PopMatters takes a look at a DVD that might be of importance to the diehard Radiohead-heads out there. It's 53 minutes long and available at Amazon.com.
"Ultimately, this documentary is mildly interesting simply because its topic is undeniably so. Listening to music critics and musicologists get philosophical about a masterpiece is never as intriguing as listening to the work itself, and this film contains moments when the discussion gets too hypothetical and obscure to matter. Such, however, is the nature of criticism—it’s inherently one step removed from the artifact, and it’s often too large a step. For instance, one segment deals with the cover of OK Computer and what it means. When author Dai Griffith goes so far to suggest that the use of the color blue on the cover warrants a dissertation in itself, well, you realize admiration has given way to hyperbole.
"If, however, there were ever a pop album worthy of such critical scrutiny, it’s OK Computer. Whatever it’s definitive message, it reminded the world that rock is indeed capable of being undeniable art on par with older art forms. And, even if deciphering Thom Yorke’s lyrics is a futile endeavor, the album’s overall tone did capture the paranoia and isolation of the modern era, and served as a warning against its pitfalls. Because of this, it’s worth another examination—if it ever left your CD player in the first place. OK Computer: A Classic Album Under Review isn’t enthralling, but it’s a timely reminder that Radiohead is capable of genius. Ten years, after all, is long enough for rock to reach exciting heights—only to find itself in need of another masterpiece." [PopMatters]
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