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: #214 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

Retrogressive, but still very listenable
Throughout their career Radiohead have proven that they can:

1) Write very captivating songs in a specific mood;
2) Challenge convention and deftly experiment to great effect.

For example, the PH and The Bends slots nicely into category (1), OK Computer between the two, KID A and Amnesiac firmly in (2), HTTF between the two but leaning towards (2), and In Rainbows -

Between the two once more, but with an inclination towards category (1) - the 'song'. With this angle, the band produced a nice album, one I have listened to many times (ALL Radiohead albums have an excellent shelf life, and I really do mean the word 'captivating'). But (here it is) - what a wasted opportunity! The songs are surely store more intriguing value than their finished counterparts. If you don't follow my meaning, then here are some examples:


WEIRD FISHES/ARPEGGI: The orchestral version is astonishing. The lyrics are far better suited to this frame than a regular band set-up; especially the building bass throb that feels as though the listener is descending deeper into some watery abyss.

BODYSNATCHERS: Quite a good riff, but the energy should be far more contained in a snappier song. No more than 2:00. This way, the bridge is all the more riveting too - consider the KOKO acoustic version.

FAUST ARP: A lovely interlude, but little else. The excellent Morning Mr. Magpie (on TMGLMOAT DVD) would have been a better choice, a more vibrant choice before the mellow Reckoner.

15 STEP: It's too clean. More electronic drone would be nice, and certainly a sharper transition of the intro to that wonderfully dreamy guitar riff. The vocal reverb is effective and could have been used in the coda to replace that "cka-cka-ca-ca" chant.


So - not one song on the album, I would argue, has been realised to its fullest extent. It is still a cherishable album, and one I will probably be listening to in 20 years' time, but when you have the extraordinary quality and intangible mood of an album such as KID A - written by the same hands - I can't help but feel a little frustrated at the chance of a masterpiece lost in this way of performing In Rainbows.

Utterly essential return to form
Easily their best since OK Computer, this melds the 'old' Radiohead power with the new, technologically-aware approach debuted on Kid A. They push the boundaries, but for the first time since OK Computer, Yorke & Co pull back from the boundary, remembering that the song is the key thing!

For me,the highlights are "Reckoner", in which Yorke's falsetto overlays an almost 60s sounding sweep of beauty, and "House of Cards", a bitter, amoral plea to a married lover (IMHO)

Wonderful stuff. I even like "15 steps"!

easily the best since ok computer, ignore the attention seeking one star reviews
I'll be the first to admit at being sceptical about radioheads departure into experimental territory, leaving behind the masterpieces of bends\ok. The first listen of kid A was a shock to the system but now it's one of my favourites, but things have really clicked, on in rainbows, it's a more stripped down and directsounding album with some truely amazing moments, and works much better as a whole than the previous album. It's rare to find a band that have the ability to constantly evolve and find new musical territory. "All i need" could of come straight of the soundtrack for requiem to a dream, theres that sense of disspair with a glint at the end of the tunnel. In short get yourself a good hi-fi, turn the lights out and let in-rainbows take you on a mind trip, you won't regret it. in-rainbows is a future classic.