Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
I will give it to Radiohead for their creative way of releasing new music and using the internet and media to promote it. Every magazine, internet site and even CNN ran stories on the cd. Radiohead couldn't ask for better coverage and by playing the "pay what you want" card, they garnered sympathy from just about everyone. In the end we found out that the files are only 160 bitrate and an offical cd will drop in January but that didn't stop people from downloading. From unoffical sources Radiohead "sold" 1.2 million copies of In Rainbows and who knows how many were plucked from the internet underground. With the sliding scale its estimated that Radiohead pulled in a couple million on this deal. They still have the collectors edition and the official cd coming which will bring in even more. Will this convince other bands to follow suit, I think so.
As for the actual music, its not bad but the last 3 cds havn't been very interesting to me. The art rock took a left at unlistenable and jogged over to downright boring. I have listened to this cd a few times now and while some songs are very good others suck. The opening track "15 Step" has a quirky electronic drum beat that doesn't mesh well with the rest of the instruments. Track 2 "Bodysnatchers" returns to a straightforward guitar rock and has a pretty heavy sound. Track 4 "Wierd Fishes Arpeggi" is reminicent of OK Computer and has a pleasant and mellow/pseudo electronic sound. Track 7 "Reckoner" has a great piano run with Thom Yorke's vocals meandering thru the jangle of high hats and snare drums. Track 9 "Jigsaws Falling Into Place" is pretty boring in the sense that there are no artistic tangents but its one of my favorites. Probably because its the closest to a real song and easy on the ears.
There are no "Karma Police", "No Suprises", "Black Star" or "The Bends" here which I find frustrating. I am the first to admit that I don't enjoy listening to complicated and off kilter rhythms but come on, a melody once in a while would be nice. So if you left Radiohead back in the 90s, don't expect to be swayed with this release, just pull out The Bends and OK Computer and live in the past back when Radiohead actually meant something.
Posted by mardenhill 10/16/2007 09:59:00 AM
Labels: Music
I'm not sure Radiohead ever meant something other than they seemed to be able to craft songs that were complex and slow to evolve (post Bends). That they have evolved and been able to create individual albums that in and of themselves held some musical or thematic importance make them a great band. The Bends is something entirely different than OK and KidA is something entirely different than In Rainbows. I think they are a band for the long-haul. Some of the greatest bands and musicians have evolved with musical trends and/or above them. If they made another OK Computer album I'd be less impressed than I am with In Rainbows which is a beautifully melodic album. It might be an interim oasis to something that'll come next from them that will be completely different. As an artist, sometimes you need to stop and smell the roses for awhile. Innovation takes time and tremendous energy and you can burn out if it's all you're thinking about. I don't think they're ready to fade away yet...
-joel