awards. Songs Discussed: 2:05 - "Idioteque" 18:08 - "Morning Bell" 27:30 - "Motion Picture Soundtrack" 40:30 - The Kid A Awards Paul Lansky "Mild und Leise" Paul Lansky on Radiohead IBM 360/91 The Tristan Chord "Tristan und Isolde" by Richard Wagner "Idioteque" live at Glastonbury Bo Burnham Inside "Short Piece" by Arthur Kreiger Radiohead parody by Reggie Watts How Reggie Watts Makes Music in Vulture Judgment of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:16-28 "Morning Bell" monster blip Acoustic version of Motion Picture Soundtrack Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Alice Coltrane ‎– Journey In Satchidananda "I'll never let go" in Titanic Westworld's Motion Picture Soundtrack Cover Motion Picture Soundtrack at a funeral The "Creep" Award: The Best Song, Begrudgingly or Not Austin: "Idioteque" Nick: "Kid A" The "Blow Out" Award: Our Personal Favorite Song Nick: "Kid A" and "Idioteque" Austin: "Everything In Its Right Place" The "I Can't" Award: Most Improved Song Austin: "In Limbo" Nick: "In Limbo" and "Treefingers"

The descent into the unconscious continues with a look at Kid A's eclectic middle. Austin escapes reality with "How to Disappear Completely," while Nick finds a way to quote James Joyce twice. They discuss the use of ambient tracks in the rock canon, and ponder if Led Zeppelin was ruined for Austin by the hilariously campy film, "The Song Remains the Same." Along the way they briefly debate how time flows and how to find Kid A's secret booklet. Songs Discussed: 1:25 - "How to Disappear Completely" 16:02 - "Treefingers" 25:40 - "Optimistic" 36:12 - "In Limbo" Irish Times review of Kid A NME review of Kid A The Dead by James Joyce Radiohead Kid A blips Ultimate Guitar for Treefingers The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" That Pedal Show - A Conversation With Ed O'Brien Of Radiohead Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald "Low" by David Bowie "Heroes" by David Bowie "Ambient 1: Music for Airports" by Brian Eno "Ambient 4: On Land" by Brian Eno "Selected Ambient Works Volume II" by Aphex Twin Radiohead's Modified Bear Hidden Kid A booklet Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same" Kylie Minogue "Can't Get You Out of My Head" Earth, Wind & Fire "September"

Season three delves into the wilds of Radiohead's Kid A and Amnesiac. Prepare for multiple semi-serious discussions of the unconscious, the terror of fairy tales, and the late 90s phenomenon of adding a DJ to every rock band. They start by exploring the first three tracks of Kid A, but can you play any of them on guitar? Nick also tries to dispel some common narratives about Kid A, while Austin wades into the world of free jazz. Songs Discussed: 4:18 - "Everything In Its Right Place" 18:15 - "Kid A" 31:30 - "The National Anthem" "Fly" by Sugar Ray Jacques Lacan "What’s so Unconscious about the Unconscious?" "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman How to make a dadaist poem T.S. Eliot on escaping personality "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers "Freedom" by Charles Mingus Kid A guitar part by Fitter Happier More Acoustic Grimm's Fairy Tales The Shades "Kid A" performed by Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers "Kid A" performed by John Mayer Anil Seth's Being You: A New Science of Consciousness Free Jazz "Ascension" by John Coltrane "Blues and Roots" by Charles Mingus Ondes Martenot "The National Anthem" live on Saturday Night Live

Bonus mini episode! Radiohead is getting ready to release Kid A Mnesia, a deluxe version of Kid A and Amnesiac, which also includes a brand new album of alternate versions and outtakes. The first song released from the project, the haunting "If You Say the Word," leads them on a discussion of Neil Young and Dante. Plus, the two discuss how they'll even be able to do a next season, considering that many of the songs on the next two albums don't have guitars. Song Discussed: 6:30 - "If You Say the Word" "If You Say the Word" music video Ed O'Brien's diary "Rabbit in the Headlights" by Unkle Big Thief "Needle and the Damage Done" by Neil Young Harvest by Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young Wood of the Suicides from Dante's Inferno The Thom Yorke and Roger Waters controversy