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album: In Rainbows
artist: Radiohead
label: www.radiohead.com / 2007
score: 90
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by Tim Mathiesen
After such a solid career, I keep worrying that one of the next Radiohead albums will flop. I have no evidence to back my nervousness, yet it seems to happen so often that a legendary band will eventually succumb to financial and mainstream temptations and create something that is not fully of them or for their fans. They end up meeting in the middle and lose the depth of their artistic convictions and only partly satisfying the public's expectations.
Radiohead, however, has traded in mainstream security for independent freedom. After fulfilling their major label contract, Radiohead made the decision to venture out on their own and sold their new album, In Rainbows, through their own website in mp3 format. After shopping around for a distributor for their album, they decided on XL Records for distribution outside the U.S. and Dave Matthews' label, ATO Records, for distribution within the U.S. The album is due to be released in stores in January 2008. Through their website, Radiohead has already sold over a million copies of In Rainbows. Oh, and by the way, they leave it up to you to decide how much you want to pay for this album (even $0.00 if you don't mind being a cheapskate). They obviously have a loyal following because it has been reported that they are averaging around $8 an album.
Now, remember my fear? That they would finally fall flat on their face? Well, the album opens with "15 Step," beginning with a nice, heavy sythisized beat. Sounds like they decided to go back to their electronic sound, riding on the popularity of Thom Yorke's solo project from last year. But then a wonderful guitar lick enters and throws that assumption out the window. "15 Step" is followed by "Bodysnatchers" which is built on melodic distortion, layered with atmospheric guitar and a steady drum beat while Thom Yorke wails and hums along, reminiscent of their album, The Bends. "Nude" is the third song on the album and couldn't be more different from the first two. Starting out with strings and a subtle beat, suddenly everything drops out and Thom Yorke's voice enters, along with the quiet drums, in the usual laid back Radiohead style. Half way into the song, the strings return and give the song a vast epic feel that only Radiohead can pull off, and hasn't really done since Kid A.
Those three songs represent the album quite well. The entire album gives the listener a good taste of Radiohead's career without compromising the originality of the album as a whole. Taking what has worked for them in the past, Radiohead has not given up the most important thing that sets them apart from most other bands. The band never forgets the importance of creativity in the most minute and seemingly insignificant parts of their music. Most everything heard on this album is important to the overall sound of each song. Nothing is insignificant and nothing could be removed without compromising the integrity and quality of the sound. Listen to the way sounds and tunes weave in and out while the instruments support and play off of each other. Every musician has a common goal, but they roam free like jazz musicians. This is not to say that the music is a jumbled beautiful mess. When casually listened to, it may just sound obscure and Thom Yourke's voice may sound slightly obnoxious at times, but on closer listen, you understand that Thom Yorke's singing is meant to play along with the instruments rather than be the main focus of the song.
So to answer my own question, it looks like Radiohead is more than safe, for now! Not only did they pull a publicity stunt with the sale of In Rainbows, they created an incredible album!
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