radiohead - in rainbows review
January 7, 2008 by Cash
Radiohead. You either get em, or you don’t. I’m happily one of the former. Their music has always seemed to cast a surreal light on my experience. I remember Kid A serving as the icy soundtrack several years ago for a dangerous, blizzard blurred drive over the winding highways of northern Arizona. Racing towards Las Vegas for New Year’s eve, the songs pushed us on with equal parts excitement (for the trip), and fear (of what might be lurking just beyond the foggy windows of our frozen car). Radiohead is like that. A study in dichotomy. For every spooky piece of “How To Disappear Completely” melancholia, there’s a subversive anthem like “I Might Be Wrong” ready to rock.
It’s kind of surprising then that they return with “In Rainbows”; their most consistent, and consistently amazing work yet.
In Rainbows opens with “15 step”, a heavily processed piece which dances the line between the electro-glitchy goodness of “Idioteque” and the acoustic guitar work of “Hail to the Thief”. Thom Yorke spends much of the album exploring themes of isolation, nihilism and perpetuating past mistakes. This is typical tonic to Radiohead’s Tanqueray. What’s different here is the dare I say it, *accessibility* of the music itself.
“Bodysnatchers” may be the most commercial RH song since “Creep”. Like road music for a synthetic summer, the track seems to channel The Doors, somehow improving upon their vibe in the process. Later in the disc, “Jigsaw Falling into Place” continues down the radio-friendly path. With a rolling bass line that underpins Thom’s introspection perfectly and subtle rhythm guitar work backed by choral chants, it’s at once gorgeous and rocking.
On the other hand, fans of RH’s more haunting apparitions won’t be disappointed either.
“You’re All I Need”, probably my favorite song here, is a minimalist masterpiece; all music box tinged melodies and piano chord infused perfection. Is Yorke singing about his soul mate, or himself when he says “I’m an animal…trapped in your hot car”? Either way, it’s the kind of goose bump inducing sentiment that’s become his lyrical signature. Elsewhere, such as on “Nude” Thom’s voice acts as the soulful sun rising over the haunting iciness of the track’s electronic intro. It’s like the best of Kid A thawing out next to a fireplace.
The album’s closer “Videotape”, beautiful and disturbing in equal parts, is easily the best Radiohead finale yet.
Not content to wallow in the misery of mortality, Yorke seems grateful for his life, and at peace with its final resolution
One complaint I’ve had with Radiohead in the past is their descent into moments of self-indulgence. Letting a track ramble on too long, laying annoying, screeching horns on top of an otherwise beautiful song, etc. There is none of that here. Just consistently engaging, powerful songs that linger long after they stop playing.
I find myself thinking about one of my favorite Radiohead memories. Red Rocks, Hail To The Thief tour. About half way through the set, Thom walked to the center of the stage where a piano had been rolled. As the first notes of “Exit (music for a film)” rang out, the sold-out amphitheater fell silent. So silent I literally heard crickets. Eventually, a solitary cough. This was the only indication I was amongst 10,000 other people. We were rapt. Completely under Radiohead’s spell. “In Rainbows” is poised to do the same thing for a much wider audience.
On “House Of Cards”, Thom sings “I don’t wanna be your friend, I just wanna be your lover..” For any of you still on the fence about Radiohead, consider this album your third date.
Rating: A
Highly recommended.
Nice review Cash. In general the music I like seems to be divided into 2 categories: It either starts out sounding ok and grows on me the more I listen to it, or it sounds awesome off the bat and gets old quickly the more I listen to it.
Radiohead is the grows on me type….and In Rainbows, like all of their other albums, gets better the more I listen to it.
Yesterday my friend sent me this youtube link that has a 50min webcast of them performing the entire album in their studio. It is breathtaking:
http://youtube.com/profile?user=radiohead
Thanks Cory! Typically I’m the same way with Radiohead albums, needing repeated listens to really appreciate them. With this one though, I was hooked after one listen. It definitely stands out for me in that regard.
Great review man. I’m loving In Rainbows right now, especially song 6. I sometimes notice Thom’s vocals occasionally lapse into self-indulgence (especially when it’s a bunch of them overlapping), and In Rainbows he really gets close to that line a couple times (Nude, Reckoner) but IMO doesn’t overdo it.
Thanks Zac. I’m right there with you on Reckoner. IMO, one of the weakest tracks on the album.
Cash, you are on the money. Having initially heard most of the album when released as the ‘you price your own download’ I decided pretty quickly based off of what I was hearing that this album was worth no less to me than approximately 40 pounds (monetarily speaking anyhow). As such I ordered the beautiful disc box set of the album. The disc box contains 2 45 vinyl lps with about half of the album on each record. Also included are 2 cd’s, the first containing In Rainbows and the second containing six additional gems (not including the 2 brief instrumentals MK 1 and MK2).
I’m tempted to think of this collection as an e.p. companion to In Rainbows. You know like it’s ‘My Iron Lung’ to ‘the Bends’, or ‘Airbag/How Am I Driving’ to ‘OK Computer’. So six additional gems submitted for our approval, and indeed I improve. ‘Down Is the New Up’ finds Mr. Yorke in a bit of a sinister mood sitting at the upright, perpetuated by Mr. Selway’s low kick, high snapping snare and kinetic jazz. This song peaks with an evil string swell and then exits much in the same way it enters. ‘Go Slowly’ does slowly introduce the listener to interlaced guitar and sonic sorcery undoubtedly cast by Mr. J. Greenwood. Yorke’s vocal is a ghost. ‘Last Flowers To The Hospital’ in all of it’s simplicity is by far my favorite. A naked vocal, a piano arpeggio eventual guitar and bass. “I can’t face the evening straight you can offer me escape” too true. “Up On The Ladder” pulsates eeriness and uncertainty. This track sounds as though it could be an Eraser out take. ‘Bangers and Mash’ is a runaway steam engine of rhythm with deliciously detuned guitars that sound as if were on loan from Mr. Reznor’s collection. Finally Thom, Ed, Colin, Jonny and Phil bring things to a nice close with ‘4 Minute Warning’. Sounding as though was recorded in the studio lobby with Phil on the couch with a tambourine and Ed playing guitar in the water closet down the hall. “This is just a nightmare, soon I’m going to wake up”. In Rainbows is without a doubt a worthy submission into the argument of best Radiohead album. I forgot to mention that Colin Greenwood is one of the most melodic bass players playing today. Thanks again Cash for the great review. Has Radiohead aged gracefully or has Radiohead tapped the fabled fountain of youth?