...Milking the cash cow for the final drops?

OK Computer. Let’s have some facts! EMI haven’t go the rights to the new Radiohead record “In Rainbows”, XL recordings have. EMI have always seen Radiohead as a Cash Cow, and are probably a bit annoyed that that particular gravy train has left the station. EMI are now owned by Terra Firma, who seem determined to turn rebellion into money. Bands now have to submit Business Plans, set budgets, and EMI are basically being run as a business. Therefore, when EMI refused to pay however it much it was for Radiohead’s new album… Radiohead sold the rights to someone else. As any free agent has the right to.

In some respects, “In Rainbows” is already a done deal. The hardcore will have the record ordered in super deluxe discbox format from their website. The casual will have downloaded it for 2p. It is only then, the internetless few who will go and buy the physical copy of the record from a traditional retailer. Though that is entirely irrelevant really : it merely explains why EMI have released the Radiohead Album Box Set : to spite the band that would not do its bidding even though it was under no obligation to do so. And… Contractual Obligation - what words are dirtier in the world of art than those?

Therefore, EMI have repackaged the existing 25,000,000 selling catalogue in a fancy white box, added a sticker, given you a bargain price of approx £35 (somewhat cheaper than the similar Pink Floyd set), and offered a limited-edition web stream of a live concert for you to watch only if you buy the boxset! Yippee!

To be honest, if you like Radiohead, you’ve got all the albums already. If you haven’t got the albums this is a cheap and easy way to get the lot for a bargain price - though if you don’t own them already you’ve probably been living under a rock or something. Musically let us not forget that these albums are some of the best music ever crafted : overall, an epic set of human emotions and intelligence set to driving, varied, and experimental music that never stops still, never fails to search for something new, never fails to touch the soul in some way. It’s great music, and worthy of your attention.

Where the box set falls short is in what it lacks : anything approaching care, detail, or completism are missing. You get the albums : and that’s it. None of the hundred or so b-sides, no bonus tracks, none of the numerous EP’s (such as “Itch”, “My Iron Lung”, “How Am I Driving?”, “Com Lag“), no remixes or live material, basically - nothing but the albums. It’s a shoddy way to deal a box set, but it’s an easy way to generate cash for the EMI Shareholders, and if you don’t have the Radiohead albums this is easily the best way to get hold of it. So 5/5 for the music, and 0/5 for the concept. Record companies have no qualms about exploiting the consumer - maybe it’s time for us to exploit them.

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