Fried Gold wrote: It's only going to be nutty audiophiles who complain.
4 1/2 stars out of 5
These wily boys may have a secret album-title exchange program with Kelly Clarkson, but everything else about In Rainbows is typically hard-rocking Radiohead. Like every other Radiohead album except Kid A — still their most famous album, but they only made it once — In Rainbows has uptempo guitar songs and moody acoustic ballads, full of headphone-tweaking sound effects. All of it rocks; none of it sounds like any other band on earth; it delivers an emotional punch that proves all other rock stars owe us an apology.
In a brilliant move, Radiohead released In Rainbows via optional-pay download; I paid $5.27, in honor of my mom's birthday. Almost all the songs are already familiar to fans from live versions, but here they become expansive new creations. "Arpeggi" and "Bodysnatchers" ride on white-heat rhythm-guitar overdrive, while "House of Cards" is a fragile lovers-rock ballad closely resembling Dusty Springfield's (and the Byrds') "Going Back." "All I Need" has erotic pleading ("I'm an animal trapped in your hot car"), sad chimes in the "No Surprises" mode, and an ominoso synth-piano rumble.
On 2003's Hail to the Thief, Yorke's vocals were all punk rage, but here his voice has an R&B lilt that suits the songs' romantic directness. The end of "Videotape" is the only time the band dips back into dated glitch-blip electronics. Otherwise, the music is full of vividly collaborative sonic touches, from the Gary Numan synth-nightmare drones of "All I Need" and "House of Cards" to drummer Phil Selway's surprisingly deft way with his brushes and woodblocks. No wasted moments, no weak tracks: just primo Radiohead. Hell, I'm going back and tipping them another quarter just for the finger-cymbal solo on "Reckoner."
Leckomaniac wrote:What do the (awful) reviewers at Rolling Stone think?4 1/2 stars out of 5
These wily boys may have a secret album-title exchange program with Kelly Clarkson, but everything else about In Rainbows is typically hard-rocking Radiohead. Like every other Radiohead album except Kid A — still their most famous album, but they only made it once — In Rainbows has uptempo guitar songs and moody acoustic ballads, full of headphone-tweaking sound effects. All of it rocks; none of it sounds like any other band on earth; it delivers an emotional punch that proves all other rock stars owe us an apology.
In a brilliant move, Radiohead released In Rainbows via optional-pay download; I paid $5.27, in honor of my mom's birthday. Almost all the songs are already familiar to fans from live versions, but here they become expansive new creations. "Arpeggi" and "Bodysnatchers" ride on white-heat rhythm-guitar overdrive, while "House of Cards" is a fragile lovers-rock ballad closely resembling Dusty Springfield's (and the Byrds') "Going Back." "All I Need" has erotic pleading ("I'm an animal trapped in your hot car"), sad chimes in the "No Surprises" mode, and an ominoso synth-piano rumble.
On 2003's Hail to the Thief, Yorke's vocals were all punk rage, but here his voice has an R&B lilt that suits the songs' romantic directness. The end of "Videotape" is the only time the band dips back into dated glitch-blip electronics. Otherwise, the music is full of vividly collaborative sonic touches, from the Gary Numan synth-nightmare drones of "All I Need" and "House of Cards" to drummer Phil Selway's surprisingly deft way with his brushes and woodblocks. No wasted moments, no weak tracks: just primo Radiohead. Hell, I'm going back and tipping them another quarter just for the finger-cymbal solo on "Reckoner."
I really hope they had the album early because writing a review based on 24 hours is kind of, you know, silly. It takes a few day to let it all sink in. But that is Rolling Stone for you.
In Rainbows is typically hard-rocking Radiohead
vicious_bastard wrote:Crack smoking more like. Kelly Clarkson's album probably "rocks" harder, ironically. Not that I own it or anything. Honest.
vicious_bastard wrote:Sorry. This'll cheer you up.
doglips wrote:Here's........ Jonny!
Jonny Greenwood wrote:Maybe people writing lighter music are very angry, violent people. I don’t know, that’s interesting. Maybe Burt Bacharach writes stuff and then fights.
vicious_bastard wrote:Is that Har Mar Superstar doing the tune at the beginning? I'm surprised Pitchfork are yet to review the album - most of the UK papers have chimed in and are annoyingly positive. I bet they savage it.
As for me, I tried to listen it again today but got bored, again. I think I will bury it and dig it up in a few months. Being 100% narcotic free doesn't help - I'll give it a blast with a joint on the beach in Thailand, when I escape the bitterly cold Chinese winter at the end of December.
stereosforgeeks wrote:You know I actually like Yorke's solo album more than this one I think.
vicious_bastard wrote:stereosforgeeks wrote:You know I actually like Yorke's solo album more than this one I think.
I agree - I loved the unusual time-signatures which are missing on the new one.
stereosforgeeks wrote:
I'm sure it's around there but I think the number is inflated with people who wouldnt have got the album had it not been "pay what you want"
Pacino86845 wrote: Nothing really sticks out as a badass track per se,
Pacino86845 wrote:I'm pretty much settled on Videotape as my favorite track of the album, with All I Need and Reckoner as very honorable mentions... does anyone else feel that for their last few albums especially, Radiohead's end tracks kick unholy amounts of arse?
Kid A - Motion Picture Soundtrack
Amnesiac - Life in a Glass House
Hail to the Thief - A Wolf at the Door
In Rainbows - Videotape
I don't like Tourist off of OK Computer, but The Bends' Street Spirit is awesome as well.
TonyWilson wrote:the only thing left to do is end the album with a jaw droppingly beautiful song like Wolf At The Door, Life In A Glasshouse, Motion Picture Soundtrack and Street Spirit (Fade Out) – Videotape can easily be placed amongst these songs, it’s not got the apocalyptic brilliance of Life In A Glasshouse (amongst my very favourite Radiohead songs) but it’s spare atmosphere and the rolling drums make a perfect epilogue for the previous 9 songs.
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