These Are My Twisted Words
| "These Are My Twisted Words" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Radiohead | ||||
| Released | 17 August 2009 | |||
| Format | Download | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, experimental rock | |||
| Length | 5:31 | |||
| Label | Self-released | |||
| Writer(s) | Radiohead | |||
| Producer(s) | Nigel Godrich | |||
| Radiohead singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"These Are My Twisted Words" is a song by the English alternative rock band Radiohead. It was leaked on 12 August 2009, possibly by the band, and officially released on 17 August as a free download from the Radiohead website.
Composition
"These Are My Twisted Words" opens with an "ominious"[1] krautrock-style build-up"[2] with a "featherweight" motorik beat[3] from drummer Phil Selway before Thom Yorke's vocal enters.[2] Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone also noted the krautrock influence, likening the song to the In Rainbows track "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi."[4] Matthew Schnipper of The Fader described it as a "simple song" with "a plodding, stubborn forward spirit".[2]
Release
On 12 August 2009, the song was leaked via BitTorrent.[5] A text file included in the torrent file contained ASCII art, a cryptic poem and a reference to a release date of 17 August.[6] Commentators including The Guardian and Rolling Stone speculated that Radiohead leaked the song themselves following the unconventional self-release of their album In Rainbows (2007).[5][4]
On 17 August, guitarist Jonny Greenwood announced on Radiohead's blog that "These Are My Twisted Words" was available as a free download from the Radiohead site or a torrent hosted by Mininova.[7] The download included artwork by Stanley Donwood and Yorke to be printed on tracing paper and put "in an order that pleases you."[7]
Critical reception
Brian Parks of PopMatters gave "These Are My Twisted Words" seven out of ten, describing it as "the most recent in a long line of unconventionally beautiful songs for which Radiohead is renowned."[1] However, Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media found its "nauseous guitars" and "vaguely whiny lyrics almost read as parody" and concluded that the song "isn't as enticing as its method of distribution".[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brian Parks (24 August 2009). "Radiohead - "These Are My Twisted Words" (stream)". PopMatters. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matthew Schnipper (17 August 2009). "Radiohead, “These Are My Twisted Words” MP3". The Fader. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ryan Dombal (24 August 2009). "Radiohead - "These Are My Twisted Words"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Daniel Kreps (13 August 2009). "New Radiohead Song "These Are My Twisted Words" Leaks". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sean Michaels (14 August 2009). "Was the new Radiohead song leaked by the band?". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ↑ Harrison Hoffman (13 August 2009). "Did Radiohead just leak the first song from their new EP?". CNET. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jonny Greenwood (17 August 2009). "These Are My Twisted Words". Dead Air Space (radiohead.com). Retrieved 21 August 2009.
