My Iron Lung
When exactly Radiohead transformed themselves from an average alterna-rock band into an avant-garde juggernaut is difficult to pinpoint, but in terms of recording, they took the great leap forward somewhere around the time of their second album,The Bends. While their debut,Pablo Honey, had a few sharp hooks, there was nothing to predict the avalanche of ideas that madeThe Bendsone of the important albums of the 1990s. This EP (which is actually longer than some bands' full albums) doesn't clarify things a bit. The acoustic version of "Creep" that endsMy Iron Lungis a sensitive read, but it doesn't explain the structural leap of the title track, which sounds as if the band had relearned how to play their instruments. Most of the remaining tunes are short, quirky numbers that point up Thom Yorke's penchant for melancholy melodies. Those who treasure the art rock ofOK ComputerorKid Amay find these plaintive pleas for love and understanding almost too simple.--Rob O'Connor