Charybdis

^{RADIOHEAD UNPACKT seeks to demonstrate the merits of treating Radiohead songs and albums like
works of art. You're probably worried that I run the risk of over-analysis. "After all, this
is pop music. If you do stumble into something that makes sense of Radiohead's music as a
whole, well, anyone can fit anything together if they tried. No one knows what these records
mean except perhaps the band, so it's all a matter of opinion, right?"

You might also have reservations about this website due to Radiohead's attitude toward serious
interpretation. Thom Yorke wrote about over-analyzing Radiohead in an old version of the
band's official website: "i [d]ont like the scientists breaking down its molecular structure
and teaching it in O level chemistry i dont want to have expain [sic] it but it worries me
stupid." (1)

I doubt that Thom's worries stem from a firm conviction that any interpretation can be the
correct one. This is the same man, for instance, who takes issue with Ed O'Brien's remark that
his friends listened to The Bends to cool down after raves. "'For me,' says O'Brien, 'the
biggest high I got from reaction to The Bends was...I've got friends who do not listen to
bands with guitars. They're just into dance music. And, universally, they would say they'd
come back from a rave or whatever and would stick on The Bends to chill out and--'

"'How,' snaps Yorke incredulously, 'can you chill out to The Bends?'" (2)

Is the correct concern that too much cold and clinical dissection sucks the emotion out of
music? It certainly can. But I ask you to give me the benefit of the doubt for now, since it
could also be that having insight into the meaning of the music strengthens its visceral
emotional impact as well.

I promise to present a well-supported, engaging interpretation, rather than just some opinion.
Hopefully, I'll strike a balance between not saying too much and not saying too little.

To Scylla and Charybdis

To Radiohead}