The Smile announces second album for 2024

Music news

Radiohead's side project The Smile has unveiled two new songs, “Foreign Spies” and “Zero Sum,” ahead of the October 4 release of of the successor of Wall of Eyes

More than 20 years after Radiohead's studio sessions were fruitful enough to spawn two now-classic albums, Kid A And Amnesiacthe side project The Smile achieved a similar feat with Cutoutsthe second album of 2024 from the British band.

October 4, just eight months after the release of the second album Wall of Eyesthe trio consisting of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and drummer Tom Skinner will release a 10-track album, featuring tracks from the band's earliest shows (“Eyes and Mouth,” “Colours Fly,” “Bodies Laughing”), and songs that debuted on the support tour for Wall of Eyes (“Instant Psalm,” “Zero Sum,” “Tiptoe”), recent singles “Don't Get Me Started” and “The Slip,” as well as new tracks like “Foreign Spies,” which the band unveiled Wednesday with its video, which you can watch below.

Additionally, the band shared the visual for the studio version of “Zero Sum,” which they performed live in March 2024. The song also lends its lyric “A cutout trying to fill the void” to the album's title.

The Smile spent the last week teasing the album with a series of social media posts that, when decoded, gave clues to the album's tracklist. Cutouts.

The songs of Cutouts were recorded during the same sessions at Oxford and Abbey Road Studios as Wall of Eyesone of the best albums of 2024 so far according to WECB ; both albums were produced by Sam Petts-Davies, feature string arrangements by the London Contemporary Orchestra and illustrated by Yorke and long-time artistic collaborator Stanley Donwood.

Pre-order the album by clicking here.

Cutouts – Track List
1. Foreign Spies
2. Instant Psalm
3. Zero Sum
4. Colours Fly
5. Eyes & Mouth
6. Don't Get Me Started
7. Tiptoe
8. The Slip
9. UGcgWGFkcWE= (No Words)
10. Bodies Laughing

Staff

Written by

Christopher Johnson

Christopher Johnson is a dedicated writer and key contributor to the WECB website, Emerson College's student-run radio station. Passionate about music, radio communication, and journalism, Christopher pursues his craft with a blend of meticulous research and creative flair. His writings on the site cover an array of subjects, from music reviews and artist interviews to event updates and industry news. As an active member of the Emerson College community, Christopher is not only a writer but also an advocate for student involvement, using his work to foster increased engagement and enthusiasm within the school's radio and broadcasting culture. Through his consistent and high-quality outputs, Christopher Johnson helps shape the voice and identity of WECB, truly embodying its motto of being an inclusive, diverse, and enthusiastic music community.