Though labeled as a record from The Smile, A Light for Attracting Attention is essentially a Radiohead record in execution by band members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner and longtime producer Nigel Godrich. The results are instantaneously gratifying, loose and superb, making it the best solo/side project to some from Radiohead.
Radiohead are one of the world's most prolific and influential rock bands over the past three decades or so. Even if you've lived under a rock, you have probably been aware of Radiohead's studio output over the years but maybe not so much the many side and solo projects from members of the group: the handful of experimental and electronic Thom Yorke solo records, Ed O'Brien's recent solo release as EOB or the flourishingly weird and avant jammy Atoms for Peace. While we're waiting for the follow up to 2016's A Moon Shaped Pool (if we're ever going to actually get it), Radiohead members Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner, and longtime Radiohead producer and collaborator Nigel Godrich came together and decided to make a record together. Naming this newly formed group The Smile, they recorded a new album from loose, spontaneous sessions called A Light for Attracting Attention. Featuring both Yorke and Greenwood, who many will proclaim as the two essential members of Radiohead, one can expect Attention to sound at least majorly like Radiohead... right?
A Light for Attracting Attention, though labeled as a record from The Smile on the surface, is essentially a Radiohead record in execution. I feel like it's The Smile in name and in name only. Let's not kid ourselves here when we all heard the lead single, "You Will Never Work In Television Again," a rough and rowdy post punk tune that instantly harks back to past guitar-centric Radiohead days a la Hail to the Thief or Amnesiac. Considering it's been awhile since we've heard a Thom Yorke this pissed off and this visceral, this single is a breath of fresh air compared to the band's previous records over the past decade. I enjoyed those albums too but it's nice to heard more crisp, direct and to the point rock tunes that The Smile is creating throughout this album. Every song on here is typically more instantly gratifying with a sense of loose, incredibly fun performances that don't come across as too stiff nor too carefree. The band seem to use more post punk and garage rock sounds rather than focusing on electronics which is a nice change of pace for Radiohead fans.
There is a well balanced mix of energetic rockers and ballads. Listening to Attention from start to finish is like listening to the band play a setlist on shuffle. Any order you hear these songs, you're going to get a great experience. Each Smile song is up to the same quality and standard as a Radiohead song. This entire album could've been labeled as New Radiohead B-sides and I wouldn't care... they'd still be great! There's this lively, thrilling and playful experience you get when listening to all of these tunes, from the bumping, memorably hypnotic grooves on "The Smoke" to the super honed in and rapid fire "Thin Thing." Any of these can be a fan favorite whether you're a diehard fan or the ever so curious one. Classic and timeless balladry like "Skrting on the Surface," "Open the Floodgates," and "The Same" will prove the test of time and that's for certain. Noisy guitars and grooves from "The Opposite" and "We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings" will be just as instant and sticky the 100th time you've heard them. "Speech Bubbles" and "Pana-Vision" will stop you in your tracks with Yorke's beautifully chilling and eerie vocals along with melodic cinematic strings and orchestration, soundtracking a new star-studded drama film coming to a theater near you... or to a streaming service near you.
I can totally understand the criticism from some of past solo and side projects from Radiohead members, like Thom Yorke's The Eraser or Atoms for Peace's debut Amok. When listening to The Smile though, I can't see why anyone would turn away from this. They hark back to more guitar and post punk centric tunes while also keeping the classic songwriting that makes Radiohead so great. The songs are consistently great and superb throughout A Light for Attracting Attention, so great that they should please any longtime Radiohead fan, even the ones that state that the band jumped ship after In Rainbows (they certainly haven't and have never been bad... but I digress). I've been kind of counting this as a Radiohead release but this if by far the The Smile is best of the solo and side projects from Radiohead members, period. There's much replay value to keep coming back to this album over and over and the performances and production is so dang great. Thom Yorke sounds as Thom Yorke as ever, Greenwood's grooves are sharp, and Tom Skinner's drumming brings a lively, organic presence throughout the album. Most importantly this sounds like Yorke and Greenwood are loosening up and having the most fun since In Rainbows. And that makes me smile. (Sorry for the pun... I couldn't help myself).
My Rating: 8 / 10
Favorite Songs: "You Will Never Work In Television Again," "Skrting on the Surface," "Free in the Knowledge," "The Opposite," "Thin Thing," "Open the Floodgates," "We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings"
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