By now you should have all the tracks of our cover-to-cover tribute to OK Computer — both regular and bonus — and last time we promised one more MP3 for ya: a proper b-side, from the excellent Airbag/How Am I Driving? EP. Now don’t worry, this is our very last OKX post … but we made sure to end on a good note.
Tough to call any track on the EP a “standout” since, well, it’s Radiohead after all … but “Polyethylene” has always been a fan favorite, and it’s in good hands with Death Cab For Cutie guitarist/producer extraordinaire Chris Walla (who’s been otherwise fresh on our lips via his recent work with Tegan & Sara in addition to releasing his own LP with Barsuk this September). With Walla, “Polyethylene (Part 1)” gets a harmony-laden a cappella treatment, shifting into a fully realized, hazy-day take on the track’s second movement. But enough from us, here’s what Chris had to say:
It’s hard to believe “Polyethylene” didn’t make OK Computer in hindsight. I’ve wondered if maybe it was a Bends era leftover that the band wasn’t comfortable with or something; like when your college self is ashamed of the things your high school self used to say and do. It’s a spectacular song I think. I like how part one is completely unintelligible (I cobbled together parts of a few readings, since there’s nothing definitive), and how part two is more muscular than anything the band has done since. Mine is not muscular, but I’m also not a drummer by trade. Apparently I also can’t count to five, six or seven. But OK Computer (and by extension, the Airbag EP) is, I believe, one of the records that re-wrote the book about what a rock record can be; a seamless and beautiful marriage of beauty, hope, conscience and presentation.
-Christopher Walla
Without further ado…
Enjoy.
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That’s what got me into Radiohead: their B-sides are fantastic, worthy of many other band’s albums… well particularly the period starting at the My Iron Lung EP and before KidA. Get them all you fools!
Well done Chris.
Great song, great guy, great cover. Section 2 is the jam.
You can’t top the original (with it being such an incredible song), but an interp. like this makes it a terrific thing all its own.
Thank you. That… that just made my day/week/month.
Are you kidding? It sounds like N’sync at the beginning. It’s boring.
Wow what an amazing song to cover. It sounded good, but too folky for my taste. I still enjoyed that shit.
You gotta be kidding me!
It’s because of pretentious, crap-town sites like this and Pitchfork that make me wanna throw up a little. In my mouth. You don’t make the music, you just write about it. Douchebaggery runs rampant on this joke of a site.
Furthermore, please stop killing this classic record with lame covers. lol
Tribute my arse! It’s the sonic equivalent of a kick in the nuts!
I love that you did this. I’ve loved this song for a while and you did it justice.
Love this version, well done Chris!!!
I loved it. <3
“uuggh”,, that’s me sighing after listening to this crappy version of an excellent song.
I like DCFC but I share my opinions with a couple other people: at the beginning it sounds like Take That is singing and the song is boring. BTW, I LOVE Radiohead. Their shows are amazing.
of all of these songs, i think the dave bazan cover is the only one really worth repeated listens, maybe the doveman song…i liked it a lot. and polyethelyne is one of my favorite radiohead songs and i am a dcfc loyalist…but this song is kind of a bummer. hmm.
that being said, i loved the cover album because its great to hear new interpretations — its so cool that no one really did a straight cover.
in summary, okay song, dave bazan is the man, lp7 will own.
Whoever said this sounds like NSync is right. This is disgusto. Ugh