The Bends

But here goes:

The thing about radiohead is that they are geniuses of experementation in the studio and create some of the most densley creative soundscapes you're ever likely to hear from any album (except OK Computer). But at the same time they love to play like a anthemic U2 style rock band which they do very sucsessfully thanks to the accomplished playing from all the members of the group helping to bring the music into sharper focus. What makes the album work well though is the way they switch between the two and the way it keeps you interested throughout. "Planet Telex" is a heavily produced echoey song which sounds like it was made on another planet with the music made even more distant by thom Yorkes screaming vocals which painfully break the music down. "The Bends" though shows their love of just simply rocking without abandon with a powerful chord that charges into the song like a bullet, when the music stops however we see the depressiveness of this album as yorke says, "where do we go from here" showing a deep vat of lonliness that he feels, bringing the song into much closer inspection before rocking out again. "High and Dry" is a beautiful melodic song with very dark undertones to it "don't leave me high, don't leave me dry". But to hear Yourke sing it it seems like more of a love song than anything else, but on closer inspection you see what it's all about. "fake plastic Trees" is and sounds like a thorougly depressing song about how our lives have become cheap imitations of what the real thing is showing how empty our lives have become and the fact we're missing the most important things "whee's the love?" as yorke says. "Bones" is a great song, i don't know why it just is (give me a break music isn't that deep really)! "Nice Dream" is just that, it's a song that is beautiful while it's playing but then you can't quite remember it afterwards, weird huh?. "Just" is Just great, it's a fantastic rocker that prevents the album from alienating listeners too much, evryone can "rock out" to this one. "My Iron Lung" is an achingly melodic song with an excellent guitar motif at the start which belies the painful lyrics that go with it before spiraling downwards into a hard rocking set of power chords in a way only Radiohead could pull off. Basically without going on too long this becomes the format of the album with the music hopping between OK Computer style soundscapes and classic rockers. But what always sets this music apart from any other music from the 90's is the lyrics and voice of Thom Yorke which sound thoroughly depressing yet strangely life affirming. I don't know anyone who has sat down to this album and felt thoroughly depressed, it's not so much a message that says "life is horrible lets all kill ourselves" but more a statement saying "what can we do to make our lives better"? I love this album and no matter what mood i am in i can listen to it and always be happy again.

A masterpiece


The King's Wearing No Clothes   September 13, 2000
19 out of 66 found this review helpful

People like Limp Biskit to be cool. People like Radiohead to be sophisticated. The king doesn't have any clothes on. My opinion.


Good music and the misery of Radiohead   July 18, 2000
Sal Nudo (Champaign, Illinois)
18 out of 31 found this review helpful

One of the better songs on this album is the first one, "Planet Telex." It begins with a cold electronic wind sweeping in, then an ominous and vibrating piano. "Planet Telex" turns out to be sterile but heavily layered, mysterious, melodic and depressing, with hopeless lyrics like "Everything is broken" at the chorus. Though "Telex" may not dish out inspiration by the bucket load, it does make for thoughtful, reflective music. Welcome to Radiohead's world; welcome to the "The Bends."

The more welcoming title track somewhat offsets the icy opener, sounding nearly classic rock and less robotic, giving these guys some needed humanity. The two released singles, "High and Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees" begin the cycle of hard and soft songs throughout the album. "Bones," a high-energy tune, gets things moving again in a big way. Listen for Thom Yorke knocking out the high notes at the chorus and the grinding riff that rocks out with a vengeance. "Bones," along with "Planet Telex," are practically worth the price of admission. But there's much more on "The Bends," of course. "My Iron Lung" floats by on a high-pitched guitar lick that sounds half sick and anemic compared to the rip-roaring portion of the song that later kicks in. In a slicker style than Nirvana, Radiohead are adept at begininning their songs in a quiet and lulling fashion, only to tear things apart later on. Back in the early 1990s, you could call Radiohead an electronic Nirvana or aspiring Smashing Pumpkins.

The last several songs are worth mentioning, due to their subtle, melodious sounds. "Bullet Proof" is a slow song with delicate, behind-the-scenes guitars. "Black Star" follows, fading in with guitars of the same variety, but picking up sonically in a big way; it turns out to be one of the highlights of the entire album. Luckily, Radiohead refuse to rest on their laurels as the album winds down. "Sulk" keeps up the work of the great chiming guitars, nearly like bells ringing to announce the finality of the record. "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" ends "The Bends" on a predictably sour, strange note, with those same tickling guitars.

Though "The Bends" is major-label music created for the masses, Thom Yorke's high-pitched voice may not please everybody. Indisputably, however, the music is ultra-catchy and enjoyable, if not downtrodden in parts, especially lyrically. Overall, this is just a great album that rocks out at times, slows down at precisely the right moments, and places the distortion in all the apt places. It's only a little puzzling why some of the more dynamic tunes on this record weren't released as singles. "The Bends" is both easy on the ears -- due to all the hooks in every song -- and a little difficult, due to the somber aura that infiltrates the tunes. Still, Radiohead put a lot of effort into this CD, finding a way to hold listeners rapt the whole way through.


An amazing album   September 27, 2003
N. Visalvanich (Santa Barbara, CA USA)
16 out of 17 found this review helpful

In the days before the weird electronic layering and strange prog rock beats, Radiohead was a top notch Brit-pop band and The Bends was in many ways a breakthrough album for Radiohead. They had been passed off as one-hit wonders with their self-depracating international sensation "Creep" and many had expected more of the same angry and discontent lyrics. The Bends, however, was the start of the Radiohead custom of doing the opposite of what is expected of them and making their fans fall in love with their material anyways. The Bends hits all the right notes, from emotional and meloncholy with "Fake Plastic Trees" and "Bulletproof... I wish I was" to angry discontented rock with "Just and My Iron Lung" to detatched bliss with the closer "Street Spirit". The mesh of Radiohead's unique guitar sound make for an unforgettable and incredible listening experiece and one of the best albums of the 90's. I'd reccomend this to any alternative rock listner any day.

Tracklisting analysis

Planet Telex - a fantastic opener with U2 inspired guitars. It's probably one of Radiohead's more underrated song, I personally love it and never get bored of it.8/10

The Bends - of the detatched feel of Planet Telex comes the fast paced, rocking Bends which holds the same name as the album. The lyrics are superb. 9/10

High and Dry - My favorite song on the album becuase it was the song that got me into Radiohead. It has a tune that just can't go wrong, catchy and simplistic yet so fun to listen to repeatedly. 10/10

Fake Plastic Trees - One of the most emotional songs on the album. It starts out slow and mellow and builds to a stunning climax. Thom Yorke's voice compliments this track perfectly. 10/10

Bones - not the best track on the album, a bit reminicent of U2. Probably one of the more skippable track, but still a good track nonetheless. 7/10

(Nice Dream) - pretentious use of parenthesis aside, Nice Dream is much like Fake Plastic Trees in that it starts out nice and mellow and ends with a loud and strained climax. The tortured guitar at the end of this song makes it a great addition to the album. 8/10

Just - simply a wonderful song. Grunge-esque in its sound, but having enough guitar variation to be more than just a grunge song, it's superb lyrics and almost perfect mesh of Jonny Greenwood's and Ed O'Brien's guitars make it a masterpiece. 10/10

My Iron Lung - a strange sounding song at first, but on par wit Just by it's unique sound and angry lyrics. Thom wrote this song in response to the one hit wonder critisism Radiohead got earlier in its career. 9/10

Bullet Proof... I wish I was - after the angry and frustrated Just and My Iron lung, Bullet Proof softens the tone of the album a bit with a slow and emotional song. The lyrics are no doubt some of the saddest and make for haunting experience. 8/10

Black Star - One of Thom Yorke's favorite songs, it's also one of my favorites on the album. 10/10

Sulk - Perhaps the weakest song on the album, but still an above average song. 6.5/10

Street Spirit - one of the best closers out of any Album I've listen to. It's detatched and haunting sound is a great way to end such a diverse album. 9/10

Overall, one of my favorite albums. Get it immediately.