In Rainbows review

I wrote this for the student newspaper, but it didn't get printed. I'm a fan boy.

Radiohead
In Rainbows

9.8

For many fans, waiting for a new Radiohead album is like being a seven year old on Christmas Eve, with the anticipation stretched across nearly five years. For the most obsessive fans, this interim period marks a distinct chapter in life, making the stakes high and leaving a lot of room for disappointment. Fortunately, Radiohead’s In Rainbows does not disappoint.

Rainbows starts off with a bang, as Radiohead albums do. “15 Step” is Radiohead at their most joyful, its combination of tribal beats and Jonny Greenwood’s subtle but melodious guitar line make this track infectious. Next comes “Bodysnatchers,” a relentless interplay of scathing guitars growl while Thom Yorke’s urgent, paranoid vocals struggle to assert that “he’s alive,” that he’s “seen them coming.” This song will literally push you backwards

After “Bodysnatchers,” the mood of the album changes dramatically in the direction of masterfully crafted and intimate beauty that is simultaneously sparse and lush. Yorke’s delicate vocals on “Nude” and “Arpeggi’s” slow-burning drive will trigger your endorphins and send shivers down your spine. The crescendo of “All I Need” is exceptionally strong, even for Radiohead who has made a living off of unconventional rising song structures.

There are two wholly new songs on Rainbows and both tracks stand out. “Faust Arp” is a mesmerizing two minutes reminiscent of Elliott Smith or even the Beatle’s “Julia.” “Reckoner” contains some of Yorke’s most impressive falsetto, beautiful orchestration, and a hypnotic guitar line. It is a fan favorite and one of the Radiohead’s most impressive moments.

The weakest track on Rainbows is “House of Cards,” a reggae influenced pop song which drones on for too long and drenches Yorke’s otherwise pristine vocals in heaps of reverb. But where “House of Cards” falters, “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” triumphs. This rock song, though tamer than “Bodysnatchers,” rounds out the album nicely. At the climax, Yorke’s voice and his intriguing lyrics switch from collected to clamorous, leading into the haunting funeral dirge that is “Videotape.”

“Videotape,” though different from the lauded live version, perfectly encapsulates the mood of the entire album: best likened to reconnecting with an old friend, or recalling a lost loved one. The experience doesn’t always line up with your expectations, but it is warm and pleasant with a tinge of sadness. Rainbows represents Radiohead’s strongest collection of songs since OK Computer, and their most cohesive album since Kid A.