Countless fans scrambled to the pre-order site and were treated to another surprise more profound than the release itself. Thumbing their nose at the music corporations, Radiohead decided to exclusively release the album as a digital download that users could decide how much to pay for. All that's left to ask is, "Just how much is the best record of the year worth to you?"
Even though it's been four long years since 2003's Hail to the Thief, the album's opener, "15 Step," proves that the band did not spend that time idly. The jazzy guitar rhythms and aggressive percussion force the listener to sit up and take notice of the artistry at hand. It's the same technique they used 10 years ago when they chose to open OK Computer with "Airbag." It's useless to resist the abrasiveness of the strange track. The beat is incredibly appealing, and after listening, you may find yourself exclaiming "Yeah!" like the children featured in the song's bridge.
By the second track, "Bodysnatchers," the album manages to solidify its staying power. Greenwood's guitar work is a big factor, evoking the older Radiohead sound heard on tracks like "Planet Telex" and "Electioneering." When the song gives way to the beautiful "Nude," it becomes evident that this record is a better follow up to OK Computer, not Hail to the Thief. The orchestral atmosphere and haunting vocals in "Nude" parallel OK Computer's most powerful ballad, "The Tourist." The rift between In Rainbows and its predecessor stems from the amount of time spent on the production. Thief represented the band's desire to go back to the basics of Pablo Honey and The Bends. According to Greenwood, making In Rainbows "was more like earlier Kid A stuff, more based in studio experiments and trying out ideas and spending quite a long time."
"Weird Fishes/Arpeggi," like most of the tracks featured on In Rainbows, has been in the Radiohead repertoire for sometime; all of the tunes, excluding "Faust Arp," have been previously performed in front of an audience. Regardless of how many times these songs have already been sung, the studio production has transformed the familiar sketches into brand new compositions.
"All I Need" provides singer Thom Yorke with the opportunity to unleash the melancholy with which the band has become synonymous. As Yorke sings, "I'm an animal/Trapped in your parked car/I am holidays/That you choose to ignore," the song builds up into a classic Radiohead piece; it slowly gathers speed for three minutes and then finally crescendos in an emotional catharsis.
This sentiment carries over into "Faust Arp." The song is defined by its sparseness, and its beauty is derived from its simplicity. The brilliant use of acoustic guitar provides the perfect foundation for the violin backdrop; the entrance of the strings is one of the most poignant transitions ever heard in a Radiohead song. The band liked the sound enough to do it again in the following track, "Reckoner." Drummer Phil Selway shines on this cut, opening it up with an understated cymbal solo. It's another excellent ballad in which all of the independent musical elements come together to form a cohesive theme.
On this record, Yorke seems to have abandoned the aggressive bravado he adopted for Hail to the Thief, reverting back to a more melodic style as seen on earlier releases. Some songs, like "House of Cards," rely heavily on his vocals to establish a calm and eerie tone. "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" shatters this peace and kicks the tempo up one last time. Yorke's anxious vocals coupled with Greenwood's running guitar lines make for one of the most upbeat, rock-driven songs on the record; it's also the closest thing to Hail to the Thief. This new arrangement will work especially well when the band plays it live next year during its inevitable tour.
The record concludes with the moving "Videotape," a masterful combination of lilting piano chords and passionate lyrics. The subtle drum patterns heighten the emotion, forcing the listener to focus on the lyrics, "This is my way of saying goodbye/Because I can't do it face to face/I'm talking to you after it's too late/From my videotape." It's the perfect end to a perfect outing.
This album is much more than unique marketing. It is an inspired collection of some of the best music the band has put out in a decade. In Rainbows proves, once again, why Radiohead is considered one of the most talented and influential bands in the world.
Download This: All of it (for $?)
Bottom Line: It took four years, but it was worth the wait.
