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Radiohead — Black Star
Album: The Bends
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1067









Released: 1995
Length: 4:01
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I get home from work
And you're still standing in your dressing gown
Well what am I to do?
I know all the things around your head
And what they do to you
What are we coming to?
What are we gonna do?

Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite that beams me home

The troubled words of a troubled mind
I try to understand what is eating you
I try to stay awake
But it's 58 hours since that I last slept with you
What are we coming to?
I just don't know anymore

Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite that beams me home

I get on the train and I just stand about
Now that I don't think of you
I keep falling over I keep passing out
When I see a face like you
What am I coming to?
I'm gonna melt down

Blame it on the black star
Blame it on the falling sky
Blame it on the satellite that beams me home

This is killing me
This is killing me
Comments (136)add comment
favourite track on the album. can't say why exactly, just is. 
 kcar wrote:

Which begs the question: has Radiohead actually evolved since '95? This song rocks more and Thom is warbling less than today's Radiohead, but it's not all that different. 

I'm guessing I'd like the earlier Radiohead more, but this isn't a band I can listen to frequently.  

 
The answer to your question is absofreakinglutely.  Growth - evolution - but consistent excellence - best band in the world today
 Sasha2001 wrote:

You mean like the way AC/DC made Back and Black and then spent the next 20 years trying to reproduce it? Thanks but no thanks. Great bands evolve whether we like it or not.
 
Which begs the question: has Radiohead actually evolved since '95? This song rocks more and Thom is warbling less than today's Radiohead, but it's not all that different. 

I'm guessing I'd like the earlier Radiohead more, but this isn't a band I can listen to frequently.  
This song is from 1995. It is now 2015.
I remeber when it came out.
I must be getting old.

It still fullfills to get me goose bumps.
 ecojot wrote:
Big RH fan here. I wish they would have done more in the style of The Bends.

 
You mean like the way AC/DC made Back and Black and then spent the next 20 years trying to reproduce it? Thanks but no thanks. Great bands evolve whether we like it or not.
Big RH fan here. I wish they would have done more in the style of The Bends.
 rdo wrote:
To clarify below...The three best albums ever:
1. OK Computer
2. The Bends.
3.  (who cares)     
     (in case there is still any confusion, I do not mean the best Radiohead albums.  I mean the best albums, period.)
 
My 2 fave RH albums are Kid A / Amnesiac, but neither of them would be in my "Top 10 of all time" (I mean, really).
But hey, we're all partial to the music we grew up with, so I respect your choices.
 agd3 wrote:
Funny discussion.  But no doubt that this one is a 10.

 
........... at least a 10
Funny discussion.  But no doubt that this one is a 10.
 kingart wrote:

Yeah, we got that. No confusion. I submit that, very possibly, these RH albums are some of the few albums you have ever HEARD. And you're obviously talking through at least three levels of bias and hyperbole. One can think of about 100 albums that could be considered for 3 best ever (if such reduction ad absurdum were even viable), and based on the RH cuts played on RP, OK Computer and The Bends are quite debatably not among them. 

 
Oh, rdo jokes about a lot of things, and I hyperbolize a lot too.  But not in that post.  Just look at my song ratings.  OK Computer is truly a work of divine inspiration for me.   I don't understand why Bill does not play the rest.  Maybe he has his own reasons that are not the same as you indicate above.  Every song on OK Computer is a 10.  No other CD, except maybe The Bends, comes close (for my ears, of course).  Then after The Bends, no other CD comes close to that.  Maybe Nick Drake's or REM's best CDs.  Maybe.


Let Down is my favorite song from Radiohead, my favorite work, period. However I think Radiohead's best work is Airbag.  I truly am frightened by Airbag.  It's a revelation, a glimpse into the mind of God.  I predict in 1000 years the musicologists will still be trying to figure that one out.  It's simply beyond belief in it's beauty........   
He's just kidding folks! This has to be a troll. Heh. Pretty funny. Three best albums ever.... That's pretty funny. Hahahaha
rdo wrote:
To clarify below...The three best albums ever:

1. OK Computer

2. The Bends.

3.  (who cares)     
     
(in case there is still any confusion, I do not mean the best Radiohead albums.  I mean the best albums, period.)

 


 DaidyBoy wrote:
hear, hear.... 

rdo wrote:
To clarify below...The three best albums ever:

1. OK Computer

2. The Bends.

3.  (who cares)     
     
(in case there is still any confusion, I do not mean the best Radiohead albums.  I mean the best albums, period.)
 



 
Yeah, we got that. No confusion. I submit that, very possibly, these RH albums are some of the few albums you have ever HEARD. And you're obviously talking through at least three levels of bias and hyperbole. One can think of about 100 albums that could be considered for 3 best ever (if such reduction ad absurdum were even viable), and based on the RH cuts played on RP, OK Computer and The Bends are quite debatably not among them. 
 Poacher wrote:
Radiophonics
 
No I was wrong. . . its Stereohead.
Radiophonics
hear, hear.... 

rdo wrote:
To clarify below...The three best albums ever:

1. OK Computer

2. The Bends.

3.  (who cares)     
     
(in case there is still any confusion, I do not mean the best Radiohead albums.  I mean the best albums, period.)
 



Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
To clarify below...The three best albums ever:

1. OK Computer

2. The Bends.

3.  (who cares)     
     
(in case there is still any confusion, I do not mean the best Radiohead albums.  I mean the best albums, period.)
 which nick drake cd?!

myasma wrote:
I had made my way across Canada via the small roads, and eventually landed in a small record store in Toronto. I needed music, and I selected two CDs and took them to the counter. The guy who owned the store looked at each of them, and held them up, one at a time. "This one," he started, holding up a Nick Drake CD, "changed my life."

He put it down and picked up The Bends, and said, "This one will change yours." 
 


 rlr511 wrote:

in order of amazing-ness (keeping in mind that their inherent qualities are likened to children in the same family, look similar but astonishingly different):

1. In Rainbows
2. Ok Computer
3. Amnesiac
4. Hail to the Thief
5. Kid A
6. Pablo Honey

But I love them all and can't wait to see them for my first time (out of 18 years of fan-ship) in DC in June!  YAY!!


 



What about the bends????
 myasma wrote:
I had made my way across Canada via the small roads, and eventually landed in a small record store in Toronto. I needed music, and I selected two CDs and took them to the counter. The guy who owned the store looked at each of them, and held them up, one at a time. "This one," he started, holding up a Nick Drake CD, "changed my life."

He put it down and picked up The Bends, and said, "This one will change yours." 
 
That was brilliant. I bet it did.
Agree!

myasma wrote:
I had made my way across Canada via the small roads, and eventually landed in a small record store in Toronto. I needed music, and I selected two CDs and took them to the counter. The guy who owned the store looked at each of them, and held them up, one at a time. "This one," he started, holding up a Nick Drake CD, "changed my life."

He put it down and picked up The Bends, and said, "This one will change yours." 
 


I had made my way across Canada via the small roads, and eventually landed in a small record store in Toronto. I needed music, and I selected two CDs and took them to the counter. The guy who owned the store looked at each of them, and held them up, one at a time. "This one," he started, holding up a Nick Drake CD, "changed my life."

He put it down and picked up The Bends, and said, "This one will change yours." 
thanks for playing the bends.
Why does he sound so sad?
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Radiohead Is the best. "Black Star" is easily the 4th or 5th best song from their late-early period. Not quite as good as the 3 best tracks from their early-mid period but easily better almost everything from their early to late-late period.

I defy you to disagree since everyone who's anyone with an opinion about the greatest band of the late 20th Century - Early Aughts agrees.

 
Glad you approach music w/ an open mind. Not my fav band in the world.They're ok, just ok. Not everyone shares your opinion obviously. I'm born to defy..
perfect album for a teen-age-drifter in soletary & quiet full moon nights in 95......this album will always have a special place in my heart. :o)
 rdo wrote:


This and OK Computer are the best albums of any band.
 
in order of amazing-ness (keeping in mind that their inherent qualities are likened to children in the same family, look similar but astonishingly different):

1. In Rainbows
2. Ok Computer
3. Amnesiac
4. Hail to the Thief
5. Kid A
6. Pablo Honey

But I love them all and can't wait to see them for my first time (out of 18 years of fan-ship) in DC in June!  YAY!!


Radiohead Is the best. "Black Star" is easily the 4th or 5th best song from their late-early period. Not quite as good as the 3 best tracks from their early-mid period but easily better almost everything from their early to late-late period.

I defy you to disagree since everyone who's anyone with an opinion about the greatest band of the late 20th Century - Early Aughts agrees.



Bill, Zep then Radiohead... Are you trying to get all nostalgic about my student days?

AWESOME !
 romeotuma wrote:


I think this song is awesome...  I think Thom has an awesome voice...  I think Radiohead's new album is awesome...  I think they have many awesome songs...

 
That's a lot of awesome, but that's ok.  Radiohead is awesome.

 Dave_Mack wrote:
Good stuff.  Like hearing the bass way up in the mix.  They don't really do it that way these days.
 



they kinda forgot how to write a melody these days as well.
PERFECT.
 GuiltyFeat wrote:
Radiohead's best album. I dare you to disagree.
 
Not going to disagree but its not saying much IMHO.


Good stuff.  Like hearing the bass way up in the mix.  They don't really do it that way these days.
 GuiltyFeat wrote:
Radiohead's best album. I dare you to disagree.
 
I rate it equal to Pablo Honey but after this they died (that's the kindest way i can look at it).
Radiohead's best album. I dare you to disagree.
 fredriley wrote:
 romeotuma wrote:
This song is good for the ears...
 
Earplugs are good for the ears when Thom Yorke starts his noise. I'd recommend foam expandable earplugs as they cut out pretty much everything, including irritating high-frequency whine.

 
Its actually one of Thom's more subtle and sweet vocals.

fine mix from "Led Zeppelin - Hey Hey What Can I Do"
Love this song, and in particular, this album.

"Black Star" always struck me as a kindred spirit of Stevie Wonder's "Blame It On The Sun," from "Talking Book," made some 20-plus years prior. 
 miahfost wrote:
Why don't they make music like this anymore? Thom Yorke has to be so damn precious and obscure these days, its really tiresome.
 

Sheesh!
I actually think their latest record is fantastic.
I can't stop listening to it.

YES! Good choice. I love the verse:

I keep falling over,
I keep passing out,
When I see a face like you.
 romeotuma wrote:
This song is good for the ears...
 
Earplugs are good for the ears when Thom Yorke starts his noise. I'd recommend foam expandable earplugs as they cut out pretty much everything, including irritating high-frequency whine.

 rez wrote:
Always liked the way this song reverses the cliche and has a fade-in.

 

It had already been done by everybody from Robin Trower to Traffic.

Always liked the way this song reverses the cliche and has a fade-in.

 AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
 
That would bring the RP site closer to an online version of iTunes, but it would be a nice feature nevertheless

And for your curiosity, I would rate this album a 9. It's difficult to rate because compared to some other bands' albums which I also rate 9, it would deserve a 10. But I find OK Computer just that bit more perfect that rating them both 10 would be unfair. Yes, my rating system is a huge convoluted mess.

 AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
 

This and OK Computer are the best albums of any band.
horstman wrote:

This is in my honest opinion the best Radiohead album. OK computer is very good as well, and Pablo Honey is very special. I have all their albums but I always come back to The Bends. It's timeless.

I'd rate it a 10 in my collection of albums. I'll get back to you on some of my other 10 albums. Right now the list of 10s includes:

Porcupine Tree : In Abstentia

David Bowie : Ziggy Stardust

Pink Floyd : Wish You Were Here

The Stone Roses

U2 : The unforgettable fire

U2 : The Joshua Tree

Genesis : The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

I'm sure there's more, but the kids really want to watch Star Trek NG (like right now, Daddy!)

Great list; I'd put Selling England by the Pound in there too. Deadwing too.

great song, great album, great (if odd) band.
IMO — one of the top albums, ever! — and I don't even like Radiohead that much. I just appreciate the music, lyrics and the genius of the album.

My favorite of their albums.
 catnip wrote:
OK Computer was voted the best album ever made by Q Magazine in about 2000. I stopped my subscription shortly after, when I realised that the CD-buying public had the memory of an amnesiac goldfish and were no longer interested in music but lists about music which could then be ticked off imaginary boxes.

As far as I am concerned, Shayborg is right, this is their best album. And they are a more than decent band. But hold off the accolades, let's chew on this one for a while. Good albums mature like wine, stick in the mind and bring you back for more, and then again, and again...

Can we not have a 5 year moratorium before we decide an albums greatness? Maybe more?

 

Totally agree.
 bindi wrote:
I miss THIS Radiohead. . .
 
ditto.

 AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
 
This is in my honest opinion the best Radiohead album. OK computer is very good as well, and Pablo Honey is very special. I have all their albums but I always come back to The Bends. It's timeless.

I'd rate it a 10 in my collection of albums. I'll get back to you on some of my other 10 albums. Right now the list of 10s includes:

Porcupine Tree : In Abstentia

David Bowie : Ziggy Stardust

Pink Floyd : Wish You Were Here

The Stone Roses

U2 : The unforgettable fire

U2 : The Joshua Tree

Genesis : The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

I'm sure there's more, but the kids really want to watch Star Trek NG (like right now, Daddy!)


I miss THIS Radiohead. . .
10 -> 15
OK Computer was voted the best album ever made by Q Magazine in about 2000. I stopped my subscription shortly after, when I realised that the CD-buying public had the memory of an amnesiac goldfish and were no longer interested in music but lists about music which could then be ticked off imaginary boxes.

As far as I am concerned, Shayborg is right, this is their best album. And they are a more than decent band. But hold off the accolades, let's chew on this one for a while. Good albums mature like wine, stick in the mind and bring you back for more, and then again, and again...

Can we not have a 5 year moratorium before we decide an albums greatness? Maybe more?

(I will be waiting for votes for Spiritualised, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, and Lou Reed's New York, but don't expect to get a lot  of support...)

shayborg wrote:
The Bends was Radiohead's best album in my book, regardless of what Pitchfork and friends would have us believe.
 


 Graig wrote:
Find the Gillian Welch and David Rawlings cover of this. It's beautiful. Look on emusic.com if you're a member.
 
I love the Radiohead original, but I love what Gillian Welch and David Rawlings did with it even more.
 Atlantis wrote:

Totally agree.  They are just a mess now.

 

They were a mess from Creep on, which is to say, since day effin one.
 AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
 
From what I've heard of this album on RP, I'd rate the instrumentals a solid 7 and the whining of Thom Yorke a generous 2. The guy always makes me want to slap him round the chops with a wet fish. Which my GF would say is a waste of a good wet fish...

If Radiohead ever release an instrumental album I'll snap it up.

 miahfost wrote:
Why don't they make music like this anymore? Thom Yorke has to be so damn precious and obscure these days, its really tiresome.
 
Totally agree.  They are just a mess now.

 musikalia wrote:
It's clear to me that Radiohead is a good band and all.....but I never really got all the hype around them and how people are sooooo super into them. To me they're just alright, but nothing special at all.
Oh well.

————————-

 That's my case too.  I don't object, I don't see the comparison with Porcupine Tree at all.  But the songs are well put together and I'm very happy to listen to a station that plays lots of Radiohead.



Blame it on the black ninja

Forget about your house of cards, too..
What a great set! And of course this..... George Harrison - Any Road Verve Pipe - Colorful Morcheeba - Slow Down Massive Attack - Live With Me Shriekback - The Underwaterboys Stranglers - Golden Brown Jethro Tull - Bouree The Shins - Australia Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle Shannon McNally - Down and Dirty
Nothing like listening to Radiohead WHILE buying tickets to see them in August :)
His voice sounds like the singing voice of Herbert the pervert on Family Guy.
Why don't they make music like this anymore? Thom Yorke has to be so damn precious and obscure these days, its really tiresome.
I understand how people prefer this album to their later stuff, but I love how they've evolved. It really pays off when you see them live and they are able draw from such a wide array of songs and styles.
musikalia wrote:
It's clear to me that Radiohead is a good band and all.....but I never really got all the hype around them and how people are sooooo super into them. To me they're just alright, but nothing special at all. Oh well.
Musikalia, I'm with you on this one.
It's clear to me that Radiohead is a good band and all.....but I never really got all the hype around them and how people are sooooo super into them. To me they're just alright, but nothing special at all. Oh well.
Find the Gillian Welch and David Rawlings cover of this. It's beautiful. Look on emusic.com if you're a member.
AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
The Bends was Radiohead's best album in my book, regardless of what Pitchfork and friends would have us believe.
AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
my favorite radiohead album, no doubt
I find this guy and the Be Good Tanya's lead singer to enunciate in the same way.
AMH wrote:
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
Whole album is a major TEN!-)
I'm really curious to know what RP listeners would rate this entire album. Wouldn't that be a fun feature for the entire site, for each song you could rate the album too.
The vocals on this tune have preceded... oh, so much whining. I guess success keeps Thom from trying to sing like this now. Pity.
Great Song!
Keith_Eel wrote:
their music......God!
Agreed...this is a very special album to me.
thank you RP for reminding me (again) to buy this album.
pomalley wrote:
IMHO - Their best and the best album to come out of the 90s.
Absolutely agreed. I risk a net-thrashing by admitting that I love the pre-Kid A era, and what's come afterwards has left me a bit puzzled. I know, I know, I'm a musician, I should get it, but... I don't. Maybe I should resume some of the long-discarded drug use.
their music......God!
In concert, a truly fine and amazing band. Couldn't sit still all night and afterwards as well.
now THIS is what I'm talking about.
thatch wrote:
I just can't get past the annoying vocals. Long drawn out notes, too high and thin voice with that vibrato. Almost drowned out by the guitar. Every song sounds the same.
I am glad I found someone who agrees. this sounds tinny and poorly recorded. Sorry to hear they all sound like this. You just saved me $$ as I won't bother downloading any of this. This is a 5. Not sure why others like this song. It sounds pretentious and when I read the lyrics, they are vague and teen-love-starved-simplistic.
IMHO - Their best and the best album to come out of the 90s. noelbarnes wrote:
still arguably their best album
Synth80s wrote:
This is an amazing album end to end. It's hard to imagine that this is now 10+ years old! -Synth80s
Absoloootely ... never bettered, IMHO. Why most people consider 'OK Computer' better that this one is a mystery to me ...
Well, finally a song I really like by them. Just know them years ago from the radio. Just ok stuff I thought, but, this song, I'm diggin.
This is an amazing album end to end. It's hard to imagine that this is now 10+ years old! -Synth80s
hcaudill wrote:
I can say this for physicsgenius. At least he is consistent. Every single comment can be safely ignored.
self proclaimed geniuses generally arent. as for his musical intelligence, musicmoron might be more appropriate. :)
perfect noise
saw them last night at a small venue- INCREDIBLE. new tunes are amazing.
I was a late joiner to the Radiohead fan club. I really just started taking a liking to them in the last year or so and now I can't get enough. Don't know what took me so long. I can listen to this CD over and over (which I oftentimes do) and fall in love all over again. Thom Yorke has a voice that invades my mind, soul and body.
physicsgenius wrote:
I can say this for Radiohead: At least they are consistent. Every single song sucks.
I can say this for physicsgenius. At least he is consistent. Every single comment can be safely ignored.
fabulous dense textured guitars built in layers, one upon the other like a great big delicious cake. they're coming in concert this summer and the new album is imminent . . . save your musical pennies!!
love itself.
Great album, great song... but to be honest i prefer the kidA-amnesiac experimentation... is that wrong?
they are all good this one is better
kazuma wrote:
Nope, you're not the only one. Buy it anyway. It's fantastic.
I second that. IMO the best Radiohead album. You can always flip the booklet around if the cover disturbs you.
I just can't get past the annoying vocals. Long drawn out notes, too high and thin voice with that vibrato. Almost drowned out by the guitar. Every song sounds the same.
jatue wrote:
I want to buy this CD but I'm afraid of the cover art. Am I the only one who finds it creepy?
Nope, you're not the only one. Buy it anyway. It's fantastic.
still arguably their best album
My *favorite* Radiohead song. So amazing. Off the best album, in my opinion..though I'm sure people will definitely disagree. A 10. All the way.
That guitar ... is it a Leslie or something ... is just lovely.
I've tried... I just can't get past that "scrapes-your-nerves-across-a-cheesegrater" voice. And right after George Harrison, this is really a buzz-harshener.
jatue wrote:
I want to buy this CD but I'm afraid of the cover art. Am I the only one who finds it creepy?
close your eyes and open your ears... buy it
Radiohead have revealed little details about the new album to be released in 2006. I have written a couple of articles, including an mp3 of "Arpeggi" and video link for "House of Cards." (click here) (click here)
I want to buy this CD but I'm afraid of the cover art. Am I the only one who finds it creepy?
OK, there's a trend here. Every time a Radiohead tune comes on, I find myself looking up and saying "Wow, this is cool. Wonder who it is?" And it's always Radiohead. I guess I should proceed hence to the record shop... ;)
This album...this song...get me everytime. Singing "Blame it on the Black Star....."like a fool in the office.
physicsgenius wrote:
I can say this for Radiohead: At least they are consistent. Every single song sucks.
*cough* trolling*cough*
physicsgenius wrote:
I can say this for Radiohead: At least they are consistent. Every single song sucks.
Looking at the rating for this song it's clear that I'm among those missing the R'Head gene. I just don't get it....
Great album, and this is probably one of my least favorite tracks on it. Pick it up if you don't already have it!
Killer lead in from George
The Bends is one of those albums I just never seem to get tired of.
supreme
Tux wrote:
No thanks. Superjunk. (Yes, I listen, I've turned off the filter to hear everything)
You and physicsgenius should go bond over a toddy or something.
:sunny.gif:
No thanks. Superjunk. (Yes, I listen, I've turned off the filter to hear everything)
stickittotheman wrote:
YES!. Let me guess, you're an Amnesiac fan too. I have no favs but totally groove on "new" radiohead.
I'm an Amnesiac fan too! Love to the haters...