Ever found yourself listening intently to Radiohead, wondering, "If only I could feel like more of a nerd right now"? Well, you're in luck—our friends over at Pitchfork have stumbled across 8-bit video recreations of the band's classic albums OK Computer and Kid A. Created by YouTube user QuintonSung, the meticulously constructed 8-bit versions are sure to be a major conversation starter at your next chess club meeting, Dungeons & Dragons match or [insert geeky get-together cliché here].
Check 'em both out in full below.
The crunchy beats on "Airbag" are a nice touch, though "Paranoid Android" meanders a bit, eventually picking up around the Jonny Greenwood guitar riff section. The slower songs are hit or miss (would've expected a little more from "Subterranean Homesick Alien"), while "Karma Police" is a buzzy success. (I'd totally play that game, by the way.) Ditto for the robo-swaggering "Electioneering"—"Climbing Up The Walls" is a bit of a mess, but "No Surprises" is still surprisingly sigh-worthy in 8-bit.
"Everything In Its Right Place" was already fairly robotic, but the 8-bit version of "Kid A" is a small wonder (the crunchy punch/percussion hits are an inspired touch). Apart from that menacing bassline, "The National Anthem" leaves a lot to be desired, while "How To Disappear Completely," sadly, only vaguely resembles its symphonic counterpart (ditto for "Treefingers"). It gets a bit more interesting with "Optimistic," while the bloop-heavy take on "In Limbo" is a stroke of genius. Same goes for "Idioteque," an already icy, post-apocalyptic bit of business that flourishes in the video game palette.
They're not perfect… it's 8-bit music, what do you want… but as a geeky-fun new take on two of everyone's favorite albums, they're definitely worth a semi-serious listen or two. I don't know, what do you guys think? Hit up our comments section below.
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