The Smile – Wall Of Eyes

When the first The Smile album, A Light For Attracting Attention, came out in 2022 I missed it. Later that year a live set came out and that did catch my ears. I am a Radiohead fan and of the band members’ side projects. The Smile is one of those side projects and includes Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with the drummer Tom Skinner (member of the jazz band Sons of Kemet). Yorke provided vocals, and he and Greenwood played guitar, bass, and keyboards. The debut album was produced by Radiohead’s longtime producer Nigel Godrich. The new album, Wall Of Eyes, is produced and mixed by Sam Petts-Davies. It features string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

The Smile sounds like Radiohead and most importantly there are plenty of guitars and live drums (I am not as big a fan of Radiohead’s electronic sound vs. guitar-based rock sound). The Smile is more mature than vintage Radiohead, which at 65 years old, I dig – not so much Radiohead teenage angst (the guys are now in the 50s), but plenty of classic Radiohead alienation. The strings are a wonderful addition – a nice touch – that is understated: the strings rock! I like the ambitions of the arrangements.

The new album is similar to the debut, although a touch mellow (which I am cool with). Tom Skinner’s drums are still a significant part of the soundscape, just subtler than the debut.

Here are some track-by-track observations:

“Wall Of Eyes” has a Brazilian (samba/bossa nova) vibe, but is distinctively Radioheadish too. It introduces to the listener that this album is going to be rhythmic, yet melodic. We hear the strings that will be a dominant color on the album. There is some cool guitar work too. The vocals are typical of Thom Yorke.

“Teleharmonic” is an atmospheric piece and Yorke’s vocals are more experimental: breathy, soulful, and at times falsetto. There is some tasteful flute too.

“Read The Room” is the most Beatlesque thing Thom and Jonny have ever done. It is on the noise-rock and psychedelic side of The Beatles’ catalog. This is my favorite track on the album. Jonny’s guitar dominants and Thom’s vocals have never sounded prettier.

“Under Our Pillows” is the most Radioheadish track on the album. It could easily be on OK Computer. Jonny’s intricate guitar melodies are the primary sonic palate until the last third of the song which is atmospheric.

“Friend Of A Friend” opens with a classic Thom falsetto. A piano segues into strings to create a Radiohead vibe – there is a psychedelic Beatles feel too.

“I Quit” has an amazing guitar intro followed by spooky vocals from Thom. The production is brilliant. This will be a great headphone reference recording.

“Bending Hectic” is a gorgeous Jonny guitar exhibit and Thom has innovative vocals – it is a texture I have not heard from him before – a singer-songwriter vibe. After a mellow first half the album ends with a fantastic crash landing. This song is challenging “Read The Room” for my favorite track on the album.

“You Know Me!” – George Harrison could have written this. This would be a cool song a cappella, yet the arrangement totally elevates the song. The Smile sticks the landing with this final track. 

Overall the album has a more mature feel than a Radiohead album. Typically pop acts ruin their songs with strings, but The Smile genuinely improves the arrangements with the strings. My assumption is that Radiohead is on indefinite hiatus and so The Smile is likely the closest we will get to fresh Radiohead. The Smile is a satisfying substitute. As for the lyrical content, I have rarely paid attention to Radiohead lyrical content and I am not about to start now with The Smile – enjoying the soundscape roll over me is all I need.