Stream: Doom, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, “Retarded Fren”

November 02, 2011


At the height of MF Doom mania, I attempted to see the masked rapper live close to six times, without him ever actually showing up for any of them. He was also releasing albums almost constantly, some of which he produced himself, while others sounded like he just threw some a capellas into the air and waited to see what random producers would come back with. The result of those projects—Vaudeville Villain and Venomous Villain (the latter includes a beat co-produced by Diplo)—was mixed, but exciting because it got pretty weird and out there, even if it didn't exactly sound like Doom's vocals were meant to go with any of the beats he was rapping on. Enter this collaboration with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. It's awkward and only sometimes works, but it's Doom and Radiohead! That is wild. 2004 me would be freaking out, but 2011 me is more just trying to figure out what this means for the future of Thom Yorke. Another solo album? More Thom Yorke gyrating at the Boiler Room? A new career exclusively producing for semi-underground rappers? Leading a marching band? The world is your oyster Thom Yorke, please keep being weird.

Stream: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Doom, "Retarded Fren"

Stream: Doom, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, “Retarded Fren”