The latest releases reviewed
RADIOHEAD
The Best of Radiohead
Parlophone
***
When EMI was taken over by a private equity firm last
year, Radiohead were unable to hammer out a deal with their new
boss. So they picked up their guitars and walked, releasing
In Rainbowsas a pay-what-you-like download. Unfortunately,
they couldn't take their back catalogue with them, and EMI has not
been slow to exploit the band's legacy. Christmas saw the release
of a Radiohead box set, and now we have this best-of selection from
the band's 12-year career with the label. Nobody wins here: EMI has
lost one of its most valuable acts, and Radiohead have lost control
over their back catalogue and all but given away a perfectly good
album. While you can't argue that this double CD contains most of
the band's best tunes, it sounds like it's been compiled by an iPod
Shuffle (with artwork by Microsoft Paint) and its hasty release is
a cynical, short-sighted move that will devalue the music even
more.
KEVIN COURTNEY
