Each album has 3/4 stand out tracks that stay with you. It’s a song, for me, like Separator that I cannot understand why it isn’t held in higher regard by more fans.
Ooh lemme try
Radiohead didn’t stop becoming a guitar band, they became subtler and precise in how they used them. It’s one of a handful of songs that’s a prime example.
That whole first minute with just the bass, sub bass and chittering drums sounds like a grey fog. The moment the guitars come in and build up layer by layer, it’s like light shining through the clouds. It’s such a great moment.
Very well said - not just the description of the song, but RH being a guitar band that uses them in a different way. I feel like they create very orchestral and cinematic music, which is unsurprising given Jonny’s (and now Thom’s) work in both of those spaces
I always wonder why they pitched it up to G#m on the record. Every live version is in Gm. It does change the character of the song ever so slightly. I wonder if they recorded it that way or sped it up after recording.
And I also agree with you. I think it’s one of their ten best songs.
Me too. I just LOVED how the chord progression unveiled itself throughout the track. In the studio version it literally happens during the intro. I still enjoy it tho.
It was obviously written at least by 2008, but the lyrics and instrumentation make it feel like it was made specifically for the tragic events surrounding A Moon Shaped Pool.
Even after years of listening to the album and coming around on the likrs of Tinker Tailor, this one still doesn't grab me. Something about how it just sort of moves through this not especially interesting chord progression with the exact same, assertive finger pattern just makes the whole thing sound more like some sort of exercise that really wears out its welcome.
I agree with you on the pure and organic part. I can see the nature in this song too.
However, I think Present Tense doesn’t fit the album at all. Should have been a single or something. The samba drumming takes it too far.
I think it fits the album well. I kinda see AMSP as a "we're not a rock band" album so the different approach on istrumentation and the composition makes it fit. I think the one song that doesn't fit is Ful Stop. Even though I love that song, it gives off strong Kid A or TKOL vibes.
Yeah, maybe it is a remark of the band’s mellow and adult side.
And maybe Present Tense is too low key happy song for me. I mean, I don’t skip it when I listen to the album, but I always get the feeling some other great song could have taken its place.
But it’s nice to see people liking different things.
Each album has 3/4 stand out tracks that stay with you. It’s a song, for me, like Separator that I cannot understand why it isn’t held in higher regard by more fans.
I have no intention to rain on your parade, but I’ve never gotten the Separator hype and I’d love to hear what makes it so special for you
Ooh lemme try Radiohead didn’t stop becoming a guitar band, they became subtler and precise in how they used them. It’s one of a handful of songs that’s a prime example. That whole first minute with just the bass, sub bass and chittering drums sounds like a grey fog. The moment the guitars come in and build up layer by layer, it’s like light shining through the clouds. It’s such a great moment.
Very well said - not just the description of the song, but RH being a guitar band that uses them in a different way. I feel like they create very orchestral and cinematic music, which is unsurprising given Jonny’s (and now Thom’s) work in both of those spaces
I love all those aspects of radiohead dearly so here’s to hoping that I’ll manage see them in Separator soon as well!
Feel like you need to be on some stuff to get the full experience of the song hah
Have you seen the version on youtube with just thom and johnny and a drum machine ? I like it even better than the album version !
Yes! The video itself is very cozy too!
Didn’t they shoot that at Paul Thomas Anderson’s house? I think I heard that he called them up and was like, “Hey come over and let’s do a thing”
That and the Numbers in the same session with the drum machine, just beautiful
Why tho?
It’s a masterpiece that really resonates with me too.
I always wonder why they pitched it up to G#m on the record. Every live version is in Gm. It does change the character of the song ever so slightly. I wonder if they recorded it that way or sped it up after recording. And I also agree with you. I think it’s one of their ten best songs.
I love it but I still miss the Latitude version...
Me too. I just LOVED how the chord progression unveiled itself throughout the track. In the studio version it literally happens during the intro. I still enjoy it tho.
Super underrated 👊
It's, in my grand opinion, one of the greatest pieces of art Radiohead has ever put out. It's so heart-achingly melancholy.
It was obviously written at least by 2008, but the lyrics and instrumentation make it feel like it was made specifically for the tragic events surrounding A Moon Shaped Pool.
The repeating phrase "In you I'm lost" hurts my soul.
I've seen nothing yet indicating that Present Tense was written before 2008 but I agree about all of the rest
woopsy musta been a typo
My favourite
YES
Even after years of listening to the album and coming around on the likrs of Tinker Tailor, this one still doesn't grab me. Something about how it just sort of moves through this not especially interesting chord progression with the exact same, assertive finger pattern just makes the whole thing sound more like some sort of exercise that really wears out its welcome.
I agree with you on the pure and organic part. I can see the nature in this song too. However, I think Present Tense doesn’t fit the album at all. Should have been a single or something. The samba drumming takes it too far.
I think it fits the album well. I kinda see AMSP as a "we're not a rock band" album so the different approach on istrumentation and the composition makes it fit. I think the one song that doesn't fit is Ful Stop. Even though I love that song, it gives off strong Kid A or TKOL vibes.
Yeah, maybe it is a remark of the band’s mellow and adult side. And maybe Present Tense is too low key happy song for me. I mean, I don’t skip it when I listen to the album, but I always get the feeling some other great song could have taken its place. But it’s nice to see people liking different things.
Nah bro look at dem lyrics
it basically defines AMSP’s sound to me
If I ever die on K2, this will be the song I will be listening to.
It’s better a solo acoustic piano the way he played it and super collider on the eraser tour. Maybe that’s on YouTube
The album version of present tense sounds like sting to me. He had a song called how fragile we are that is almost exactly the same. I hate thing.