It’s very likely that even if you haven’t heard the contents of Radiohead’s seventh album, you’ll be aware of its existence. Released as a digital download by the band themselves before a CD release was even considered, In Rainbows was lauded for innovation before a note of music was heard. Luckily, the music matches the hype--it takes the best part of Radiohead's previous works and advances the formula even further. While the opener "15 Step"--all skittering drum patterns and dub-style bass--may hark back to the electronica of Kid A, the sound soon gives way to a more guitar-based sound. Whilst not as musically heavy as previous albums, the tunes are far more focused and passionate--"Bodysnatchers" is based around a hypnotic, distorted bass riff, while the beautiful string-drenched "Nude" is a true Radiohead classic. Lyrically, like Thom Yorke’s solo album The Eraser, the lyrics are sketches of suburban paranoia, and the eerie sense of things no! t being quite right. This is especially true on the piano-based closer "Videotape", which poignantly details a man watching his life’s achievements in his final moments. In short, In Rainbows is another masterpiece from the Oxford quintet. --Thomas Allott
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: This wants to be your lover Comment: I read a quote on "In Rainbows" that stated Radiohead had finally met expectations by reaching them. I can certainly echo this statement, and perhaps even stake the claim that this may well be Radiohead's best album. Certainly a huge claim, but "In Rainbows" is a wondrous album.
I will keep things short as many reviewers have picked apart and detailed individual songs and themes. So, most importantly for me, "In Rainbows" treads that impossibly difficult line of being mostly accessible yet surprisingly lasting. It simply does not tire. Months and months of sporadic listens and I still become totally involved and immersed, a feat that separates truly great albums from good ones. The overall sound of the album perfectly blends the sombre electronic tones of "Kid A" and "Amnesiac" with the guitar-driven rock of "Ok Computer" and "The Bends". It's satisfyingly experimental when need be, yet equally sparse and simplistic. It's cold and desolate at times, warm and genial at others. It is everything I can want from a Radiohead album. Beautiful, consistent, cutting-edge music. Customer Rating: Summary: Who needs insturaments when words are sawn-off shotguns Comment: Even before it was released this record was in danger. The much talked and debated about method of consumers paying as much, or as little as they wanted
This however is not the case. This is arguably one of their finest moments to date and a much needed follow up to the beautiful but flawed hail to theif, an angry record which sometimes did not know which way to steer itself.
The record begins with the skittering drums of "15 Steps", a seemingly uplifting start. However the song unfolds into a more darker sound before coming where it ended up starting. This then transforms into the urgent quick-pulse guitar of "Bodysnatchers". Then "Nude" comes along, the most beautiful track on the album, soft but then builts up but when it does, along comes a breakdown. The relaxed mood contiunes with "Weird Fishes",a nice chilled no-brainer not to say it bad and is in fact a welcome break. Unfortuneataby we come to the only problem with the album and the loss of a star: "Faurst Arp and "All I Need" just sit there awkardly like unwelcome guests at a party sort of sitting around, not contributing anything to the overall feel. However the last half of the album more then makes up for it. "Reckoner" is just beautiful, "House of Cards" as such and the main single "Jigsaws Falling Into Place" is both eiree and strangely uplifting, which you need after listening to "Videotape", a harrowing song refecting on moratality and a brilliant end. This album shows that Radiohead still have it in them and the worlds all the better for it.
Verdict: Asides from two fillers, this a beautiful record which shows just why Radiohead is one of the best bands Britian has produced.
Key Tracks: 15 Steps
Nude
Jigsaws Falling Into Place
Videotape
Bodysnatchers Customer Rating: Summary: Radiohead do it again Comment: Just how many more albums can Radiohead make of such quality? Other bands become very samey, or try to change and fail. Somehow Radiohead manage to change whilst staying the same and keep producing top quality albums. This album just gets better and better with each listen, and in my view a Radiohead classic already. Customer Rating: Summary: Good old Radiohead Comment: Doubtlessly Radiohead keep on getting better. One should hardly be surprised that Radiohead have maintained the status quo from Pablo Honey to present, and trademark of all their work one tends to think "I don't get it", but without fail one will always come to the conclusion of "I completely get it now!". I was no exception.
My greatest weakness when listening to a new album is to listen to each track in turn and skip it if I do not feel totally taken in after the first 30 seconds. However whilst playing on Flight Simulator (hence the name), I elected to play In Rainbows on media player whilst handling a plethora of dire failures on an Airbus 'A319' with the intentions that the music would sink in properly. Needless to say Yorke and his crew have done it again... With more style and talent than ever before.
From start to finish this album was, and will be for ever, an absolute pleasure to listen to. This music is pure genius. To put it in a slightly more far-fetched manner, if we were to make contact with an intelligent life-form galaxies away and send a probe to them containing music from Planet Earth, I would personally see to it that In Rainbows be added to that collection because I would want anyone out there to know that something that wonderful came from us.
I recommend this album to everyone out there as it will be one of your smartest purchases! Oh and thanks to In Rainbows, my plane landed safely.
;) Customer Rating: Summary: More like it but Comment: If it wasn't for the dry dry drums and crispy guitars this would sound like a band playing together, adding that extra dimension for people who like the sound of people playing together - you would assume that means them too? The songs are good, the experimentation in sound and rhythm is well executed, but my only connection to a band is though the massive moaning reverbs and lost synths of records past. Of course, we're talking Radiohead here, so I'll leave it for you to put my 3 stars in context.
