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Knives Out (song)

October 27, 2023

"Knives Out" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the second single from their fifth album, Amnesiac (2001). It features lyrics about cannibalism and guitars influenced by the Smiths. "Knives Out" received positive reviews and reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the Canadian Singles Chart. The music video was directed by Michel Gondry.

"Knives Out"
Single by Radiohead
from the album Amnesiac
Released6 August 2001 (2001-08-06)
Recorded10 March 1999 – 17 March 2000[1]
GenrePost-rock[2]
Length4:17
Label
Songwriter(s)Radiohead
Producer(s)
Radiohead singles chronology
"Pyramid Song"
(2001) 		"Knives Out"
(2001) 		"There There"
(2003)

Recording edit

Radiohead recorded "Knives Out" between 1999 and 2000 during the sessions for their albums Kid A and Amnesiac, which were recorded simultaneously.[3] Although these albums moved away from Radiohead's earlier guitar-led sound, the singer, Thom Yorke, said "Knives Out" was "no departure at all" and "survived because it was too good to miss".[4]

According to a studio diary kept by the guitarist Ed O'Brien, "Knives Out" took 373 days to complete.[5] He wrote that it was "probably the most straight-ahead thing we've done in years ... and that might explain why we took so long on it".[5] He felt that successful bands often over-embellish their music, especially songs written on acoustic guitar, but that Radiohead had captured the song's essence.[5] In November 1999, Radiohead performed "Knives Out" during a webcast from their studio.[6]

"Knives Out" was influenced by the British rock band the Smiths. Before its release, O'Brien played it for the Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who said: "I was beyond flattered and quite speechless – which takes some doing. He explained to me that with that song they'd tried to take a snapshot of the way I'd done things in the Smiths – and I guess you can hear that in it."[3] In another interview, he said: "The music did touch me the same way the Smiths did, and it was a wonderful feeling ... that sort of emotional quality and that sort of melodicism."[7]

Composition edit

According to Drowned in Sound, "Knives Out" is the most conventional song on Amnesiac.[8] The singer, Thom Yorke, said that unlike other songs on Amnesiac it was "no departure at all" from Radiohead's earlier style and "just survived because it was too good to miss".[4]

It features "chiming"[8] and "drifting" guitar lines, "driving" percussion, a "wandering" bassline, "haunting" vocals and "eerie" lyrics.[9] Yorke said the lyrics were about cannibalism. He said: "It's partly the idea of the businessman walking out on his wife and kids and never coming back. It's also the thousand-yard stare when you look at someone close to you and you know they're gonna die."[9]

Music video edit

The "Knives Out" music video was directed by Michel Gondry. Gondry was going through a breakup at the time, and expressed his feelings in the video concept, which has Yorke grieving in a hospital room. Gondry described the collaboration as a "terrible experience", and said: "I showed [Yorke] a storyboard and every single detail: he was completely excited and happy for it – and then, it turned out, they all criticise me for being selfish and putting my own views on it and my own introspection ... It did not go smoothly, but if it went smoothly, it would be mediocre."[10]

Release edit

In the United Kingdom, "Knives Out" was released on 6 August 2001 as the second Amnesiac single in three formats: two CD singles and a 12-inch vinyl single.[11] It reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.[12] "Knives Out" was covered by the Flaming Lips on their 2003 EP Fight Test,[13] the pianist Christopher O'Riley on his 2003 album True Love Waits,[14] and the jazz pianist Brad Mehldau on his 2006 album Day is Done.[15]

Reception edit

David Merryweather of Drowned in Sound gave the "Knives Out" single nine out of ten, praising Jonny Greenwood's "chiming" guitar for capturing the "romantic disappointment" and "wistful ache" of the Smiths.[8] Reviewing Amnesiac for Pitchfork, Ryan Schreiber felt the guitar line was too similar to Radiohead's 1997 song "Paranoid Android", writing: "Great melody. However, they've fucking used it before."[16]

In 2010, Consequence of Sound praised "Knives Out" as one of Radiohead's "creepiest" songs: "It's one of many tracks from the English quintet that tickles the bones rather than warms them. But that's what makes Radiohead so unique."[9] In 2020, the Guardian named it the 13th-best Radiohead song, writing: "The impenetrable Amnesiac debunked industry rumours that Radiohead were primed for a bankable comeback – but amid that album lay this meat-and-potatoes rocker, its scurrying riffs, mystic ambience and cannibalistic lyrics qualifying as glorious light relief."[17]

The 2019 film Knives Out takes its name from the song; the director, Rian Johnson, said: "I'm just a massive Radiohead fan, and I love that album and I love that song. Obviously, the movie has nothing to do with the song ... That turn of phrase has always stuck in my head. And it just seemed like a great title for a murder mystery."[18]

Track listings edit

  • All tracks written by Radiohead.

Charts edit

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "Knives Out"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 2 July 2001 Triple A radio Capitol [36]
3 July 2001 Alternative radio [36]
United Kingdom 6 August 2001
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 Parlophone [11]
Australia 27 August 2001 CD [37]
Japan 7 September 2001
[38]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ed's Diary Archive". www.greenplastic.com. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  2. ^ Jones, Chris. "BBC – Music – Review of Radiohead – Amnesiac". Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b Mojo. May 2004
  4. ^ a b Kot, Greg (31 July 2001). "'It's difficult justifying being a rock band'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b c O'Brien, Ed (22 July 1999). "Ed's Diary". from the original on 13 April 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2007.
  6. ^ Vanhorn, Teri (12 November 1999). "Radiohead debut song during webcast". MTV News. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  7. ^ Hoskyns, Barney (September 2001). . Rock's Backpages. Archived from the original on 13 October 2001. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c . Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Tricks or Treats: Radiohead – "Knives Out"". Consequence of Sound. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Michel Gondry Hearts Himself Some Music Videos, Spike Jonze & Michael Jackson; Hates Radiohead". The Playlist. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  11. ^ a b "New Releases – For Week Starting August 6, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 4 August 2001. p. 23. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive". Retrieved 2 October 2006.
  13. ^ "FLAMING LIPS GET THEIR 'KNIVES OUT'! | NME". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  14. ^ Davies, Lucy. "BBC - Music - Review of Christopher O'Riley plays Radiohead - True Love Waits". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  15. ^ Fordham, John (23 September 2005). "CD: Brad Mehldau Trio, Day Is Done". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Radiohead: Amnesiac Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  17. ^ Monroe, Jazz (23 January 2020). "Radiohead's 40 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  18. ^ "Is Radiohead's song 'Knives Out' in Rian Johnson's movie Knives Out?". Los Angeles Times. 7 September 2019. from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  19. ^ Knives Out (UK CD1 liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 2001. CDFHEIS 45103, 7243 8 79770 2 0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Knives Out (UK 12-inch single liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 2001. 12FHEIT 45103, 7243 8 79724 6 9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Knives Out (UK CD2 liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 2001. CDFHEIT 45103, 7243 8 79724 2 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Knives Out (European maxi-CD & Australasian CD single liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone. 2001. 7243 8 79760 2 3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Knives Out (US enhanced maxi-CD single liner notes). Radiohead. Capitol Records. 2001. C2 7243 8 77668 0 8.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Knives Out (Japanese CD single liner notes). Radiohead. Parlophone, EMI Records. 2001. TOCP-65871.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ "Issue 601" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Radiohead Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19, no. 35. 25 August 2001. p. 10. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Radiohead – Knives Out" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Knives Out". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Radiohead – Knives Out". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  31. ^ "Radiohead – Knives Out" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  33. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  34. ^ . Jam!. Archived from the original on 26 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  35. ^ . Jam!. 14 January 2003. Archived from the original on 6 September 2004. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1408. 29 June 2001. pp. 116, 122. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  37. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 27th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 27 August 2001. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  38. ^ "ナイヴズ・アウト | レディオヘッド" [Knives Out | Radiohead] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2 September 2023.

External links edit

  • "Knives Out" video at YouTube

October 27, 2023
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Knives Out is a song by the English rock band Radiohead released as the second single from their fifth album Amnesiac 2001 It features lyrics about cannibalism and guitars influenced by the Smiths Knives Out received positive reviews and reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the Canadian Singles Chart The music video was directed by Michel Gondry Knives Out Single by Radioheadfrom the album AmnesiacReleased6 August 2001 2001 08 06 Recorded10 March 1999 17 March 2000 1 GenrePost rock 2 Length4 17LabelParlophone UK Capitol US Toshiba EMI Japan Songwriter s RadioheadProducer s Nigel GodrichRadioheadRadiohead singles chronology Pyramid Song 2001 Knives Out 2001 There There 2003 Contents 1 Recording 2 Composition 3 Music video 4 Release 5 Reception 6 Track listings 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Release history 9 References 10 External linksRecording editRadiohead recorded Knives Out between 1999 and 2000 during the sessions for their albums Kid A and Amnesiac which were recorded simultaneously 3 Although these albums moved away from Radiohead s earlier guitar led sound the singer Thom Yorke said Knives Out was no departure at all and survived because it was too good to miss 4 According to a studio diary kept by the guitarist Ed O Brien Knives Out took 373 days to complete 5 He wrote that it was probably the most straight ahead thing we ve done in years and that might explain why we took so long on it 5 He felt that successful bands often over embellish their music especially songs written on acoustic guitar but that Radiohead had captured the song s essence 5 In November 1999 Radiohead performed Knives Out during a webcast from their studio 6 Knives Out was influenced by the British rock band the Smiths Before its release O Brien played it for the Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr who said I was beyond flattered and quite speechless which takes some doing He explained to me that with that song they d tried to take a snapshot of the way I d done things in the Smiths and I guess you can hear that in it 3 In another interview he said The music did touch me the same way the Smiths did and it was a wonderful feeling that sort of emotional quality and that sort of melodicism 7 Composition editAccording to Drowned in Sound Knives Out is the most conventional song on Amnesiac 8 The singer Thom Yorke said that unlike other songs on Amnesiac it was no departure at all from Radiohead s earlier style and just survived because it was too good to miss 4 It features chiming 8 and drifting guitar lines driving percussion a wandering bassline haunting vocals and eerie lyrics 9 Yorke said the lyrics were about cannibalism He said It s partly the idea of the businessman walking out on his wife and kids and never coming back It s also the thousand yard stare when you look at someone close to you and you know they re gonna die 9 Music video editThe Knives Out music video was directed by Michel Gondry Gondry was going through a breakup at the time and expressed his feelings in the video concept which has Yorke grieving in a hospital room Gondry described the collaboration as a terrible experience and said I showed Yorke a storyboard and every single detail he was completely excited and happy for it and then it turned out they all criticise me for being selfish and putting my own views on it and my own introspection It did not go smoothly but if it went smoothly it would be mediocre 10 Release editIn the United Kingdom Knives Out was released on 6 August 2001 as the second Amnesiac single in three formats two CD singles and a 12 inch vinyl single 11 It reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart 12 Knives Out was covered by the Flaming Lips on their 2003 EP Fight Test 13 the pianist Christopher O Riley on his 2003 album True Love Waits 14 and the jazz pianist Brad Mehldau on his 2006 album Day is Done 15 Reception editDavid Merryweather of Drowned in Sound gave the Knives Out single nine out of ten praising Jonny Greenwood s chiming guitar for capturing the romantic disappointment and wistful ache of the Smiths 8 Reviewing Amnesiac for Pitchfork Ryan Schreiber felt the guitar line was too similar to Radiohead s 1997 song Paranoid Android writing Great melody However they ve fucking used it before 16 In 2010 Consequence of Sound praised Knives Out as one of Radiohead s creepiest songs It s one of many tracks from the English quintet that tickles the bones rather than warms them But that s what makes Radiohead so unique 9 In 2020 the Guardian named it the 13th best Radiohead song writing The impenetrable Amnesiac debunked industry rumours that Radiohead were primed for a bankable comeback but amid that album lay this meat and potatoes rocker its scurrying riffs mystic ambience and cannibalistic lyrics qualifying as glorious light relief 17 The 2019 film Knives Out takes its name from the song the director Rian Johnson said I m just a massive Radiohead fan and I love that album and I love that song Obviously the movie has nothing to do with the song That turn of phrase has always stuck in my head And it just seemed like a great title for a murder mystery 18 Track listings editAll tracks written by Radiohead UK CD1 and 12 inch single CDFHEIS 45103 12FHEIT 45103 19 20 Knives Out 4 17 Cuttooth 5 24 Life in a Glasshouse full length version 5 06UK CD2 CDFHEIT 45103 21 Knives Out 4 17 Worrywort 4 37 Fog 4 05European maxi CD and Australasian CD single 7243 8 79760 2 3 22 Knives Out 4 17 Worrywort 4 37 Fog 4 04 Life in a Glasshouse full length version 5 06 US enhanced maxi CD single C2 7243 8 77668 0 8 23 Knives Out 4 17 Cuttooth 5 24 Life in a Glasshouse full length version 5 06 Pyramid Song enhanced video 5 05Japanese CD single TOCP 65871 24 Knives Out 4 17 Cuttooth 5 25 Worrywort 4 37 Fog 4 05 Life in a Glasshouse full length version 5 06Charts editWeekly charts edit Weekly chart performance for Knives Out Chart 2001 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 25 56Canada Nielsen SoundScan 26 1Europe Eurochart Hot 100 27 38France SNEP 28 46Ireland IRMA 29 25Italy FIMI 30 17Netherlands Single Top 100 31 63Scotland OCC 32 15UK Singles OCC 33 13 Year end charts edit 2001 year end chart performance for Knives Out Chart 2001 PositionCanada Nielsen SoundScan 34 112002 year end chart performance for Knives Out Chart 2002 PositionCanada Nielsen SoundScan 35 58Release history editRelease dates and formats for Knives Out Region Date Format s Label s Ref United States 2 July 2001 Triple A radio Capitol 36 3 July 2001 Alternative radio 36 United Kingdom 6 August 2001 12 inch vinylCD Parlophone 11 Australia 27 August 2001 CD 37 Japan 7 September 2001 ParlophoneEMI 38 References edit Ed s Diary Archive www greenplastic com Retrieved 30 January 2016 Jones Chris BBC Music Review of Radiohead Amnesiac Retrieved 4 September 2018 a b Mojo May 2004 a b Kot Greg 31 July 2001 It s difficult justifying being a rock band Chicago Tribune Retrieved 16 July 2023 a b c O Brien Ed 22 July 1999 Ed s Diary Archived from the original on 13 April 2007 Retrieved 19 May 2007 Vanhorn Teri 12 November 1999 Radiohead debut song during webcast MTV News Retrieved 11 November 2018 Hoskyns Barney September 2001 The Backpages Interview Johnny Marr Rock s Backpages Archived from the original on 13 October 2001 Retrieved 16 October 2023 a b c Single Review Radiohead Knives Out Drowned in Sound Archived from the original on 8 May 2019 Retrieved 10 August 2018 a b c Tricks or Treats Radiohead Knives Out Consequence of Sound 7 October 2010 Retrieved 10 August 2018 Michel Gondry Hearts Himself Some Music Videos Spike Jonze amp Michael Jackson Hates Radiohead The Playlist 26 June 2008 Retrieved 16 July 2017 a b New Releases For Week Starting August 6 2001 Singles PDF Music Week 4 August 2001 p 23 Retrieved 16 August 2021 UK Top 40 Chart Archive Retrieved 2 October 2006 FLAMING LIPS GET THEIR KNIVES OUT NME NME Music News Reviews Videos Galleries Tickets and Blogs NME COM 17 March 2003 Retrieved 5 March 2020 Davies Lucy BBC Music Review of Christopher O Riley plays Radiohead True Love Waits www bbc co uk Retrieved 5 March 2020 Fordham John 23 September 2005 CD Brad Mehldau Trio Day Is Done The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 5 March 2020 Radiohead Amnesiac Album Review Pitchfork pitchfork com Retrieved 10 August 2018 Monroe Jazz 23 January 2020 Radiohead s 40 greatest songs ranked The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 24 January 2020 Is Radiohead s song Knives Out in Rian Johnson s movie Knives Out Los Angeles Times 7 September 2019 Archived from the original on 14 December 2019 Retrieved 15 December 2019 Knives Out UK CD1 liner notes Radiohead Parlophone 2001 CDFHEIS 45103 7243 8 79770 2 0 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Knives Out UK 12 inch single liner notes Radiohead Parlophone 2001 12FHEIT 45103 7243 8 79724 6 9 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Knives Out UK CD2 liner notes Radiohead Parlophone 2001 CDFHEIT 45103 7243 8 79724 2 1 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Knives Out European maxi CD amp Australasian CD single liner notes Radiohead Parlophone 2001 7243 8 79760 2 3 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Knives Out US enhanced maxi CD single liner notes Radiohead Capitol Records 2001 C2 7243 8 77668 0 8 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Knives Out Japanese CD single liner notes Radiohead Parlophone EMI Records 2001 TOCP 65871 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Issue 601 ARIA Top 100 Singles National Library of Australia Retrieved 5 March 2021 Radiohead Chart History Canadian Digital Songs Billboard Retrieved 3 September 2018 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 19 no 35 25 August 2001 p 10 Retrieved 5 March 2021 Radiohead Knives Out in French Les classement single Retrieved 3 September 2018 The Irish Charts Search Results Knives Out Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 3 September 2018 Radiohead Knives Out Top Digital Download Retrieved 3 September 2018 Radiohead Knives Out in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 3 September 2018 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 3 September 2018 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 3 September 2018 Canada s Top 200 Singles of 2001 Jam Archived from the original on 26 January 2003 Retrieved 26 March 2022 Canada s Top 200 Singles of 2002 Jam 14 January 2003 Archived from the original on 6 September 2004 Retrieved 22 March 2022 a b Going for Adds PDF Radio amp Records No 1408 29 June 2001 pp 116 122 Retrieved 16 August 2021 The ARIA Report New Releases Singles Week Commencing 27th August 2001 PDF ARIA 27 August 2001 p 25 Archived from the original PDF on 20 February 2002 Retrieved 16 August 2021 ナイヴズ アウト レディオヘッド Knives Out Radiohead in Japanese Oricon Retrieved 2 September 2023 External links edit Knives Out video at YouTube Article about the video Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knives Out song amp oldid 1182138333, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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