Meeting People Is Easy

"Meeting people is easy" is a pretty good documentary of Radiohead's OK Computer world tour. It abruptly begins with concerts (bits and pieces), photo shoots, behind the scenes and interviews with the media through Europe, USA, Japan, Australia and ends back the UK where you hear them recording music for their next 2 albums (Kid A and Amnesiac).

Its not really a coherent documentary, with scenes cutting back & forth and some arty stuff chucked in for the sake of it, but this DVD shows the media attention and coverage they received, all because of their highly regarded album OK Computer... they were the in band at the time.

From this the stress and tension builds up throughout the world tour and we clearly see them getting emotionally drained.

You get to hear them playing bits of new and unfinished music which would be later added onto there next 2 albums, but don't just expect live performances (as there is hardly any). They're a band that's not afraid to experiment with their music. Though this DVD is more about their experiences throughout the tour, then that of their music.

Some people might have found this boring but I actually quite enjoyed it. It would've been great to get some full length live performances than that of small snippets (though there is good full length performance at the end) but I found the media's attention towards Radiohead and how it was eating them up, very interesting indeed.

4.5/5

As a long time Radiohead fan, I was very very excited about the release of Grant Gee's documentary. Needless to say it lived up to all my expectations. It showed the band as people, not huge rock stars or snobs or whatever the public might take them for. It was the daily routine of photo shoots, interviews, and touring that helps us realize what hard work is needed to be a success. New song previews were a plus too. An excellent look at an excellent band.

This rockumentry is not like most. It is far more honest about the rock and roll lifestyle, showing that, like anything else that pays, it is still a job. The only downside is that it will encourage people who always accuse radiohead of being depressing to continue. It has, however, got a lot to offer radiohead fans, although not so much now. The DVD contains several songs which were, or still are, unreleased. Including 'how to disappear completely' (2000), 'I will' (2003), 'life in a glasshouse' (2001), and songs which are still unreleased such as 'follow me around' and 'big boots (man-o-war)'. another downside with the dvd itself is that the whole dvd is just one scene. however, this is a definate must for radiohead fans.

This highly cinematic documentary forces one to rethink the way s/he may think of life as a "rock star". Radiohead's unique stardom is portrayed in a dark and highly neurotic light. The pains of dealing with an incessant press, constant live performances, and travel around the nation bear down on these five men and produce tension that borders on nervous breakdown. When watching this film, the intense style transports this tension to the viewer, making it difficult to watch. But it adds insight to the band that has changed Rock music forever, and lets one understand better exactly what they are doing and going through. Well worth the headache and depression experienced afterwards. Meeting people is truly not easy.

As said Colin, "we don't learn much about Radiohead in this thing". That's true. Whatever, it's a real pleasure and pain to see and follow a great band on the road, listening to dumb journalists questions. Makes ones think about the fan status and the star status, which one is enviable, who could be ashamed of stalking people. Meeting people is easy, yeah. but you must want it first.