Have You Heard?

Radiohead -
In Rainbows



There's been a lot of talk about Radiohead changing the music industry with their latest album. By thumbing their nose at record labels and leaking their own album, they've eliminated the middle man and kept the focus on the music. Nothing about the album's release has been traditional -- but is this so jaw-dropping for a band like Radiohead?

Certainly nipping the record label and traditional release allowed the band to pull the wool over everyone's eyes and launch the biggest (and perhaps only) surprise in today's music scene. Subsequently nipping professional reviewers also kept the album under wraps (Head on over to Spin.com and check out this nifty diagram about album leaks). In the upcoming weeks we will see how critics approach this issue. Ordinarily they have months to dissect a new album before publishing a review on the album's release date. Now that Radiohead have pulled the rug out from under everyone, will critics rush to write reviews, or will they give the album time to simmer? Will they publish their reviews on some yet-to-be-determined date, or will they wait until the CD comes out in March? If the CD doesn't come out until 2008, is the album's official release date 2007 or 2008?

These questions and more have riddled me this week. I for one want time to digest the album. That said, here are some random musings I've entertained so far, in no particular order:

This kinda sounds like The Eraser. This sounds like the Bends-era
b-side "Palo Alto". This sounds like "Let Down," but not really. This
sounds really soulful. This is the band's most tuneful work since OK
Computer. This part sounds like "Hail to the Thief." I thought someone said "Arpeggi" leaked and it kinda sucked; someone should shoot that idiot. I feel really emotional right now. This sounds like "Electioneering" guitar. All of these songs have lyrics. Some of these lyrics remind me of The Eraser; Thom really accessed his emotional side recording that solo album. I don't know if I agree with Thom that this is the "creepiest" album they've ever made... OK, getting eaten by worms and weird fishes is creepy. Thom is rocking those vocals. Thom sounds like a lounge singer. This sounds like Beck's Sea Change. This sounds like "Wolf at the Door." Those drums sound really far away. Those loops are perfect. I wonder what Josh will think of what they did to "Nude." I wonder what I think about what they did to "Nude." The last song just blew my mind. I have the chills. So that amazing ending we heard on that teaser came from "All I Need"! This new album is amazing. Maybe I should have paid $81. I want to listen to it again. And again. And again.

Wow, a Radiohead freewrite can be highly cathartic. I recommend it.

One last note: by forgoing the traditional release format, Radiohead have yet to reveal the album's official album art. Once again, this has thrown the industry into turmoil. Apparently fans have started making their own covers for the album, a trend I continued here. What do you guys think? Should we have a create-your-own-In-Rainbows-cover contest?