When Radiohead left their label Capitol Records to produce their own music four years ago, many doubted the British rockers would ever return to form.
However, now the internationally renowned band has returned to the top of their game with the recent release of their full-length LP album, In Rainbows. Their gamble to produce, advertise and sell an album on their own paid off.
In 1993, Radiohead broke into the music scene with their first LP album, Pablo Honey. Their atmospheric tone and poetic lyrics appealed to many listeners. Through the years, the band has diversified their music with jazz, blues and classical elements. But In Rainbows is the first album where they have successfully combined each of these elements to create a complete cohesive collection.
In Rainbows opens with lead singer, Thom Yorke, crooning about a failed relationship in ?15 Steps?. Synthesizers, rapid drum taps and smooth guitar picking provide a glimpse of what the rest of the album offers.
The expertly crafted ?Bodysnatchers? invokes the same emotions as an old space invader movie such as War of the Worlds or The Day the Earth Stood Still. Yorke describes the impact of 21st century medicines and their dehumanizing characteristics.
?All I Need? and ?Nude? both offer slow, ethereal narratives about impossible love and the desire to attain the affection of another.
?Weird Fishes/Arpeggi? analyzes the moment when a man hits the low point of his life. Yorke describes the choice to rise from the depths of despair singing, ?I?ll hit the bottom and escape.? Catchy drums and smooth guitar strokes carry the song and make it one of Radiohead?s best.
The same delicate nature can be found in ?House of Cards? as the band explores forbidden love. Soft guitars and ghostly background vocals infuse the song with relaxed ease while the lyrics portray intense emotional turmoil.
The band finds their musical sweet spot in the ?Jigsaw Falling Into Place?, the albums first single. They convey a sense of helplessness with a bluesy guitar and quick, shallow drumbeats.
The albums only real weak point comes in the song ?Reckoner?. Slow pace and uninspiring lyrics should make anyone hit the skip button. The only redeeming value of ?Reckoner? comes through Yorke?s use of his excellent falsetto, giving more life to the otherwise drab song.
In ?Videotape?, the albums finale, Yorke describes how he wants his legacy as a musician and a man to be viewed after he dies. He desires his music to carry on his name singing, ?When I’m at the pearly gates, this will be my videotape.? This well paced, piano-driven piece offers sound closure to the album.
In Rainbows stands as one of Radiohead?s best records to date. All of the songs flow together and complement one another. Excellent vocals and expert guitar playing make this album an essential addition to any Radiohead fan?s collection.
