AMY SALISBURY
EDITOR IN CHIEF

I’ve had a very long, happy relationship with Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, and Phil Selway. And my boyfriend is usually okay with it. Years and years of faithfulness fueled my love for everything those aforementioned men of Radiohead created, but I don’t know how I feel right now.

People change. So do bands. In fact, a few years ago, Radiohead broke from their record label and announced they would pursue self-released work. They maintain that their work is entirely self-produced as well, although the American record label TBD will soon be the parent who released two Radiohead albums stateside: “In Rainbows” in 2007 and “The King of Limbs” May 9, 2011.

“The King of Limbs” is already out there, though. More than a month ago, “Limbs” songs started appearing all over the Internet as Radiohead made the album available for download on their merch website, radiohead.com/deadairspace, and kingoflimbs.com.

After learning that I could listen to this album at my leisure, I sort of chose not to. The gossip surrounding this “different” incarnation of Radiohead and its reception was disheartening to say the least. I imagined “The King of Limbs” was a modern incarnation of when Bob Dylan went electric; some people loved it, and some people hated it.

I also imaged that “The King of Limbs” wouldn’t be as impressive as “Kid A” or “Hail to the Thief,” but I can’t pin down what made me think that. Perhaps that thought had something to do with the Radiohead heresy floating around the minds of (current and former) band devotees. There’s no denying the band had a mysterious air about them, which I believe only heightened the anticipation listeners have to get their hands on a physical copy.

I finally listened to “Lotus Flower,” the first official release off the new album, just days ago. Although reminiscent of key “OK Computer” tracks, “Lotus Flower” explores a dimension otherwise unknown to Yorke and the other band members. A hypnotic beat pulses through Yorke’s borderline falsetto as an electric sound permeates the otherwise classically poetic lyrics. Lunar-like echoes follow the chorus and Yorke chants nearly indecipherable pleas to an unnamed recipient. [Author’s note: listen to the song before you watch the video. There is the potential for a premature turn-off there.]

And guess what: I dug it. I can’t speak for all audience members, but Radiohead pushed through the four-year fog following “In Rainbows” and started fresh with a new component to their sound. Like with a person’s caring partner, a band’s true fans are in it for every part of the musicians, not just for their favorite pieces.

Today, Radiohead releases The Universal Sigh, a newspaper component to “The King of Limbs.” The closest distribution area to campus is in Los Angeles at 6400 West Sunset Blvd. and 3700 Sunset Blvd. The band remains extremely tight-lipped regarding details of this one-time newspaper release.