MTV2 brings 'Amnesiac' to The Front Room

by Chas J. Hartman
Assistant Entertainment Editor

Although there are millions of Radiohead fans in this country, some music lovers have no knowledge of the band. It may be time to change that by attending MTV2's Radiohead promotion Thursday in the Front Room.

Radiohead's second album in eight months, Amnesiac, is set to hit record stores June 5, but those in attendance on Thursday get the opportunity to hear it early — courtesy of the University Program Council. Throw out all previous Radiohead experiences and any preconceived notions about the band. Amnesiac is a glorious journey through the worlds of somber piano music, Britpop, techno/trance and New Orleans-style jazz.

Even though an all-music video television station is promoting the new album, don't assume Radiohead is one of those corporate puppets that conform to the expectations of radio and television. This is a band that never fails to release eclectic music videos that feature animation ("Paranoid Android") and strolls through grocery stores ("Fake Plastic Trees").

"I think it (breaking the trends) gives them an individual voice, and you know they aren't giving into what anybody else wants," said Jennifer Yakubisin, UPC public relations director. "Radiohead is definitely not a band that could be considered a puppet for the corporate machine."

Few other bands receive as much critical praise after album releases as Radiohead does. This directly is related to the band's natural tendencies to stretch musical boundaries and experiment with new sound textures. From the grungy sounds on their debut album Pablo Honey to the ambient music of Kid A, these are five Oxford men not afraid of change.

"They're a band that continues to grow and remain original," said Greg Baldwin, a MTV2 spokesman. "They consistently provide music that surprises their fans. Right now, this listening tour is a pilot program for us, and we wanted their music to be part of it."

MTV2 wants to bring music to campuses and allow fans to hear records before they come out, Baldwin said.

The "Radiohead Listening Party" certainly goes against the typical wishes of major record labels to prevent the public from hearing music before its official release. Of course, the folks at Napster made Amnesiac available to the general public a few weeks ago. This promotional tour is more of an official way for Capitol Records to hype the highly anticipated fifth Radiohead album.

"I think being among the first to hear anything is just an awesome experience in general," Yakubisin said. "It being Radiohead magnifies everything. It's a great privilege for this campus to have MTV2 coming."

The "Radiohead Listening Party" is from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Front Room inBaker University Center. Admission is free.