Radiohead Announces New Album: King of Limbs

As many of you are probably already aware, it was announced on Radiohead's website on Monday that they would be releasing an album come this saturday for digital download with a physical release on May 9th called the newspaper album.

At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I am nothing if not ecstatic.

Radiohead has consistently been one of the most innovative popular bands in the scene right now. Kid A is probably one of my favorite albums of all time and In Rainbows made a powerful statement about the true purpose of music by asking only for a donation to download, especially considering the clout that Radiohead carries.

Thom Yorke has apparently demoed several songs from the new album to much acclaim. I have dutifully avoided these. I've already pre-ordered King of Limbs (the newspaper album of course) which along with a CD, 2 clear vinyls, and artwork sheets comes a digital download. And while I will download the album I won't be listening to it.

This is an album I must hear on vinyl. I strongly believe that it is an album that will be vastly enhanced by listening to it on a vinyl, almost as though there is another dimension to the music, much like For Emma, Forever Ago released by Bon Iver in 2008 (the bands aren't similar sounding, it's just that listening to For Emma, Forever Ago on vinyl is as close as I'll ever come to a religious experience). As a burgeoning audiophile I refuse to listen to an album three years in the making from the band that is quite possibly the voice of my generation digitally.

You can expect my review extremely late but extremely detailed and a meditation on the virtues of the vinyl cut over the digital one come May 9th (or whenever the album is shipped to me).