by Heather Huff
A while back someone told Radiohead they could have their own television station. In anticipation, the band solicited short films from fans via their website and set about creating their own material while recording Hail to the Thief. The material never made it to television, but was broadcast via the internet on radiohead.tv and was just released on the band's third DVD, The Most Gigantic Lying Mouth of all Time.

The 24 short films on the 110-minute DVD illustrate Radiohead's music with dark, bold strokes through primitive animation, claymation, and manipulation of inanimate objects. Their themes parallel the music of Radiohead: Kafka-esque living, melancholy, and chaos (there's even a warning that the excessive blinking and flashing throughout the DVD may induce epileptic seizures). Though, if at all possible, the films may be darker than Radiohead's music -- they are certainly scarier. There are fang-brandishing monkeys, crows with glowing eyes who are murdered en masse, possessed baby-dolls singing about "freak juice," and levitating humans who spin around in the Karate Kid stance. It may sound like a big mess, but each film is surprisingly accomplished for amateurs and fits well with the soundtrack.

The Radiohead footage gives a glimpse of the band in the studio, though much more of Thom Yorke than anyone else. There is an intimate clip of Yorke with an acoustic guitar singing Morning M'Lord, also known as Good Morning Mr. Magpie, a song whose status as unreleased defies explanation. Also included is an alternate version of There, There, with Yorke on guitar and Jonny Greenwood on bass. I had always believed the big drums were what made the song a standout on their latest album, but apparently I was wrong; this version is every bit as good as the one on HTTT. Greenwood's bass line is just as powerful as the three-man drum section on the album version, though perhaps wielded with more finesse. Other musical bonuses include: Yorke alone on the piano singing A Punch Up at a Wedding, Yorke again alone on piano singing Fog to a small crowd, and an amphitheater performance of National Anthem -- though you won't see the band at all, you'll be looking at close up of some poor girl's face the whole time.

Radiohead also adds a bits of nonsense throughout. A scary looking figure calling himself Chieftan Mews introduces each episode and closes the DVD with a recitation of No Surprises. My guess is that this chieftan is a doctored photograph with Ed O'Brien's moving mouth superimposed, but who knows? It's all nonsensical. Yorke gives a couple of interviews with the voice of a drugged monster, while O'Brien answers most of his interview questions with a loud squawk. There's also a clip of O'Brien dressed as Santa Claus and reading a Christmas story. You'll probably question their sanity, but it's refreshing to see this veteran band goofing off and not taking themselves too seriously.

What's with that name? According to Thom, it is the name of a photomontage created by German artist James Heartfield, who changed his name from Helmut Herzfelde to protest German Nationalism. Heartfield manipulated photographs to make artistic statements, most notably against Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. It's a big jump to say that in selecting this name Radiohead paints themselves as Heartfield and certain leaders of today as Nazis, but then you wouldn't be too surprised, would you? Regardless, you can count on the DVD delivering the band's trademark not-so-subtle political statements.

The overall experience of the DVD is overwhelming, scary and downright trippy. Diehard Radiohead fans will love it, while casual listeners will probably lose their patience. Stick with it though because like Radiohead's music it is a cohesive, well-constructed package and something you'll understand more with each experience. The short films are inspired and the Radiohead footage alone justifies purchase, even if it is hard to get your hands on. You can only buy the DVD through Radiohead's archaic website, which means those of you outside the UK will pay a hefty fee for shipping and those of you in the US will get killed on the exchange rate. The damage for shipment to the US is around $30. You can watch the trailer and order the DVD here.

Labels: Radiohead