Radiohead - In Rainbows
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Free Music Notes for In Rainbows
Free Music Review: Over Hyped- Snoozer
Hit: 2 Stars
My initial first listen to this album on college radio had myself and the DJ bummed out. Are we all so desperate for another OK Computer or Bends cd that anything with Thom Yorke doing some actual singing will create booming praises? I think so. Most likely In Rainbows will share space with Amnesia, Kid A and Hail to the Thief, sitting in a box in my closet, completely stopped listening to.
This album is plain and simple boring to listen to, with lifeless songs that are no fun to sing along with (I admit I like to sing along with music). What happened to actual SONGS this band used to create? I can take an artsy off the usual path album or two from a band, but maybe radiohead should have just called it quits after OK Computer because it doesn't seem they even aspire to top it.
Free Music Review: The parts are greater than the whole.
Hit: 3 Stars
'In Rainbows' was the most anticipated Radiohead album since 'Kid A'. But UNLIKE that album, this one was expected to be a new beginning for the band. Thom York said himself that 'Hail To the Thief' was going to be the last of Radiohead "as we know it". However, it appears York & company didn't feel as adventurous going into this project as they made it seem.
The Negatives:
'In Rainbows' does not feel like a fully formed album. Instead, like 'Amnesiac', it seems more like a loose collection of outtakes (outtakes being for this band of course, better than the BEST songs by many other artists!). The music is really more of the same. There are three songs here I find terribly boring, and one I can't make my mind up on. The really frustrating thing is that the bad songs here aren't actually "bad", they just lack a certain punch. It's like they belong with all those other numerous Radiohead b-sides. With the rather lackluster state the music world has been in for a long time, we really need a groundbreaking and unique package of music to stir things up once and awhile. So, to quote an old member of the music business, 'In Rainbows' seems more like "a bunt instead of a home run".
The Positives:
In spite of the fact that this collection feels so non-cohesive and lackluster, there are still six songs here that are INSTANT Radiohead CLASSICS! The band still sounds confident and inspired. Thom's voice is as strong as ever. Most importantly, the melodies here are still original and interesting. The only reason I'm still giving 'In Rainbows' a lower score is that these songs seem better taken individually. They really do not sound like they belong together. In fact, any of them could fit into any of Radiohead's previous seven albums. That is great praise for the songs, much less for 'In Rainbows' taken as an album.
The Songs:
'15 Step' (Man, this is their weakest opener ever. Another electronic loop, with accompanying drumming, and a bass melody. Like I said, it's hardly bad, but it's just...there. Rather boring, and certainly not a good way to begin an album.
'Bodysnatchers' (A great song that is unmistakably Radiohead to the core. Sounds like it belongs on `Hail To the Thief'. In fact, it sounds like a hybrid of `2+2=5' and `Where I End And You Begin'. In any case, it REALLY rocks.)
'Nude' (Another instant classic. Very slow, ethereal, and haunting, with an impressive orchestral buildup to a nice crescendo.)
'Arpeggi/Weird Fishes' (A lot like '15 Step', only without the electronica. And again, it just seems to hang in space without much of a memorable melody or an impression.)
'All I Need' (A fantastically dark and foreboding song. Think of a darker 'Morning Bell'.)
'Faust Arp' (A great, fast-paced acoustic song, a lot like 'Thinking About You'. Just too short!)
'Reckoner' (Another great one, with crashing cymbals driving along a sorrowful melody. Also features outstanding vocals from Thom.)
'House of Cards' (I'm really still trying to decide if I like this one. It's very slow and kind of boring, but that also may work in its favor, because it has a very meditative and peaceful atmosphere, more so that any other Radiohead song.
'Jigsaw Falling Into Place' (Just incredibly good. An acoustic song that starts off slow and builds and builds up to one heck of a crescendo. Plus, Thom just BELTS it out during the second half. I really wish he'd sing like that more often. Thom's BEST vocal performance yet!)
'Videotape' (Their worst closer ever. It's a peaceful and sad sounding piano song, but it's also terribly boring and under-developed.)
So, 'In Rainbows' has at least six OUTSTANDING songs on it. However, taken as a whole, this album doesn't really stand on its own. Perhaps it just needed more songs, along with an infusion of different styles of music and instrumentation. With this latest offering, Radiohead proves they still have what it takes to make a great song, but the next album needs to be much more cohesive.
Free Music Review: I'm A Reasonable Man, Get Off My Case
Hit: 2 Stars
Let's see. This album is now a product that can be bought. The point is to review the product. I really cannot stress enough how uninspired this album sounds to me. The best songs Radiohead have written are clearly contained on The Bends and OK Computer. And Kid A/Amnesiac to a lesser extent; though there's some fine material there.
The band's output since 2000/2001 has been uneven and at times faultering.
In Rainbows finds them creating the same mistakes again. Thom Yorke is most likely heading the ship. It's been sinking for a long time, and I don't think he gets it anymore.
The song "Videotape" (especially Yorke's solo live version) hinted at the possibility of this band/man still being able to pierce the heart with lyrics and melody.
I've heard people defend that there's "some good songs" on this album. But that could (way too) easily be narrowed to 2 or 3. Radiohead were a band I thought would never release an album with so few good songs. Apparently they've done it. Though it certainly isn't the worst album, compared to many modern bands, it meanders so much that it becomes sonic beige carpet, and overall the album is an emotional flatline. Yawn, maybe we'll see what they do next.
Free Music Review: great album
Hit: 5 Stars
just what I was looking for. Amazon has the best prices for music. I'll never pay music store prices again!!Free Music Review: It grows on you
Hit: 4 Stars
I'm an old-guard Radiohead fan from the Pablo Honey days, but had lost track of them in more recent years. Once the publicity hit about Radiohead selling their latest album for whatever price you want to pay, I jumped on the chance to support a non-traditional music distribution idea.
At first, the album took some getting used to. Since I had not been exposed to the band's more electronic phase, that was new. Also, some of the lyrics were a bit hard to understand. But after a few listens, the lyrics became clear and I came to appreciate the cleverness of several of the songs, both in their lyrical content and economy of sound.
I paid 10 pounds for the album, and I feel it was worth every penny. Months later, it's still in heavy rotation on my iPhone.