Why

In this FIRST Deadwax episode of SEASON TWO, Ryan and Jack dive deep into the Radiohead universe, unraveling the brilliance behind “Bodysnatchers.” As the duo dissects the track, they explore the intricate layers of instrumentation, Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals, and the song’s unique ability to blend frenetic energy with haunting beauty, making a compelling case for why “Bodysnatchers” stands as an absolute masterpiece in Radiohead’s illustrious discography
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Hosts: Jack Conte, Ryan Lerman
Executive Producer: Ryan Lerman
Production Managers: Jason Shadrick, Rachel McGowan
Editors: Chase Tarca, Adam Kritzberg
Theme Music Mixed by: Caleb Parker
Podcast Producer: Isaac K. Lee
#jackconte #ryanlerman #thedeadwaxshow #deadwax #musicians #musiciansreact #music #radiohead #thomyorke

[@DeadWaxShow]

GUYS! Something very strange happened with the upload... We lost the last 7 minutes of the video somehow. We are going to post the last 7 minutes at Patreon.com/ScaryPockets for free - you won't have to pay to see it! Sorry for the snafu!!! SO GOOD TO BE BACK. Love hearing from all you guys!

[@ScaryPockets]

HERES THE END: www.patreon.com/posts/96178663?

[@eduardo_bray]

Well, that's quite a suspension chord.

[@willemvandebeek]

scam...

[@mikedivittorio3744]

@deadwaxshow check out the podcast Dissect. They do a break down of the whole “In Rainbows” album. Every song. It’s unreal.

[@noahleach7690]

how is something a scam if you paid nothing for it?@@willemvandebeek

[@yesno20]

Dead wax is alive!

[@ivanheffner2587]

… Zombie Wax?

[@spaceagelemon]

Alive wax

[@dsuleyma]

Lets gooooooo!

[@MagneticPool24]

Colin's bass playing is so so underrated. He's a beast.

[@rafaelocandof]

Thom's tone in Bodysnatchers was done by him plugging his Telecaster directly into Nigel Godrich's Electrodyne 1204 console. What you're hearing is preamp distortion / fuzz, no amp. It's one of the Motown consoles. A lot of what you hear is Thom and Ed instead of Jonny, I think.

[@yarbzag]

John Fruscainte used to do that too I think.

[@rome8180]

This is the kind of nerdy analysis I crave. I could listen to you go through the whole album this way.

[@Andlovethebomb]

The Dissect Podcast did just that!

[@jdm3075]

I've always said Bodysnatchers makes me feel like I can dropkick a speeding train off the tracks. The energy in the song is nuclear. One of my favorites too.

[@whlewis9164]

But at the same time “I’ve no idea what I am talking about”.

[@Wahosken]

Thom and Ed play a lot of those guitar parts that are being accounted to Jonny. Maybe check the Live from the basement version for extra details. they play it basically verbatim.

[@stitchgrimly6167]

It was basically recorded live in the studio for the album too.

[@JazzyJonas]

It's so fun to watch them play live. It's like playing I Spy to figure out which part is coming from where haha

[@dand1585]

Ed really makes the weird Radiohead sound. You really see it in live performances and his diary from the Kid A recording days

[@shirak23]

Yeah, Ed's being forgotten, lol

[@evangarry3525]

I think ed is doing the wah in half position during the verse and the ambient reverby bit in the bridge. Jonny does all the well.... crazy Jonny bits lol

[@davidrauline9730]

Guys, the intro is played by Thom, not Johnny. And there's 3 guitars.

[@sapsfm]

Overdubs? That, I reckon, is the beauty of how Ed plays his part in the band. Both atmospheric guitar and voice.

[@MichaelColombo]

You have no idea how happy this makes me! Ever since you stopped making episodes I've been commenting BRING BACK DEAD WAX on random Scary Pockets videos. The day has come!!!!

[@gerardovelado6474]

Same !

[@bentucker2301]

Same

[@seancollo]

I think the main guitar part that starts the song is actually Thom, maybe going direct through a cranked console like The Beatles Revolution. Jonny plays that chorus guitar part. Then Jonny may have overdubbed the Martenot. At the end it could be Ed doing the atmospheric stuff with his sustainer guitar. Really cool, great song

[@petelasko]

It's for sure Thom Yorke playing direct into the desk. Nigel Godrich supposedly had this old Motown desk and they plugged it in and cranked it (just like you mention in Revolution). Google will find multiple sources to verify this.

[@jameshoward-white2288]

They've confirmed it. They go straight into a Neve console.

[@EarleMonroe]

I came here to say this. I’ve always heard it’s straight into the board, and overdriving the preamp

[@stitchgrimly6167]

@@jameshoward-white2288Terrible sound too imo. It never works, it's just different for the sake of it. Territorial Pissings is another example. Imagine how much better this, that and Revolution would sound if they'd just cranked an AC30 or something; let the amp tubes do the work as intended. If desks (even Neves) were made for that kind of abuse everything would be done that way.

[@garykramermusic]

@@stitchgrimly6167 Those direct sounds are fantastic and what make the tones/overall songs unique. None of these three songs would be as raw and gutteral if they were not direct. For bodysnatchers, the direct tone allows Thom's guitar to sit in a different lane of the frequency spectrum than Johnny and Ed's. It's a very smart production move, both for serving the theme of the song and creating separation between instruments.

[@tonecast1]

@12:41 - PSA: It's Thom playing the rhythm guitar in the intro. This was a fun discussion! You guys had some great observations. The Dissect podcast also has a great season breaking down In Rainbows for anyone wanting to continue the deep dive. Bonus points for Jack's "puking out your soul" Yorke impression.

[@davidduarte2887]

Was gonna comment this. That guitar is going direct into Nigel’s Neve console. That’s where that crazy blown out distortion is coming from.

[@christiangarcia1546]

Yup. There’s a “in the basement” live version of this song that shows who’s playing what

[@silphv]

Yeah I wondered why they didn't think of DI, he pretty much said it when he said how usually amps roll off the highs, so if you skip the amp you get that top end @@davidduarte2887

[@ericnowak9497]

I’m always surprised at some of the riffs that end up being Thom playing while also singing. He incredibly talented and not often enough recognized for his playing.

[@davidduarte2887]

@@ericnowak9497 yeah that stuff is difficult and he pulls it off great. Underrated guitarist.

[@9thstreetbrandt]

My favorite album of all time. A world of treasures

[@pink.pinna.]

This angle of Ryan's studio is so unusual after seeing so many videos in there, and it's so well lit it almost looks like a greenscreen fill in :')

[@EarleMonroe]

I’m not seeing a comment about the circumstances under which this song was made. Here’s a quote from an interview Thom did with NME: “I have this thing-just before I get really sick I’ll have this 12-hour hyperactive mania, and that song was recorded during one of those. I felt genuinely out of it when we did that. The vocal is one take and we didn’t do anything to it afterwards. We tidied up my guitar because I was so out of it, my guitar-playing was rubbish. My best vocals are always the ones that happen there and then.”

[@galetinm]

A lot of guitar parts you're attributing to Jonny is Thom and Ed. That intro is played by Thom, Jonny just hits the accents. Ed is playing that swooping beautiful melody part when it breaks down to the acoustic section (you repeatedly say that Jonny plays that, he isn't, he plays similar notes but his guitar isn't swooping, it isn't sustained like that, he picks his notes). Ed isn't seen in their performance of that part In the basement, but it's clearly seen in the performance on Later with Jools Holland.

[@JoshSemans]

Ondes Martenot player checking in here! The 'Theremin' sounds you talk about are very likely to be the ondes Martenot, if it isn't a complete certainty. At this time, it is probable that it was Jonny's digital student model built by Maurice Martenot's son, Jean-Louis. It could also have been some modular setup with the ondes Martenot-inspired French Connection controller that he worked with Analogue Systems to create. Jonny has professed his love for the ondes Martenot quite a bit, and has used one form or another of the instrument since around Kid A onwards. He's certainly done a lot for raising the profile of this tragically unheard-of, beautiful, and fascinating instrument.

[@eden-xf2rf]

100p, i've read he owns 2. jack was spot on when he said 50s horror movie, the ondes martenot was used in many horror films

[@JoshSemans]

@@eden-xf2rf last I checked, he has the digital student model he got in Paris, the first of Jean-Loup Dierstein’s ondes musicales instruments, a few of ASADEN’s Ondomo instruments, and an AS French Connection ondes-style CV controller. It was indeed used in lots of horror films. It certainly evokes that vibe almost effortlessly - probably partially thanks to it sounding somewhat similar to the theremin, too, which saw similar use.

[@eden-xf2rf]

@@JoshSemans I read that he does own those but that in 1999 he acquired an original one that he used on kid amnesiac. I'm not certain though, I'm only certain that I would do anything for one lol. it seems like one of the most beautiful sounding expressive instruments this planet has created and I can't believe it's one of the first electronic instruments too

[@JoshSemans]

@@eden-xf2rf the original one you're referring to is the digital student model built by Jean-Louis Martenot. It is, for all intents and purposes an 'ondes Martenot' but it isn't the same as a 'traditional' ondes. I believe they had it delivered to wherever they were working on Kid A/Amnesiac stuff in Paris. It certainly is a beautiful instrument! If you ever want to know more about it, do get in touch. I'm always happy to chat about the ondes :-)

[@EarleMonroe]

I sub to your channel, Josh :-D In the documentary Wavemakers, the main woman in the film (her name escapes me, she’s a famous Ondiste) goes to a RH show and talk with Jonny onstage afterwards. He shows her the student model he got when they were recording in Paris, and she had never seen one like it before. There are plenty of photos of Jonny playing the Ondomo too. That documentary is fun to watch; the crotchety old man who repairs Ondes Martenots, the discussion of the “proprietary powder” that goes into the leather pouch, etc.

[@TheBrood525]

Cole Kushna, the host of Dissect podcast did his most recent series on this album for Spotify. His breakdowns are awesome and I think you guys should definitely have him on; for at least one of the episodes, if this becomes a series on the album!

[@harryhawkins140]

Was just about to comment this👆👆 100% agree

[@matthewallen1834]

I concur. Cole is that dude.

[@charles-etiennecyr3766]

I just went back to episode 3 where he dissects bodysnatchers... The guitar part at the start is played by Thom Yorke and not Johnny Greenwood, and the weird distortion is produced by the guitar plugged in directly in Nigel Godrich's Eletrodyne 1204 console! If you guys are really into Radiohead, you absolutely need to listen to this podcast! And by the way, I would totally listen to a podcast from you guys!

[@JamesRone]

So glad you're back. Nobody else is talking about music like this. It supports and reinforces my learning journey!

[@roryhensen]

The main/intro riff is played by Thom!

[@DeadWaxShow]

oh SICK

[@kickinradical]

Yes! I missed this show so much. Please don't ever leave us again. So happy to see y'all back and tackling one of the best tracks from what might be my favorite album of all time. Great analysis. I could definitely watch an entire series on tracks from this album... There is SO MUCH to talk about. 🎉❤🎉❤🎉

[@petelasko]

For anyone who wants to go super deep on this song (or any song from In Rainbows) there is a podcast called Dissect that did a whole podcast episode about this song, and it is WILD what went into this song.

[@davidlericain]

I just subscribed. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@danyaguirrebroca3844]

I needed this. Thanks!

[@the_real_shoes]

Literally last night I was checking this channel wondering what happened to it. So glad you guys are back!

[@kineticturtle]

Jonny's haunted sound is the Ondes Martenot! One of my favorite instruments of all time. Hit me up if you ever need an Ondist for a tune. Loved this analysis!

[@alidemir2179]

The fact that I opened KZbin to listen the acoustic version of Bodysnatchers and got this video at the top is mesmerizing. And it's the comeback of Dead Wax, incredible!

[@Yourbankaccount]

Guys... Radiohead usually uses 3 guitarists. On this one Thom, Jonny & Ed. No guitar overdubs here!

[@pb6010]

Yep - was thinking this and had thought they perhaps should have looked at the From the Basement session to see how they realise all of this live

[@conor2337]

@@pb6010 Yeah I think those sessions definitely would have added some clarity

[@HessianHunter]

Ed is generally the backup vocalist too, right? I think they were crediting Jonny with backup vocals but I've never seen Jonny sing in any context While Ed sings quite a bit.

[@autumnprovidence]

@@pb6010yeah, but that would take away from what they’re doing here. They’re dissecting with their ears, not their eyes.

[@bharkey]

@@pb6010 Agreed! For instance, all of the percussive string rakes that Johnny and Ed O'Brien are doing in the verse is really clear when you watch From the Basement.

[@thirty371]

I’ve missed this so much

[@orafaelporto]

I love the enthusiasm of Ryan and Jack to speak about harmonies, melodies and beats

[@emilymitchell6823]

Loved what you said about the ride cymbal - it can actually be quite difficult to play an eight ride like where it’s so ahead of the beat comparatively (especially to those off-accented kick hits), because it throws all your rhythmic weight in your shoulders, but it so beautifully pushes the almost teenagery brashness of the whole song

[@pedrinhodam]

poor ed, never gets the credit he deserves

[@iyz0_065]

ive gone too long without these videos, im so glad yall are back

[@davidschultz5382]

I would watch another hour of this, the video flew by. I've listened to this song so many times (hundreds?) and feel like I'm hearing it for the first time after your analysis. Love it!

[@guilhermedossantos938]

What a come back!? One of my fav bands

[@HedMadHop]

This is so great to have you guys back! Love your show!

[@lukaluukaa]

undeniably one of my favorite radiohead songs, the instrumentals and vocals are visceral, raw heaven & I connect to the lyrics so much- ntm how well-written they are

[@fernandoramos9029]

thanks for coming back with this show!!!!! love it!!!!!

[@jakehendriksen2841]

Speaking of amazing combinations of feelings and brains... overjoyed to see you, and immediately learning from what you have to say. Welcome back!

[@yannfabri6420]

I love you guys. Finally you are back! Keep it going. Thank you for this. ❤

[@_CoasterNinja]

They're back! Thanks for another great episode! Always a treat to hear you talk about Radiohead.

[@FlowerChildanddan]

ITS ACTUALLY HAPPENING

[@argkitsune]

I love the way it switches from Mixolydian to minor in the bridge, it's just *chef's kiss* amazing

[@juleswinnfield7992]

Thom's guitar is a vintage SG, recorded via DI.

[@tonightsbigloser]

Everything is great about this song. The drums are crazy hard to play and I think it remains understated how precise Phil's drumming on this song is.

[@MichaelColombo]

Just a note...y'all keep talking about Jonny. Ya know they have another guitarist who is also brilliant. Ed O'Brien! Thom's no slouch on guitar either! When they do this live, all three are playing.

[@Jim_Thomas_Draper]

Yeah, and I'm 99% sure Thom is the one playing the main riff from the start.

[@joellebrooke42]

I'm so happy you're back!! Worth the wait. Thank you for being you!!!

[@bentucker2301]

We back ?! Yeah we back. Why did it take me 8 days to find this. Anywho we back. I don't play an instrument or understand theory but song deconstruction gets me in my bones.

[@stefanwest312]

There are some special mixes where instruments (or components or - like a ride cymbal) don't sound louder or quieter but rather closer and further away. Its something I feel that is often done very well on Radiohead albums. Its very special.

[@casey2349]

Wow! Great deep dive! Thank you!!

[@paulchambers2403]

Definitely one of the best bands in the world! Absolutely ridiculous how talented they are:) I’m going to see the smile in two months and can’t bloody wait ❤

[@dsuleyma]

Glad you guys are back. Please continue to share what music you’ve been listening to. I’ve got so many favorite bands from following your bread crumbs. Thanks.

[@cooldebt]

Great analysis using technical terms like 'squashed to s#*t' is why I enjoy Dead Wax videos 😉 Good to have you back!

[@dalejones4322]

I'm so glad this is finally back. It was gone entirely too long. Thanks guys

[@tabs1913]

Their performance of this album in the " basement" youtube video is one of the best hour's of music I've ever heard.

[@pitpride1220]

QOTSA gets wicked tones and rhythms like that. Sounds very similar to a QOTSA arrangement. But with a Radiohead twist.

[@martattacks]

I have to confess to not having been a Radiohead-Head up to now. If you'd have played that song to me without the main vocal I'd have taken it for a QOTSA song I just didn't know for some bizarre reason.

[@pitpride1220]

@@martattacks Glad you hear it too. They're often stolen from and not credited. They're overlooked in a lot of conversations too. It says a lot that a band of Radiohead's caliber is borrowing from them.

[@martattacks]

@@pitpride1220 Yeah, it definitely has Songs for the deaf-Vibes.

[@memetherapy]

excellent observation. never considered it, but you are on point. QOTSA are so underappreciated

[@JLJ7802]

Two of my favorites

[@gthv]

So glad you guys are back - keep it going!

[@Londonjefsomething]

Radiohead is the beautiful clarity in the middle of a fog of a guttural scream.

[@beachcomber4141]

I have loved this tune from the first time I heard it, but never actually dissected it to anywhere near the degree you guys are. It is such an intense song that does have that 'scary' horror movie vibe to it until the outro section that ramps down the tension. Radiohead is one of a kind. Probably my favorite band of the last almost 30 years. There is no other band I get excited about an upcoming album as when Radioheads announces one. I just hope we get a few more of them.

[@Ge0rge249]

So glad y’all are back!

[@emilymitchell6823]

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH So excited for this. If you couldn’t tell. Glad you’re back!

[@SenorArbol]

This was a joy to watch! Your enthusiasm for music theory is infecting me like a bodysnatcher :0

[@contradictator7482]

Y'all should take a look at "little by little" by Radiohead, the influence from forró music with the percussion makes it such an interesting listen!

[@floyddaly]

How have I only just found this channel. Perfect stuff guys, thank you

[@Tyler53Durden]

I’ve been waiting so long for this channel!

[@sventi555]

Great to see you back! I think something may have gone awry in the edit, the video ends quite abruptly

[@Dogsrule777]

I’m so glad you guys are back! Much love. ✊🏽🎶 (dudes, the fanny pack at 8:05 is boss:)

[@AdAstraOnYafro]

so glad to have you guys back.

[@lichibass]

Great to have you guys back!

[@hadesblackplays]

i didnt knew this show existed and now im a fan, fuck yeah i love a in deep analysis that goes not only into the mechanics/fundamentals of something but the feeling, the intention of whats been created. hell yes suscribed and everything, keep it coming guys!

[@Sebraca]

I'm so glad you guys are back

[@riproppop]

Sooo glad this is back

[@GeekSpeakDesign]

Aaaahhhh!!! I’m so stoked!

[@tafflo2179]

DEAD WAX IS BACK YESSSS

[@matthewallen1834]

So glad you guys are back. I was getting worried.

[@kyleminor3036]

Don’t forget about Ed!!! Gotta watch the ‘from the basement’ version of this song (and the rest of the In Rainbows session)

[@DNAConsultingDetectives]

Finally! You’re back!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Sweet-Welcome back!

[@ckturvey]

Great to have you back!

[@michaelluong6484]

SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK

[@Melkimund]

I'm so happy to see a new upload from this channel my god

[@breezewayrecords]

Love you guys so much. I swear that before you started talking about Keith, Brad, and classical music vis a vis linear harmony, this Jarrett quote sprang to mind: “there’s no such thing as chords; there are only moving lines.” I always think about classical music as having no harmonic plateaus. You’re not just jumping from chord ledge to chord ledge; composers are freely scampering around the tonal landscape. Chords are byproducts.

[@stewiegriffin993]

so great to see you again, can't wait to see who you're having as your guests this season wish you'd host some vocalists to give their two cents (I suggest Kenton Chen) :)

[@scattystormborn]

I’m so happy to see you guys 🥲

[@joshjamesuk]

Finally you guys are back!!

[@eraser64]

OMG! You’re back!!

[@croatoansounds]

Yes, this is the show for me haha. I love nerding out on super specific theory, but also the bigger picture, putting words to the overall vibe and effect achieved with all those specific theory nerd moments

[@FlexxibleFree]

I waited the whole year and what a nice present for new years.

[@3l84r70]

missed the "what are you listening to now?" bit at the beginning of the show... I used that to my source of new music

[@DeadWaxShow]

we will do more of that!

[@williamandres1042]

I love Radiohead. This was a great video... New sub!

[@coachgb]

I’ve been telling my daughter this forever! Now that she’s 19 months old and we can watch this brilliant breakdown over breakfast, I feel like she really gets it. I’m glad to have a new video from you guys!

[@annasieben484]

Radiohead has been with me since I was 13 years old and one of the few Bands that stood the test of time and still has the same kind of meaning to me. They are able to express something so deep and true that I'll come back to them for my entire life I think

[@russ_sibbison]

What a come back - don't leave us waiting a year for the next one!

[@russ_sibbison]

P.S. It's Thom playing the riff at the beginning (at least in this version) - check out the Live at the Basement videos.

[@plenku]

This was awesome! More Radiohead would be so cool!!

[@tmacdaddy46]

So grateful that Dead Wax is back !

[@jeroenverbeeck7925]

this series is like my drug man... So hyped for new content!!

[@sandygreenfield1508]

Yes!!! Y’all back in effect! I knew 2024 was going to be a good year and this confirms it.

[@leoluz2412]

🎉You guys are back! Nice, your channel is the best

[@francescobarrali637]

Great video as usual guys! I read somewhere that the intro guitar sound was recorded straight to board with preamp saturation (neve or trident maybe?)

[@dogtownstudio]

I'M SO GLAD YOUR BACK.

[@stevenyna8512]

There are three guitars in this song! Thom is playing the intro riff, supported by Jonny playing the muted strokes

[@booneh]

It’d be Ed O’Brien on background vocals I think. He and Thom sound really good together.

[@EarleMonroe]

I’m pretty sure (though not 100% certain) that Ed handles the backing vocals live, but that Thom does it all for the studio sessions