I just listened to Radiohead’s The Bends for the first time and I don’t get it.
Lyrics, music, the whole lot. Makes no sense.
Is it supposed to be a mid-90s guitar heavy production with heart-heavy sentimentally? Or some sort of genius lyrically searching for souls?
I just wanted it to be over.
Nothing to do with sophistication or lack of - you just don’t like it
I always give a band or an album a bit of time before I diss miss it play once leave it for a while then come back to it again if I don’t get anything on the second play I tend to give it one more try before I give up. The bends was an album I appreciate more on the second play not to be sophisticated or anything like that just because for me it was a good album. Give it a bit of time see how you get on
I think you either like something or some artist, or not.
I have never understood the love for Steely Dan/Donald Fagen. 
I’ve felt like that about almost every new album from my core bands: Depeche Mode ; U2; Rush etc etc.
It’s my favourite Radiohead album. So there!
Why the surprise? I find that about far mire music than otherwise, regardless of how popular or how much some people may rave. Fortunately if you are playing it through your own system you don’t have to persevere
There is so much music which is considered essential or classic but (for me anyway) just doesn’t appeal.
I think we just need to appreciate that there’s hopefully something for everyone which floats their boat if not ours specifically.
I often try to listen to music from ‘before my time’ but generally (apart from classical) just don’t get most of it unless I already know it as it was repeated time and again during my childhood.
It would be a boring world if we all liked and played the same music. Over the years (decades) I have had many albums that I did not like then come to appreciate (an example being Simple Minds, Glittering Prize). However there are also albums that I played constantly and then have parked (John Miles , Rebel being an example). A new partner has also led to listening changes.
Radiohead I’m somewhat ambivalent, but Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, I’m an outlier, God Only Knows excepted absolute nonsense, imo.
Pet Sounds was a definite no until 2 years ago. Not sure if it was my taste changing, the SQ of the music system improving or my wife’s insistence that it is the best album ever but it is now an album that I enjoy listening to. The use of brass instruments is wonderful.
Over the millennia I have collated an eclectic range of discs to cater for any emotional state, and various fads. I rarely get rid of anything, and usually regret it later if I do. It’s just not MF’s Radiohead day. That said, the only Radiohead I have was a placatory gift to the gods and has been listened to once. Nuff said?
Modern jazz fan here. Never knowingly heard a note of Radiohead in my life. Perhaps I should have a listen?
Listen, by all means, but don’t feel obliged to revisit.
you should indeed; it’s beautifully crafted. Thom Yorke is a masterful musician regardless if you like / dislike their music.
Sophistication, musicianship, musical arrangement, tinge of dark cynicism combined with a detached observational position and celebration of things louche. Also, a sense of irony, rare in Americans.
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It’s not just individual albums or artist some people they about and others just don’t get or even dislike, but it can happen with whole genres Take jazz for example: it is aof music sone absolutely love, others can’t stand.
I find jazz is good for exercise - if the radio is on and jazz comes on my hand gets to reach rapidly for the station change or off/mute, or if somewhere and jazz starts to play my legs lead me to the exit!
The one thing I have learnt over the years is to never try and inflict your musical taste on others. You play them something and you just don’t understand why they don’t “get” it.
I bought OK Computer in the 90s due the the amazing reviews. Play it occasionally, still don’t get it, probably all the right notes but definitely not in the right order, lol. However, I love Fagen, particularly with Becker.
Luckily, Mrs CW and I have quite a lot of overlap, Joni, John Martyn etc.
I have a friend who’s wife is into the Nolan Sisters and similar, grounds for divorce in most courts of law I would have thought.
For me it was an Acquired taste, but i am glad i perceveired at the time.
Funny personal twist, I’m either on a even number mood, or uneven. So I either play 1,3,5,7,9 and 11 (but this rarely happens) , or I play 2,4,6,8,10 and 12. For me, the two real gems are fake plastic trees and Street Spirit.
But again, each to their own, listen to what you like. I have a beautifull 15 yeard old, that has grate taste in music, that helps me discover stuff that i would otherwise not have discovered. Most recent hit is “Rein Me In” by Sam Fender with Olivia Dean.
