THE BENDS

Radiohead

Crossover Prog

3.81 | 654 ratings

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OpethGuitarist
Prog Reviewer

The beginning of the golden years.

Radiohead's 3 essential albums begins here (after this came OK Computer and Kid A). This is some of alternative rock's finest. Radiohead are able to blend commercially appealing music with an array of various sonic sounds and some rudimentary exploration into electronic sounds here. While not quite as good as OK Computer, nor as experimental, this album is quite infectious, though it is more of a younger audiences record than a graybeard's.

With maybe one exception, I feel that most of the tracks do not stand out and are more or less equal in quality. The only exception to this is Just, which is a personal favorite of mine. The album is essentially an alternative record with minor to almost no prog sensibilities (no flying mellotrons here). However, the album is unique enough to make it "distinct". Radiohead as a whole is essentially like no other alt. rock band (the intro to the album should surprise many doubters). While there song construction throughout is oriented towards providing a simplicity that almost any music fan can enjoy, it is their dynamics which many fans have cherished and raved about which make them stand out from other commercial bands. It is these dynamics which give the band a progressive feel and context. Such examples can be found in Bones, Bulletproof... I wish I was, and Sulk.

Not the bands best effort, but perhaps the most accessible. Yorke's vocals are not quite as acerbic as on other albums, and it has the most commercial appeal of their better releases. A good starting ground for fans of traditional rock to bridge into progressive material.

OpethGuitarist | 3/5 | 2006-12-17

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