20 Watts

PREVIEW: STREAM Thom Yorke’s “Hearing Damage”

The corporate entertainment method of using depressing and ghoulish themes and imagery to swindle the money out of disaffected preteens and their parents strikes again with the upcoming release of the Twilight sequel “New Moon.” The “New Moon” soundtrack reflects this money grubbing model by having an all-star listing of gloomy Indie bands contributing a song each. Nevertheless, in this showing of instant classic Indie groups — ranging from Death Cab for Cutie to Bon Iver and Grizzly Bear — who first made their mark earlier this decade, their contributions are easily trumped by the godfather of the beautiful doom-and-gloom style of alternative rock: Thom Yorke.

There is little doubt that the reason why Radiohead’s living-legend would get involved with such a trashy preteen franchise is because of his children probably being fans of those vampirish rapscallions. His contribution to the “New Moon” soundtrack, “Hearing Damage,” sounds like a dark ode to his children with the oft-repeated lyric “You can do no wrong… in my eyes” — a seemingly sweet line that is undermined by the dark melody and foreboding dance club rhythms that pulsate throughout the song. Yorke creates a striking contrast through his lyrics and music as he brilliantly illustrates contradictions in being a parent, and the double standards one may hold towards their kids compared to others.

Thom Yorke’s “Hearing Damage” is no doubt the best thing he has officially put out this year, whether it’s under the Radiohead moniker (“Harry Patch” and “These Are My Twisted Words”) or through the spontaneous Los Angeles concerts he did with Flea back in October. This contribution to the “New Moon” soundtrack is evident that as always, Yorke is fresh with ideas as he ever was. Hopefully this is a sign that their the new album material currently being recorded will be as consistently good as this tune!

Listen to it on a good sound system — or at least a decent pair of headphones!

– Charlie Weeks