Radiohead: “In Rainbows”
Rating: 9.8/10.0Radiohead has released a new album. There it is. The six words that only come around once every few years, and bring with them a world of frenzy that can’t even be described. This is the album review I’ve been waiting to write for a long time. And, frankly, it is the hardest to write.
Coming into the first listen of ***In Rainbows***, there was more hype and high expectations than with any other album I’ve had the privilege of experiencing when it first came out.
Given that, and my deep conviction that Radiohead is the most important rock band of our time, I was afraid it would be a little difficult to write a purely objective review of this music, and not of what I am expecting the album to be. Thankfully, my expectations were met — with plenty of room to spare.
With ***In Rainbows***, Radiohead has managed once again to advance their own natural musical progression while maintaining their incredible talent of putting together a highly cohesive album.
This album is not just building off of a past album, or improving on it. For the sixth time in a row, they have created a new sound while remembering all that they have done in the past.
The first three songs on the album are nearly flawless. “15 Step” starts it all off with a burst of energy provided by a tight drum groove and a floating falsetto. The percussive tune is filled with handclaps and children’s yells, and above all, lead singer Thom Yorke’s raw energy.