In Rainbows

I spent the day listening the new Radiohead album while moseying around downtown San Francisco, and the one word that sums up my feelings on In Rainbows is: refreshing.

After OK Computer, I’ve found the band’s subsequent releases to be inconsistent, with only a handful of memorable tracks scattered amidst electronically orchestrated noise. Kid A was a bold step in a new direction, but Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief were more disappointing than anything. I eagerly anticipated all three of those albums only to come away less impressed each time. With that in mind, my expectations were tempered for In Rainbows. I was going to give it a listen anyway, in spite of exuberant recommendations, simply because Radiohead’s one of those bands I just have to listen to whenever they put out something new.

I could say having low expectations for In Rainbows made it easier to come away impressed, and I’m sure that played a part, but I think Radiohead put together a truly great album and their most complete work since OK. It strikes a balance between their trademark ethereal sound and rocking out with the three-guitar attack. The best part about it is that I can just leave the whole album on repeat and let it play through for a few hours. Every now and then I notice something good, whether it’s a beat, riff, bass line etc., and then I slip away into just enjoying the music again. It’s been too long since I’ve been able to do that with a Radiohead album and it may be another several years until they repeat that feat. But from now on it won’t matter, because I know they’ll come through eventually.