| Radiohead's In Rainbows was released on the | | | | decision to release the official album as a |
| 10th of October in 2007 in a move that | | | | 10 track album. I'm a big fan of a compact |
| shocked the rock music world. Just 10 days | | | | album that makes you want even more when |
| earlier Radiohead made the surprise | | | | you're done listening to it. And they've |
| announcement they would be releasing their | | | | really set it up with the "b-sides" flowing |
| new album (that most didn't expect out until | | | | perfectly out of the first 10 tracks so that |
| 2008) and that it would be available in | | | | you can make In Rainbows into an 18 track |
| download only format at first and most | | | | epic if you want to. |
| surprisingly of all, they were going to let | | | | |
| people decide for themselves how much to pay | | | | "Bodysnatchers" (the second track on In |
| for it. | | | | Rainbows) is Radiohead's best rock song since |
| | | | at least The Bends era (I'm thinking "Just" & |
| While I applaud Radiohead for their | | | | "My Iron Lung") and maybe ever. Who else can |
| creativity in album releases, it's their | | | | make a guitar sound like that other than |
| creativity in music that really interests me. | | | | Jonny Greenwood? He's a true wizard. And I'm |
| The "pay what you want" download didn't | | | | not just saying that because he appeared in a |
| effect me because I paid $81 for the limited | | | | Harry Potter movie. Didn't know that? Look it |
| edition "deluxe" version (which included the | | | | up, it's true. |
| download of course, along with a CD version, | | | | |
| an LP version, and an additional CD with 8 | | | | "Nude" may be the most beautiful song |
| extra tracks.) | | | | Radiohead's ever produced and that's saying |
| | | | quite a bit. It's just an absolutely perfect |
| Now that the hysteria over their supposed | | | | song with a perfect arrangement and perfect |
| "record industry destroying" record release | | | | vocals. It's a good thing too because they've |
| method has died down, it's high time to take | | | | been trying to record this song for 10 years. |
| another look at the music itself. It's the | | | | They wanted to get it right, and they have. |
| music that makes In Rainbows one of the | | | | |
| classic albums of the the decade. | | | | "All I Need" with it's awesome bass line and |
| | | | it's groovy beat may just be my favorite song |
| The album is, in my estimation, their most | | | | on the album. I love the melody and the |
| consistent yet. It flows like perhaps only | | | | vocals and the sound. Absolutely everything |
| Kid A flows. It sounds as a whole piece, but | | | | about this song is perfect. The lyrics kill |
| that doesn't mean that it's "samey" or | | | | me. "I'm an animal trapped in your hot car, I |
| boring. It's not. Each song is | | | | am all of the days you choose to ignore" and |
| instantaneously memorable on it's own merits | | | | "I am a moth that just wants to share your |
| but somehow still connected to those around | | | | light, I'm just an insect trying to get out |
| it. | | | | of the night" are brilliant. But the line |
| | | | that really gives me shivers is this "I only |
| The album starts off with dirty distorted | | | | stay with you because there are no others." |
| electro beats on "15 Steps" which probably | | | | What's so breathtaking about that line is |
| had many people thinking Radiohead was going | | | | that he sings it right before going into the |
| more in the Kid A/Thom Yorke solo album (The | | | | "you're all I need" chorus. |
| Eraser) sort of direction. But then about 40 | | | | |
| seconds in enters the smooth clean guitar (no | | | | I've read that Yorke says the song is about a |
| distortion) that would be heard throughout | | | | co-dependency relationship and that line |
| this album. In fact this is easily their most | | | | really drives that idea home in an intense |
| "guitar centric" album since OK Computer. | | | | way. |
| While that could easily be seen as a retreat | | | | |
| from experimentation, it's really anything | | | | "Faust Arp" is probably the one song on the |
| but. | | | | album that I didn't really love right away |
| | | | but it is an interesting sound for Radiohead. |
| In Rainbows continues to push the "studio as | | | | It's a nice middle point in the album that |
| an instrument" experimentation that Radiohead | | | | sets up for the final four songs. I think |
| and their long time producer, Nigel Godrich, | | | | it's a good way to let the album sort of |
| have been working on since 1995's The Bends. | | | | breathe after the intensity of "All I Need." |
| For me this is vital to a great Radiohead | | | | |
| album. Yes their songs are great and their | | | | "Reckoner" is another sort of new sound for |
| musicianship is incredible and yes Thom Yorke | | | | Radiohead. The percussion sounds quite unlike |
| is the best rock singer int he world, but the | | | | anything I've heard from them before. The |
| "atmosphere" of the songs is just as big of a | | | | vocals are beautiful. I still remember being |
| factor in what makes me love Radiohead as any | | | | a bit shocked when I first heard this on the |
| of those other factors. | | | | album as they were playing a song called |
| | | | "Reckoner" that was a heavy rocker that |
| In Rainbows is filled to the brim with | | | | sounds really nothing like this. |
| beautiful production ideas and surprising | | | | |
| musical arrangements that take the songs from | | | | This is an album meant to be played from |
| been merely great to being truly | | | | beginning to end. It's a work of art in a |
| transcendent. | | | | time of trivial throw away pop music. I gave |
| | | | it 10/10 stars when I first heard it almost a |
| While I love the songs on the "b-sides" disc | | | | year ago, and today I give it the same score. |
| sent with the deluxe version of In Rainbows, | | | | I'd give it an even higher score but, well |
| I also very much agree with Radiohead's | | | | OK. Who's stopping me? It's gets an 11/10! |