Product Description

Following the landmark independent digital release of Radiohead's seventh LP whereby customers could name their own price, the experimental British rock stalwarts finally issued 'In Rainbows' in its physical formats. Musically, this release can be seen as a logical culmination of much of the band'sprevious work, incorporating the avant-garde electronics oflater records and more traditional guitar-heavy elements synonymous with their inception. The overt political themes ofprevious album 'Hail To The Thief' are largely jettisoned for an altogether more romantic milieu, with songs such as 'Videotape' and 'Nude' showcasing the intimate nature of singer Thom Yorke's voice.

Track Listing

1. 15 Step
2. Bodysnatchers
3. Nude
4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
5. All I Need
6. Faust Arp
7. Reckoner
8. House Of Cards
9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
10. Videotape

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63 in Music
• Released on: 2007-12-31
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Amazon.co.uk Review

Customer Reviews

A distillation of the previous 6?
What were Radiohead to do? They can't please all the people all the time, can they?

So, were they too keep the Bendsphiles moaning about "pretentious, tuneless noises, blah blah blah" or turn their backs on Kid-A-philes "far-out experimental techno wizadry"?

Unbelievably, Radiohead seem, at least to this ear, to have kept both camps happy. Maybe I'm biased, short of Pablo Honey, I consider all the albums to be quite magnificent in their own ways, and this is no different.

Once the techno-ish intro of 15 Step has finished (where, I believe, many of the post-OK Computer refuseniks stopped listening to write a 1-star review), In Raibows delivers the accessibility of earlier albums without losing the soundscapes of the later ones. They even chuck in a few riffs.

For me, listening from Nude, through Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, All I Need, Faust Arp, Reckoner to House Of Cards, it is almost impossible to not to sit stunned, grinning at the amazing beauty of it all. Reckoner, incidentally, is irresistable. I can't even begin to describe it.

This is not to say the penultimate track, Jigsaw Falling Into Place, is poor. Of coarse it's not. It's just back to some frankly Bends-esque rock, before the achingly beautiful and coldy chilling Videotape plays us out. Marvellous stuff.

in rainbows
there is not much to choose between any of the radiohead albums, but in rainbows excells. they have never stood still, but this is genius. they could have done what oasis did and release 10 versions of the bends, but no. thiis is what makes radiohead unique, bless 'em

One of their best?
I was always a lover of OK Computer, and this is another object of love.

It's a great album, with nothing in the way of padding. It may not be as great as OK (OK was a landmark in many ways), or it may be as great, in a different way: I've yet to make up my mind.

I'll be revisiting some of their other - between-times - releases as a consequence. They will be different, I know, but equally worthwhile, I predict.