RADIOHEAD-IN RAINBOWS (OUT OCTOBER 10TH)

[ledvedderman]

yndihalda said:

ledvedderman said:

By weird, you meant good right?

the polite word would be 'experimental.' and Brian and Koen, write a mini-review of the album when you get the chance.

Ok, so I'm two listens through the new album, and HOLY SMOKES! This is the album I've been waiting over 8 years for Radiohead to put out. I'm a fan of every RH album (except Pablo), and this one probably will rank second to OK Computer. It's as if this were the love child of Kid A and OK Computer. While I said the same thing about Hail To The Thief, it seemd to lean more towards Kid A and was dragged down by a lot of filler songs. This album is the perfect length w/ the just right number of tracks.

15 Step- Radiohead always chooses the right song to open up an album. This had a lot to measure up to because Airbag and 2+2=5 are two of the best opening songs to an album of all time, and this one doesn't let me down. It's got a great groove to it. I worried how this one would turn out in the studio, but it sounds great.

Bodysnatchers- GREAT rock song. Would have been great on HTTT right after 2+2=5, but I love it where it is on In Rainbows. I'm sure this one will be amazing live.

Nude- I won't even write a review for this song, it's THE Radiohead song

Weird Fishes/Arpeggi- If you've heard the live version and enjoyed it then you will enjoy this version.

All I Need- Another beautiful song. This one really stood out to me ono the live performances. If there's singles released from this album, this should be one of them.

Faust Arp- This is the only song no one knew anything about. It's a acoustic fingerpicked gem w/ Thoms vocals reminding me a lot of "A Wolf At The Door". I was very surprised w/ this song.

Reckoner- This is nothing like the version that was played during the Kid A/Amnesiac tour. This one is beautifully arranged and very mellow. Thom really shows his vocals off on this one.

House of Cards- If I had to pick a least favorite, this would probably be it. It just doesn't feel like a Radiohead song to me. By any other bands standards it'd be a great song, but it just doesn't work for me.

Jigsaws Falling Into Place- Outside of Bodysnatchers, this is the only other rocker on the album. Great song though, it was one of my favorites from the live versions I heard of the album.

Videotape- Before the album came out I was more than pumped for this song. The melody, lyrics, and vocals are all amazing. My only complaint is that the guitar jam from the live versions doesn't happen on the studio album. It would have been a perfect way to close the album w/ a great climax. Oh well though, this is still one of my favorites on here.

8.5/10

[gogonutz]

Faust Arp is the most magical RH song I've heard in years, hands down

[ledvedderman]

It's grown more and more on me w/ each lsten Koen. I kind of wish that Bodysnatchers would have been replaced w/ 4 Minute Warning. Bodysnatchers is an AMAZING song, but it kind of suffers from the "one of these things is not like the others" syndrome.

[hyperstarre]

okay, i just finished listening to it. i LOVE it...and yes, it's definitely a lovechild of ok computer and kid a.

[FrancisMartin]

hyperstarre said:

okay, i just finished listening to it. i LOVE it...and yes, it's definitely a lovechild of ok computer and kid a.

I love Ok Computer and also Kid A. I'll need to take my hands on this one.

[ledvedderman]

Yeah you do Martin.

[FrancisMartin]

ledvedderman said:

Yeah you do Martin.

I already got it, later I'll take a listen to the whole album.

[City]

I found this article while browsing another forum. I think people are just taking this too far, but maybe you guys might think it's cool.

puddlegum.net/radiohead-01-and-10/

pretty much, if you alternate the tracks between OK Computer and In Rainbows, it'll sound better?

Radiohead - 01 and 10 playlist:
1. Airbag (OK Computer)
2. 15 Step (In Rainbows)
3. Paranoid Android (OK Computer)
4. Bodysnatchers (In Rainbows)
5. Subterranean Homesick Alien (OK Computer)
6. Nude (In Rainbows)
7. Exit Music (For A Film) (OK Computer)
8. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (In Rainbows)
9. Let Down (OK Computer)
10. All I Need (In Rainbows)
11. Karma Police (OK Computer)
12. Fitter Happier (OK Computer)
13. Faust Arp (In Rainbows)
14. Electioneering (OK Computer)
15. Reckoner (In Rainbows)
16. Climbing Up The Walls (OK Computer)
17. House Of Cards (In Rainbows)
18. No Surprises (OK Computer)
19. Jigsaw Falling Into Place (In Rainbows)
20. Lucky (OK Computer)
21. Videotape (In Rainbows)
22. The Tourist (OK Computer)

[gogonutz]

here's my review
click here

Radiohead is back. After 4 years of relative silence, they return with their 7th official studio album, "In Rainbows". And they returned with confidence, musicality and perhaps their best work since the epic "OK Computer". "In Rainbows" shows the best from all things that Radiohead has been excelling at for so many years. It is a compilation of what truly defines them musically.


Radiohead has been playing 15 Step live for quite awhile now and it has become a fan favorite. Many people wondered how this song would stand as a studio version, opposed to the live version. But with a skillful production and a more than perfect timing, Radiohead managed to create the right balance for this opening track.


Bodysnatchers is a song that really represents the album and defines Radiohead. It sounds like something that evolved out of the sound Radiohead created on "Hail To The Thief". This song is uptempo and very energy-driven, and when played live Radiohead can go many different ways with it without losing it's unique sound.


The album continues with the ballad Nude, which is yet another song that really defines Radiohead. Probably even more than Bodysnatchers does. Nude is actually an old song and was played live for the first time years ago. It has evolved somewhat over time, but in essence it's still the same mournful yet elegant ballad it has always been. It shows the absolute supremacy of Thom Yorke's vocals as well as how brilliant Radiohead is in creating an atmosphere for a song like no other band can.


With Arpeggi Radiohead stayed pretty true to the live version of this song that they've been playing. They took down the pace slightly and added a slight echo. Furthermore this song, though not one of the album's strongest, is still better than 85% of what's out there today.


All I Need is probably one of the most honest and more straight-forward songs in Radiohead's history. It's a symphonic and full song that one can really drown in. The lyrics are among the best I've seen, even by Radiohead. Great vocals and once again I point out the amazing ability Radiohead has to create a perfect atmosphere for a song. Perhaps a single?


Then the surprise of the album. I think it might be the only actual new song on "In Rainbows". The acoustic Faust ARP is the most refreshing song on the album, and my personal favorite. Stripped down from all the excess material it is music down to its core. What it's all about. With strings beautifully arranged alongside the acoustic fingerpicking and Thom's vocals, this gives me a slightly late 60s/early 70s British Folk feel, like Nick Drake & Roy Harper but then 'with a modern jacket on'.


Reckoner dates back from the "Kid A" days, and you can hear that. The song is however polished to a higher level. With a clear focus on Thom Yorke's vocals and with a very clever arrangement of the music this song stands out on "In Rainbows".


Then follows House of Cards, which has one of the better lyrics of the album, but musically it is one of the least powerful songs on the album. If Radiohead would've speeded up the song a little and stripped it down from its effects and added a subtle acoustic guitar and bongos (okay, I'm changing the whole song here) this thing could've been made to something more powerful and convincing. But for Radiohead's standards, lets just say it's not the best song they've ever released.


Radiohead didn't change too much of Jigsaw Falling Into Place compared to its live version. And personally, I think that's a good thing. It's great alternative rock that Radiohead does better than almost any other band. This song shows why so many bands list Radiohead as their influence. The song itself isn't even the most remarkable but it's played perfectly. It just doesn't get any better.


The regular album ends with Videotape. Beautiful piano ballad. I couldn't really think of a better way to end "In Rainbows". It fits perfectly and it gives extra power to Thom Yorke's vocals. Even though I often feel no one should cover Radiohead, I would be interested in hearing Our Lady Peace do a cover of this song, as they are pretty much the only band I can think of that could actually pull it off. If those two bands would be on a bill together, I think we have something close to a dream line-up.


"In Rainbows" is a cross between "OK Computer" & "Kid A" with little sidetrips to "Hail to the Thief" & "The Bends". It's Radiohead's many talents bundled in one magnificent album that rivals "OK Computer" for best Radiohead album to date. If you haven't heard it, head over to inrainbows.com and get your hands on it. It's worth your time and you can even decide yourself how much you want to spend on it.

[ledvedderman]

What was the last album called Koen?

Great review though man.

[gogonutz]

oh crap, Hail to the Thief

[ledvedderman]

Looks like disc two will be hitting the net anyday...just the thought of "4 Minute Warning" recorded in the studio will cause severe insomnia for ole ledvedderman.