Photo courtesy of The Skinny

The sentimentality of reviewing a Radiohead side project is certainly palpable. A variety of emotions come up when listening to the band: angst, wonder, peace, paranoia… but primarily grief. 

When listening to Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood’s newest venture into a more mournful and psychedelic sound, you really feel the sadness oozing out of every musical crevice in this project. 

The rock band The Smile consists of Greenwood on bass and keys, Yorke on guitar and vocals and notable British jazz drummer Tom Skinner. This link-up between modern rock legends led many to believe that Radiohead — as a band at least — was over. 

That may or may not be true, however, I think that one can mourn the band while valuing the idea of it clearly living on with The Smile. 

Taking their ambient, chamber-filled soundscape from “A Moon Shaped Pool” and the sleek vocal passages from cuts like “Nude” and “House of Cards” off the landmark Radiohead record, “In Rainbows,” Thom Yorke and company create a vivid sonic experience on “Wall of Eyes” that captivates listeners all the way from the beginning to the end. 

The opening and penultimate tracks are clear standouts for me lyrically and aesthetically. The first track, “Wall of Eyes,” features an acoustic guitar, booming drums and string passages — along with Yorke’s falsetto vocals. It builds an eerie background that welcomes the listener into the world of The Smile, and the next few tracks continue to envelop the audience. 

“Is that still you?/With the hollow eyes/Change to black and white/So strap yourself in,” Yorke sings on “Wall of Eyes,”  preparing those who listen to enter his world. 

The penultimate track, “Bending Hectic” — which was released as the lead single — is a theatrical and sonic opus. The songwriting, composition and atmosphere are the most impressive on the record — along with its eight minute runtime. 

The whole track is a beautiful look into how we view our own death and how it is portrayed — and even sensationalized — in the media. 

“​​The ground is coming for me now/Wе’ve gone over the edge/If you’ve got something to say/Say it now,” Yorke sings on “Bending Hectic.” 

This last verse sets us up for the chaotic finish not only for the song, but for Thom as well. A soaring guitar solo sends both Yorke and the listener over the edge as they plunge to their deaths. 

The chorus includes references to Hamlet as well as other subtle nods to how death is sensationalized. 

“Despite these slings/Despite these arrows/I’ll force myself to/Turn, turn,” Yorke sings in the chorus of “Bending Hectic.” 

The last track, “You Know Me!” doesn’t quite bring the record to a halt, but rather slows the record down quite a bit and gives us a quaint finish. 

My gripe with this album is that despite its grandiosity with its singles like “Bending Hectic,” “Wall of Eyes” and “Friend of a Friend,” the record doesn’t offer too much aside from that thematically. However, it finishes strong and proves The Smile to be a confident successor to Radiohead. 

Who knows though? Maybe the success of The Smile will bring Yorke and Greenwood back to Radiohead to finish just as strong as this record did.   

Rating: 4/5 stars