Reissue

The latest releases reviewed

RADIOHEAD
The Best of Radiohead
Parlophone
***
When EMI was taken over by a private equity firm last year, Radiohead were unable to hammer out a deal with their new boss. So they picked up their guitars and walked, releasing In Rainbowsas a pay-what-you-like download. Unfortunately, they couldn't take their back catalogue with them, and EMI has not been slow to exploit the band's legacy. Christmas saw the release of a Radiohead box set, and now we have this best-of selection from the band's 12-year career with the label. Nobody wins here: EMI has lost one of its most valuable acts, and Radiohead have lost control over their back catalogue and all but given away a perfectly good album. While you can't argue that this double CD contains most of the band's best tunes, it sounds like it's been compiled by an iPod Shuffle (with artwork by Microsoft Paint) and its hasty release is a cynical, short-sighted move that will devalue the music even more. KEVIN COURTNEY