PABLO HONEY

In 1993, Radiohead were gaining all sorts of attention, and expectations were high for their debut. Sadly, these expectations were not met in the slightest. Borrowing heavily from the grunge scene that had the world in its grasp, this band was touted as the British Nirvana by some. Well, after listening in, I can't say I understand what the fuss was all about. Thom Yorke and co. mixed the aggressive hardcore-influenced sound of the Seattle scene with the airy Britpop of their homeland. While interesting on paper, the combination does not prove very successful, and only a few tracks here are worth your time.

Creep, the band's first smash hit, is completely and utterly out of place, and for good reason. Never intended for the album, the song was a throwaway track Thom wrote years earlier. He made the mistake of playing it within earshot of an exec, and soon it was put on the record. Personally I like the song, but it isn't one of the band's best. Anyone Can Play Guitar is a funny piece but the joke wears off after a few listens. You is the best song here without question, not that it's saying much. The only song here that gives any indication of the band's future direction is Blow Out, and even that cannot compare.

In the end, this album serves only to show how much Radiohead have changed throughout their careers. It is nothing more than a time capsule piece or a blurb in a documentary someday about the band. Without "Creep," the band wouldn't have gotten its foot in the door, so this record served its purpose. Still, this is the last Radiohead album you wanna pick up.

Grade: D-