 With a new album still in the tantalizing hints phase and no U.S. tour dates forthcoming, this superfan was staring down the sad prospect of a Radiohead-free 2009. I was getting pretty worried there for a minute, let me tell ya. Luckily, word got out recently that Radiohead’s Thom Yorke would be helping with a tribute album for ex-Miracle Legion frontman Mark Mulcahy. It’s just one track, and it’s not quite the same thing as new Radiohead music, but whatever. I’ll take my fix however I can get it.
Even better: While Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy isn’t due til this fall, Yorke’s cover of Miracle Legion’s “All for the Best” hit the web today via Stereogum. It is, predictably, awesome in every way. Yorke translates the original tune’s wall o’ jangle into a sea of glitchy beats, punctuated by rusty guitar stabs — think The Eraser meets “Electioneering,” if that makes any sense. And his vocals are perfectly heartrending as always. How does he do that every single time he picks up a microphone?
So here I am, listening to Yorke’s “All for the Best” on infinite repeat. Somehow it’s only made me more desperate to hear the new Radiohead album that may or may not be coming our way in the vague future. In the meantime, you can head over to Stereogum to hear this cover yourself and let us know what you think. If you like it, be sure to pick up Ciao My Shining Star when it comes out in September: Proceeds will help support Mulcahy, who unexpectedly lost the mother of his two young daughters last year, and you’ll be guaranteed to get some great music, including contributions from Michael Stipe, the National, and Dinosaur Jr. along with Yorke’s song.
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The cover is simply beautiful. He’s amazing.
And that picture of Thom is kinda hot, just saying.
Thom Yorke does it again!!! I too have it on repeat!
I’m a huge Radiohead fan and a huge Miracle Legion/Mark Mulcahy fan. I love this cover, as well as the original song. I can’t wait to hear Dinosaur Jr.’s cover of “The Backyard”.
Thom needs a restraining order against you calm the kissing ass just a bit
everything is perfect about this. it is so touching, simple, beautiful, soaring, jarring and scary. perfect for whom and what it is dedicated to. the suddeness of that feedback heavy guitar section seems to really be parallel with the suddeness of her death. but of course what follows is hope and its just amazing. EW should put this in the center of their bullseye next issue. im a subscriber so ill be waitin for it
[...] most spontaneous thing that Radiohead has done over the course of their career, and while there are reports that they’ve been in the studio to record a new album (and so recording quickly [...]
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