Reviews
This Isn't Happening: Radiohead's 'Kid A' and the Beginning of the 21st Century by Steven Hyden
intrepid815's review
4.0
The bad reviews make sense. It seems inevitable to me that Radiohead fans will hate a fellow Radiohead fan’s book – alienation’s the name of the game here, after all. It would almost be a badge of honour for a Kid A book to divide the fanbase, if it weren’t for the fact that that fanbase is already defensive, cynical, nostalgic, etc. (speaking from my own membership).
But if you can recognize that defensive impulse, and if you’re ok with several questionable tangents, then there’s a lot to appreciate here. Hyden is thoughtful and articulate, with a wealth of knowledge to contribute, even though none of his takes are super surprising.
I’ll say it’s worth your time, but don’t expect anything radical.
But if you can recognize that defensive impulse, and if you’re ok with several questionable tangents, then there’s a lot to appreciate here. Hyden is thoughtful and articulate, with a wealth of knowledge to contribute, even though none of his takes are super surprising.
I’ll say it’s worth your time, but don’t expect anything radical.
looseeaah's review
3.0
2 1/2 stars - way way way better than I expected it to be but still very surface level to me.
as someone who loves to correct Radiohead Iceberg videos and has seen almost every archived interview (thank you Radiohead's Interviews' archives) this book didn't have much new information for me. I did appreciate the insight into what other bands where doing at the time along with some behind the scenes influences I hadn't heard about. The chapter that talked about Radiohead performing in Germany on 9/11 was very interesting - when Thom dedicates songs to Bush asking him not to start WW3 - werk. Unfortunately, us, the target audience, are freaks and we have also seen all the recorded live shows, seen all the talk-show appearances, read the blogs and made our own imaginary album lineups. Looking at other goodreads reviews does have me cracking up- y'all we're broken in the head. Again way better than I thought it would be. To make a book about a band that has been analyzed to death over multiple decades is not an easy feat - but I argue no one has said an original thing about the band since Daphne A Brooks' "Why Radiohead are the Blackest white band of our times" so maybe check that out instead lol.
as someone who loves to correct Radiohead Iceberg videos and has seen almost every archived interview (thank you Radiohead's Interviews' archives) this book didn't have much new information for me. I did appreciate the insight into what other bands where doing at the time along with some behind the scenes influences I hadn't heard about. The chapter that talked about Radiohead performing in Germany on 9/11 was very interesting - when Thom dedicates songs to Bush asking him not to start WW3 - werk. Unfortunately, us, the target audience, are freaks and we have also seen all the recorded live shows, seen all the talk-show appearances, read the blogs and made our own imaginary album lineups. Looking at other goodreads reviews does have me cracking up- y'all we're broken in the head. Again way better than I thought it would be. To make a book about a band that has been analyzed to death over multiple decades is not an easy feat - but I argue no one has said an original thing about the band since Daphne A Brooks' "Why Radiohead are the Blackest white band of our times" so maybe check that out instead lol.
alexmjjohnson's review
5.0
A little fanboyish at times, but ultimately fascinating. I tore through this in like 2 days.
iwasnevergivenaname's review
1.0
I read a little over half way but i get the idea so i’m marking it as read. the author is very biased. it was very so so