Best Albums Ever: Radiohead, In Rainbows

I just got back from vacation this weekend. It was a wonderful escape to the beautiful desert, a scene of red rock tinged with fresh green bushes and trees that had recently bloomed from the pouring monsoon rains. It smelled fabulous: I love that aroma of dust stirred up by water. It was relaxing and refreshing, but something earth shattering happened while I was traveling. I finally found Radiohead's In Rainbows.

I'd been looking for the album everywhere! I didn't want to buy it online. It was a game I was playing, trying to find this CD. Lo and behold, a tiny music shop in Durango, CO, with music and movies, actually had it. Hallelujah (in full chorus)!

I refrained from listening to it until I could get home, which was incredibly difficult. But I wanted to do something I've never done before; I wanted to write my comments about the songs as I heard them for the first time. A live review, if you will. And I'm so sure I'm going to love it, I'm including it in my Best Albums Ever collection.

Before I dive into the music, let's talk about the album packaging. I love it. Bright, colorful, expressive, deep. The lyrics are in typical spread out spacing, backed by compelling imagery. It came with two big stickers, which you're apparently supposed to put on a plastic case, but I'm tempted to put them on my car (I won't, just sayin').

Here we go... got my coffee and I'm ready. I'm super-excited to do this. It's like Christmas... I should totally do this every time I get a new album! OK, seriously, we're starting now.

"15 Step". Love that syncopation, and the digital manipulation of that beat. Those claps; catchy. Thom's vocals, addicting as usual. So innovative. Yikes, man, those drums! I love that. Enter the guitar. Soft, easy. I could listen to this for days. Another layer of bass and intensified cymbals, and I'm drawn in (again). How do they successfully do this with every album? Is that manipulated vocals or a guitar creeping in? The vocals get a nice reverb in the middle: Excellent touch. Ooh, sweet chords in the middle, very angelic and atmospheric. Are those children cheering off and on? We're getting to the end, and every layer of sound is nicely amplified. Yes, give me more accidentals. Lovely opener!

"Bodysnatchers". The beginning sounds a lot like "Airbag" or "National Anthem". This is totally driving: Very retro in a way, great vibe. Persistence in those drums, awesome. Oh yeah, I hear a lot of OK Computer in this. Tons of guitar, simple, but extremely effective riffs and beats. Thom's screaming a bit more, which is always a nice change of pace from his soft falsetto. Such a great edge, very poppy, totally accessible, radio ready. Hard to keep up with the lyrics! Love the content though: "They got a skin and they put me in." Wow, freaky. I love it. Bring that distortion in to finish it. Oh yeah.

"Nude". I read about this a few weeks ago because I was intrigued. Sounds spooky. Oh, then suddenly gets totally rich and warm and romantic. Strings! Thom's tripped out 'oohs' and 'ahhs'. Bass cancels out the richness, and Thom starts his crooning. The occasional synth flies in from either side. Enter the guitar, stumbling along delicately up and down the scale. Such a familiar, welcoming sound with Radiohead. Acoustic guitar now, and then the strings come in again. This is wonderful! Sounds totally different than a lot of their stuff. That second refrain, with those chords again! So lovely. These guys are just great with melody arrangements. Just realized this is in 6/8. I will definitely be playing this one over and over again for a while (after I get through the whole album first)... perfectly sensual track.

Moving on to "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi". Skipping beats and meandering guitar riffs. Another layer of guitars, adding richness and an echo-like quality. So hypnotic. Oh, Thom's got reverb on his vocals this time: Love, love, love. Subtle, but so effective. These melodies are so surprising: Very complex, despite a lack of variation in instruments. It's amazing what they do with sound. Thom's backing vocals in this are so aching and pure. It's building beautifully: Lots of arpeggios (hence the title)? Love this, maybe more than "Nude". Sounds like music boxes and harps in the middle. Trying to keep up with the lyrics, but so transfixed by the music. The words just mesh with everything, perfectly. A little distortion in the middle, the perfect unsettling bridge. They're so good at that. Sweeping feedback builds and builds and it's like spinning, happily out of control. Goosebumps, baby! I want to run listening to this. This song is over 5 minutes long, but doesn't feel like it.

"All I Need". Another soft intro, with electric piano and muted drums. Lazy, driving music. Whoa, that's a hugely electronic bass. Nice. This has an incredible depth that really pulls you in. I did cheat and read the lyrics to all the songs before I listened, and I remember I liked this song. "I am all of the days you choose to ignore." Brilliant. Is he skatting in the background? Man, I could warm up singing this. Music box/glockenspiel! Oh, gorgeous, gorgeous piano. Wow, that's a first: So seldom used by Radiohead, and so, so divine! All the sounds come in, and it's heavenly, euphoric... warmth, healing; I can never describe what music this good does. It's chemical. Wow, that was too short. But what an abruptly wonderful end.

"Faust Arp". This moves fast. Lots of words. Very folk. Hesitation, beats missing. Love that syncopation (again). Strings (again), and I'm so happy they're using them more! This is delicate, flowery, almost lullaby-like. Where can I get the string arrangement for this?! Whoa, perfect accidentals. Dang it, it's going to be too short. This reminds me of "Green Eyes" by Coldplay. But, it's better. Sorry, Coldplay, I still love you. I can already tell this is going to end nicely. Winding down, yes. Perfection in a sweet little 2 minute track.

"Reckoner", whoa, nice. Cymbals, addicting beats. Suddenly I realize it's in common time: Sneaky, sneaky. I'm anticipating, such great energy. Nice to go up after some soothing tracks. Sing that falsetto, Thom! A little attitude. You can really bob your head and tap your foot to this. Tambourine (I think). All the instruments just shifted to another speaker! Sweet. Thom still front and center. This is repetitive, but it's got me waiting not-so-patiently for the next transition. And, pause. Some hums, slower building. Never heard so many layered vocals in a Radiohead track. Strings again, yes! Man oh man, I'm so spoiled right now. No drums, just lots of vocals, strings, a little guitar. There's that bobbin' beat again. Something very yearning and wanting about this, like it's unfinished. Sad. But a beautiful finish.

"House Of Cards". Pounding beats, and distant echoes of vocals sliding in. Slow, melodic, with that fantastic guitar again. I love that I know I'm going to enjoy these songs when they start. Heavy reverb on Thom this time. "I don't wanna be your friend, I just wanna be your lover." Yeah, don't hold back. I'm going to love this. Thom's vocals are long, melodic, drawn out, such romantic energy. Almost jazzy. Distorted guitars and strings creep in, sleepy. This is so simple, but so organic and layered. The perfect mix of spacey openness and intimate closeness. I could totally lounge with coffee watching the sun, listening to this. Or kiss listening to this (which would be bittersweet, considering the lyrics). Oh, I love that hushed vocal in the back: "Your ears should be burning." Subliminal messaging. Man, these songs sound so sad somehow... hopeful, but pessimistic. Gorgeous, but deflating. They're so good at that! Again, another song that's over 5 minutes, but doesn't feel like it. The sign of a great song.

Pause: Grabbing my dinner. And we're off again...

"Jigsaw Falling Into Place". This almost has a latin flavor, but then the drums come in driving again, and you know it's Radiohead. Detached humming and ahhing from Thom again, put to fantastic use. Never feels forced. This is another somewhat repetitive track, but there's just enough variation and and building to keep you focused. There's the first break, with layered guitars and richness increasing. Astonishing intensity, makes you want to scream and shout in the car. This is relaxing in the bridge, almost sounds like something from America. Easy to listen to, appealing, content. Simple, clean. 

"Videotape" opens with a piano! I'm excited. But it sounds somber. Thom comes in and then the bass hits in sync with the piano. Pulses. This is the definition of swan song. Catch the best on videotape for the end of it all. Drums slowly layering in with the harmonies. Sounds like something at the end of a film. I get the feeling this is going to get really loud real quick: The familiar subtle distortions are starting. It's great that they have repeating melodies surrounded by slowly-shifting arrangements of stuttering percussion. Things are fading, like a light diminishing on the horizon. I don't want it to end! This album went way too quick. I suppose this song is the perfect closer for that very reason. Accidentals mesh with the piano, offbeat percussion creates an unsettling trip. We're almost done. Dang it. 

Wow. That was awesome.

Well, every song easily gets a full five stars. It's definitely a favorite. I don't know if it made the same intense and immediately impactful impression as Kid A, but it's richer, warmer, more beautiful. Like the sun after the storm, setting into darkness. Appealing, easier to listen to than OK Computer or Kid A, definitely more pop (thanks to the piano and strings). OK Computer is my angst album, Kid A my contemplative drive-in-the-dark album, and this, my lounge in a robe album. I could totally see this becoming bigger than Kid A for me, though that is such a noteworthy piece of art. It's a slow burner, I can tell; grows on you more as time goes on.

I guess it's official: I need to write about OK Computer and Amnesiac now. Stay tuned.