The Bends (studio album) by Radiohead

This is the groups first very strong album as they begin to experiment with their sound more on this release. In result of this, we get an instrumentally diverse display that is also one of their most accessible and infectious listens. This leads to some irresistible tracks like Just, Fake Plastic Trees and High And Dry. All of these showcase the potential the group had to go on to do amazing things and this release is basically a precursor to the levels they would reach on Ok Computer. I also think that Thom Yorke gives a brilliant vocal display on here with his ability to create emotion in the listener being really impressive to me. The group then back his voice up very well creating an almost melancholic atmosphere that could easily draw in anyone who comes across it. However, I do find there to be weak moments on here which don't have the same significance or impact as the better tracks which is what holds it back in their discography ranking for me. Overall, this might not be my favourite Radiohead album or the one I think is the greatest but it still has its moments and I can't deny how much quality is present on here.

Every time I listen to this i tink it´s their best, but then for some reason, it´s always behind In Rainbows, Ok , and Kid a in my memory. Maybe the other three have somo sort of better aftertaste.

Great album

Radiohead's best album. Whilst it has a distinctive melancholy sound it avoids being self indulgent like later albums

A really good record. Radiohead rarely misses. My favorite song on this record was High and Dry.

A strong sophomore effort from the one and only Radiohead, The Bends see the group improve leaps and bounds from their debut. With the emotional, heavy sounds of the mid-90's grunge and the deep sensitivity that really makes the band distinct, The Bends can be called the first true Radiohead album. From the powerful opening of Planet Telex, the reflective Fake Plastic Trees, to the magnificent closer of Street Spirit (Fade Out), there is a lot to be said on this album. Even the deep cuts like (Nice Dream) and Bullet Proof... I Wish I Was are incredibly strong tracks. Every band out there aspires to make an album as sonically wondrous and as massive of a technical achievement as The Bends.

The start of Radiohead's steep and remarkable rise to immortal status. What makes The Bends so incredible is that it has great qualities of an art-rock album while being able to stand amongst brit-pop and alternative rock albums of the time. The standard and class of writing here however puts this album way above those.

From C_Krug2009 04/02/2022 19:15

This album is the soundtrack to depression along with The Smiths- Queen is Dead. It's a very sad album and I don't listen to it much anymore because I'm a very happy person. However, the music is awesome and well written. It has a nostalgic vibes to it in some ways. Probably reminds people of the era in which it came out. I think it does deserve the hype and place that it reached. My only complaint is I wish Thom wrote happier songs. I would relate to it more.

Way better than all the crap that came after OK Computer. It has some good songs like Black Star.

What an album. There are no weak tracks on this, every single one is a delight. My favourites are Planet Telex and Nice Dream, but if you ask me again in a years' time, I'd probably name two different tracks as there are so many to choose from. That's the sign of an incredible album.