My Iron Lung

Released in September 1994, My Iron Lung serves as the crucial creative bridge between Radiohead's straightforward grunge-pop debut Pablo Honey and the ambitious, textured alternative rock of The Bends. The EP compiles outtakes from the ongoing sessions for their sophomore album, showcasing a rapid evolution in songwriting and sonic architecture. The title track, famously recorded live at the London Astoria with later vocal overdubs, acts as a direct, cynical response to the suffocating success of their breakout hit Creep. Sonically, the EP is defined by Jonny Greenwood's inventive, abrasive guitar work, Phil Selway's precise drumming, and Thom Yorke's increasingly versatile vocal delivery. From the Sonic Youth-inspired shoegaze of Permanent Daylight to the delicate folk of Lozenge of Love, this release captures a band expanding their palette and embracing the beautiful, anxious aesthetic that would define their career.