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| In Rainbows | 
 enlarge | Artist: Radiohead
Label: Ato Records / Red
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $8.63
You Save: $5.35 (38%)
New (35) Used (13) Collectible (2) from $5.02
Avg. Customer Rating:  271 reviews
Sales Rank: 157
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 21622
UPC: 880882162221
EAN: 0880882162221
ASIN: B000YXMMAE
Release Date: January 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Maybe there's a reason..... January 5, 2008
6 out of 19 found this review helpful
....these tracks were left off previous albums. They are quite simply inferior Radiohead tracks. Any Radiohead album must be weighed with Radiohead scales I'm afraid. A string of five perfect albums may prove to be a unique feat, but it won't be six. I am of the belief that "Hail To The Thief" was the best band release of the last 20 years. You have nothing here that compels and won't let go like every note of "Thief." Others hail an "understated", "quiet", "detailed", "melodic" shift in the band here. I just find Radiohead lite. That the tracks are culled from various points in their evolution is quite evident--you can pick out just what track goes with what album. The cumulative, binding effect of the whole (what Radiohead do so well) is lost here. It's odd to me that the band stated two years ago they would never again sound like they did. Surely a joke, as "Rainbows" is really nothing new. The standout is the swirling minimalism of "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi", with Thom Yorke's shimmering vocals coming in and out of focus. A love to gladly die for, he insists. I was beginning to think these guys were too good to be from our planet; here's proof they are human afterall (still darn good though). Now, guys, onto that promise about never sounding the same, huh?
Old tracks with new tracks January 7, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
As a long time fan of Radiohead, I could not resist purchasing their limited edition discbox directly from their site. With it came an exclusive early download of "In Rainbows". Needless to say I have been listening to this album for the past few months. It hardly seems new anymore.
As great as this album could be, sadly it is not. I hold certain expectations from Radiohead. Not because of what people say about them, but because of what they have done in the past. Some of the better tracks on this album include Reckoner & Bodysnatchers. I enjoy most of the bass lines as they add depth to the songs. Selway's drumming is uniformly simple that I can't say great things about it. In previous albums he presents an artful clarity that subliminally adds complexity (e.g. Pyramid Song, Dollars & Cents, Optimistic, Paranoid Android).
I feel that they used a lot of their energies pursuing individual careers that Radiohead as a whole suffered some by it. Still it was nice for us long time fans to hear a final version of Nude a.k.a. Big Boots after such a long time of hearing working/live versions.
$7.99 is a very good price for this album. I would buy it now for the few tracks that are amazing.
 One of the best of '07, but the full version would be even better January 8, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
("In Rainbows" by Radiohead)
There are plenty of reviews here that can tell you, in full detail, about the long-awaited "hard copy" release of Radiohead's latest album. Since I've been listening to the mp3 version for a couple of months now, I definitely agree it's one of the best of '07, which I suppose technically makes the CD version already one of the best of '08 (not that it matters, but let us praise the band for it's release strategy). You know what would be even better, though? If the band were to release the COMPLETE "In Rainbows." As many of you already know, when the band announced the availability of their tip-jar downloads, people could also choose to buy a super-deluxe "discbox," featuring both CD and double-LP vinyl editions, not to mention art, lyrics and a tantalizing bonus disc. This would feature 8 new songs not on the main album. While it's easy to assume these tracks would be castoffs--what were once referred to as "B-Sides," it turns out that most of them are every bit as good as the material on the album proper. While two of the tracks--"MK1" and "MK2"--are just short instrumentals ("MK1" seems to be an embryonic version of "Videotape") the remaining 6 songs are fully fleshed out, and would make worthy additions to the main album. "Last Flowers" is a piano-based ballad that would make a nice compliment to the acoustic guitar-based "Faust Arp" from the main album. "Up On the Ladder" balances a memorable guitar riff with glitchy electronics. "Bangers & Mash" is a clattering rocker that could have served to toughen up the album, which is noticeably short on rowdiness (only the wonderful "Bodysnatchers" really lets loose).
Therein lies the rub, as Shakespeare (who I believe, and don't quote me on this, was a huge Radiohead fan) might say. The only "official" way to get these songs right now is to buy the full discbox, which the band was charging about $80 for. Of course, those who didn't feel obligated to pay anything for downloading the original album won't feel any pangs by going to file sharing or Russian mp3 sites. The same can be said for some of those that did pay. The current CD edition, needless to say, what I'll refer to as the "bare bones" edition, even though at only 10 songs and 40 minutes, is a more than worthy edition to the band's estimable catalogue. I suppose that the "full" version will be released more widely before too long, and that would be well worth waiting for. Until then, the album is still a great thing, and many of the extra songs can be found in live performances scattered throughout the vast wilderness of YouTube. As for why the band chose to keep the album at only 10 songs is something only they can answer (rock history is rife with tales of "B-Sides" that became hits), and I hope the answer comes in the form of the full 18 song (69 minutes!) "In Rainbows."
For those interested, the track listing for the bonus disc is as follows:
1. MK1
2. Down is the New Up
3. Go slowly
4. MK2
5. Last Flowers
6. Up On the Ladder
7. Bangers & Mash
8. 4 Minute Warning
A beautiful noise January 12, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I read an interview with Thom Yorke in NME where he explains that "In Rainbows" is Radiohead's best work, in essence it's the bands equivalent to the Beatles "Revolver", which is hailed by many as not only the Beatles best album, but probably the best rock album of all time. After listening to "In Rainbows" extensively over the last 2 months, I would have to agree with him. With "In Rainbows", Radiohead have produced a beautiful, mature, thoughtful piece of music. "In Rainbows" is a masterpiece, a groundbreaking achievement. An instant classic.
The magic here is how well crafted and beautiful these songs are. The care taken by the band and Nigel Godrich in the writing and production have created a soundscape that is remarkable and mezmerizing in it's effect. The sound is spacious, open and big. Beautiful soft guitar lines and strings meander throughout, coupled with melodies that are instantly some of the best that the band has ever written. 10 perfect pop songs that don't sound pop. Radiohead has never sounded more confident and yet vulnerable at the same time. Put on headphones, close your eyes and just listen. "In Rainbows" is a truly beautiful noise.
 Overrated March 13, 2008
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
I'm sorry, but I must be one of the only people on the planet that feels that Radiohead is overrated. Due to the fact that Radiohead has such a devoted following, I'm sure some people reading this have already begun to load their shotguns and sharpen their knives because of the statement I just made. The music is not garbage, but I wouldn't really consider it rock music, either. Most of the songs on this album seem like Thom Yorke solo songs. I know that there are subtle nuances in every instrument, and blah, blah, blah, but I feel that most of the time the other band members are just sitting there and waiting to do their part to serve the song while Yorke whines like a young boy in timeout. Seriously, I give him credit for his lyrics, but his voice is annoying and always sounds the same. To me, a great rock and roll singer is someone that conveys earnest emotion through their voice (which Yorke does relatively well) and plays with their vocal range and peaks based on the mood of the song they are singing. In other words, someone with versatility in their voice, and Yorke just doesn't seem to have it. Most of the songs sound the same. I thought "Reckoner" and "Bodysnatchers" were great songs, but they don't carry the album as a whole. I'd like to see what the other band members are capable of instead of standing in the shadow of an egocentric lead singer.
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