In Rainbows - One Man's Opinion

So it's been over four years of anticipation since the release of Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief" - an album that despite a brilliant array of very unique and groundbreaking tracks, never became one of the albums listed as the greatest in their ouvre. So when I woke up with Christmas morning anticipation at 6am today without the help of an alarm, and realized that I would not get to sleep again without listening to it, I had a great deal of trepidation (I, for one, loved HTTT, but when a band has done so much right, you always wait for them to do somethin wrong - especially when they've been around for as long as Radiohead). So I downloaded the album, scraped the remaining resin from my bowls, flipped off the lights, plugged in my headphones and began.

A track-by-track review follows, but here are some overall thoughts.

Please take these comments with a grain of salt, I love and almost worship Radiohead, and these are NITPICKY complaints: I have to admit I'm frustrated that the album was so short. They clearly had a lot of material from these sessions, and though I appreciate their decision to release the "b-sides" as a separate cd in a few months in the discbox, I wish there had been a little more. In fact, I believe this is their shortest album they released, excepting maybe Amnesiac. I'm hoping (and this is what it seems) that In Rainbows as we know it so far is something like a double album, and only the first half "leaked" if that's what you want to call it. The live versions of several tracks on the second disc are pretty heavy hitters, and so they may round off the first disc well (although there's no telling - Reckoner is almost unrecognizable on the album versus its live version - more on that later though.) However, unlike some recent
This is a far more relaxed album than Hail to the Thief, and it will certainly not appeal to all Radiohead fans. The music is, however, far more mature and complex than, I think, anything they've released in the past. It is accessible without being "easy", the themes being far more obvious, and yet still far more poetic. Thom Yorke waxes romantic on several tracks, and despite him being close to forty, it is by far the most polished and varied singing we've heard from him. Also, it is much more organic than most recent albums, the guitar, bass, and drums are easily recognizable even with the quintessential radiohead production we all know and love. I truly believe that this is one of those albums that will continue to grow with you the more you hear it. There is not a moment that has not been obviously thought through to the nth degree, and the music and lyrics fit with one another better probably than any other Radiohead album. So now for a closer look...

1) 15 Step - The album starts with a live favorite, full of electronic drum beats and odd, yet somehow danceable rhythms. It is possibly the most fun moment of the cd, and there's a lot of layering here, coming across as a slightly less frantic homage to "Idioteque". The album version makes full use of the studio, effects to the vocals and backing track to heighten the drama.

2) Bodysnatchers - A very different track that could as easily be written by the White Stripes. Guitar-heavy, up-tempo, and hard-hitting, it is an homage back to the days of Pablo Honey (albeit more polished). The different sections of the song line up perfectly, and the transitions between them are completely seamless. The groovy coda (after the bridge) is a real standout, and is surprisingly fun by Radiohead's standard.

3) Nude - A tune that the band has been throwing around since they were recording OK Computer. This is the first time it has appeared as a studio track, and the translation works perfectly. The beginning of the first verse is about as "nude" as you can get - sparse drums, a slow throbbing bassline, and Thom's trademark falsetto, but it quickly warms up with synth-strings and the addition of the guitar. The climax, when everything drops out but Thom's voice is pure magic - it's some of the best singing he's ever done, and that's saying something.

4) Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - One of the "colorful" moments of the album that I referred to before. The layering of guitars and the slight reverb on the vocals gives the impression of being underwater. Really gorgeous and contemplative, without being boring.

5) All I Need - Possibly my favorite track on the album. The "Atoms for Peace"-esque bassline is great, Thom's voice is in top form, and the build-up is amazing. The lyrics are beautiful, and the build-up from the point that the piano comes in gives me chills. Like "How to Disappear Completely", the impact beginning of the song just cannot prepare you for the impassioned moments that will come later. Simply gorgeous

6) Faust Arp - A short homage to the sound of the Beatles, with a simple vocal line, unison strings, and acoustic guitars. Not a stand out track in my opinion, but it provides a welcome cleansing from the last few synth-soaked tracks.

7) Reckoner - A percussion-heavy intro gives way to a surprisingly low-fi tune that features Thom's falsetto. An interesting choice for this point in the album. The drum-less middle section of the song is particularly memorable, but this might have been a good point for another rocker (which it could have been). A brief history of "Reckoner": in its live conception it had a hard, grungy riff, possibly even more intense than Myxomatosis. The album version is a completely different song under the same title. Many people have hoped that the hard-rocking version will be one of the unknown tracks on the b-sides cd, and rightly so - it's pretty awesome.

8) House Of Cards - Somewhat akin to the music of Yo La Tengo, this is another really beautiful ballad. It's simple and beautiful, and surpringly sexy - Thom starts out with the line "I don't wanna be your friend, I just wanna be your lover". The kind of song you'd want to be curled up with someone under the stars for, enjoying the warm, lush synth.

9) Jigsaw Falling Into Place - A welcome rocker wakes us up before Videotape. A throw-back to the Bends era, this track differs significantly from its live version in that the electric aspect of the guitars never really comes into play, something that may have added to the allure of the song.

10) Videotape - One of Radiohead's many songs about death is based on a constantly repeated figure played purposefully on a bright, imperfect upright piano (yep I can recognize that much just from how it sounds). The skittish drum figure is hard to describe, but it works perfectly to add to the desperate nature of the lyrics. It is almost like the percussive equivalent of a tape that has been overused and has quality issues. I don't know, you have to hear it to understand. The best way to review this intensely touching track is simply to list its lyrics:

When I'm at the pearly gates
This will be on my videotape, my videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
and he's reaching up to grab me

This is one for the good days
and i have it all here
In red, blue, green
In red, blue, green

You are my center
When i spin away
Out of control on videotape

This is my way of saying goodbye
Cause I can't do it face to face
I'm talking to you after it's too late
From my videotape

No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been the most perfect day I've ever seen.

The thing about this album, is it really gets to me. I don't really know why. "In Rainbows" may be the best title they could have chosen for this record - each track (although Radiohead's sound is present) demonstrates a completely different color from them. Despite my few issues with its length and tendency to lean toward to morose sounds, especially on the latter half of the cd, it really is an amazing set of songs. (However as I've said, if the second cd is slightly more upbeat at times, they could work together very well)

The final verdict: Not for everyone, but constructed with the care and nuance of the greatest of classical works. A really excellent, veritable piece of art.