How Much Is Radiohead Worth to You?

Posted Oct 2nd 2007 12:57PM by TMZ Staff

The new Radiohead album, "In Rainbows," could be yours for the low, low price of $0. Or for the low, low price of $5. Or $10. It's totally your call.
Beginning next week, the band is making its new CD available online -- and they're leaving the price blank -- pay whatever you want!

Think of it as the "take a penny, give a penny" tray at 7-Eleven -- but instead of a penny, you get the new Radiohead album! What'll ya give?

Filed under: Music

Tags: radiohead

Radiohead Meets Reggae

Posted Sep 5th 2006 5:23PM by TMZ Staff

Have you ever listened to Radiohead's "OK Computer" -- widely regarded as one of the best album of the 1990s, if not all time -- and thought to yourself, "Man, this is good ... but it would be even better as a reggae album"? Well if you have, you're in luck!

The Easy Star All-Stars, who previously gave the reggae treatment to Pink Floyd with "Dub Side of the Moon," are back with their latest effort, "Radiodread." The album features such reggae stars as Toots and the Maytals and Citizen Cope doing "Let Down" and "Karma Police," respectively.

Executive producer and Easy Star Records CEO Eric Smith says, "Reggae has always tackled dark subject matter, but manages to do it in a way that still conveys hope at the bleakest moments. Radiohead's approach is similar."

Michael Goldwasser, who produced and arranged "Radiodread," says, "'OK Computer' has elements that are perfect -- strong melodies, intense dynamics and trippy soundscapes. On the other hand, it has complex time signatures, lots of chord changes and things that typically aren't found in reggae. However, the more we looked at it, the more we realized that this was an album we had to do."

"Radiodread" is available now.

Filed under: Music

Tags: easy star all-stars, EasyStarAll-stars, ok computer, OkComputer, radiodread, radiohead

Rock (n' Roll) Your Baby!

Posted Aug 23rd 2006 1:26PM by TMZ Staff

You can't stand the Wiggles and the thought of some Disney Kidz belting out Britney Spears makes you want to tear up your "They Might be Giants" t-shirt.

Well hip indie parent, fret no more. Baby Rock Records has just what your ears are yearning for, great songs from great bands toned down to soothe even the fussiest of babies. The new-fangled lullaby album feature songs by Radiohead, Coldplay, Pink Floyd and Nirvana, and are sure to keep both baby and parent calm for years to come.

In order to smooth out the songs, the company replaced the guitars and drums with the melltron and glockenspiel vibraphone. We don't know what those are either, but they sound better then some pre-teen singing "Mambo # 5".

Check out Baby Rocks Rendition of Radioheads "Karma Police"

Filed under: Music, Baby Watch, Kids

Tags: baby music, Baby rock records, BabyMusic, BabyRockRecords, coldplay, nirvana, pink floyd, PinkFloyd, radiohead, tool

Radiohead Making Record Execs Nervous

Posted Jun 19th 2006 12:20PM by TMZ Staff

U2's Bono has cited Radiohead as one of the best - if not the best - bands in the world.  And there's no question that they influence scores of  young bands breaking into the charts these days. The group is currently enjoying a critically acclaimed US tour while rolling out several brand new tracks for concert goers.   The new tracks have raised a few  interesting questions. When is the new cd coming out? And, what label - if any - is going to get it?

Radiohead has put out most of their records- like "OK Computer" and 2004's "Hail to the Thief" - via EMI.  The band's contract with Capitol/EMI however has expired and the lads are free to search for a new label.  Indeed, frontman Thom Yorke will release his solo record through  XL Records - "The Eraser," which is due out this July.  That has led to some speculation that Radiohead will not sign a new deal with EMI.  Yorke addressed their current "unsigned" status in an interview with NME:

"Will we re-sign to EMI? I don't know. I don't think we'd sign to anybody. Give someone a record when it's done if we feel that they can do it justice. That's it."

The real question that should worry EMI and other big label execs is what is to stop Radiohead from releasing the record themselves? Obviously its hard for new acts to break through without  the millions major labels can spend on public relations and marketing campaigns, but with today's technology monster artists like Radiohead could easily sell millions of records and downloads without any label's help.  There aren't many acts that have the credibility and talent of Radiohead, but this is exactly the type of band that could break away from the label machine and prosper just fine.   I wouldn't be surprised if they give it a shot.  And, if they did try it, there's no question that other big names could follow.

Filed under: Music, Sound Bytes

Tags: Radiohead