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album review
In Rainbows, as a title, implies a sense of comfort and delightfulness. Symbolically, rainbows are more likely to be associated with kittens and warm blankets than the grim and glum circumstances Radiohead is known for soundtracking. There's a slight, if expected, twist at play. The band is more than familiar with the unpleasant moods associated with colors like red, green, and blue -- all of which, of course, are colors within a rainbow -- all of which are present, and even mentioned, during the album. On a couple levels, then, In Rainbows is not any less fitting as a Radiohead album title than "Myxomatosis" is as a Radiohead song title. Despite references to "going off the rails," hitting "the bottom," getting "picked over by the worms," being "dead from the neck up," and feeling "trapped" (twice), along with Radiohead Wordplay Deluxe Home Edition pieces like "comatose" and "nightmare" -- in the same song! double score! -- the one aspect of the album that becomes increasingly perceptible with each listen is how romantic it feels, albeit in the way that one might find the bioport scenes in David Cronenberg's eXistenZ to be extremely hot and somewhat unsettling. Surprisingly, some of the album's lyrics are even more personal/universal and straightforward than anything on The Eraser, the album made by Thom Yorke and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. "I'm an animal trapped in your hot car," from "All I Need," has to be one of the saddest, most open-hearted metaphors used to express unrequited love. "House of Cards" begins with "I don't want to be your friend/I just want to be your lover/No matter how it ends/No matter how it starts," and the one with the worms includes "I'd be crazy not to follow/Follow where you lead/Your eyes/They turn me." This effective weaving of disparate elements -- lyrical expressions commonly associated with the band, mixed in with ones suited for everyday love ballads -- goes for the music as well. The album is very song-oriented, with each track constantly moving forward and developing, yet there are abstract electronic layers and studio-as-instrument elements to prevent it from sounding like a regression. In Rainbows will hopefully be remembered as Radiohead's most stimulating synthesis of accessible songs and abstract sounds, rather than their first pick-your-price download. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- OK Computer
- Released 1997
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- The Bends
- Released 1995
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- Hail To The Thief
- Released 2003
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- Amnesiac
- Released 2001
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listener reviews
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Pure Genius
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- By Muttofmusic
- 8/5/2009 09:33:20
- This cd is quite a work of art! I must say, it leaves me in a state of ineffability. Pure genius... Jigsaw Falling Into Place and Faust Arp are definitely my favorites! Insanely intoxicating!! :)
- 1 out of 1 people
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A classic from a classic band
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- By NickQOTSA
- 7/26/2009 02:55:46
- In Rainbows came a shock to everyone with their innovative way of releasing the album as a pay as you want format. And what the paying fans got was an instant classic from a band that is regarded for releasing some of the greatest albums of our time. And on top of that, the second album of throwaway songs contains some that are better than the first 10 songs that were released first. Two years later, and I have still yet to hear an album that is better than this.
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- By mikenation94
- 6/5/2009 11:34:14
- this album is quite amazing, the whole thing, so calming and beautiful
- 1 out of 1 people
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Scotch Mist
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- By rlley
- 4/14/2009 03:36:21
- This is by far one of the most amazing and clean albums I have ever heard. I highly recommend for anyone who appreciates this album to look up Scotch Mist on youtube. It's the video that's 52 min. long and has a feature to 'turn down the ligths.'
- 1 out of 1 people
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videotape
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- By nickbooth
- 4/10/2009 19:41:15
- maybe you should listen to videotape again or a couple more times through. it at first isnt a stand out, great song, but if you listen to it enough, itll grow on you. its an amazing song, just give it a chance.
- 1 out of 1 people
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in rainbows
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- By brEwHahA51
- 3/9/2009 00:29:51
- This is definatly my favorite radiohead CD. Other than Videotape, I love every song. In order it is All I Need, Jigsaw Falling Into Place, House of Cards, Nude, Faust Arp, 15 Step, Bodysnatchers, Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, Reckoner, Videotape.
- 0 out of 4 people
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awesome purchase...
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- By irish14500
- 2/8/2009 01:03:01
- I understand through the radiohead site at one time, there were 2 discs for this release. Understandably, they cut the site short and only a few got both discs. Would appreciate it if anyone could help me out in obtaining the second disc. irish14500@msn.com-
Months later---Got the second disc! Love it and continue to wear the little bastard out. - 2 out of 5 people
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The revolutionary album!
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- By RolandoSpieluhr
- 1/30/2009 07:04:17
- If you like to be part of the history, or at least, own a part of history, you have to own this album. It is the most real sample of a dying industry (Record Industry).
I love the way they promote it and distribute it, and it surely was a succes!
but the best of all, I'm still deciding if this is my fav album from them! Awesome! - 3 out of 3 people
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In Rainbows Disc 2
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- By Stevorino
- 1/11/2009 17:33:12
- Here's a link to where you can download disc 2.
http://cid-a4cedc663da99f97.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Radiohead/IRDisc2.zip
I do not support illegal downloading in any way (thus why I have Zune Pass). I have not found a legal outlet for purchasing this music and obviously Radiohead intended their fans to have it. If you'd like me to remove the link, shoot me a message. - 5 out of 5 people
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mee too
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- By JersTag123
- 6/11/2008 05:47:32
- me too?...
- 0 out of 6 people
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