The Philosophy of Radiohead: Music, Technology, Soul

Authors: Stefano Marino and Eleonora Guzzi

Radiohead is among the few bands in contemporary popular music that have combined considerable commercial success with widely recognized artistic significance. In an epoch in which reflection on technological change is paramount in every discipline and field of research, its connection to music stands out as particularly intriguing. It is precisely this capacity to establish a stimulating and creative relationship with technology that has defined Radiohead's unique aesthetics, unlike other pop-rock bands of the same period. Starting from the philosophical conceptions of technology and artistic technique developed by various thinkers of the 20th century (Adorno, Horkheimer, Anders, Heidegger, and others), this book offers an original philosophical interpretation of Radiohead's musical oeuvre, from the beginning of the band's career to its most recent albums, with a specific focus on the relationships between music, society, technology, and expressivity.