The Smile : Cutouts

The Smile -the Radiohead side project of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood- shouldn’t work as well as it does. Like Yorke’s solo albums and Greenwood’s film scores they are great listening experiences, but we’re always waiting for them to get back together with their Radiohead counterparts and give us another masterpiece. Since 2022 Yorke and Greenwood have been concentrating on this art rock-heavy project, along with drummer extraordinaire Tom Skinner. The results are nothing short of brilliant.

In this new collaboration it seems Yorke, Greenwood, and Skinner have found this fountain of musical youth; combining their love of rhythm, groove, and musical syncopation. Songs range from post-punk jaggedness to piano-driven balladry to prog-infused art rock, all coming together in a sound both singular and familiar.

Which brings the question, “Do we need another Radiohead album?”

Since 2022 The Smile have been extremely busy, both touring and in a constant flow of creativity. We are now at album three, after 2022’s A Light For Attracting Attention as well as a couple live albums. Early in 2024 The Smile released in Wall Of Eyes, and now we have Cutouts. Cutouts is less concerned with standout singles. Cutouts feels like a fully formed album listen. Everything flows together perfectly; songs build upon what came before to give us an almost narrative listen. It’s the best album from The Smile yet, and one of the best of the year.

Cutouts opens on “Foreign Spies”, a synth-led song that leans in somber, dreamy vibes. Thom Yorke sounds amazing here as his voice lingers in reverb as an electronic rhythm bubbles up from the mix giving the song a beating heart. “Instant Psalm” shines in optimistic light, subtle acoustic guitar accompanying wavering electronics and understated drumming.

There are too many highlights to mention, but tracks like the kinetic “Zero Sum”, the jazz-inflected “Tiptoe”, the groove-heavy “Eyes and Mouth”, and the piano-led “No Words” bring to mind everything from John Abercrombie’s Gateway to Marc Moulin’s Placebo to NEU!, all coming together in a slick, singular sound that only these three musicians could create.

Listen, I’d happily and greedily devour some new Radiohead music. But as long as Yorke, Greenwood, and Skinner keep putting out records like Cutouts I just don’t see the need. This is as thoughtful, creative, and engaging as anything Radiohead have done since In Rainbows.