Album of the Week #41: "In Rainbows" by Radiohead

John

Well, I know there's already a thread on this but here's a fresh one to discuss exactly what you think of the album now that you've got it for nearly a week. Is it a return to form? Were they ever out of form? What did you pay (see poll)? Was it worth the money? Is this a new era for album releases or is it something that only an established band with nothing to lose can afford to do?

nyarlothothep

A return to form, HTTT was pretty good, but a bit bloated at times, but still a really good album, but In Rainbows is way better, it has really sublime tunes on it. As to whether it signals a new era in album distribution remains to be seen, but realistically I would say yes and no. Its not necessarily something only an established band can do though, dont bands make sweet fa on album sales anyway?

lodgepole

It's my favourite album since Kid A, but I don't think they were ever off form. That's based on the week's listen of course, and could change over time. I paid £6 plus the credit card charge, so about a tenner. There's a reasonably good chance i'll buy a retail CD if and when it is released.

Sinfonia

So far - I didn't like it straight away, but it's really growing on me now...

I like all the songs really, except Faust Arp, and I don't like the version of Videotape (I adore the live version, and I was hoping the studio version would be as energetic and exciting).

While it's a good album, it's a bit disappointing in my opinion. It kind of sounds like a album of good B-sides - and for a gap that long between albums, I'm surprised it's so minimal, and I really think they have it in them to make something better.
It may grow on me further, but at the moment it ranks 5th for me in RH albums - OKC; Kid A; Amnesiac; HTTT; IR; Bends; PH (although Bends is probably a better album, I'm just bored with it now)

I hope it does grow on me more, because I shelled out for the discbox too!

joenailface

I love it, made it onto my must have radiohead list with Kid A and Hail to the Theif, on the note of it feels minimal...i think that there will be another new album out rather soon like kid a and amnesiac, not that i thought of that first, i just figured after hearing it a few times 'theyre gonna bring another one out soon' and the kid a and amnesiac thing only dawned on me after

leinsterman

I paid €3 for the download ... but to be fair I also ordered the box for £40 ... so I figure I overpaid by Ohhh ... about £3 ... I'm calling it rental of music while waiting for the real deal ...

First playing last night led to a letter of complaint under my door from my neighbour this morning over the noise!!!

I like it a lot so far ... but time will tell if it really grows on me ...

eclectichoney

I liked this at first (I'd give it 3.5 out of 5) - Bodysnatchers, Jigsaw and Videotape being very good in particular. But now I'm tired of it already, and I skip past it on my mp3 player. It sounds a little tired. I'm actually thinking of cancelling my discbox order (according to waste you can, I think)

Goodshape

leinsterman wrote: »

I paid €3 for the download ... but to be fair I also ordered the box for £40 ... so I figure I overpaid by Ohhh ... about £3 ... I'm calling it rental of music while waiting for the real deal ...

You didn't actually have to do that. The download comes with the discbox set; they would have sent you out a code on the 10th anyway.

Went for the box-set myself. Loving the album.. only tracks I wouldn't be mad about are the first two - they're not bad tracks, just nothing special. After that (starting with Nude) the album settles into something beautiful and carries on that way until the end.

Better than Hail to the Thief. Probably not as good as Kid A / Amnesiac.

...though I'd almost agree with SumGuy that after such a long break a bigger, more ground-breaking, album from them would have been nice. But that doesn't stop In Rainbows being fantastic in it's own right.

nyarlothothep

Having listened to this album a good bit, its not as amazing as it first seemed to be. The production, sound, and mixes are nothing short of incredible and constitute something that is interesting to listen to in its own right as well as the songs. However its the songs themselves that just lack something. Even the standout tracks, while being really good, don't match up to anything on The Bends and Ok Computer. Its just a bit formulaic. The sound of the album is different imo, its very lush, orchestral and glacial. But the songs themselves just sometimes give of the impression of being...stock. To be honest, even though I like Kid A and HTTT, and some of Amnesiac, they will never compare to The Bends or Ok Computer. Even the songs on the My Iron Lung E.P. and others such as Maquiladora and Talk Show Host are preferable to Sit Up, Stand Down, The Gloaming or Weird Fishes. They hit their peak imo around 1994-1997 and its just not the same anymore. Its a good album by all means, and imo probably the best all year buts it not amazing.

loyatemu

I'm not a huge fan - I liked the Bends at the time, found OK Computer pretty boring, and I've liked the odd track since then but found the albums fairly dull. But I really like this new one - it seems they've found a happy medium between their more melodic side and the experimental stuff (I've nothing against abstract electronica but I'd rather listen to, say, Boards of Canada doing it well than Radiohead doing it badly).