After over 10 years in the game, Radiohead recently stunned the music industry by releasing their seventh studio album, entitled In Ranibows, for a price to be determined by the purchaser (free is accepted) and completely digitally via their website. In my opinion, it’s a huge improvement on their last record, Hail to the Thief (which is very different, anyways). The album has a very genuine and distinct feel to it – I’m really enjoying it, and that means it surpassing their milestone releases, Ok Computer & Kid A, for me. I can safely say I haven’t stopped playing it since it became available on the 10th. I’m a huge fan of the entire album, but my favorite tracks have to be Jigsaw Falling Into Place, Reckoner, and Bodysnatchers. Nude is fantastic, but those are definitely my top three. 15 Step reminds me of frontman Thom Yorke’s solo release The Eraser a whole lot, though (which doesn’t mean I don’t like it – I actually love it). Faust Arp is fantastic. That’s probably right outside my top three. The brilliantly harmonious strings on the track add tremendously and truly create an experience for the lsitener.
The album’s incredibly solid, and I gotta say I love the production. The whole atmospheric, almost condensed and tight sound works for nearly all the tracks. I love that it’s a new feel for them. They’ve been recording since 1992 and to do something this astoundingly different, both musically and industrially, is great for them. I’ll even say it’s healthy.
I also touched briefly on what they’re doing to the industry. The whole online distribution, paying what you want for the album thing is revolutionary. Now, the band is looking to put the album out via a physical CD release (in stores) via Dave Matthews’ ATO Records (disclaimer: they sound nothing like DMB, for those of you who don’t know), and in December, will ship the deluxe edition “discbox” for sale now on their website.
10.0 out of 10 – Fantastic.
