The Comedy of Errors: Radiohead - Prove Yourself (8 May 1992)

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Before Creep, before The Bends or OK Computer, before Peel reconnected with Radiohead’s early 21st Century releases, before they tried to take down George W. Bush and before they offered up a new album in which customers pay what they think it’s worth Radiohead started out with the Drill EP, four demos of which three would eventually turn up on the band’s debut album, Pablo Honey.

I’ve had to use a live recording, but it’s pretty faithful to the dynamics of the EP track.  I’ve lost touch with Radiohead since the Millenium, so have no idea if they’ve lyrically developed beyond the themes that I associate them with - self-doubt, ennui, self-loathing, disgust at the grind of an uncaring world and resolutions of suicide.  At the time, it could have sounded like grunge by the numbers but Thom Yorke’s bruised vocals, like a sparrow transforming into a pterodactyl as he progresses from the verse to the chorus immediately grabs the attention.

It’s a decent enough track without being anything amazing.  Its inclusion here potentially benefits from the “Oooh, Peel played them, I never knew that” factor, though it didn’t work for Green Day.  I suspect it’s more down to the fact that what always tickles me about Radiohead circa-1992, is that their first exposure on Radio 1 came about, not through Peel, but through Gary Davies.

Video courtesy of alejosan74