IN RAINBOWS

By now the details of the how this was first released are known. Suffice it to say, I sent them about $10 as a tip, I guess. I'll certainly get a hard copy when it's out and I couldn't quite bring myself to get the LP, CD, bonus CD package at about $80 U.S. Keeping my fingers crossed the bonus material will be released in some form or another.

I've only been a fan of this band since April of 2006, but I became a huge fan. And you know I was there on 10/10/07 downloading it in the morning before I had to leave for work. This album doesn't disappoint. I wish the download had cover art and lyrics, but the cover art soon became obtainable. I used this site's. The lyrics are available at greenplastic.com. Excellent resource for the Radiohead fan. I find Thom hard to understand sometimes without a copy of the lyrics in front of you. Despite often interesting artwork in their CD booklets, they don't always give you lyrics.

The opener, 15 Step has more of that techno kind of sound as you can hear fairly dominantly on his solo release last year, The Eraser.

Bodysnatchers is more of a throwback to their predominant style from the Bends, but updated a little.

Nude reminds me of the OK Computer's Motion Picture Soundtrack in the vocals in particular, some nice strings are included.

Weird Fishes/Arpeggi picks the pace back up a bit, nothing similar from their previous releases comes to mind, lyrics are about relationships. Those of you who don't like Radiohead may take some comfort in Thom getting "eaten by the worms".

According to Greenplastic, All I Need is first one so far that hasn't made a public debut until the digital download release unlike all of the others . I love the way this one builds to it's climax.

Faust Arp is the next newbie. Reminds me a bit of some of the stuff on Hail To The Thief. A low key acoustical guitar, strings, and vocal piece.

Reckoner, if you don't like falsetto, this one will really get on your nerves. Not a problem for me as I have become accustomed to Thom's singing voice. It dates back to 2001. The lyrics here are where the album title comes from. Another one on the mellow side with strings.

House of Cards is said to date back to 2005. Yet another of those relationships oriented songs. This time apparently about an affair.

I think I might have to rank Jigsaw Falling into Place as my favorite track here. It also saw the light of day first in 2006. It's got a nice beat in it that really does go round and round.

Ends on a quiet and dark note with Videotape. Another new one with lyrics about suicide, perhaps? or being videotaped on the day you are to die at least.

Depending on what they do next, this album may go down as their most acoustic instrument oriented album. Not a bad track on here and certainly worth trying as a virtually free download.