In Rainbows
by Radiohead

From HazeyTwilight TOP 100 COMMENTER 01/26/2014 12:03 | #101551 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I had already liked this record, but I thought it wasn't as good as people perceived it out to be. That was until I listened to it in a car journey. The night sky looked so pretty and the sonic waves around me complemented the scenery. I was in a state of awe throughout it. And that's when I understood its significance; it's an album full of passionate and emotional alt-rock tunes. Screw everything I said about it being overrated, it deserves its acclaim. A modern masterpiece. (Edited)

From DeusExMackia TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/10/2016 17:08 | #171022 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It's as creative and bright as a 5 year old's experiments with poster paints, sugar paper and glitter glue. And very nearly as fun too.

Its only real hiccup is its short-lived middle section. The sound established within the first few moments of '15 Step' is so distinguishable, and the superbly strong 3 songs that follow it only build it further and further. 'Nude' is one of the best songs ever, end of discussion. 'Weird Fishes' adds tumultuous and bounding flavour and a fresh boost of energy with its fast-paced-ness. 'All I Need' and 'Faust Arp' sadly don't quite make the cut for me - not sure why exactly, they just lack the essence of this album. But then along comes 'Reckoner' to kick start it all over again and begin the final act, climaxing in 'Jigsaw Falling Into Place' (where Yorke manages to use the word "beat" on a non-dance song to surprising effect), and the whole thing is so tastefully completed by the melancholy piano chords of 'Videotape'.

This is an album to love and cherish. It's so genuine and wonderful. It's Radiohead being Radiohead. Nothing else sounds like this because it's in its own genre of style. Sure, maybe you could attribute a few influences, but you'd be hard pressed to find anything that isn't original.

And perhaps its strongest point is that unlike previous Radiohead, In Rainbows is steered away from being political, from being a concept album or from being like Radiohead's older work. It still sounds new even as it nears its 10th anniversary.

This is a rare jewel, no doubt. An album that is just music (however pretentious that sounds). I get the impression that this was made not for the sake of spreading a message or trying to top the charts. No, it was just made out of brainstorming ideas for different songs, made from bog-standard, no frills, on-the-spot creativity. And that theme spreads on to how you listen to it. It's undemanding, easy on the ear and rewarding. I'd always recommend you listen to the whole thing in one go, but aside from that there are no obligations on how to respond to it or what to feel. You the listener just get to appreciate its fantastic and unending quality.

This here is a masterclass in how to make music. Take notes, and make the most of it; things like this don't come around often.
(Edited)

"In Rainbows" brings together the two different Radiohead sounds in perfect cataclysm. I personally enjoy all of Radiohead whether it was their earlier, guitar-driven sound, or their textural, electronic-based reinvention. As such, this record hits that sweet spot of having power rockers ("Bodysnatchers" and "Jigsaw Falling into Place") that display their dominance of the craft alongside beautifully sculpted computer-pop ("All I Need" and "15 Step"). What really makes this album special is where those worlds collide to make music that is neither entirely organic, nor entirely robotic in its construction and execution. Songs like "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" and "Videotap" build and cascade over themselves like hypnotic, musical poems while "Nude" and "Reckoner" are carefully-constructed and haunting to the bone. Lyrically, Radiohead has never written a better album. The material is referential, well thought out, personal, and biting all throughout the LP. "OK Computer" may have been amazing and "Kid A" a 180 degree success, but "In Rainbows", to me, is the most essential record in understanding why Radiohead are one of the best bands ever. (Edited)

My college roommate and I decided that we were sick of hearing about Radiohead and how great they were, and to allow us to be fully educated in our dislike of Radiohead we decided that we should only listen to Radiohead for one week. After one week we would be able to definitively say that Radiohead was no good, and that we gave them a fair chance. We decided that we would download In Rainbows since it was "Pay What You Want" and at the time I wanted to pay nothing. After the week was up, we both decided that we were completely wrong. This album now ranks in the top 3 albums for both me and him of all time. I have since bought the physical copy of this and many of the other Radiohead albums. (Edited)

This is easily Radiohead's most perfect album they made. Perfect length and amazing songs. Reckoner is one of the greatest songs ever made. (Edited)