On the deliriously satisfying In Rainbows, Radiohead returns to a more straight-ahead (though subdued) rock sound. Much hubbub has been made about this record's innovative release. Radiohead allowed fans to pay what they wished to download fairly low-resolution tracks from the band's own website. Like so many innovations, it already seems funny both that it was such big news and that someone else of similar stature hadn't done it sooner. Some pundits were appalled that it took awhile to download the tracks if you tried to do it at the same time as thousands of other people, while others decried that the group was trying to kill the music industry (or save it). Little of the press seemed to focus on the record itself, which actually made sense because it was so entertaining and inviting, the most low-key album Radiohead has made to date. There's even a very straight-forward, simple, silly little love song, "House of Cards." It might be a bit lethargic, but the simple instrumentation of electric guitars, bass, and drums is lovely as heck. A handful of these tunes enchanted fans for years before finally being committed to computer "tape." This is particularly fitting as In Rainbows is the group's most "band"-sounding album since OK Computer. This is not a record that hits you over the head with how far this group is pushing the envelope; it's simply a phenomenal, well-crafted, and exciting album. As soon as it's done, you're playing it again. --Mike McGonigal
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
C'mon...:
Anyone who gave this less than 4 and a half stars is not doing it justice.
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What I think about In Rainbows is that Radiohead reinvented their style of music yet again, as they did in the transition between OK Computer and Kid A. At first, I was put off by it because it didn't give me the kind of....how can I say it....well, it's more of Radiohead reaching into themselves and experimenting then trying to reach out to the listener as they did so well in The Bends and OK Computer. But then I just looked at the technical how-to quality to it, and I just bean to appreciate the album as... more info
Waste of money:
I purchased this CD right after the release...Needless to say, I was sooooo disappointed. The tracks dragged on and I think I have tried to listen to it in it's entirety twice but can't.
Mostly great:
Great compilation of songs. Some parts of the CD dragged on too much for me, but overall I enjoyed it!
