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Hold Steady guitarist criticizes Radiohead

Contributed by acris. Posted by jesse on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM (EDT)

Tad Kubler, the guitarist of Brooklyn-based The Hold Steady, recently expressed displeasure with Radiohead. Said Kubler:

I think they've lost the plot. What are they doing? Where are they going? What's happening? I don't get it any more. They lost me. I still appreciate what they're doing, or what they're trying to do. But I think they're trying too hard not to be Radiohead. That seems a little ridiculous to me. I like them as a rock band, all the buttons and sequencing and stuff like that I don't really care for. I'm a fan of rock music and what they're doing now I don't think is very good.

You can read the quote and full article at England's very own controversy-positive NME.

Vagrant Records (138 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

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LinoleumMagazine (August 18, 2008)

Is this really news?

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SloaneDaley (August 18, 2008)

I think it is probably news to those people that slob all over Radiohead's knob like the first second and third cummings.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I think Radiohead is one of those bands people have convinced themselves that they like, much like people have with James Joyce or the films of PT Anderson.

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RondoMondo (August 18, 2008)

Or maybe they ACTUALLY like them. Fuck no, couldn't be...

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Well, if you actually like laptop clicks over a dial tone while some guy sings like he's recovering from a stroke, well, more power to you.

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HOOKEDonSONiCs (August 18, 2008)

Wow...I love Radiohead, but that comment was hilaaaarious

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victim (August 18, 2008)

I assume you're describing Finnegan's Wake here

(also see: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080818/sc_livescience/scien tistssaywecanseesound)

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SloaneDaley (August 18, 2008)

that is without the realm of possibility.

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Adlai_E_Stevenson (August 18, 2008)

Hey, fuck you, man. A world without John C. Reilly saying the words, "Have you seen Star Wars? Yeah, people tell me I look a lot like Han Solo" is no world I want to live in.

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branden (August 18, 2008)

you got the touch

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LinoleumMagazine (August 18, 2008)

PT Anderson does not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Radiohead.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Both are pretty equally awful and slow.

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Adlai_E_Stevenson (August 18, 2008)

You're just the afterbirth, MattRamone. You slithered out of your mother's filth.

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LinoleumMagazine (August 18, 2008)

I'll admit that There Will Be Blood was a little out there, but you really didn't like any of his movies?

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Not my cup of tea.

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I-type-poorly (August 18, 2008)

Not at all. I had the same exact reaction to this.

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acris (August 18, 2008)

http://i35.tinypic.com/2ey7vr6.gif

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I can't believe I stopped watching porn to watch that.

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Adlai_E_Stevenson (August 18, 2008)

Admit it, you kept jackin', though.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

That was implied.

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Adlai_E_Stevenson (August 18, 2008)

Up top!

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David5345 (August 18, 2008)

Boogie Nights and Magnolia are excellent movies, TWBB is awful.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Finally, someone else who hated that piece of shit movie.

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AlChron77 (August 18, 2008)

You can lick my rectum

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shhhdinosaur (August 19, 2008)

I really, really like that movie.

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slymer (August 18, 2008)

how in the fuck can you not like PT Anderson? I've never been into radiohead though.

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dev (August 18, 2008)

Uh oh...

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ThomPunkAheaddotcom (August 18, 2008)

sounds like an attempt to gain some media exposure. the nme's a pile of shit anyway

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shhhdinosaur (August 18, 2008)

I completely agree. In Rainbows actually does sound like some of older stuff mixed together... It's fucking good. Listen to "Nude" or "15 Step". This guy's a tool. And I hate The Hold Steady.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

This makes me love the Hold Steady even more.

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sammy_sam_saminson (August 18, 2008)

i bet they're not big fans of his, either. whine whine whine.

in more important news...my flashlight batman lp got delivered today, and here i am stuck at work NOT listening to it.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Why is everyone getting theirs and I haven't even gotten my e-mail? Frik.

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SloaneDaley (August 18, 2008)

well I did get my email.

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sammy_sam_saminson (August 18, 2008)

where'd you order it? I know a lot of people here like that vinyl collective business but i've always had great luck with interpunk so i stick with them whenever possible. i also pre-ordered mine like 2 weeks ago at least

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I ordered from vinyl collective. I even ordered black so as not to get in a tizzy over limited numbers.

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sammy_sam_saminson (August 18, 2008)

weird, dunno what to tell you, like i said i've yet to deal with VC so i don' tknow how they roll, so to speak. For the record, how do they usually ship, UPS or Post Office? UPS can't find my fucking apartment door (and dhl can't find my fucking STATE, apparently) so i try and go post office all the way

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

$3 media mail USPS on all orders unless you upgrade. It's a sweet fucking deal.

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branden (August 18, 2008)

it is pretty sweet, but it takes like a year to get it. every time i get a vc package im like, ohhhh yeahhhhh.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Yeah, but they're really awesome people to deal with whenever there's a problem and they're always super nice about everything.

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sammy_sam_saminson (August 18, 2008)

Sounds a hell of a lot cheaper than interpunk's shipping, but i'm stickin with interpunk until VC has something i can't find there but HAVE to own. as expensive as they are, i know within 3 business days my records'll be sitting under my mailbox

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SloaneDaley (August 18, 2008)

mine didn't get delivered so I'm sitting at home on my sick day not listening to it.

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edgelife (August 18, 2008)

you know, when i first noticed people calling them that, i actually looked that name up?
fail

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sammy_sam_saminson (August 18, 2008)

i had it typed into the google bar, but it clicked in my skull JUST before clicking search, hahahaha.

i'm still pretty torn up that "amazing baby ambulance ltd" was two bands and not just one awesomely named band. sometimes the .org likes breakin hearts i guess

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victim (August 18, 2008)

thanks for saving me the trouble of looking it up myself

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

I hate Radiohead with a passion.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

See? This is the real reason we're friends.

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Dudley_Shale (August 18, 2008)

MattRamones

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Dudley_Shale (August 18, 2008)

This is cute. It didn't put the whole message that was typed.

Anyway,

MattRamone

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I have a MattRamoner

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RondoMondo (August 18, 2008)

Yeah, I'm going to disagree with his comment. In Rainbows was actually more accessible than Kid A and Amnesiac and had one of their more "rock" sounding songs in Bodysnatchers. The CD mostly borrows from jazz and still uses some of the electronic programming from the Kid A/Amnesiac days, but otherwise than that, I think Radiohead's being Radiohead more than ever now.

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Spazner (August 18, 2008)

My thoughts exactly - it's like this complaint was in a time capsule from the Amnesiac release.

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jacknife737 (August 18, 2008)

Radiohead always comes off as boring radio-rock; i really don't see why so many people like them.

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LookingForCorpses (August 18, 2008)

I'm guessing you've heard very little of their material if you think it sounds like "radio rock."

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spoon_of_grimbo (August 18, 2008)

to be fair, "the bends" toys with radio-rock a bit, but it's a good album. i HATE how people say the guy's took influence from jeff buckely though - jeff's falsetto and crazy high-low singing was amazing and emotional. thom yorke does, as someone else said above, sound like a guy recovering for a stroke.

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shaunheintz (August 18, 2008)

dude lyke they're fuckin amaaaaaaaaaaaaazing man like shit they got all these noises that are all like wah wah wah and woah woah woah. like its a fuckin revolution maaaan' s3ri0uslee the best bend ever.

i don't get it either.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

It's kind of like Lil' Wayne. Everyone jizzes in their shorts when you mention 'em, but I do not get the appeal for either act AT ALL.

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RondoMondo (August 18, 2008)

If you don't get it, you don't get it. Just like there are a lot of people who hate most of the shit we listen to. I could really give an fuck if they like what I like or don't get why I like it.

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lostandclowned (August 18, 2008)

this.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

No! I'm objectively right, dammit! :)

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Adlai_E_Stevenson (August 18, 2008)

So, what's the over/under on how many beers Tad had before the interview?

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

As I recall, he was doing shots when I interviewed him. I had making out with a bottle of Jaeger at that point, though.

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

"Have you ever killed a man just to watch him die?"

Hahahaa...

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I was so fucking drunk. I was originally supposed to do it with Craig, but there was a switch at he last minute. He was a good sport for someone who had been drinking and hadn't planned on being interviewed. I'm also convinced he wanted to have sex with my photographer, so that may have led to him being a good sport about things.

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Dudley_Shale (August 18, 2008)

Remember when he said those things about fucking in a confessional, and then demanded they be taken out of the interview when he sobered up, and I lost a lot of respect for him?

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

Well now you ruined all the mystery shrouding the disclaimer. Thanks.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Once again, he was drunk and not expecting to be interviewed, and he didn't want his kids to read it, although compared to the rest of the stuff in there it's really not all that wacky.

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Dudley_Shale (August 18, 2008)

More like he didn't want his gang-bang wife to read it.

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shaunheintz (August 18, 2008)

remember when their song was in ATHF credits?

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ConsolationPrizefighter (August 18, 2008)

Yeah and it's one of their best songs.

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muskawo_ (August 18, 2008)

that was the best thing ever

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shaunheintz (August 19, 2008)

agreed.

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Amazingthemike (August 18, 2008)

At least Radiohead has written good music. The Hold Steady is horrible.

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

Get the fuck outa' hear.

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shhhdinosaur (August 19, 2008)

No, he's right.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I don't think Radiohead is concerned with the idea of writing "songs."

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the_other_scott (August 18, 2008)

have you ever actually listened to radiohead?

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the_creeps (August 18, 2008)

careful.....you'll offend a lot of people who like Gaslight Anthem also

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sammy_sam_saminson (August 18, 2008)

garbage on this message board actually OFFENDS people?

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

It's really hard to do these days.

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

Pfft, who likes the Gaslight Anthem?

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ludwigg (August 18, 2008)

on no he didn't!!!

both bands have their moments. both bands have their weak points. radiohead made some good music, continues to try to change their sound. the hold steady, while somewhat catchy, write the same song over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over an over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over....

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yourmomdotcom (August 25, 2008)

this is one of the funniest posts i've seen in a long time. I could listen to the entire Radiohead catalog no sweat, I love all that they've done. Except Amnesiac, I'd skip that one. I almost like Hail to the Thief the best!

Hold Steady rocks, and I'll admit I'm from MN. But that new album played about 16 times in my CD player and I still think it's lame. Not garbage, I'm hoping some sort of "transition" album...

neither suck, both rock, but only one plays shows in my state....

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sporkandfoon (August 18, 2008)

The Hold Steady > Radiohead
Next.

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HOOKEDonSONiCs (August 18, 2008)

"I liked the Hold Steady back in the 90s...when they were called Cracker"

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Holy_Balls (August 18, 2008)

Pitchfork and Rolling Stone are torn. They don't know who to side with.

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lostandclowned (August 18, 2008)

hahahahaha

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ConsolationPrizefighter (August 18, 2008)

Pitchfork ALWAYS picks Thom Yorke.

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Dudley_Shale (August 18, 2008)

MattRamone LOVES Radiohead.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I'm going to fuck your mother and send you cell phone picture, you dirty illegal.

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Preston (August 18, 2008)

So, I'm thinking I'm gonna go to the Fest this year. I live in NYC. I'll probably fly. I see it's cheaper to fly into Jacksonville than Gainesville...which is better? Should I rent a car? Where should I stay? Should I come on Friday afternoon, or earlier? Do they have Old Style in Florida? 'cause they don't here, and being from Wisconsin I miss it. Please--help me.

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party-animal (August 18, 2008)

No Florida does not have Old Style. It will definitely be cheaper to fly into Jacksonville or even Orlando or Tampa than Gainesville. Orlando probably the closest and cheapest. Get a hotel now (they book up) or find someone to stay with. Chances are if you're cool and friendly you can find a floor or couch to crash on. Not much going on Thursday but probably cheaper to fly.

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Preston (August 18, 2008)

Very helpful, Mr. Animal. Thanks.

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victim (August 18, 2008)

I'm from Florida and I don't even know what Old Style is. I think Orlando is your best bet, Tampa is further away. Don't know about Jacksonville.

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cheesehead4 (August 18, 2008)

Jacksonville is roughly an hour away, orlando is about an hour and 45 min, and tampa is about the same as orlando....any one of them are fine...but I would go with jacksonville, little shorter of a ride and I think someone said something about a shuttle that goes from jax to gainesville..

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LORD-OF-THE-GAYS (August 18, 2008)

This guy's smart.

Radiohead circa "The Bends" > The Hold Steady circa "boys and girls..." > Radiohead "hail to the thief" > The Hold Steady circa "stay positive" > Radiohead "Kid A" > The Gaslight Anthem (who suck)

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hangoverheartattack (August 18, 2008)

because the hold steady are the best band in the world.
radiohead really cares what these puny fucks think.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Right on both counts!

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HooverStreet (August 18, 2008)

I can think of about 20 punk rock bands that have also lost the plot. I'd like to see this guy say it about them. Criticizing Radiohead is like criticizing Metallica or Madonna.

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

How dare you put the likes of Radiohead up there with the goddess that is Madonna.

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HooverStreet (August 18, 2008)

You're right. I fucked up.

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

You mest up.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

I'm Disturbed.

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

I'm terrorfied because I actually saw Disturbed last night. Damn my inability to refuse free stuff.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

What? Really? Was it hesher and nu-metal central?

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mikexdude (August 18, 2008)

My friends and I just went around looking for the small population of good looking chicks to show us their boobs. We weren't that successful. And Nissan Pavilion is the worst to get to/get home from.

But I actually like Slipknot so it wasn't that bad to see them. *Gets attacked by punx*

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fifthwheel (August 19, 2008)

alot of my friends went and said it sucked hard and that slipknot really wasnt to good

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JayTee (August 18, 2008)

Radeohed

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ThreeChordsAndTheTruth (August 18, 2008)

Wow... he's one step short of jumping the shark like George Harrison did when he decried modern music as being (paraphrased) "all electronic shit, just bleeps and blips". Ted Leo criticised Radiohead much more succinctly here: http://www.scenepointblank.com/features/192 (page 2)

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sweetsugarpezz (August 18, 2008)

ted leo is the motherfuckin man.

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scientistrock (August 18, 2008)

Yay Tad Kubler. Boo Radiohead.

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MattRamone (August 18, 2008)

Meh the Loved ones, amirite?

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LORDSHREDDER (August 18, 2008)

Awesome. i cannot fucking stand Radiohead.

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The4footpartysub (August 18, 2008)

radiohead put on a great live show... i like them least as just a generic rock band.

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spalmer (August 18, 2008)

Radiohead is far from a generic rock band mang. I think people who don't like them don't understand how to listen to music.

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shhhdinosaur (August 19, 2008)

Well put.

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spalmer (August 18, 2008)

Okay I take that back and would like to add that I don't understand what you are trying to say. Anyway, they are great live. Ha. So... anyway...

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The4footpartysub (August 19, 2008)

oh haha... well i would consider pablo honey to be a bland, generic album. that's the radiohead that i have absolutely no desire to listen to ever again. everything from the bends on is absolute genius.

i just saw them play like a week and a half ago, it was insane. their set list was so good...

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popquizkid27 (August 18, 2008)

Was anyone else massively disappointed by the new Hold Steady album?

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dave_uber_alles (August 18, 2008)

Another waste of time and space on the internet-- brought to you buy hardcore punks/metal heads with absolutely no lives, so they post crap on a forum.

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Dudley_Shale (August 18, 2008)

You being a prime example!

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Cannsaw (August 18, 2008)

Radiohead is awesome. Never was keen on publicity stunts though. I'd rather lick Thom Yorke's dodgy eye than do a publicity stunt.

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Cheesetits (August 18, 2008)

Whatever dudes, this is like a special ed kid fighting the guy in the wheelchair in X-Men 2 that can crush minds. Radiohead wins this battle of the pretentiousness. Seriously though, singer of The Hold Steady needs to finally get over that perma-cold he's got. Blow your nose motherfucker!

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ludichrisspeed (August 18, 2008)

I'm too lazy to read all of these responses. I've always liked Radiohead, and up to Kid A, all of their albums grew as they did. Somewhere along the line, they decided to abandon song structure and melody, and it's just become unlistenable. The digital effects worked for Kid A, and sometimes on Hail to the Theif. But In Rainbows is just a bunch of old men playing with toys.

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Mammoth (August 19, 2008)

In Rainbows doesn't even have that many toys.

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ludichrisspeed (September 20, 2008)

Yea, I was being a bit blunt. I guess I just don't understand what they're doing anymore. Even with my biases towards Radiohead's other work, I couldn't get into it. I know there are a lot of people out there who can't wrap their heads around their music anymore, and at some point for me and those people Radiohead stopped playing music and just started making noise.

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seveneightseven (August 18, 2008)

very refreshing to find out there are people in the world that haven't drunk the radiohead kool-aid. that band bores the living shit out of me and i have never been able to figure out why everyone and their brother can't stop cumming all over themselves about them.

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MattRamone (August 19, 2008)

Once again, I think it's a case of people hearing "best band in the world!" over and over and not wanting to call the emporer out for wearing no clothes.

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Hackman (August 18, 2008)

I like bands that actually sing. Not bands that talk and call it singing. Both these bands are boring.

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shhhdinosaur (August 19, 2008)

Listen to "Nude".

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The4footpartysub (August 19, 2008)

what are you talking about?

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muskawo_ (August 18, 2008)

radiohead dont really bring anything interesting to music imo

the hold steady make me want to jump around, which is a sign of great music through the ages

Fuck beeps and boops

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charlesbarkley (August 19, 2008)

kids, kids, kids..

when will you get past the "wahh wahh i hate radiohead because people that don't look like me like radiohead"

and whos this fuck tad? the hold steady? its fuckin' suck on a werthers original with your grandpa by the lake music.

these songs belong in a palmolive commercial.

fuck you

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charlesbarkley (August 19, 2008)

actually now that i listen to this shit, it just sounds like bruce springsteen with a cock in his ass

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Mammoth (August 19, 2008)

Gaslight Anthem is like Bruce Springsteen with a cock in his ass on beer.

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StuckInBielers (August 19, 2008)

Why give a shit fashion magazine the attention it doesn't deserve by printing this inane shite?

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Mammoth (August 19, 2008)

So is Tad jealous that Radiohead is more musically inclined and diverse than his mediocre band?

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Mammoth (August 19, 2008)

"killer parties almost killed me"

Get the fuck out of here!

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vaginalinferno (August 19, 2008)

this displeases me greatly. i love both bands, but i think radiohead wins when it comes to smart interesting original music. as i've said before, hold steady's music is kinda meat and potatoes. craig finn is the main ingrediant that makes the hold steady awesome, whereas radiohead always kicks ass on every intsrument