IN RAINBOWS

After a long waiting period, Radiohead relieved the anxiety of their fans with their self-released In Rainbows. Revolutionizing the distribution of music, the band developed an unheard of name-your- own-price scheme in which the amount you paid bought you mp3s of a quality that correlates to your spending. The CD release came about 3 months later. Fans and non-fans alike were then wondering if the music the band came up with was going to be as revolutionary as the means by which it would be sold.

It turns out that instead of creating another completely mold-breaking album like OK Computer or Kid A, Radiohead confounded everyone by simply releasing a really good album. In Rainbows presents a stripped-down version of Radiohead's varietal sound - low on pomp, heavy on atmosphere and emotion - through 10 well-produced tracks. So it comes as no surprise that some myopic members on ProgArchives are making a fuss about how this isn't a progressive album instead of looking past silly labels and their strange need to root their opinions in the superficial grounds of such labels.

Granted, we all have predilections in music, and I'll admit that I've always been able to find good in Radiohead's releases (sans Pablo Honey), so I approached this album with the intention of finding the good in it. Obviously a positive approach is not always going to result in one's enjoyment of the album (Scarsick, I'm thinking about you right now), but it certainly gives the album a fair shot and winning your love, if it really is worthy. And let me tell you, this release is most definitely worthy. The band has managed to capture more atmosphere and emotion than they ever have! In Rainbows is basically comprised of uptempo fun-balls, and gut-wrenching ballads and each track strikes the chord of brilliance in its own way. There is no use singling out songs, because from the heavy, electronic bouncy house opener that is "15 Step" to the tear-jerking (for those weak souls that cry) closer, "Videotape," Radiohead delivers pure, powerful, enjoyable and completely memorable music. *Note* Yea, I know I just singled out two tracks, but the intent was not to single them out as being better than the others! *Note*

Of course, if your views on Radiohead and/or music in general are akin to those of the complainers above me, you're more likely to convince yourself that this isn't worth your time, but I strongly advise you to give it a shot. The way I see it, the problem with their opinion is that it isn't my opinion, but to my dismay I've noticed that that doesn't mean anything to some people; as a matter of fact, some people even frown on me saying things like that. So if that doesn't convince you at all, I say to you this: many of my close friends who have not liked Radiohead in the past have become converts with this record. And these friends are not simple-minded music fans; they are intelligent musicians, one of whom even listens to Magma. Simply put, this has all of the catchy hooks, the atmosphere, the emotion and the intelligence that it needs to be one of your new favorites.

Forgive Radiohead for making the most enjoyable album of their career.