Radiohead - In Rainbows

It looks weird doesn’t it? ; One of the biggest, most celebrated bands on the planet with the words self-released stuck next to their name. That’s right, in case you didn’t know, Radiohead are currently unsigned and are not benefiting from any major label promotion. Yet the criticisms this band have had to endure for releasing their 7th LP and allowing fans to pay whatever they choose, lets remember, have bordered on the vitriolic. It is hardly the crime of the century, after all.

Or is it really a devious marketing scheme aimed at duping people into parting with £40 of their hard earned cash for the box set edition?. Whatever your stance here, you cannot deny the only two words worth talking about these days are “In Rainbows”. Even Led Zeppelin’s imminent return has been pushed aside in favour of Radiohead’s shock return after four and a half years.

With reviews cropping up all over the web and blogosphere minutes after its release (closely followed by a wave of DIY remixes), “In Rainbows” hysteria currently holds the music world in a vice-like grip.

So is it worth all this fuss? ; Yes it is actually, “In Rainbows” is a great return. It’s not “OK Computer” great, but that is completely unfair. That is the equivalent of saying Zinedine Zidane never topped THAT European Cup Final goal he scored in 2002. He never did, it was an incredible strike, but he did go on to produce several more moments of magic in his career.

The first thing I notice about “In Rainbows” is that it is unmistakably Radiohead. From Thom Yorke’s towering falsetto, Jonny Greenwood’s Fripp inspired six-string terrorism, through to the solid core of Phil Selway, Ed O’Brien and Colin Greenwood; no other band can sound like this. Sure, Coldplay and Muse present a diluted version of this sound but, in truth, Thom and co left these bands behind years ago.

It’s also worth noting that “In Rainbows” is easily the most direct and, dare I say, commercial Radiohead release in some time. Devoid of “Kid A’s” abstract nature, “In Rainbows” is bursting with melody and every track features prominent guitar. Yorke’s voice has also been left virtually untouched; this is surely a continuation from his unprocessed style on “The Eraser”. Recent releases have seen his voice shrouded in studio trickery, but on “In Rainbows” he has rarely sounded better.

Stand-out tracks are plentiful and destined to change with each listen. Only “Bodysnatchers” rehashes old ground and even then you are left with the feeling it could be a show-stopper live. “Nude” (a leftover from the “OK Computer” years) has been transformed into a heart-breaking ballad powered by Thom Yorke’s melancholic howl and mournful strings. Yes, Radiohead really have gone orchestral on “In Rainbows”!

“15 Step” melds an “Idioteque” aesthetic with a delicious Greenwood guitar line as the band splice various samples and children’s chants throughout. “All I Need”, complete with a Boards of Canada inspired analogue bassline, soars just at the moment you most need it to, while “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” portrays a world class band right at the very pinnacle of their game.

The biggest delight, though, comes in the form of a drastically changed “Reckoner”. Avid Radiohead fans will remember the rough and ready live clips of this song from a few years ago. The jagged riffs and furious percussion are gone and it now features, arguably, Thom Yorke’s finest vocal performance yet. He spins an infectious harmony over an animated drum progression, while the rest of the band slowly kick in, with Colin Greenwood’s booming bass, in particular, giving the track the extra impetus it needs. As celestial strings are poured into this arrangement, “Reckoner” simply put, is one of Radiohead’s most gorgeous moments.

A lot of things have changed in the world since we last heard from Radiohead. Global warming is a serious issue; it plays second fiddle only to Bush’s ‘war on terrorism’. Tony Blair has gone and has been replaced by the equally docile Gordon Brown. Within this climate, it’s refreshing to know some things will never change; Radiohead’s uncanny ability to make delightful, challenging music. When the dust finally settles over their choice of distribution methods, one criticism that can never be leveled at Radiohead is their lack of ingenuity.

In Rainbows Track listing:

01. 15 Step
02. Bodysnatchers
03. Nude
04. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
05. All I Need
06. Faust Arp
07. Reckoner
08. House Of Cards
09. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
10. Videotape