Pink Bowl 6 1/8"

On the deliriously satisfying In Rainbows, Radiohead returns to a more straight-ahead (though subdued) rock sound. Much hubbub has been made about this record's innovative release. Radiohead allowed fans to pay what they wished to download fairly low-resolution tracks from the band's own website. Like so many innovations, it already seems funny both that it was such big news and that someone else of similar stature hadn't done it sooner. Some pundits were appalled that it took awhile to download the tracks if you tried to do it at the same time as thousands of other people, while others decried that the group was trying to kill the music industry (or save it). Little of the press seemed to focus on the record itself, which actually made sense because it was so entertaining and inviting, the most low-key album Radiohead has made to date. There's even a very straight-forward, simple, silly little love song, "House of Cards." It might be a bit lethargic, but the simple instrumentation of electric guitars, bass, and drums is lovely as heck. A handful of these tunes enchanted fans for years before finally being committed to computer "tape." This is particularly fitting as In Rainbows is the group's most "band"-sounding album since OK Computer. This is not a record that hits you over the head with how far this group is pushing the envelope; it's simply a phenomenal, well-crafted, and exciting album. As soon as it's done, you're playing it again. --Mike McGonigal

Radiohead proved in 2007 that they COULD give their music away and still make a profit. As the music business continued to melt down Radiohead released their latest album "In Rainbows" as an mp3 file where you could choose how much you paid and a physical album in early 2008 that still managed to outsell most of their competitors.

It's also one of their finest albums incorporating the experimental approach that they took with "Kid A" to "Hail to the Thief", the band added in a healthy dose of melody, riffs and elements of conventional songwriting.

From the opening track "15 Steps" to the concluding one "Videotape" the band takes a look backward and forward at the same time--using the skills that they honed on early albums such as "Palbo Honey", "The Bends" and "OK Computer" and meshing it with their sometimes not always successful experimental stuff.

Take a listen to the samples and decide for yourself if you like the album. I have to admit that with "Kid A" and "Amnesiac" they lost me but my interest was piqued again with "Hail to the Thief". Sometimes music is like shopping in a really big store--you know what you want to buy but you still want to try on other stuff just for fun. Sometimes you really find out what you want by doing that. That's what the previous albums were--trying stuff on for fun. With this album the band found out what they wanted and brought it home to their fans in a unique fashion.

4 1/2 stars.

I was anticipating this release from Radiohead, and maybe I expected too much. (except for the first two tunes which I don't particularly enjoy) This is insipid drivel. VERY disappointing.

Wow this is amazing music. This album has a warmer feel than very recent albums (Amnesiac, Hail to the Thief) and is very creative with a tight sound. It is certainly different than any other album by Radiohead. I am a huge fan of earlier works such as The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A. I had especially felt like OK computer was unmatched in terms of beautiful sound and originality. In Rainbows has easily matched this rare quality and has renewed my excitement in Radiohead.
Please disregard reviews that give a poor rating due to reasons like: "its slower music than I like", "my cd was scratched", "this is not the same Radiohead I remember", or "I'm giving up on Radiohead because this isn't 'OK Computer v2.0'". Those reviews mean nothing to the intuitiveness and quality of Radiohead and this production. Certainly if all you want in Radiohead is OK Computer, then you should not buy this.
Some albums you initially love then a month later you could care less about it. Some, you may not even make it through the first time, but it slowly grows on you to a point where you can't get enough. In Rainbows is the best of both worlds... I liked it at first listen and the more I've listened to it over the last year, the more I love it and appreciate the amazing and ingenious sound.

Its outstanding and so far holds the #1 spot on my personal list for recent times.

This isn't a bad album but the innovation is really gone. What was once a startlingly good and original band has seemed to have dried up and become boring. These songs just sound so lifeless. Inorganic. Removed. In Rainbows just doesn't seem to stand up with the rest of this band's amazing discography. I think the magic is (sadly) finally gone. They had a good run though!

This album (if you are new to Radiohead's style at least) is an acquired taste. But when you do learn to like it, it's breathtaking.