In Rainbows

10/10/2007 10:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

At least at this early date, I think it’s nearly impossible to review In Rainbows, Radiohead’s seventh studio album, based solely on the music. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few weeks, this is the album that is threatening to turn the music industry on its ear. Freed from their contract with Capitol Records, Oxford, England’s favorite sons decided to release the album on their own website -- bypassing the traditional channels of record companies and retailers -- and let their fans decide how much to pay for the download. (You can also purchase a deluxe “disc box” for 40 pounds [$82] that contains a bonus CD and the album on two 12-inch vinyl discs). Full disclosure -- I paid only one pound plus an additional 45 pence for handling. After listening to In Rainbows, boy, do I feel like cheapskate. In short, the album is so good, I’m considering ordering the pricey “disc box” even as ponder giving up collecting CDs and records (remember those?) and to go fully digital. Before I get to the music and you assume I’m a cheap bastard, let me explain how I arrived at the discount price point. On the day I heard about In Rainbows, I tried six or seven times to order the download, often times re-entering the information as the Radiohead site timed out time and time again. Eventually I gave up. The following day I was able to get in and order successfully, but still smarting from the poor service the first time around, I decided to let my fee do the talking, much like you tip a waiter based on the quality of the service. Thankfully, downloading the album of the day of release went much smoother and it felt like a genuine event, reminding me of the days as a teenager I took the bus to the record store to buy an album by my favorite band on the day of release, rushed home, ripped off the shrink wrap and slapped a slab of vinyl on the old turntable.

Clicking my computer mouse a few times for In Rainbows wasn’t quite the thrill, but on my third listen as I write, I feel I made off like a bandit. In Rainbows is a stunning collection of songs, perhaps not as groundbreaking as Radiohead’s previous epics, 1997’s OK Computer or 2000’s Kid A musically (more so in terms of distribution), but nonetheless stunning. Of all the hugely popular rock bands on the planet, Radiohead is the most interesting and challenging and continues to be on In Rainbows. From the herky-jerky rhythms of the opening “15 Step” to the haunting piano-driven “Videotape,” In Rainbows is instantly compelling and strangely addictive. Thom Yorke continues to sing like a wounded deer. You feel his pain even if you’re not exactly sure what he’s going on about. The band, including guitar whiz Jonny Greenwood, rocks furiously on “Bodysnatchers” then downshifts into a tasteful lounge sway on “Nude.” I can go on and on and write about every track, but instead I’ll simply urge you to download this album now if you haven’t already. As for Radiohead, I assume they’re more into making music for art’s sake than making money, but I have some advice. First, next time around, make sure your website can handle the traffic. Second, let that fans hear your album before they pay. If it’s as good as In Rainbows, your fans will want to pay even more after they get a taste.