We all know the history behind the release, none of which has any relevance to the music itself, so let’s skip it. Sometimes albums reveal themselves more completely over time, and In Rainbows is one of them. Let’s take a look:

1. 15 Step 6.8/10

A snappy intro to the album, complete with hand claps, what sounds like a Reaktor 5 drum module and a jazzy sounding guitar. The lyrics are fairly unremarkable. The guitar notes sound like past Radiohead efforts, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In the end, a song that’s just kind of “there”.

2. Bodysnatchers 6.9/10

Opens with a standard alt.rock guitar riff, then picks up steam into an angst filled track with some beautiful vocal work by Yorke.

I have no idea what you are talking about
I’m trapped in this body and can’t get out
Ooooohhhh

The song is similar to Pearl Jam’s Do The Evolution, with similar pacing/breakdowns but less of an edge and urgency.

3. Nude 7/10

We are treated to some gorgeous angelic sounds and swirling reverse strings in the opening seconds, which quickly fade to a smoky bar bass groove. Greenwood’s jazzy sounding guitar playing sets points of light in the air around Yorke’s vocals like the sun rifting through holes in a barn. The angelic choirs return later in the song, and just kind of push along Yorke’s moaning (which become a bit overdone at that point). A very ethereal piece, but it seems more like a mood piece than a fully realized song, which seems to be one of the problems on In Rainbows.

You paint your smile
you paint yourself white
and fill up with noise

4. Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi 7/10

I’d be crazy not to follow
Follow where you lead
Your eyes
They turn me

Pretty standard stuff here. Lyrically, it’s a step up from the rest of the record. The imagery of being pecked apart by fishes on the bottom of the ocean is quite good. This is backed by a watery sounding musical passage which is the most interesting part of the song. The drumming is crisp and competent, but the song feels incomplete.

5. All I Need 6/10

The song greets us with a familiar sounding beat and chord sequence. Unfortunately, we are treated to one of the worst rock lyrics in recent memory, something Spinal Tap would be proud of:

I’m an animal trapped in your hot car

I could almost picture Ian Faith in the background when hearing that lyric. The song also just kind of plods along on the same path, again something that In Rainbows seems to have a problem with. At some point after Kid A, Radiohead ditched the big ideas and risks of OK Computer for these unrealized mopey mood pieces. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as long as you can fill the remainder of the album with high quality songs. I doubt anyone would ask for Ok Computer II, but rather an album with fully realized songs regardless of the stylings.

All I Need finishes with a huge upswirl that feels like an afterthought.

6. Faust Arp 5/10

A combination of Dear Prudence and a Pillow of Winds. Not much original material here. That said, the playing is quite beautiful.

7. Reckoner 7/10

A spaced out intro with some fantastic drumming. Their brightest moment since Pyramid Song. Yorke’s singing on this is exceptional and haunting.

You were not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak his name
Did I cater to all you
All your needs?

Unfortunately, The In Rainbows versions of Reckoner sounds remarkably close to a song released before it, which does effect our overall score for the track. That song is called La Ritournelle by Sebastien Tellier and you can view it here:

8. House of Cards 7.5/10

Lots of reverb on the intro vocals which are flanked by a chunky, clean guitar chord. The melody is quite good. The song stays on the same track with minimal change, as if Radiohead are simply afraid to take any risks on In Rainbows. One can only guess at the reasoning behind this lack of adventure from a band which trademarked it from 1996-2000. The listener can acutely hear the band hiding behind the linear and safe arrangements of In Rainbows.

I don’t want to be your friend
I just want to be your lover

9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place 5/10

Another song on In Rainbows that fails to leave a single groove. That said, Yorke’s singing is in fine form, and as usual the string arrangements are top quality. There are only so many options to pretty up a narrow slot, however.

10. Videotape 9/10

Exceptional melody, reminiscent of their better work in the past( No Surprises). There’s no lack of sincerity in Yorke’s delivery or lyrics. Easily the finest song on the album.

You are my center
When i spin away
Out of control on videotape

The song gets a 9/10 because of the haunting melody, which in itself is no small feat to come up with.

Again though, we are privy to a very linear one-way-road progression where things just get tacked on to maintain interest. And as mentioned earlier, that’s not a big deal if the rest of the album is balanced out with complete songs and full ideas. Unfortunately, In Rainbows is not. It’s a very safe record lacking the big adventure and risk taking of the better Radiohead work from 1996-2000. In the end, In Rainbows fits right alongside the moody, marginal work of Amnesiac, and Hail To The Thief. The big ideas just aren’t there anymore. Many have alluded to Radiohead being the new version of Pink Floyd – both art rock bands, both evolving, changing and challenging the audience. If you look at the career time lines though, Waters and company were putting forth songs like Comfortably Numb, Nobody Home, Mother and Another Brick In The Wall, which are complete, landmark songs. At the same age, Radiohead is seemingly offering unfinished wav files from their Pro Tools rack. There’s a growing sense in the music community that current bands are afraid to take these big risks due to critical blow back, so they stick with safe arrangements and quick mood pieces to fend off the blog critcs who see big ideas and chance-taking as bloat.

Let’s hope this band takes some risks on the next one and returns to form.

Response Keywords after hearing this album:

moody, safe, linear, beautiful, careful, haunting, mopey

Album Total 6.7/10

You can buy a hard copy of In Rainbows here:

In Rainbows

The Roots – Rising Down

Reviewed by Nolan Grey

The newest album from Philadelphia’s very own, Rising Down is the group’s 8th studio album. The work follows the Roots recent trend, exchanging real instrumentation for synthy sound. Although a solid CD, Rising Down ultimately does not hold up when compared to the Roots previous work.

1.The Pow Wow: NR (no ranking for skits)

The album begins with a ‘skit’, this word being used ever more loosely these days. The skit fluctuates between Finnegan’s Wake incomprehensibleness and overplayed ranting. NR (no ranking for skits)

2.Rising Down: 7.0

The title track situates itself at the number two spot, which works well within the flow of the CD as a whole. The beat is reminiscent of an overproduced ‘shook things pt. 2’, and Black Thought’s lyrics work well. The hook is in some ways the track’s downfall, but the strength of the rest of the song is able to hold the track together.

3. Get Busy: 3.0

After a promisingly solid moment the CD takes a turn for the worst with the weakest track on Rising Down. After two tracks the theme of overproduction is already apparent, and this track really exemplifies it. Black Thought is at his weakest here, seemingly unsure of how to ride the beat, which was mediocre to begin with.

4.@15: NR

A solid freestyle that would have been helped with a beat. It seems like these freestyle-esque tracks have become almost obligatory of late, and so within that framework the track does well and acts as a nice break from the previous track.

5.75 Bars: 6.0

The track’s drumbeat is enjoyable enough, with a grimy bass and lots of snare. However, it’s the lyrics that take center stage out on this track, with, emotion aplenty.

6.Becoming Unwritten: NR

Yet another break, bringing the total filler to song ratio up to an unhealthy 3:2.

7. Criminal: 6.0

The most commercial oriented track yet. The beat is nice, and Thought’s rap fits well with it. It’s an enjoyable ride, but lacks real replay value. Think the Root’s previous ‘All in the Music’ 2.0.

8. I Will Not Apologize: 8.0

This track exceeds expectations set up by the previous material. The jazz riff and light drums work well, and Black Thought sounds more comfortable than on previous songs. His rhyme scheme is different than normal, which adds to the enjoyment and replay value. 8/10.

9. I Can’t Help It: 6.5

The best beat yet on the CD, full of sound but not overproduced. Black Thought doesn’t provide anything noteworthy, but is solid enough to see the track through. Replay value is never helped when the beat outshines the lyricist, but there is enough going on to justify repeated listens on this track.

10. Singing Man: 3.0

The hook’s singer is awful in this song, and even Black Thought doesn’t sound interested in what he’s rapping about. The beat itself doesn’t help the song, leaving the entire song with little merit.

11. Unwritten: 4.0

More R&B, this track is a departure from the rest of the CD. The beat provides a nice soundscape, but the track suffers from a combination of overproduction and mediocre lyrics.

12. Lost Desire: 6.5

Featuring Talib Kweli, this track sounds more like something found off one of his CD’s than a roots album. The beat features some unnecessary bird sounds, but is overall solid. The hook, intentionally monotone, is ill-conceived, and Black Thought is overshadowed by Talib on his own CD. That’s twice now that Black Thought comes off looking the weaker. Then again, The Roots have never been focused completely upon lyrical ability, so this can be understood.

13. The Show: 5.0

The beat sounds like something Kanye would make for Jay-Z, but both the musical and lyrical skill sounds like an incomplete imitation. Interesting note, spell check recognizes Jay-Z but lists Kanye as a misspelled word. Poor Kanye, maybe someday he’ll get that respect he keeps talking about.

14.Rising Up: 3.0

The track lacks any sort of cohesion, and sounds a bit like leftovers from every other jam. Overproduction isn’t the issue here, the lack of any ‘point’ or ‘theme’ is. 3/10

15. Birthday Girl: 5.0

The second commercial track, with a Seed 2.0 throwback sound and a pop riffy that isn’t musically offensive, but at the same doesn’t break any new ground. If Sugar Ray and the Roots ever did a collab album I’d expect something like this for every song. Take that for what it is, and give the song a listen. More than likely, that will be enough.

Bonus Track NR:

The album ends with a bonus track, another ‘skit’. Better than the pow-wow, but still think of it as a ‘less music, more rant’ addition.

Album Total: 5.25/10

You can buy a hard copy here:

Rising Down