The Smile: "A Light for Attracting Attention" (Album Review)

Genres: Art Rock, Post-Punk, Art Pop

A Light for Attracting Attention is an apt name for an album that shines the spotlight on new music from several members of Radiohead. The Smile is comprised of Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood alongside drummer Tom Skinner. The Radiohead sound of this album is obvious, but there is also strong execution of their artistry in a way that’s transformative. If you go into this album expecting a follow-up to A Moon Shaped Pool, you’ll likely be lost, but The Smile offers something great to find all the same.

For those who love the harder rock sounds of early Radiohead, this album is a treat. I appreciate the electronic “beeps” and “boops” that are prevalent in their modern work, but A Light for Attracting Attention chooses to pursue a different direction. These elements still exist but are not the main focus. Exaggeration and theatrics have always been a large part of Radiohead’s music and are present here for the better. The grandiosity creates the feeling of a larger canvas that is painted on and explored. “You Will Never Work In Television Again” and other tracks follow up on this nicely, providing texture through the colorful instrumentation. Another thing that this track does especially well is showcase Yorke’s vocals. It was shocking to hear the amount of edge that he approached the song with when considering his recent work. Yorke also knows when to bring gentleness, with “Free In The Knowledge” being so soft and tender that it feels featherless, but it carries real weight at the same time. Each track is composed with a specific vision in mind, and The Smile does a great job of shaping the different textures to realize these visions.

What intrigues me about The Smile is that it leaves me asking one big question: Why? 

Why create a band primarily made up of Radiohead members, just to play a similar style of music? The answer to this question is two-folded. One reason is the COVID-19 lockdowns, which hindered the ability of the full band to meet together and work. However, the second reason is something I find to be especially interesting. The Smile represents a fresh start. After nine studio albums and many more collaborations behind the scenes, it’s easy to see why the Radiohead members would want this. Even if it’s mainly a change in name alone, the presentation gives something completely new to offer. This can be seen by not just the band, but by the fans as well, who were eager for new Radiohead material, and yet viewed The Smile as a different venture. However, even though The Smile presents something fresh and new, it’s not necessarily unique. A Light for Attracting Attention can feel like a compilation of In Rainbows' b-sides at times, instead of its own project. Having a mix of familiarity and something independent can be positive, but in this context, it just makes for a jumbled experience. Radiohead is a band known for their different styles across their albums, yet also has a distinct sound. If there was a greater push to really stretch themselves, and move away from some of these past styles, this album would have more of an impact.

Although The Smile cannot be talked about without mentioning Radiohead, I’m not sure it’s fair to call them the same and call it a day. If this album was released under the Radiohead name, it would be confusing when considering the band’s progression. What makes A Light for Attracting Attention work so well is that it is a new beginning. At the same time, for a new beginning, I feel like it treads too closely to Radiohead's work of the past. For music that’s packaged as something separate from Radiohead, I wish it was also as independent sonically. Despite this concern, it’s still an incredible album by talented individuals who are already so used to working with each other. If you go into this album expecting Radiohead-level quality, you won’t be disappointed. Even if The Smile doesn’t have a true identity as of yet, it’s hard to be dissatisfied with the strength of their body of work.

Favorite Tracks: Thin Thing, You Will Never Work In Television Again, Speech Bubbles, Free In The Knowledge, Waiving A White Flag, Open The Floodgates, We Don’t Know What Tomorrow Brings, Pana-vision, The Smoke, The Opposite 

Least Favorites: n/a

Enjoyment: Mid 8

Critically: Low 8

Arbitrary Number: 8.3/10