Austin Butler’s Radiohead obsession
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(Credits: Far Out / YouTube Still)
Since finding his way into acting through appearances on teen sitcoms, Austin Butler has become one of Hollywood’s most talked-about names. His Disney days are far behind him, and the past few years have seen the actor take on real-life rockstars and sci-fi staples, working with the likes of Baz Luhrmann, Quentin Tarantino and Denis Villeneuve.
Butler puts his all into his work, even approaching his Hannah Montana appearance with all the ferocity of Robert De Niro in Raging Bull. He’s developed a reputation for method acting due to his committed approach to Elvis, with the accent he took on to portray the singer still sometimes bleeding into his own during interviews.
The actor seems to have toned down the method acting for his entry into the world of Dune, during the promotion of which he revealed his obsession with one particular Radiohead album: 2007’s In Rainbows. Speaking with NME, he suggested that the record is an “old faithful that I have listened to maybe more than any other album”.
In Rainbows is not just an old faithful to Butler but to most fans of alternative rock. Further demonstrating Thom Yorke and his bandmates’ ability to combine guitars with elements of electronic music, the album spawned genre staples like ‘Reckoner’ and ‘Jigsaw Falling into Place’. With an album cover as memorable as the songs it accompanied, it remains a reference point over 15 years later.
Butler has had the record on repeat recently and considers it a “perfect album, and almost for any mood”. It’s an album that certainly does span moods and emotions, the electronic production lightening the more melancholic moments of the album but never undercutting them.
While opener ‘15 Step’ is, scientifically, the happiest song in their entire catalogue, ‘Nude’ proves that they’re still willing to wallow in the sadness. “It just makes me feel so much and I just love it,” Butler concluded. With the span of genres and emotions it covers, it’s easy to see why In Rainbows is one of Butler’s most revisited albums.
The actor also shared his love for Chet Baker for the same reason, declaring Chet Baker Sings as another “perfect album” from beginning to end. “It’s just the sound of his voice,” he gushed. Though it’s a far cry from the cold electronica of In Rainbows, the 1954 jazz record is equally obsession-worthy.
Revisit In Rainbows and join Butler in his Radiohead obsession below.
