Radiohead - Nude

Radiohead will release 'Nude' as their second single from In Rainbows on March 31st in the UK, and on iTunes as well. The 7" will be accompanied by 4 Minute Warning, while the cd single will feature Down Is The New Up, both tracks previously appearing on disc two of the Discbox set.

This song has come a long way, dating all the way back to the OK Computer days in 1997. Back then, it had an organ, glockenspiel and an extra verse, and was already astoundingly beautiful. Finally put on a studio album last year, they stripped it down, put in a full dub inspired bassline, changed the front and the end and somehow it became even more ethereal and beautiful. Seemingly a statement on sexual politics, the song slowly builds with strings and harmonies to a crescendo, with Thom declaring to no avail, 'You'll go to hell for what your dirty mind is thinking'

The couple of other Disc Two 'B-sides' if you will (which sort of puts to rest the whole Discbox 'double album' discussion) more than deserve their own mention. 4 Minute Warning is one of the prettiest they have written, and is the perfect closer to Disc Two, summing up the themes of alienation and fear that I felt were similar to OK Computer, at least more than the album proper which was much warmer and more intimate.

Down Is The New Up is probably the most 'epic' song of the In Rainbows era in my opinion, I was astounded that it wasn't on the album proper, however thats probably owing to how it doesn't fit in with the aforementioned themes on Disc One. The whole song is so menacing, with the insidious piano and sinister strings. These are absent on the live version I'm posting though(go buy the CD!), but its still as good. You're going to have to turn up the volume on these bootlegs though.

Radiohead - Nude (Live in Meadowbank) /
Radiohead - 4 Minute Warning (Live in Copenhagen) /
Radiohead - Down is the New Up (Live in Montreal) /