MiniDiscs (Hacked)

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The correct title of this article is MiniDiscs [Hacked]. The substitution of any brackets is due to technical restrictions.
MiniDiscs [Hacked]
MiniDiscsHackedfirstdisccover.jpg
Cover of MD111, the first of the MiniDiscs
Compilation album by
Radiohead
Released11 June 2019 (2019-06-11)
Recorded1995–1997
Length978:52
Label Self-released; distributed via Bandcamp
Radiohead chronology
OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017
(2017)		''MiniDiscs [Hacked]''
(2019)		 Kid A Mnesia
(2021)

MiniDiscs [Hacked] is a compilation of recordings made by the English rock band Radiohead while they were working on their 1997 album OK Computer . It comprises more than 16 hours of demos, rehearsals, live performances and other material.

Contents

The recordings are taken from MiniDiscs belonging to the singer, Thom Yorke, and were not intended for release. After they were leaked online in June 2019, Radiohead released them through the music sharing site Bandcamp for 18 days, with all proceeds going to the environmentalist group Extinction Rebellion.

The compilation received positive reviews. Though critics said that its size made it daunting for some listeners, they praised the insight into the making of OK Computer.

Content

MiniDiscs [Hacked] contains more than 16 hours of demos, rehearsals, outtakes, and live performances recorded while Radiohead were working on their third album, OK Computer (1997). [1] It includes unreleased songs, alternative mixes, early versions of OK Computer songs (such as an extended version of "Paranoid Android"), and versions of the later songs "Lift", "True Love Waits", "Nude", "Last Flowers", "Motion Picture Soundtrack" and "Life in a Glasshouse". [1] [2]

The recordings are taken from MiniDiscs belonging to the Radiohead singer, Thom Yorke. [1] Though some had been released on the 2017 OK Computer reissue OKNOTOK 1997 2017, [3] most were not intended for release. [1]

Release

The recordings were taken from MiniDiscs (example pictured with battery for scale). TDK MiniDisc and Duracell Ultra M3 20070320.jpg
The recordings were taken from MiniDiscs (example pictured with battery for scale).

On 5 June 2019, the recordings were leaked online by a collector using the name Zimbra, who said he had traded them for unreleased Beatles recordings. [4] They may have been stolen while archived material was being prepared for the OK Computer reissue. [4] The guitarist Ed O'Brien said they had been hacked from Radiohead's cloud archive. [5]

According to conflicting reports, Zimbra initially demanded a $150,000 ransom from Radiohead not to release the recordings. [6] However, according to an investigation by Pitchfork , Zimbra had instead hoped to sell them to fans. [4] Zimbra told Pitchfork that the "ransom" story had been taken "way out of context". [4] A fan who negotiated with Zimbra said he did not believe extortion was his intent: "He never told us anything to suggest he was trying to get money from the band, only from fans." [4] Zimbra released the recordings free after news broke on the discussion platform Reddit. [4]

On 11 June, Radiohead made the recordings available to stream or purchase from the music distribution site Bandcamp for 18 days. [7] All proceeds went to the environmentalist group Extinction Rebellion, [2] raising approximately £500,000. [8] The official release removed a 12-minute field recording and non-Radiohead material, such as several minutes of a James Bond score. [9] The guitarist Jonny Greenwood wrote on Twitter that the collection was "only tangentially interesting", [10] while Yorke wrote on the Bandcamp page: "As it's out there it may as well be out there until we all get bored and move on." [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 82/100 [11]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Pitchfork wrote that MiniDiscs [Hacked] did not "make for an ideal listening experience" and would be of interest "only to the most diehard Radiohead fans". They observed a "few moments of brilliance (and strangeness)", including Yorke's acoustic songs, the extended "Paranoid Android", and an alternative version of "Lift" that "could have topped the charts". [1]

However, The Guardian felt MiniDiscs [Hacked] had merit "even for less nerdish fans", and wrote that was "an endlessly interesting chronicle of a band reinventing the mainstream by rejecting it ... [It shows] the inner workings of what is regarded by many as the greatest album of the 1990s, showing how they walked alongside and then turned away from the brash Britpop that surrounded them." [12]

The New Statesman wrote that "starting, skipping and scrolling" through the lengthy tracks "makes for a surprisingly liberating experience, akin to wandering Radiohead’s subconscious memory palace and occasionally encountering the familiar in a different form". [14] The Quietus praised the "stunning" live performances and particularly Yorke's demos, and wrote of the "unromantic revealing" of the process of creating music. [15]

Track listing

External document
Document icon (the Noun Project 27904).svg MiniDiscs (Hacked) – a fan-made Google document cataloguing the recordings at the time of the leak

Each MiniDisc is included as a single track lasting approximately an hour; the contents are not broken into individual tracks. [14] [16] Fans assembled a Google document to identify songs and timestamps. [16]

All tracks are written by Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Philip Selway, Ed O'Brien and Colin Greenwood

No.TitleLength
1."MD111"1:10:47
2."MD112"1:01:27
3."MD113"1:05:08
4."MD114"57:21
5."MD115"57:04
6."MD116"25:57
7."MD117"55:28
8."MD118"57:03
9."MD119"53:37
10."MD120"58:17
11."MD121"1:00:21
12."MD122"1:13:13
13."MD123"17:52
14."MD124"1:12:22
15."MD125"56:10
16."MD126"1:08:04
17."MD127"26:49
18."MD128"41:52
Total length:16:18:52

Related Research Articles

Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. They comprise Thom Yorke ; brothers Jonny Greenwood and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien ; and Philip Selway. They have worked with producer Nigel Godrich and cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

<i>OK Computer</i> 1997 studio album by Radiohead

OK Computer is the third studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on May 21, 1997. With their producer, Nigel Godrich, Radiohead recorded most of OK Computer in their rehearsal space in Oxfordshire and the historic mansion of St Catherine's Court in Bath in 1996 and early 1997. They distanced themselves from the guitar-centred, lyrically introspective style of their previous album, The Bends. OK Computer's abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic influences laid the groundwork for Radiohead's later, more experimental work.

<i>Kid A</i> 2000 studio album by Radiohead

Kid A is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 2 October 2000 by Parlophone. It was recorded with their producer, Nigel Godrich, in Paris, Copenhagen, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

<i>Amnesiac</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Radiohead

Amnesiac is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 30 May 2001 by EMI. It was recorded with the producer Nigel Godrich in the same sessions as Radiohead's previous album Kid A (2000). Radiohead split the work in two as they felt it was too dense for a double album. As with Kid A, Amnesiac incorporates influences from electronic music, 20th-century classical music, jazz and krautrock. The final track, "Life in a Glasshouse", is a collaboration with the jazz trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton and his band.

<i>The Bends</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Radiohead

The Bends is the second studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 13 March 1995 by Parlophone. It was produced by John Leckie, with extra production by Radiohead, Nigel Godrich and Jim Warren. The Bends combines guitar songs and ballads, with more restrained arrangements and cryptic lyrics than Radiohead's debut album, Pablo Honey (1993).

<i>Hail to the Thief</i> 2003 studio album by Radiohead

Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released on 9 June 2003 through Parlophone internationally and a day later through Capitol Records in the United States. It was the last album released under Radiohead's record contract with EMI, the parent company of Parlophone and Capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Yorke</span> English musician (born 1968)

Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed O'Brien</span> English musician

Edward John O'Brien is an English guitarist, songwriter and member of the rock band Radiohead. He releases solo music under the name EOB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paranoid Android</span> 1997 single by Radiohead

"Paranoid Android" is a song by English alternative rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), on 26 May 1997. The lyrics were written by singer Thom Yorke following an unpleasant experience in a Los Angeles bar. The song is over six minutes long and contains four sections. The name is taken from Marvin the Paranoid Android from the science fiction series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karma Police</span> 1997 single by Radiohead

"Karma Police" is a song by the English alternative rock band Radiohead, released on 25 August 1997, as the second single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997). It reached number one in Iceland and number eight on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, it reached number 14 on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. It was included on Radiohead: The Best Of (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Surprises</span> 1998 single by Radiohead

"No Surprises" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the fourth and final single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), in 1998. It was also released as a mini-album in Japan, titled No Surprises / Running from Demons. It features glockenspiel and a "childlike" sound inspired by the 1966 Beach Boys album Pet Sounds. The song reached number four on the UK Singles Chart. In 2011, NME named "No Surprises" the 107th-best track of the previous 15 years.

"Everything in Its Right Place" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released on their fourth album, Kid A (2000). It features synthesiser and digitally manipulated vocals. The lyrics were inspired by the stress felt by the singer, Thom Yorke, while promoting Radiohead's album OK Computer (1997).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nude (song)</span> 2008 single by Radiohead

"Nude" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released in March 2008 as the second single from their seventh studio album, In Rainbows (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bends (song)</span> 1996 single by Radiohead

"The Bends" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead from their second studio album, The Bends (1995). In Ireland, it was released by Parlophone on 26 July 1996 as the album's sixth and final single, and reached number 26 on the Irish Singles Chart.

"Lift" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead released in 2017. It was first performed in 1996; bootleg recordings were widely circulated, and it became a fan favourite. Radiohead recorded versions of "Lift" during the sessions for their third album, OK Computer (1997), but abandoned it. Members of Radiohead said they had felt pressured by its commercial potential, and that it did not represent what they wanted to say at the time.

"I Promise" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released in 2017. Radiohead performed it on their 1996 tour, and recorded it during the sessions for their third album, OK Computer (1997), but felt it was not strong enough to release. In June 2017, "I Promise" was included on the OK Computer reissue OKNOTOK 1997 2017 and released as a download with a music video.

"True Love Waits" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead. Radiohead worked on it for over two decades before releasing it on their ninth album, A Moon Shaped Pool (2016).

<i>OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017</i> 2017 compilation by Radiohead

OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 is a reissue of the 1997 album OK Computer by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released in June 2017, the album's 20th anniversary, following the 2016 acquisition of Radiohead's back catalogue by XL Recordings from EMI.

"Man of War" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2017 on the compilation OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Larson, Jeremy D; Greene, Jayson (12 June 2019). "The best, weirdest, and most revealing moments on Radiohead's OK Computer sessions leak". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 Terry, Josh (11 June 2019). "Radiohead officially release 18 hours of leaked OK Computer sessions". Vice . Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  3. ↑ Gottsegen, Will (5 June 2019). "18 hours of unreleased material from Radiohead's OK Computer sessions leaks online". Spin . Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hogan, Mark (12 June 2019). "Radiohead fans vs. black-market sellers: the battle to leak the OK Computer tapes". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  5. ↑ Adam Buxton (20 July 2020). "Ep.128 — Ed O'Brien". The Adam Buxton Podcast (Podcast). Event occurs at 12:35. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  6. ↑ Sisario, Ben (11 June 2019). "After 'OK Computer' Demo Leak, Radiohead Releases the Music". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  7. ↑ Terry, Josh (11 June 2019). "Radiohead Officially Release 18 Hours of Leaked 'OK Computer' Sessions". Vice . Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  8. ↑ Monroe, Jazz (9 April 2020). "Radiohead's Ed O'Brien: 'Humanity has only really learned from disaster'". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (12 June 2019). "30 must-hear minutes from Radiohead's 17-hour OK Computer-era MiniDiscs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  10. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (11 June 2019). "Radiohead respond to "hackers" and release 18 hours of previously unheard OK Computer material in aid of Extinction Rebellion". NME . Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "MiniDiscs [Hacked] by Radiohead Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  12. 1 2 Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (12 June 2019). "Radiohead: MiniDiscs (Hacked) review – blueprints for the best album of the 90s". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  13. ↑ Power, Ed (12 June 2019). "Radiohead, MinidDscs [Hacked], review: an 18-hour Black Mirror episode set in Thom Yorke's head". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  14. 1 2 Harrisson, Andrew (13 June 2019). "Radiohead's OK Computer sessions are a place of liberation". New Statesman . Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  15. ↑ Anderson, Darran (20 June 2019). "Reviews | Radiohead | MiniDiscs [Hacked]". The Quietus . Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  16. 1 2 Blistein, Jon (11 June 2019). "Radiohead release 18 hours of OK Computer material after leak". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.