The question whether Radiohead will follow up A Moon Shaped Pool any time soon becomes a lot less important upon hearing A Light for Attracting Attention. The Smile have released the best album of 2022 so far.
A Light for Attracting Attention amplifies that we don’t know what tomorrow will bring for the entity that is Radiohead. But regardless of the future path of Radiohead, The Smile has much to attract attention and is worthy of any serious music aficionado’s consideration.
A Light For Attracting Attention stands proudly on its own merits as a top-tier piece of art rock, connections to a certain critically and publicly acclaimed band aside.
For now, A Light for Attracting Attention is a versatile beacon for Yorke and Greenwood’s groovier side, and a remarkably assured debut that—let’s be honest—doesn’t really feel like a debut at all.
In 2022, the feeling that we’re living in a broken, corrupt system is practically mainstream, and The Smile’s by turns rugged and reflective album provides a perfect soundtrack for these anchorless times.
The Smile aren’t a full-on syncretism of Radiohead and Sons of Kemet, but A Light for Attracting Attention proves that it needn’t be.
Diehards should be quite pleased with this release: an utterly satisfying set of songs that stands tall on its own, yet could easily climb the ranks against any of Radiohead's late-era efforts.
Whatever the label says, this is the best Radiohead album in over a decade.
Far more than an indulgent side project, A Light for Attracting Attention deserves to be taken on its own merits as a daring, invigorating and often very moving piece of work in its own right.
A Light For Attracting Attention is a master-stroke of dystopic genius brought together by proven elites of the music world. It’s a real experiment.
Overall ... this is guitar music at its most thrilling.
It seems this three-piece format allows him to manoeuvre more nippily than Radiohead's stately battleship.
Whether you’re chomping at the bit for a new Radiohead album, or simply want to listen to some wonderfully executed and experimental alternative rock, this is a record worthy of your time.
It's too familiar-sounding to be revelatory, but six years on from A Moon Shaped Pool — the longest-ever break between Radiohead albums — it's a pleasure to hear Yorke and Greenwood's talent undiminished as they hit the sweet spot of their sound.
It wouldn’t be that hard to mistake A Light For Attracting Attention for the long-awaited follow-up to 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool, however. What’s more, it would be a worthy successor, too.
"Radiohead-lite is still better than most bands"
-JDX_99 on RateYourMusic
I can't see myself ever caring enough to sit down and listen to this whole album again, but it was a fine listen while I was here. Most of these tracks sound amazing, but have almost no substance from Thom. Not much reason for me to return honestly.
Still... better than the Chainsmokers
Edit (69 -> 71): I am actually mad this grew on me a bit because these 2 points I give this for the few moments growing ... read more
Radiohead with a better drummer
For real guys, this is just as good as any amazing Radiohead album but with a slightly harder emphasis on math rock and krautrock. So basically everything I love.
I want to eat the album cover
YO FUCK YEA this wasn’t underwhelming I’m so happy. Radiohead is easily one of my favorite bands, and Thom Yorke is a huge part of that, so of course I was excited to hear what he had planned for The Smile. Honestly with some of the singles I was real worried this would be kinda meh but man the deep cuts did a great job at making this album more consistent. Even if every song isn’t the best there are some incredibly good moments here. I love how ... read more
eh... idk. Maybe it'll grow on me.
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Edit: it grew on me. what was I smoking? 63 → 87
This album is beautiful. Not a single bad track on this thing. I love the drumming on the record and there's some great basslines here as well. "Free In the Knowledge" is one of the best tracks I've heard from 2022. Indescribable, to be honest. I do find the track "The Opposite" to be incredibly underrated- it's one of my favorites off of this album, I just think it's quite groovy ... read more
1 | The Same 4:19 | 82 |
2 | The Opposite 3:06 | 82 |
3 | You Will Never Work In Television Again 2:48 | 82 |
4 | Pana-Vision 4:08 | 83 |
5 | The Smoke 3:39 | 86 |
6 | Speech Bubbles 4:16 | 86 |
7 | Thin Thing 4:30 | 87 |
8 | Open the Floodgates 4:29 | 85 |
9 | Free In the Knowledge 4:12 | 90 |
10 | A Hairdryer 5:17 | 81 |
11 | Waving a White Flag 3:47 | 78 |
12 | We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings 3:16 | 86 |
13 | Skrting On the Surface 5:31 | 86 |
#1 | / | Uncut |
#1 | / | XS Noize |
#2 | / | MAGNET |
#2 | / | Norman Records |
#2 | / | OOR |
#2 | / | Rough Trade (UK) |
#3 | / | PopMatters |
#3 | / | Spectrum Culture |
#4 | / | The Sunday Times |
#4 | / | Vulture |
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