Login for FavoritesRadiohead - In Rainbows
Tweet
Album Details
- Artist: Radiohead
- Album: In Rainbows
- Label: Self-Released
- Year of Release: 2007
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: dscanland on 2007-10-10
RecommendNormally a Radiohead release wouldn't get review priority on Music Emissions but their seventh album In Rainbows is very special. The site tries to focus on indie music so now how much more indie can you get than Radiohead at this point in time? They are now done their contract with EMI/Parlophone and are "free agents" so to speak. Not even an "indie label" to be found. The band is about to change history by allowing fans to choose what they would like to pay for a digital download of the album, even for free if they choose. I choose $8. It felt good.
On to the music: In Rainbows is a strangely percussive album. It's mellow for a Radiohead effort but the ticking of the drums keeps everything in check. Take the opening track "15 Steps", owing a huge debt to Aphex Twin for the sampling and rhythm in the song intro before Jonny Greenwood makes his strangely organic guitar entry at about 40 seconds, giving a completely different dynamic to a great song. "15 Steps" is cutting edge and cleverly done. "Bodysnatchers" has a nice groove to it but seems to lack substance. Then on "Nude" we start to see some of that great songwriting we've come to love from UK's most beloved band. It's a mellow ballad where Thom Yorke sings his heart out on. It really is a beautiful track and one of my favorites on In Rainbows. "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" is an interesting track, another that experiments with some different percussion. But unfortunately the lyrics are pretty lame. "All I Need" is one where Thom gets to spread his lyrical wings once again. His voice is the forefront of this one. I really enjoyed the string arrangements on "Faust Arp", also featuring a vocal apt Yorke. My favorite track turns out to be "Reckoner", another one that has a funky rhythm even if it's not that rocking. Greenwood's simple but effective guitar riff really helps drive this song while Yorke croons in a beautiful falsetto. "House Of Cards" is one of those tracks that by any other band it would just be boring but Radiohead pull this into a masterpiece. It has the potential of becoming a "classic". Even the follow track, "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" would be a haunting ambient track if you took away the percussion. The album closer, "Videotape" is a piano-heavy track that is as spooky as it is cool. Definitely the darker side of Thom coming out here. But again the angular percussion really turns this into a special track.
My early opinion about this album is that it's good but not their best. But as with most Radiohead releases they get better with age. I may come back in a couple months and want to change my 4 star score but for now, that's what it's worth to me. $8 for a 4 star album, I think that's reasonable.
I believe In Rainbows is going to be a successful venture for everyone's favorite band. According to Last.fm the first track "15 Steps" has been listened to 22000 in the first 12 hours of release. And that is just people with a "scrobbler enabled" player. Congrats Radiohead for turning the industry on it's ass. Somebody had to do it, now Radiohead will go down in history for creating the new way to sell, market, and distribute albums, even though they definitely weren't the first. Whether you paid $20 or $0 for this release, chances are that the amount was based around what Radiohead has given you in the past. Remember, they just have to pay for digital delivery so the brunt of the cash goes straight in their pockets instead of being filtered by CD pressing, labels, promotions, etc.
User Reviews and Comments
Log In or Register to Rate Albums
User Rating:
Write your own review
Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Log In or Register to Rate AlbumsReview:
on 2011-09-15 CharlesMartel Said:
Reviewing a Radiohead album is, for me, a rather difficult experience. I am not a great fan of Radiohead. I have "OK Computer" and have to say I find it rather tedious and uninspiring. I have ever thought so and have often wondered about what qualities Radiohead possess which make them the object of so much lavish attention. The attention that Radiohead get these days, in my view, is out of all proportion to the significance of their music. And opinions on them are hardening - in both directions. The fanboys are pushing the band to be the greatest living thing on the planet. The muso-nerds are beginning to peel away from them as they become more popular, for popularity is the biggest sin a band can commit in the eyes of these self-appointed style police.
Radiohead's response to the latter was clever. They finished their recording contract and now are free agents. So they decided to release this album through downloads, suggesting that the listener pay for it what he or she thinks it is worth. At one stroke, Radiohead re-establish their credentials as cool avant-garde indie hipsters and they haven't even played a note.
So how do you go about judging an album which has already attracted so much attention? How can you even attempt to be objective? It is like asking how a person like OJ Simpson could ever have received a fair trial after all the publicity he had gained through his exploits. Well, you just have to ignore the hype; ignore the fact that the pay-what-you-want downloading was a clever marketing ploy; ignore the fanboys; ignore the muso-nerds. Just listen to it. But no, before you ask. I didn't pay for it. I downloaded it from somewhere and if I like it, I will buy it. Digital is not a media for me when it comes to long-term ownership. I am of the old fashioned type if I cannot hold it in my hand I don't really have it.
Truth is, I found it rather dull and dreary. Thom Yorke has a whiny voice which can get very off-putting after a while. The music seems to drift without actually going anywhere or doing anything and most of the time it just fails to inspire. Even "Nude" , probably the best track on the album seems listless in its delivery and, though the word doesn't fit, pedantic. The music is, of course, technically well-executed, as you would expect, but ultimately it fails to move me in any way. Listening to it almost feels like an obligation, and that is a frightening thing to say about any piece of music.
So not to worry. I haven't ripped Radiohead off at all. I won't be buying the album and deleted the digital files.
Rating: 3/10
on 2009-08-06 radiox Said:
Thanks man! Wow. Hail to the Thief? I love that one too! It's amazing a band can have so many good albums that their best varies from fan to fan. It's awsesome that way!! And all of their work seems to get better the more you listen!!
Rating: 10/10
on 2009-08-06 hstisgod Said:
very nivr radiox...I look back at my comment, and i swore i wouldnt purchase this album... I must admit, I think it was october of last year I purchased it and enjoyed the hell out of it...havent had much time for it lately. I definitely would not agree its their best work... thats without a doubt hail to the theif. But, this is truly a top 3 favorite...
Rating: 9/10
Review:
on 2007-10-31 SolitaryMan Said:
That shit was harder than granite, bazooka. Worse than Double Bubble for sure. Still tasted great.
Rating: 9/10
Review:
on 2007-10-30 hstisgod Said:
Confession time, I have been broker than broke. I am dying to hear this album. So I'm caught in a battle of morals and the knowledge of my forgetful laziness. I will not-not pay for this album. That's a definite, but my card debit card has enough authorization for a few pieces of 5 cent bazooka gum (yea the old stuff at the bottom of the 7-11 rack). Grr...to the morals, GRRR....
Rating: 9/10
Review:
on 2007-10-18 SolitaryMan Said:
If you ask me, only Kid A and OK Computer are better albums than In Rainbows. mschmitt has it right; Radiohead are at or near the front of musical uniqueness once again.
Rating: 9/10
Review:
on 2007-10-17 mschmitt Said:
This is the single best album of 2007. Never before has a Radiohead album sucked me in so quickly, so effectively, or so powerfully. Granted, that may be because "In Rainbows" is one of their more pop-oriented releases, but in no way does that detract from the impact of this release. Radiohead is back, in a very potent way. Thom Yorke has incorporated much of what he learned in "The Eraser" and applied it well with a full band (just listen to "Nude"). If Radiohead continues in this direction, their next album will be their next "OK Computer." That is, the sound and starting point for the next decade. Brilliant.
Rating: 10/10
Review:
on 2007-10-16 kev_stev Said:
Can't wait to actually listen to this album in its entirety. This review has made me even more excited for IN RAINBOWS; now all i need is the time to give it a good listen. Maybe that'll happen in the next 2-3 years...
Not Rated
Review:
on 2007-10-10 dscanland Said:
Thanks for the comments. Long-winded only because of the industry commentary at the end. See my blog, I've moved that rhetoric over there. In Rainbows is indeed good. Check it out!
Not Rated
Review:
on 2007-10-10 hstisgod Said:
Wow, I hadn't seen a long winded review like this from Dennis in ages, this must be a fantastic release.
Rating: 9/10
Review:
on 2007-10-10 SolitaryMan Said:
Great review Dennis, you summed it up for me. Reckoner may be my favorite as well, but I'm really digging "All I Need" and "Videotape" as well.
Rating: 9/10
Review:
on 2007-10-10 dscanland Said:
Dude, you read my mind. I'm listening to it too and am loving it. I like the mellower feel to it. I'm working on an editorial review but if you beat me to it I'll submit it as a user review. "Reckoner" may get my vote for the best track on the album. What's your favorite?
Not Rated
Review:
on 2007-10-10 SolitaryMan Said:
Who's gonna get an editorial of this done now that it's been released? I have just finished my first listen and I'm very impressed with about half of it, and I think the other half will grow on me. I'll give someone else a chance with the review, but definitely get yourself a copy (everyone). Also if anyone figures out the exact cover art, let me know or throw it on here yourself.
Rating: 9/10
