Image Credit: John Shearer/Getty ImagesOne of the biggest mysteries in rock right now is when Radiohead will release their eighth album. Last month, guitarist Ed O’Brien said they were “at the finish line” after working on and off since at least March 2009. O’Brien even suggested, not for the first time, that the highly anticipated follow-up to 2007′s In Rainbows could be out by the end of this year. So when I sat down with Radiohead drummer Philip Selway today to talk about his excellent solo debut, Familial (out Aug. 31), I had to ask him how the band’s new album is coming along. “It’s not finished yet,” Selway replied immediately. “It’s still ongoing. We like where we are so far.”
Selway added that Radiohead’s latest studio sojourns have been “very productive, very creative sessions. You don’t want to start summing them up, though, until you’ve actually finished. I think that’s when you get the real hindsight on it, and the real flavor of actually what went on.” As for that 2010 deadline that O’Brien mentioned? “Oh, I don’t know. We keep on hitting those points where you think, ‘We’re there.’ And then [later] you think, ‘No, it’s not.’ We’re having a break from it at the moment. I’ll be [promoting Familial], and then we’ll come back to it later in the summer and see where we are.”
So there you have it. LP8 may or may not be in your hands by New Year’s (hey, he didn’t deny it), but either way, sounds like things are going well. Anyway, considering the out-of-the-blue surprise release strategy Radiohead employed for In Rainbows, I wouldn’t count on too much advance notice whenever they decide the next one is done. When do you think that day will come? Are you looking forward to the next Radiohead album as eagerly as I am?
Also: Radiohead drummer Philip Selway preps a suprising solo debut: The Music Mix Q&A
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Lissie’s got a new album, and we’ve got her new song exclusively here
Usher’s ‘Behind the Music’: Why we can’t wait to watch
Vampire Weekend sued by ‘Contra’ cover model
Did 1995 have the greatest summer songs of the past 25 years?
Of course I’m looking forward to it, but I trust the lads to have it ready when they feel ready. If it’s this year, that’s great. If it’s next year or 2012, I can wait until then. I just want the lads to put out music that matters to them – I’m sure we’ll love it as well.
THIS BAND IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOCKOFF OF MUSE AND WILL ALWAYS RELEASE MUSIC THAT IS WEIRD (THEY CALL ART) AND EVIL (THEY SAY IT’S DEPRESSION BUT IT IS CLEARLY THE DEVIL IN THEM AND THEY ARE RELEASING HIM INTO THE WORLD FROM THEIR MUSIC). I WILL PRAY FOR THEM AND HOPE THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO BE A TRUELY, UPSTANDING AND GOD LOVING BAND SUCH AS MUSE.
Apparently you’re a Twihard who doesn’t know that Radiohead has had an impact & been a major influence on a lot of bands in the past 15+ years, such as MUSE. IMO, its the other way around. I wouldn’t call it Ripping Them Off. I’d call it more influenced & inspired by artists they look up to & how they create their music & how it comes out. I like MUSE too & I can see the comparisons w/ Radiohead. But Radiohead is looked upon a lot of bands/artists as a huge influence in popular music, including MUSE.
@ Judy:
Extremely obvious troll is extremely obvious. Try harder next time.
OMG I CAN WRITE IN CAPS TOO! MUSE SUCK! BLAH BLAH BLAH!
Tsk. Radiohead are already legendary and Muse *cough very bad Queen rip-off cough* will hopefully only be a footnote in history.
@Judy: I bet you also think the Beatles rip off Oasis.
“Muse *cough very bad Queen rip-off cough* will hopefully only be a footnote in history.”
Hmm, 10+ plus years in the biz, 5 successful albums, multiple awards for being the best live act, sold out stadium gigs wherever they go, not to mention getting praised on more than one occasion from the members of Queen themselves (something they wouldn’t do if they thought Muse was beneath them), I highly doubt they’ll only be a “footnote in history”… you may not like Muse, but no need to be a hater, Jenna. Don’t be the stereotypical Radiohead fan.
And Judy_Dinch is the stereotypical Muse fan? See what I have to work with here?
Judy_Dinch is a troll (and a very obvious one, you’d be stupid not to notice), no real Muse fan honestly thinks Radiohead ripped them off. You, on the other hand, have to resort to dissing a band that is very talented and successful in their own right just to make a point. You’re hardly in the clear.
pfffft that’s probably the most ridiculous statement ever made about Radiohead. Muse is a Radiohead wannabe band… I used to be a huge huge Muse fan.. until I discovered Radiohead, the best band making music in the world right now. Genius. And by the way, Matt Bellamy is an atheist (like Thom) and he cited Richard Dawkins as inspiration for his music in Spin magazine
@ Jeremy:
You never a Muse fan if you ever thought of them as a “Radiohead wannabe”. It’s not wrong to prefer one band over the other, but anyone who has actually taken the time to listen to both bands knows they have very little in common. I’ve yet to meet even the most casual Muse fan who’s only heard a few Muse songs that genuinely thought they were aping Radiohead. So big fail on your part.
hey, I saw you (“Judy”) earlier somewhere ranting about a Mel Gibson article… the internet’s a big place, and I’ve only checked about five semi-random articles today. You must get around quite a bit.
Judy you are incredibly wrong, Muse has made a career out of ripping off Radiohead and not the other way around. Muse’s first album is from 1999, by then Radiohead had already released 3 albums, two of which are on Rolling Stones list of best 500 albums ever. Muse then decided to rip off Queen in second half of last decade
successful troll is successful lol
dont be such a lame-ass. radiohead was out way before muse. Have you even listened to radiohead?
@Judy loving how everyone is falling for this Troll, please Judy go troll somewhere else.
Ummm, Muse is a knockoff of radiohead. Radiohead had 3 platinum albums before muse wrote a song. Not to mention radioheads songs have so much more lyrical and musical substance. Its not even a comparison. Radiohead is the best band of our generation and muse is just another cheesy band.
Muse and Radiohead are both great. It’s not only possible to enjoy both; it’s recommended (well, recommended by me, but still…)
I’ve described Muse as “Radiohead if they’d gone down a different path” to friends. Hell, it was because I was listening to Radiohead in the office a few years ago that a coworker gave me a Muse album in the first place.
Two different things, really. Both very, very good (please don’t let the fact that they’re the Twilight writer’s favourite band somehow trigger some neo-hipster, knee-jerk reaction wherein you must publicly decry them as “sucking”).
If you’re going to spew venom, please save it for that all-caps using little troll.
Jeremy pretty much has the maturity of the average Twilight fan.
I redirect Jay’s comment to skipdiv77… try actually listening to the band’s music instead of spewing the same redundant crap about them ripping off “anyone”, which is usually said by people who’ve barely heard one Muse song. Anyone who says “Muse has made a career of ripping off Radiohead” has no credibility to begin with… no wonder I can’t stand Radiohead fans, you’re all a bunch of self-righteous pricks who thinks the world revolves solely around Radiohead (no offense to Radiohead).
So excited!!! I hope it comes out before the end of the year, but no matter I am sure it will be great whenever it is realized.
as long as Ambien remains a legally obtainable over the counter sleep aid, who needs Radiohead?
PWN, YOUR ON THE GOOD TEAM! GOD LOVES YOU!
Lame troll is lame.
Judy – I think your Caps lock is stuck on. Also – Radiohead has been around for about a decade longer than Muse, so how are they ripping Muse off? Also, why is Radiohead Devil music? I love Muse too, but to say Radiohead is ripping them off is a joke. More like the other way around…
Do you not recognize a troll when you see one?
“More like the other way around…”
Apart from their first album, Muse isn’t all that influenced by Radiohead, so it is just as wrong to accuse them of ripping off Radiohead. I’d say Muse’s biggest and most evident influence is Queen. Anyway, this is a Radiohead post, so let’s end this talk about Muse. We’re doing exactly what Judy Dinch wants us to do, de-rail the story and go into off-topic comments.
People need to stop the silly competition between the two bands… I highly doubt either one of them cares.
as far as I can tell radiohead has only ripped off the beatles (karma police) and more recently boards of canada (all I need). muse is not worth ripping off btw.
The Beatles rip was more of a homage. Same with BoC. But yeah, RH have been influenced by many diverse artists. Can’t wait for the album.
Yes I’m waiting patiently. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I trust their judgement reflecting on their previous albums which were all masterpieces in their own way. As long as they do what feels right I believe that this will be their best work yet. . . The present tense, lotus flower, skirting on the surface. . . Amazing.
I’ve met Phil before a show. One of the nicest guys in rock:)
p.s. whatever they do in the new album will be great. I have total faith in them.
When the hell is Coldplay’s new album coming out?
Hopefully not the same time as RH’s because we all know Radiohead would make the better album. As usual:0)
Do these guys ever make a bad album? And yes, I love Pablo Honey…
Radiohead+Arcade Fire this year!!! The Gods are listening to my prayers.
There’s been enough postponements this year (see The Strokes). Let’s hope Radiohead’s new album gets released in 2010.
Dre better put out Detox this year! Or I’m done with him!
I’ve never even heard a Muse tune. Radiohead rules. Radiohead forever. Radiohead I LOVE YOU!
I don’t believe we will have the new Radiohead album this year. Most likely winter 2011. The boys are perfeccionists, they won’t release anything until they are 100% OK with it… I can’t wait for LP8, I have a feeling it will be a big surprise and after all those seven different albums I can’t quite imagine where their style and sound is heading to. They keep saying it is different but they already covered such a diverse ground, it’s almost impossible to guess what it will be about. One thing I noted is that Thom Yorke’s voice is getting even better (and who guessed that it would be possible?!) from the last shows he had with Atoms For Peace, and after hearing him singing The Present Tense I can’t wait to hear his take on new songs.
And, please, stop this Radiohead x Muse nonsense! Muse has nothing to do with Radiohead, not even Matt’s voice, wich is powerful but doesn’t have a tent of the skills and range that Thom Yorke has! Muse is just another over the top rock band. Radiohead is so something much more creative, diverse and powerful, there is no comparison.
I’m a big fan of Radiohead,but Muse is an excellent band too.They are not great,maybe they wont be great in next 10 years…But they make very impressive music,their live-sets are impressive.Matthew Bellamy is another topic.He plays guitar and piano so good that even members of Radiohead are standing behind his shadow…And furthermore Matt is a great composer – everybody watch him playing guitar and say Wow,everybody watch him singing and say Wow,but he also makes very beautiful songs…Endlessly,Sing For Absolution,Starlight,Guiding Light,Invincible,Butterflies And Hurricanes,Muscle Museum at last…
Radiohead is a great band in one way,and Muse are great in another.And in both bands members are very skillful or for example make good arangements.
All around the world,in different music blogs there must me at least one comment that there’s no fight between Radiohead and Muse